Health News

Web-based screening tool acceptable means of detecting unhealthy behaviors and mental health issues

Date: Sep-12-2013
A novel web-based tool for detecting unhealthy behaviors and mental health issues appears to be feasible, acceptable and easily integrated into patients' electronic medical records. Developed by researchers in New Zealand, the web-based eCHAT (electronic Case-Finding and Help Assessment Tool) screens patients for problematic drinking, smoking and other drug use, gambling, exposure to abuse, anxiety, depression, anger control and physical activity, and whether they want help with these issues...

Toward treating disease the way artificial limbs replace the function of lost arms and legs

Date: Sep-12-2013
The vision for a new branch of medicine, inspired by the ancient field that began with peg legs and hand hooks, commanded the spotlight in a major address by its pioneer at the 246th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society. Martin D. Burke, M.D., Ph.D., focused on the field he has named "molecular prosthetics," after the small molecules that make up the ingredients in most drugs and the branch of medicine that involves artificial or prosthetic body parts...

Simplifying the diagnosis of urinary tract infections

Date: Sep-12-2013
Researchers in Amsterdam offer a sophisticated analysis of different approaches to diagnosing acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women and propose a model that reduces the number of questions asked and urine investigations needed. Analyzing data on 196 women presenting with painful and/or frequent micturition, researchers find that three questions, sometimes followed by a urine dipstick test, can provide a practical level of accuracy...

Systematic review: Cinnamon may be beneficial for diabetic patients but dosing uncertain

Date: Sep-12-2013
Consumption of cinnamon is associated with a statistically significant decrease in levels of fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride, and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. A meta-analysis of 10 randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of cinnamon use in 543 patients with type 2 diabetes at doses of 120 mg/d to 6 g/d for four to 18 weeks found reduced levels of fasting plasma glucose (-24.6 mg/dL; 95 percent CI, -40.5 to -8.7), total cholesterol (-15.6 mg/dL, -29.8 to -1.4), LDL-C (-9...

Little correlation between quality of care assessed by clinical measures and that assessed by patient experience, UK

Date: Sep-12-2013
Researchers in England find little correlation between quality of care assessed by clinical measures and that assessed by patient experience measures, concluding that both are needed to avoid getting an unbalanced picture of quality. Analyzing patient experience and clinical performance data from 7,759 practices in England, researchers found although the correlations between clinical quality summary scores and patient survey scores were all positive, the strength of the associations was weak, with the highest correlation coefficient reaching 0.18, and more than one-half 0.11 or less...

Advance in using biopsy samples in understanding environmental causes of cancer

Date: Sep-12-2013
In an advance in determining the role of environmental agents in causing cancer, scientists today described development of a long-sought way to use biopsy samples from cancer patients to check on human exposure to substances that damage the genetic material DNA in ways that can cause cancer. Their report on the method, which taps into a treasure trove of medical information in biopsy samples of patients, was part of the 246th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society...

ER visits after surgery: Study finds high rate among seniors & lots of variation among hospitals

Date: Sep-12-2013
Nearly one in five older adults who have common operations will end up in the emergency department within a month of their hospital stay, a new study finds - a surprisingly high number found in the first national look at the issue. What's even more surprising? The wide variation between hospitals, in keeping their older surgery patients from needing emergency care after surgery on their hearts, hips, backs, colons and major blood vessels. Some hospitals had four times the rate of post-surgery emergency care for their patients, compared with others...

Translating nature's library yields drug leads for AIDS, cancer, Alzheimer's disease

Date: Sep-12-2013
An ingredient in a medicinal tea brewed from tree bark by tribal healers on the South Pacific island of Samoa - studied by scientists over the last 25 years - is showing significant promise as a drug lead in the long-sought goal of eliminating the AIDS virus from its sanctuaries in the body and thus eradicating the disease, a scientist has said. Speaking at the 246th National Meeting & Exhibition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Paul A. Wender, Ph.D...

One-third of Walgreens vaccinations are administered during off-clinic hours, implications for improving vaccination access and convenience

Date: Sep-12-2013
With adult and adolescent vaccination rates below national goals, this study of more than six million vaccinations administered in more than 7,500 Walgreens pharmacies across the United States identifies a potentially important public health impact pharmacies can make by providing vaccines during convenient times that expand access to particular groups of people...

Reviewing the Affordable Care Act and three urgent tasks for family medicine

Date: Sep-12-2013
Reviewing the objectives of the Affordable Care Act and analyzing the likely outcomes in light of the imperfect hand of the U.S. health care market, J.B. Silvers, PhD, a health care economist at Case Western Reserve University, concludes it is unlikely the potential for higher value care efficiently provided in the best location at a fair competitive price will be fully realized. He outlines several reasons for this potential shortfall, including problems with how the U.S...