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KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Democrats roll dice on SCOTUS and the ACA

Democratic state attorneys general are asking the Supreme Court to intervene this term in a case that could invalidate the entire Affordable Care Act.

9 Jan 2020

Adequate health insurance could reduce racial outcome disparities in breast cancer

Lack of insurance coverage is a major cause of delayed breast cancer screening and treatment among minority women, which could lead to a decrease in a patient's chance of survival.

9 Jan 2020

Common genetic defect in prostate cancer associated with worse prognosis

Like security screening to make sure nothing harmful makes its way into a crowded area, cells in the human body use checkpoints to control their growth and prevent harmful mutations from making their way into new cell populations and causing trouble.

9 Jan 2020

Asbestos exposure through cosmetic talc associated with mesothelioma

Thirty-three cases of the asbestos-related lung cancer mesothelioma draw attention to talcum powder as a non-occupational source of exposure to asbestos, according to a study in the January Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

9 Jan 2020

Drinking tea thrice a week is linked with longer, healthier life

Drinking tea at least three times a week is linked with a longer and healthier life, according to a study published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

9 Jan 2020

PCORI announces new research funding opportunities to improve patient-centered outcomes

Following congressional reauthorization of its funding in December 2019, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) began accepting new proposals for research designed to help patients and those who care for them to weigh their options and make better-informed healthcare decisions.

9 Jan 2020

New initiative encourages female medical students to specialize in orthopedics

Women now account for more than half of all medical students in the United States. However, orthopaedic surgery struggles to attract women to the field.

9 Jan 2020

House Energy and Commerce Committee scheduled to hold hearing on immunosuppressive drug coverage

The House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Wednesday, January 8, on the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2019, advancing a long-standing legislative priority of the American Society of Nephrology.

9 Jan 2020

“Hotspotting” programs have virtually no impact on patient outcomes, indicates study

The new health care practice of "hotspotting" -- in which providers identify very high-cost patients and attempt to reduce their medical spending while improving care -- has virtually no impact on patient outcomes, according to a new study led by MIT economists.

9 Jan 2020

University of Chicago Medicine vascular surgeon offers tips for healthy arteries and veins

Our vascular system is our body's unsung hero. Arteries transport nourishing oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout tissues; veins carry the deoxygenated, waste-filled blood back to the heart, where the process begins anew.

8 Jan 2020

Artificial ionic skin could lead to future advancements in wearable technology

University of Toronto Engineering researchers have developed a super-stretchy, transparent and self-powering sensor that records the complex sensations of human skin.

8 Jan 2020

Cystic fibrosis carriers have higher risk for all CF-related conditions

Conventional wisdom says that having just one mutated copy of the cystic fibrosis gene has no effects on a person's health--the disease occurs when both copies of the gene are mutated. But a new study from the University of Iowa suggests that may not be the case.

8 Jan 2020

Scientists discover how dying cells prevent dangerous immune reactions

Dying cells in the body can keep the immune system in check, thus preventing unwanted immune responses against the body's own tissues.

8 Jan 2020

Persistent physical activity from childhood to adulthood linked to higher fruit and vegetable consumption

A physically active lifestyle and a diet rich in vegetables and fruits have a central role in promoting health by preventing non-communicable diseases.

8 Jan 2020

Study: People from South Asian background more likely to develop a physical disability

Men and women from a South Asian background are more likely to develop a physical disability and struggle with day-to-day physical activities throughout adulthood compared with their White British counterparts, new research published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences reports.

8 Jan 2020

Study highlights the prevalence of alcohol use among cancer survivors

New research in the January 2020 issue of JNCCN-Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network uses data from the National Health Interview Survey from 2000 to 2017 to examine self-reported drinking habits among people reporting a cancer diagnosis.

8 Jan 2020

Step counters could play role in predicting lung cancer treatment outcomes

Numerous studies have shown that monitoring physical activity promotes better health – from reducing body mass index to watching for signs of hypertension, for example. A new study suggests step counters could play yet another role: predicting outcomes for people undergoing chemoradiation therapy for lung cancer.

8 Jan 2020