Culture | Page 2184 | Science Codex

Less than half of dying patients are placed on a nationally recommended care pathway

Less than half of terminally ill patients are placed on the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP) despite it being recommended nationally, concludes UK research published online in the BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care journal.

Durham University researchers found that in many parts of England, staff may have limited training or support to use the care pathway, which is a model of care that enables healthcare professionals to focus on care in the last hours or days of life when a death is expected.

Daily Sunscreen Use Slows Skin Aging – Even in Middle-Age

For the first time, science proves that daily sunscreen use significantly slows skin aging, even in middle-aged men and women. Sunscreen and antioxidants have long been advocated to prevent skin aging, but to date, there has been no scientific evidence of their effectiveness.

Researchers measured photo-aging of 903 participants younger than 55 to determine whether regular use of sunscreen would slow skin aging compared with discretionary application. At the same time, researchers tested the anti-aging effects of beta-carotene supplements compared to placebo.

Despite living closer to better hospitals, black patients go to lower-quality hospitals

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Black patients are more likely to have surgery performed at low-quality hospitals even though they frequently live closer to better facilities than white patients.

A study that examined Medicare data from 2005-2008 revealed that although black patients live nearly twice as close to high-quality hospitals as white patients, they were between 25-58 percent more likely to receive surgery at low-quality hospitals.

Early-life risk factors account for racial and ethnic disparities in childhood obesity

Early-life risk factors -- most of which could be changed -- appear to explain the recognized racial and ethnic disparities in the incidence of childhood overweight and obesity. In a report being published online in JAMA Pediatrics, a team of researchers report a prospective study finding that increased prevalence of obesity and overweight among black and Hispanic 7-year-olds could largely be explained by risk factors such as rapid infant weight gain, early introduction of solid foods and a lack of exclusive breast feeding.

USC report: Law dramatically reduced hospital prices for the uninsured

To comply with a statewide "fair pricing" law, hospitals throughout California have significantly lowered prices to uninsured patients, with nearly all even going beyond the state mandate and offering free care to those below the poverty line.

The surprising success of the legislation represents the beginnings of a safety net not in place for other states.

Early life risk factors and racial/ethnic disparities in childhood obesity

Racial and ethnic disparities in children who are overweight and obese may be determined by risk factors in infancy and early childhood, according to a study published Online First by JAMA Pediatrics, a JAMA Network publication.

Over three decades, the rates of overweight and obesity among children have substantially increased worldwide. In the United States, the prevalence is estimated to be 32 percent among children and adolescents, according to the study background.

Are smartphones disrupting your sleep? Mayo Clinic study examines the question

BALTIMORE -- Smartphones and tablets can make for sleep-disrupting bedfellows. One cause is believed to be the bright light-emitting diodes that allow the use of mobile devices in dimly lit rooms; the light exposure can interfere with melatonin, a hormone that helps control the natural sleep-wake cycle. But there may be a way to check your mobile device in bed and still get a good night's sleep.

Smoking, sugar, booze: Make everything a 'sin' and tax accordingly and it pays our salaries, doctors say

Go ye and sin no more -- or pay for it, when it comes to junk food, smoking and consuming alcohol. That's the message from two Mayo Clinic physicians who say raising "sin" taxes on tobacco and alcoholic beverages and imposing them on sugary drinks and fatty foods would lead many people to cut back, improving public health.

Less money for other people is a welcome solution. It sure beats a salary cap for doctors in order to keep costs low.

12 million bednets and innovative thinking make Ghana malaria partnership a success

In a report to be released this month, the Promoting Malaria Prevention and Treatment (ProMPT) Project will describe an innovative model for distributing over 12 million mosquito nets to prevent the transmission of malaria in Ghana.

Oncologists are stressed and have difficulty discussing death with patients -- Ben-Gurion U. study

BEER-SHEVA, Israel, June 3, 2013 -- A group of oncologists have revealed in a new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers that communicating about death and dying with their patients is one of the most difficult and stressful parts of their work.

In the United States, 577,190 deaths from cancer occurred in 2012, according to the American Cancer Society.

An altered gut microbiota can predict diabetes

Intestinal bacteria may have a greater influence on us than was previously thought. In a study published in the prestigious journal Nature on 29 May, researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden and Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, show that patients with type 2 diabetes have an altered gut microbiota. Their findings have led to a new model to identify patients at increased risk of developing diabetes.

Doctor's advice for cancer patients: Personal values influence treatment recommendations

What treatment a doctor recommends for advanced cancer not only depends on medical aspects. His relationship to the individual patients and his own view of their life situation at their age play a role. This was found out by a research team led by Dr. Jan Schildmann of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) together with colleagues from the University of Oxford. The RUB researchers also explored how patients perceive and evaluate the information they receive for clarification and decision making.

Narcolepsy study finds surprising increase in neurons that produce histamine

DARIEN, IL – A new study provides surprising evidence that people with narcolepsy have an increased number of neurons that produce histamine, suggesting that histamine signaling may be a novel therapeutic target for this potentially disabling sleep disorder.

Atlas of Living Australia: Addressing biodiversity data quality is a community-wide effort

Improving data quality in large online data access facilities depends on a combination of automated checks and capturing expert knowledge, according to a paper published in the open-access journal Zookeys.

EORTC study shows radiotherapy and surgery provide regional control for breast cancer patients

Final analysis of the EORTC 10981-22023 AMAROS (After Mapping of the Axilla: Radiotherapy Or Surgery?) trial has shown that both axillary lymph node dissection and axillary radiotherapy provide excellent regional control for breast cancer patients with a positive sentinel node biopsy. The AMAROS trial also found that axillary radiotherapy reduces the risk of short term and long-term lymphoedema as compared to axillary lymph node dissection.