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Cocaine use linked to academic level achieved

The decreased use of cocaine in the United States over the last 20 years mostly occurred among the highly educated, while cocaine use among non-high school graduates remained constant, according to a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

29 Aug 2007

Split-bolus MDCT urography technique for evaluating the urinary tract system reduces radiation dose

The split-bolus (cross sectional imaging) MDCT urography technique reduces both radiation dose and number of images produced, according to a recent study conducted by radiologists from Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, CA and VA Palo Alto Health Care System in Palo Alto, CA.

29 Aug 2007

The travesty of uninsured Americans

U.S. Census Bureau data shows a rise in the number of Americans lacking health insurance. 47 million people did not have health coverage in 2006, up from 44.8 million in 2005.

29 Aug 2007

Pharmacist Services Technical Advisory Coalition awarded grant from Community Pharmacy Foundation

The Pharmacist Services Technical Advisory Coalition (PSTAC), an alliance of seven national pharmacy organizations, has recently been awarded a grant from the Community Pharmacy Foundation to support an educational campaign on Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes used for Medication Therapy Management Services (MTMS) provided by pharmacists.

28 Aug 2007

Report shows PA hospitals national leaders in health IT adoption, investment

Despite high barriers, Pennsylvania's hospitals have established a leadership position in the adoption of health information technology (IT) as compared to their peers nationwide.

28 Aug 2007

Self-collected specimens for testing human papillomavirus

In this Research letter, Dr. Gina Ogilvie and colleagues investigate the feasibility of self-collection of specimens for HPV testing among women who may not make full use of cytology screening programs (e.g., women who are homeless or who are involved in the sex trade) and are thus at increased risk of cervical cancer.

28 Aug 2007

MSU team designs innovative medical diagnosis system

A Michigan State University engineering design team has developed a medical diagnosis system that would allow people to be inexpensively screened for a variety of medical problems.

24 Aug 2007

Sex among seniors

The first comprehensive, nationally representative survey on the prevalence of sexual activity among older Americans provides a portrait of the intimate lives of people ages 57 to 85.

24 Aug 2007

Environmental tests help predict hospital-acquired Legionnaires' disease risk

A new study spearheaded by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has determined that environmental monitoring of institutional water systems can help to predict the risk of hospital-acquired Legionella pneumonia, better known as Legionnaires disease.

24 Aug 2007

New diabetes mellitus clinical practice guidelines

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) has announced the release of its medical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus.

24 Aug 2007

Insulin pens may offer diabetics substantial savings

Diabetics who need to switch from oral medications to insulin could reduce their annual healthcare costs up to $17,000 by using an insulin pen instead of a syringe to deliver their daily dose of medication.

22 Aug 2007

Hemorrhoids tips

Are you tired of the itch and burn of hemorrhoids? While it's a fairly common condition, many patients may be too embarrassed to talk to their doctor about it.

22 Aug 2007

Benefits of vitamin D for cancer prevention

A new study looking at the relationship between vitamin D serum levels and the risk of colon and breast cancer across the globe has estimated the number of cases of cancer that could be prevented each year if vitamin D3 levels met the target proposed by researchers.

22 Aug 2007

Surgical options for severe intra-abdominal inflammation

Performing a repeat surgery for patients with peritonitis (severe intra-abdominal inflammation or infection) only when clinical improvement is lacking may have some advantages compared with having the repeat procedure routinely scheduled after the operation, according to a study in the August 22/29 issue of JAMA.

22 Aug 2007

Breast feeding mothers warned of risks of Codeine for babies

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in the United States has issued a warning to nursing mothers regarding the pain-killer codeine.

20 Aug 2007

PET MPI provides a more accurate "picture" of coronary obstruction

Physicians need to know how badly heart vessels are blocked before they can decide how to treat patients at risk of having a heart attack.

17 Aug 2007

Study highlights the importance of patient-pharmacist communication

Despite years of effort in reaching out to their local communities, the role pharmacists play as health care providers still remains unclear to the people who need them the most elderly Americans with multiple medications for chronic diseases.

17 Aug 2007

FDA approves updated labeling for Warfarin (Coumadin)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the approval of updated labeling for the widely used blood-thinning drug, Coumadin, to explain that people's genetic makeup may influence how they respond to the drug.

17 Aug 2007

Strengthened warnings on some type 2 diabetes drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced manufacturers of certain drugs approved to treat Type 2 diabetes have agreed to add a stronger warning on the risk of heart failure, a condition that occurs when the heart does not adequately pump blood.

16 Aug 2007

Study looks at father's role in a household with a depressed mother

Children whose mothers are depressed are less likely to develop problem behaviors if their fathers are actively engaged in family life, a Saint Louis University researcher finds.

16 Aug 2007