MedWorm: Consumer Health News

Canadians drawn toward convenient meals: study

CTV Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:46:15 +0100

A new report that looks at eating trends in Canada suggests that Canadians are eating fewer homemade meals, and gravitating toward convenient pre-packaged meals. (Source: CTV Health)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Soft drinks may up pancreatic cancer risk

Health News - UPI.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:11:38 +0100

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Consuming two or more soft drinks weekly increased the risk of pancreatic cancer nearly twofold compared to those who did not drink soda pop, researchers say. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

IVIG Improves Symptoms in Refractory Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:09:13 +0100

Low-dose intravenous immunoglobulin reduces pain and improves autonomic limb symptoms in patients with long-standing CRPS. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

Beer may help prevent osteoporosis

Health News - UPI.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:59:57 +0100

DAVIS, Calif., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Researchers at the University of California, Davis, said beer may help prevent osteoporosis -- the loss of bone density that can result in fractures. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

Michelle Obama's obesity campaign

CNN.com - Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:56:23 +0100

Turn off the television, drink more water and serve smaller portions to fight childhood obesity, first lady Michelle Obama is urging as she launches a national campaign against childhood obesity. (Source: CNN.com - Health)

Dienogest Offers Benefits Over Leuprolide for Endometriosis Pain

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:55:23 +0100

Dienogest is comparable to leuprolide acetate in relieving endometriosis pain, but offers greater safety and tolerability, German researchers report in the January 19th on-line issue of Human Reproduction. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Becton Dickinson Recalls Intravenous Devices

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:55:23 +0100

Becton Dickinson & Co has voluntarily recalled millions of its intravenous infusion therapy devices distributed worldwide because the products could cause a potentially dangerous air embolism or fluid leakage. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

In Pediatric Intestinal Transplantation, Children With Volvulus Have the Best Outcomes

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:55:22 +0100

Survival after pediatric intestinal transplantation seems to be related to the indication for transplant, according to researchers who analyzed data from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

Corneal Abrasions Common, Often Asymptomatic in Young Infants

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:55:22 +0100

About half of young infants have asymptomatic corneal abrasions, research shows. Therefore, investigators say, physicians who find one in a baby who's crying inconsolably shouldn't be too quick to assume the corneal scratch is to blame. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

Low-Dose Radiation for Hodgkin's Lymphoma Leaves Kids at High Risk for Second Cancers

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:55:22 +0100

Low-dose radiation for Hodgkin's lymphoma leaves children at a significant risk for second malignancies, according to researchers at Stanford University Medical Center in California. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

Clinical Significance Doesn't Reduce False-Positive Diagnoses Under DSM-IV

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:55:22 +0100

A "clinical significance" criterion was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for depression in 1994, but a new paper says the criterion has not been helpful and should be eliminated. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Daily Serotonin Production Blocker Helped Treat Osteoporosis in Mice, Rats

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:55:22 +0100

A once-a-day pill helped completely rebuild bone in rodents with severe osteoporosis, a finding that could lead to a new class of drugs to treat disease in humans, U.S. researchers said. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

Scientists Find Gene Variant Link to Aging Cells

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:55:22 +0100

Scientists have found specific genetic variants which may explain why some people age earlier than others and say their findings have important implications for understanding cancer and age-related diseases. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

Michelle Obama Begins US Childhood Obesity Plan

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:45:50 +0100

First lady Michelle Obama launched a nationwide campaign Tuesday to fight childhood obesity, part of her effort to teach America's children about better nutrition and exercise. Mrs. Obama said the campaign will encourage more physical activity for children, healthier food in schools and more accurate food labeling. (Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire)

FDA aims to rein in radiation-based medical scans

USATODAY.com Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:39:58 +0100

The Food and Drug Administration is working with doctors and medical manufacturers to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure ... (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

U.S. seek new safeguards for medical imaging devices

Reuters: Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:32:32 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health officials on Tuesday said they want manufacturers of CT, nuclear and other medical imaging machines to incorporate new safeguards to help reduce patients' exposure to unnecessary radiation. (Source: Reuters: Health)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

More Favorable Results With Tanezumab for Various Pain Types

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:32:30 +0100

Trials found good results for osteoarthritis of the knee and interstitial cystitis pain, as well as chronic low back pain, but it also caused a higher number of abnormal peripheral sensation events. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

CT scan rules reduce radiation risk for kids

CBC | Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:32:22 +0100

A team of researchers from pediatric institutions across Canada has developed a set of rules to help doctors decide whether a child with a minor head injury should receive a CT scan. (Source: CBC | Health)

FDA Approves Expanded Rosuvastatin Label

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:27:32 +0100

The FDA's decision was announced late Monday. Heartwire (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

Repeatedly Telling Patients of Their Coronary Disease Risk Improves Outcomes

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:27:31 +0100

Providing patients with their global coronary heart disease risk appears to improve the accuracy of their risk perception, and repeating risk information improves outcomes slightly, according to a review of 20 studies. Heartwire (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

Luxury Mexican drug rehab clinic lures U.S. addicts

Reuters: Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:27:30 +0100

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - A Mexican entrepreneur is luring U.S. drug addicts to plush rehabilitation centers south of the border, even as shoddier Mexican clinics earn a reputation for attracting cartel shootouts. (Source: Reuters: Health)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Obamas take on problem of obese children

Reuters: Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:20:03 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Alarmed that nearly a third of U.S. children are obese or overweight -- and likely to stay that way all their lives -- President Barack Obama launched an initiative on Tuesday to roll back the numbers and put his wife in charge of promoting it. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Even when treated, depression costs employers

Reuters: Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:11:11 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Workers with depression stay home sick more often than healthy colleagues, even when their disease is treated, according to a Thomson Reuters report released on Tuesday. (Source: Reuters: Health)

How to talk to your kids about healthy eating

CNN.com - Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:08:06 +0100

Michelle Obama's public mentions of her daughters' weight have drawn criticism. Here's what experts advise about talking to your kids about their weight. (Source: CNN.com - Health)

Study: Beer May Help Build Strong Bones

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:04:21 +0100

A moderate amount of beer may be a bone builder, according to a study from the National Institute of Health. Researchers found beer contains silicon, an ingredient which is known to help build bones. (Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire)

