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LUGPA discredits recommendations by USPSTF to stop prostate cancer testing

The Large Urology Group Practice Association (LUGPA), representing more than 1,800 urologists, today discredited recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to stop prostate cancer testing.

22 May 2012

USPSTF issues final recommendation statement against PSA testing

The Prostate Cancer Roundtable expressed deep disappointment today as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued its final recommendation statement against the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in the detection of prostate cancer.

22 May 2012

Socioeconomic factors associated with skin cancer screening

When it comes to getting screened for skin cancer, only one in 14 U.S. Hispanic adults is shown to have ever gone through the process, compared to one in four non-Hispanic white adults. Research from The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) shows socioeconomic factors such as lack of health insurance and poorer access to healthcare serve as barriers for Hispanics who might otherwise receive this potentially lifesaving check-up.

22 May 2012

Heart disease risk assessment tools often underestimate CVD danger faced by RA patients

Heart disease risk assessment tools commonly used by physicians often underestimate the cardiovascular disease danger faced by rheumatoid arthritis patients, a Mayo Clinic study has found. Inflammation plays a key role in putting those with rheumatoid arthritis in greater jeopardy for heart disease, yet many cardiovascular disease risk assessment methods do not factor it in, the researchers note.

22 May 2012

'Discharge bias' disproportionally hurts large and academic hospitals

In-hospital mortality for ICU patients is often used as a quality measure, but discharge practices may bias results in a way that disadvantages large academic hospitals, according to a recently conducted study.

22 May 2012

FSU announces availability of Pacifier Activated Lullaby device

Many premature babies enter the world with a mountain of challenges in front of them. Even after they overcome any life-threatening issues, they face ongoing, and typically unpleasant, medical procedures, long hospital stays and increased chances of chronic health issues throughout their lives.

22 May 2012

UAB creates Program in Environmental and Translational Medicine

The University of Alabama at Birmingham has created a Program in Environmental and Translational Medicine, a multi-faceted approach to dealing with health issues tied to environmental origins.

22 May 2012

Behavior support intervention can help reduce blood pressure in African-Americans

Behavioral support from peers and primary care office staff can help patients improve their blood pressure control by as much as starting a new drug, a new study found. Barbara J. Turner, M.D., M.S.Ed., M.A., M.A.C.P., of UT Medicine San Antonio, is the senior author.

22 May 2012

More than 16,000 patients visit NYU Langone's new CMC

If the first month at NYU Langone's new Center for Musculoskeletal Care (CMC) is any indication of the growing need for integrated care, the more than 16,000 patients coming to the facility on 38th Street in Manhattan since it opened in April is a true testament.

22 May 2012

Kaiser Family Foundation releases new poll examining Americans' views of U.S. support of global health

"Two-thirds of Americans say that the U.S. is spending too little or about the right amount on global health with one in five saying spending is too high, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation [KFF] survey on the public's views of global health issues" released Monday, a KFF news release reports.

22 May 2012

Nighttime intensivists not associated with reduced mortality

Nighttime intensivist physician staffing in intensive care units (ICUs) with a low-intensity daytime staffing model is associated with reduced mortality, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in San Francisco.

21 May 2012

Medicare expenditures, quality rating system grab headlines

Kaiser Health News looks at criticisms of the government's program for rewarding higher-quality Medicare Advantage plans, while Modern Healthcare reports on a memo from the Medicare actuary that projects expenditures in the federal healthcare program.

21 May 2012

Some states taking federal funds are still hesitant about building health exchanges

Health and Human Services officials dispatched $181 million in grants to six states this week to help establish health insurance exchanges. But some state officials who are about to receive checks aren't rushing to create the new marketplaces.

21 May 2012

Two health care nonprofit co-ops receive health law loans

These two co-ops, located in Nevada and Michigan, received a total of $135 million in loans from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

21 May 2012

Effective strategies urgently needed to stop progression of childhood obesity epidemic

Currently more than 10% of preschoolers in the U.S. are obese and effective strategies that target pregnancy, infancy, and toddlers are urgently needed to stop the progression of the childhood obesity epidemic, as proposed in an article in Childhood Obesity, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

21 May 2012

Arctic accumulation of mercury comes from rivers

Environmental scientists at Harvard have discovered that the Arctic accumulation of mercury, a toxic element, is caused by both atmospheric forces and the flow of circumpolar rivers that carry the element north into the Arctic Ocean.

21 May 2012

Obesity and diabetes seem like freight trains running out of control

A leading nutritional expert has called for more to be done by influential figures within the UK health and fitness industry after branding worrying obesity and diabetes levels as "freight trains running out of control".

21 May 2012

Government Information Strategy contains improvements for patients, though care will be needed to ensure records remain secure, says BMA

The launch of the government’s Information Strategy for health and social care contains positive improvements which should benefit patients, but it would need to be carefully implemented so it didn’t jeopardise patient confidentiality, the BMA said today (Monday 21 May 2012).

21 May 2012

New supplements safety guide for athletes

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) recently released a new supplements safety guide for athletes as part of their "Supplement 411" initiative.

21 May 2012

DATATRAK wins 2012 Crain's Leading EDGE award

DATATRAK International, Inc., a technology and services company focused on global eClinical solutions for the clinical trials industry, today announced the Company's selection as a 2012 Crain's Leading EDGE award winner; this is DATATRAK's third consecutive year to be honored.

21 May 2012