Medscape Pathology & Lab Medicine Headlines

Norway Finds H1N1 Mutation in Flu Fatalities

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:05:38 EST

Norwegian health authorities said on Friday they have discovered a potentially significant mutation in the H1N1 influenza strain that could be responsible for causing the severest symptoms among those infected.

Did US Make Mistake in Leaving Adjuvants out of H1N1 Vaccines?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:05:38 EST

As US health officials struggle to vaccinate tens of millions of Americans against the pandemic of swine flu, some are looking regretfully at one easy way to instantly double or triple the number of doses available: using an adjuvant.

Multiple Factors Likely Explain Drop in Male Births in the US

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:05:38 EST

Differences in sex ratio by race/ethnicity, gestational age, and singleton vs multiple birth pregnancies suggest that one mechanism alone is unlikely to explain the decrease in male births in the US, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the November issue of Human Reproduction.

Stem Cells May Be Used as Skin Grafts

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:22:10 EST

A study shows stems cells have potential to treat burn victims.

Seasonal Flu Vaccine May Cut Swine Flu Risk

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:06:49 EST

Researchers say seasonal flu provides some cross-immunity against H1N1 swine flu.

Salmeterol Plus Corticosteroid Helps Asthma Patients Regardless of Genotype Variants

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:47:35 EST

Beta-2 adrenergic receptorvariants are not significant in common asthma therapy but are associated with a difference in methacholine response.

Magnetically Modulated Nanosystems: A Unique Drug-Delivery Platform

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Do magnetic nanoparticles offer high potential for numerous biomedical applications?

Children's Hearing Loss From Cisplatin Chemotherapy Associated With Gene Variants

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:30:38 EST

Recognizing genetic markers for cisplatin ototoxicity will improve children's treatment outcomes.

ACOG Issues Revised Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:08:08 EST

Revised American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines now recommend first cervical cancer screening at age 21 years and less frequent rescreening.

Dietary Supplement May Protect Against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Toxicity

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:13:16 EST

Genomic techniques have identified an enzyme that converts common food substance into glutathione, a molecule that binds toxic metabolites of acetaminophen.

Sen Grassley Questions Top Medical Schools About Ghostwriting

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:48:39 EST

As part of his mission to see more financial transparency in medicine, Sen Grassley has asked eight top US medical schools about their policies on ghostwriting.

Ecallantide Effective for Acute Episodes of Hereditary Angioedema

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:40:20 EST

The investigational plasma kallikrein inhibitor ecallantide achieves rapid and sustained symptom relief from acute episodes of hereditary angioedema.

New Creative Approaches to Pancreatic Cancer Improve Drug Delivery

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:45:34 EST

Pancreatic cancer remains the deadliest of cancer, but new approaches that improve the delivery of drugs to the tumor appear to hold promise.

Can Laboratory Tests Predict the Prognosis of Patients After Endovascular Aneurysm Repair? Current Status and Future Directions

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Can laboratory values predict the prognosis of patients after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR)? This article takes a look.

House Passes Medicare SGR Fix

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:11:22 EST

The House passed a bill that would rewrite the controversial sustainable growth rate formula and eliminate a 21.2% Medicare pay cut for physicians scheduled for 2010.

Where Next for The Endoscope?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:59:03 EST

The authors trace the origins and development of endoscopic technology, from "resectoscope" to modern devices for virtual and capsule endoscopy.

First Orthopaedic Surgeon in Space to Use His Medical Skills on Mission

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:10:31 EST

Five million miles from home, Dr. Robert Satcher completed his first space walk and "tweets" while in orbit.

Declining Renal Function Linked to Worse Cardiovascular Outcomes

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:37:25 EST

In individuals with or without kidney disease at baseline, declining kidney function was linked to a higher risk for heart failure, myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial disease, and early death.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing Does Not Raise Monozygotic Twinning Rate

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:57:25 EST

Preimplantation genetic screening and diagnosis does not increase the incidence of monozygotic twinning, report investigators from Belgium in the November issue of Human Reproduction.

Anterior Biopsy Helpful in Spotting Prostate Cancer Spread

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:57:25 EST

In men with prostate cancer undergoing active surveillance, routine biopsy approaches often miss disease progression. Sampling of the anterior region of the prostate may improve detection, researchers report in the November issue of the Journal of Urology.