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Health practitioners need to assess health literacy to overcome barrier to quality care: MD Anderson nurse

Low health literacy is a significant barrier to quality care, especially among elderly patients, but increased use of simple and effective health literacy assessment tests by nurses and clinicians can help improve communication and health outcomes.

30 Apr 2011

Study shows direct link between cotton swab use and ruptured eardrum

A study by Henry Ford Hospital shows a direct association between cotton swab use and ruptured eardrum. The study also shows that in most cases the rupture heals on its own and surgery is only necessary for the most severe cases.

28 Apr 2011

Positive results from Otonomy's OTO-104 Phase 1b study in Meniere's disease

Otonomy, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics for diseases and disorders of the inner and middle ear, today announced positive data from a Phase 1b study of the company's lead product candidate, OTO-104, in patients with Meniere's disease.

28 Apr 2011

Frailty increases exponentially with age throughout adult life span

The prevalence of frailty, which is linked to earlier death, increases throughout adulthood as people age and not just after age 65, found an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Relatively good fitness levels at all ages were predictive of lower mortality and less reliance on health care services.

28 Apr 2011

State roundup: Conn. Gov. says no 'public option' this year

Gov. Bobby Jindal's chief budget adviser defended the administration's plan to sell a state-run health insurance plan to a private company, rebutting a chorus of critics Tuesday who said the move would result in higher premiums and lower benefits for state workers and retirees.

28 Apr 2011

Tips for parents to identify concussions in young athletes

A recent study found that many parents feel they lack the knowledge to adequately detect symptoms of head injuries in their children. Yet keeping young athletes off the field until they've fully healed from a concussion is key to preventing serious and potentially fatal complications.

27 Apr 2011

State roundup: Single-payer bill advances in Vt. Legislature

A unit of American International Group, the New York-based insurance giant, agreed to pay restitution and a fine totaling $760,000 for selling faulty health insurance products in Massachusetts, under a settlement reached with state Attorney General Martha Coakley.

27 Apr 2011

Acousticon receives FDA 510K clearance for ACAM-5 integrated hearing loss assessment system

Acousticon Inc., the US subsidiary of Acousticon GmbH announced today that they have received FDA 510K clearance for ACAM-5®, a German-engineered, stand-alone system containing an audiometer integrated with Real Ear Measurement (REM), and Hearing Instrument Test (HIT) modules.

27 Apr 2011

Experts to present new research on pediatric ear, nose, and throat disorders at ASPO meeting

The American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology will hold its annual meeting, April 29 - May 1, during the 2011 Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings - a joint meeting of eight otolaryngological societies in Chicago, IL.

25 Apr 2011

Sanofi Pasteur receives FDA approval for Menactra to prevent meningococcal disease

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the use of Menactra in children as young as 9 months for the prevention of invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y and W-135. Menactra already is approved for use in people ages 2 through 55 years.

24 Apr 2011

New otolaryngology research topics to be presented at ASPO meeting

22 Apr 2011

Stepped up measures to tack rising painkiller abuse

Prescription drug abuse is one of the largest problems in the country say experts and according to White House drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske, the Congress must require special training for doctors and other health care workers before they are allowed to prescribe powerful drugs such as OxyContin.

20 Apr 2011

State roundup: Michigan tries new strategy on high risk pools

Michigan today announced a new effort to sign up the chronically uninsured onto health plans after the state's first attempt did not attract enough customers.

20 Apr 2011

Are GPs preventing patients from hearing properly?

Nearly 15,000 UK consumers answered questions about their hearing and their knowledge of hearing aids in the most comprehensive and largest survey ever undertaken in this field. The EuroTrak UK study will provide invaluable data for GPs, the NHS, Department of Health and the audiology profession. This study is now being publicised by The British Hearing Aid Manufacturers Association (BHAMA).

19 Apr 2011

Cervical cancer vaccine target falls short: Report

Data from the Australian federal government shows that the target to immunize 80 per cent of 12-year-old girls against cervical cancer is not being met because many of them are failing to have all three doses of the vaccine. This potentially undermines the effectiveness of the $436 million program started in 2007.

19 Apr 2011

Health care continues to be top-rated concern for Canadians: Ipsos Reid poll

By a double-digit margin, health care is the most important election issue for Canadians living in the Prairie provinces, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, according to an Ipsos Reid public opinion poll conducted for the Canadian Medical Association.

16 Apr 2011

OFID honors UAE ear surgeon with Annual Award for Development

The Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development, Mr. Suleiman J. Al-Herbish, today announced Dr. Mazen Al-Hajri as the recipient of the 2011 OFID Award for Development.

11 Apr 2011

Officials ask for U.S. to continue support for U.N. in Capitol Hill meetings

The U.N. needs the U.S. to continue providing strong financial support, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told U.S. lawmakers in Washington on Thursday, "as President Barack Obama and Congress negotiate federal budget cuts to try to avoid a government shutdown," Reuters reports. "We need to have robust financial support from the United States," Ban said.

11 Apr 2011

Viewpoints abound on impact of Ryan plan, government showdown

If the federal government shuts down at midnight on Friday — which seems likely unless negotiations take a sudden turn toward rationality — it will not be because of disagreements over spending. It will be because Republicans are refusing to budge on these ideological demands: No federal financing for Planned Parenthood. ... No local financing for abortion services in the District of Columbia. ... No funds for health care reform.

8 Apr 2011

DNA forensic test frees prisoner with life sentence after having served 18 years

In a landmark case, a prisoner with a life sentence was freed after serving 18 years in a Florida prison, based on DNA findings presented by DDC (DNA Diagnostics Center). DNA analysis and testimony provided by Dr. Julie Heinig, DDC's DNA Forensics Assistant Laboratory Director, is credited with leading to the exoneration of Derrick Williams earlier this week. DDC is the largest provider of private DNA paternity and other DNA testing in the United States and worldwide.

8 Apr 2011