AAP Says Codeine Not Safe for Children, Urges Restrictions

Codeine is unsafe for children and should no longer be given to them, according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) .... read more

High Prevalence of Depression Following ICU Stays

Research shows people discharged from intensive care are at a high risk for developing depression, and a new study suggests that number is as high as 1 in 3.... read more

Chlorhexidine bathing significantly more effective in reducing hospital-acquired infections

A Houston Methodist team showed that chlorhexidine bathing of surgical ICU patients decreased the risk of hospital-acquired infections by more than 44 percent.... read more

Communication App Helps Patients Voice Their Needs

An innovative tablet-based application offers intubated and ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients a way to converse with their medical staff.... read more

Elevated HDL levels predict reduced lung function

Having an elevated level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is associated with an increased rate of lung function decline over time, according to results from a cohort analysis of more than 30,000 adults presented... read more

Memory of a heart attack is stored in our genes

Both heredity and environmental factors influence our risk of cardiovascular disease. A new study shows now that the memory of a heart attack can be stored in our genes through epigenetic changes.... read more

Telehealth Can Be a Useful Communication Tool in the ICU

A Penn Medicine study finds that a video-based telehealth platform could improve communications between clinicians and a patient's family members in the always-busy ICU. A telehealth link could be more beneficial to... read more

Signatures of Subacute Potentially Catastrophic Illness in the ICU

The severity of the original insult often determines prognosis, and the risk of death is further increased by events that occur during the stay, such as acute respiratory failure, sepsis, and hemorrhage. These new insults... read more

Early Palliative Care Improves Quality of Life for Terminal Cancer Patients

The new study included 350 patients recently diagnosed with incurable lung or gastrointestinal cancer. They were randomly assigned to one of two care groups. One group received early palliative care integrated with cancer... read more

Study Finds Two Ways to Reduce HAIs

The risk for hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is reduced by conducting fewer patient transports and limiting urinary catheter use, according to a study conducted at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, New Jersey.... read more

Blood lactate concentrations predict ICU deaths

Blood lactate concentration is a strong predictor of mortality, more so than other measures of acidity in the blood, according to Australian researchers.... read more

Penn studies including families in ICU medical rounds

Unlike at many hospitals, the medical team at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania\'s surgical intensive care unit has embraced the idea of including families in physician rounds...... read more

Study shows retinoic acid could prevent postsurgical lymphedema

A study conducted at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California showed that 9-cis retinoic acid (alitretinoin) could significantly prevent postsurgical lymphedema.... read more

Digital PCR Detection of Cancer Mutations from Liquid Biopsies

Guest Editor, Randall Evans, Ph.D of Biodesix, discusses the recent success of a clinical trial of a diagnostic blood test.... read more

Language barriers impede treatment of children with special health care needs

Language barriers can have dangerous consequences for children with special health care needs, according to a new paper. Children with special health care needs account for two-thirds of pediatric hospital admissions and... read more

Researchers map links between salmonella, sepsis

Research by industrial engineering and biology researchers marks a significant milestone in the battle against sepsis, the second highest cause of death in intensive care units in the U.S.... read more