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How do people go from normal painkiller use to painkiller addiction? There are many factors, and some of the major ones are presented here.

Silent stroke victims are at higher risk to have more strokes and have a faster decline in memory and thinking, Dr. Maria Simbra reports.

Traditional hospital factors-such as case volume and academic status-do not appear to predict whether patients with cardiac arrest at that facility are likely to experience delays in receiving defibrillation, according to a report in the July 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

IntroductionTo determine whether the levels of expression of 17 candidate genes were associated with loco-regional control after breast conserving treatments of early-stage breast cancers in young, premenopausal women. Methods: Gene expression was measured using RT-PCR in the breast tumors of a series of 53 young (<40 years), premenopausal patients. All treatments consisted in primary breast conserving surgery followed by whole-breast radiotherapy (+/- regional lymph nodes) with or without systemic treatments (chemotherapy +/- hormone-therapy). The median follow-up was 10 years. Results: The 10-year loco-regional control rate was 70% (95% CI 57%-87%). In univariate analysis, no clinical/pathological prognostic factors were found to be significantly associated with a decreased loco-regional control. Expression of three genes was found to be significantly associated with an increased loco-regional recurrence rate: low estrogen receptor beta, low aromatase, high GATA3. Two others were ass

A new study showed that weight loss programme could improve depressed mood and reduce risk factors for heart disease in obese patients, reports China's Xinhua news agency on Monday.

Striking differences in the risk factors for developing heart failure (HF) and patient prognosis exist between men and women. Men and women may also respond differently to treatment, raising concerns about whether current practices provide the best care and reinforcing the urgency for sex-specific clinical trials for HF, according to a review article published in the August 4, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

People with diabetes who live in less affluent neighborhoods are more likely to experience delays in treatment for hyperglycemia, according to a study published in the August issue of Diabetes Care. However, the researchers found, neighborhood income was only one factor in determining how quickly appropriate care was received.

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (PTC) announced the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial of PTC299 in adult patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a rare genetic disorder that causes the development of non-malignant brain tumors. PTC299 is a novel, orally administered investigational new drug that is designed to selectively block tumor-related vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Abstract: As a group, acute leukaemias are the most common childhood malignancies, and continue to be an important cause of non-accident related childhood mortality. Fortunately, with modern chemotherapy the majority of children and young people with leukaemia can be cured. However, this treatment comes with a significant burden for our young patients and their families. Here, we review the essential and differential diagnostics and the initial management of children with suspected leukaemia, as relevant for secondary paediatric care. We will give a short overview of current treatment protocols for childhood acute lymphoblastic and acute myeloid leukaemia. We will explain how stratification according to certain prognostic factors - most importantly response to therapy - guides treatment intensity. Using modern molecular techniques for minimal residual disease monitoring and molecular disease classification, it is increasingly possible to identify patients with a cure rate well above 90

Title: Marriage Ends, Health DeclinesCategory: Health NewsCreated: 7/28/2009 7:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 7/28/2009