ScienceBlog.com

Health

Surgeons General, STOP Obesity Alliance announce America has reached tipping point on obesity

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 9, 2009 ?- The two most recent Surgeons General of the United States, David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., FAAFP, FACPM, FACP and Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, today led the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance in urging policymakers to take direct action in health reform to address obesity and the chronic diseases associated with it.

Sep 9, 2009

Health

75 percent would consider letting an unsupervised trainee perform surgery if it could be done quicker

Three-quarters of surgical patients would consider allowing a competent unsupervised trainee junior doctor perform their entire operation if it meant they could have it done more quickly, according to a survey published in the September issue of BJUI.

Sep 9, 2009

Health

New research confirms potential deadly nature of emerging new monkey malaria species in humans

Researchers in Malaysia have identified key laboratory and clinical features of an emerging new form of malaria infection. The research, funded by the Wellcome Trust, confirms the potentially deadly nature of the disease.

Sep 9, 2009

Health

Patients with cirrhosis and impaired cognitive abilities have more motor vehicle accidents

A recent study by Jasmohan Bajaj, M.D., and colleagues from Virginia Commonwealth University and McGuire VA Medical Center found that patients with cirrhosis of the liver who developed minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) had a 16% rate of motor vehicle crashes compared to only 4% of those without MHE over one year.

Sep 9, 2009

Health

Small businesses would see lower costs, more comprehensive coverage from health reform

September 9, 2009, New York, NY -- Small business owners and employees are among those who stand to benefit the most from provisions in some of the current health reform proposals under consideration by Congress according to a Commonwealth Fund report released today.

Sep 8, 2009

Health

Obesity, alcohol consumption and smoking increase the risk of second breast cancer

SEATTLE -- It is well known that survivors of breast cancer have a much higher risk of developing a second breast cancer than women in the general population have of developing a first breast cancer.

Sep 8, 2009

Health

New recommendations can help health providers prepare for electronic record push

A new framework of recommendations created by health informatics researchers may help doctors and hospitals prepare for a federal initiative to expand the use of electronic health records (EHRs). The recommendations from faculty at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, the Michael E.

Sep 8, 2009

Health

JDRF-funded studies show regular CGM use increases diabetes control for all age groups

NEW YORK, September 8, 2009 -- The latest data from groundbreaking human clinical trials of the effectiveness of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) show that the primary determinant of improvements in achieving better diabetes control is regular use of monitors -- six days per week or more -- rather than the age of patients, and that benefits continue well past the time when people with type

Sep 8, 2009

Health

Mayo Clinic researchers find lung cancer oncogene holds key to turning off cancer stem cells

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Scientists at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida have found that the lung cancer oncogene PKCiota is necessary for the proliferation of lung cancer stem cells. These stem cells are rare and powerful master cells that manufacture the other cells that make up lung tumors and are resistant to chemotherapy treatment.

Sep 8, 2009

Health

Vet says owners should exercise with their dogs based on specific needs to prevent obesity

People and their dogs both need physical activity to fight obesity, and there are many exercises that owner and pet can do together that can improve their health and their relationship, according to a Kansas State University expert.

Sep 8, 2009

Life

Pew-commissioned poll finds large majority of Americans want stronger food safety rules

WASHINGTON, DC -- Among likely voters surveyed across the nation, about 9 in 10 support the federal government adopting additional food safety measures, and 64 percent believe that imported foods are often or sometimes unsafe, according to a new Pew-commissioned poll by the bipartisan team of Hart Research and Public Opinion Strategies.

Sep 8, 2009

Technology

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev develops thin films showing promise for solar applications

BEER-SHEVA, ISRAEL -- September 8, 2009 -- Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed thin films that exhibit carrier multiplication (CM). This development is of great interest for future solar cells. The films were synthesized at BGU by Prof.

Sep 8, 2009

Health

Contraband cigarettes account for 17 percent of all brands consumed by adolescent smokers

Consumption of contraband cigarettes amongst adolescent daily smokers in Canada accounts for 17% of all cigarettes smoked by this age group, and rises to more than 25% in Ontario and Quebec.

Sep 8, 2009

Health

Even in a safety net health system, colorectal cancer screening disparities remain

PHILADELPHIA -- Colorectal cancer screening rates are much lower among those in a safety net health system compared to the national average, and the number one predictor of screening is a combination of regular visits and insurance access.

Sep 7, 2009