Complex smells make food more filling

New Scientist - Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:55:43 +0100

Food that incorporates more complex aromas appears to make you feel more full (Source: New Scientist - Health)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Partner of late Tony Wilson calls on sporting enthusiasts to run Pennine Lancashire 10k

Christie Appeals — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:45:12 +0100

Yvette Livesey, former Miss England and partner to the late ‘Mr Manchester’ Tony Wilson, is urging as many as people as possible to sign up for the newly launched 'Run For All' Jane Tomlinson’s Pennine Lancashire 10K event for The Christie where the music mogul died after battling kidney cancer. (Source: Christie Appeals)

Black Mothers at Increased Risk for Cardiomyopathy (CME/CE)

MedPage Today State Required CME — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:43:17 +0100

African-American women have an increased risk of peripartum cardiomyopathy, researchers have found. (Source: MedPage Today State Required CME)

First lady Michelle Obama launches obesity campaign

CTV Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0100

First lady Michelle Obama launched a campaign Tuesday to fight childhood obesity in the U.S., part of her effort to teach children about better nutrition and exercise. (Source: CTV Health)

Study: Paxil Blocks Cancer Drug's Effects

Health News: CBSNews.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:30:06 +0100

Canadian Researchers Say Popular Drug Interferes With Breast Cancer Treatment (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Suit: Brain surgery allegedly botched

Health News - UPI.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:16:49 +0100

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A Flat Rock, Mich., woman suffered brain damage after surgery was begun on the wrong side of her head to fix an aneurysm, her family alleges in a lawsuit. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Suit: Allegedly botched brain surgery

Health News - UPI.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:16:49 +0100

Study: Soda Linked to Pancreatic Cancer

Health News: CBSNews.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:09:29 +0100

People Who Drink as Few as Two Soft Drinks a Week Face Nearly Twice the Risk of Developing Deadly Cancer, Study Finds (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Hypertension may predict dementia

Medicineworld.org: New Article Alert — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:04:45 +0100

Hypertension appears to predict the progression to dementia in elderly adults with impaired executive functions (ability to organize thoughts and make decisions) but not in those with memory dysfunction, as per a report in the recent issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals........ (Source: Medicineworld.org: New Article Alert)

Lower detection of prostate cancer with PSA screening in US

Medicineworld.org: New Article Alert — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:04:45 +0100

Fewer prostate cancers were detected by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in the U.S. than in a European randomized trial because of lower screening sensitivity, as per a new brief communication published online February 8 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute To compare the PSA screening performance in a clinical trial with that in a population setting, Elisabeth M. Wever, MSc, Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, the Netherlands, and his colleagues applied a microsimulation model developed for prostate cancer and screening to the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC)Rotterdam. The model was adapted by replacing the trial's demography parameters with U.S.-specific ones and the screening protocol with the frequency of PSA tests...

Brain area responsible for fear of losing money

Medicineworld.org: New Article Alert — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:04:45 +0100

Neuroresearchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and their colleagues have tied the human aversion to losing money to a specific structure in the brainthe amygdala. The finding, described in the latest online issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), offers insight into economic behavior, and also into the role of the brain's amygdalae, two almond-shaped clusters of tissue located in the medial temporal lobes. The amygdala registers rapid emotional reactions and is implicated in depression, anxiety, and autism........ (Source: Medicineworld.org: New Article Alert)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Even third-hand smoke carries carcinogens: study

Reuters: Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:53:11 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Old tobacco smoke does more than simply make a room smell stale -- it can leave cancer-causing toxins behind, U.S. researchers reported on Monday. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Why every man should have a health MOT

Daily Express - Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:50:04 +0100

Television producer CARSON BLACK has a hectic lifestyle although he hadn't had a health check for years but still believed he was in good shape. We asked him to find out what is on offer and put them to the test (Source: Daily Express - Health)

Glaxo to shed 380 research jobs

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:45:17 +0100

Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline axes 380 research and development jobs in Essex as part of a restructure to save £500m. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

Talking to tweens about healthy eating

CNN.com - Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:41:38 +0100

It's an uneasy topic when moms discuss their daughters' weight. It's no different for the first lady. When Michelle Obama mentioned her daughters' weight once had gotten "off balance" in speeches about childhood obesity, she came under criticism from parenting bloggers and anti-eating-disorder activists. (Source: CNN.com - Health)

First Lady tackles child obesity

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:40:19 +0100

First Lady Michelle Obama launches a nationwide campaign to tackle child obesity, which she says threatens America's future. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Banana v KitKat

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:25:56 +0100

Which is better? It's time for a snack stand off (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

An engineer's quest to caption the Web

CNN.com - Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:14:24 +0100

The Internet used to be a place where Ken Harrenstien could do anything. (Source: CNN.com - Health)

Video: Protecting Girls Against Violence

Health News: CBSNews.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:14:12 +0100

The CDC estimates that more than 30 percent of girls experience domestic violence. Maggie Rodriguez discussed the issue with author Eve Ensler. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Cerus in development deal for blood safety system

Reuters: Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:09:11 +0100

(Reuters) - Cerus Corp said it entered into an agreement with France's national blood transfusion service to develop its Intercept blood safety system, sending its shares up about 17 percent before the bell. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Storing up sleep could combat tiredness say scientists

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:07:13 +0100

New research from the Walter Reed Army Institute for Research suggests that sleep can be stored up in advance to raise alertness after a period of sleep deprivation. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mumps break out in New York, New Jersey

Health News - UPI.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:04:46 +0100

NEW YORK, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A case of mumps at a summer camp has spread to more than 1,000 people in New York and New Jersey, most of them adolescent Orthodox Jews, officials said. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

Darunavir + Raltegravir + Etravirine = High Rate of Treatment Success

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:04:45 +0100

Can highly treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients achieve virologic suppression at rates comparable to those seen in patients new to therapy? This prospective study provides an answer. AIDS Clinical Care (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus-like Graft Versus Host Disease Post Stem Cell Transplant

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:04:45 +0100

This article reports on two cases of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus-like cGVHD following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Dermatology Online Journal (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Drug-Induced Liver Injury Caused by the Histrelin (Vantus(R)) Subcutaneous Implant

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:04:45 +0100

This case presents a prostate cancer patient with elevated liver-associated enzymes attributed to his histrelin (Vantus (R) subcutaneous implant. Southern Medical Journal (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Probiotics and Microflora

