Here are 10 articles on some of the most interesting medical research study findings and advancements from the week of March 7.
1. Researchers used a stem cell model to determine the Zika virus' effect on developing fetuses and found that the infection does indeed affect cells critical for brain development, either killing them or interrupting normal function. Read more.
2. Patient survey results of physician quality are colored by attributes of the physical space in which they receive care, which might call into question the reliability of such feedback, according to a recent study. Read more.
3. The differences between the neonate and adult blood clot structures suggest the standard of care for the postoperative bleeding may increase the risk of thrombosis in newborns, according to a new study published in Anesthesiology. Read more.
4. A study associated with Yale University in New Haven, Conn., found HIV patients experience more adverse effects from alcohol consumption than uninfected individuals. Read more.
5. Staying home when feeling ill isn't an option for about half of the three million U.S. workers who cite a lack of paid leave coverage as the reason they show up to work even when sick, according to findings in Health Services Research. Read more.
6. The free-text notes section in e-prescriptions is designed to facilitate increased communication between physicians and pharmacists. However, a new qualitative study in JAMA suggests the field is often used ineptly and is a common source of confusion. Read more.
7. A 15-year-old girl suffering from a Zika virus infection was diagnosed with paralysis-inducing myelitis. This is the first case of myelitis — spinal cord inflammation — to be reported during the acute phase of a Zika infection, according to report published in The Lancet. Read more.
8. As if losing an hour of sleep wasn’t enough of a reason to dislike spring daylight savings time, new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham suggests the time change may increase the risk of heart attacks in those with a history of heart disease. Read more.
9. New research from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York shows light therapy can decreased depressive symptoms and normalized circadian rhythms among cancer survivors. Read more.
10. A non-invasive form of structural health monitoring involving applying rapid vibration to the spine to detect abnormalities could help reduce the need to use MRIs in certain patients. Read more.