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A special iPhone case and app can be used to quickly and cheaply detect heart rhythm problems and prevent strokes, according to University of Sydney research presented at the Australia and New Zealand Cardiac Society conference today on the Gold Coast. The research found the AliveCor Heart Monitor for iPhone (iECG) was a highly-effective, accurate and cost-effective way to screen patients to identify previously undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) and hence help prevent strokes.

King's MSc students are studying insect behaviour to help solve murder cases King's has been at the cutting edge of forensic science for many years, working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to develop innovative techniques and test new methods to collect and analyse evidence in criminal cases.

New research from UCLPartners, and funded by the NHS in London, has shown that centralising acute stroke services in particular London hospitals has led to significant reductions in both mortality and costs. Before 2010, stroke services in London were provided in 30 acute hospitals across the region.

Underserved populations need options for colorectal cancer screening if screening rates are to be improved, study finds Organized mailing campaigns could substantially increase colorectal cancer screening among uninsured patients, a study published in the August 5 online edition of JAMA Internal Medicine reveals.

Study shows that in the face of an epidemic, even moderate government-mandated travel restrictions would slow contagion. In an epidemic or a bioterrorist attack, the response of government officials could range from a drastic restriction of mobility - imposed isolation or total lockdown of a city - to moderate travel restrictions in some areas or simple suggestions that people remain at home.

A topical general anesthetic for amphibians developed by veterinary researchers at Illinois could be a low-cost, easy-to-administer tool for scientists conducting research in the field. Cane toads were used in the study. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. Veterinary researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a general anesthetic for amphibians that is administered through their skin.

ANN ARBOR-More low-income women are having potentially life-saving health screenings in states with expanded Medicaid eligibility for family planning services, according to new research from the University of Michigan. The study will be published in the August issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

A new study reveals significant variation between hospitals in patient death rates following emergency surgical admissions in England. The study, published in the British Journal of Surgery , also found that survival rates were higher in hospitals with better resources. Patients presenting as emergencies account for the majority of deaths associated with general surgery.

U.S. agencies look to UAlberta medical expertise to help settle controversies in screening and diagnosing diabetes during pregnancy. Medical researchers at the University of Alberta are providing their expertise to the U.S. government to help guide recommendations on gestational diabetes screening.

New quasi-experimental research finds major impact of coal emissions on health. A high level of air pollution, in the form of particulates produced by burning coal, significantly shortens the lives of people exposed to it, according to a unique new study of China co-authored by an MIT economist. The research is based on long-term data compiled for the first time, and projects that the 500 million Chinese who live north of the Huai River are set to lose an aggregate 2.5 billion years of life expectancy due to the extensive use of coal to power boilers for heating throughout the region.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation has announced a $300 million initiative to support cutting-edge heart and stroke research at leading health institutions across the country. The funding initiative is the largest research commitment in the organization's 60-year history. It will accelerate the progress of the Heart and Stroke Foundation's goal of reducing Canadians' rate of death from heart disease and stroke by 25 per cent by 2020.

ANN ARBOR-An improvement in the African-American infant mortality rate in Genesee County, Mich., can be attributed in part to a program that opened the eyes of many in the community to the challenges faced by African-American mothers, according to research led by a faculty member in the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Researchers from a project which aims to deepen understanding of adults who choose to go missing are presenting their results for the first time today (Wednesday 19 June). Around 327,000 incidences of people reported as missing are reported to authorities each year in the UK, but little research exists which could provide practical insights to benefit those with responsibility for and to missing adults.

Review showcases Sussex research The University's Research Review for 2013 - Excellence and Impact - has been published, showcasing some of Sussex's latest research findings and applications. The research activity covered this year includes neuroscience, energy policy, DNA replication and genetic stability, digital media and internet policy, consciousness and adoption research and practice.

A new Cochrane review led by King's College London has found that providing home palliative care doubles the odds that someone with a terminal illness can die at home if they want to, and leads to better control of their symptoms. Based on this evidence the researchers are calling for the development of specialist home palliative care services to be included in national healthcare strategies, to ensure people who wish to die at home receive the best possible care.

Prolonged use of some widely used painkillers increases the risk of heart attacks by a small but significant amount, a large international study led by Oxford University researchers has found. Professor Colin Baigent of Oxford's Clinical Trial Service Unit led the research on a class of painkillers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Hernia surgery may offer good value for money and improved quality of life for patients, according to a new analysis. The government wants the NHS to make £20 billion worth of efficiency savings by 2015 and it has been suggested that money could be saved by performing fewer hernia operations. In a briefing by the Audit Commission in 2011, inguinal hernia repair surgery was included on a list of "low clinical value" treatments.

Government policies that boost the amount of home ownership in a country are likely to inflict severe damage on the labour market, new research from the University of Warwick suggests. Professor Andrew Oswald from the University of Warwick and Professor David ("Danny") Blanchflower from Dartmouth College examine a century of unemployment and home-ownership data for the states of the USA from 1900 to 2010.

Mephedrone bolsters illegal drug use Experienced clubbers are more likely to add the former 'legal high' mephedrone to their drug repertoires rather than use it to replace popular established club drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine, according to new research involving Durham University. Analysis of a survey from over 300 clubbers conducted just after the UK ban on mephedrone showed that clubbers will take ecstasy pills, cocaine and MDMA powder as well as mephedrone as part of their drug repertoires.

22 April 2013 University of Sydney researchers have discovered a new type of immune cell in skin that plays a role in fighting off parasitic invaders such as ticks, mites, and worms, and could be linked to eczema and allergic skin diseases. The team from the Immune Imaging and'T cell Laboratories at the University-affiliated Centenary Institute worked with colleagues from SA Pathology in Adelaide, the Malaghan Institute in Wellington, New Zealand and the USA.