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Viewpoints: Krugman says cuts in social security better than Medicare option; Governors refusing to set up exchanges are not 'federalist hypocrites'

All at once, a "fiscal cliff" deal seems to be coming together. ... On the spending side, the Democrats' headline concession will be accepting chained-CPI, which is to say, accepting a cut to Social Security benefits. Beyond that, the negotiators will agree to targets for spending cuts.

19 Dec 2012

New once-daily dual bronchodilator effective in COPD

A once-daily, inhaled, fixed-dose dual bronchodilator combination has greater efficacy than twice-daily salmeterol plus fluticasone for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, results of the phase III ILLUMINATE trial show.

18 Dec 2012

Legal settlement paves way for Medicare to cover more home care

For years, Medicare recipients with chronic conditions have had difficulty qualifying for home health services administered by nurses and therapists.

18 Dec 2012

CNIO creates 2 new databases to study the human genome

Scientists from the Structural Computational Biology Group at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), led by Alfonso Valencia, together with French and American researchers, have published recently two articles in the journal Nucleic Acid Research (NAR) that introduce two new databases for studying the human genome.

18 Dec 2012

High AngII levels put stress on the ER and cause hypertension

When the heart works too hard, the brain may be to blame, says new Cornell University research that is changing how scientists look at high blood pressure (hypertension). The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation in November, traces hypertension to a newfound cellular source in the brain and shows that treatments targeting this area can reverse the disease.

18 Dec 2012

Link between constant worry and increased risk of PTSD

People who worry constantly are at greater risk for post-traumatic stress disorder, according to new Michigan State University research published in the journal Psychological Medicine.

18 Dec 2012

New MIT technology may help make cancer biomarker detection much easier

Finding ways to diagnose cancer earlier could greatly improve the chances of survival for many patients. One way to do this is to look for specific proteins secreted by cancer cells, which circulate in the bloodstream. However, the quantity of these biomarkers is so low that detecting them has proven difficult.

17 Dec 2012

Osteoporosis screening: an interview with Professor Cyrus Cooper

Osteoporosis is defined as a reduction in bone mass coupled with micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue which predisposes to fractures. Osteoporosis manifests through an increased risk of fracture, and age-related fractures are a major public health problem.

17 Dec 2012

Partial nephrectomy maintains renal function in cT1a RCC

Partial nephrectomy offers a similar magnitude of benefit in patients with clinical T1b versus cT1a renal cell carcinoma, Japanese researchers have shown.

17 Dec 2012

Long-term antiviral HBV treatment advocated

Study results support the long-term use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for chronic hepatitis B virus, showing that it can suppress the virus and lead to regression of fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients after 5 years’ treatment.

17 Dec 2012

New report provides snapshot of Canada's cancer system

A comprehensive report released today by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer provides a snapshot of how Canada's cancer system is performing in key areas from prevention through to patient experience and outcomes.

17 Dec 2012

First Edition: December 17, 2012

Today's headlines include weekend updates regarding the fiscal cliff negotiations as well as news regarding states' decisions on health exchanges.

17 Dec 2012

Dyslipidaemia: an interview with Prof. Peter Kokkinos

Dyslipidemia is defined as abnormal levels of blood lipids (fats) and cholesterol. The most common dyslipidaemias are high blood cholesterol (Total Cholesterol) and triglyceride levels, high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (‘bad’ cholesterol) and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (‘good’ cholesterol).

17 Dec 2012

Increased life expectancy not benefitting everybody equally: U of T

Global lifespans have risen dramatically in the past 40 years, but the increased life expectancy is not benefitting everybody equally, say University of Toronto researchers. In particular, adult males from low- and middle-income countries are losing ground.

17 Dec 2012

Strong unadjusted relationship between COPD, pneumonia and lung cancer

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer are two of the most important smoking-related diseases worldwide, with a huge combined mortality bur-den. Many consider the presence of COPD itself to be an independent risk factor for lung cancer. Others argue that smoking contributes to both COPD and lung cancer.

17 Dec 2012

Aspen Dental announces opening of new dental office in Waltham, MA

Aspen Dental is proud to announce that a new Aspen Dental office is opening in Waltham, MA on Thursday, Dec. 20. Located at 1030 Main St, Unit J, the practice will provide dental services that range from dentures and preventive care to general dentistry and restoration.

15 Dec 2012

Partisan differences persist on taxes and Medicare, other entitlement programs

Meanwhile, news outlets report that some Senate Republicans are working on a back-up plan that would cancel certain tax increases scheduled to take effect next year for most Americans.

15 Dec 2012

New Aspen Dental office to open in Auburn, ME

Aspen Dental is proud to announce that a new Aspen Dental office is opening in Auburn, ME on Thursday, Dec. 20. Located near Wal-Mart at 791 Turner Street, the practice will provide dental services that range from dentures and preventive care to general dentistry and restoration.

15 Dec 2012

Scientists discover new gene mechanism that appears to regulate triglyceride levels

Scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University have discovered a new gene mechanism that appears to regulate triglyceride levels.

15 Dec 2012

Consuming whole eggs may improve blood lipids, new research suggests

It is estimated that 34% of Americans are affected by an increasingly prevalent condition known as metabolic syndrome which is a combination of at least three of the following risk factors: large waistline, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar.

15 Dec 2012