Medical News

RSS

Political cartoon: 'The Bomb'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh perspective on health policy developments with "The Bomb" by John Hambrock.

6 Jul 2011

Increase in lung cancer resection rate linked to increased investment in thoracic surgical expertise

Increased investment in specialist thoracic surgical expertise can lead to a significant rise in the lung cancer resection rate, based on data from England between 2008 and 2009 that was presented at the 14th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Amsterdam, hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC).

6 Jul 2011

Managed care enters the exam room as insurers buy doctor groups

Kaiser Health News staff writer Christopher Weaver, working in collaboration with The Washington Post, reports: "Even if UnitedHealth Group isn't your insurance company, there's a good chance it touches you in some way.

6 Jul 2011

Frozen embryo transfer may not adversely affect neonatal outcome

In the first study, French scientists looked at neonatal outcome in terms of mode of delivery, gestational age, preterm birth rate (less than 37 weeks of gestation), mean child measurements, low birth weight (less than 2,500g) and perinatal mortality. When comparing the cryo singletons to the fresh cohort, the scientists showed that mean birth weight, mean height and head circumference were lower in the fresh population.

6 Jul 2011

Specialist RM clinic helps women achieve subsequent live birth

The researchers studied the records of 987 women with a minimum of three consecutive miscarriages, who had been referred to a specialist RM clinic between 1986 and 2008.

6 Jul 2011

Long-range forecasting model makes health predictions for 2060

According to research published Friday in the July 2011 issue of the WHO Bulletin, a new long-range forecasting model suggests global deaths from infectious diseases will decrease by 70 percent by 2060, despite significant growth in population worldwide, CTV.ca reports.

6 Jul 2011

New technologies could bring innovative sensors, devices for 'lab-on-a-chip' applications

Researchers are developing new technologies that combine a laser and electric fields to manipulate fluids and tiny particles such as bacteria, viruses and DNA for a range of potential applications, from drug manufacturing to food safety.

6 Jul 2011

Smoking, social class may lead to POF in women

POF is not only associated with infertility but also with significantly increased morbidity and mortality, as well as a decreased quality of life equivalent to that of people with type 2 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, said Dr. Rumana Islam, from Imperial College, London, UK.

6 Jul 2011

U.S. Senate candidates gain votes by making green statement on climate change

Candidates gain votes by taking a "green" position on climate change -- endorsing the existence of warming, human causation, and the need for taking action to address it, according to a new study of U.S. adults.

6 Jul 2011

New CRM simulation model for Canadian Partnership Against Cancer

If Canada's smoking rates were cut by half to an average national rate of 11% within five years, it would result in 35,900 fewer cases of lung cancer by 2030 and save $656 million in treatment costs, according to analysis using a new web-enabled platform developed for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and presented at the 14th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Amsterdam, hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

6 Jul 2011

Majority of tonsil surgery in children performed during summer vacation

Scheduling tonsils to be removed figures into many parents' itineraries for their childrens' summer vacation, right up there with summer camp stays and family reunions. An estimated 500,000 children have the procedure each year.

6 Jul 2011

High-dose aspirin could help prevent cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients

In some cases, an apple a day may keep the doctor away, but for people with diabetes, regular, over-the-counter Aspirin may also do the job.

6 Jul 2011

New modified adult device effective, inexpensive for children with pneumonia

Pneumonia is the leading cause of infant deaths worldwide, but pediatric researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have developed an effective, inexpensive way to help breathe life into children in developing countries.

6 Jul 2011

Study finds link between biological stress and voting

"Emotions can affect biological processes, which in turn can influence our decision-making processes," explains Dr. Israel Waismel-Manor of the University of Haifa's School of Political Science

6 Jul 2011

New report suggests only small risk of mobile phones causing cancer

"A committee of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection has concluded after a comprehensive review that there is little cause for concern about the suggested link between mobile phone use and brain tumours," BMJ reports.

6 Jul 2011

Air traffic pollution impacts growth and development of unborn children

A UK academic is calling for a nationwide study into the effects traffic pollution has on asthma sufferers after his own research in Cairo highlighted health problems in children who may even be affected while still in the womb.

6 Jul 2011

Zinc oxide nanowire waveguide lasers could kill viruses, increase DVD storage capacity

A team led by a professor at the University of California, Riverside Bourns College of Engineering has made a discovery in semiconductor nanowire laser technology that could potentially do everything from kill viruses to increase storage capacity of DVDs.

6 Jul 2011

EIM collects data on frozen oocyte retrieval cycles for the first time

Other important data the European IVF Monitoring group (EIM) on 2008 cycles and the International Committee Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART) on 2007 cycles highlighted were Sweden's low rate of multiple births - the lowest in the world - and Spain's 30 % share of egg donations in Europe.

6 Jul 2011

Critical access hospitals provide lower quality of care

In an analysis of data from more than 4,500 hospitals that serve Medicare beneficiaries, critical access hospitals had fewer clinical capabilities, worse measured processes of care and higher rates of death for patients with heart attack, congestive heart failure or pneumonia, compared to non-CAHs, according to a study in the July 6 issue of JAMA.

6 Jul 2011

Nanoscientist to develop new microsystem for more efficient drug-testing

A University of Southampton nanoscientist is working on a new microsystem for more efficient testing of pharmaceutical drugs to treat diseases such as cystic fibrosis, MG (myasthenia gravis) and epilepsy.

6 Jul 2011