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:04:45 +0100

Learn about the history, current use, and new research on probiotics. U.S. Pharmacist (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Characterisation of Exacerbations of Chronic Bronchitis and COPD in Europe: The GIANT Study

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:04:45 +0100

The GIANT study collected information on patients with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB) and COPD, and the effect of treatment with moxifloxacin. Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Impact on Allergic Immune Response After Treatment With Vitamin A

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:04:44 +0100

Vitamin A may strengthen the immune system, but questions remain if it helps mitigate allergies. Nutrition and Metabolism (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Study: Paxil Blocks Cancer Drug Effects

Health News: CBSNews.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:02:18 +0100

Canadian Researchers Say Popular Drug Interferes With Breast Cancer Treatment (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Dynavax Initiates Large-Scale Phase 3 Trial Of HEPLISAVTM

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:00:00 +0100

This study and the ongoing Phase 3 trial in chronic kidney disease patients are directed toward fulfilling licensure requirements in the U.S., Canada and Europe. HEPLISAV has been shown in two pivotal Phase 3 trials to enhance protection more rapidly and with fewer doses than a currently licensed vaccine... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Michelle Obama launches obesity campaign

CNN.com - Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:59:12 +0100

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Give Yourself A Great Massage

WDSU.com - Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:51:31 +0100

Having a hard time relaxing? Find out how to soothe your nerves and body with these great massage tips. (Source: WDSU.com - Health)

Calculate Your Heart Disease Risk

WDSU.com - Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:40:37 +0100

Are you at risk for heart disease? Use this calculator to find out. (Source: WDSU.com - Health)

Most Smokers Quit Cold Turkey

WDSU.com - Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:40:29 +0100

A study finds that most smokers who kick the habit do it without patches or nicotine gum. (Source: WDSU.com - Health)

'Bottom-flashing' hospital gowns replaced by new 'modesty' version

the Mail online | Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:31:47 +0100

North Bristol NHS Trust has introduced wraparound gowns which tie up at the sides and protect the modesty of the wearer. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Video: Older Women and Autism

Health News: CBSNews.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:31:34 +0100

Dr. Jennifer Ashton discussed a new study that showed older women are more likely to have autistic children. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Foreign Fish Species Threaten Great Lakes Ecosystem

TIME.com: Top Science and Health Stories — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:02:08 +0100

Invasive species of Asian carp may be infiltrating the Great Lakes. If they establish themselves in Midwestern waterways, scientists say they will destroy the existing ecosystem (Source: TIME.com: Top Science and Health Stories)

Today's OpEds: Recommendations To Democrats, Cutting Costs, 'Rationing' Health Care

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0100

Back To The Drawing Board Los Angeles Times Democrats may not attract any GOP support for comprehensive healthcare reform by stepping up efforts to limit the growth in healthcare costs. But they will make the benefits of the measure clearer to a skeptical public (2/8). Five Ideas For Getting Health Care Reform Back On Track USA Today The only reasons for delay are short-term and political. It's expedient to punt. But Democrats are delusional if they think they'll inoculate themselves against attacks this fall by backtracking. No one wins by trying and failing... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

State Health Policy Developments: Doctor Shortages, California Insurance Crackdown

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0100

News outlets across the country report on state health policy developments. The Los Angeles Times: "At a time when nearly 7 million Californians are uninsured, state regulators are trying to rein in discount health and dental plans that officials say frequently overstate benefits, offer little if any savings and promise access to doctors who aren't part of the system. Some of the discounters fraudulently market themselves as insurance, while preying on the poor, the elderly and others who urgently need care, officials say. ... Plan executives bristle at such criticism... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Physician assistants to take growing role in Canada

CTV Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:49:43 +0100

Susi Schoeley is on her way to becoming a physician assistant, or PA, a relatively unknown type of health-care provider in Canada, but one that has been steadily growing in numbers over the last four decades south of the border. (Source: CTV Health)

Valentine's Day

MedlinePlus Health News — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:48:46 +0100

Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Child Mental Health, Parenting (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

New rules could cut unnecessary CT scans for kids

CTV Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:44:16 +0100

Antidepressant blocks tamoxifen benefit: study

CTV Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:41:26 +0100

Women prescribed tamoxifen to prevent a recurrence of breast cancer should avoid taking the antidepressant Paxil and its generic equivalents because of a potentially dangerous drug interaction, a study suggests. (Source: CTV Health)

Video: The Risk of Amateur Football

Health News: CBSNews.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:23:28 +0100

Football players are often the victims of sports-related head injuries but pro-athletes aren't the only ones at risk. The CDC estimates that about 300,000 student athletes suffer concussions each year. Dr. Jennifer Ashton reports. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Backless hospital gown redesigned

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:15:59 +0100

Backless hospital gowns get a Hollywood-style makeover to preserve patients' dignity. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

Social care flat fee plan denied

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:12:42 +0100

Health Secretary Andy Burnham denies planning a £20,000 compulsory inheritance levy to pay for social care in England. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Identifying Gene Interactions Through Single-Cell Imaging

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Cellular imaging offers a wealth of data about how cells respond to stimuli, but harnessing this technique to study biological systems is a daunting challenge. In a study published online in Genome Research, researchers have developed a novel method of interpreting data from single-cell images to identify genetic interactions within biological networks, offering a glimpse into the future of high-throughput cell imaging analysis... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Journal Of Clinical Investigation Online News Feb. 8, 2010

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

NEPHROLOGY: New approach to treating the kidney disease Alport syndrome? Alport syndrome is a progressive hereditary kidney disease with no definitive therapy. It is caused by mutations in any of the collagen IV genes (COL4A3, COL4A4, and COL4A5). Motoko Yanagita and colleagues, at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan, have now identified a role for the protein USAG-1 in the development of disease in mice that model Alport syndrome (Col4a3-/- mice)... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

New Zealand Medical Association Welcomes Election Of New Medical Council Chair

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

The election of Dr John Adams, the Dean of the Dunedin School of Medicine, as Chair of the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) has been welcomed by the New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA). "Dr Adams has extensive experience in practice, academia and advocacy. He has consistently demonstrated strong leadership qualities, particularly in his role as a previous NZMA Chair," says NZMA Chair Dr Peter Foley. "This included a balanced and inclusive approach to managing issues, which earned him the respect of both his professional colleagues and those he worked with in the wider health sector... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Enhancing Arrest Of Cell Growth To Treat Prostate Cancer In Mice

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

A team of researchers, led by Pier Paolo Pandolfi, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, has identified a new type of cellular senescence (i.e., irreversible arrest of cell growth) and determined a way to enhance it to suppress prostate tumor development and growth in mice. Previous work by Pandolfi and colleagues determined that inactivation of the protein Pten leads to a senescence response that opposes tumorigenesis... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Marker Of Ewing Sarcoma: Potential New Drug Target?

