Researchers identify genes that may cause gum disease

Columbia University scientists say they have identified 41 master regulator genes that may cause gum disease in a first-of-its-kind study.... read more

Frontline PARP inhibitor shrinks tumors in BRCA-positive breast patients

All 13 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with BRCA mutations had their tumors shrink significantly when treated with a PARP inhibitor ahead of frontline presurgical chemotherapy in a pilot study at The University of... read more

New Ecosystem Test Strongly Predicts Ovarian Cancer Survival

Assessing the cell ecosystems at sites where ovarian cancer has spread round the body strongly predicts the chances of surviving from the disease, a new study reports. ... read more

New Treatment Guidelines for Rare Lung Disease

Clinical practice guidelines created for the treatment and diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).... read more

Use of interventions improves patient care for viral hepatitis

Researchers recommend multiple, inexpensive interventions be included in screening, diagnosis and treatment programs for patients with hepatitis B and C viruses, in an effort to optimize the outcomes of hepatitis care.... read more

Hydrocortisone and Septic Shock in Patients With Severe Sepsis

This randomized clinical trial compares the effects of hydrocortisone vs placebo on development of septic shock among intensive care patients with severe sepsis who were not in septic shock.... read more

Rivaroxaban associated with increased bleeding risk compared with dabigatran in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation

There was a total of 52 240 new starts of dabigatran and 66 651 new starts of rivaroxaban during the study period. Rivaroxaban was associated with a non-significant decrease in thromboembolic stroke. There was also a non-significant... read more

Transcranial direct current stimulation enhances cognitive training in Parkinson’s

Transcranial direct current stimulation plus cognitive training may produce the best cognitive results in Parkinson’s patients with mild cognitive impairment. tDCS adds cognitive benefit when combined with cognitive training... read more

Gene could lead to ALS therapies

Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev say their new gene study could lead to new treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.... read more

Glycemic control, mortality, and hypoglycemia in critically ill patients: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Network meta-analysis showed no mortality benefit of tight glycemic control in critically ill patients, but fivefold more hypoglycemia versus mild or very mild control.... read more

Urine test may detect Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Researchers at the Medical Research Council in Britain have discovered it may be possible to test patients for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease using urine samples.... read more

Should we treat pyrexia? And how do we do it?

Pyrexia has long been thought of as a protective physiological response to help host defences, although this is now being challenged. Despite recent advances, it remains unclear whether pyrexia or the physiological response... read more

Increasing survival after admission to UK critical care units following cardiopulmonary resuscitation

In recent years there have been many developments in post-resuscitation care. We have investigated trends in patient characteristics and outcome following admission to UK critical care units following cardiopulmonary resuscitation... read more

Association of Sodium Selenite and Procalcitonin-Guided Therapy With Mortality

This randomized clinical trial evaluates the use of high-dose sodium selenite, with or without use of a procalcitonin algorithm to guide therapy, and its association with mortality in patients with severe sepsis.... read more

Dysbiosis Across Multiple Body Sites in Critically Ill Adult Surgical Patients

Current evidence suggests that symbiosis of commensal microflora play a significant role in health and illness. The effect that commensal microflora play in critical care is less well known.... read more

Smoking, vitamin D deficiency linked to early MS disability

Severe vitamin D deficiency and current smoking predicted accumulated disability in patients with clinically isolated syndrome, which can be a precursor to the development of multiple sclerosis.... read more

Gene therapy for LPLD patients linked to lower frequency and severity of pancreatitis

Up to 6 years after receiving a single treatment with the gene therapy product lipoprotein lipase (LPL), patients with the debilitating genetic disease LPL deficiency (LPLD) had about 50% fewer episodes of pancreatitis than... read more

ICDs appear not to improve overall survival in non-ischemic systolic HF

This paper reports the findings of the DANISH study, a multicenter, unblinded, randomized, controlled trial to compare outcomes in patients with non-ischemic systolic heart failure who received cardiac resynchronization therapy... read more

HDAC inhibitors show promise against cancer stem cells

A group of researchers, led by scientists at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has shown that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have the potential to eliminate... read more

Newer blood thinning drugs safer for reducing atrial fibrillation

Although warfarin has been used for nearly 60 years, researchers say newer blood thinners are a better option for lowering stroke risk among atrial fibrillation patients because they work for a shorter time with fewer side... read more

VTE history in female relatives increases absolute thrombotic risk

A family history of thrombosis in women may increase the risk for venous thromboembolism in women taking oral contraceptives, according to the results of a cohort study.... read more

Time to treatment with endovascular thrombectomy and outcomes from ischemic stroke

Compared to patients treated with medical therapy alone, patients with an ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular thrombectomy combined with medical therapy had lower rates of disability 3 months after their stroke.... read more