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New treatment could tackle preventable causes of death for newborns in sub-Saharan Africa

Clinical trials are urgently needed to test a new treatment that could jointly tackle leading causes of death for babies in sub-Saharan Africa, according to researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association today suggests that a considerable number of pregnant women accessing antenatal care in the region have malaria and sexually transmitted/reproductive tract infections (STIs/RTIs).

Air pollution level changes in Beijing linked with biomarkers of cardiovascular disease

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, changes in air pollution were associated with changes in biomarkers of systemic inflammation and thrombosis (formation of blood clot) as well as measures of cardiovascular physiology in healthy young persons, according to a study in the May 16 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on Global Health.

African countries that received more intensive assistance from PEPFAR show decline in death rate

Between 2004 and 2008, all-cause adult mortality declined more in African countries in which the AIDS relief program PEPFAR operated more intensively, according to a study in the May 16 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on Global Health.

Prenatal micronutrient, food supplementation intervention in Bangladesh decreases child death rate

Pregnant women in poor communities in Bangladesh who received multiple micronutrients, including iron and folic acid combined with early food supplementation, had substantially improved survival of their newborns, compared to women in a standard program that included usual food supplementation, according to a study in the May 16 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on Global Health.

Considerable prevalence of both malaria, STIs exist among pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa

A review of studies reporting estimates of the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections/reproductive tract infections (STIs/RTIs) and malaria over the past 20 years suggests that a considerable burden of malaria and STIs/RTIs exists among pregnant women attending antenatal (before birth) facilities in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a review and meta-analysis of previous studies published in the May 16 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on Global Health.

Robot-assisted surgery now favored treatment for kidney cancer

DETROIT – Robot-assisted surgery has replaced another minimally invasive operation as the main procedure to treat kidney cancer while sparing part of the diseased organ, and with comparable results, according to a new research study by Henry Ford Hospital urologists.

Quality of care, other issues may cause worse results in black prostate cancer surgery patients

DETROIT – Black prostate cancer patients may not be getting the same quality of care as white patients, according to a first-of-its-kind study by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital who found racial disparities in the results of surgery to remove diseased prostates.

Sulphur and iron compounds common in old shipwrecks

Sulphur and iron compounds have now been found in shipwrecks both in the Baltic and off the west coast of Sweden. The group behind the results, presented in the Journal of Archaeological Science, includes scientists from the University of Gothenburg and Stockholm University.

A few years ago scientists reported large quantities of sulphur and iron compounds in the salvaged 17th century warship Vasa, resulting in the development of sulphuric acid and acidic salt precipitates on the surface of the hull and loose wooden objects.

Higher hospital volume more important than surgeon experience in outcome of prostate cancer surgery

DETROIT – Older, sicker, high-risk patients who undergo one of the most common treatments for prostate cancer get better results in larger, busier hospitals, according to new research by Henry Ford Hospital.

In such cases, the same research showed the experience level of the surgeon doing the procedure mattered somewhat less than the hospital setting.

The results, based on data gathered throughout the U.S., will be presented this week at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting in Atlanta.

Women fare better than men, but need more blood after kidney cancer surgery

DETROIT – Women do better than men after surgical removal of part or all of a cancerous kidney, with fewer post-operative complications, including dying in the hospital, although they are more likely to receive blood transfusions related to their surgery.

But Henry Ford Hospital researchers who documented these gender differences can't say why they exist.

The results of the new study, based on population samples from throughout the U.S., will be presented this week at the American Urological Association's Annual Meeting in Atlanta.

Fewer prostate cancer surgery complications found in teaching hospitals with fellowship programs

DETROIT – Patients who undergo radical surgery for prostate cancer may expect better results, on average, if they're treated in accredited teaching hospitals with residency programs, and better still if the hospitals also have medical fellowships, according to a new study by Henry Ford Hospital.

The study, which evaluated postoperative complications in 47,100 radical prostatectomy (RP) patients throughout the U.S., also found that those with fewer complications after the surgery were more likely to have private insurance.

JoVE partners with US government to publish cutting-edge defense research

On May 15, 2012, JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments) will publish two articles in partnership with the United States government's Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). JoVE is proud to present the work from Temple University's Dr. Chris Schafmeister and State University of New York Buffalo's Dr. David Pawlowski and Dr. Richard Karalus.

Dietary supplements increase cancer risk

AURORA (May 15, 2012) - Beta-carotene, selenium and folic acid – taken up to three times their recommended daily allowance, these supplements are probably harmless. But taken at much higher levels as some supplement manufacturers suggest, these three supplements have now been proven to increase the risk of developing a host of cancers.

Big-mouthed babies drove the evolution of giant island snakes

Some populations of tiger snakes stranded for thousands of years on tiny islands surrounding Australia have evolved to be giants, growing to nearly twice the size of their mainland cousins. Now, new research in The American Naturalist suggests that the enormity of these elapids was driven by the need to have big-mouthed babies.

Cellular metabolism linked to anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders, ranging from social phobia to post-traumatic stress disorder, are the most common psychiatric diseases in the United States. Research in mice suggests a link between the gene that encodes Glyoxylase 1 (GLO1) and increased anxiety; however, the mechanism underlying this association has remained unclear.

The normal role of GLO1 is to degrade cytotoxic byproducts of glycolysis, a function which has no obvious connection to anxiety.