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Six prominent surgeons receive ACS' Honorary Fellowship

Honorary Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons (ACS) was awarded to six prominent surgeons from South Africa, England, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, and the People's Republic of China last night during Convocation ceremonies that preceded the official opening of the College's 97th Annual Clinical Congress.

24 Oct 2011

UCSF academic surgeon wins ACS' 2011 Distinguished Service Award

The Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) presented Mary H. McGrath, MD, MPH, FACS, of San Francisco, CA, with the College's 2011 Distinguished Service Award on October 23, during its Annual Clinical Congress in San Francisco.

24 Oct 2011

Detroit has one of the highest NSCLC mortality rates in the U.S.

Compared with other cities, Detroit has one of the highest mortality rates in the United States for non-small cell lung cancer.

24 Oct 2011

Vets, Medicare beneficiaries worry about future health coverage

News outlets covered protests of seniors and concern by veterans' groups about possible increases in costs for their health insurance.

24 Oct 2011

Employer health plans often omit part-timer workers

Several news outlets this weekend covered work-based insurance issues, including reaction to the Wal-Mart announcement that it would be cutting back coverage for new part-timers and what workers in a number of places should expect as their bosses roll out policies for the coming year.

24 Oct 2011

VTT research exploits metabolics

VTT is seeking to create new development paths towards a healthier life. New opportunities created by metabolics in the fields of diagnostics, medical development, industrial biotechnology and environmental technology have been a part of VTT research for almost 10 years.

22 Oct 2011

USAID recognizes Public-Private Partnership Week

USAID on Thursday made several announcements as part of its Public-Private Partnership Week:

22 Oct 2011

Health costs continue upward trend

Market Watch reports that an index tracking health care costs rose for the fourth time in a row. Meanwhile, McClatchy reports that disability benefits are on a financially unsustainable path. Finally, NPR offers advice for handling health expenses during one's golden years.

22 Oct 2011

Ambitious vision, lasting investment in science can save countless lives

In this post in the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene's "ASTMH Blog," Rick Steketee, science director of PATH's Malaria Control Program and ASTMH council member, responds to the results of the RTS,S malaria vaccine trial, writing, "It's milestones like this week's findings that remind us all that ambitious vision and a lasting investment in science can yield the tests, treatments and tools to save countless lives."

22 Oct 2011

ACOs: Docs, hospitals A-OK on revisions to final rule

The regulations, which were released Thursday, relaxed requirements for doctors and hospitals to participate in the program. Some insurers and employers, however, complained that the changes will increase the chances that providers will consolidate, which could reduce competition and drive up costs.

22 Oct 2011

Eighth Circuit hears health law arguments

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Thursday regarding whether a health law legal challenge brought by two Missouri residents should be revived.

22 Oct 2011

On debate night, Perry 'sidesteps' question about Texas' uninsured children

The question from GOP debate moderator Anderson Cooper on Tuesday night was about health care, specifically the high number of uninsured children in Texas. Gov. Rick Perry's answer decidedly was not….

22 Oct 2011

NYT: Wal-Mart cutting some health benefits

After trying to mollify its critics in recent years by offering better health care benefits to its employees, Wal-Mart is substantially rolling back coverage for part-time workers and significantly raising premiums for many full-time staff (Greenhouse and Abelson, 10/20).

22 Oct 2011

UNICEF calls for additional resources to fight hunger, famine in Somalia

Though the humanitarian response to the food crisis in the Horn of Africa has lessened the suffering of thousands of people in the region, "more resources are needed to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in famine-hit areas of Somalia, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said" in a progress report released Thursday, the U.N. News Centre reports.

22 Oct 2011

Brazil to become world supplier of Chagas disease treatment

"Brazil is keen to take part in the international effort to expand access to medicines and to produce its own drugs, and will start by becoming the world supplier of medicines to treat Chagas disease," Health Minister Alexandre Padilha announced "at the World Conference on Social Determinants of Health, which opened Tuesday October 19 in Rio de Janeiro," Inter Press Service reports.

22 Oct 2011

Specific dopamine system gene variants linked to ADHD medication response in children

Children with certain dopamine system gene variants have an improved response to methylphenidate - the most commonly prescribed medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - in a finding that could help eliminate the guesswork from prescribing effective medications for children with ADHD.

22 Oct 2011

U.N. calls on international community to provide food aid to North Korea

"Wealthier countries need to put aside politics to help millions of North Koreans going hungry from food shortages, the U.N.'s top relief official said Friday, renewing an appeal for assistance that has largely gone unmet," the Associated Press/CBS News reports.

22 Oct 2011

Additional data from Sanofi's quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine study

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, announced today the results of a new study evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of an investigational quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (QIV) among adults 65 years of age and older.

22 Oct 2011

HIV/AIDS clinic in Pakistan working to fight stigma, provide treatment

Inter Press Service reports on the Family Care Centre for people living with HIV/AIDS in Pakistan, which opened in Peshawar on September 1 "in the hope of breaking the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS" in a region where myths surrounding the disease and its transmission are prevalent.

22 Oct 2011

Medical homes save money, but many practices 'lack what it takes'

Families with special needs kids can save up to a third of their out-of pocket medical expenses by having a so-called "medical home" coordinate the care for their child, a news study suggests. A medical home could be a primary care doctor's office that incorporates the family in medical decision-making and coordinates and follows up on visits to specialists.

22 Oct 2011