MedWorm: Lessons

Q&A with Randall James, former Texas banking commissioner

bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Randall James, who served as Texas banking commissioner from 1999 to 2008, retired just before the recession took hold that plunged the banking industry into crisis. As commissioner, James was responsible at the time for the regulation and supervision of 330 state-charted banks that controlled about $153 billion in banking assets. Before that, he had worked for the FDIC, Interfirst Bank of Austin and the law firm of Bracewell and Patterson. James, who lives in Austin, now operates his own bank consulting firm, Randall S. James & Associates Inc. Copy editor Debbie Bolles asked James about lessons from the financial meltdown, causes and his forecast for the future of Texas’ banking industry. His responses are edited for length and style. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insu...

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Modern medicine for dummies

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0100

The patients may not always be real, but the lessons learned are. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

Sleep lessons could cheer up grumpy teenagers say experts

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:32:21 +0100

Pupils at four schools in Glasgow are being given lessons in how to sleep. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

In a democracy, science has to speak up

Guardian Unlimited Science — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:06:05 +0100

Britain must celebrate its scientists, because if the voters do, then so will the politiciansNational Science and Engineering Week – running now with 2,000-plus exhibitions, lectures, open days and debates for an expected audience of 1.5 million – began as a whistle in the dark. Back in 1994, the science minister, William Waldegrave, secured a derisory £100,000 for the first one, and it seemed like a gimmick.The charge of cynicism was unfair: Waldegrave was that rare thing, a minister with a prior and genuine interest in science. But the gesture came near the end of a long period of devastation of an intellectual tradition that had delivered Newton, Faraday, Darwin, James Clerk Maxwell, Rutherford and one of the unsung giants of the 20th century, Paul Dirac. In 15 years of Conservativ...

How The Age of Empathy Will Impact Leaders

Psychology Today Work Center — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:24:54 +0100

Greed is out empathy is in, despite the doom and gloom of recent times.Jeremy Rifkin, a prolific writer, and advisor to the European Union since 2002, and principle architect of the Third Industrial Revolution, describes in his new book, The Empathetic Civilization: The Race to Global Consciousness in a World of Crisis, how the Age of Reason during The Enlightenment triumphed over the Age of Faith in the feudal era, and has been with us since. Rifkin says that today, with the challenges of a global economy and our degrading biosphere, a new generation of scientists, scholars and reformers are challenging the underlying assumptions of the Age of Faith and the Age of Reason.These Age of Empathy advocates argue that the previous explanations of the human condition left us with incomplete stor...

Space law course to tackle final frontier

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:47:04 +0100

Health and safety for space tourists and disputes over satellite damage among legal modules to start at Sunderland UniversityWould-be lawyers at a British university are taking a lesson from the Starship Enterprise and boldly going into the potential legal conundra of outer space.For the first time in a UK syllabus, a module on law and the legal system beyond Earth's atmosphere will be included as an option for students starting at Sunderland University in September."It is a fascinating topic, which many students will benefit from studying," said Viv Kinnaird, dean of the faculty of business and law.Topics already arising in the field include gaps in health and safety for potential space tourists, and damage to satellites from other objects orbiting the Earth. Looking further ahead, some l...

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Space law course tackles final frontier

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:47:04 +0100

ActionBioscience.org Featured in Webinar

AIBS News — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:05:05 +0100

On 12 January, Oksana Hlodan, editor in chief of ActionBioscience.org, presented the Webinar "Thinking Like a Scientist: Teaching and Learning with Current Science Issues." Hlodan's guest educator was Brian Shmaefsky, of Lone Star College in Kingwood, Texas, president-elect of the Society of College Science Teachers. The Webinar was sponsored by the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) on the Webinar site of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and was coordinated by Robert Payo, of NSDL's Outreach and Professional Development office. Hlodan's Webinar was a rewarding hour of learning and discussion designed for high-school teachers and educators of undergraduate-level introductory science courses. More than 100 educators participated in the live event. The NSTA's Web semin...

The Mad Hatter's Secret Ingredient: Math

NPR Health and Science — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The first numbers that come to mind when thinking about Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland might be how much money the movie is raking in at the box office. But mathematicians say the books are full of algebraic lessons — such as why a raven is like a writing desk.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us (Source: NPR Health and Science)

Killer combo: Salt, fat and sugar

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:36:54 +0100

Our favourite foods are making us fat, yet we can't resist, because eating them is changing our minds as well as bodiesFor years I wondered why I was fat. I lost weight, gained it back, and lost it again – over and over and over. I owned suits in every size. As a former commissioner of the FDA (the US Food and Drug Administration), surely I should have the answer to my problems. Yet food held remarkable sway over my behaviour.The latest science seemed to suggest being overweight was my destiny. I was fat because my body's "thermostat" was set high. If I lost weight, my body would try to get it back, slowing down my metabolism till I returned to my predetermined set point.But this theory didn't explain why so many people, in the US and UK in particular, were getting signifi...

Understanding uptake of continuous quality improvement in Indigenous primary health care: lessons from a multi-site case study of the Audit and Best Practice for Chronic Disease project

BioMed Central — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Taking up CQI involved engaging multiple stakeholders in new relationships that could support services to construct shared meaning and purpose, operationalise key concepts and tools, and develop and embed new practices into services systems and routines. Promoting quality improvement requires a system approach and organization-wide commitment. At the organization level, a formal high-level mandate, leadership at all levels and resources to support implementation are needed. At the broader system level, governance arrangements that can fulfil a number of policy objectives related to articulating the linkages between CQI and other aspects of the regulatory, financing and performance frameworks within the health system would help articulate a role and vision for quality improveme...

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Breezing Along with the RML – Learn about promoting change and about citation bookmarking services

Midcontinental Region News — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:15:34 +0100

Next Breezing Along with the RML session, Wed. March 17, 10:00 Mountain Time, 11:00 Central Time. Two great presentations: 1) “Promoting Change” by Heather Brown and Ann Kaste from the University of Nebraska Medical Center Excited by mobile technologies and social media, two librarians presented their ideas to library leadership in a unique way. In this discussion, find out how they did it and what lessons were learned. 2) Rebecca Brown’s presentation will focus on two citation bookmarking services,CiteULike and Connotea. Both are available at no cost, and are a hybrid of a citation manager and a social bookmarking service. Come learn how to use these tools to save, share, and discover. URL: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/mcr/ Equipment: Connection to the Internet and a phone...

100 Percent of Primary Care Doctors in Denmark Use Electronic Medical Records

News stories via the Rural Assistance Center — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:51:05 +0100

A new Commonwealth Fund profile points to lessons for the U.S. and health care reform, reporting that all primary care doctors in Denmark use electronic medical records and 98 percent have the ability to electronically manage patient careincluding ordering prescriptions, drafting notes about patient visits, and sending appointment reminders. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)

Do You Have a Great Chemistry Lesson Plan Idea?

About.com Chemistry — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A great chemistry lesson plan does not need to be complicated, but when you're planning a class it isn't always easy to come up with a memorable way to present the material. Here's your chance to share the chemistry lesson plans that have worked best for you. Also, you'll be able to use the lesson plan collection as a resource for class planning. What's your idea?Do You Have a Great Chemistry Lesson Plan Idea? originally appeared on About.com Chemistry on Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 10:48:14.Permalink | Comment | Email this (Source: About.com Chemistry)

A tale of CIN—the Cannabis Infringement Notice scheme in Western Australia

Addiction — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions There was a window of opportunity and change was influenced by research that was communicated by a reliable and trusted source. Those who want to conduct research that informs policy need to understand the policy process more clearly, look for and help create emerging windows that occur in the problem and political spheres, and make partnerships with key stakeholders in the policy arena. The flipside of the process is that, when governments change, policy born in windows of opportunity can be a casualty. (Source: Addiction)

Long- but not short-term heat acclimation produces an apoptosis-resistant cardiac phenotype: a lesson from heat stress and ischemic/reperfusion insults.

Cell Stress and Chaperones — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, the elevated Bcl-X(L)/Bad ratio and decreased cyt c leakage to the cytosol are insufficient to protect the heart and interactions with additional cytoprotective pathways involved in acclimation (elevated HSP70, ROS, and sarcolemmal adaptations to abolish extrinsic apoptosis pathways) are required to induce the apoptosis-resistant AC phenotype. PMID: 20221856 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Cell Stress and Chaperones)

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Urban Aboriginal Understandings and Experiences of Tuberculosis in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Qualitative Health Research — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:15:33 +0100

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a serious health issue for some Aboriginal populations in Canada. In this article we build on two previous studies partnered with an Aboriginal community organization to examine TB in Montreal, Quebec. The current study draws on qualitative interviews with Aboriginal participants who had either themselves contracted TB or knew someone who had the disease. Thematic analysis revealed a high level of experiential knowledge among participants, although gaps in biomedical knowledge about the disease and available resources were apparent even among those who had been ill. Negative memories and experiences relating to the colonial history of TB treatment emerged as significant for many participants, helping to explain a silence around the topic of TB in the commu...

ActionBioscience.org Featured in Webinar

AIBS News — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:42:17 +0100

On 12 January, Oksana Hlodan, editor in chief of ActionBioscience.org, presented the Webinar "Thinking Like a Scientist: Teaching and Learning with Current Science Issues." Hlodan's guest educator was Brian Shmaefsky, of Lone Star College in Kingwood, Texas, president-elect of the Society of College Science Teachers. The Webinar was sponsored by the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) on the Webinar site of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and was coordinated by Robert Payo, of NSDL's Outreach and Profes-sional Development office. Hlodan's Webinar was a rewarding hour of learning and discussion designed for high-school teachers and educators of undergraduate-level introductory science courses. More than 100 educators participated in the live event. The NSTA's Web semi...

