Articles

Systolic blood pressure that differs by more than 10 or 15 mm Hg between arms is associated with a higher risk of vascular problems and death, according to a study published online Jan. 30 in The Lancet.

Statin therapy is equally effective for decreasing cardiovascular events in women and men, according to a meta-analysis published in the Feb. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Infants at risk for developing autism spectrum disorders already show abnormalities in their patterns of eye contact in their first year, which may allow earlier intervention, according to a study published online Jan. 26 in Current Biology.

Overweight and obese adults are significantly more likely to have lumbar disc degeneration compared with those who have a normal body mass index, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Family companions involved in physician visits with older adults usually offer task assistance in activities of daily living and can help build patient-provider partnerships to efficiently manage senior health, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

During periodic health examinations, a variety of patient, physician, and visit factors together affect the recommendation and delivery of evidence-based preventive health services, with patients receiving only about half of those services for which they are due, according to research published in the February issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Poor sleep is connected to a significantly increased risk for major cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, such as obesity, diabetes, and coronary artery disease, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine have found.

According to a study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), more than 32 million people in the United States have proteins created by the immune system that target the body’s tissues. Known as autoantibodies, these proteins are typically markers for autoimmunity, which can result in conditions such as type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Bydureon as the first once-weekly treatment for type 2 diabetes after several years of delays due to concerns over the drug’s safety.

Just days after Saudi Arabia donated $25 million to the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated $750 million, in addition to the $650 million donated over the last 10 years.

Men and individuals who have only a high school education are more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment than women and individuals who have completed some higher education, researchers at the Mayo Clinic report in a study published online on Jan. 25 in Neurology.

In a group of septuagenarian patients with atrial fibrillation, followed for up to six years, warfarin use is associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

The majority of obesity prevention interventions are cost-effective in the long-term, with the most favorable interventions being those which modify a target population's environment, according to a review published online Jan. 17 in Obesity Reviews.

High prenatal testosterone levels are associated with an increased risk of clinically significant language delay in the first three years of life for male children, but are associated with a reduced risk of language delay for female children, according to research published online Jan. 26 in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

Self-rated health status is a risk factor for future vascular events and mortality in patients with cardiovascular diseases, particularly in those with asymptomatic atherosclerotic disease, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

Patients diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy undergo a median of four tests, with variability seen in testing patterns, according to a study published in the Jan. 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The COPD Assessment Test provides a reliable score of exacerbation severity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a study published online Jan. 26 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

People with one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease in middle age are significantly more likely to suffer a major cardiovascular event, such as heart attack or stroke, for decades afterwards, a large-scale analysis of previous studies indicates.

Glucocorticoid therapy appears to help reduce the amount of citrullination in the joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients, researchers have found.

Participants in the London marathon have a spotty understanding of the causes and potential dangers of exercise-associated hyponatremia, researchers at the Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine at the University of London have found.