An analysis of national prescribing patterns shows that more than half of patients who received an opioid prescription in 2009 had filled another opioid prescription within the previous 30 days. This report also suggested potential opportunities for intervention aimed at reducing abuse of prescription opioids. Researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a … Read more
Researchers have zoomed in on mouse chromosomes to map hotspots of genetic recombination — sites where DNA breaks and reforms to shuffle genes. The findings of the scientists at the National Institutes of Health and Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USU) have the potential to improve the detection of genes linked to disease and … Read more
A free, nationwide service was launched today to help primary care providers seeking to identify and advise substance-abusing patients. The service, Physician Clinical Support System for Primary Care (PCSS-P), offers peer-to-peer mentorship and resources on incorporating screening and follow-up into regular patient care. PCSS-P is a project of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), … Read more
A new study found that coronary artery bypass surgery added to medical therapy for selected chronic heart failure patients offered benefits over medical therapy alone. The combination of the two treatment approaches reduced the combined rate of deaths and heart-related hospital stays by 15 percent, although the total number of deaths between the two groups … Read more
Scientists supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), one of the National Institutes of Health, will be presenting their latest research findings at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS).
As treatments for HIV/AIDS improve and patients are living longer, the distribution of cancers in this population has undergone a dramatic shift in the United States. While cases of the types of cancer that have been associated with AIDS progression have decreased, cases of other types of cancer are on the rise. These results, reported … Read more
A preliminary study conducted by a team at the National Institutes of Health has identified a promising new treatment in children for the most common periodic fever disease in children. The syndrome is called periodic fever associated with aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis — or PFAPA — and is characterized by monthly flare-ups of … Read more
Researchers extend use of gene therapy to treat a soft tissue tumor
Scientists have discovered that molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the energy factories, or mitochondria, in cells, may play a role in a rare inherited disorder in which uncontrolled inflammation damages the body’s tissues. Their research in human and mouse cells suggests that blocking these molecules could reduce inflammation in TNF receptor-associated periodic … Read more
Do you file your federal taxes electronically, or are you still using the paper forms? The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) says that almost 100 million taxpayers e-filed their taxes last year. Even I’m surprised that many of us e-file. There are three ways to e-file: Free File – You can go to IRS.gov and use … Read more
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health and the University of Hong Kong have discovered that high levels of a particular protein in cancer cells are a reliable indicator that a cancer will spread.
Members of the media are invited to attend a National Institutes of Health conference focused on transforming computed tomography (CT) technology and its use to achieve minimal public health risks from radiation exposure. A specific goal of this conference is to identify the technological steps and associated research required to reduce the radiation dose from … Read more
Clinical researchers at the National Institutes of Health’s Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP) have identified the genetic cause of a rare and debilitating vascular disorder not previously explained in the medical literature. The adult-onset condition is associated with progressive and painful arterial calcification affecting the lower extremities, yet spares patients’ coronary arteries. The new disease finding … Read more
How often do you receive offers in the mail for a credit card or insurance that you’ve been pre-approved for? If you just end up throwing the envelopes into the trash unopened, you might be interested in learning you can opt out of receiving mail like this. You have two opt-out options: A five-year opt-out … Read more
February 4th was National Wear Red Day. Since 2002, the first Friday in February, Americans have worn red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness. The Heart Truth, a national awareness campaign introduced the symbol of the Red Dress as a reminder that women need to protect their heart health and takes steps … Read more
An early education program for children from low-income families is estimated to generate $4 to $11 of economic benefits over a child*’s lifetime for every dollar spent initially on the program, according to a cost-benefit analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Rates of death in the United States from all cancers for men and women continued to decline between 2003 and 2007, the most recent reporting period available, according to the latest Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer. The report also finds that the overall rate of new cancer diagnoses for men … Read more