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U.S. health spending slows in '08, but federal share soars

A new government report shows that U.S. health spending grew 4.4 percent in 2008 to $2.3 trillion, the slowest annual rate of increase since federal tracking efforts began in 1960, USA Today reports.

6 Jan 2010

Genetic rogue elements could help diagnose breast and bowel cancer

Scientists at The University of Nottingham have found that a group of genetic rogue elements, produced by DNA sequences commonly known as 'junk DNA', could help diagnose breast and bowel cancer.

5 Jan 2010

Also in global health news: Aid in S. Somalia; virus-resistant mosquitoes; composting toilets in Haiti; U.S. Congressional Group visits India

The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) announced Tuesday that it has been forced to halt "aid distribution to about 1 million people in southern Somalia because of attacks against staff and demands by armed groups that aid groups remove women from their teams," the Associated Press reports.

5 Jan 2010

Wisconsin rural hospitals hope for federal money to offset state Medicaid cut

Wisconsin's rural hospitals hope to offset a state Medicaid cut with a tax that would bring more federal money to the hospitals. The proposed tax on the state's 59 'critical access' hospitals, all in rural areas, would prevent the hospitals from closing important services, officials say.

5 Jan 2010

Findings suggest abuse is a risk factor for chronic headache

Researchers from the American Headache Society's Women's Issues Section Research Consortium found that incidence of childhood maltreatment, especially emotional abuse and neglect, are prevalent in migraine patients.

5 Jan 2010

Congress would make insurers spend more money on consumers' care

Slate: "One of the biggest lingering criticisms of the Democrats' health care reform plan is that it doesn't control costs. This line persists in part because it's hard to refute in simple terms. ... But for those who want a single, clear example of how reform will attempt to keep the cost of health care -- or, at least, the cost of insurance -- down, there's no easier-to-grasp concept than the medical loss ratio."

5 Jan 2010

Circumcision lowers HIV risk; changes bacterial community on penis microbiome

Circumcision, which substantially lowers HIV risk in men, also dramatically changes the bacterial communities of the penis, according to a study led by scientists at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Johns Hopkins University and published Jan. 6 in the scientific journal PLoS ONE.

5 Jan 2010

UAE hosts five-day global health conference

Public health experts and researchers from around the world gathered on Monday for a five-day conference at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in Al Ain, UAE, to discuss the role of the Middle East in tackling global health issues, AMEinfo.com reports.

5 Jan 2010

With a day of meetings, Democratic leaders focus on health bill

President Barack Obama plans to have a substantive discussion with Democratic Congressional leaders about reconciling the House and Senate health care bills when he meets with them Tuesday evening, according to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

5 Jan 2010

WPI researchers lay groundwork for new generation of advanced prosthetic limbs

The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have left a terrible legacy: more than 1,200 returning American soldiers have lost one or more limbs. To address this growing national need, researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) are laying the groundwork for a new generation of advanced prosthetic limbs that will be fully integrated with the body and nervous system.

5 Jan 2010

Study shows diabetic patients can benefit from gastric bypass surgery

Bariatric surgery is a procedure designed to help patients lose weight, but an unexpected side effect is that it can also help rid patients of diabetes.

5 Jan 2010

Increased coffee consumption linked to reduced hepatic fibrosis

Researchers from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) determined that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) who consumed more than 308 mg of caffeine daily had milder liver fibrosis. The daily amount of caffeine intake found to be beneficial is equivalent to 2.25 cups of regular coffee.

5 Jan 2010

Northwest Hospital & Medical Center collaborates with UW Medicine Health System to improve healthcare

Following final regulatory review, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, a 281-bed full-service acute care hospital, has joined the UW Medicine Health System, effective January 1.

5 Jan 2010

COBRA extension helps unemployed workers this year

Another COBRA extension helps unemployed workers without insurance.

5 Jan 2010

An audit of Obama's performance on his health care campaign promises

The National Journal assessed President Barack Obama's progress on his health care campaign promises and gave him a score of 47. "As a candidate, Barack Obama made a series of fairly specific promises on health care ($10 billion a year for health IT, loan forgiveness for rural doctors) and drew some bold lines in the sand (universal coverage, prohibitions on insurers from discriminating).

5 Jan 2010

Bioject Medical Technologies collaborates with MPI Research to explore drug and device opportunities

Bioject Medical Technologies Inc. (OTCBB:BJCT), a leading developer of needle-free injection therapy systems, today announced that it has established a strategic alliance with MPI Research, a leading pre-clinical research organization with experience in the development of injectable therapeutics.

5 Jan 2010

Survey reveals majority of Americans would seek new coverage options, but some would delay coverage

When given a choice between waiting for health reform legislation to pass or researching and seeking health insurance coverage immediately, 24% of adults surveyed would choose to wait before seeking coverage if they lost their coverage today, according to a new poll.

5 Jan 2010

First Edition: January 5, 2010

Today's headlines focus on the Democratic plans to advance the health bill compromise process and the latest on the nation's health spending.

5 Jan 2010

Swedish study opens new potential for combating resistant bacteria

Neisseria meningitidis, the meningococcus, is a bacterium that can cause diseases with high fatality rates, and there has therefore been considerable concern that, like other bacteria, it might become resistant to antibiotics. But now a study from örebro University and örebro University Hospital in Sweden shows that there has not been any increase in resistant meningococci in Sweden over the last 15 years. According to researcher Sara Thulin Hedberg, the reason for this may be that it is not especially advantageous for bacteria to develop resistance.

5 Jan 2010

Fish oil supplement now available in water-soluble drink

Nordic Naturals, the industry leader in omega-3 fish oil, introduces Omega-3 Effervescent, an innovative way to enjoy fish oil supplementation via a water-soluble drink mix containing EPA and DHA in a delicious orange flavor.

5 Jan 2010