Reconstruction of Large Tracheal Defects in a Canine Model: Lessons Learned

Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:04:56 +0100

J reconstr MicrosurgDOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1249605ABSTRACTTracheal reconstruction remains a major clinical problem owing to the need for rigid support and a lining to maintain a patent lumen. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of microsurgical tracheal reconstruction in large animals. Two-stage tracheal reconstruction was attempted in six dogs and single-stage reconstruction in eight dogs. In the first-stage prelamination, tubular prosthetic material was lined with an abdominal fascial flap with skin grafting and covered with a rectus abdominis muscle flap. The construct was buried under the abdominal skin for 3 weeks, and then microsurgical tracheal reconstruction for a 6-cm-long defect was performed. Prosthetic materials tested were PolyMax mesh (Synthes, Paoli, PA...

Economic Recovery: Lessons Learned From Previous Recessions

Rural publications via the Rural Assistance Center — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:50:09 +0100

Discusses how the rates of employment loss and unemployment in the recent recession are about the same in metro and nonmetro areas, but based on previous recessions, nonmetro employment may recover more slowly. -- USDA Economic Research Service (Source: Rural publications via the Rural Assistance Center)

Betting on Behavior

Psychology Today Personality Center — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:45:49 +0100

On a tip from a Fellow Headcase I was told that the excerpt in Vanity Fair from Michael Lewis's new book, The Big Short, was rather tall on psychology. I was skeptical, and not just because my default is skepticism, but also because, like the rest of the universe, I've read quite enough in the past year about the men who eithercaused through greedcaused through negligencecaused but somehow didn't suffer fromsupposedly saved us from but weren't wise enough to stopprofited immensely bythe recent financial crisis.The protagonist of Lewis's excerpt, Michael Burry, appeared to fall into the final category, if I believed VF's cover line: "The Unknown Genius Who Made a Fortune on Wall Street's Crash." Great. So he's not just wildly wealthy, he's also a genius. And unknown. If he plays blues guita...

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Science must be a major election issue

Guardian Unlimited Science — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:30:02 +0100

The data is unequivocal: investing in scientific research during times of recession results in economic growthOn Tuesday night, the science representatives of the three main parties jovially debated in front of a heaving Westminster audience, all pushing the agenda that science is now a central election issue.Quite right too. All evidence suggests that increased expenditure in basic research results in economic growth. Conservative shadow science minister Adam Afriyie immediately set up their stall the wrong way round, by declaring that mending the economy came before investing in science. Science minister Lord Drayson countered, as he always does, by engaging well with critics, saying the right thing, but appearing hamstrung by his own party.Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Royal Society, unde...

Effects of dance on balance and gait in severe Parkinson disease: A case study.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:54:03 +0100

Conclusion. Twenty partnered tango lessons improved balance, endurance, balance confidence, and quality of life in a participant with severe PD. This is the first report of the use of dance as rehabilitation for an individual with advanced disease who primarily used a wheelchair for transportation. PMID: 20205582 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

What are the policy lessons of National Alcohol Prohibition in the United States, 1920–1933?

Addiction — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

National alcohol prohibition in the United States between 1920 and 1933 is believed widely to have been a misguided and failed social experiment that made alcohol problems worse by encouraging drinkers to switch to spirits and created a large black market for alcohol supplied by organized crime. The standard view of alcohol prohibition provides policy lessons that are invoked routinely in policy debates about alcohol and other drugs. The alcohol industry invokes it routinely when resisting proposals to reduce the availability of alcohol, increase its price or regulate alcohol advertising and promotion. Advocates of cannabis law reform invoke it frequently in support of their cause. This paper aims: (i) to provide an account of alcohol prohibition that is more accurate than the standard acc...

Adulterated Cocaine and Lessons Learned from the Jake Walk Blues.

Journal of Medical Toxicology — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Wiegand TJ PMID: 20221861 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Medical Toxicology)

Baby Slings

Pediatric Health Associates — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:47:00 +0100

The Consumer Product Safety Commission will be announcing shortly a warning on baby slings that parents use to hold their babies close to their chest. For young infants who do not yet have the muscle coordination to move around on their own are most at risk for suffocation in a baby sling. Additionally some infants have fallen out of the slings and have been seriously injured. Suffocation is a common cause of death for little ones. The highest mortality rate for suffocation is due to co-sleeping. A sleeping parent can roll over on their infant in the middle of the night or move blankets or pillows obstructing their baby’s ability to breathe. Babies and young children can suffocate on ordinary everyday items. Here are some of the more common things to avoid:· Soft bedding· Pillows· Stu...

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Kids need ATV safety lessons: surgeon

CBC | Health — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:38:22 +0100

Children who ride all-terrain vehicles are suffering amputations, spinal injuries and deaths, according to U.S. research, prompting calls for mandatory training. (Source: CBC | Health)

21 Ways To Turn Ill Will to Good Will

Psychology Today Personality Center — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:19:52 +0100

My recent posts have highlighted two very powerful, yet opposing forces in the human heart: in a traditional metaphor, we each have a wolf of love and a wolf of hate inside us, and it all depends on which one we feed every day.On the one hand, as the most social and loving species on the planet, we have the wonderful ability and inclination to connect with others, be empathic, cooperate, care, and love. On the other hand, we also have the capacity and inclination to be fearfully aggressive toward any individual or group we regard as “them.” (In my book – Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love and Wisdom – I develop this idea further, including how to stimulate and strengthen the neural circuits of self-control, empathy, and compassion.)To tame the wolf of hat...

'Slow Parenting' New Trend For Overscheduled Kids

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:04:18 +0100

We all want our kids to be successful, but are we pushing them too hard? Many children juggle school, sports, lessons and other activities, leaving them very little time to just be a kid. (Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire)

Lessons from viral latency in T cells: manipulating HIV-1 transcription by siRNA

Future HIV Therapy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:29:29 +0100

HIV Therapy , March 2010, Vol. 4, No. 2, Pages 199-213. (Source: Future HIV Therapy)

Inhalant Abuse and Hemoptysis: Is there really cause and effect?

The Poison Review — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:19:16 +0100

2 out of 5 stars Inhalant Abuse: A Case of Hemoptysis Associated with Halogenated Hydrocarbon Abuse. Schloneger M et al. Pediatr Emerg Care 2009;25:754-757. Abstract This case report describes an 18-year-old male with respiratory difficulty — initially treated as pneumonia — that eventually was diagnosed as massive pulmonary hemorrhage. Many rare causes of this condition — Goodpasture syndrome, bacterial and viral pneumonia, Wegener granulomatosis, etc — were ruled-out. Despite intensive treatment, the patient’s respiratory condition continued to deteriorate and he died on the 11th hospital day. Because the patient’s mother revealed that he had been huffing keyboard cleaner (tetrafluoroethane), the authors report this association but are careful ...

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Benefits of Adaptive FM Systems on Speech Recognition in Noise for Listeners who use Hearing Aids.

American Journal of Audiology — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: The Adaptive FM processing resulted in significant improvements at the higher noise levels and was preferred by the majority of participants in most of the conditions. PMID: 20220201 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Audiology)

Genetics Made Very, Very Simple

NPR Health and Science — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:51:00 +0100

If this photo were a genetics lesson, could you spot what's wrong?» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us (Source: NPR Health and Science)

Hematuria: An uncommon presentation of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia-Lessons learnt

Indian Journal of Urology — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:12:01 +0100

Krishnamoorthy Sriram, Kumar Santosh, Kekre NitinIndian Journal of Urology 2010 26(1):115-117A 55-year-old man with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia had recurrent episodes of gross painless hematuria for the past 30 years. His last episode of hematuria occurred a month ago, associated with pain in the right loin and was diagnosed to have a right mid-ureteric calculus. Under adequate platelet cover, he underwent right ureteroscopy. Postoperatively, he had persistent significant hematuria that did not improve despite repeated platelet transfusions. Factor VIIa was also transfused, without much benefit. A ureteroscopy was done, which identified bleeding from within the renal pelvis. CT angiogram confirmed the rupture of an artery supplying the interpole segment of the right kidney. Bleeding ...

Adolescence and why freedom isn't free.

Psychology Today Parenting Center — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:41:58 +0100

Adolescents often say they want independence when what they really mean is social freedom - freedom from adult direction and restraint.And when they do think about social freedom, it is usually the freedom of choice to act as they wish, which of course is only one half of social freedom. The other half, which they prefer to think about, or even deny, is coping with the consequence of every choice - enjoying beneficial consequences when the choice is good, and suffering unhappy ones when it is bad.Because freedom of choice is always chained to certainty of consequence, the freedom to make one's own decisions is never free.One way to think about the job of parenting adolescents is continually teaching the ‘choice/consequence connection' for two reasons. First, the young person learns what ...

Acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis with advanced gastric cancer: a case report

BioMed Central — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Although the advanced stages of neoplasms have a risk of superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT), an initial clinical diagnosis of MVT is sometimes difficult and it can be treated as a cancer-related pain using NSAIDs and/or opioids.We herein present a case of palliative stage of cancer with acute MVT, which was successfully treated with immediate anticoagulant therapy. We believe this case provides an important clinical lesson, which is that we should remember that MVT is one of the potential causes of abdominal pain with cancer patients and the thrombosis can be easily identified by US and CT. (Source: BioMed Central)

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Patient safety and acute care medicine: lessons for the future, insights from the past

Critical Care — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This article is one of ten reviews selected from the Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine 2010 (Springer Verlag) and co-published as a series in Critical Care. Other articles in the series can be found online at http://ccforum/series/yearbook. Further information about the Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine is available from http://www.springer.com/series/2855. (Source: Critical Care)

Childhood Tuberculosis in the Kilimanjaro region: lessons from and for the TB Programme

Tropical Medicine and International Health — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Objective To determine the magnitude of childhood TB and treatment outcome in Kilimanjaro region.Methods Retrospective review of registration-based data on TB notifications in Kilimanjaro region for the period 2002[ndash]2006.Results Between 2002 and 2006, there were 1615 patients of childhood TB in Kilimanjaro region constituting 13% of total TB burden and the average case detection rate was 147/100 000 for urban and 41.8/100 000 for rural populations. Of them, 54.2% were men and 75.2% had pulmonary TB (PTB); 24.9% were tested for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) by Ziehl-Neelsen staining showing that 5.8% of all patients with TB were AFB smear positive. The remaining 94.2% were presumptively treated for TB. Treatment success rate was 79.9%, mortality 10.9% and default rate was 7%. Unfavourable ou...

