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Synthetic marijuana linked to 11,406 of 4.9M drug-related ED visits in 2010

Street forms of synthetic cannabinoids - so-called "synthetic marijuana" - were linked to 11,406 of the 4.9 million drug-related emergency department (ED) visits in 2010, according to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

6 Dec 2012

Prescribing opioids lead to admissions for substance abuse treatment and deaths

A Viewpoint article published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that the clinical practice of prescribing amphetamines, opioids, and benzodiazepines to treat chronic pain may be contributing to the increase in fatal drug overdoses and the likelihood that those drugs will be diverted to the illegal market.

6 Dec 2012

Examining concept of resilience after disaster, emergency in low-income countries

Writing in USAID's "IMPACTblog," David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, reflects on the concept of resilience, which he defines as one's "ability to cope and their systems for preparing, responding and rebuilding" after a natural disaster or emergency.

6 Dec 2012

Two simple cost-effective methods can reduce expensive postoperative complications

As the nation grapples with surging health care costs, researchers at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, and Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, have confirmed two simple cost-effective methods to reduce expensive postoperative complications-communications team training and a surgical checklist.

6 Dec 2012

Devex examines reaction of international development community to U.S. AIDS blueprint

Devex's "Pennsylvania Ave." blog reports on reaction from the international development community to the release last week of the "President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Blueprint: Creating an AIDS-free Generation".

6 Dec 2012

TAU scientists win top prize in American Society of Human Genetics art competition

The fine arts and the exact sciences may appear an unlikely pair, but creativity is a crucial element in both. Prof. Karen Avraham and PhD candidate Shaked Shivatzki of Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine embraced this truth when creating Hearing and Deafness: Structure and Sequence, their winning submission to the recent American Society of Human Genetics art competition.

6 Dec 2012

Viewpoints: Sen. Whitehouse argues deficit fix shouldn't be about Medicare; Is a plunge over the cliff so bad?

As President Barack Obama and congressional leaders continue discussions to avert the so-called fiscal cliff - the mix of tax increases and spending cuts set to take effect automatically in January - we hear a troubling but familiar refrain in Washington: To fix our deficit, we must cut Medicare benefits.

6 Dec 2012

First U.S. patient treated with deep brain stimulation for Alzheimer's at Johns Hopkins

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine in November surgically implanted a pacemaker-like device into the brain of a patient in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, the first such operation in the United States. The device, which provides deep brain stimulation and has been used in thousands of people with Parkinson's disease, is seen as a possible means of boosting memory and reversing cognitive decline.

6 Dec 2012

Health Improvement Institute announces winners of 2012 Aesculapius Award

Aesculapius Awards of Excellence for 2012 were announced today by Dr. Peter G. Goldschmidt, President and Founder of the Health Improvement Institute.

6 Dec 2012

Roundup: Florida health law battles take new turn; Oklahoma court rejects anti-abortion law; Calif. kids Medi-Cal dispute continues

Even in Florida, where Republican leaders led the legal battle against Obamacare, there's recognition now that the state has to act fast to comply with the new law. ... After Nov. 6, Gov. Rick Scott had a change in tone. "Gov. Mitt Romney did not win the election. So, it's not an option to repeal Obamacare," he said. "So, my goal now is to focus on what's good for our citizens." But Republicans are having trouble convincing Tea Party activists that the fight is over.

6 Dec 2012

University of Chicago professor wins Manpei Suzuki International Prize for diabetes work

Graeme Ian Bell, PhD, the Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics and an investigator in the Kovler Diabetes Center at the University of Chicago, has been awarded the Manpei Suzuki International Prize for 2012 for his pioneering work in understanding the role of genetics in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.

5 Dec 2012

Smoking cessation support: an interview with Robyn Whittaker

Tobacco smoking involves a physiological addiction to nicotine for a lot of people. Quitting can cause some nasty symptoms due to the withdrawal of nicotine.

5 Dec 2012

Parental involvement prevents or limits alcohol and marijuana use by children

New research from North Carolina State University, Brigham Young University and the Pennsylvania State University finds that parental involvement is more important than the school environment when it comes to preventing or limiting alcohol and marijuana use by children.

