The estimated 4.6 million Americans involved in the equine industry may be at risk of developing respiratory symptoms due to poor air quality in horse barns, according to a questionnaire study undertaken earlier this year by investigators at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. [More]

Short-term follow-up is a reasonable alternative to invasive biopsy of palpable (capable of being touched or felt) breast lesions with benign imaging features, particularly in younger women with probable fibroadenoma (non-cancerous tumors that often occur in women during their reproductive years), according to a study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology. [More]

“As providers of health care insurance to more than 35 million Americans, the members of Business Roundtable have consistently taken a fact-based approach to advancing and supporting health care reform proposals. Throughout this discussion, we have remained engaged participants, contributing both data and ideas to help reduce health care costs and expand access to coverage for all Americans. [More]

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) was honoured with the Minister's Award of Excellence for its innovative approaches to long term care at a Toronto health conference this week. [More]

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2e479d/pittsburgh_breast) has announced the addition of the "Pittsburgh Breast Imaging" training to their offering. [More]

A simple blood test corresponding to the follicular phase (days 3-14) of a normal menstrual cycle can aid in optimal scheduling of breast MRI exams in premenopausal women with irregular cycles - possibly reducing the number of repeat scans and non-diagnostic tests patients experience and providing clearer images on which doctors make their recommendations, according to a study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology. [More]

MedLink International, Inc. announced today that it will be providing the option of its MedLink TotalOffice EHR as a Software as a Service (SaaS) starting next month. The SaaS model will further assist providers to qualify for "meaningful use" by offering an affordable EHR framework to meet federal and state incentives for EHR adoption by reducing upfront hardware costs. [More]

In patients with unresectable (unable to be removed by surgery) liver cancer, an interventional radiology procedure called triple-drug transcatheter arterial chemoemobolization (TACE) followed by a liver transplant may significantly increase a patient's chance of long-term survival, according to a study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology. [More]

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) relating to the proposed initial public offering of shares of its Class A common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined. [More]

In a new study, researchers report that a class of heart medications called beta-blockers can have a helpful, or harmful, effect on the heart, depending on their molecular activity. [More]

The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) unveiled a national senior hunger study, underwritten by the Harrah's Foundation. Developed as an extension of the study originally presented in 2008, this state-by-state analysis of senior hunger revealed that the number of seniors facing the threat of hunger is increasing with seniors in the South experiencing the greatest risk of going hungry. [More]

The Senate's newly released health-reform bill ("Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act") infringes on Americans' health-insurance choices and medical privacy, says Sue Blevins, president of the Institute for Health Freedom (IHF) -- a patients' rights group in Washington, D.C. [More]

As more red flags are uncovered about the Fort Hood tragedy, some observers allege that political correctness played a significant role in enabling this to happen. Has public concern over political correctness grown from its well-intentioned origin of inclusion and acceptance into a dangerous unwillingness to acknowledge obvious patterns of toxic behavior? [More]

The American Dental Association (ADA) today asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish appropriate classifications for tooth-whitening chemicals. [More]

An emerging body of evidence suggests that the changing global climate is already affecting infectious disease transmission patterns. As noted today in a symposium at the 58th annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), such changes are expected to have a profound impact on global public health. [More]