Duke University health news articles

Violence during childhood may impact kids' DNA
Children who have experienced violence might really be older than their years. The DNA of 10-year-olds who experienced violence in their young lives has been found to show wear and tear normally associated with aging, a Duke University study has found.

Financial reimbursement increases cardiac stress tests in patients
Financial reimbursement and ownership of cardiac imaging equipment appears to influence physicians' use of cardiac stress testing. The study finds that doctors who are reimbursed for both performing the test using their equipment and then interpreting the results were 50 to 100 percent more likely to order cardiac imaging tests on their patients than those who don't bill the fees.

Rivaroxaban can prevent strokes in atrial fibrillation patients
Rivaroxaban, an anti-clotting drug, was shown to be an attractive alternative to warfarin in the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, revealed by researchers recently.

Obese men face higher risk of prostate cancer progression
Even when treated with hormone therapy to suppress tumor growth, obese men face an elevated risk of their prostate cancer worsening, researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found.

Bariatric surgery better than dieting for glucose control
Researchers have uncovered a new clue for why bariatric surgery is more effective than dietary remedies alone at controlling glucose levels. The study conducted at Duke University Medical Center and St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University.

Statins lower prostate cancer recurrence after prostatectomy
Men who use statins to lower their cholesterol are 30 percent less likely to see their prostate cancer come back after surgery compared to men who do not use the drugs, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. Researchers also found that higher doses of the drugs were associated with lower risk of recurrence.

Low carb diet effective at lowering blood pressure
In a head-to-head comparison, two popular weight loss methods proved equally effective at helping participants lose significant amounts of weight. But, in a surprising twist, a low-carbohydrate diet proved better at lowering blood pressure than the weight-loss drug orlistat.

MRSA infection increases hospital cost $60000 per patient
Post surgical infections significantly increase the chance of hospital readmission and death and cost as much as $60,000 per patient, according to Duke University Medical Center researchers who conducted the largest study of its kind to date.

New biomarker predicts response to hepatitis C treatment
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have identified the first genetic marker that predicts response to hepatitis C treatments, and a single letter of DNA code appears to make a huge difference.

Binge drinking among older Americans - a study
One of the largest surveys of substance use has found a remarkable amount of binge drinking among older Americans, revealed by researchers at Duke University Medical Center in The American Journal of Psychiatry.

Heart bypass surgery with traditional approach is better
Endoscopic devices commonly used to harvest vein grafts for coronary artery bypass surgery may result in poorer outcomes than traditional vein harvesting techniques, revealed by researchers.

Osteoporosis drug may improve immune system
An osteoporosis drug zoledronic acid (Reclast) proven to save lives after hip fractures may do so by strengthening the body's immune system, revealed by geriatrics researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

Pre cessation nicotine patch doubles quit success rate
Using a nicotine patch before quitting smoking can double success rates, revealed by researchers at the Duke University Medical Center. This should be highlighted on nicotine patch labeling.

AIDS virus damages gut antibody-producing immune cells
A new research from the NIAID-funded Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology suggests that HIV-1 is anything but – moving at breathtaking speed in destroying and dysregulating the body's gut-based B-cell antibody-producing system.

Bariatric surgery relatively safe for weight loss
Advances in bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) have made this procedure as safe as any routine surgical procedure, as per researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

Carbohydrate restriction may slow prostate tumor growth
Restricting carbohydrates, regardless of weight loss, appears to slow the growth of prostate tumors, according to an animal study being published this week by researchers in the Duke Prostate Center.

Low income breast cancer patients skipping hormonal therapy
Many low-income women are failing to take the hormonal therapy prescribed as part of their breast cancer treatment, possibly lowering their survival rates, according to a study led by a researcher in the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Diet and exercise improve health in cancer survivors
A home-based program aimed at improving exercise and diet can lead to meaningful improvements in physical function among older long-term cancer survivors, according to the results of a study led by researchers from Duke University Medical Center and The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Gene defect can cause sever mental retardation as Angelman syndrome
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center and the University of North Carolina have discovered in mice how a single disrupted gene can cause a form of severe mental retardation known as Angelman syndrome.

Women live longer with disabilities due to obesity and arthritis
Obesity and arthritis that take root during early and middle age significantly contribute to women's decreased quality of life during their senior years, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

Statins reduce inflammation in prostate tumors
Cholesterol lowering drugs called statins may reduce inflammation in prostate tumors, possibly hindering cancer growth, according to a study led by investigators in the Duke Prostate Center.

New imaging technology reveals silent heart attacks
So-called "silent" heart attacks may be much more common than previously believed, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

Brain cancer malignant glioma linked to gene mutations
Scientists at Duke University Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University have discovered mutations in two genes that could become therapeutic targets in malignant glioma, a dangerous class of brain tumors.

Clinical trials overseas raises quality control issues
Top-tier U.S.-based pharmaceutical companies are moving their clinical trials overseas at warp speed, raising questions about ethics, quality control, and even the scientific value of their findings for people back in the U.S.

Reading can help obese kids lose weight
It's no secret that reading is beneficial. But can it help kids lose weight? In the first study to look at the impact of literature on obese adolescents, researchers at Duke Children's Hospital discovered that reading the right type of novel may make a difference.

PSA screening awareness needed among high-risk groups
In one of the first examinations of PSA screening in younger men, a study published by researchers at Duke Medicine's Prostate Center finds that one-fifth of men under age 50 reported undergoing a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test to detect prostate cancer in the previous year, yet only one in three young black men reported ever having a PSA test in the previous year.

Cold sore's herpes simplex virus mechanism revealed
Now that Duke University Medical Center scientists have figured out how the virus that causes cold sores hides out, they may have a way to wake it up and kill it.

Sleep deprivation affects visual ability
Researchers have found that a sleep-deprived brain can normally process simple visuals, like flashing checkerboards. But the ‘higher visual areas' – those that are responsible for making sense of what we see – didn't function well.

Cutting caffeine, coffee, tea may help control diabetes
Daily consumption of caffeine in coffee, tea or soft drinks increases blood sugar levels for people with type 2 diabetes and may undermine efforts to control their disease, say scientists at Duke University Medical Center.

New ultrasound technique sharpens view of liver tumors
A new high-energy form of ultrasound imaging developed by researchers at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering produces pictures of liver tumors that are better than those made with traditional ultrasound, according to results of a clinical study.

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