Staff Reporter

Hospitalized children benefit from antibiotic stewardship programs

Kids discharged sooner, less likely to come back Kids discharged sooner, less likely to come back PHILADELPHIA - Hospitalized children go home sooner and are less likely to be readmitted when the hospital has an antibiotic stewardship program that's dedicated to controlling antibiotic prescriptions and treatment, according to a study being presented at IDWeek 2014TM.

Of bio-hairpins and polymer-spaghetti

A spotlight on how entangled polymers flow and softenc A spotlight on how entangled polymers flow and soften When a basically sturdy material becomes soft and spongy, one usually suspects that it has been damaged in some way.

The mathematics behind the Ebola epidemic

Researchers in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at ETH Zurich have calculated new benchmark figures to precisely describe the Ebola epidemic in West Africa from a mathematical perspective. Their results may help health authorities to contain the epidemic.

UPMC programs to improve hand hygiene reduced infections, increased compliance

UPMC Presbyterian Hospital's infection prevention teams have improved hand washing and sanitizing compliance at the hospital to nearly 100 percent among clinical staff through accountability and educational measures. In a separate effort at UPMC Mercy Hospital, rates of a deadly infection were reduced by educating patients about hand hygiene.

Drinking decaf coffee may be good for the liver

Researchers from the National Cancer Institute report that decaffeinated coffee drinking may benefit liver health. Results of the study published in Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, show that higher coffee consumption, regardless of caffeine content, was linked to lower levels of abnormal liver enzymes. This suggests that chemical compounds in coffee other than caffeine may help protect the liver.

Long-term treatment success using gene therapy to correct a lethal metabolic disorder

Excessive and often lethal blood levels of bilirubin can result from mutations in a single gene that are the cause of the metabolic disease known as Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 1 (CNS1). A new gene therapy approach to correcting this metabolic error achieved significant, long-lasting reductions in bilirubin levels in a mouse model of CNS1 and is described in an Open Access article in Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available on the Human Gene Therapy website at http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/hum.2013.233.

Wild tomato species focus of antioxidant study

Results can help breeders improve health-related traits in cultivated tomatoes Results can help breeders improve health-related traits in cultivated tomatoes Tomatoes are known to be rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, lycopene, β-carotene, and phenolics.

Researchers reveal genomic diversity of individual lung tumors

Findings suggest sequencing a single region of a localized tumor will identify driver mutations Findings suggest sequencing a single region of a localized tumor will identify driver mutations Known cancer-driving genomic aberrations in localized lung cancer appear to be so consistently present across tumors that a single biopsy of one region of the tumor is likely to identify most of them, according to a paper published today in Science.

New technique yields fast results in drug, biomedical testing

A new technique makes it possible to quickly detect the presence of drugs or to monitor certain medical conditions using only a single drop of blood or urine, representing a potential tool for clinicians and law enforcement.

Penn Medicine's 'sepsis sniffer' generates faster sepsis care and suggests reduced mortality

Early identification and intervention lead to better results for hospital inpatients Early identification and intervention lead to better results for hospital inpatients An automated early warning and response system for sepsis developed by Penn Medicine experts has resulted in a marked increase in sepsis identification and care, transfer to the ICU, and an indication of fewer deaths due to sepsis.

Teenage Girls Are Exposed to More Stressors that Increase Depression Risk

Adolescence is often a turbulent time, and it is marked by substantially increased rates of depressive symptoms, especially among girls. New research indicates that this gender difference may be the result of girls' greater exposure to stressful interpersonal events, making them more likely to ruminate, and contributing to their risk of depression.

Active ageing is much more than exercise

The global population is ageing rapidly, and the growing numbers of elderly people challenge our societal structures, not least the health sector, which is why authorities in most countries encourage elderly to lead active and healthy life styles. But to equate active ageing strictly with health is too narrow a focus, new research from University of Copenhagen shows; the elderly can reap social and health benefits from activities that do not necessarily conform to official life style recommendations - billiards for instance.

Childhood psychological abuse as harmful as sexual or physical abuse

Often unrecognized, emotional abuse prevalent form of child abuse, study finds Often unrecognized, emotional abuse prevalent form of child abuse, study finds WASHINGTON - Children who are emotionally abused and neglected face similar and sometimes worse mental health problems as children who are physically or sexually abused, yet psychological abuse is rarely addressed in prevention programs or in treating victims, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association.

MU Researchers Identify Epigenetic Changes Caused by Binge Drinking

Overconsumption of alcohol triggers inflammatory response in the liver Overconsumption of alcohol triggers inflammatory response in the liver Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have identified epigenetic protein changes caused by binge drinking, a discovery that could lead to treatments for alcohol-related liver diseases.

Timing of epidural is up to the mother

When a woman is in labour, the appropriate time to give an epidural during childbirth is when she asks for it, a new study suggests. Published in The Cochrane Library, the systematic review compared early and late epidurals during labour and found that they had very similar effects.

Mortality Risk of Overweight and Obesity Similar for Blacks, Whites

Study is largest to date to investigate issue A study from American Cancer Society researchers finds the increased risk of premature death associated with a higher body mass index (BMI) is similar for African Americans and whites, in contrast to previous, smaller studies that indicated the association may be weaker for African Americans.

Drug-infused nanoparticle is right for sore eyes

For the millions of sufferers of dry eye syndrome, their only recourse to easing the painful condition is to use drug-laced eye drops three times a day. Now, researchers from the University of Waterloo have developed a topical solution containing nanoparticles that will combat dry eye syndrome with only one application a week.

Skin exposure may contribute to early risk for food allergies

Many children may become allergic to peanuts before they first eat them, and skin exposure may be contribute to early sensitization, according to a study in mice led by Mount Sinai researchers and published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Early in the process of developing an allergy, skin exposure to food allergens contributes to "sensitization", which means the skin is reactive to an antigen, such as peanuts, especially by repeated exposure.

Childhood eating difficulties could be a sign of underlying psychological issues

Restrictive behaviors can appear before puberty Restrictive behaviors can appear before puberty This news release is available in French. Researchers at the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine children's hospital are warning parents that difficult eaters could have underlying psychological issues, as they have found that restrictive behaviours can appear before puberty.

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