News

So far, gene studies have not shed much light on the question of how ALS develops and who gets the disease. A geneticist says the studies have to be bigger, wider, and deeper.

In a study approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, California researchers are launching a pilot program to see if MDMA, the recreational drug known as "Ecstasy" will alleviate social anxiety in adults with autism.

Danish researchers conducted a meta-analysis that looked at possible associations between coffee intake and obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. They reported finding only a low risk of these conditions in coffee drinkers, but no genetic variance to explain the relationships.

With the global boom in type 2 diabetes mellitus, many patients have greatest access to and are well-cared for by their primary care practitioners (PCPs). For those with basic, predictable, garden-variety diabetes, PCPs are perfectly capable of helping them. It's unclear when referral to a specialist for consultation or chronic management is most sensible.

Study results indicate that patients with AIDS appear to have a four times greater risk of developing intermediate-stage age-related macular degeneration when compared with patients of the same age without HIV.

Researchers have demonstrate the efficacy of an implantable organic electronic delivery device for the treatment of neuropathic pain in an animal model. The small organic electronic ion pump could be an effective option for patients suffering from severe nerve pain.

Patients with gout may find relief from severe inflammatory pain due to recently explored peripheral system channels.

A weak spot in enzymes responsible for causing antibiotic resistance has been pinpointed, according to a team of researchers from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte (UNC Charlotte).

The US Food and Drug Administration approved a new use for sirolimus, treating a rare lung disease.

Untreated strep infections can cause acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in children. That complication has become rare in the continental US, but a new CDC report finds a resurgence in the American territory of Samoa and in people of Samoan descent living in the state of Hawaii.

Plasma-rich platelet injection, an arthritis therapy, is thought to induce regeneration of damaged cartilage. A Netherlands team looked at existing studies and was not convinced that there is credible proof the therapy works. The studies all had a high-to-moderate risk of bias, they found.

Chronic painful conditions can have a significant negative impact on a patient's quality of life, but are some conditions worse than others? A recent study sought to determine which chronic pain condition creates the biggest burden on patient quality of life.

Compared to healthy individuals, ADHD patients are 2 times more likely to die prematurely – and the risk is higher in women and girls.

Measuring 2 qualities in about a minute can determine how easily patients will recover after major surgery, according to research in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

The first large-scale clinical trial of its kind has confirmed big news when it comes to treatment for patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

A recent review article summarized the socioeconomic consequences of Klinefelter syndrome, which is the most frequent chromosomal aberration in humans and is associated with hypogonadism and neurocognitive deficits.

Results from 2 trials presented at the recent Heart Rhythm Society meeting suggest that 2 alternative ablation technologies work about as well as those that are commonly used on patients with atrial fibrillation.

The US Food and Drug Association (FDA) granted approval for eluxadoline (Viberzi) and rifaximin (Xifaxan), to treat irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) in adult men and women.

Researchers from the University of Michigan say a new model that uses routine laboratory tests and machine-learning methods to better predict hepatitis C progression can be used to guide patients and doctors through important treatment decisions.

The saying "it's all in your head" may not be that far off when it comes to pain, according to a new study measuring brain activity.

New strains of leishmania, a parasitic disease that starts with skin ulcers, are spreading. The CDC reports on an outbreak in a group of 24 scientists and warns US physicians to be alert for the infection in travelers returning from Latin America and South America. The destruction of the Amazon rain forest may be playing a role.

Researchers at Oregon State University have identified zebrafish as an optimal testing model for toxoplasmosis, as they believe the fish could provide insight into breakthrough treatments.

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) occurs after approximately 2% of primary hip or knee replacements and in up to 6% of revisions surgeries, and cost more than $50,000 per episode. A recent review found that many surgeons have altered their approaches to PJI management based on recent clinical findings.

Besides being the most common cause of chronic liver disease in industrialized nations, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has serious hepatic consequences. It is expected to be the most frequent indication for liver transplantation by 2030.

Research from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System published online in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry suggests that patients with post-traumatic stress disorder appear to be at risk for accelerated aging, or premature senescence.

The herpes virus has found its sole positive use: to combat melanoma, the deadliest of skin cancers.

In a world where more and more bacteria are building antibiotic resistance – and most countries have proven to be unprepared for the repercussions – new technology comes with a slew of benefits.

Researchers foresee new, effective Ebola treatments in the future due to a promising discovery in the deadly disease's replication process.

A drug normally used to treat hypertension reduced the symptoms of multiple sclerosis in mice models of the disease.

Young leukemia patients are at risk for peripheral neuropathy due to an inherited gene variation, according to research published in JAMA.