Scientists are starting to accumulate huge datasets on which genes mutate during cancer, allowing for a more systematic approach to "precision medicine." In a study published in Cell, researchers compared genetic mutations in patient tumors to those in cancer cell lines and then tested the cell lines' responses to therapeutic compounds.
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Artificial Intelligence may Aid in Alzheimer's Diagnosis
Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence that allows computer programs to learn when exposed to new data without being programmed. Now, researchers in The Netherlands have coupled machine learning methods with a special MRI technique that measures the perfusion, or tissue absorption rate, of blood throughout the brain to detect early forms of dementia, such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
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Electronic Tablets Speed Stroke Care During Patient Transport
A clinical trial testing mobile videoconferencing as a means for physicians to diagnose stroke patients while they're being transported to the hospital has found that a tablet-based system produced diagnoses highly correlating with a bedside assessment - a finding that could have important implications for the early treatment of stroke and for preventing the disability it causes.
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Can a Computer Game Train Your Brain to Resist Sweets?
That's the question Drexel University researchers hope to answer with one of two new studies launching this month. They have developed a computer game and smartphone app to help people control unhealthy eating habits and ultimately lose weight. The game is designed to improve a person's "inhibitory control," the part of the brain that stops you from giving into unhealthy cravings - even when the smell of French fries is practically begging you to step inside a fast food restaurant.
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Smartphone Apps not so Smart at Helping Users Avoid or Achieve Pregnancy
You might not want to depend on your smartphone app alone to help you avoid or achieve pregnancy, say the authors of a new study. A review of nearly 100 fertility awareness apps finds that most don't employ evidence-based methodology. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, also found that many apps include a disclaimer discouraging use for avoiding pregnancy.
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Electronic Medical Practice Environment can Lead to Physician Burnout
The growth and evolution of the electronic environment in health care is taking a toll on U.S. physicians. That's according to a national study of physicians led by Mayo Clinic which shows the use of electronic health records and computerized physician order entry leads to lower physician satisfaction and higher rates of professional burnout. The findings appear in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
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A Painless, Quick and Reliable Method for Diagnosing Helicobacter from Exhaled Air
In the future, several illnesses can be quickly and painlessly diagnosed by the optical analysis of isotopes contained in exhaled air. VTT developed its first prototype for this purpose. With the device, it is possible to determine painlessly and with absolute certainty during the appointment whether the patient's stomach troubles are caused by Helicobacter.
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