In a finding that confirms what many obstetricians and gynecologists suspected, Duke University researchers report that younger women who undergo hysterectomies face a nearly two-fold increased risk for developing menopause early. The study, published in the December issue of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, is the largest analysis to track over time the actual hormonal impact of woman who had hysterectomies and compare them to women whose uteruses remained intact. “Hysterectomy is a common treatment for many conditions, including fibroids and excessive bleeding,” said Patricia G

A new analysis of teenage drug abuse finds widespread problems among whites, Native Americans, Hispanics and youngsters of multiple races, with less severe abuse among Asian and African-American teens. Among kids who abuse drugs, marijuana is most heavily used, followed by stimulants and then alcohol. Prescription opioids such as oxycodone have surpassed inhalants as a source for getting high

Infectious films of staph bacteria that collect around an implanted cardiac device, such as a pacemaker, often force a second surgery to replace the device at a cost of up to $100,000. But not all implanted cardiac devices become infected

Duke University Medical Center researchers have found a genetic variant that seems to be associated with lower five-year survival after a coronary artery bypass. The scientists found the same gene was associated with mortality in two different sets of patients, with about 1,000 patients in each group (1,018 and 930 patients, respectively). “After the second analysis, we were ecstatic to see this was validated,” said senior author Mihai Podgoreanu, MD , assistant professor of anesthesiology at Duke.

Most AIDS patients, when diagnosed with a fungal infection known simply as cryptococcosis, are assumed to have an infection with Cryptococcus neoformans, but a recent study from Duke University Medical Center suggests that a sibling species, Cryptococcus gattii, is a more common cause than was previously known. The difference between these strains could make a difference in treatment, clinical course, and outcome, said Joseph Heitman, MD, PhD , senior author of the study and chair of the Duke Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

Duke University Medical Center has again been named one of the nation’s top hospitals in the U.S.News & World Report rankings, moving up a spot to 9th place on this year’s list compared to 10th last year. The magazine’s annual survey once more named Duke the top hospital in the Triangle, and reaffirmed its designation as an elite Honor Roll hospital by scoring at least six of its medical specialties as top performers. As part of the magazine’s analysis of hospital care, 16 specialties were graded on patient safety, nursing services, and other care measures.

Donated red blood cells lose a key feature that diminishes their lifesaving power the longer they have been stored, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. The finding, published Friday in the journal Critical Care Medicine, details how banked blood undergoes a change during storage that decreases its ability to transport oxygen.