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Bile secretions in small intestine send signals to disease-causing gut bacteria

Bile secretions in the small intestine send signals to disease-causing gut bacteria allowing them to change their behavior to maximize their chances of surviving, Montana State University research associate Steve Hamner told the Society for General Microbiology during its spring meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland.

1 Apr 2010

CIA, Justice, other Federal depts. won't get health IT data, Blumenthal says

There's no need to fear that patients' health information will end up in the hands of CIA officers, FBI agents or other federal agencies that deal in security and law enforcement, David Blumenthal, the national coordinator for health information technology, said last week, according to Modern Healthcare. He "denied allegations that a framework for selecting data transmission standards for the proposed national health information network would configure the system to afford federal control over patient data and funnel that information to federal agencies, including the CIA, Justice Department and National Security Agency."

1 Apr 2010

Levator ani syndrome: Biofeedback more effective than EGS or digital massage

A new study conducted by Italian researchers, in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, finds that biofeedback is more effective than two other treatments for a type of chronic rectal pain called levator ani syndrome.

1 Apr 2010

New index developed to determine risk of death in patients with end-stage kidney disease

A new clinical prediction index has been developed to determine the risk of death in patients with end-stage kidney disease considering transplantation, states a Research article in CMAJ.

1 Apr 2010

Hill-Rom announces organizational changes to improve cost structure

Hill-Rom announced today organizational changes consistent with its on-going efforts to improve its cost structure. The changes include the elimination of approximately 160 positions throughout the company.

1 Apr 2010

Early use of CT and MRI scans may reduce duration of hospital stay and hospitalization costs

Advanced imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might shorten the length of a person's hospital stay and decrease the high costs associated with hospitalization if used early, according to a study in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (www.jacr.org).

1 Apr 2010

Worker health checks reveal 50% men at risk of developing diabetes

Over the last one year 100,000 State Government financed worker health check ups have been conducted. The results have been an eye-opener. 800 workers after their check ups have been asked to consult their physicians immediately. These check ups included measurements of blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood sugar and waist circumference. The workers were also questioned regarding their eating, drinking and exercising habits.

1 Apr 2010

International medical graduates earn medical residency placement

More than 80 international medical graduates (IMGs) who have just earned a coveted medical residency placement came together this evening to celebrate their achievement with The Hon. Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

1 Apr 2010

Dutasteride reduces risk of prostate cancer

There is good news for those at high risk for prostate cancer. The drug dutasteride which is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline as the drug Avodart, has been found to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by a quarter. The drug is at present being used to treat enlarged prostates.

1 Apr 2010

Hormone ghrelin may improve appetite in gastric cancer patients

In gastric cancer patients who have had part or all of their stomach removed, the hormone ghrelin may lessen post-operative weight loss and improve appetite, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association Institute.

1 Apr 2010

Likely CMS pick Berwick has advised governments around the world

The Boston Globe explores the background of President Barack Obama's likely pick for head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "Governments around the world have long sought Donald Berwick's expertise to help solve stubborn health care problems — from hospital-acquired infections to medication errors."

1 Apr 2010

People in 60s and 70s more likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer

People in their 60s and 70s are now over five times more likely to be diagnosed with malignant melanoma - the deadliest type of skin cancer - than their parents would have been 30 years ago, reveal new Cancer Research UK statistics1 to launch the 2010 SunSmart campaign today (Thursday).

1 Apr 2010

MDA awards 42 medical researchers and labs over $21M for critical neuromuscular research

Forty-two medical researchers and their labs have been awarded over $21 million by the Muscular Dystrophy Association to continue critical neuromuscular research. Many of the grants are multi-year awards to be dispersed over the next three years.

1 Apr 2010

Structured and supervised exercise can prevent postnatal depression, says study

Postnatal depression (PND) or baby blues are a recognized entity with millions of mothers suffering from it in varying degrees. It affects 13% of the new mothers usually within the first 3 months after the birth of the baby.

1 Apr 2010

Rochester Endoscopy and Surgery Center selects Wolters Kluwer Health's ProVation EHR

Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that Rochester Endoscopy and Surgery Center has selected its ProVation® EHR electronic health record and patient charting solution.

1 Apr 2010

Small businesses prepare for health reform changes

As business owners across the country consider the newly enacted health overhaul, "they're looking to Massachusetts for harbingers of things to come. Massachusetts' law, which mandates near-universal coverage and requires that businesses with 11 or more workers offer insurance, provided the blueprint for the health law signed by President Barack Obama.

1 Apr 2010

Cardiac CT can help identify and predict at risk heart attack patients

One of the largest research studies into cardiac computed tomography (CT), conducted at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI), shows that the high-speed advanced imaging technology can identify and predict patients at risk for heart attack and death.

1 Apr 2010

Synch-Solutions signs agreement to deliver IT systems to healthcare organizations

Synch-Solutions announced today that it has signed an agreement with MedAssets Supply Chain Systems, one of the largest group purchasing organizations serving more than 1,700 hospitals and 40,000 non-acute care providers across the U.S.

1 Apr 2010

Health dept. IG says six Medicare Advantage insurers broke rules

Health New Florida: "A multinational company and two members of the Fortune 500 were named among six insurers found in violation of Medicare marketing rules when federal inspectors checked their books and sat in on presentations as 'secret shoppers,' documents show." The three big firms were Aetna, Universal American Corp and Munich American Holding Corp.'s Sterling Insurance.

1 Apr 2010

Leg length inequality linked to osteoarthritis: Study

A new study shows that arthritis in the knee is linked to the common trait of having one leg that is longer than the other. Whether or not leg length differential is a direct cause of osteoarthritis is not clear, but the findings may allow people to take preventive measures before the onset of the chronic and painful condition.

1 Apr 2010