Preventable Medical Errors Happen Too Frequently in U.S. Hospitals Study Finds Hospital Safety Not Improving Fast Enough A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found patient safety in US hospitals is not improving -- despite the renewed focus in many health care centers on improving the delivery of patient care and reducing the incidence of medical errors. The study examined more than 2300 patient records from 2002 to 2007 at 10 different hospitals in North Carolina. The lead author of the study, Dr. Christopher P. Landrigan, M.D., M.P.H., ...

Scientists are reporting development of a process for producing large quantities of a much-needed new imaging agent for computed tomography (CT) scans in heart disease, breast cancer and other diseases, and the first evidence that the material is safe for clinical use. The imaging agent is a tantalum oxide nanoparticle, which is inexpensive, and stays in the body long enough to image many different organs. The report appears in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Taeghwan Hyeon, Seung Hong Choi, and colleagues explain that CT is one of the most widely used medical ...

Pull into the auto repair shop with a smashed bumper, and there's no wait while they order a replacement. Instead, the technician downloads specifications from the manufacturer's database. You both watch as a laser beam probing a container of liquid plastic material almost magically builds a new bumper inch by inch. The scenario may sound like science fiction, but advances in polymer materials are moving the technology for 3-D printing" of prosthetic limbs, hearing aids, designer furniture, surgical tools and other products out of the designer's studio and into the ...

Alabama Workers' Compensation Safety on the job is of the utmost importance. But, even among the safest workers, accidents can happen. In an instant, a normal workday can transform into a traumatizing and potentially life changing experience. Following the correct procedures in order to have a successful workers' compensation claim is often far from the first thing on the mind of a worker immediately following an on the job injury. But, by knowing what your employer's responsibilities are, whether or not you are eligible, and what to do if you do suffer an injury ...

Magnetics researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) colored lots of eggs recently. Bunnies and children might find the eggs a bit small—in fact, too small to see without a microscope. But these "eggcentric" nanomagnets have another practical use, suggesting strategies for making future low-power computer memories. For a study described in a new paper,* NIST researchers used electron-beam lithography to make thousands of nickel-iron magnets, each about 200 nanometers (billionths of a meter) in diameter. Each magnet is ordinarily shaped like ...

Facing Foreclosure? Bankruptcy Might Be a Better Option Foreclosure rates in the U.S. have skyrocketed since the housing market crash. Last year, more than 2.5 million homeowners received foreclosure notices, a 2.5 percent increase over the previous year and more than 23 percent increase over foreclosures in 2008. Arizona has remained one of the states hardest hit, with Phoenix ranking second only to Las Vegas as the city with the highest foreclosure rate in the nation. If you're one of these homeowners, you may be asking yourself what you can do with mortgage loans ...

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A new study from Hasbro Children's Hospital has found that most obese adolescents are lacking in vitamin D. The researchers call for increased surveillance of vitamin D levels in this population and for further studies to determine if normalizing vitamin D levels will help to lower the health risks associated with obesity. The study is published in the May edition of the Journal of Adolescent Health and is now available online in advance of print. Obesity in children and adolescents has reached epidemic proportions, with a prevalence of 16.4 percent ...

Looking into a Franchise? You May Need Help With the FDD Anyone looking into a franchise should understand the complexity of the endeavor. This type of business venture can definitely be a rewarding experience, but overcoming a few tough hurdles, like working through and understanding the details of a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), is vital. What is a Franchise Disclosure Document? The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is a disclosure document with multiple attachments that details the purchase arrangements of a franchise. Some FDDs are exhaustive and ...

In a pair of studies—one recently published online* and the other soon-to-be published**— researchers at the Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML), a government-university collaboration in Charleston, S.C., report that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are consistently showing up in the blood and eggs of loggerhead sea turtles, that the turtles accumulate more of the contaminant chemicals the farther they travel up the Atlantic coast, and that the pollutants may pose a threat to the survival of this endangered species. POPs are a large group of man-made chemicals that, ...

Is a College Education Worth the Investment? Recent headlines show improved unemployment numbers and hint at a recovering economy. But millions of new college graduates still face bleak job prospects after graduation. It's no secret: most college grads are saddled with student debt. The nation's total student loan debt, by some estimates, exceeds $830 billion - more than the nation's total credit card debt. When such debt is compared to the average salary for recent college grads, one must ask: Is an expensive college degree always worth the investment? Given how difficult ...

Army's New Brain Injury Test: "Breakthrough" or Bomb? Can one simple blood test diagnose a brain injury before symptoms of the brain injury show themselves to medical practitioners? Last fall, the Army touted its new brain injury test as a quick answer to a medical diagnosis that traditionally has been difficult for doctors to make in the early days following head trauma. Not only that, but the Army doctors that headed up the study on brain injury diagnosis claim that the test will save lives and keep soldiers with traumatic brain injuries from undergoing ...

A recently published study revealed that virological breakthrough (VBT) is common in patients receiving nucleoside analogs (NUCs) for chronic hepatitis B. Nearly 40% of the VBTs found were not related to antiviral drug resistance. Details of this retrospective study are published in the May issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. VBT is the first manifestation of antiviral drug resistance during NUC therapy of chronic hepatitis B. NUC drugs approved for treatment of chronic hepatitis ...