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is a bone tumor of unknown cellular origin that affects children and young adults. The protein CD99 is highly expressed in most cases of EWS, but its function in the disease is unknown. Now, Katia Scotlandi and colleagues, at SSN Emilia Romagna Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli IRCCS, Bologna, Italy, have identified a crucial role for CD99 in the development of EWS and suggest that targeting CD99 or its downstream molecular pathway may be a new therapeutic approach for EWS... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Prostate Cancer: Lower Detection With PSA Screening In US Than In A European Randomized Trial

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Fewer prostate cancers were detected by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in the U.S. than in a European randomized trial because of lower screening sensitivity, according to a new brief communication published online February 8 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. To compare the PSA screening performance in a clinical trial with that in a population setting, Elisabeth M... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Minister Brady Notes Report On Home Care Services, Ireland

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Ã�ine Brady T.D., Minister for Older People and Health Promotion, noted a report 'Analysis of Irish Home Care Market' by the Irish Private Home Care Association (IPHCA) on home care services in Ireland together with the response by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Minister said "maintaining older people at home with appropriate support has been the thrust of Government policy in recent years and has been significantly developed by the HSE through a number of community based supports such as Home Help, Home Care Packages and Day/Respite care... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Statement On HSE National Service Plan, 2010, Ireland

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

The Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney, T.D. announced her approval of the HSE National Service Plan 2010. The Plan outlines how the HSE plans to deliver health and personal social services within its 2010 current budget of 14.069bn. It projects service activity levels for 2010 which are broadly in line with 2009 levels. The Minister said "I welcome the fact that the Plan commits to treating people in a more effective way with no reduction in access to appropriate services... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Inhibiting Serotonin In Gut Could Cure Osteoporosis

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

An investigational drug that inhibits serotonin synthesis in the gut, administered orally once daily, effectively cured osteoporosis in mice and rats reports an international team led by researchers from Columbia University Medical Center, in the Feb. 7 issue of Nature Medicine. Serotonin in the gut has been shown in recent research to stall bone formation. The finding could lead to new therapies that build new bone; most current drugs for osteoporosis can only prevent the breakdown of old bone... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Singapore Scientists Identify Gene That Improves Quality Of Reprogrammed Stem Cells

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

In the 7 Feb. 2010 issue of the journal Nature, scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), report that a genetic molecule, called Tbx3, which is crucial for many aspects of early developmental processes in mammals, significantly improves the quality of stem cells that have been reprogrammed from differentiated cells. Stem cells reprogrammed from differentiated cells are known as induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS cells... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Stanford Scientists Make Stem Cells Pluripotent Using Virus-Free Technique

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Tiny circles of DNA are the key to a new and easier way to transform stem cells from human fat into induced pluripotent stem cells for use in regenerative medicine, say scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Unlike other commonly used techniques, the method, which is based on standard molecular biology practices, does not use viruses to introduce genes into the cells or permanently alter a cell's genome... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Identification Of First Genetic Variant Linked To Biological Aging In Humans

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Scientists have announced that they have identified for the first time definitive variants associated with biological ageing in humans. The team analyzed more than 500,000 genetic variations across the entire human genome to identify the variants which are located near a gene called TERC. The study in Nature Genetics published today by researchers from the University of Leicester and King's College London, working with University of Groningen in the Netherlands, was funded by The Wellcome Trust and the British Heart Foundation... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

States Deal With Small Budgets, Medicaid Cuts

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Virginian-Pilot: Area hospitals are preparing "for a round of Medicaid spending cuts that executives say could be the worst in decades and lead to more cutbacks in their organizations. Rising health care costs and a surge in the number of Medicaid patients have increased the state's obligation to the government health insurance program for the poor and disabled by $777.7 million over two years. The state also must find $1.2 billion to replace stimulus money that the federal government provided last year to help Virginia cope with rising health care demands and declining state revenue... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Analysts: If Health Reform Fails, Expect More Industry Mergers

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

News outlets report on how the fate of the health care overhaul might affect health industry mergers and biotech firms. BusinessWeek: "With Congress' sweeping overhaul of the health system stalled, industry will seek its own answers to a push by government and the private sector to rein in costs, said Curtis Lane, senior managing director at MTS Health Partners, a New York-based equity fund." An aging population will further increase health spending, and "[o]ne solution will be increased consolidation, with companies led by WellPoint Inc., the biggest U.S... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Tax On Sugared Drinks Loses Appeal, Tanning Salons Still Fighting

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Los Angeles Times: "Only months ago, supporters of the soda tax saw it as an idea whose hour was near. The sheer magnitude of the medical cost of obesity added urgency to the issue ... But opponents questioned any link between sugary drinks and obesity, and expressed concern about a slippery slope of taxes on other products. Proponents, meanwhile, thought a tax that drove down consumption while raising money for health care seemed like a natural with Democrats controlling Congress... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Obama Invites Republicans To Share Ideas At Televised Health Reform Summit

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

The New York Times reports that the President's inivitation is for a half-day televised summit February 25. It is "a high-profile gambit that will allow Americans to watch as Democrats and Republicans try to break their political impasse." The move is seen as a way for Obama to force Republicans to help govern and to "put more scrutiny on Republican initiatives" on health care... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

P.E.I. a bad place for a heart attack: study

CBC | Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:35:04 +0100

P.E.I. is one of the worst places in Canada to have a heart attack, according to a University of Calgary study. (Source: CBC | Health)

Meals with the family can 'cut risk of child obesity by 40%'

the Mail online | Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:08:58 +0100

Children who ate an evening meal with their family more than five times a week, slept at least 10.5 hours a night and watched under two hours of TV on weekdays were much less likely to be obese. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Asian Carp in the Great Lakes? This Means War!