Overview: Intrathecal vincristine errors- why is there failure to learn from history?

NeLM - News — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Source: Qual Saf Health Care Area: News This paper on the intrathecal administration of vincristine notes that analysis of this source of harm shows it to be a classic systems error which has proved intractable for nearly 40 years. The authors assess why effective learning has been so slow and illustrate lessons for other fields of patient safety. They explore the following five domains of failure to learn from this rare yet catastrophic error: . Failure to learn from adverse events . Failure of international translation . Failure to achieve compliance with safety guidance . Failure of investigations and enquiries . Failure of solutions (Source: NeLM - News)

A brief history of Forensic odontology since 1775

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:59:05 +0100

Abstract: The increasing role of DNA sampling of the saliva on and around the tooth marks on skin or other objects has perhaps led some to rely on this as too much of a gold standard to the detriment of more established and well-tried methods of odontological forensic detection.Forensic odontology should not become, as Geoffrey Pyke (1893–1948) the maverick inventor during the Second World War, once described such lost knowledge: “A lesson in collective forgetfulness”. This was said about the use of self sterilizing sphagnum moss as a field dressing due to a content of phenolic compounds. One amongst many of perhaps 350 species of the genus Sphagnum; Sphagnum angustifolium, was used as a highly absorbent wound dressing in both World Wars, the Spanish Civil War and before. (Source: Jo...

Sleep differences among ethnic groups

Medicineworld.org: New Article Alert — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:04:32 +0100

The 2010 Sleep in America poll released recently by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) reveals significant differences in the sleep habits and attitudes of Asians, Blacks/African-Americans, Hispanics and Whites. It is the first poll to examine sleep among these four ethnic groups. NSF's Sleep in America poll observed that more than three-fourths of respondents from each ethnic group agree that poor sleep is linked to health problems (76-83%). These new findings echo lessons learned by former President Bill Clinton who recently admitted that he has adopted a new lifestyle regimen to sleep seven or more hours on the advice of his doctors........ (Source: Medicineworld.org: New Article Alert)

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The lessons to be learned from the pandemic

Pulse Today Clinical Updates — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:23:00 +0100

The biggest problem we on the front line have had is that swine flu has only ever been a mild illness. (Source: Pulse Today Clinical Updates)

SfE BES meeting 2010 - Medal Lectures

Society for Endocrinology — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100

The Society for Endocrinology would like to offer its congratulations to this years medallists, all of whom will be presenting a talk on their prize-winning work at the upcoming SfE BES meeting from 15 to 18 March. Details of the medallists and their plenary lectures are as follows: SfE Dale Medal Lecture, Professor S O'Rahilly (Cambridge) - Common metabolic disease: lessons from the extremes. 10:45 to 11:25, Tuesday 16 March. SfE Transatlantic Medal Lecture, Professor S Melmed (Los Angeles, US) - Pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas. 11:30 to 12:00, Tuesday 16 March. Society for Endocrinology Medal Lecture, Professor W Arlt (Birmingham) - The hitchhiker's guide to the steroid galaxy. 11:30 to 12:05, Wednesday 17 March. SfE Hoffenberg International Medal Lecture, Professor T Yoshimura (N...

Minn. Legislature Considers 'Abstinence-Plus' Sex Education Bill

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +0100

A bill (SF 2645) in the Minnesota Legislature would require each school district to create an "abstinence-first" sex education curriculum with "age-appropriate" lessons on human sexuality and information about condoms and other contraceptives, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Current state law requires school districts to implement sex education programs that "includ[e] helping students to abstain from sexual activity until marriage." The legislation also would require, for the first time, that sex education programs address prevention of sexual violence... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Minn. Legislature Considers 'Abstinence-Plus' Sex Education Bill

Pregnancy News From Medical News Today — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP) recall leaves food consumers wondering: What is this stuff?

NaturalNews.com — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

(NaturalNews) Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP) is one of most common soy-based food "fillers" used to make literally thousands of processed food products. It's found in veggie burgers, gravy mixes, soups and many other grocery products. Last Thursday, one of the largest producers of HVP in the United States, Las Vegas-based Basic Food Flavors Inc., was the subject of an FDA consumer safety warning announcement. Salmonella had been found contaminating the company's HVP production equipment, the FDA said, and a nationwide recall was initiated.Most Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein isn't purchased directly by consumers; it's used by food production companies as an ingredient in mainstream processed foods. So it shows up in thousands of grocery products -- and most consumers are not aware they're...

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A full house raises risk of hospital deaths

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Michigan Health System) A full house isn't always a good thing, according to a new study by the University of Michigan Health System that links high hospital occupancy to higher death rates for patients. High occupancy periods are a challenging time when more things can go wrong, authors say. Researchers evaluated records at 39 Michigan hospitals to study a set of factors that can affect hospital deaths. The large scale study can provide lessons for hospitals across the country. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

The Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus G protein-coupled receptor: Lessons on dysregulated angiogenesis from a viral oncogene

Journal of Cellular Biochemistry — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Tumor viruses can induce cell transformation by overcoming cellular defense mechanisms and promoting the ungoverned proliferation of infected cells. To this end, functionally related viral oncogenes have evolved in disparate viruses to over-ride key proliferative and survival intracellular pathways, thus assuring efficient viral replication and contributing to tumor formation. Indeed, the study of viral oncogenes has been a powerful tool for disclosing fundamental insights into these basic cellular processes. In this regard, the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV or HHV8), the etiological agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), is an exemplary model of an oncogenic virus that includes within its genome several homologues of cellular genes implicated in the regulation of cell proliferati...

Risk management in mental health: applying lessons from commercial aviation. - Hatcher S.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:34:45 +0100

This article describes the sys... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Lessons at Tuba City Hospital, Run by Navajos, About Births

NYT > Health — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:42:29 +0100

A small, underfunded hospital in Arizona, with about 500 births a year, is outperforming richer institutions when it comes to keeping Caesarean rates down. (Source: NYT > Health)

Lessons at Indian Hospital About Births

NYT > Health — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:45:35 +0100

A small, underfunded hospital in Arizona, with about 500 births a year, is outperforming richer institutions when it comes to keeping Caesarean rates down. (Source: NYT > Health)

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GMC consultation: Options to enhance the quality assurance of basic medical education (closing 28 May)

MEDEV News — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Consultation summary: The GMC is seeking feedback on a number of options to enhance the quality assurance of basic medical education (QABME) programme to ensure it remains robust and fit for purpose when quality assuring the standards for delivery and outcomes for graduates set out in Tomorrow's Doctors 2009. They are seeking views from people involved in basic medical education on how to enhance involvement of key interest groups. Results All comments will be considered in the development of a work programme for the quality assurance of basic medical education (QABME) process for 2010/11. This work programme will be considered by the GMC Undergraduate Board during the second half of 2010. If you would like a report of the findings of this survey please indicate this in the 'Any further...

St. Patrick’s Day – Celebrate by listing to the Breezing Along with RML session!

Midcontinental Region News — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:36:51 +0100

Next Breezing Along with the RML session, Wed. March 17, 10:00 Mountain Time, 11:00 Central Time. Two great presentations: 1) “Promoting Change” by Heather Brown and Ann Kaste from the University of Nebraska Medical Center Excited by mobile technologies and social media, two librarians presented their ideas to library leadership in a unique way. In this discussion, find out how they did it and what lessons were learned. 2) Rebecca Brown’s presentation will focus on two citation bookmarking services,CiteULike, and Connotea. Both are available at no cost, and are a hybrid of a citation manager and a social bookmarking service. Come learn how to use these tools to save, share, and discover. URL: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/mcr/ Equipment: Connection to the Internet and a ph...

St. Patricks Day, Celebrate by listening to the Breezing Along with RML session!

Midcontinental Region News — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:36:51 +0100

Implementation of the New Hospice Conditions of Participation: One Hospice Agency's Experience

Home Health Care Management — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:45:02 +0100

This article recounts the experience of one mid-sized hospice’s now nearly 2-year planning and implementation process and the lessons learned. (Source: Home Health Care Management)

Tackling gender imbalance in children’s films

Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:46:55 +0100

by Dafna Lemish, PhD Actress Geena Davis’s recent speech to the United Nations highlighted a concern that researchers of children and media have been speaking about for many years. The programs on the screens our children view – on television, computers, movie theaters or even their mobile phones – portray a world of gross gender inequality: Girls still appear marginal to society. Indeed, a recent study of children’s television in 24 countries, including the United States, found that there are two boys on average for every girl character. Furthermore, girls and boys continue to be represented in traditional, conservative and stereotypical ways: Girls appear largely as emotional and passive, hypersexual, and are overly concerned with consumption, beautification and romance....

