Medical News

RSS

Atlantic examines drug-resistant TB control worldwide

The Atlantic examines the emergence of drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis around the world, with a look at the situation in South Africa. "[T]he resurgence of tuberculosis is not limited to South Africa. India and China have the largest numbers of tuberculosis cases, and multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has been found in nearly every country, with XDR [extensively drug resistant]-TB in at least 57 countries," according to the article.

18 Jan 2010

Mass. Senate election could play role in health reform endgame

The Associated Press: "Like a roller-coaster ride on its last twisting turns, President Barack Obama's campaign to remake health care is barreling into final days of breathless suspense and headlong momentum." President Obama and other Democrats are focusing this weekend on "an unpredictable Senate race in Massachusetts, while senior White House and congressional staffers" hurry to complete work on the health bill's "cost and coverage options."

18 Jan 2010

Early diagnosis can cure endometrial cancer

Postmenopausal women who experience vaginal bleeding should see a doctor promptly. According to the January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter, vaginal bleeding is a symptom that occurs early in the course of endometrial cancer, when the chance of a complete cure is the greatest. Even one drop of blood is abnormal in postmenopausal women.

18 Jan 2010

Safety concerns of acetaminophen

The pain reliever acetaminophen is one of the safest and most effective drugs on the market. It's often recommended instead of aspirin as a day-to-day pain reliever because it's much easier on the stomach than other over-the-counter options and is considered safe when taken properly.

18 Jan 2010

OSA adversely affects glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) adversely affects glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago.

18 Jan 2010

Dr. Michel Kahaleh uses pCLE technique to diagnose and treat cancer

The world's smallest flexible microscope is diagnosing some big diseases and allowing physicians to treat patients on the spot. Dr. Michel Kahaleh, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Virginia Health System, is the only physician in Virginia currently using probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE).

18 Jan 2010

'Cadillac' tax deal in the works

"Unions tentatively struck a deal Tuesday to exempt collectively bargained healthcare plans from a tax on high-cost plans expected to be used to help raise revenue for the healthcare overhaul," CongressDaily reports.

18 Jan 2010

QualiSystems releases TestShell Resource Manager

QualiSystems today announced the release of TestShell Resource Manager, an advanced application for lab resource reservation, scheduling and management.

18 Jan 2010

Republicans decry Dems' deal with labor

Democrats' breakthrough deal with labor groups on the health overhaul yesterday is now attracting criticism as a handout to special interests, FOX News reports.

18 Jan 2010

Three proteins that lead to memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease identified

A scientific group led by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) have identified three kinases, or proteins, that dismantle connections within brain cells, which may lead to memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease.

18 Jan 2010

Sword Diagnostics launches Raman detection system for ultrasensitive immunoassays

Sword Diagnostics announced today the launch of its proprietary Raman detection system for ultrasensitive immunoassays. The system provides researchers with greater sensitivity which enables more accurate testing of low abundance markers.

18 Jan 2010

Sen. Feingold asks Democratic leaders to remove special deals from health bill

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) on Thursday called on Democratic leaders to strip special deals awarded to his colleagues from the final, negotiated health care reform package, although he stopped short of saying he would vote against the bill if his demands were not met.

18 Jan 2010

Findings could pave way for new therapeutic approaches for Friedreich's ataxia

Elevated levels of DNA damage have for the first time been found in the cellular mitochondria and nuclei of patients with the inherited, progressive nervous system disease called Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), says a multicenter research team led by an expert from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI).

18 Jan 2010

Researchers identify ways to predict patients with small-cell lung cancer

Researchers for TGen Clinical Research Services at Scottsdale Healthcare (TCRS) have identified a way to predict which patients with small-cell lung cancer may be resistant to first-line chemotherapy.

18 Jan 2010

CKD patients do not receive adequate end-of-life care

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) often do not receive adequate end-of-life care and are unhappy with the medical decisions made as their conditions worsen, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The findings indicate that end-of-life care should be improved to meet the needs of CKD patients.

18 Jan 2010

Scientists develop alternative method for producing active ingredient in Tamiflu

Scientists have developed an alternative method for producing the active ingredient in Tamiflu-, the mainstay for fighting H1N1 and other forms of influenza. The new process could expand availability of the drug by reducing its cost, which now retails for as about $8 per dose.

18 Jan 2010

AP examines Clinton's emphasis on women's empowerment, trip to PNG

As Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Rodham Clinton travels to Papua New Guinea Wednesday, the Associated Press examines how she will continue to press for "'women empowerment,' a signature issue of her nearly one-year tenure as top U.S. diplomat.'"

18 Jan 2010

Aflac becomes the most preferred carrier for voluntary insurance among brokers

A survey of 358 brokers by business intelligence consulting firm Personified, finds Aflac is the number one preferred carrier for voluntary insurance among brokers.

18 Jan 2010

JAMA: Rate of increase for obesity in the U.S. in recent decades may be slowing

The prevalence of adults in the U.S. who are obese is still high, with about one-third of adults obese in 2007-2008, although new data suggest that the rate of increase for obesity in the U.S. in recent decades may be slowing, according to a study appearing in the January 20 issue of JAMA.

18 Jan 2010

Advantages of dental implants

Dental implants, rather than a fixed bridge or removable dentures, are an increasingly popular method of replacing teeth lost to an accident, gum diseases or tooth decay.

18 Jan 2010