Women who have breast cancer on their left side present a particular challenge to radiation oncologists. Studies have shown that the risk of heart disease is higher in this group of women after radiation treatment because it can be difficult to ensure that a sufficient dose of radiation is delivered to the left breast while adequately shielding the heart from exposure. New research shows a woman who holds her breath during radiation pulses can greatly reduce exposure to the heart.

New research shows vulnerable patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who received enhanced oral care from a dentist were at significantly less risk for developing a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), like ventilator-associated pneumonia, during their stay.

‘Bacteria causing healthcare-associated infections often start in the oral cavity,’ said Fernando Bellissimo-Rodrigues, MD, lead author of the study. ‘This study suggests that having a dentist provide weekly care as part the ICU team may improve outcomes for vulnerable patients in this setting.’

Brazilian researchers utilised an observer-blind randomized clinical trial design to analyse data from 254 adult patients who stayed in a general ICU for at least 48 hours. Patients were randomized to receive enhanced dental care provided by a dentist, or to receive routine oral hygiene performed by the ICU nurse staff.

Enhanced dental care included teeth brushing, tongue scraping, removal of calculus, atraumatic restorative treatment of caries, tooth extraction and topical application of chlorhexidine corresponding to each patients’ needs four to five times a week. Comparatively, regular treatment consisted of mechanical cleansing using gauze followed by topical application of chlorhexidine three times a day. 

Patients provided enhanced dental care were 56 percent less likely to develop a respiratory tract infection during their ICU stay compared to the control patient group. Researchers note that enhanced dental treatment, including oral antisepsis routinely performed in ICUs could be more effective in reducing the oral bacteria and help prevent migration of these bacteria into the lungs. SHEA

MSC Cruises has become the first cruise line to offer a 24/7, multilingual pediatric telemedicine service on board its entire fleet thanks to an agreement with the renowned Instituto Giannina Gaslini Children

New research conducted at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory has revealed a new, innovative way to classify the severity of a stroke, aid in diagnosis and evaluate potential treatments.

An online survey from Adexsol on behalf of the French Society of Radiology (SFR – Soci