Vaccine for strep type is pursued Mar 7, 2008
Group A streptococcal infections affect more than 600 million people each year and kill 400,000 globally. Most infections cause strep throat, which is easily treated with antibiotics. (Boston Globe)
A Woman with Renal Failure and Stiffness of the Joints and Skin Feb 21, 2008
The patient had been well except for mild asthma until 7 years earlier, when group A streptococcal pneumonia developed, complicated by septic shock, with acute respiratory distress syndrome; septic emboli to the lungs, brain, and kidney; renal failure requiring dialysis; flaccid quadriplegia; and coma. On the 25th day after initial admission to another hospital, she was transferred to this hospital while she was receiving mechanical ventilation. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Prof: Hospital deaths of birth mums linked Jan 8, 2008
Mrs Kimmance and Mrs Pickett, both teachers, died from complications caused by a group A streptococcal infection after they were discharged from the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester. They had given birth on December 21. (Mirror.co.uk)
Deaths Of Two Mothers Who Gave Birth In Same Place May Be Linked Jan 5, 2008
Winchester and Eastleigh healthcare NHS Trust says that the women did die as a result of complications caused by a group A streptococcal infection ... According to the hospital, Mrs. Pickett died from a sudden onset of pneumonia, and Mrs. Kimmace developed fatal toxic shock syndrome - in both cases, caused by group A streptococcal infection. (Medical News Today)
Maternity unit inquiry over same day delivery deaths Jan 4, 2008
Mrs Kimmance died on December 23, apparently after fatal toxic shock syndrome due to a group A streptococcal infection. Mrs Pickett died on Christmas Eve, apparently with sudden severe pneumonia likely to have been caused by a group A streptococcal infection ... Group A streptococcal infections were not superbugs, or hospital-based, but were typically community-based and sporadic. (Guardian Unlimited)
Summary for Patients Aug 21, 2007
Surveillance for Hospital Outbreaks of Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infections in Ontario, Canada, 1992 to 2000 -- Daneman et al. 147 (4): 234 -- Annals of Internal Medicine ... The summary below is from the full report titled "Surveillance for Hospital Outbreaks of Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infections in Ontario, Canada, 1992 to 2000." It is in the 21 August 2007 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (volume 147, pages 234-241) ... The authors are N. Daneman, K.A. Green, D.E. Low, A.E.... (Annals of Internal Medicine)
Strep Linked to Movement Disorder in Children Feb 27, 2007
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Group A streptococcal infection appears to be associated with changes in behavior and the development of a movement disorder in elementary school children, according to a report in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry ... Dr. Tanya K. Murphy from the University of Florida, Gainesville, and associates investigated possible associations between group A streptococcal infection and the development of tics, behavioral changes and chorea in a population-based study... (MEDLINEplus)
Fetal Heart-cell Enzyme Important In Onset Of Heart Failure Feb 22, 2007
In almost all forms of heart failure, the heart begins to express genes that are normally only expressed in the fetal heart. Researchers have known for years that this fetal-gene reactivation happens, yet not what regulates it. (Science Daily)
Innovative CRTs Track Heart Patients Progress From Home Feb 3, 2007
Cardiologists at the University of Mississippi Medical Center are among the first to use radio frequency technology to monitor the cardiovascular status of heart failure patients from their homes. By implanting a state-of-the-art cardiac resynchronization therapy device (CRT), UMC cardiologists can connect with patients directly and get up-to-the-second information about their heart status from miles away. (Science Daily)
WHO Revives Efforts To Eliminate Forgotten Disease: Yaws Jan 31, 2007
A neglected disease with a nearly forgotten name is making a comeback following a global control programme that almost eradicated it more than 40 years ago. Yaws, a disease which eats away at the skin, cartilage and bones of its victims (mostly children), is re-emerging in poor, rural and marginalized populations of Africa, Asia and South America. (Science Daily)
Rapid Flu Tests May Reduce Threat Of Antibiotic Resistance Jan 24, 2007
New tests to rapidly detect the flu are allowing doctors to cut down on the number of hospital patients who receive antibiotics, helping soften the rapidly worsening threat of antibiotic resistance, according to a study to appear in the Feb. 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. The study was posted online by the journal Jan. 22 because of the importance of the findings to public health. (Science Daily)
Cardiologists Fix Broken Heart: Case Study Points Out Rarely Diagnosed Potentially Fatal Complication Of Heart Attack Jan 12, 2007
Unexplained chest pain after a heart attack might be more dangerous than many physicians originally think. In a case study to be published in the January issue of the international journal Clinical Cardiology, physicians at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia report on a seemingly healthy 55-year-old man who had a silent heart attack and subsequent unexplained chest pain. (Science Daily)
Duke Researchers Highlight Gender Differences In Heart Failure Nov 18, 2006
Women tend to live longer with heart failure than do men, and they also tend to have a less severe form of the disease, which is characterized by reduced performance of the heart muscle, according to a study by Duke University Medical Center cardiologists. Having a better understanding of gender differences in heart failure may help physicians to more effectively tailor prevention or treatment strategies to specific patients, the researchers said, adding that studies to date have provided... (Science Daily)
Depression, Not Antidepressants, Increases Mortality Risks In Heart Failure Nov 18, 2006
