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H1N1 virus killed more people globally than originally believed, confirms study

A research team consisting of more than 60 collaborators in 26 countries has estimated the global death toll from the 2009 outbreak of the H1N1 virus to be 10 times higher than the World Health Organization's count, which was based on laboratory-confirmed cases of this flu. The study, which appears online in PLOS Medicine, suggests that the pandemic virus caused up to 203,000 respiratory deaths around the world.

27 Nov 2013

Alcohol use disorders contribute more significantly to disease burden

Disorders related to the abuse of alcohol contribute significantly to the burden of disease in the U.S., finds a new study in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Researchers estimated that in 2005, about 53,000 men and 12,000 women died from issues related to alcohol use disorders.

27 Nov 2013

Miami-area seniors get 'white-glove' treatment from private plans

The Miami Herald reports that seniors in southern Florida have benefited from the highly lucrative and super competitive world of privately managed Medicare Advantage plans

27 Nov 2013

Customized palliative care can reduce health care costs, improve care for high-risk geriatric patients

For high-risk geriatric patients, improved palliative care that is matched to their changing needs at home can reduce emergency room visits, reduce health care costs, and improve overall care. Current gaps in policy and practice that block implementation of these beneficial customized care models are presented in the article "Research Priorities in Geriatric Palliative Care: Policy Initiatives," published in Journal of Palliative Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

27 Nov 2013

Health law coverage bringing changes to an array of consumers

News outlets explore some of these issues, including new costs for people with "Cadillac" coverage, "narrow networks" of doctors and other health providers, new options for part-time workers and unexpected effects on smokers.

27 Nov 2013

Medicaid expansion: Florida stalls; Ohio lawsuits; Kansas hospitals weigh in

States dominated by Republican governors and legislatures continue to wrestle with decisions about expanding Medicaid to poor people who don't currently qualify.

27 Nov 2013

Survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplant benefit from expressive helping

A new study finds that survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplant, an aggressive treatment for blood cancers, benefited from a two-part peer support process the authors call expressive helping.

27 Nov 2013

Medical advances, teaching hospital procedures inflate health care costs

Hospitals are examining "post-intensive-care syndrome" and other elements of their procedures to measure the impact on their bottom lines.

27 Nov 2013

FDA orders halt to marketing for DNA test kit

The agency says the tests haven't been proven effective. The Food and Drug Administration has ordered the maker of a popular genetic-testing kit to halt sales of its heavily marketed product, saying the mail-order tests haven't been proven effective and could dangerously mislead people about their health.

27 Nov 2013

Computer-based training programs does not help children with ADHD, says UCF researcher

Many parents spend thousands of dollars on computer-based training programs that claim to help children with ADHD succeed in the classroom and in peer relationships while reducing hyperactivity and inattentiveness. But a University of Central Florida researcher says parents are better off saving their hard-earned cash.

27 Nov 2013

Chances for small-bore budget deal said to improve

Despite a polarized Congress, The Associated Press reports that the prospects for a modest, end-of-year budget deal are looking up. Neither party would achieve its biggest priority with such an agreement, however.

27 Nov 2013

San Diego School of Medicine receives grant to provide professional training to senior drivers

For the seventh consecutive year, the Training, Research and Education for Driving Safety (TREDS) program at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has been awarded a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) that will help keep our roadways and senior drivers safe through professional training.

27 Nov 2013

Administration: HealthCare.gov on target to work for most by Nov. 30

Administration officials and consumer advocates say that the enrollment website serving residents of 36 states is becoming easier for people to use, but insurers warn that flaws continue to hinder health plans. Officials acknowledge that some users will continue to experience outages and error messages. Meanwhile, Bloomberg looks at the president's efforts to monitor the situation.

26 Nov 2013

Bruker receives FDA clearance to market MALDI Biotyper CA System in the U.S.

Bruker Corporation today announced that it has been granted U.S. FDA clearance under Section 510(k) to market its MALDI Biotyper CA System in the United States for the identification of Gram negative bacterial colonies cultured from human specimens.

26 Nov 2013

SIMM and Crown Bioscience collaborate to build MCT center in China

Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Crown Bioscience, Inc., announced today that they have reached an agreement to form a strategic collaboration focused on translational oncology and to join forces to build a mouse clinical trial (MCT) center at Crown Taicang campus, Taicang, Jiangsu province, China --SIMM-Crown Mouse Clinical Trial Center, or SCMC.

26 Nov 2013

Study of sexual health and lifestyles in Britain reveals changing sexual attitudes and behaviour

Results published today in The Lancet give the most detailed picture yet of the British population’s sex lives over the last 10 years, as part of the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal) survey.

26 Nov 2013

State highlights: What will Va.'s new governor do with state's mental health system?; Kancare gets nursing home critics; patient access to records in Wis.

In the wake of the Creigh Deeds family tragedy, it seems instructive to look ahead to how Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe plans to deal with Virginia's mental health system.

26 Nov 2013

Viewpoints: Senate should reconsider treaty on protections for people with disabilities; HHS treading wrong way on payments for bone marrow donors

About a year ago the Senate fell five votes short of ratifying an international treaty that would improve protections for the disabled. It was an ignoble spectacle as the opponents rebuffed Bob Dole, a former colleague and disabled veteran, who came to the Senate floor to lobby for it.

26 Nov 2013

Health law commentaries: 'A reader's guide' to possible 'traumas to come;' California shows the way to success

Commentators look at the rollout of the health law and the implications for the nation and individual states.

26 Nov 2013

New small business sees health law help in clearing major expense hurdle

Some new small businesses see the health law's insurance marketplaces as a way past one of the major expenses in starting a business -- providing health care for their employees.

26 Nov 2013