Combining the smoking cessation medication varenicline with nicotine replacement therapy was more effective than varenicline alone at achieving tobacco abstinence at 6 months, according to a study in the July 9 issue of JAMA.The combination of behavioral approaches and pharmacotherapy are of proven benefit in…

Underage drinkers between the ages of 18 and 20 see more magazine advertising than any other age group for the alcohol brands they consume most heavily, raising important questions about whether current alcohol self-regulatory codes concerning advertising are sufficiently protecting young people.This is the conclusion…

A spinal mass was identified in a young woman with complete spinal cord injury 8 years after she had undergone implantation of olfactory mucosal cells in the hopes of regaining sensory and motor function. The case is reported and discussed in “Autograft-derived spinal cord mass…

Researchers find that with calorie restriction, a less-studied fat tissue releases adiponectin, which is linked to reduced risk of diseases like diabetesIt has been known for its flavorful addition to soups and as a delicacy for dogs but bone marrow fat may also have untapped…

In a study that included nearly 65,000 older patients hospitalized with pneumonia, treatment that included azithromycin compared with other antibiotics was associated with a significantly lower risk of death and a slightly increased risk of heart attack, according to a study in the JAMA.Pneumonia and…

Settling a long-time debate, researchers show that sewing up a C-section skin incision with sutures leads to fewer complications than using surgical staplesIn the largest study to date comparing sutures versus surgical staples for closing a C-section, researchers found a 57 percent decrease in wound…

New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes) shows that children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes have a less balanced composition of gut bacteria compared with children of the same age without diabetes. The research is by…

In the last 30 years, since mammography was introduced, late-stage breast cancer incidence has decreased by 37 percent, a new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center finds.The analysis takes into account an observed underlying trend of increased breast cancer incidence present since…

About 1 percent of adults report they have experienced headaches associated with sexual activity, and that such headaches can be severe.But the actual incidence is almost certainly higher, according to a Loyola University Medical Center neurologist and headache specialist.“Many people who experience headaches during sexual…

In a study that included long-term follow-up of obese patients with type 2 diabetes, bariatric surgery was associated with more frequent diabetes remission and fewer complications than patients who received usual care, according to a study published in JAMA.Obesity and diabetes have reached epidemic proportions…

Among patients with diabetes who were receiving metformin, the addition of insulin compared with a sulfonylurea was associated with an increased risk of nonfatal cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause death, according to a study in JAMA, a diabetes theme issue.Diabetes mellitus and its complications represent an…

* Personalized text messages helped smokers who were trying to quit more than just receiving self-help materials.* Smokers who received text messages after quitting smoking were more likely to have biomarkers confirming abstinence.* 25 percent of quit lines offer anti-smoking text messaging programs.