Faster and Better Healing of Infected Wounds Using Negative Pressure Technique
October 14th 2016Shorter wound healing time, fewer dressing changes and the opportunity for earlier discharge from the hospital. These are some of the benefits of negative pressure wound therapy to treat wound infections in connection with vascular surgery at the groin. The method, which has become increasingly common, is also cost-effective. This is shown in a thesis from Lund University in Sweden in which the method has undergone its first major scientific evaluation in deep perivascular groin infections after vascular surgery.
Study Finds Smaller Community Hospitals Use Antibiotics Similar to Large Hospitals
October 13th 2016Bolstering antimicrobial stewardship programs to ensure appropriate use of antibiotics in smaller community hospitals is necessary to combat the global threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as superbugs, according to a new study from researchers at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City.
UGA Research on Common Bacterium Opens Door to Fighting Gastric Cancer
October 12th 2016A common bacterium that more than half of people have in their gut can use hydrogen gas present in the gastrointestinal tract to inject a cancer-causing toxin into otherwise healthy cells, according to a recently published study led by University of Georgia researchers.
Anti-TB Drug Disrupted by Botanical Supplement, Can Lead to Disease
October 11th 2016Botanical supplements are used by people around the world to treat a wide range of physical and mental ailments. Some of these botanical supplements have high levels of antioxidants, which may have some positive health effects for certain conditions. However, a new study from the University of Missouri in partnership with scientists in Africa has uncovered evidence that these supplements and their antioxidants may reduce the effectiveness of prescription medications. The researchers examined the effects of a widely used African botanical supplement, called Sutherlandia, and found that it may disrupt the effectiveness of a common anti-tuberculosis drug. This could lead to the development of active tuberculosis and perhaps drug resistant forms of the pathogen in some patients.
Scientists Find New Metabolic Pathways to Resist Viruses
October 11th 2016Viral infection is one of the leading medical challenges of the 21st century, ranging from the hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic affecting 3 percent of the global population, to recent outbreaks of West Nile, Zika and Ebola viruses.