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Flu :: Next flu pandemic – What to do until the vaccine arrives?

Experts believe the world is overdue for influenza pandemic. However, unless effective action against pandemic flu is taken now, we are in “dire straits,” according to a paper published in the November 10 issue of Science. The articled titled, “Next Flu Pandemic: What to Do Until the Vaccine Arrives?,” calls for research during the regular season flu season to better understand the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing, hand washing, face masks, and the like.

Breast Cancer :: Surgical biopsy may reveal cancer in women with rare but benign breast condition

A study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis showed that in women whose initial breast biopsies revealed certain rare, yet benign breast conditions, more extensive follow-up surgical biopsies found cancer up to 25 percent of the time. Most of the cancers were invasive, meaning the tumors had penetrated normal breast tissue and would require treatment.

Low Carb Diet :: Low carb diets and risk of heart disease – new research

Low-carbohydrate diets have been advocated for weight loss and to prevent obesity, but the long-term safety of these diets has not been determined. A study was conducted by Dr. Hu at the Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston.

Psychology :: Shopping with your heart makes sense, says Queen’s business prof

Going with your “gut feeling” when making a major purchase isn’t a bad thing after all, says Queen’s University School of Business researcher Laurence Ashworth. In fact — contrary to popular belief — listening to your heart when shopping can make you happier in the long run.

HIV :: To slow AIDS in Russia, treat HIV-positive addicts – Stanford study

The key to combating AIDS in Russia may be to treat HIV-infected drug users. A new model estimating the spread of HIV in Russia suggests that treating injection drug users with antiretroviral medication will slow transmission of the virus among the general population.

Heart :: Seven-point system gauges seriousness of heart failure in elderly – Washington University

A simple points system may soon help guide treatment of elderly heart failure patients. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that by counting how many of seven easy-to-obtain health factors a patient has, physicians can estimate the patient’s risk of dying.

Education :: Nonminority medical students more satisfied than minority students – Mayo study

Minorities account for 30 percent of the U.S. population, but only eight percent of the physician workforce, and experience less personal satisfaction during medical school than nonminority students, finds a Mayo Clinic study published in the November issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Cancer :: Growth factor signals influence balance between normal growth and cancerous growth – USA

Too much of a signaling protein called insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) may fan the flames of cancer, while too little of the protein may cause short stature, dementia and osteoporosis. New research investigates how the growth hormone/IGF system is affected by the important tumor suppressor gene p53. This interplay of two signaling pathways reinforces questions about the long-term risks of prescribing growth hormone, while suggesting a future new avenue for cancer therapy.

Leukemia :: Researchers identify cells that make relapse inevitable in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Scientists in Australia have discovered that in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) there are “good” and “evil” clones of the same type of ALL cell. The “evil” cells are clones that have a pre-existing resistance to drugs used for treating ALL, and their presence in a patient means that person will inevitably relapse after chemotherapy, according to research presented at the 18th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics.

Eating Disorders :: Patient’s Worldwide Bill of Rights for Eating Disorders Demands Proof of Results

An international professional society has issued a patient?s bill of rights for the treatment of eating disorders, conditions that affect an estimated 30 million Americans, most of them young women. For 2 million, symptoms will progress to full-blown anorexia nervosa and approximately 10 percent will die from the disease. Treatment is often complex and typically involves not only the patient, but friends and family as well.