TIME.com: Top Science and Health Stories — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:04:13 +0100

Children's Hospital Boosts Paediatric Services

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, part of Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, provides an integrated paediatric service to Greater Manchester and North West England, offering the latest diagnostic medical equipment to its patients. Siemens Healthcare was selected to supply a range of technology to the new hospital. To meet its needs in MRI, the hospital has now installed a MAGNETOM® Avanto 1.5 Tesla system, featuring ultra lightweight coils which make for a significantly more comfortable examination... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mimicking Hereditary Deafness In A Mouse Brings Doctors Closer To A Cure

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

Deafness is the most common disorder of the senses. Tragically, it commonly strikes in early childhood, severely damaging an affected child's ability to learn speech and language. In many cases, children gradually lose their hearing to become profoundly deaf over a long period of months to years, but scientists know very little about how this progressive loss happens, making prospects for prevention and cure very slim... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

NICE Consults On Preliminary Decision Not To Recommend Everolimus For Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

In draft guidance, published today (9 February 2010), the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has been unable to recommend everolimus (afinitor, Novartis) for the second line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. This draft guidance is now available for public consultation. Consultees, healthcare professionals and members of the public are able to comment on the recommendations which are available from 9 February until 2 March 2010 on the NICE website. Comments received during this consultation will be fully considered by the Appraisal Committee in March... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Revealing A Potent Suppressor Of Endometrial Cancer

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive tract, representing 6% of all cancers. There is currently no screening method or biomarker to indicate early presence of disease. "It is a very common malignancy that affects women of all ages" comments paper author Dr. Diego Castrillon. The cancer forms from the cells that grow along the inner lining of the uterus, which is called the endometrium, and usually it is diagnosed following patient reports of abnormal bleeding... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

NICE Appraisal Of Dasatinib And Nilotinib For Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has updated its draft guidance on the use of dasatinib (Sprycel,made by Bristol Myers-Squibb) and nilotinib (Tasigna,made by Novartis) for chronic myeloid leukaemia. Following the previous public consultation and subsequent independent Appraisal Committee meeting on 13 January 2010, both NICE and the appraisal committee agreed to split the appraisal of dasatinib and nilotinib for chronic myeloid leukaemia into two separate appraisals. To effectively appraise a new treatment, the Committee compares it to an existing one... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Morality Research Sheds Light On The Origins Of Religion

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

The details surrounding the emergence and evolution of religion have not been clearly established and remain a source of much debate among scholars. Now, an article published by Cell Press in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences on February 8 brings a new understanding to this long-standing discussion by exploring the fascinating link between morality and religion. There is no doubt that spiritual experiences and religion, which are ubiquitous across cultures and time and associated exclusively with humans, are ultimately based in the brain... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

NICE Welcomes Topic Suggestions For QOF

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has opened the second and final phase of topic suggestion for the 2012/13 Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF). An online topic suggestion facility will allow stakeholders to submit suggestions for new indicators for QOF based on NICE guidance or other NHS Evidence accredited sources. Anyone with an interest in health, including health professionals, patients, community groups and voluntary organisations are encouraged to contribute to the development of the 2012/13 framework via the NICE website... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Association Between Hand-Grip Strength And Poor Survival In Seniors

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

Poor or declining handgrip strength in the oldest old is associated with poor survival and may be used as a tool to assess mortality, found an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) The fastest growing segment of the elderly population is the group older than 85 years, classified as the oldest old. Low handgrip strength has been consistently linked to premature mortality, disability and other health complications in middle-aged and older people. Handgrip strength, a simple bedside tool, can be an alternative way of measuring overall muscular strength... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Access To Private Drugs In Public Hospitals

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

Governments are under increasing pressure to provide access to expensive new drugs. Canadian patients who want access to drugs that are not publicly insured are seeking to pay for these drugs within public hospitals, states an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) This analysis by Colleen M. Flood, Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy, University of Toronto and Lorian Hardcastle, University of Toronto, discusses the debate over whether this policy should change. It looks at the current legislation, policy implications, and a possible Charter challenge... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

BTV8: Still Out - Let's Keep It Out, UK

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

Vigilance and vaccination remains the key to keeping British livestock free from Bluetongue. This is the message from the national JAB campaign group reminding farmers to protect their animals against disease in 2010. JAB is issuing a reminder to farmers and livestock keepers to vaccinate their animals against the disease, which is still causing major problems across Europe and as a result farmers in England and Wales still face a very real threat of potential incursions... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Metabolite Common Among Cancers

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

A study published online on February 8 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine reports that several distinct mutations found in a subset of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) result in excess production of the same metabolite. The enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), which normally facilitates production of the metabolite {alpha}-ketoglutarate, is mutated in approximately 80% of secondary brain tumors. This mutant version of IDH1 promotes excess production of a different metabolite: R (-)-2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG)... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Abbott Misrepresents Nurses' Union - Australian Nursing Federation

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

Assistant Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF), Lee Thomas said comments by the Federal Opposition Leader made about the union in Federal Parliament yesterday (3:10pm 8 Feb.) were completely false and should be corrected. Ms Thomas said the statement made by Mr Abbott in the Parliament that the nurses union "says the government's scheme (Fair Work Act) is worse than Workchoices.." has never been made by an official of the Australian Nursing Federation... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Following DCIS Diagnosis, Psychosicail Interventions Recommended

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

A new analysis has found that women with medium or low levels of income are particularly susceptible to anxiety and depression after being diagnosed with the precancerous breast condition, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study suggests that women with financial hardship may benefit from psychosocial interventions that are designed to accommodate their unique needs... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Cancer Research UK's Lovely Valentine's Gifts

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

St. Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse for lovers across the world to show their adoration. Hundreds of fun valentine's gifts are available to buy now from the Cancer Research UK online shop, http://www.shoptobeatcancer.org.uk, with a wide range of items that are perfect for a husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend or that secret crush. 100 per cent of the profits go to Cancer Research UK. The Valentine's collection at http://www.shoptobeatcancer.org... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Marijuana Ineffective As An Alzheimer's Treatment: UBC-Vancouver Coastal Health Research

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

The benefits of marijuana in tempering or reversing the effects of Alzheimer's disease have been challenged in a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. The findings, published in the current issue of the journal Current Alzheimer Research, could lower expectations about the benefits of medical marijuana in combating various cognitive diseases and help redirect future research to more promising therapeutics... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Canadian Dietitians 'Dish Up' Gold Medal Advice And Menus For Olympic Athletes

