Culture

Folsom, Calif., (Dec. 1, 2015) - A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that one serving of walnuts (1oz) may provide 146 calories, which is 39 calories less, or 21 percent fewer, than the 185 calories listed in the USDA Nutrient Database. (1) The study takes into account the digestibility of walnut pieces and halves, and further research is needed to better understand the results of the study and how this technique for calculating calories could potentially affect the calorie count of other foods. The research was led by Dr. David J.

URBANA, Ill. - A new University of Illinois study reveals that distracted dining may be as dangerous to your health as distracted driving is to your safety on the highway.

"Being distracted during meals puts kids at added risk for obesity and increased consumption of unhealthy foods. In this study, we found that noisy and distracting environments affected parents' actions, and we know that parents set the tone for the quality of family mealtimes," said Barbara H. Fiese, director of the U of I's Family Resiliency Center (FRC).

CHICAGO - An interventional radiology technique shows promise for helping morbidly obese patients lose weight, according to the preliminary results of a study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Gastric artery embolization has been done for decades by interventional radiologists as a way to stop bleeding in emergency situations, but the idea of performing the procedure as a means of treating obesity is new.

CHICAGO - Researchers have developed software for the Microsoft Kinect gaming console that measures body part thickness and checks for motion, positioning and beam adjustment immediately before X-ray imaging, according to a feasibility study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Despite decades of efforts to banish the idea of "jobs for men" -- construction worker, firefighter, mechanic -- and "jobs for women" -- teacher, flight attendant, registered nurse -- almost 69 percent of workers are in occupations that are dominated by one gender or the other, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Why does gender segregation in jobs persist?

INDIANAPOLIS -- The latest technological innovation to affect the doctor-patient relationship is the examination room computer with its promise of supporting safer, more efficient and more effective patient care. But exam room computing is challenging and there is growing evidence that it can be a threat to patient safety and detrimental to good relationships and health outcomes.

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Nov. 30, 2015 -- Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Barrow Neurological Institute have for the first time identified genetic risk factors that are linked to stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC), a rare type of heart disease.

Patients with SIC generally show no symptoms until they suffer some form of intense emotional or physiological distress. For this reason the disorder is sometimes referred to as "broken heart syndrome," and because of its unusual presentation has captured the attention of physicians for centuries.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive (FOP) is a rare, but devastating genetic disease where bone is grown within soft tissue, such as skeletal muscle. Accordingly, it is also known as Stone Man Syndrome, since the patient's body ossifies into a statue-like state. It is a genetic disease, but patients do not show symptoms until their school-aged years. Normally, an immune response or trauma triggers the disease. This complicates study of FOP because the trauma associated with acquiring patient cells could stimulate the irregular bone growth.

Changed labor laws -- with some states curtailing collective bargaining rights -- may lessen political participation by teachers and other public employees, traditionally cornerstones in the election of Democrats, a Baylor University study has found.

Four years after its approval in the United States, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) continues to evolve and demonstrate positive outcomes for patients with aortic stenosis, a common heart problem, according to a report published online by The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Nov. 30, 2015--One year after being hospitalized in intensive care, patients have reduced bone mass that puts them at greater risk for fractures, according to a new study published online ahead of print in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Music therapy can enhance terminally ill patients' wellbeing and relaxation. This treatment has been known since the 1970s, but there is little scientific research on the subject. A recent randomized controlled trial by Marco Warth et al. in Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2015; 112: 788-94) analyzes the effect of music therapy on palliative care patients.

A pulse oximeter measures the oxygen saturation in the haemoglobin of the blood in a non-invasive way because it detects the different amount of light absorbed by the oxygenated and the deoxygenated haemoglobin in the systolic and diastolic phases. The sensors of the pulse oximeter are usually fitted to the fingernails, where nail varnish could distort the measurement. That is why during the clinical examination in an emergency situation, nail varnish is routinely removed to assess oxygen saturation.

Patients at safety-net hospital clinics where there was high computer use by clinicians were less likely to rate their care as excellent, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.

Safety-net clinics serve populations with limited health literacy and limited proficiency in English who experience communication barriers that can contribute to disparities in care and health. The implementation of electronic health records in safety-net clinics may affect communication between patients and health care providers.

When she says she loves my new haircut is she telling the truth or being sarcastic? The answer isn't always obvious.

Especially for men.

Or for those who suffer from diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, or neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism spectrum disorders. For people with these problems, any form of non-literal speech such as sarcasm, teasing or 'white lies' can be very confusing. A new video inventory of examples of these forms of indirect speech developed at McGill should help in the diagnosis and clinical testing of those with disorders of this kind.