More COVID-19 patients in ICUs are surviving now: study

(HealthDay)—Even as new coronavirus infections soar in the United States, a new study offers one piece of good news: Severely ill COVID-19 patients are significantly more likely to survive now compared to a few months ago. In fact, deaths for COVID-19 patients in intensive care units have fallen by nearly a third in North America,

Diagnosis of glioblastoma: How brain tumors are treated today?

Glioblastoma is a malignant brain tumor that often grows very quickly and as a particularly aggressive applies. Usually the first symptoms, such as headache, dizziness, blurred vision, or paralysis lie between the appearance of symptoms and the diagnosis only a few weeks or months. The therapy must begin quickly. The person and their family can

Simple twist of DNA determines fate of placenta

The development of the mammalian placenta depends upon an unusual twist that separates DNA’s classic double helix into a single-stranded form, Yale researchers report July 15 in the journal Nature. The Yale team also identified the molecular regulator that acts upon this single strand to accelerate or stop placental development, a discovery with implications not

Scientists ID gene responsible for deadly glioblastoma

Scientists have identified an oncogene (a cancer-causing gene) responsible for glioblastoma, the deadliest brain tumor. The discovery offers a promising new treatment target for a cancer that is always fatal. The researchers say the oncogene is essential to the survival of the cancer cells. Without it, the cancer cells die. Scientists have already developed many

Using Zoom with Epic to bring telehealth to kids during COVID-19

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the immediate challenge for Baltimore-based Kennedy Krieger Institute was shifting an almost-100% onsite outpatient workforce to an almost entirely remote one. (Its hospital has remained open, serving inpatients throughout the pandemic.) THE PROBLEM Kennedy Krieger has had a small tele-behavioral health program for military families for four years.

Study shows humans are optimists for most of life

Is middle age really the “golden age” when people are the most optimistic in life? Researchers from Michigan State University led the largest study of its kind to determine how optimistic people are in life and when, as well as how major life events affect how optimistic they are about the future. “We found that

Study finds weight loss surgery cost disparity

A new study from the University of Georgia finds that users of public insurance are paying more for bariatric weight loss surgery compared to private insurance patients. The study, which published recently in Clinical Obesity, is the first to break down surgeries by insurance payer type—public versus private insurance—to better understand the economic burden on

Emphasizing severity of COVID-19 important for teen behaviors

(HealthDay)—For adolescents, understanding the severity of COVID-19 and valuing social responsibility are associated with acting in socially responsible ways, including more social distancing and disinfecting, according to a study published online June 29 in JAMA Pediatrics. Benjamin Oosterhoff, Ph.D., and Cara A. Palmer, Ph.D., from Montana State University in Bozeman, examined psychological factors associated with

International recommendations for nontuberculous mycobacteria

NTMs are closely related to tuberculosis bacteria and can (but do not need to) cause infectious diseases in humans. They are called “nontuberculous mycobacteria” (NTMs) to distinguish them from tuberculosis bacteria. There are approximately 200 different species and subspecies of these bacteria. Patients with bronchiectasis (dilation of the airways) are particularly affected. It is not

New PET radiotracer proven safe and effective in imaging malignant brain tumors

A first-in-human study presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2020 Annual Meeting has demonstrated the safety, favorable pharmacokinetic and dosimetry profile of 64Cu-EBRGD, a new, relatively long-lived PET tracer, in patients with glioblastomas. The radiotracer proved to be a superior, high-contrast imaging diagnostic in patients, visualizing tumors that express low or