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

Dietitians are key members of the Olympic team - advising elite athletes on what to eat and ensuring they get the right foods to fuel them during their competitive events. "In addition to the rigorous coaching, training and commitment, Olympic athletes need the right foods every day for success. Dietitians of Canada is profiling five key dietitians involved in the Olympics," says Lynda Corby MSc, MEd, RD, Director of Public Affairs for Dietitians of Canada. MÃ©lanie Olivier PDt, MSc from Montreal is the 'official dietitian' of the Canadian Olympic Committee... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

The King's Fund Response To Gordon Brown's Speech On Cancer And Social Care Guarantees, UK

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

Commenting on Prime Minister Gordon Brown's speech to The King's Fund this morning, in which he promised patients would only have to wait one week after a GP visit for results of tests for cancer and announced plans for guaranteed access to care in the home, The King's Fund acting chief executive, Dr Anna Dixon, said: 'A promise of test results within a week is an impressive commitment that will certainly be appreciated by cancer patients at what is a very stressful time in their lives... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Study: Medicare Bladder Cancer Treatment Policy Raises Health Costs

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

Reuters: "Medicare's move in 2005 to pay doctors to do bladder cancer surgery in their offices rather than in hospitals dramatically raised the number of procedures and overall health costs, U.S. researchers said on Monday. ... The findings reflect the complexity of cutting health costs in the United States, showing how in some cases Medicare -- the insurance program for the elderly and disabled -- gives doctors incentives to provide too much care, they said... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Insurers Bringing Plans Into Compliance With New Mental Health Rules

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

The Wall Street Journal reports that insurers are bringing their insurance plans in compliance with new rules and laws that make mental health and substance abuse insurance coverage available to millions of Americans. "The law, called the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, ensures that employees receive the same level of mental-health benefits as they do for medical and surgical care... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Clinton Health Reform Veterans Helping With Obama Overhaul Effort

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

The Associated Press reports that aides who helped with President Bill Clinton's health care reform effort are pushing to help President Barack Obama pass his health system overhaul this year. The aides "are adamant that the Democrats can't afford another health care disaster. But they're divided on whether scaling down Obama's plan would be an acceptable solution. ... 'If Bill Clinton couldn't get it done, and Barack Obama can't do it, no Democrat will ever try again,' said economist Len Nichols, health policy director at the New America Foundation... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

KHN Column: Yes, Let's Talk About Those Republican Ideas

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, done in partnership with The New Republic, Jonathan Cohn writes: ''[F]or much of the last year, Republicans have been scaring the bejeezus out of seniors by telling them that Democrats were out to destroy Medicare. But the Roadmap makes clear that it's not Democrats who seek massive, disruptive changes to the program. It's the Republicans. If the coming engagement between the Republicans and President Obama help the public to understand that reality, extending the debate might actually be worth it" (2/8). Read entire column... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Gold, myrrh and...

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:59:45 +0100

Could frankincense be used to treat cancer? (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

Michelle Obama To Fight Childhood Obesity

WDSU.com - Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:58:06 +0100

First lady Michelle Obama is beginning her fight against childhood obesity. (Source: WDSU.com - Health)

Social care flat fee plan denied

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:50:23 +0100

Health Secretary Andy Burnham denies planning a £20,000 compulsory inheritance levy to help pay for social care for the elderly in England. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

Would you (or your man) pass the male MOT? Take our health test - and find out whether you need a major overhaul

the Mail online | Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:11:25 +0100

Most men take better care of their car than their body, and their health suffers as a result. Here, Victoria Lambert presents a test of your true health status. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

University Of Chicago RNs Speak Out - Hospital Cuts Endanger Patient Care, Retention Of Experienced RNs

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

University of Chicago Medical Center registered nurses will hold a press conference Tuesday to warn that hospital administration demands for sweeping reductions in RN and patient care standards erode safety conditions at the hospital and threaten the retention and recruitment of RNs. The UCMC nurses, members of the 150,000-member National Nurses United, will be joined by nurse colleagues from other medical facilities in metropolitan Chicago, and other labor and community supporters. What: University of Chicago RNs Press Conference When: Tuesday, February 9, 11 a.m... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Texas Court Case And Florida Web Site Raise Questions About Effectiveness Of Physician Oversight

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

A Texas court case reveals gaps in physician oversight, The New York Times reports. "It was beyond [Anne Mitchell's] conception that she would be indicted and threatened with 10 years in prison for doing what she knew a nurse must: inform state regulators that a doctor at her rural hospital was practicing bad medicine... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Dems May Add Health Provisions - Including COBRA Subsidies And Medicare Fixes - To Jobs Bill

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Lawmakers may include a number of Medicare "fixes" in the jobs bill, now that the health overhaul bill has stalled, The Hill reports. They would include restoring Medicare provisions that expired Jan. 1 or are set to expire later this year. "Nursing homes and rehabilitation therapy providers, along with patient groups, are pushing legislation to undo a hard-dollar cap on Medicare coverage of physical, speech and occupational therapy. Hospitals are seeking to restore special payments to large rural and small urban hospitals... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Simple, Quick Test Can Send Patient Safely Home From ER After Chest Pain

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Researchers at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center have shown that a simple, inexpensive test can determine whether it is safe to send home a patient who comes to the emergency room with chest pain. "It is imperative to accurately diagnose patients who come to the emergency department with chest pain," said Dr. John Mahmarian, cardiologist at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center and principal investigator of the study. "Unfortunately, diagnosing chest pain is often expensive and time-consuming... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Ending Antitrust Exemption For Insurers May Not Affect Consumers, Analysts Say

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Kaiser Health News: "Proponents say that the legislation would spur competition among insurers and bring down costs for consumers. Reps. Tom Perriello, D-Va., and Betsy Markey, D-Colo., who are sponsoring the bill, said in a press release it would 'end special treatment for the insurance industry that allows them to fix prices, collude with each other, and set their own markets without fear of being investigated.' But many antitrust experts say that ending the exemption -- by repealing the 1945 McCarran-Ferguson Act -- wouldn't significantly increase competition or reduce premiums... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Questions Remain On Bariatric Surgery For Adolescents

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding surgery can effectively treat obesity in adolescents and seems to offer a better alternative than gastric bypass surgery, but further study is needed to determine whether it's better than nonsurgical options, a UT Southwestern Medical Center surgeon writes in an editorial in the Feb. 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. "The latest research helps us define which surgical procedure may be preferable, but we are still a long way from settling the question of whether surgery should be used to treat obesity in teens," said Dr... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

The Anti-Trust Exemption For Health Insurers: Meaningful Or Not?