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Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of chikungunya fever: Lessons learned from the re-emerging epidemic

Indian Journal of Dermatology — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:02:58 +0100

Mohan Alladi, Kiran D.H.N, Manohar I Chiranjeevi, Kumar D PrabathIndian Journal of Dermatology 2010 55(1):54-63Chikungunya fever, caused by &quot;Chikungunya virus,&quot; is an arbovirus disease transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes belonging to the genus <i>Aedes</i>. Chikungunya fever epidemics have been reported from several countries around the world. The disease that was silent for nearly 32 years re-emerged in the October 2005 outbreak in India that is still ongoing. The incubation period ranges from 3 to 12 days. The onset is usually abrupt and the acute stage is characterized by sudden onset with high-grade fever, severe arthralgias, myalgias, and skin rash. Swollen tender joints and crippling arthritis are usua...

Addressing end of life care issues in a tertiary treatment centre: lessons learned from surveying parents' experiences

Journal of Child Health Care — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:45:40 +0100

Much of the work in children’s hospitals is rightly focused on treatments aimed towards cure but this means that death is often seen as a failure and, as such, it may not be discussed or acknowledged as a possibility until very late in a child’s stay in hospital. However, this reluctance can deny the child and their family the opportunity to be informed, prepare and make choices. A survey of the care received by parents whose child had died in a children’s tertiary treatment centre led to a greater understanding of the parents’ experiences and the ways in which care could be enhanced. Parents talked of the way in which the geography of the hospital could be disruptive and dislocating and yet they often had no place to be alone or in private. Communication was identi...

The Bonati Spine Institute Suggests Looking At Olympic Athletes For Spine Health

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0100

The Bonati Spine Institute, the leading center for the patented Bonati Spine Procedures for minimally invasive laser spine surgery, suggests that individuals look to Olympic athletes for lessons regarding spine health. While watching the 2010 Winter Olympics, adults worldwide cheered their athletes to victory. We witnessed athletes that were performing because they had recovered from serious injuries, and athletes that would injure themselves during the Vancouver games. Back pain appears to be more common in elite athletes than the normal population... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

The Bonati Spine Institute Suggests Looking At Olympic Athletes For Spine Health

Sports Medicine / Fitness News From Medical News Today — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0100

The Private Life of Plants | Your next box set

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:45:03 +0100

After so many thrilling revelations from the animal kingdom, an Attenborough programme about the botanical world might sound underwhelming - but actually, this was one of his bestThroughout his long, glorious, planet-encompassing career, David Attenborough has taught us many things: how to keep calm in the company of gorillas; how high a killer whale can toss a seal; and what a mountain of bat crap looks like. But one of his most profound – and surprising – lessons came in the form of 1995's The Private Life of Plants.When it was first announced, it sounded like a bit of a let-down. After so many thrilling revelations from the animal kingdom, a focus on the botanical didn't seem the most exciting proposition. But never doubt Attenborough. As well as introducing us to ancient trees, gia...

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The course of specialization in public health in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 1926 to 2006: lessons and challenges

Human Resources for Health — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: An analysis of the course's history provides valuable lessons for other schools of public health trying to train professionals in developing countries. (Source: Human Resources for Health)

Adaptation of a behavioral parent-training curriculum for Hispanic caregivers: HOT DOCS Español

Infant Mental Health Journal — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This article presents the process utilized to adapt a behavioral parent-training curriculum for Hispanic caregivers from a program currently available in English. Throughout this process, a number of cultural and language elements were identified as needing to be modified to meet the needs of the Hispanic population served. Fidelity and fit were balanced to develop a curriculum acceptable to diverse Hispanic caregivers while also incorporating all the essential elements of a theory-based approach to training caregivers. The lessons learned from this adaptation may assist others in their attempts to meet the needs of Hispanic families. (Source: Infant Mental Health Journal)

Software Replica of Minimal Living Processes.

Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Bersini H There is a long tradition of software simulations in theoretical biology to complement pure analytical mathematics which are often limited to reproduce and understand the self-organization phenomena resulting from the non-linear and spatially grounded interactions of the huge number of diverse biological objects. Since John Von Neumann and Alan Turing pioneering works on self-replication and morphogenesis, proponents of artificial life have chosen to resolutely neglecting a lot of materialistic and quantitative information deemed not indispensable and have focused on the rule-based mechanisms making life possible, supposedly neutral with respect to their underlying material embodiment. Minimal life begins at the intersection of a series of processes which need to be ...

[Imperforate hymen: One diagnosis can hide another.]

Archives de Pediatrie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: In case of acute abdominopelvic pain in pubertal girls with no previous menstruation, the possibility of an imperforate hymen must be suspected. Examination should include observation of secondary sexual characteristics and inspection of the external genitalia. Treatment is surgical and consists of a hymenotomy. PMID: 20207524 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Archives de Pediatrie)

Working together to address disability in a culturally-appropriate and sustainable manner.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions. Improving the lives of persons with disability in development contexts is likely to be best achieved through processes that are inclusive, owned and driven by local communities. PMID: 20205544 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

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Shaping up a lineage-lessons from B lymphopoesis.

Current Opinion in Immunology — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Bryder D, Sigvardsson M Even though the development of B lymphoid cells from hematopoietic stem cells is one of the most carefully investigated models of cell differentiation in adult mammalians, a set of recent findings has to a large extent increased our understanding for how B lymphoid commitment is achieved. These include the identification of IKAROS, PU.1 and E2A as transcription factors responsible for lymphoid lineage priming in multipotent cells, as well as the identification of EBF1 dependent B lineage restricted progenitors among cells lacking expression of the classical B lineage markers CD19 or B220. The insight that the B cell identity may be defined at an earlier stage then previously thought, allows for an increased understanding of B lymphoid development likely...

The course of specialization in public health in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 1926 to 2006: lessons and challenges

Human Resources for Health — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Love & Lies on The Bachelor

Psychology Today Relationships Center — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:16:30 +0100

With the ceaseless scheming, conflict, and competition, reality shows attract and often encourage master manipulators. If a season of reality TV is nothing more than a semester-long object lesson in lying, Rozlyn Papa from this season of ABC's The Bachelor could teach a master class. For those unfamiliar with Ms. Papa's story, the 28 year-old model was booted from The Bachelor after her relationship with one of the show's producers was revealed. In the latest episode Rozlyn was brought back to confront her fellow contestants and the host, Chris Harrison. Though Rozlyn repeatedly rebuffed Chris's questions about the affair, her body language betrayed the truth. During the interview she unintentionally sent signals, both verbal and nonverbal, indicating she was lying. Verbal Cues Absolutes: ...

St. Patrick’s Day – Breezing Along with RML – 10:00 MT/11:00 CT

Midcontinental Region News — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:26:34 +0100

Learn something new on St. Patrick’s Day! Two great presentations: 1) “Promoting Change” by Heather Brown and Ann Kaste from the University of Nebraska Medical Center Excited by mobile technologies and social media, two librarians presented their ideas to library leadership in a unique way. In this discussion, find out how they did it and what lessons were learned. 2) Rebecca Brown’s presentation will focus on two citation bookmarking services,CiteULike, and Connotea. Both are available at no cost, and are a hybrid of a citation manager and a social bookmarking service. Come learn how to use these tools to save, share, and discover. URL: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/mcr/ Equipment: Connection to the Internet and a phone Login: as a guest with your first and last nam...

25 Years in the Emergency Department -- Lessons Learned: An Expert Interview With Robert McNamara, MD

Medscape Today Headlines — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:08:13 +0100

Dr. McNamara discusses using the expertise of other healthcare providers, establishing rapport with patients and colleagues, and diagnosing some newly emerged soft tissue infections. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

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The global health system: Lessons for a stronger institutional framework

WHO Maternal, Newborn and Child Health — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:55:00 +0100

PLoS Med (2010) (Source: WHO Maternal, Newborn and Child Health)

Medical students' first clinical experiences of death

Medical Education — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions A tension between emotional concern and professional detachment was pervasive among medical students undergoing their first experience of the death of a patient in their care. How this tension was negotiated depended on the patient's clinical circumstances, supervisor role-modelling and, most importantly, the support of supervisors and peers, including debriefing opportunities. Faculty members and residents should be made aware of the complexities of a medical student's first experience of patient death and be educated regarding sympathetic debriefing. (Source: Medical Education)

Evolution of Taiwan's health care system.

Health Economics, Policy, and Law — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study aims to present an overview of the evolutionary policy process in reforming the health care system in Taiwan, through dissecting the forces of knowledge, social-cultural context, economic resources and political system. We further identify factors, which had a significant impact on health care reform policies in Taiwan through illustrative policy examples. One of the most illuminating examples highlighted is the design and implementation of a single-payer National Health Insurance (NHI) program in 1995, after nearly five years of planning efforts (1988-1993) and a two-year legislative marathon. The NHI is one of the most popular social programs ever undertaken in the history of Taiwan, which greatly enhances financial protection against unexpected medical expenses and assures ac...

A Pathway and Approach to Biomarker Validation and Qualification for Osteoarthritis Clinical Trials.

