Men, Young Adults Tend to Downplay Osteoporosis Risk
Young adults and men of all ages do not see themselves as susceptible to osteoporosis, according to a new study. In their minds, the risk of suffering from what many consider an older woman’s disease seems distant or slim. The problem: They are missing preventive measures that if taken now, could decrease their future danger of developing the disease. (Embargo expired on 15-Sep-2008 at 00:00 ET)
Health Education and Behavior, Oct-2008
—Health Behavior News Service

Vaccine Against HER2-positive Breast Cancer Offers Complete Protection in Lab
Researchers at Wayne State University have tested a breast cancer vaccine they say completely eliminated HER2-positive tumors in mice - even cancers resistant to current anti-HER2 therapy - without any toxicity. (Embargo expired on 15-Sep-2008 at 00:00 ET)
Cancer Research
—American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

New Tool to Speed Cancer Therapy Approval Available
Although cancer remains a leading cause of death in America, it can take up to 12 years to bring a new anti-cancer agent before the FDA and the success rate for approval is only five to 10 percent. That means many research hours and dollars are wasted chasing avenues that will not bring fruit. (Embargo expired on 15-Sep-2008 at 00:00 ET)
Clinical Cancer Research, 15-Sep-2008
—American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

The Unusual Case of a Woman Who Suffered a Stroke During Sexual Intercourse
Minutes after having sexual intercourse with her boyfriend, a 35-year-old woman suddenly felt her left arm go weak. Her speech became slurred and she lost feeling on the left side of her face. She was having a stroke. Doctors later concluded the stroke probably was due to several related factors, including birth control pills, a venous blood clot, sexual intercourse and a heart defect. (Embargo expired on 15-Sep-2008 at 01:00 ET)
Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases
—Loyola University Health System

First Generation Antipsychotic Drugs as Effective as Newer Ones in Some Children
Nearly every child who receives an antipsychotic medicine is first prescribed a second-generation, or “atypical” drug. However, there has never been evidence that these drugs are more effective than the older, first-generation medications. A study from the UNC School of Medicine has found that the first-generation drugs are as effective and, compared to one atypical drug, safer.  Media embedded: Image(s) (Embargo expired on 15-Sep-2008 at 00:05 ET)
Am. J. of Psychiatry, 15-Sep-2008
—University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Embryonic Stem Cells Reduce Transplantation Rejection
Researchers have shown that immune-defense cells influenced by embryonic stem cell-derived cells can help prevent the rejection of hearts transplanted into mice, all without the use of immunosuppressive drugs.
PLoS ONE
—University of Iowa Health Sciences

Prosthetic Vein Valve Designed To Improve Blood Flow
Engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a prosthetic vein valve to help improve the lives of those suffering from a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency. The valve was designed to replace damaged, non-functioning valves. The prosthetic vein valve design was presented at the Society for Biomaterials Fall Symposium in Atlanta on September 12. Media embedded: Image(s)
Society for Biomaterials Fall Symposium
—Georgia Institute of Technology, Research Communications

New Gene Variant Identified for Non-Diabetic End Stage Renal Disease in African Americans
Scientists have, for the first time, identified variants in the gene MYH9 that are associated with increased risk for non-diabetic end stage renal disease (ESRD,) which is the near-loss of kidney function leading to either dialysis of transplant. MYH9, located on the 22 chromosome, is the first gene identified for common forms of kidney disease. (Embargo expired on 14-Sep-2008 at 13:00 ET)
Nature Genetics, 14-Sep-2008
—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Key Component of Debilitating Lung Disease Identified
Antioxidant defense system could be new target for potential therapies for COPD. (Embargo expired on 12-Sep-2008 at 06:00 ET)
Am. J. of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 15-Sep-2008
—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

COPD? Eat Your Veggies
You know it’s good for you in other ways, but could eating your broccoli also help patients with chronic lung disease? It just might. Broccoli is known to contain a compound that prevents the degradation of a key component that protects lungs against oxidative damage and has been linked to the development and severity of chronic lung disease.  Media embedded: Image(s) (Embargo expired on 12-Sep-2008 at 06:00 ET)
Am. J. of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Sep-2008
—American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Erectile Dysfunction Related to Sleep Apnea May Persist, but Is Treatable
For sufferers of sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction (ED) is often part of the package. New research indicates that ED in cases of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) may be linked to the chronic intermittent hypoxia—oxygen deprivation— (CIH) that patients with OSAS experience during episodes of obstructed breathing. (Embargo expired on 12-Sep-2008 at 06:00 ET)
Am. J. of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Sep-2008
—American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Depressed Dialysis Patients More Likely to be Hospitalized Or Die
Dialysis patients diagnosed with depression are nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized or die within a year than those who are not depressed, a UT Southwestern Medical Center researcher has found. Media embedded: Image(s)
Kidney International
—UT Southwestern Medical Center