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jenny Gold writes about legislation to repeal this exemption. "With comprehensive health care legislation foundering in Congress, the House is turning to a narrower piece of legislation that lawmakers hope has widespread, populist appeal: repealing the antitrust exemption for health and medical liability insurers. ... But many antitrust experts say that ending the exemption -- by repealing the 1945 McCarran-Ferguson Act -- wouldn't significantly increase competition or reduce premiums" (Kaiser Health News). Read entire story... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Feeling Gray, Not Blue, Using Colors To Describe Emotions

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

People with anxiety and depression are most likely to use a shade of gray to represent their mental state. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Medical Research Methodology describe the development of a color chart, The Manchester Color Wheel, which can be used to study people's preferred pigment in relation to their state of mind... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Teenage Headaches Not Related To Gadgets

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Use of most electronic media is not associated with headaches, at least not in adolescents. A study of 1025 13-17 year olds, published in the open access journal BMC Neurology, found no association between the use of computer games, mobile phones or television and the occurrence of headaches or migraines. However, listening to one or two hours of music every day was associated with a pounding head... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Autism Risk Higher When Mother Is Older, Study

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Researchers who studied records of all births occurring in California in the 1990s found that the risk of having a child with autism was significantly higher when the mother was older, regardless of the father's age, except when the mother was younger, the risk was also higher if the father were older. The study was the work of researchers from the University of California (UC), Davis, and you can read about in a report published in the 8 February Early View issue of the journal Autism Research... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

New Details On The Dangers Of Third-Hand Smoke Revealed By Study

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Nicotine in third-hand smoke, the residue from tobacco smoke that clings to virtually all surfaces long after a cigarette has been extinguished, reacts with the common indoor air pollutant nitrous acid to produce dangerous carcinogens. This new potential health hazard was revealed in a multi-institutional study led by researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). "The burning of tobacco releases nicotine in the form of a vapor that adsorbs strongly onto indoor surfaces, such as walls, floors, carpeting, drapes and furniture... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Drug Shows Promise For Huntington's Disease

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

An early stage clinical trial of the experimental drug dimebon (latrepirdine) in people with Huntington's disease appears to be safe and may improve cognition. That is the conclusion of a study published in the Archives of Neurology. "This is the first clinical trial that has focused on what is perhaps the most disabling aspect of the disease," said University of Rochester Medical Center neurologist Karl Kieburtz, M.D., the lead author of the study... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

A Study Reveals How Respiratory Tubes And Capillaries Form

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

These tubes or capillaries, formed by a single cell, connect the main tubes of the respiratory system with organs and tissues, thereby providing oxygen. The study has been published in the journal Current Biology, part of the Cell group. Jordi Casanova, professor at CSIC who heads a developmental biology group at IRB Barcelona, addresses the gene expression that leads to the formation of different parts of an organism... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Can Memory Be Improved? A Meta-Analysis Suggests It Does

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

A meta-analysis published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics by Swiss investigators B. Metternich and associates indicates the effectiveness of non pharmacological interventions on memory complaints. Subjective memory complaints (SMC) in the absence of psychiatric or neurological disorders are common among older adults. Although increasing numbers of individuals are suffering from SMC, research into interventions alleviating SMC is sparse... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Blueberries Counteract Intestinal Diseases

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

It is already known that blueberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins. New research from the Lund University Faculty of Engineering in Sweden shows that blueberry fibre are important and can alleviate and protect against intestinal inflammations, such as ulcerative colitis. The protective effect is even better if the blueberries are eaten together with probiotics... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Incidence Of Cerebral Palsy On Rise In United States

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Cerebral palsy (CP) has increased in infants born prematurely in the United States, according to data presented by researchers from Loyola University Health System (LUHS). These findings were reported at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Chicago. They also were published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Researchers reported that CP is associated with inflammation of the connective tissue in the umbilical cord... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Parent Concerns Hinder National H1N1 Immunization Efforts

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Ask any health professional who cares for children and they will tell you: When H1N1 flu hits, it can be very severe. In the last four months of 2009, nearly 240 children died in the United States from H1N1 flu more than three times as many child deaths as in a typical non-H1N1 flu season. Meanwhile, the H1N1 vaccine given to more than 60 million individuals since October, has had a track record of safety in children comparable to the widely used and similarly manufactured seasonal flu vaccine. But many parents' views of H1N1 illness and vaccine safety may not match these national data... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Research Identifies Gene With Likely Role In Premenstrual Disorder

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Scientists have identified a gene they say is a strong candidate for involvement in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and other maladies associated with the natural flux in hormones during the menstrual cycle. In a paper to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Rockefeller University researchers detail experiments in mice showing that a common human variant of the gene increases anxiety, dampens curiosity and tweaks the effects of estrogen on the brain, impairing memory... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Racial Disparities Persist In Diagnosis Of Advanced Breast, Colon Cancer

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

The incidence of advanced breast cancer diagnosis among black women remained 30 percent to 90 percent higher compared to white women between 1992 and 2004, according to new findings by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. In addition, the disparity in the incidence of advance colorectal cancer actually widened over this time period as rates fell among whites but increased slightly among blacks. The findings are published online in the inaugural issue of Springer's journal Hormones and Cancer, a publication of the Endocrine Society... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Research Warns Of Risks Of Low Potassium In Heart Failure Patients With CKD

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

New research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) says low potassium levels produce an increased risk of death or hospitalization in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD). In findings reported in January in Circulation: Heart Failure, a journal of the American Heart Association, the researchers say that even a mild decrease in serum potassium level increased the risk of death in this patient group. "Hypokalemia, or low potassium, is common in heart-failure patients and is associated with poor outcomes, as is chronic kidney disease," said C... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Researchers Develop New Tool To Assess Emergency Department Patients

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

A new assessment tool, reported recently by the Journal of Hospital Medicine, may help hospitals avoid under or over treating patients who are admitted through hospital emergency departments (EDs). Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have modified an early-warning tool that is commonly used to determine if hospitalized patients are getting sicker... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

How a fat-zapping microwave could help shrink 'man boobs'

the Mail online | Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:53:11 +0100

