Researchers have developed a simple, noninvasive way to measure right ventricular function in the heart to predict survival of adults who suffer from pulmonary hypertension. The research appears in the first issue for November 2006 of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, published by the American Thoracic Society.
A single dose of sildenafil, a blood vessel widening vasodilator, prevented rebound pulmonary hypertension and significantly reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU) infants being withdrawn from inhaled nitric oxide therapy.
In August 2004, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) began work on a programme called ‘Communication between patients and their hospital doctor’ in order to suggest ways in which greater understanding of the doctor/patient partnership can produce more effective treatment and care.
A Durham GP is calling for people to be routinely screened for B12 deficiency as he believes that this is the cause of symptoms that are often ascribed to other conditions.
An educational intervention program for parents of infants born prematurely that is implemented early in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can reduce parental stress, depression and anxiety, enhance parent-infant interactions, and reduce hospital length of stay, according to a study led by Dr. Bernadette Melnyk, Dean and Distinguished Foundation Professor in Nursing at Arizona State University College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation, Phoenix.
Topiramate (Topamax), a drug commonly prescribed to treat seizures and migraine headaches, can increase the propensity of calcium phosphate kidney stones, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.
More than two-thirds of people who suffer from major depression can become symptom-free if they are willing to work with their doctors and try various treatments to determine which work best for them, which may involve taking different antidepressants or adding cognitive therapy to the mix.
In the largest, most comprehensive study of its kind to date, researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) showed clinical improvements out to one year when stroke survivors who had lost function in one arm were given a unique, two-week rehabilitation regimen.
“Cardiovascular disease remains our country’s biggest killer,” said Minister Clement. “Canada’s new government is following through on our promise to develop a heart health strategy. The strategy developed will ensure crucial information on prevention and treatment is available quickly and effectively to all provinces and territories. A new Heart Health Strategy will save lives.”
Music therapy many help to ease the depression, anxiety and emotional withdrawal symptoms of schizophrenia, British scientists said. Music therapy may provide a means of improving mental health among people with schizophrenia, but its effects in acute psychoses have not been explored. To examine the feasibility of a randomised trial of music therapy for inpatients with schizophrenia, and explore its effects on mental health, study was conducted by Dr Mike Crawford, Department of Psychological Medicine, Claybrook Centre.