People who are depressed have an increased risk of dying from heart failure, and a new study by Duke University Medical Center researchers may help explain why. Analyzing more than 1,000 depressed patients with heart failure, the researchers found that it was the depression itself, not the patients' use of antidepressant medications that increased mortality risk. (Science Daily)
MRI Detects Early Heart Damage In Patients With Sarcoidosis Nov 16, 2006
To detect heart damage early in patients with the immune system disorder sarcoidosis, who are at elevated risk of dieing from heart problems, magnetic resonance imaging is twice as sensitive as conventional methods, according to a study by Duke University Medical Center cardiologists. By using magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, to discover minute areas of heart damage before they grow larger, physicians may be able to take action to prevent sudden cardiac death, which is a leading cause of... (Science Daily)
Heart Failure Rx: Pacemakers, Not Beta Blockers, May Be Best For Some Patients Nov 8, 2006
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have reported evidence to support a dramatic change in the way hundreds of thousands of Americans with a form of heart failure should be treated. In a follow up to previous work, Hopkins cardiologists say patients with non-systolic heart failure may benefit more from pacemakers to speed up the heartbeat rather than from continual, long-term use of beta blockers, drugs that slow down the heartbeat. (Science Daily)
Authorities looking for carrier of deadly infection Oct 16, 2006
The common factor appears to be a group A streptococcal infection ... Newstalk ZBs John Dunne talks to Canterbury DHBs Dr Alan Pithie about the group A streptococcal infection behind a fatal flesh-eating disease at Princess Margaret Hospital. (Newstalk ZB)
Strep season Oct 12, 2006
All physicians and most parents by now know the importance of recognizing and adequately treating a throat infection caused by Group A streptococcal bacteria. These organisms, if not stopped in their tracks by appropriate antibiotics, can result in rheumatic fever and permanently damaged heart valves, among other serious complications. (The Daily Reflector)
'Wait-and-see' Approach For Treating Ear Infections Substantially Reduces Use Of Antibiotics Sep 22, 2006
Wait-and-see' Approach For Treating Ear Infections Substantially Reduces Use Of Antibiotics. For children with acute ear infections seen in an emergency department, giving parents the option of delaying use of antibiotics resulted in significantly lower use of antibiotics compared to parents who received a standard prescription, with little difference in the outcomes for the children, according to a study in the September 13 issue of JAMA.. (Science Daily)
Mind-body Connection: How Central Nervous System Regulates Arthritis Sep 8, 2006
In a unique approach to inflammation research, a study by researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine shows that, in a model of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation in the joints can be sensed and modulated by the central nervous system (CNS). The research suggests that the CNS can profoundly influence immune responses, and may even contribute to understanding so-called placebo effects and the role of stress in inflammatory diseases. (Science Daily)
Valve Disease Study Suggests New Public Health Concern, Say Researchers Aug 25, 2006
-- Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease which may develop after a Group A streptococcal infection (such as strep throat or scarlet fever) and can involve the heart, joints, skin, and ... -- Scarlet fever is an exotoxin-mediated disease caused by Group A streptococcal infection that occurs most often in association with a sore throat and rarely with impetigo or other streptococcal. (Science Daily)
Are Antibiotics For Suspected Childhood Meningitis Harmful? Jun 5, 2006
ScienceDaily: Are Antibiotics For Suspected Childhood Meningitis Harmful. Posted: June 4, 2006. (Science Daily)
New Drug Could Reduce Tissue Damage After Heart Attack Apr 30, 2006
Posted: April 28, 2006. A study led by UCL (University College London) scientists has designed a new drug that inhibits the adverse effects of C reactive protein (CRP), a protein that contributes to tissue damage in heart attacks and strokes. (Science Daily)
Congenital Rubella Syndrome Nearly Eradicated In United States Apr 10, 2006
-- Scarlet fever is an exotoxin-mediated disease caused by Group A streptococcal infection that occurs most often in association with a sore throat and rarely with impetigo or other streptococcal. . (Science Daily)
Man dying after fall into polluted Ala Wai Apr 6, 2006
Friends of Oliver Johnson said his doctors at the Queen's Medical Center diagnosed him with necrotizing fasciitis, a Group A streptococcal infection that "destroys muscles, fat and skin tissue," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease forced the amputation of his left leg above the knee Monday, his friends said. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Optimal management of adults with pharyngitis - a multi-criteria decision analysis Mar 14, 2006
The key issue is the extent to which the clinical likelihood of a Group A streptococcal infection should affect patient management decisions ... We defined four scenarios based on the likelihood of group A streptococcal infection using the Centor score, a well-validated clinical index ... Published data were used to estimate the likelihoods of clinical outcomes and the test operating characteristics of the rapid strep test and throat culture for identifying group A streptococcal infections. (BioMed Central)
Seattle Heart Failure Model Is Able To Accurately Predict Survival For Patients With Heart Failure Mar 14, 2006
Posted: March 13, 2006. A new model developed at the University of Washington provides an accurate estimate of one-, two-, and three-year survival rates and average years of survival for patients with heart failure. (Science Daily)
Experience Backs Early Heart Valve Replacement Mar 9, 2006
-- Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease which may develop after a Group A streptococcal infection (such as strep throat or scarlet fever) and can involve the heart, joints, skin, and. . (Science Daily)