5 Dec 2012

University of Kentucky creates new working model for EHR reporting of cancer cases

The University of Kentucky has created the nation's first working model for electronic health record (EHR) reporting of cancer cases to the state's cancer registry.

5 Dec 2012

BBC News examines HIV/AIDS in Iran

BBC News examines HIV/AIDS in Iran, writing, "In the 2000s, Iran became known as the region's leader in the fight against AIDS. Each year, the government allocates millions of dollars to prevent and manage the disease, and government-sponsored clinics across the country help battle it."

5 Dec 2012

Inserm prizes for medical research to be awarded on Dec. 3

The 2012 Inserm prizes for medical research will be awarded at a ceremony at the Coll-ge de France on Monday 3 December 2012. This year, the grand prize will be awarded to Philippe Sansonetti in the presence of Marisol Touraine, France's Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Genevi-ve Fioraso, France's Minister of Higher Education and Research, and Professor Andr- Syrota, Chairman and CEO of Inserm.

5 Dec 2012

Software to curb hospital readmissions?

Stung by a multimillion-dollar penalty for failing to meet new patient readmissions standards set by Medicare, UMass Memorial Health Care is using transaction analytics software to reduce frequent and costly readmissions for patients with heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia.

5 Dec 2012

National Radiation Oncology Registry program for quality assessment and improvement

The National Radiation Oncology Registry (NROR) pilot program will serve as the basis for the creation of a nationwide electronic registry to capture reliable, population-based information on radiation treatment delivery and health outcomes and will be supported by an innovative information technology (IT) infrastructure that will maximize efficiency through the automated collection and electronic transfer of data, according to research presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Quality Care Symposium.

5 Dec 2012

U.S. working with Namibia on AIDS response

U.S. Ambassador to Namibia Wanda Nesbitt writes in the State Department's "DipNote" blog, "Here in Namibia, the United States, through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), is working closely with the people and Government of Namibia to prevent new HIV infections, provide lifesaving HIV treatment to those who need it, and help put an end to AIDS in the country."

5 Dec 2012

UMHS named on Leapfrog Top Hospitals list

Patients who choose the University of Michigan Health System for their care have one more reason to be confident in their choice. Today, an independent national group once again named UMHS among the safest and highest-quality hospitals in the United States. Only 66 other hospitals earned the Top Hospitals designation from the Leapfrog Group, a national leader in evaluating hospital care based on a wide range of criteria.

5 Dec 2012

Healthcare News

Synthetic marijuana linked to 11,406 of 4.9M drug-related ED visits in 2010

Prescribing opioids lead to admissions for substance abuse treatment and deaths

Examining concept of resilience after disaster, emergency in low-income countries

Two simple cost-effective methods can reduce expensive postoperative complications

Devex examines reaction of international development community to U.S. AIDS blueprint

TAU scientists win top prize in American Society of Human Genetics art competition

Viewpoints: Sen. Whitehouse argues deficit fix shouldn't be about Medicare; Is a plunge over the cliff so bad?

First U.S. patient treated with deep brain stimulation for Alzheimer's at Johns Hopkins

Health Improvement Institute announces winners of 2012 Aesculapius Award

Roundup: Florida health law battles take new turn; Oklahoma court rejects anti-abortion law; Calif. kids Medi-Cal dispute continues

University of Chicago professor wins Manpei Suzuki International Prize for diabetes work

Smoking cessation support: an interview with Robyn Whittaker

Parental involvement prevents or limits alcohol and marijuana use by children

University of Kentucky creates new working model for EHR reporting of cancer cases

BBC News examines HIV/AIDS in Iran

Inserm prizes for medical research to be awarded on Dec. 3

Software to curb hospital readmissions?

National Radiation Oncology Registry program for quality assessment and improvement

U.S. working with Namibia on AIDS response

UMHS named on Leapfrog Top Hospitals list

Building quality into drug development for safer, faster medicines

How Pulp Fixin Is Turning Paper into High-Performance Sustainable Labware

A new method to measure intracellular water in biological systems

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