Current Drug Targets — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Hunter DJ, Losina E, Guermazi A, Burstein D, Lassere MN, Kraus V This narrative review outlines the work done in other fields with regards biomarker validation and qualification and the lessons that we may learn from this experience. Defining a universally agreed upon path for biomarker validation and qualification is urgently needed to circumvent many of the hurdles faced in OA therapeutic development irrespective of whether we are discussing biochemical markers, imaging markers or other measures. This review proposes a path that may be suitable for osteoarthritis and poses some logical next steps that will take us in this direction. PMID: 20199395 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Current Drug Targets)

Tough lessons from Dutch Q fever outbreak

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:31:00 +0100

The chief veterinary officer of the Netherlands has defended the country's decision to cull thousands of goats in an effort to control an unprecedented outbreak of Q fever.The Netherlands "can't take a chance", Christianne Bruschke told Nature after a meeting in Breda -- a city near the heart of the outbreak.At the meeting, scientists from other countries questioned the tactic. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)

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Obama’s Proposed Medicaid Expansion: Lessons from TennCare

The Heritage Foundation Papers: Health Care — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:49:00 +0100

[1]Richard S. Foster, "Estimated Financial Effects of the 'America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,' as Passed by the House on (Source: The Heritage Foundation Papers: Health Care)

Dynamic presentations for interactive teaching

MEDEV Events — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:50:41 +0100

Making the most of Interactive Whiteboards and Audience Response Systems Netskills Training Suite, Herschel Building, Newcastle University Interactive whiteboards (IWBs) and audience response (or voting) systems have become widespread across the education sector in recent years. Are they being used well by the staff that have access to them? This workshop explores the possibilities provided by these devices. It discusses the pedagogic and curricular implications, gives a grounding in their main features and provides practical experience in using them. Topics: Pedagogic implications of IWBs and voting systems Use within the curriculum, learning styles and good practice Producing exciting and dynamic lessons with these devices How these technologies can help with inspection by enriching l...

Trauma, Feminism, and Addiction: Cultural and Clinical Lessons From Susan Gordon Lydon's Take the Long Way Home: Memoirs of a Survivor

Traumatology recent issues — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:13:53 +0100

This article explores second-wave feminist Susan Gordon Lydon’s 1993 memoir, Take the Long Way Home: Memoirs of a Survivor as a historical document whose resonances remain relevant for people working in the multidisciplinary field of trauma studies. Lydon’s memoir illustrates what are arguably the most significant legacies of second-wave feminism’s consciousness-raising and its propagation of the notion that the personal is political: the feminist reconceptualization of trauma to include women’s everyday experiences of interpersonal violence and the emergence of survivor discourse. The article demonstrates that Lydon’s conceptualization of her addiction as a response to trauma reflects three key feminist contributions to trauma theory: the expansion of the con...

Lessons Learned from Glycemia Control Studies

Current Diabetes Reports — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:07:55 +0100

Abstract Hyperglycemia occurs in patients with diabetes and in nondiabetic patients during acute illness. Epidemiologic and observational studies have demonstrated that hyperglycemia is associated with significant adverse outcomes. Nevertheless, studies evaluating the benefits of normalizing glycemia have produced inconsistent results. For instance, intensive control of hyperglycemia had been shown to provide microvascular benefit in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients, but its macrovascular benefits had only been clearly demonstrated in type 1 diabetic patients. Moreover, although initial studies in critically ill patients showed decreased morbidity and mortality with tight glycemic control, subsequent studies yielded conflicting results. A series of recent studies provid...

Tough lessons from Dutch Q fever outbreak

news@nature.com — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Mass cull of goats questioned as researchers race to find strain behind human cases. (Source: news@nature.com)

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Tough lessons from Dutch Q fever outbreak

news@nature.com — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Mass cull of goats questioned as researchers race to find strain behind human cases. (Source: news@nature.com)

Haitian Amputees -- Lessons Learned from Sierra Leone

New England Journal of Medicine — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

(No abstract is available for this citation) (Source: New England Journal of Medicine)

Implementation of an image-guided radiation therapy program: Lessons learnt and future challenges

Australasian Radiology — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The aim of this paper is to detail the experience obtained in implementing an image-guided radiation therapy program at the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre. This required retrofitting a Varian Clinac 21EX with an on-board imager. The commissioning and quality assurance procedures, organisation of a multidisciplinary image guided radiation therapy group, and the development of clinical protocols for orthogonal kV and cone beam computed tomography implementation are described. Reassessment of the image-guided radiation therapy program has continued as new equipment and software versions were made available in the department. (Source: Australasian Radiology)

Genetics of inflammasome-associated disorders: A lesson in the guiding principals of inflammasome function.

European Journal of Immunology — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Rodrigue-Gervais IG, Saleh M Human genetics research has had a great impact on the genesis of the inflammasome field and the treatment of certain inflammasomopathies. The identification of mutations causing rare autoinflammatory syndromes, reproductive wastage disorders and of single nucleotide polymorphisms influencing susceptibility to complex diseases such as vitiligo, sepsis, and Crohn's disease has not only led to the characterization of novel proteins involved in NOD-like receptor-coupled inflammatory signaling pathways but also to greater insights into pathogenic mechanisms. PMID: 20201021 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Immunology)

The detection and prevention of errors in laboratory medicine

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:36:02 +0100

The last few decades have seen a significant decrease in the rates of analytical errors in clinical laboratories. Evidence demonstrates that pre- and post-analytical steps of the total testing process (TTP) are more error-prone than the analytical phase. Most errors are identified in pre-pre-analytic and post-post-analytic steps outside of the laboratory. In a patient-centred approach to the delivery of health-care services, there is the need to investigate, in the TTP, any possible defect that may have a negative impact on the patient. In the interests of patients, any direct or indirect negative consequence related to a laboratory test must be considered, irrespective of which step is involved and whether the error depends on a laboratory professional (e.g. calibration/testing error) or ...

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Supportive Housing Approaches in the Collaborative Initiative to Help End Chronic Homelessness (CICH)

The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:06:36 +0100

Abstract The Federal Collaborative Initiative to Help End Chronic Homelessness funded 11 sites to expand permanent housing and offer supportive services to persons experiencing chronic homelessness and suffering from mental and substance use disorders. This study examines qualitative data on how the projects used US Department of Housing and Urban Development funding and three housing approaches (scattered units, congregate/clustered, or a combination) for rapid placement of clients. Each housing approach called for adaptations by the services teams and property personnel in order to support clients with independent living skills, prevent housing loss, and promote their overall health in line with Initiative goals. Property personnel reported taking on new roles with clien...

Reducing HIV and AIDS through Prevention (RHAP): A Theoretically Based Approach for Teaching HIV Prevention to Adolescents through an Exploration of Popular Music

Journal of Urban Health — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:06:35 +0100

Abstract Using popular culture to engage students in discussions of HIV prevention is a nontraditional approach that may complement current prevention efforts and enhance the ability to reach youth who are at high risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Hip-hop or rap music is the dominant genre of music among adolescents, especially Black and Latino youth who are disproportionately impacted by HIV and AIDS. This paper describes the rationale and development of the Reducing HIV and AIDS through Prevention (RHAP) program, a school-based program that uses hip-hop/rap music as a vehicle for raising awareness among adolescents about HIV/AIDS. Constructs from the Social Cognitive Theory and the Sexual Script Theory were used in developing the program....

A randomised controlled trial on the effectiveness of bracing patients with idiopathic scoliosis: failure to include patients and lessons to be learnt

European Spine Journal — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:01:58 +0100

Abstract Trials often do not succeed in including as many patients as anticipated beforehand. The aim of this paper was to describe why we were not able to include more than a few patients in our randomized controlled treatment trial on the effectiveness of bracing patients with idiopathic scoliosis, and to describe which lessons can be learnt. A pilot study on the willingness to participate in such a trial was conducted amongst 21 patients and their parents. A description of how we prepared and designed this trial, the problems we faced and how we tried to improve the inclusion are given. A total of four patients were included, and 14 refused to participate in an 18-month period. There were a lot less eligible patients than anticipated (40 instead of 100 per year), and th...

Computer games can teach schools some lessons

ScienceDaily Headlines — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0100

If schools adopted some of the strategies that video games use, they could educate children more effectively, according to experts. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Helping States Enhance Health Care Quality Through Technical Assistance [GrantWatch]

Health Affairs — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:01:32 +0100

For the money spent on health care in the United States, far better quality of care should be expected. The Commonwealth Fund and AcademyHealth have created the State Quality Improvement Institute to assist states in implementing sustainable quality improvement strategies. Lessons have emerged about the role of states in advancing fundamental and systemic changes in the way care is delivered, as well as how providers are organized and compensated. The experiences of states participating in the institute may offer insights for other states seeking to achieve similar goals. (Source: Health Affairs)

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Lessons From Pennsylvania's Mixed Response To Federal School Wellness Law [Schools]

Health Affairs — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:01:31 +0100

Federal legislation aimed at tackling the nation’s soaring childhood obesity rate through changes to school meals and nutrition and wellness programs has met with mixed results. An examination of Pennsylvania’s response to the Child Nutrition and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004, one of the most comprehensive state responses, found improvements to the nutritional quality of foods offered à la carte in conjunction with school meal programs. However, multiple weaknesses remain. Consistent wellness policy implementation steps were not followed, and there was inadequate statewide enforcement. Despite this, Pennsylvania can offer lessons for other states in moving forward with programs to promote good nutrition and wellness. (Source: Health Affai...

Learning From State Surveillance Of Childhood Obesity [Lessons From States & Localities]

Health Affairs — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:01:31 +0100

Data on childhood obesity collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention helped reveal the nation’s epidemic of overweight and obese children. But more information is needed. Collecting body mass index (BMI)—the widely accepted measurement of childhood weight status—at the state and local levels can be instrumental in identifying and tracking obesity trends, designing interventions to help overweight children, and guiding broader policy solutions. Approximately thirty states have enacted or proposed BMI surveillance laws and regulations. Arkansas stands out as the state with the highest-quality surveillance data. Innovative strategies being pursued in a number of other states should be explored for broader dissemination. (Source: Health Affairs)

Policy Solutions To The 'Grocery Gap' [Lessons From States & Localities]

Health Affairs — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:01:31 +0100

In 2001 the Food Trust, a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring access to affordable, nutritious food, focused attention on the lack of access to healthy foods in Philadelphia by creating food access maps and convening a task force. The campaign led to the creation of a statewide initiative that to date has funded seventy-eight fresh food outlets in Pennsylvania, increasing food access for 500,000 children and adults. This success has led to interest from other states and the federal government in expanding the initiative. Here we present the Food Trust’s five-step framework for increasing access to fresh, healthy food in other locales. (Source: Health Affairs)

A Statewide Strategy To Battle Child Obesity In Delaware [Lessons From States & Localities]

Health Affairs — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:01:31 +0100

In 2006, approximately 37 percent of Delaware’s children were overweight or obese. To combat Delaware’s childhood obesity epidemic, Nemours, a leading child health care provider, launched a statewide program to improve child health. The "social-ecological" strategy reaches beyond clinical encounters to promote better health and behavior at multiple levels. Early results show that the initiative halted the increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese children, since no statistically significant change occurred during the two-year span between administrations of the Delaware Survey on Children’s Health. The initiative also spurred increased knowledge of healthy eating and awareness of the need for increased physical activity in school, child care, and primary car...