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have shown that the electronic properties of two layers of graphene vary on the nanometer scale. The surprising new results reveal that not only does the difference in the strength of the electric charges between the two layers vary across the layers, but they also actually reverse in sign to create randomly distributed puddles of alternating positive and negative charges. Reported in Nature Physics,* the new measurements bring graphene a step closer to being used in practical electronic devices. Graphene, ...

Illinois Drugged Driving Law: Unbending and Complex Illinois law is tough on anyone caught behind the wheel under the influence of drugs to the point that he or she cannot safely drive. And it is not a defense that the drug was legal for the individual to use. A Rising Trend? According to the federal government, the percentage of fatally injured drivers with drugs in their systems is on the rise nationally. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, announced in November 2010 the results of an important ...

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta Perimeter Hotel (North) near Perimeter Mall announces the Perimeter Dining Card Package. Available for a limited time, guests who book this package will receive a $25 Perimeter Passion Dining Card (must have a minimum $50 purchase). Only one certificate can be used per table and does not include alcoholic beverages, gratuity or tax. Some restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Perimeter Passion Dining Card restaurants include: - Wildfire - McKendricks - Ruth's Chris Steak House - Nancy G's Cafe - Sage Woodfire Tavern ...

As manufacturers and other businesses step up efforts to cut waste, reduce energy use and improve the overall sustainability of their products and processes, the number of planet-friendly standards and regulations also is increasing at a rapid clip, creating a sometimes-confusing array of options for "going green." National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers have prototyped a framework to help organizations of all types sort through the welter of choices and evaluate and implement sustainability standards most appropriate for their operations and interests. The ...

Tampa, FL (For immediate release) -- Cotinine, a compound derived from tobacco, reduced plaques associated with dementia and prevented memory loss in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, a study led by researchers at Bay Pines VA Healthcare System and the University of South Florida found. The findings are reported online in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease in advance of print publication. "We found a compound that protects neurons, prevents the progression of Alzheimer's disease pathology, enhances memory and has been shown to be safe," said Valentina Echeverria, ...

Peter Symbas, an Atlanta orthopedic doctor with Southern Orthopaedic Specialists, was recently named the Official Sports Medicine Provider and Team Physician for the Atlanta Silverbacks, an Atlanta soccer organization. Southern Orthopaedics Specialists, an official partner of the Silverbacks, is a full service Atlanta orthopedics practice specializing in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. Dr. Symbas, an Atlanta native, has a relevant background in soccer, experience that will be valuable as his work as an Atlanta orthopedic doctor for the Silverbacks. Symbas was ...

New research shows that high maternal viral load and co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are the only risk factors associated with vertical transmission of the hepatitis C virus (HCV-VT). A variation in the infant's IL28B gene (CC) is associated independently with the spontaneous clearance of HCV genotype-1 among infected children. The status of IL28B in the mother or children did not increase risk of HCV-VT in this study. Findings are published in the May issue of Hepatology, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. ...

After the manufacturer of the Alzheimer's drug memantine submitted a supplementary analysis of study data, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) sees proof of a benefit of the drug for cognitive function, as well as indications of a benefit for activities of daily living, at least for a treatment period of 6 months. This changes the conclusions of the first IQWiG benefit assessment of 2009. IQWiG had repeatedly called upon the manufacturer Merz to provide a renewed analysis of study data appropriate to the research question. Additional ...

VIDEO: ESA's fleet of space telescopes has captured the nearby Andromeda Galaxy, also known as M31, in different wavelengths. Most of these wavelengths are invisible to the eye and each shows... Click here for more information. ESA's fleet of space telescopes has captured the nearby Andromeda Galaxy, also known as M31, in different wavelengths. Most of these wavelengths are invisible to the eye and each shows a different aspect of the galaxy's nature. Visible light, as seen ...

Atlanta pool service company Piranha Pool Management is recommending that homeowners in the Atlanta area properly prepare their pools for renewed use in the coming months. After going unused with minimal maintenance in the winter, pool preparation is essential before summertime. Piranha Pool Management provides comprehensive Atlanta pool maintenance and repair, including a summer start-up service. In temperate cities like Atlanta, pools are strongly affected by the change in seasons. In the fall, they are covered to keep out the falling leaves and dropping temperatures, ...

Philadelphia, PA, April 27, 2011 – Americans may not be getting enough calcium in their diets, according to a new study published in the May 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. This study is unique among those focusing on calcium intake in the US population because both dietary and supplemental sources were evaluated across adult age groups and compared to accompanying patterns in energy intake. "Calcium plays a fundamental role in promoting bone health and forestalling osteoporosis. In light of evidence that energy intake declines with aging, ...

The following highlights summarize research papers that have been recently published in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL), the Journal of Geophysical Research-Space Physics (JGR-A), the Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans (JGR-C), and the Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences (JGR-G). In this release: Could the cold winter of 2009-2010 have been predicted? Coastal cooling and marine productivity increasing off Peru Lightning radio-wave pattern tied to gamma ray flashes Analyzing peat's ability to trap methane bubbles Probe of influential Greenland current ...

When a 34-year-old bicyclist was found collapsed on a roadside and rushed to the University of Rochester Medical Center emergency room on the verge of kidney failure and muscle breakdown, doctors were surprised to discover that a trendy tea derived from the kava plant was the cause of his ills. The URMC team reported the case study, believed to be the first of its kind in the scientific literature, in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. They described it as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the importance of taking a thorough medical history, including the use ...