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First study to demonstrate long-term and sustained cardiac benefit for patients after gastric bypass

Total cholesterol, triglycerides and C-reactive protein levels are among 11 risk factors for heart attack that remained greatly reduced up to seven years after gastric bypass surgery, according to a new Stanford University study presented here at the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.

21 Jun 2012

Examining the threat of multi-drug resistant TB in India

The Wall Street Journal reports on a rise of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) in India, writing, "India's slow response to years of medical warnings now threatens to turn the country into an incubator for a mutant strain of tuberculosis that is proving resistant to all known treatments, raising alarms of a new global health hazard."

21 Jun 2012

Largest study to examine impact of gastric sleeve surgery on pre-transplant obese patients

Morbidly obese patients with end-stage organ failure may improve their chances for successful organ transplantation after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, according to a new study presented here at the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

21 Jun 2012

Healthy timing, spacing of pregnancy essential in family planning

"USAID promotes Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy as a vital family planning intervention that helps ensure that pregnancies occur at the healthiest times in a woman's life," Maureen Norton, healthy timing and spacing technical adviser for USAID, writes in USAID's "IMPACTblog."

21 Jun 2012

AHS scientific conference to focus on impact of traumatic brain injuries

The impact of traumatic injuries to the brain - whether sustained in combat or on the playing fields of America's schools - is a major topic for international migraine specialists the week of June 18 as they gather in Los Angeles for the 54th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Headache Society. This is among many timely issues concerning headache, migraine, and brain injuries on the four-day agenda here which runs through Sunday morning, June 24.

21 Jun 2012

Medicaid: Minn. program prepares for influx of boomers; Other news

Changes to Medicaid programs make news in Minnesota, where officials are preparing for an influx of baby boomers into the system. In Kansas, Medicaid changes there are attracting public comment, and in Oregon a group asks for more time to institute a collaborative care program.

21 Jun 2012

Some patients with Parkinson's experience sleep benefit

Some Parkinson's patients report that their motor function is better upon awakening in the morning, which is contrary to what would be expected after a night without medication. This phenomenon, known as sleep benefit, has been studied but no consistent variables have been found and in the last decade there has been little new research.

21 Jun 2012

VOA News, PlusNews examine tuberculosis in South Africa

Several articles published on Tuesday examine tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa. "According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the country has the highest rate of new TB cases annually," VOA News writes, adding, "Thousands of people in South Africa continue to be infected by a disease that's been virtually eradicated in the developed world."

21 Jun 2012

GBM patients with CNP subtype may have less aggressive subtype of cancer

A diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is generally a death sentence, but new research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison lab of Dr. John Kuo shows that at least one subtype is associated with a longer life expectancy. This discovery could help with better patient prognoses and lead to targeted drug treatments for GBM subtypes.

21 Jun 2012

Mass. calls for bids to manage 111,000-person 'dual eligibles' program

Massachusetts is seeking a new manager to run the commonwealth's health care program for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

21 Jun 2012

African-Americans and males lose significant weight after gastric bypass surgery

African-Americans and males lost significant weight after gastric bypass surgery, but not as much as their white and female counterparts, according to a new study presented here at the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

21 Jun 2012

HHS reports 3.1 million young adults gained coverage under health law

The law's provision requiring that insurers allow many adults under the age of 26 to stay on their parents' plans is popular.

21 Jun 2012

Long QT Syndrome may cause unexplained ExD deaths

The headlines are often filled with this scenario: a person displaying violent, bizarre and agitated behavior is subdued by law enforcement personnel and later dies in custody. It appears to be a case of police brutality - but is it? According to William P. Bozeman, M.D., an emergency medicine physician at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, some of these deaths may be caused by an abnormal cardiac condition called Long QT Syndrome, compounded by a situation of Excited Delirium (ExD) Syndrome.

21 Jun 2012

Saving Mothers, Giving Life initiative aims to reduce maternal mortality

In this post in PSI's "Healthy Lives" blog, Deputy Editor Tom Murphy discusses the Saving Mothers, Giving Life initiative, which "supports the aggressive reduction of maternal mortality in countries with the highest mortality rates."

21 Jun 2012

UNICEF, ICA Fellow partnership can help develop quality communication for children

Dafna Lemish, a Fellow of the International Communication Association, has partnered with UNICEF to help launch and develop a free resource package available for worldwide use for the creation of quality media for children.

21 Jun 2012

Minn. AG seeks to expand complaint against hospital collection company

In court papers, Minn. Attorney General Lori Swanson alleges a dozen new instances in which patients were "hustled with bedside collection visits" and led to believe "they had to pay before receiving care."

21 Jun 2012

Bariatric surgery can remit or prevent diabetic nephropathy in obese patients

In many obese diabetic patients, one of the most dreaded complications of Type 2 diabetes can be put into remission or prevented entirely with bariatric surgery, according to a new study from the Cleveland Clinic presented here at the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.

21 Jun 2012

What's at stake in the much-anticipated high court health law decision?

News outlets report on how the ruling will impact seniors, women and states, among other stakeholders. Reports also examine what might happen if the individual mandate is overturned but other elements of the law are left intact.

21 Jun 2012

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy safer than bariatric and metabolic surgery

Studies from Stanford University, Cleveland Clinic Florida and the Naval Medical Center in San Diego show laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, an increasingly popular surgical procedure where the stomach is reduced by 85 percent, is as safe as or safer than laparoscopic gastric bypass or gastric banding. The studies* were presented here at the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

21 Jun 2012

Viewpoints: Health law can be intensely personal; Insurers' promises miss the mark

Whenever I read or hear objections to "Obamacare," I think about my friend's son. The son had cancer when he was a teenager. Thankfully, his dad had health insurance -- through his job. A job that he lost. He has a new job now, but like so many new jobs, it doesn't pay as much -- and it doesn't come with benefits. Fortunately, his son seems to have beaten the cancer. And the family now has health insurance from the mom's job. So the son, thanks to "Obamacare," can be insured through his parents.

21 Jun 2012