Mapping Data Shape Community Responses To Childhood Obesity [Lessons From States & Localities]

Health Affairs — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:01:31 +0100

Geographic information system (GIS) mapping can help communities visualize the health of their neighborhoods and identify opportunities for improvement. In Austin, Texas, Children’s Optimal Health, a nonprofit association, used GIS to map the prevalence of obesity among middle school children and to identify contributory factors. The maps indicated that obesity is a problem in all Austin middle schools. Two neighborhoods outside downtown Austin have particularly high concentrations of overweight and obese students. Maps also showed that the neighborhoods have different proportions of fast-food outlets, grocery stores selling fresh produce, green recreation space, and students failing cardiovascular testing. The mapping exercise spurred community groups to propose obesity intervention...

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Studying a disease with no home - lessons in trial recruitment from the PATCH II study

BioMed Central — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

DiscussionThe model of a network of busy NHS clinicians all recruiting a few patients into large clinical studies requires further testing. It did not work very well for PATCH II, but this was probably because patients were not routinely seen by dermatologists, and recruitment took place prior to research support being available through the Comprehensive Clinical Research Network (CCRN). There is a balance to be struck between asking a lot of centres to recruit just a few patients, and asking a few centres to recruit a lot of patients. Giving modest funds to principal investigators to buy local research nurse time did not work well, probably because too little research time was bought, and it was difficult to separate research tasks from the nurses existing clinical duties. National resea...

How ARM dominated mobile chip design

Physics Today News Picks — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

ACM Queue: If you were looking for lessons on energy-efficient computing, one person you would want to speak with would be Steve Furber, principal designer of the highly successful ARM (Acorn RISC Machine) processor. Currently running in billions of cellphones around the world, the ARM is a prime example of a chip that is simple, low power, and low cost. Furber led development of the ARM in the 1980s while at Acorn, the UK company also known for the BBC Microcomputer, which Furber played a major role in developing. David Brown interviews Furber about some of the lessons on energy-efficient computing he has learned through working on these and subsequent projects. Furber also talks about his current project, SpiNNaker (Spiking Neural Network Architecture), a massively parallel system...

The Ins and Outs of Editing and Splicing of Plastid RNAs: Lessons from Parasitic Plants.

New Biotechnology — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Tillich M, Krause K In chloroplasts of higher plants, editing and splicing of transcripts is a prerequisite for the proper expression of the plastid genetic information and thereby for photosynthesis. Holoparasitic plants differ from photosynthetic plants in that they have abandoned a photoautotrophic lifestyle, which has led to a reduction or loss of photosynthetic activity. The analysis of several parasitic plant plastid genomes revealed that coding capacities were reduced to different extent, encompassing genes that regulate plastid gene expression as well as photosynthesis genes. The reorganization of the plastid genome is also reflected in overall increases in point mutation rates that parallel the vanishing of RNA editing sites. Unprecedented in land plants is the parall...

Pelvic Fractures Resulting From Snowboarding

The American Journal of Sports Medicine — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:18:05 +0100

Conclusion Pelvic fractures resulting from snowboarding accidents included a higher proportion with isolated sacral fractures in the stable group and a lower prevalence of associated injuries in the unstable group compared with those resulting from other causes. (Source: The American Journal of Sports Medicine)

Next Breezing Along with the RML session – Wed. March 17 – 10:00 Mountain Time, 11:00 Central Time

Midcontinental Region News — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:14:50 +0100

Learn something new on St. Patrick’s Day! Two great presentations: 1) “Presenting Change” by Heather Brown and Ann Kaste from the University of Nebraska Medical Center Excited by mobile technologies and social media, two librarians presented their ideas to library leadership in a unique way. In this discussion, find out how they did it and what lessons were learned. 2) Rebecca Brown’s presentation will focus on two citation bookmarking services,CiteULike, and Connotea. Both are available at no cost, and are a hybrid of a citation manager and a social bookmarking service. Come learn how to use these tools to save, share, and discover. URL: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/mcr/ Equipment: Connection to the Internet and a phone Login: as a guest with your first and last na...

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Next Breezing Along with the RML session, Wed. March 17, 10:00 Mountain Time, 11:00 Central Time

Midcontinental Region News — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:14:50 +0100

Backlash from Singh libel case puts chiropractors on ropes

Guardian Unlimited Science — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:32:06 +0100

One in four chiropractors in Britain are under investigation as a result of campaign by Singh supporters, reveals Martin RobbinsAs the British Chiropractic Association's battle with Simon Singh continues to work its way through the legal system, chiropractors are counting the fincancial costs of a major backlash resulting from a libel action that has left the Lord Chief Justice "baffled". What was originally a dispute between the BCA and one science writer over free speech has become a brutally effective campaign to reform an entire industry.A staggering one in four chiropractors in Britain are now under investigation for allegedly making misleading misleading claims in advertisements, according to figures revealed by the General Chiropractic Council.The council, which is responsible for r...

Chiropractors on the ropes

Guardian Unlimited Science — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:32:06 +0100

One in four chiropractors in Britain are under investigation as a result of campaign by Singh supporters, reveals Martin RobbinsAs the British Chiropractic Association's battle with Simon Singh continues to work its way through the legal system, chiropractors are counting the financial costs of a major backlash resulting from a libel action that has left the Lord Chief Justice "baffled". What was originally a dispute between the BCA and one science writer over free speech has become a brutally effective campaign to reform an entire industry.A staggering one in four chiropractors in Britain are now under investigation for allegedly making misleading claims in advertisements, according to figures from the General Chiropractic Council.The council, which is responsible for regulating the profe...

Mental Health Care Reforms in Latin America: An Overview of Mental Health Care Reforms in Latin America and the Caribbean [Columns]

Psychiatr Serv — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:00:52 +0100

This new column provides an overview of mental health reforms in Latin America and the Caribbean. Progress has been particularly visible in countries that have implemented policies with strong political support (Brazil, Chile, and Belize, among others). However, lessons may be learned from the collective experience of a region that has faced multiple obstacles to reform. Available resources are still insufficient and inequitably distributed, reform implementation is not complete in most countries, and high levels of unmet need exist. Countries face new challenges related to growing psychosocial problems affecting children and adolescents and increasing violence, which require new responses from mental health services. (Source: Psychiatr Serv)

Fact-Checks Of The Bipartisan Health Care Summit

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

News outlets fact-check the bipartisan health care summit and provide analyses of the messaging and poll numbers lawmakers used during the six-hour event. "Beware of politicians quoting poll numbers," The Associated Press/Los Angeles Times report. "That was one lesson from the White House health policy conference Thursday as lawmakers in both parties cherry-picked survey results, ignored contrary findings and presented public opinion, which is highly nuanced on these questions, as a slam-dunk" (Woodward and Drinkard, 2/26)... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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WHO clinical criteria–based initiation of antiretroviral therapy: lessons from rural district hospitals in Cameroon with regard to 2009 revised WHO recommendations

Tropical Medicine and International Health — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion The WHO clinical stages 3 and 4 were poorly correlated with the 'gold standard' of CD4 cell count. This study highlights the need to promote CD4 testing for assessing the patient eligibility. (Source: Tropical Medicine and International Health)

Health Care Legislation: A Cautionary Tale of Unintended Consequences

Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The consequences of perturbing large, complex socioeconomic systems are not readily predictable. Currently, Congress and the Obama Administration are engaged in making decisions that affect the nation's health care system, which encompasses one-sixth of the entire US economy. As the nation hurtles forward, dodging toward and away from health reform, it is interesting to look back at prior health reform efforts for lessons learned and to use those insights to also look forward in time to try to predict areas that may be at risk. (Source: Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR)

Ruminations From a European Chairperson

Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Some time ago in this journal [], I tried to put on paper my experiences in choosing to become a chairman in Europe, after many years as an academic radiologist in the United States. In the intervening 5 years, I have had an interesting experience with a number of twists and turns that might bear relating. The whole experience certainly did not quite go the way I had envisioned, yet there may be things to learn from this contribution to “A View From Abroad.” I will try to share the lessons I learned, while not forgetting the background as to why and how. Even though it is thus a “personal” narrative, in this increasingly international world, perhaps future “crossovers” can take heed, think long and hard before deciding, and then hopefully prosper. (Source: Journal of the Americ...

After-School Fitness Performance is Not Altered After Physical Education Lessons in Adolescent Athletes

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Faigenbaum, AD, McFarland, JE, Buchanan, E, Ratamess, NA, Kang, J, and Hoffman, JR. After-school fitness performance is not altered after physical education lessons in adolescent athletes. J Strength Cond Res 24(3): 765-770, 2010-Physical education (PE) provides a unique opportunity for school-age youth to establish health habits, although some young athletes are exempt from PE and others do not participate because of a concern regarding the lingering effects of fatigue on after-school fitness performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of different PE lessons on after-school fitness performance in young athletes. Twenty athletes (14-18 years) participated in 3 different PE lessons that consisted of aerobic exercise (AE), resistance training (RT), or basketball ...

