Culture | Page 1750 | Science Codex

Expanding insurance for single-embryo IVF could improve pregnancy outcomes

AURORA, Colo. (April 13, 2016) - Expanding insurance coverage for a type of in vitro fertilization known as elective single-embryo transfer could lead to improved health outcomes and lower health care costs, according to a newly published study that included researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

The study, published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, offers a national survey of outcomes for 263,375 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles in the United States and finds that elective single-embryo transfer leads to fewer adverse outcomes.

The economic crisis has worsened the hard lives of homeless people

Until now, no large-scale scientific studies had been done into the impact of the economic crisis on homeless people. A study by the University of the Basque Country has explained how, between 2008 and 2012, the employment situation, together with cuts to certain state benefits, has put the brakes on the reintegration of homeless people into society, especially if they are foreign.

Scientists report on novel method for extending the life of implantable devices in situ

Boston -- Blood-contacting implantable medical devices, such as stents, heart valves, ventricular assist devices, and extracorporeal support systems, as well as vascular grafts and access catheters, are used worldwide to improve patients' lives. However, these devices are prone to failure due to the body's responses at the blood-material interface; clots can form and inflammatory reactions can prevent the device from performing as indicated. Currently, when this occurs, the only solution is to replace the device.

Community-based treatment providers can help ease pressure on specialists in battle against hep C

April 13, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: A new study, presented today, demonstrates treatment for Hepatitis C can be provided safely and effectively within a community-based and non-specialist setting. This illustrates the potential for alternative providers to ease pressure on currently overburdened specialists. The study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, was presented at The International Liver Congress™ 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.

High rate of cancer recurrence found in certain hepatitis C patients

April 13, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: Data from a new study show that patients with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) taking direct-acting antiviral treatments (DAAs), who have previously fought off hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer,1 had a 'high rate' of re-developing their illness.

The large retrospective cohort study, presented today at The International Liver CongressTM in Barcelona, Spain found 29% of patients who had a history of HCC re-developed the condition during or after taking DAAs.

Differing perspectives on antiviral treatment efficacy in patients co-infected with HIV and HCV

April 13, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: Two separate studies presented today at The International Liver Congress™ 2016 in Barcelona, Spain have offered alternative conclusions regarding the efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) among patients co-infected with HIV and Hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Hospitals could reduce healthcare burden of alcohol related harm by simple routine screening

April 13, 2016, Barcelona, Spain: The growing burden of alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) could be reduced if hospitals introduced a simple universal screening procedure for those attending acute and emergency hospital settings, according to a new study shared today at The International Liver Congress™ in Barcelona, Spain.

Predicting gentrification through social networking data

The first network to look at the interconnected nature of people and places in large cities is not only able to quantify the social diversity of a particular place, but can also be used to predict when a neighbourhood will go through the process of gentrification, which is associated with the displacement of residents of a deprived area by an influx of a more affluent population.

The researchers behind the study, led by the University of Cambridge, will present their results today (13 April) at the 25th International World Wide Web Conference in Montréal.

AGS seeks progress at 2016 Annual Scientific Meeting

"Eureka," the state motto for California, comes from the Greek word for "I have found it." There seems to be something in the mythology of California attuned to seeking and finding--a fitting spirit for the site of the upcoming American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Annual Scientific Meeting (AGS16), held this year in Long Beach, Calif., May 19-21.

Salk scientists find 'secret sauce' for personalized, functional insulin-producing cells

LA JOLLA--Salk scientists have solved a longstanding problem in the effort to create replacement cells for diabetic patients. The team uncovered a hidden energy switch that, when flipped, powers up pancreatic cells to respond to glucose, a step that eluded previous research. The result is the production of hundreds of millions of lab-produced human beta cells--able to relieve diabetes in mice.

Multifaceted quality improvement intervention does not reduce risk of death in ICUs

Implementation of a multifaceted quality improvement intervention with daily checklists, goal setting, and clinician prompting did not reduce in-hospital mortality compared with routine care among critically ill patients treated in intensive care units (ICUs) in Brazil, according to a study appearing in the April 12 issue of JAMA.

Economic development does mean greater carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions

Must greater prosperity necessarily lead to a greater carbon footprint and increased greenhouse gas emissions? "In theory, no, but in practice this seems to be the case", says researcher Max Koch from Lund University in Sweden. His study of 138 countries is the first ever to take a global approach to the connections between growth, prosperity and ecological sustainability. The study was recently published in the journal article Global Environmental Change.

Improving treatments for post-Ebola syndrome sufferers

Researchers from the University of Liverpool and the King's Sierra Leone Partnership are to present new findings into post-Ebola syndrome at a major European conference this week.

A year on from the Ebola outbreaks in West Africa, and many Ebola survivors are now suffering symptoms of post-Ebola syndrome (PES), including vision complications, joint and muscle pain and psychiatric and neurological problems.

Scant evidence to back locating primary care services in emergency/urgent care

There is little evidence to back locating primary care services in emergency/urgent care facilities in a bid to curb patient demand and improve throughput, finds a review of the available evidence, published online in Emergency Medicine Journal.

Furthermore, the set-up costs dwarf the marginal savings to be made, the findings suggest.

Wayne State study provides new understanding of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

DETROIT - A research team from Wayne State University recently published a paper in the Journal of Clinical Investigation that provides a paradigm shift in the understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and wound healing in the treatment of corneal and skin diabetic ulcers.