TBI/PTSD Study Featured in JAMA
The Aug. 13, 2008 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) includes a study, "Prevalence of Chronic Pain After Traumatic Brain Injury," authored by Charles W. Hoge, M.D., Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU).
JAMA, 13-Aug-2008
—Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU)

Study on Health Care Needs of Persons Displaced by Hurricane Katrina
Lynn Lawry, MD, MSPH, MSc, director of research and education with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences’ (USU) Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine (CDHAM), is the senior author of a manuscript titled, "Health Assessment and Health Care Access Among Internally Displaced Persons in Mississippi Travel Trailer Parks Two Years after The 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricane Season."
Health Affairs
—Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU)

Stem Cell Regeneration Repairs Congenital Heart Defect
Mayo Clinic investigators have demonstrated that stem cells can be used to regenerate heart tissue to treat dilated cardiomyopathy, a congenital defect. Publication of the discovery was expedited by the editors of Stem Cells and appeared online in the “express” section of the journal’s Web site at http://stemcells.alphamedpress.org/.
Stem Cells
—Mayo Clinic

Research Review Shows Internet-based Instruction Effective for Health Care Professionals
A study led by a team of education researchers from Mayo Clinic and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) concludes that Internet-based education generally is effective.
JAMA
—Mayo Clinic

Seniors in Poorer ZIP Codes Less Likely to Survive Surgery
Elderly patients living in impoverished areas are more likely to die after undergoing surgery compared to peers from higher-income ZIP codes, a new study found: Odds of dying were between 17 percent and 39 percent higher for patients with low socioeconomic status.
Medical Care, Sep-2008
—Health Behavior News Service

New Study on Rural HIV Care Has Economic and Health Implications
An Indiana University study found that HIV care providers in rural Indiana report significant stigma and discrimination in the rural medical referral system surrounding issues of HIV and substance abuse. Providers felt that these factors impeded their ability to offer quality care to their patients. Media embedded: Image(s)
AIDS, Patient Care and STDs
—Indiana University

FREE Online Access to September Issue of Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
The September 2008 special issue of Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness is dedicated to triage and the implications for mass casualty incidents. Access this important information for FREE online. (Embargo expired on 12-Sep-2008 at 01:00 ET)
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
—Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

$10 Million Trial Tests Treatment for Leg Blood Clots
A $10 million, government-funded, multicenter clinical trial of an aggressive treatment for blood clots in the leg known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) will be led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
—Washington University in St. Louis

F.D.A. Approves SANCUSO, the First and Only Patch for Preventing Nausea and Vomiting in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
ProStrakan Group plc (LSE: PSK) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A) approval of SANCUSO (Granisetron Transdermal System), the first and only patch to provide up to five consecutive days of control of nausea and vomiting for patients receiving a moderately and/or highly nausea-inducing chemotherapy regimen.
—ProStrakan

AIDS Research Network Expands
Nine-member AIDS research network expands and serves as a one-of-a-kind consortium for clinical, translational and basic science to address how HIV causes AIDS, HIV prevention and treatment advances.
—University of Alabama at Birmingham

Session Highlights of the 1st World Congress on Interventional Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes
Nearly 100 of the world's leading authorities on diabetes, health care policy and finance from public and private sectors will gather in New York City next week to discuss the appropriate role of new interventional therapies for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. Currently, the condition is one of the fastest-growing epidemics in the world, affecting an estimated 23.6 million people in the United States in 2007 alone, and is one of the costliest conditions to treat. The 1st World Congress on Interventional Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes will convene on September 15-16, 2008.
—NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

Delaware, Jefferson Establish Partnership in Health Education
A new Partnership in Health Education between the University of Delaware and Thomas Jefferson University builds on a long, successful history of collaboration in healthcare education and marks the first of what may be several partnerships between the two institutions. Media embedded: Image(s)
—University of Delaware

Bringing Resources and Hope to People with Cancer
The American Association for Cancer Research and The Wellness Community are collaborating to combine their respective scientific integrity and extensive educational resources to reach out to cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones.
—American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

USU Assistant Director, Nurse Anesthesia Program Awarded AANA Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Lt Col Keven Bohan, CRNA, Ph.D., U.S. Air Force, NC, was awarded this year’s Post-Doctoral Fellowship by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Foundation. The AANA recognized Dr. Bohan for his active involvement in the development of an anesthesia research program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU).
—Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU)

Does Treating Periodontitis Help Control Diabetes?
Researchers at Stony Brook University’s (SBU) School of Dental Medicine and School of Medicine received a $12.5 million five-year grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), an arm of the National Institutes of Health, to conduct a multi-center clinical trial to evaluate whether treatment of chronic periodontitis may help to improve diabetes control.
—Stony Brook University Medical Center