(November 5, 2009 - Insidermedicine)

From Colorado - Coronary artery bypass surgery without a heart-lung machine has been shown to be no better than the traditional 'on-pump' process, according to a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers examined over 2000 patients; half underwent surgery aided by use of a heart-lung machine (or, 'on-pump') while the other half underwent surgery with their heart still beating (or, 'off-pump'). Results showed that both procedures had similar outcomes after 30 days, though outcomes after a year appeared to favor the on-pump procedure.

From Paris - According to a report published in The Lancet, x rays for mechanically ventilated patients should be taken only as needed. Researchers examined 21 different ICUs, randomly conducting either routine, daily chest x rays on patients or x rays as needed. Results showed  a 32% reduction of the amount of x rays taken with the as needed approach, with no difference in the amount of diagnostic interventions.

And finally, from Houston - According to a report published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, green tea may have promise as an oral cancer prevention agent. For nearly 6 years, researchers studied 41 oral leukoplakia patients--administering either green tea extract or placebo. They found that 58.8% of patients who took the green tea extract had a clinical response, compared with only 18.2% on placebo.