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Scientists create therapy-grade stem cells using new cocktail to reprogram adult cells

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed a new cocktail that is highly effective at coaxing adult cells to become quality pluripotent stem cells.

Regenerative medicine is a new and expanding area that aims to replace lost or damaged cells, tissues or organs through cellular transplantation. Because stem cells derived from human embryos can trigger ethical concerns, a good solution is reprogramming adult cells back to an embryo-like state using a combination of reprogramming factors.

Prostate cancer patients who receive hypofractionated RT report consistent QoL

San Francisco, September 15, 2014—Prostate cancer patients who received hypofractionated (HPFX) radiation therapy (RT) reported that their quality of life, as well as bladder and bowel function were at similar levels before and after RT, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 56th Annual Meeting. Additionally, results indicate that parallel quality of life outcomes occurred between groups of patients who receive different regimens of HPFX RT.

Single fraction RT as effective as multiple fraction RT for bone metastases

San Francisco, September 15, 2014—A prospective study that compared patient-reported outcomes of a broad set of cancer patients with bone metastases demonstrates that single fraction radiation therapy (SFRT) is equally as effective as multiple fraction radiation therapy (MFRT) when pain, function and quality of life are considered, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 56th Annual Meeting.

Do you always get what you pay for? How consumers mispredict product quality

Consumers are willing to spend thousands of dollars for luxury brand watches such as Rolex and Cartier because they are synonymous with high quality. But does this mean that inexpensive watches made by low-cost rivals must always be low quality? According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, consumers mistakenly predict product quality based on quality consistency in other price ranges.

Can consumers use an easy trick to extend wonderful experiences and shorten bad ones?

Many experiences rarely seem to last the right amount of time. Vacations feel too short, meetings seem too long, and bad dates never seem to end. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research finds that simply categorizing experiences can help consumers extend good experiences and shorten the bad ones.

Sam Houston State study examines use of GIS in policing

HUNTSVILLE, TX (9/16/14) -- Police agencies are using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for mapping crime, identifying crime "hot spots," assigning officers, and profiling offenders, but little research has been done about the effectiveness of the technology in curbing crime, according to a study at Sam Houston State University (SHSU).

Measuring defensive medicine costs on 3 hospital services

Bottom Line: About 28 percent of the orders for three services at three hospitals were judged to be at least partially defensive by the physicians who ordered them.

Author: Michael B. Rothberg, M.D., M.P.H., of the Cleveland Clinic, and colleagues.

Background: The overuse of medical tests and procedures driven by a fear of malpractice lawsuits, commonly known as defensive medicine, has been estimated to cost $46 billion annually in the U.S., although those costs have been measured indirectly.

Two research letters, commentary examine emergency department timeliness, stays

Bottom Line: Variability exists in emergency department (ED) timeliness based on four variables (hospital size, rural vs. urban, ownership and teaching status) reported to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for patients discharged from the ED or admitted for inpatient services.

Author: Sidney T. Le, B.A., and Renee Y. Hsia, M.D., M.Sc., of the University of California, San Francisco.

IU study: Combining epilepsy drug, morphine can result in less pain, lower opioid doses

INDIANAPOLIS -- Adding a common epilepsy drug to a morphine regimen can result in better pain control with fewer side effects. Moreover, the combination can reduce the dosage of the opioid needed to be effective, according to a team of pain researchers at Indiana University.

The result could bring significant relief to many patients with neuropathic pain, a difficult-to-treat condition often felt in the arms and legs and associated with nerve tissue damage.

When rulers can't understand the ruled

Johns Hopkins University political scientists wanted to know if America's unelected officials have enough in common with the people they govern to understand them.

The answer: Not really.

Care coordination can decrease health-care use by frequent users

Better coordination of patient care between health care providers, encouraging patients to self-manage their health and other strategies can reduce use of the health care system by seniors and people with chronic conditions, according to research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Implementing new care strategies can cut health care usage among system's biggest users

TORONTO, Sept. 15, 2014 – Co-ordinating patient care better can reduce use of the health care system by its most frequently seen patients, according to new research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

A small group of people are often admitted into hospital or frequently visit hospital emergency departments and clinics. These individuals are often seniors and people with chronic conditions -- including mental health disorders -- and they use a disproportionate amount of health care resources, despite their relatively small numbers.

Long-term effects of childhood asthma influenced by socioeconomic status

COLUMBIA, Mo. – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 6 percent of children younger than five have been diagnosed with asthma, the fastest-growing and most common chronic illness affecting children in the United States. Studies have shown that asthma is associated with attention and behavioral issues in children, yet little existing research examines how socioeconomic status may influence the ultimate effects of these difficulties.

Caregivers of family members newly diagnosed with mental illness at risk for anxiety

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Nursing, who studied the emotional distress of caring for a family member diagnosed with a mental illness, found anxiety is high for the primary caregiver at the initial diagnosis or early in the course of the illness and decreases over time.

"This finding is significant," said Jaclene A. Zauszniewski, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN, the Kate Hanna Harvey Professor of Community Health at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing and study's corresponding author.

Genes may help explain why some people are naturally more interested in music than others

Research suggests that genes that affect hearing and cognitive function may play roles in one's musical aptitude, or the ability to understand and perceive rhythm, pitch, timbre, tone durations, and formal structure in music.

The authors of a BioEssays article explain that extremes in musical aptitude (extreme capacity/no capacity) are rare within a population, with the majority of individuals having moderate aptitude.