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Viewpoints: Hoping that 'Gang of Six' will cut fiscal deal; Sen. Alexander links health law and college tuition increases

The public has a famously low opinion of Congress, even though people tend to hold a less disparaging view of their own representatives. The last two years have been especially tough on the institution's reputation, a response to the body's relentless brinkmanship and paralyzing partisanship in the face of a slow economy. So it is with some trepidation that I throw out a little love for a handful of senators still seeking bipartisan agreement on a plan to bring the federal government back to fiscal responsibility.

11 Jun 2012

Rheumatoid arthritis infection risk predicted by RABBIT

The RABBIT risk score can predict the likelihood of serious infection in rheumatoid arthritis patients using tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, research confirms.

11 Jun 2012

Accumulated CT radiation dose triples pediatric cancer risk

The use of computed tomography scans should be minimized in children, recommend researchers who have found a significantly increased risk for malignancy with repeated imaging.

11 Jun 2012

Investigational drug slows metastatic breast cancer progression

Trastuzumab emtansine significantly delays disease progression compared with standard therapy in women with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive metastatic breast cancer, show study data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

11 Jun 2012

Bedside cardiac ultrasound could be taught during residency

Incorporating cardiovascular limited ultrasound exam training for bedside use into the internal medicine residency curriculum is feasible, report US researchers.

11 Jun 2012

Antibacterial cloths could reduce geriatric MRSA

Using disposable antibacterial cloths to bathe elderly patients reduces the transmission rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, show Canadian study results.

11 Jun 2012

ColoPrint aids prediction of colorectal cancer relapse

A novel microarray-based 18-gene expression tool known as ColoPrint significantly improves prognostic accuracy in stage II colon cancer patients who have undergone surgery, suggest study findings.

11 Jun 2012

Urban children more likely to have food allergies

Children living in urban centers have a significantly higher prevalence of food allergies than those living in rural areas, US study data show.

11 Jun 2012

Diabetes linked to increased blood cancer risk

Patients with Type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk for developing lymphoma, suggest findings from a US study.

11 Jun 2012

Ethnic minority women ill-informed about heart disease

Black and Hispanic women are less likely than White women to be aware of heart disease risk and the symptoms of a heart attack, researchers say.

11 Jun 2012

Lack of sleep a hypertension warning sign

Individuals who sleep for 5 hours or less each night are at increased risk for developing hypertension, suggest study findings.

11 Jun 2012

$Extreme elderly account for two-thirds of osteoporotic hip fractures$

Extreme elderly account for two-thirds of osteoporotic hip fractures

Study findings presented at the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, held in Berlin, Germany, show that nearly two-thirds of American osteoporotic hip fractures occur among individuals aged 80 years or older.

11 Jun 2012

Familial predisposition ‘modestly’ affects alcoholic liver disease risk

Environmental factors appear to be the main influence on the risk for alcoholic liver disease, say researchers who found little evidence for familial predisposition to the condition.

11 Jun 2012

Polymorphism ’protective in pneumococcal disease’

Patients with invasive pneumococcal disease who have the FcyRIIa-R/R131 polymorphism may have better survival outcomes than those without the genotype, suggest study findings.

11 Jun 2012

FDA clears MEVION S250 Proton Therapy System

Mevion Medical Systems, Inc., a radiation therapy company dedicated to advancing the treatment of cancer, announced today that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its MEVION S250 Proton Therapy System.

11 Jun 2012

VOA reports on global polio vaccination challenges

"International health experts say the global campaign to eradicate polio has reached a critical stage, with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria the only countries where the crippling and potentially deadly virus is still prevalent," VOA News reports.

11 Jun 2012

Prime Health Services announces acquisition of Casualty Management Network

Prime Health Services (Prime), one of the nation's largest workers' compensation, group health, corrections, and auto liability PPO networks is pleased to announce it has acquired Casualty Management Network (CMN).

11 Jun 2012

Subtype of CD4-positive immune cells in the gut may influence HIV infection outcome

The findings of a new study in monkeys may help clarify why some people infected with HIV are better able to control the virus. They also may pinpoint a target for treatment during early HIV infection aimed at increasing the supply of certain immune cells in the gut, which the study shows could be an important factor in limiting HIV growth in cells throughout the body.

11 Jun 2012

Mutation responsible for rare, hereditary motor neuron disease disrupts vital links

Studying how nerve cells send and receive messages, Johns Hopkins scientists have discovered new ways that genetic mutations can disrupt functions in neurons and lead to neurodegenerative disease, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

11 Jun 2012

New easy-to-use Bayer blood glucose monitoring system

A new blood glucose monitoring (BGM) system from Bayer, the CONTOUR Next EZ meter and CONTOUR Next test strips, proved easy to use and highly accurate in the hands of intended users -- patients and their healthcare professionals (HCPs) - according to a clinical study presented at the American Diabetes Association 72nd Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia, PA.

11 Jun 2012