The dragon strikes: lessons from the wenchuan earthquake.

Anesthesia and Analgesia — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Chen G, Lai W, Liu F, Mao Q, Tu F, Wen J, Xiao H, Zhang JC, Zhu T, Chen B, Hu ZY, Li RM, Liang Z, Nie H, Yan H, Yang BX, Du Q, Huang WX, Jiang YW, Kwan AS, Song L, Wu CM, Xiang T, Xu HW, Lau WB, Song HB, Wen CB, Yao ZH, Zhang L, Zeng J, Dai YE, Lopez BL, Zheng JQ, Zhou J, Christopher TA, Ma XL, Yu H, Xu LL, Guo Q, Song ZP, Volinn E, Kryger K, Cao Y, Ge H, Liu H, Luo CZ, Tao W, Zuo YX, Liu J PMID: 20185667 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Anesthesia and Analgesia)

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Using electronic health record alerts to provide public health situational awareness to clinicians.

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Lurio J, Morrison FP, Pichardo M, Berg R, Buck MD, Wu W, Kitson K, Mostashari F, Calman N Alerting providers to public health situations requires timeliness and context-relevance, both lacking in current systems. Incorporating decision support tools into electronic health records may provide a way to deploy public health alerts to clinicians at the point of care. A timely process for responding to Health Alert Network messages sent by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene was developed by a network of community health centers. Alerts with order sets and recommended actions were created to notify primary care providers of local disease outbreaks. The process, effect, and lessons learned from alerts for Legionella, toxogenic E coli, and measles outbreaks are ...

In reply

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

It is with interest I read the response to my Editorial by Drs. Hargreaves and Law, because they just express the take-home lesson from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale: “the cloth is so light and fine that it looks invisible to anyone who is too stupid and incompetent to appreciate quality.” (Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics)

Editorial: Lepromatous leprosy, lipids, and lessons in immunology: what we can learn by using modern methods to study an ancient disease.

Journal of Leukocyte Biology — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Fink MP PMID: 20194162 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Journal of Leukocyte Biology)

Surveillance Lessons from First-wave Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Northern California, USA.

Emerging Infectious Diseases — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Baxter R After the appearance of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in April 2009, influenza activity was monitored within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California division by using laboratory, pharmacy, telephone calls, and utilization (services patients received) data. A combination of testing and utilization data showed a pattern of disease activity, but this pattern may have been affected by public perception of the epidemic. PMID: 20202431 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases)

Ethics review of multisite studies: the difficult case of community-based Indigenous health research.

Med J Aust — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Studdert DM, Vu TM, Fox SS, Anderson IP, Keeffe JE, Taylor HR Researchers have longstanding concerns about the logistical and administrative burdens posed by ethics review of multisite studies involving human participants. Centralised ethics review, in which approval by one committee has authority across multiple sites, is widely touted as a strategy for streamlining the process. The Harmonisation of Multi-centre Ethical Review (HoMER) project is currently developing such a system for Australia. It is unclear how centralised review will work for multisite Indigenous health research, where the views of local stakeholders are important and community consultation is mandatory. Our recent experience in conducting the National Indigenous Eye Health Survey (NIEHS) shows how elaborat...

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Streamline triage and manage user expectations: lessons from a qualitative study of GP out-of-hours services.

The British Journal of General Practice — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: Users require more streamlined and flexible triage systems. Their expectations need to be understood and incorporated into how services advise and provide services for users, and actively managed to meet the aims of both enhancing satisfaction and enabling users to cope with their condition. Better information and education about services are needed if users are to derive the greatest benefit and satisfaction. This may influence choices about using the most appropriate forms of care. PMID: 20202350 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The British Journal of General Practice)

The master settlement agreement and its impact on tobacco use 10 years later: lessons for physicians about health policy making.

Chest — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Jones WJ, Silvestri GA The issue of tobacco industry responsibility for population health problems and compensation for their treatment has been growing since the 1960s. In 1999, the state attorneys general collectively launched the largest class action lawsuit in US history and sued the tobacco industry to recover the costs of caring for smokers. In what became known as the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), states were rewarded billions of dollars and won concessions regarding how cigarettes could be advertised and targeted to minors. Ten years after this settlement, much is known about how MSA monies were distributed and how states have used the money. There is some understanding about how much of the money went toward offsetting the health-care costs attributable to smokin...

The Wisdom, the Will, and the Wallet: Leadership on Behalf of Kids and Families

Academic Pediatrics — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

It has been a genuine pleasure to serve as the president of the Academic Pediatric Association (APA). The APA plays a critical leadership role in setting the agendas that shape clinical care, education, research, and advocacy on behalf of kids and families. Today, I wanted to reflect on leadership lessons I have learned and relate them to the challenges we face to improve the health and well-being of children and families. I refer to these challenges as “the wisdom,” “the will,” and “the wallet.” (Source: Academic Pediatrics)

Downloadable Magazine, Web Site, and Educational Materials

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This magazine is the collaborative effort of the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension Service and Bison Athletics. It is part of a statewide educational program that also includes a video featuring Thundar, the Bison mascot; a Web site (http://www.ndsu.edu/eatsmart); a 4-H club recognition program; poster contests; and classroom lessons for kids, with newsletters for parents. The magazine's premiere issue brings together the expertise of faculty across NDSU with articles that range from making time for family meals to saving money on gas when driving children to activities. (Source: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior)

Laparoscopic repair for choledochal cyst: lessons learned from 190 cases

Journal of Pediatric Surgery — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Laparoscopic repair is a safe and effective procedure for choledochal cyst. (Source: Journal of Pediatric Surgery)

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Medical imaging of explosion injuries.

Radiologic Technology — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This article is a Directed Reading. Your access to Directed Reading quizzes for continuing education credit is determined by your area of interest. For access to other quizzes, go to www.asrt.org/store. PMID: 20207791 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Radiologic Technology)

Sundays with Bob, lessons learned from a master teacher

American Journal of Surgery — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Flannery O'Connor tells us that “In the end, a people is known, not by its statistics and statements, but by the stories it tells.” What sort of stories should we tell? What questions are worthy of exploration? (Source: American Journal of Surgery)

Protecting patients.

British Journal of Community Nursing — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: While A The National Pandemic Flu Service has been closed although the antiviral collection points will continue to operate until the end of this year's influenza season. While case numbers are decreasing and most cases are not serious, H1N1 is still causing severe illness in some people and, occasionally, death. However, swine influenza, like seasonal influenza, is a preventable disease and therefore it is important to consider what lessons can be learnt to prevent unnecessary deaths and suffering. PMID: 20220632 [PubMed - in process] (Source: British Journal of Community Nursing)

Achieving asthma control in the inner city: Do the National Institutes of Health Asthma Guidelines really work?

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

For children living in inner cities, asthma tends to be more frequent and severe. To characterize, understand, and treat children with asthma living in the inner city more effectively, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases established an Inner-City Asthma Program in 1991. In addition, the revised National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel 3 report was introduced with new concepts for asthma management that are now centered on asthma control. The purpose of this review is to highlight features of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Inner-City Asthma Consortium Asthma Control Evaluation study that enhance our knowledge regarding the application of the asthma guidelines and to provide a summary of lessons learned from that important...

Congestion as a Therapeutic Target in Acute Heart Failure Syndromes

Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract: This review begins by discussing the importance of clinical congestion as the dominant presenting manifestation of acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS). The pathophysiology of the cardiorenal syndrome is reviewed, including its relationship to the use of current therapy, that is, loop diuretics. The review then summarizes results from recent clinical trials evaluating therapy for AHFS, with a focus on those studies investigating ultrafiltration and vasopressin antagonists, and also, but more briefly, vasodilators and inotropic agents. Possible reasons for the success and failure of various therapeutic strategies directed at the congested state are discussed. The review concludes with recommendations for possible new strategies and specific investigations designed to benefit from ...

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Get Married and Avoid a Stroke!

Psychology Today Relationships Center — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:40:17 +0100

This study, like others we have reviewed recently, has left us wondering - what are the other benefits of successful marriage?The truth is, married couples are better off by almost any standard than people who are not married. The record will show that married couples have higher incomes individually, longer lives, better health, fewer alcohol-related problems, engage in less violence, and suffer from less poverty.So what about the benefits of a happy marriage for men beyond their lower risk of stroke? To begin with, happily married men live on average 9 years longer than single men! They are physically and emotionally healthier, and have much more stable employment histories. Successfully married men have more satisfying sexual relationships, get along better with their children, earn hi...

Call for Teaching Artists With Disabilities Fellowship Program

ScanGrants feed — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Application deadline: April 23, 2010 VSA recognizes the positive influence of the arts to advance teaching and learning in the classroom. Because a skilled teaching artist can foster creative engagement and help build an inclusive environment, VSA is seeking outstanding teaching artists with disabilities for the Teaching Artist Fellows program.The VSA Teaching Artist Fellowship program seeks to identify, engage, and support teaching artists with disabilities in the visual and performing arts. VSA recognizes the value of teaching artists in integrating the arts into education. Teaching artists with disabilities also serve as role models of diversity, expression, and inclusive learning in the classroom.Benefits to selected Teaching Artist Fellows will include: * Professional development re...