Man boobs - or 'moobs' - may entertain social commentators, but for the men who developed them, they are often deeply embarrassing. The condition, known as gynecomastia, is a growing problem. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Could bacteria have caused your back pain? (And will a simple dose of antibiotics cure it for good?)

the Mail online | Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:26:10 +0100

It's thought that up to one in four cases may actually be caused by infection and not by mechanical problems such as poor posture or improper lifting. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Willpower works better than patches if you want to quit smoking

the Mail online | Health — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:06:18 +0100

Smokers desperate to quit should put their faith in willpower rather than expensive patches and gums, researchers said last night. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Mediterranean Diet May Lower Risk Of Brain Damage That Causes Thinking Problems

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

A Mediterranean diet may help people avoid the small areas of brain damage that can lead to problems with thinking and memory, according to a study released that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010. The study found that people who ate a Mediterranean-like diet were less likely to have brain infarcts, or small areas of dead tissue linked to thinking problems... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Loyola Trauma Surgeon Warns That Texting-On-The-Go Could Be Deadly

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Siobhan Wicks was texting her roommate while walking down the stairs in her Aurora home when suddenly her world turned topsy turvy. "I missed a step. I have no idea how it happened but all I know is I was on the floor," said the 29-year-old Wicks. "I'm a physical therapist so I knew immediately that I had broken my toe. I knew something had happened because it hurt. I took my sock off and, yep, my toe was dislocated." After collecting herself, Wicks called her roommate at work who rushed home and took her to the hospital where her foot was placed in an orthopedic shoe to heal... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Medical Breakthroughs With Biotechnology

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

A recent article in the Scandia Journal reported that biotechnology is helping to improve our knowledge of many devastating illnesses, and has armed patients and their doctors with exciting new diagnostics and treatments to battle disease. Biologic medicines, which unlike traditional medicines are developed from living matter, are exceedingly difficult to develop and require substantial investment. The Scandia Journal cites that biologics can take "as much as $1.2 billion to research and develop" and "take anywhere from 10 to 15 years to get FDA approval... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Biocell Center Furthers Its Commitment To Maternal Fetal Medicine

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Biocell Center announced its further commitment to working with maternal-fetal-medicine doctors by attending the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting. "Biocell Center has been working with perinatologists and Ob/Gyn doctors worldwide for several years," said Kate Torchilin, CEO of Biocell Center Corporation. "We understand the effects that high-risk pregnancy can have on mothers and families and we are hoping to inform women undergoing amniocentesis that they have a unique opportunity to cryopreserve amniotic fluid stem cells as a biological insurance for the future... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Abbott Submits New Automated Ovarian Cancer Test For U.S. Approval

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

A new diagnostic tool physicians can use to monitor patients for the most common form of ovarian cancer may soon be available in the United States. Abbott's ARCHITECT HE4 assay uses a simple blood test to help in monitoring for the recurrence or progression of epithelial ovarian cancer. If approved, this important immunoassay would be the first automated HE4 test available in the United States. The 2003 Hellstrom et al... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Denosumab Demonstrated Superiority Over Zometa(R) In Pivotal Phase 3 Head-to-Head Trial In Prostate Cancer Patients With Bone Metastases

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) announced that a pivotal, Phase 3, head-to-head trial evaluating denosumab versus Zometa® (zoledronic acid) in the treatment of bone metastases in 1,901 men with advanced prostate cancer met its primary and secondary endpoints. Denosumab demonstrated superiority over Zometa for both delaying the time to the first on-study skeletal related event (SRE) (fracture, radiation to bone, surgery to bone or spinal cord compression) (hazard ratio 0.82, 95 percent CI: 0.71, 0.95), and reducing the rate of multiple SREs (hazard ratio 0.82, 95 percent CI: 0.71, 0.94)... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Sagent Pharmaceuticals Announces FDA Approval Of Labetalol Hydrochloride Injection, USP

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that it has received FDA approval of labetalol hydrochloride (HCl) injection, USP, commonly used to control severe hypertension. The product will be available in two vial sizes 100 mg per 20 mL and 200 mg per 40 mL, multi-dose vials. According to the American Heart Association, more than 70 million Americans have hypertension, or high blood pressure. IMS estimates that 2009 sales of labetalol HCl injection in the United States approximated $9 million. Sagent expects to launch the product shortly... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Anorexics Found To Have Excess Fat -- In Their Bone Marrow

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

People with anorexia nervosa, paradoxically, have strikingly high levels of fat within their bone marrow, report researchers at Children's Hospital Boston. Their findings, based on MRI imaging of the knees of 20 girls with anorexia and 20 healthy girls of the same age, appear in the February issue of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Cara Therapeutics Reports Positive Phase II Data For Novel Peripheral Analgesic In Acute Post-Operative Pain

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Cara Therapeutics, Inc. announced positive data in a Phase II proof-of-concept clinical trial of its peripherally-restricted kappa opioid agonist, CR845. The 46 patient Phase II, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted at eight hospitals in the United States and evaluated the efficacy and safety of CR845 in women following laparoscopic-assisted hysterectomy. Subjects were administered a single intravenous infusion of 0.040 mg/kg CR845 or placebo following surgery, upon reporting a moderate-to-severe pain intensity level of 5 to 8 on a 0-10 pain scale... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Vivakor Announces The Launch Of Its Second Generation VivaThermic Cryovials Designed Specifically For Stem Cell Research

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Vivakor, Inc. (OTCBB: VIVK) announced the development of its second generation VivaThermic Cryovials. The VivaThermic 2.0 cryovials were specifically designed to facilitate improved cryopreservation of induced Pluripotent Stem cells (iPS cells) and protein-induced Pluripotent Stem cells (piPS). Their use and the ability to cryogenically preserve these cells is a critical and integral part of the most important type of stem research going on today. These cells, as well as human embryonic stem cells, have been shown to be particularly difficult to manage in the cryopreservation process... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Immunovaccine Presents Results For An Enhanced Anthrax Vaccine Candidate

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Immunovaccine Inc. (TSX VENTURE:IMV) announced that it has been invited to present at the Canada - U.S. Partners in Biomedical Defense II Conference in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, February 10, 2010. At the Conference the Company will present positive new research, done in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), confirming the number of required doses for an anthrax vaccine candidate can be reduced when formulated in DepoVax™... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)