Mixed Bag

Milk-maker hormone may help liver regenerate
The hormone prolactin is probably best known for its role in stimulating milk production in mothers after giving birth. But prolactin also has an important function in the liver. This organ has the highest number of prolactin receptors in the body, ports that allow this hormone to enter liver cells. There, prolactin signals these cells to multiply and new blood vessels to grow to fuel this organ's expansion. Eurekalert!

Most docs monitor online reviews about themselves
According to the report, physicians are aware that online reviews impact patients' decisions when choosing their health care provider. The majority of respondents (85 percent) reported proactively monitoring online reviews about themselves, while 36 percent reported viewing their competitors' reviews. When ranking online reviews, 23 percent ranked them as very fair, 62 percent as fair, and 15 percent as not fair. MedicalXpress

Eye contact builds bedside trust: Doctors who make eye contact seem more empathetic to patients
Doctors who make a lot of eye contact are viewed as more likable and empathetic by patients, according to a new Northwestern Medicine® study. Patients also gave doctors higher empathy scores when their total visit length was longer and when doctors engaged in a few "social touches" such as a handshake or pat on the back. However, more than three social touches in one visit decreased empathy scores. The researchers said it's possible that too many social touches from a doctor may seem forced and not genuine to a patient. MedicalXpress

ALS Stem Cell Therapy: Too Soon to Tell
Phase I results of a neural stem cell treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis showed hints of promise but solid evidence of efficacy will have to wait for the next round of tests, a researcher said here.

Among 15 patients receiving stem cell injections into their spinal cords in the dose escalation study, nine have survived and the three receiving the most extensive injections showed stabilization of functional scores after almost 2 years of follow-up, said Eva Feldman, MD, PhD, of the University of Michigan. MedPage Today

Participation in cardiac rehab program can result in gains for recovery in stroke patients
Stroke patients who participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program for six months make rapid gains in how far and fast they can walk, the use of weakened limbs and their ability to sit and stand, according to a study presented today at the Canadian Stroke Congress.

On average, participants saw a 21-per-cent improvement in the strength and range of motion of weakened limbs; a 19-per-cent improvement in walking speed; and a 16-per-cent improvement in the distance they could walk. MedicalXpress