Music is good for you at any age

L.A. Times - Health — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:04:24 +0100

It may be easier to learn young, but it may be more fun to learn later. Let's face it: Many of us looking to sharpen our intellectual edges have already passed the age when becoming a prodigy is an option. We missed the opportunity to start clarinet lessons at 5. We lacked the discipline to practice for hours on end. We were told we couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. (Source: L.A. Times - Health)

Leadership Lessons From ABOY (Goldberg on Leadership)

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:40:11 +0100

The organizations and individuals honored at the 2009 Arkansas Business of the Year awards emphasized the importance of people and the value of corporate culture. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

Familial Differential Treatment Response in Schizophrenia – Lessons From a Case of Three Affected Siblings

Pharmacopsychiatry — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:14:28 +0100

PharmacopsychiatryDOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1248315© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New YorkGet connected:Table of contents | Full text (Source: Pharmacopsychiatry)

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This column will change your life: Is it really hip to be glum? | Oliver Burkeman

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:05:02 +0100

The surlier creative types and celebrities appear, the more we seem to revere and imitate them. But is there good reason to do so?Every few days, I seem to come across another example of what is, surely, the crowning cultural achievement of the internet era: the Ridiculously Specific Single-Topic Blog. Consequently, I've spent far too much time perusing Angry People In Local Newspapers, Goths In Hot Weather and Glum Councillors (glumcouncillors. tumblr.com), each of which consists of news stories featuring exactly what the title implies.But none has left an imprint on me so much as Unhappy Hipsters, a compendium of photo-shoots from high-end interiors magazines, showing the aforementioned hipsters relaxing in vast, minimalist slate-and-glass homes and all, without exception, looki...

Is it really hip to be glum?

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:05:02 +0100

Experts looking for lessons in Haiti's catastrophe

CTV Health — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:38:00 +0100

Amid the misery, international experts are looking for lessons from the Haiti catastrophe, and some are calling for an international humanitarian force to take charge in future emergencies. (Source: CTV Health)

Lessons from Queens

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:50:47 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB): Lessons Learned at one Children's Hospital

Journal of Pediatric Nursing — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:57:46 +0100

Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB) is a 2-year project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and led by the American Organization of Nurse Executives. It was initiated to engage frontline care providers in implementing and evaluating changes intended to improve care delivery and patient outcomes. From simple implementations such as discharge follow-up telephone calls to more complex changes such as bedside report, TCAB has been an important mechanism to allow staff members the freedom and creativity to make changes that truly affect patient care. (Source: Journal of Pediatric Nursing)

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Kidney Disease in Diabetology: Lessons From 2009

Medscape Today Headlines — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:04:23 +0100

This article highlights recent studies assessing the progress in the management of kidney disease in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Khayelitsha Holds Some of the Answers

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:46:46 +0100

Even if Zuma's World AIDS Day speech is matched with sufficient budget allocation, innovative models of providing HIV and TB care will be needed to achieve the targets of the National Strategic Plan. Lesley Odendal reflects on the lessons learnt in Khayelitsha's HIV and TB project as a window into the future. (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

South Africa: Khayelitsha Holds Some of the Answers

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:46:46 +0100

Anatomic assessment of the bifurcation of the left main coronary artery using multidetector computed tomography

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:49:31 +0100

Conclusion Accurate knowledge of the in vivo anatomy of the area of bifurcation of the LMCA is essential for avoiding the misdiagnoses of diseases and for proper stent placement during percutaneous intervention in the area of bifurcation. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s00276-010-0640-6Authors Kevin N. Christensen, Mayo Clinic Mayo Medical School 200 First Street SW Rochester MN 55905 USAScott R. Harris, Mayo Clinic Department of Radiology Rochester MN USAAdam T. Froemming, Mayo Clinic Department of Radiology Rochester MN USAWaleed Brinjikji, Mayo Clinic Mayo Medical School 200 First Street SW Rochester MN 55905 USAPhilip Araoz, Mayo Clinic Department of Radiology Rochester MN USASamuel J. Asirvatham, Mayo Clinic Division of Cardiova...

Case of a Misplaced IVC Filter: A Lesson to Learn

CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:51:43 +0100

We report an interesting case of a young postpartum woman in whom an IVC filter was misplaced in the right gonadal vein. This complication is only rarely reported. Presence of prominent right gonadal vein must always be kept in mind during trans-jugular placement of infra renal filter in the IVC in post partum women. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory LetterDOI 10.1007/s00270-010-9825-yAuthors Sanjay Sharma, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Department of Radiology Ansari Nagar New Delhi 110029 IndiaAmar Mukund, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Department of Radiology Ansari Nagar New Delhi 110029 IndiaSandeep Agarwal, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Department of Surgical Disciplines Ansari Nagar New Delhi 110029 IndiaDeep N. Srivastava, All India Institut...

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[Comment] Offline: History lessons

LANCET — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Doctors must not be complicit in torture. This principle is an important foundation of modern medical ethics. It draws one thick red line between absolutely unacceptable professional practice and a whole series of greyer moral predicaments. But is the question of how doctors ought to respond to a political regime displaying extreme violence quite so clearly answered? In Alone in Berlin, a novel about the resistance of ordinary individuals to fascism in 1940s Berlin, Hans Fallada presents two physicians for readers to examine. Both are collaborationists and both work in the brutal Nazi prison system. One doctor neglects his patients, leaving them to die in agony from perfectly treatable conditions. When challenged by the prison chaplain—himself guilty of collaboration, but someone who sec...

Pandemic influenza A(H1N1): Lessons learned thus far

MD Consult: News: Top Stories — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Read the full story on MD Consult: Pandemic influenza A(H1N1): Lessons learned thus far (Source: MD Consult: News: Top Stories)

Can any lessons be learned from the ambiguous glycan binding of PfEMP1 domains?

Trends in Parasitology — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Dahlbäck M, Nielsen MA, Salanti A Pregnancy-associated malaria (PAM) is caused by Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IEs) accumulating in the placenta and has dire consequences for both mother and child. The multi-domain antigen VAR2CSA confers specific adhesion of IEs to chondroitin sulphate A (CSA) in the placenta, and is the leading PAM vaccine candidate. Recent data from different laboratories show that the binding properties of individual VAR2CSA domains do not reflect the native CSA-specific adhesion of IEs, which questions the relevance of the information obtained from single domain binding assays and co-crystallization experiments. Here, we discuss the implications of these findings for VAR2CSA vaccine development and highlight the need for studying the ...

Current aspects of anti-CD20 therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.

Current Opinion in Pharmacology — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Jacobi AM, Dörner T Although B cells represent major contributors to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis, their precise roles in the induction and maintenance of abnormal immune activation in this entity remains poorly understood. As proof of principle, rituximab, a chimeric B cell depleting anti-CD20-antibody, has demonstrated that depletion of B cells can substantially improve signs and symptoms as well as physical function and inhibit radiologic progression that led to the approval of this agent to treat patients with moderate to severe RA lacking response to TNF-alpha blocking agents in 2006. Placebo-controlled clinical trials as well as subsequent studies and experiences further contributed to our understanding of the mechanism of action of rituximab, but a number...

Lessons From a Lap Dancer

Psychology Today Relationships Center — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:27:26 +0100

In this economy many people are unemployed and financially suffering. If you are a young woman trying to pay for college or are unemployed you may consider becoming a lap dancer. I can hear some of you saying, "Are you kidding? What kind of person are you to even suggest the possibility?" But, wait a minute before you jump to conclusions, what if being a lap dancer was used as a calculated stepping stone towards achieving your ultimate goal.As a graduate student, in the 1980's, I remember students paying for their tuition by dancing in cages on top of bars in hot pants and white go-go boots. They would study during the day and dance during the evening. But before you run to the nearest gentlemen's club for employment you should be aware that there are certain risks related to this job. Ge...

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Combination Drugs for Treating Obesity

Current Diabetes Reports — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:58:50 +0100

This article discusses the history of combination drug therapy for treating obesity, the lessons learned from that experience, and describes the drug combinations now in development. One combination of two standardized dietary herbal supplements that result in clinically significant weight loss is also described. Obesity is poised to enter the era of combination drug therapy, as is now the routine in the treatment of other chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes. The advent of combination drug therapy for obesity treatment offers hope for increasing the efficacy of obesity pharmacotherapy. Content Type Journal ArticleDOI 10.1007/s11892-010-0096-4Authors Frank L. Greenway, Louisiana State University System Pennington Biomedical Research Center 6400 Perkins Road Baton Rou...

Lessons and legacies of war

BMJ Online First — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:45:26 +0100

(Source: BMJ Online First)

Part III Sex, Game Theory & More (To Wait or Not to Wait - That is the Question)

Psychology Today Relationships Center — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:26:20 +0100

Game Theory, Biology, Psychology, Dating and SexIn this third article in a 3-part series, on sex, courtship and dating, we look at what game theory, biology and interpersonal psychology tell us about the benefits and costs of waiting to jump in bed with a prospective dating partner. To recap Parts I and II, game theory studies[i] by two male mathematicians Seymour and Sozou on dating, courtship and sex - suggest some good advice for women would be not to jump in bed with a new dating partner until they have accumulated more data to determine if he is a worthwhile candidate for dating and mating (in their words, a "good" man). And that men that are willing to wait for sex are viewed as better prospects for becoming good fathers than those who don't. Furthermore, that "good" men who do wait ...

Lessons from Nursing Home Dysphagia Malpractice Litigation.

Journal of Gerontological Nursing — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Tanner DC The purpose of this article is to review the management of swallowing disorders in nursing home patients. The goal is to provide readers with five areas of contentious dysphagia management issues that have surfaced in several malpractice litigation cases. A detailed examination of what went wrong in the management of these patients' dysphagia from the perspective of the plaintiffs' dysphagia expert witness, as well as a discussion of what nursing home staff could have done to prevent these tragedies, is presented. PMID: 20180495 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Gerontological Nursing)