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Genetic sonogram improves accuracy of noninvasive prenatal screening and detection of Down syndrome

The addition of a "genetic sonogram" maximizes the accuracy of non-invasive testing for Down syndrome, said a Baylor College of Medicine researcher who was lead author of a landmark study in the current issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

21 Nov 2009

Plastic surgeons cry foul over Senate health bill's cosmetic surgery tax

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz writes about the so-called "botax."

20 Nov 2009

FISH technology accurate in measuring the HER-2 receptor in human breast tumors

The debate on how to select patients who will respond best to costly drug treatments for aggressive breast cancer now favors fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to measure the HER-2 receptor found in human breast tumors, according to a leading pathologist presenting at the Association for Molecular Pathology annual meeting.

20 Nov 2009

Guidelines on cancer screenings spark debate

New guidelines on mammograms and pap smears set off a fierce debate.

20 Nov 2009

White House and Bishops at odds over abortion

"The White House is on a collision course with Catholic bishops in an intractable dispute over abortion that could blow up the fragile political coalition behind President Barack Obama's health care overhaul," the Associated Press reports.

20 Nov 2009

'Botax' on cosmetic surgery questioned

The Associated Press: "The White House and Senate Democrats have turned to a proposal to tax breast implants, tummy tucks, wrinkle-smoothing injections and other procedures as they search for ways to pay for costly health care overhaul plans." The Senate health bill, which was unveiled Wednesday by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada "would slap a 5 percent excise tax on elective cosmetic surgeries and procedures to help pay for expanding coverage to the uninsured."

20 Nov 2009

Health policy research roundup

Urban Institute: Progress Enrolling Children in Medicaid/CHIP: Who Is Left And What Are The Prospects For Covering More Children? - This policy brief examines the characteristics of the estimated 5 million uninsured children who are eligible for CHIP/Medicaid in 2007 (64 percent of all uninsured children; 88 percent of all low-income uninsured children), but not enrolled.

20 Nov 2009

EMEA's CHMP recommends approval of Merck's ELONVA

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended approval of ELONVA® (corifollitropin alfa injection) as a treatment in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in combination with a GnRH antagonist for the development of multiple follicles in women participating in an assisted reproductive technology (ART) program.

20 Nov 2009

HHS Secretary commended for her statement on government medical panel

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is to be commended for publicly stating the government panel opposing mammograms is "an outside independent panel of doctors and scientists who ... do not set federal policy and ... don't determine what services are covered by the federal government."

20 Nov 2009

NMA: New USPSTF recommendations on breast cancer screenings could result in higher death rates

This week the nation received the 2009 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on breast cancer screenings. The National Medical Association (NMA) believes African American women, in consultation with their physician, should continue the practice of routine mammography screening at age 40 or earlier depending upon the risk factors.

20 Nov 2009

Harry Reid unveils health care bill, which includes pro-abortion language

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid last night unveiled a health care bill which includes pro-abortion language. The bill's language mirrors the Capps Amendment from the House debate -- it allows the public option to include abortion coverage and provides federal subsidies for private plans which cover abortion.

20 Nov 2009

New Senate version of health care reform with government funding for elective abortion introduced

Last night, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and the Senate Democrats introduced a new Senate version of health care reform that includes government funding for elective abortion. The "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" authorizes the Secretary to include elective abortion in the public option and subsidize health plans in the government run exchange that cover elective abortion.

20 Nov 2009

Obese patients no more likely to have post-operative complications after robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy

Obese patients are no more likely to have post-operative complications than those of average weight when undergoing robotic surgery to remove uterine fibroids, according to a study at Henry Ford Hospital.

20 Nov 2009

78% of physicians do not agree with government recommendations for mammography: HCD study

Results from a new media study among 600 physicians revealed that the majority (78%) reported that they do not agree with the new guidelines released by the Preventive Services Task Force of the Department of Health and Human Services recommending against regular mammography tests for women under 50 years old.

20 Nov 2009

Finding disproves clinical guidelines about dieting while quitting smoking

Many women don't quit smoking because they are afraid of gaining weight. That's because nicotine suppresses the appetite and boosts a smoker's metabolism.

20 Nov 2009

ACS' mammography screening guidelines receives support from ACoS

The American College of Surgeons (ACoS) today released comments strongly supporting current American Cancer Society (ACS) screening mammography guidelines that recommend women get a mammogram every year, starting at age 40.

20 Nov 2009

Individualized decision between woman and her provider is the best choice for mammograms

The controversy around mammography emphasizes that the best decision on screening is made by a woman and her health care provider. Balancing a woman's individual medical history, risks, and concern level about breast cancer is a decision at the individual level using guidelines as a guide and not as something fixed in concrete," said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation's leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

20 Nov 2009

Many pregnant Ugandan women avoid HIV screening

'Prevention is the best cure' is a common expression, but what happens if preventative measures are not used? A large proportion of pregnant Ugandan women are going out of their way not to be HIV tested, increasing the risk of mother-to-child transmission.

19 Nov 2009

Experts available to discuss health effects of abuse and domestic violence

Did you know that in 2007-08, there were 62,000 Canadian women living in shelters to escape domestic violence and abusive situations, according to Statistics Canada? While violence appears in different forms and locations, the results are always the same: physical and psychological damage to the victims. How can we break the vicious circle of violence and improve the lives and health of our populations?

19 Nov 2009

Senate health bill's abortion language triggers mixed reactions

The Hill reports that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "prefers abortion language in the Senate healthcare legislation to the House approach." Pelosi said she was pleased with the Senate bill's treatment of abortion, saying "'I think it's pretty clear no federal funds would be used to pay for abortion.'" Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid left out Rep. Bart Stupak's abortion amendment from his merged Senate health care reform bill, opting instead to "maintain current law where that is applicable and extend it to new programs created by the legislation."

19 Nov 2009