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Avandia restricted by the FDA and EMEA

The U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has restricted the use of the controversial diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) due to its propensity to increase cardiovascular disease risk.

24 Sep 2010

Prescription only baby formula proposal

It has been known and recommended for some time now that breast milk is the best food for a new born. However for mothers who cannot breast feed, this has been a serious issue related to guilt and anguish. The controversy took a new turn as a Melbourne doctor of midwifery called for infant formula to be made available only by prescription. RMIT University expert Dr Jennifer James wants infant formula banned from supermarket shelves.

23 Sep 2010

Type 1 diabetes, early recognition, telltale signs

Though they may present in a similar fashion, type 1 diabetes mellitus is vastly different from type 2, and Ralph Schmeltz, MD, incoming president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, says it’s important to recognize and diagnose it early.

23 Sep 2010

Antipsychotics slightly raise risk for blood clots

Antipsychotics or medications that are used to treat psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are reported to raise the risk of dangerous blood clots.

23 Sep 2010

New Canadian book helps demystify the health care system

If your usual cure for what ails you is to "take two pills and call in the morning" you might be in need of some better medical advice. Take as Directed is a new book from Dalhousie University pharmacy professor Neil MacKinnon and Dal Medical School alumni Rhonda Church. Aimed at helping Canadians from all walks of life navigate the health care system, Take as Directed is essential reading for anybody who is concerned about their health and well being.

23 Sep 2010

Physicians' health habits could affect their abilities to counsel patients on diet, exercise

Physician's confidence in their abilities to counsel patients on a healthy diet and exercise may be related to their own personal habits, according to a study by the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center.

23 Sep 2010

AAOPD and Homeland HealthCare enter partnership

The American Association of Professional Drivers (AAOPD) announced today a partnership with Homeland HealthCare Inc., a third party administrator of supplemental insurance plans based in Allen, Texas, and a member of Inc. Magazine's Fastest Growing Private Companies in the US. The announcement commemorates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (September 19 – 25) honoring America's 3.2 million truckers.

23 Sep 2010

Elsevier's new online surgical journal publishes case reports

Elsevier, the world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services together with Surgical Associates Ltd the Owner of the International Journal of Surgery, announced today the launch of the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports (IJSCR) a new author-pays online general surgical journal dedicated to publishing case reports only.

23 Sep 2010

Women who smoke during pregnancy can harm child's motor ability: Study

Women who smoke during pregnancy run the risk of adversely affecting their children's coordination and physical control according to a new study from rebro University, Sweden, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

23 Sep 2010

Texas grapples with medical malpractice reform while Illinois addresses employer health care costs

Texas Tribune: "As a federal judge considers the constitutionality of Texas' 2003 medical malpractice reform — and Gov. Rick Perry campaigns for more lawsuit restrictions — the Texas Supreme Court has narrowly ruled that hospital injuries seemingly unrelated to doctor error can still fall under the state's stringent medical malpractice caps.

23 Sep 2010

Tobacco taxes help kick the habit

The hike in Australia’s tobacco tax has had an expected effect with almost 300,000 people quitting the habit. The tax increase arrived this April with a 25% rise in tobacco taxes. Polls now confirm that the cost of cigarettes are a powerful lever for improving public health, with only 16 per cent of smokers stating they would “continue to smoke at any price”.

23 Sep 2010

CPPR expresses concern over recently passed health care bill's flaws

Coalition to Protect Patients Rights spokesman Donald J. Palmisano, MD, expressed concern this week over the recently passed health care bill's flaws after new survey results indicated that overall health care costs actually will increase following the bill's passage.

22 Sep 2010

Viking Systems to demonstrate 3DHD Visualization System at Sony's media event

Viking Systems, Inc. announced today its Next Generation 3DHD Visualization System for use in minimally invasive surgery will be prominently featured at Sony's media event to be held September 23, 2010 at Sony's offices in New York, NY. Jed Kennedy, Viking Systems President and CEO and Gerald Andriole, M.D., Medical Advisor to Viking Systems will address the media and explain the features and benefits of the system.

22 Sep 2010

Smoking during pregnancy adversely affects children's coordination and physical control

Women who smoke during pregnancy run the risk of adversely affecting their children's coordination and physical control according to a new study from örebro University, Sweden, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

22 Sep 2010

Study examines how much better hospitals and doctors would work if they ran like airlines

The National Science Foundation/U.S. News & World Report ask the question: "Airlines protect themselves from passenger 'no-shows' by overbooking. Could the same approach—overbooking patients—work in a doctor's office or hospital?" As part of a study examining such a question, the Center for Health Organization Transformation is looking at projects around the nation where "systems engineering" — the implementation of systems used in other industries — can reduce health care costs.

22 Sep 2010

Insuring your health: Coordinated care system helps physicians meet more patient needs

In her latest Kaiser Health News consumer column, Michelle Andrews writes: "If you get sick at night or the weekend, all too often the local emergency room is the only medical facility with an open door.

22 Sep 2010

Study: Doctors who are overweight or lack training are reluctant to counsel patients about diet, exercise

22 Sep 2010

Some insurers to end child-only policies rather than comply with health law

Major insurers plan to discontinue child-only health plans rather than issue coverage under such plans for children with preexisting conditions, something they would have to do beginning Sept. 23 as part of the health law, The Washington Post reports. WellPoint, Cigna and CoventryOne are among the insurers that will end the plans. Those children already covered under the plans would be able to continue, and the companies "will accept children with preexisting conditions in new family policies" (Aizenman, 9/20).

22 Sep 2010

Few insurers provide coverage for weight loss treatment

Reporting for Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with The Washington Post, Sandra G. Boodman writes: "After her weight hit the obese range, her cholesterol level nudged the danger zone and her doctor urged her to lose weight, Melissa Moss, veteran of a decade of failed diets, decided she needed intensive help.

22 Sep 2010

Health overhaul details trigger uncertainty, debate

The Orlando Sentinel: "It's one of the most overlooked pieces of health-care overhaul, but a plan to help companies pay health-care costs for early retirees has proved popular in Florida, where 69 companies and government agencies have applied for federal help.

22 Sep 2010