Health News

The importance of integrating behavioral health care in patient-centered medical homes, authors posit seven components practices must adopt

Date: Mar-12-2014
Estimates suggest 40 percent of primary care patients have behavioral health problems, including mental health and substance abuse disorders, disabling psychological symptoms and psychological stress. Yet despite this prevalence, the integration of behavioral health services into primary care is the exception rather than the rule. In fact, previous research suggests nearly 70 percent of the more serious behavioral conditions in primary care are neither assessed nor treated.

Only one quarter of primary care patients with mild cognitive impairment have progression to dementia within three years

Date: Mar-12-2014
The concept of mild cognitive impairment has been introduced into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition as mild neurocognitive disorder, making it a formal diagnosis.As part of the German Study on Aging, Cognition and Dementia in Primary Care Patients, researchers investigate determinants of the future course of MCI in primary care patients to help primary care physicians counsel patients about prognosis.

Even technologically advanced primary care practices lack dedicated staff integral to new primary care models

Date: Mar-12-2014
Researchers examine staffing patterns among nearly 500 technologically advanced primary care practices selected to participate in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative and find a significant gap between where the practices are and where policy makers expect them to be in order to implement new models of care.

Ten building blocks of high-performing primary care

Date: Mar-12-2014
Researchers posit a conceptual model consisting of 10 building blocks they assert are the essential elements of high-performing primary care.

How nurses can reduce sepsis mortality

Date: Mar-12-2014
Sepsis is the leading cause of death in hospitalized patients and has a substantial impact on health care resources. But an evidence-based nursing sepsis protocol, like the one outlined in the January/February 2014 issue of MEDSURG Nursing Journal, was shown to reduce mortality rates and increase nurse satisfaction. In "Reducing Sepsis Mortality," an interdisciplinary team developed several tools to assist staff in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with sepsis. Tools included:A sepsis screening tool that allows nurses to review sepsis-related symptoms.

Trophos announces top-line results in pivotal trial of olesoxime in spinal muscular atrophy

Date: Mar-12-2014
Trophos has announced that top-line results from a pivotal clinical trial of its lead product candidate olesoxime in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) show a beneficial effect on the maintenance of motor function in SMA patients. If approved, olesoxime could be the first treatment specifically developed for SMA patients. SMA is an autosomal recessive genetic disease that affects the motor neurons of the voluntary muscles used for activities such as crawling, walking, head and neck control and swallowing. SMA affects approximately 20,000 people worldwide.

New prognostic test for breast cancer could improve patient treatment

Date: Mar-12-2014
A study by researchers in Nottingham has developed a new clinical test for breast cancer which aims to improve patient treatment.The Nottingham Prognostic Index Plus (NPI+) could be available to patients within two years.The findings, published in the British Journal of Cancer, could significantly improve the way in which breast cancer patients are treated by giving clinicians more detailed information about a patient's breast cancer type and its likely behaviour, which will help them create a more personalised treatment plan.

Biological effects of the popular artificial sweetener sucralose

Date: Mar-12-2014
The artificial sweetener sucralose is a biologically active compound according to an extensive review published by Taylor & Francis in the recent issue of Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B: Critical Reviews. "Sucralose, A Synthetic Organochlorine Sweetener: Overview Of Biological Issues" authored by Susan S. Schiffman, PhD, an internationally known sweetener researcher and Kristina I. Rother, MD, MHSc, of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), summarizes the biological properties of sucralose based on hundreds of archival, peer-reviewed scientific journal publications.

Photic memory for executive brain responses

Date: Mar-12-2014
It has long been known that light exerts powerful effects on the brain and on our well-being. Light is not only required for vision but is also essential for a wide range of "non-visual" functions including synchronization of our biological clock to the 24h day-night cycle. Light also conveys a powerful stimulating signal for human alertness and cognition and has been routinely employed to improve performance, counter the negative impact of sleepiness or "winter blues".The mechanisms underlying these positive effects of light still remain largely unknown.

Technology is healthcare's biggest driver of change but executives fear impact on R&D

Date: Mar-12-2014
European healthcare executives (51 per cent) predict that over the next three years technology platforms will have the biggest impact on their business models, however they are wary that in driving rapid change the biggest areas at risk are 1) technology itself and crucially 2) R&D. The majority (71 per cent) believe their organisations need to change faster over the next three years if they are to be ready for the future and 78 per cent are feeling the pressure to change.