Healthcare :: Medical teams are key to patient safety

Medical teams — not individuals — are critical to the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections, as well as for the overall health, safety, and welfare of patients, according to an editorial by two Virginia Commonwealth University physicians published in today’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Pancreatitis :: Acute pancreatitis risk low with statins

New research reveals that while cholesterol-lowering drugs do increase the risk of painful inflammation of the pancreas, the side effect is relatively rare, according to Sonal Singh, M.D., from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and colleagues.

Cancer :: New drug targets for cancer therapies

Solving a 100-year-old genetic puzzle, researchers at the UCSD School of Medicine have determined that the same genetic mechanism that drives tumor growth can also act as a tumor suppressor. Their findings could lead to new drug targets for cancer therapies.

Gene :: How many genes does it take to learn?

At any given time within just a single brain cell of sea slug known as Aplysia, more than 10,000 genes are active, according to scientists writing in Cell. Researchers also analyzed 146 human genes implicated in 168 neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, and genes controlling aging and stem-cell differentiation. They found 104 counterpart genes in Aplysia, suggesting it will be a valuable tool for developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

Medicare :: Medicare’s Prescription Drug Plan Enrollment Deadline

Open Enrollment has begun for Prescription Drug Coverage! The deadline for enrolling in or changing your Medicare prescription drug plan is fast approaching, and experts agree that you need to choose carefully because premiums have increased and drug coverage has changed in many plans.

Heartburn :: Heartburn drugs leads to fractures, hip fractures

Long-term use of popular anti-heartburn drugs like Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec that decreases stomach acid production increases the risk of hip fractures in adults over 50, perhaps because the drugs inhibit calcium absorption, researchers said.

Business :: Hidden costs of hotel employee turnover

Worker turnover costs employers a bundle. For example, in the lodging business, where some 60 percent of frontline workers and 25 percent of managers leave their jobs each year, turnover costs employers, on average, almost $6,000 per frontline worker and almost $10,000 per manager, reports a new Cornell study.

GERD :: Acidity medication increases hip fracture risks

Use of the drugs proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for the treatment of acid-related diseases such as gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with a greater risk of hip fracture, according to a study in the December 27 issue of JAMA.

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