FDA Panel Split on Medtronic Spine Device GAITHERSBURG, Md. -- An FDA advisory panel was split over whether to recommend approval for an investigational Medtronic spine device called Amplify -- citing lack of data to prove the device's benefits outweigh its risks for degenerative disc disease patients. Breast Tumors Harder to Find in Younger Women Women in their 40s with breast cancer have tumors that are more difficult to detect with mammography, not faster growing tumors that manifest between screenings, a computer simulation of breast cancer suggests. Social Ties May Enhance Survival Maintaining strong social relationships may help slow the approach of death, a meta-analysis showed. Delirium Predicts Poor Health Outcomes in Elderly Older patients who show delirium are at increased risk for a range of negative outcomes, independent of other major risk factors, said researchers conducting a meta-analysis. Low Risk Seen With Weight-Loss Surgery Bariatric surgery has a low complication rate that correlates inversely with the procedural volume of a surgeon and hospital, records for more than 15,000 patients showed. Hospital Expansion Not Key to PCI Access in STEMI Sending heart attack patients directly to hospitals that can do primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) may be better than trying to expand PCI capabilities to more hospitals, according to an analysis of computer simulations. More Medical News personalize this section

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