News
Transplant Vote Seeks Balance
June 11, 2013 12:33 pm | by Kevin Begos, AP | CommentsFaced with a federal judge's order in the heart-wrenching cases of two terminally ill children seeking lung transplants, a national review board sought a balance that will keep such decisions in the hands of doctors, not lawyers or judges. The executive committee of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network resisted making rule changes for children under 12, but created a special appeal and review system to hear such cases.
Transplant Patient Outcomes Strong Following Trauma
June 11, 2013 12:21 pm | CommentsPhysicians from the Department of Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have determined that outcomes for traumatic injury in patients with organ transplants are not worse than for non-transplanted patients. One theory indicates that severe trauma activates nearly all components of the immune system, triggering a series of responses that lead to inflammation, which can limit tissue damage and promotes repair.
Nanofiber Sensors Detect Cancer Faster
June 11, 2013 12:10 pm | CommentsNew research suggests that smartphone users could diagnose serious diseases, such as diabetes or lung cancer, quickly and effectively by simply breathing into a nanofiber breathing sensor mounted on the phones. The use of biomarkers to predict certain diseases such as acetone for diabetes, toluene for lung cancer, and ammonia for kidney malfunction could speed diagnosis and cut costs.
Women Can Be Screened With Virtual Colonoscopy Later Than Men
June 10, 2013 11:57 am | CommentsA new study has found that women can be screened for colorectal cancer at least five to 10 years later than men when undergoing an initial "virtual colonoscopy." The findings may help establish guidelines for the use of this screening technique, which is less invasive than a traditional colonoscopy.
African Plants Could Stop Tumor Growth
June 10, 2013 11:51 am | CommentsAfrican medicinal plants contain chemicals that may be able to stop the spread of cancer cells. This is the conclusion of researchers following laboratory experiments. The plant materials will now undergo further analysis in order to evaluate their therapeutic potential.
3-D Map Of Brain Shows Surprises
June 10, 2013 11:37 am | CommentsBlood vessels within a sensory area of the mammalian brain loop and connect in unexpected ways, a new map has revealed. The study describes vascular architecture within a well-known region of the cerebral cortex and explores what that structure means for functional imaging of the brain and the onset of a kind of dementia.
Only Five Percent Washing Hands Correctly
June 10, 2013 11:29 am | CommentsA new study by Michigan State University researchers found that only five percent of people who used the bathroom washed their hands long enough to kill the germs that can cause infections. What’s more, 33 percent didn’t use soap and 10 percent didn’t wash their hands at all.
Study Expands Concerns About Anesthesia's Impact On The Brain
June 7, 2013 10:42 am | CommentsAs pediatric specialists become increasingly aware that surgical anesthesia may have lasting effects on the developing brains of young children, new research suggests the threat may also apply to adult brains. Although more research is needed to confirm the study's relevance to humans, the study suggests possible health implications for millions of children and adults who undergo surgical anesthesia annually.
Study: Medical Devices Complicate Complex Conditions In Kids
June 7, 2013 10:36 am | CommentsAs modern medical advances help more children with complex conditions live longer, a new study shows a significant number suffer from complications caused by medical devices that are also necessary for their survival. Study authors say their research underscores the continued need to improve care for this growing population of children by enhancing medical device safety practices.
Three Out Of Twenty Scopes Used To Examine GI Tracts, Colons Improperly Cleaned
June 7, 2013 10:32 am | CommentsThree out of 20 flexible gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopes used for screening were found to harbor unacceptable levels of "bio dirt" – cells and matter from a patient's body that could pose potential infection risk -- according to a study of endoscopes used at five hospitals across the U.S.
Duke Surgeon Conducts First U.S. Human Trial With Engineered Blood Vessel
June 7, 2013 10:27 am | by Kelsey Rupp | CommentsA surgeon at Duke University performed the first U.S. implantation of a bioengineered blood vessel on Wednesday, using a new technique that may improve the lives of dialysis patients. A non-living tube built using living cells, a bioengineered blood vessel resembles natural blood vessels in size and strength but is not made of unnatural materials like synthetic blood vessels, called grafts.
Encompass Group, LLC Names John Wood As CEO
June 6, 2013 5:27 pm | CommentsEncompass Group, LLC, one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of reusable textiles, professional apparel, and disposable and single use medical products, announces that John J. Wood has been named Chief Executive Officer, to commence July 1, 2013. John will succeed Mike Spurlock, who has announced his retirement and will continue as a member of the Board of Directors of Encompass Group.
Breast Cancer Study Shows Success In Finding New Treatment
June 5, 2013 11:37 am | CommentsA new study released this week shows success in pinpointing individualized treatment for women with metastatic breast cancer, according to George Mason University researchers. The Side-Out Foundation’s pilot study is part of a cutting-edge approach to personalized medicine that looks beyond genomic analysis alone to combine it with what some say is the next frontier in targeted therapy: proteomics.
Quality Improvement Educational Initiative Proves To Be A Model Program For Surgical Residents
June 5, 2013 11:04 am | CommentsResearchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, have developed a novel graduate medical education initiative that enables surgical residents to hone their skills in quality improvement (QI). Surgical trainees who completed the year-long educational program found the QI training to be beneficial, and more importantly, believe it put them in a position to lead QI initiatives in the future.
Study Finds Taking Probiotics Has Benefits For Patients In Hospitals
June 5, 2013 10:35 am | CommentsPatients in hospital who are on antibiotics may benefit from taking probiotics, according to researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital. Dr. Reena Pattani led a literature review that looked at the effectiveness of probiotics, live bacteria that can take up residence in digestive tracts, in treating common side effects of antibiotics, such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea and life-threatening side effects like Clostridium difficile infection.
