As cancer patients become increasingly ill toward the end of their lives, their pain often intensifies and increases in frequency. This is distressing not only to the patient, but also to the patient's caregivers, often a spouse or partner. Effectively managing that pain with medications and other therapies is of utmost importance, but also difficult to accomplish for most lay caregivers.
Scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases–part of the National Institutes of Health–have unraveled the process of Francisella tularensis, bacteria which causes the disease tularemia
A study showed Oxytocin's effects on human social behavior are not clear. Some studies reveal significant positive changes, yet others show none at all. In many animals, from rodents to non-human primates, it's a different story: Oxytocin has been proven to increase positive social behaviors and attention paid to others, and reduce negative social behaviors like threats and vigilance. The hormones flatten group hierarchy, resulting in dominant monkeys becoming more relaxed and subordinate monkeys becoming more confident. The study was published in Scientific Reports
A new anti-cancer drug may be effective against a wider range of cancers than previously thought. Using a mouse model and samples taken from cancer patients researchers has shown that a new class of drugs known as SHP2 inhibitors is also effective against aggressive, hard-to-treat tumors such as lung and pancreatic cancers. Clinical trials currently underway had previously excluded patients with these cancers.
Since it was first synthesized almost 150 years ago, the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, better known as DDT, has been widely used to fight illnesses caused by insects. Later, it was proven not only to kill off the species it targeted but also wreaked havoc on the environment, on human beings, and on other species
The dark matter of the human genome may shed light on how the hormone androgen impacts prostate cancer. Researchers at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center identified a novel gene they named ARLNC1 that controls signals from the androgen receptor, a key player in prostate cancer. Knocking down this long non-coding RNA in mice led to cancer cell death, suggesting this may be a key target for future therapies. The study is published in Nature Genetics.
Families of critically ill hospital patients report higher satisfaction with clinician communication and a better perception of patient-centered care when the care team uses a low-cost strategy involving intensive emotional support and frequent meetings.
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center are trying to answer that question with a new, National Institute on the Aging-funded study that will explore how the intestinal microbiota—the bacteria in the intestine—influence the progression of cognitive decline and the development of Alzheimer's disease
A recent study describes that the community members are served by our health-care system as they face death. This study of the palliative care showing similarities between these cities and providing important context for health-care system planning.
Victims of domestic violence are at a high risk to be murdered or a victim of attempted murder according to a Cuyahoga County task force of criminal justice professionals, victim advocates and researchers working to prevent domestic violence and homicides.
The nationally recognized Kidney Cancer Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center's Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center led a team of investigators who identified a new way to help doctors determine the prognosis for patients with stage 3 kidney cancer, which has important implications for decisions about surgery and inclusion in clinical trials
The study reports suggest that platelets with variable morphology could be associated with an increased risk of vascular complications in diabetes. Hyperglycemia, in turn, may contribute to endothelial dysfunction and vascular damage.
This condition exerts an increased platelet reactivity and promotes glycosylation of platelet proteins. This study was designed to evaluate the alteration in coagulation parameters and platelet indices and their relation to diabetic septic foot in Sudanese patients.