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Blacks less likely to get expensive, newer heart treatments

Blacks who suffer the most common type of cardiac ischemia – non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome – are less likely than whites to receive expensive or newer evidence-based treatments, according to a report in a special disparities themed issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

15 Mar 2005

Unequal healthcare kills 80,000 black Americans

Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher said this week that over 80,000 black Americans die every year because of disparities in health care. Despite government and public and insurance companies knowledge of this shortchange in health care for blacks, they have done little to improve the situation.

10 Mar 2005

Asthma relapse linked to allergies

Researchers have found that some children who supposedly outgrew their asthma saw it re-appear by the time they reached their mid-20s.

8 Mar 2005

1 out of 7 minority women lack important family history of breast cancer

Having your doctor ask you about your family breast health history can greatly increase the chances of identifying your risk for breast cancer.

8 Mar 2005

Cymbalta improves cognitive function in elderly patients with depression

Elderly patients with depression treated with Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride), 60 mg once daily, had twice as much improvement in verbal learning and recalling information than those given a sugar pill, according to new research presented Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.

8 Mar 2005

Medical tests in the privacy of your own home

A San Francisco-based testing company is currently offering genetic testing, for a predisposition to cystic fibrosis, blood clotting, iron overload and a heightened risk for lung and liver diseases; prices ranging from $199 to $380.

7 Mar 2005

Large hole in boy's liver repaired using innovative catheterization procedure

Through an innovative catheterization procedure, a pediatric cardiologist at Texas Children's Heart Center in Houston repaired a severe liver condition in a 14-year-old male.

7 Mar 2005

Aspirin does not prevent first heart attacks or death from cardiovascular causes in women

The Women's Health Study is the first large clinical trial to study the use of low-dose aspirin to prevent heart attack and stroke in women.

7 Mar 2005

Stent trial fails to meet endpoints

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals has announced that results from the REALITY Trial, a head-to-head trial sponsored by Cordis Corporation, comparing the JNJ CYPHER® stent and the TAXUS® stent, were presented at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session. The trial failed to meet its primary endpoint.

7 Mar 2005

David Lee, cancer cure director gets 10 year disqualification

A director of a company who used fear tactics and misleading advertising to sell vulnerable elderly people a 'cure' for prostate cancer has been disqualified from acting as a company director for 10 years following a DTI investigation.

7 Mar 2005

How to maximise your chance of having a baby

New research by The Times has revealed a huge variation across the UK in the cost of a common fertility drug with some high street chemists charging infertile couples up to 80 per cent more than others for private prescriptions.

7 Mar 2005

National Patient Safety Awareness Week

National Patient Safety Awareness Week to be observed March 6-12, 2005, is a national education and awareness-building campaign for improving patient safety at the local level.

7 Mar 2005

HIV testing should be widely accepted, without conventional voluntary counselling and testing

HIV testing should no longer be accorded any special status, argue two senior doctors in this week's BMJ.

6 Mar 2005

Way to detect early signs of testicular cancer

Danish researchers have discovered a way to detect early signs of testicular cancer before it has started to spread. Their findings are the first step towards developing a simple screening test for men at risk of the disease.

2 Mar 2005

Health professionals should show more empathy - essential to healing relationships

Business scholars for more than 20 years have explored the concept of 'emotional labor,' or the management of emotions to present a certain image in service workers. Now, researchers from the University of Washington Business School and Group Health Cooperative have teamed up to explore how the concept can be applied to the medical profession.

1 Mar 2005

Trigger events for adopted adults

Regardless of whether adults adopted in infancy consider their adoptions to play an important role in their lives or not, certain "trigger events" in adulthood may result in a greater emphasis being placed on their adoptive status, new research from the University of Melbourne has found.

1 Mar 2005

New research offers natural alternative to arthritis drugs

The research, conducted by The Australian Centre for Complementary Medicine Education and Research (ACCMER), shows that Biolane Green Lipped Mussel Extract has a combination of actions that are not associated with increased risk of blood clotting that has caused recent drug withdrawals and medical warnings. In fact, the product may even help slow the progression of osteoarthritis.

1 Mar 2005

Stop smoking services encourage more GPs to help smokers quit

Clinics to help people stop smoking have led to an increased number of GPs recording whether patients smoke and referring them for assistance to quit – according to a new report.

1 Mar 2005

Middle-aged women who take an active role in their health care may be less likely to develop cardiovascular disease

The results, presented today at the American Psychosomatic Society Annual Meeting, suggest women who believe they should take charge of their health, rather than rely solely on treatment by doctors, have fewer signs of pre-clinical atherosclerosis.

28 Feb 2005

Men are more likely than women to take up invitations for bowel screening

The report found that men were less likely than women to worry about embarrassment or discomfort associated with this method. The screening test, called Flexible Sigmoidoscopy (FS), involves inserting a long thin tube fitted with a camera into the lower part of the bowel.

28 Feb 2005