evidence-based | Page 3 of 6 | Health Newstrack

Parents favor genetic testing for melanoma in their children

Parents favor genetic testing for melanoma in their children – The vast majority of parents who tested positive for a genetic mutation that increases the risk of melanoma (the most serious form of skin cancer) support genetic testing of their children or grandchildren. Results of the two-year study at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah (U of U) appear in the December issue of the journal Genetics in Medicine. The data could lead to the establishment of formal, evidence-based guidelines for genetic testing of people younger than 18 years.

US food allergy guidelines recommend uniform standards for treating food allergy

NIH-sponsored panel issues comprehensive US food allergy guidelines — Guidelines recommend uniform standards in the diagnosis and management of food allergy – An expert panel sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has issued comprehensive U.S. guidelines to assist health care professionals in diagnosing food allergy and managing the care of people with the disease.

Implementing best practices to manage childhood asthma

Childhood asthma foundation invests millions to implement best practices to manage the disease – The Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. (MCAN), announced it is targeting four high risk cities with nearly $4 million for programs that will combine evidence-based science, case management and asthma trigger removal plans to manage a disease that requires more than the right medical care.

Sports related concussions in young athletes on the rise

Concussions in young athletes on the rise — New study from Hasbro Children’s Hospital reports on youth sports-related concussions – A new study from Hasbro Children’s Hospital finds visits to emergency departments for concussions that occurred during organized team sports have increased dramatically over a 10-year period, and appear to be highest in ice hockey and football.

Primary care doctors get little information about chronic sinusitis

Primary care doctors get little information about chronic sinusitis — Georgetown researcher says advances go unnoticed because they are not reported in targeted publications – Facial pain. Nasal congestion. Postnasal drip. Fatigue. These are hallmark signs of chronic sinusitis, a swelling of tissue in the nasal and sinus cavity. The illness strikes millions of Americans each year and is one of the top five reasons patients visit their primary care doctor.

Education of clinicians improves prescribing for high blood pressure patients

Strategy May Help Translate Research Findings About Blood Pressure Treatment Into Clinical Practice – Academic detailing-a method involving face-to-face education of clinicians by investigators trained to present trial findings and guidelines-may have been associated with a small change in prescribing patterns for patients with high blood pressure, according to a report in the May 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Choosing VBAC or plan a repeat cesarean delivery

Panel questions ‘VBAC bans,’ advocates expanded delivery options for women — Parents’ preferences and risk factors should be weighed when choosing whether to pursue a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) or plan a repeat cesarean delivery – An independent panel convened this week by the National Institutes of Health confronted a troubling fact that pregnant women currently have limited access to clinicians and facilities able and willing to offer a trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery because of so-called VBAC bans.

Ethosuximide is preferred for childhood epilepsy

Comparative effectiveness trial leads to evidence-based care for childhood epilepsy – The first comprehensive comparative effectiveness clinical trial of three widely used anti-seizure drugs for childhood absence epilepsy ? the most common form of epilepsy in kids ? has established an evidence-based approach for initial drug therapy.

Flexibility at work boosts employee health

More Flexibility at Work Boosts Employee Health – Giving employees more flexibility over their work schedules is likely to boost their health as judged by measures like blood pressure and stress, revealed by researchers.

Oxygen appears effective in treating cluster headache

Treatment of patients with cluster headache at symptom onset using inhaled high-flow oxygen compared with placebo was more likely to result in being pain-free at 15 minutes. – Patients with a cluster headache, which is characterized by bouts of excruciating pain usually near the eye or temple, were more likely to report being pain-free within 15 minutes of treatment with high-flow oxygen than patients who received a placebo treatment.