Health News

Self-paying patients driving the recovery of the private health sector - thanks to the NHS?

Date: Dec-05-2013
New research published on Wednesday 4th December 2013 by Intuition Communication, one of the leading independent UK authorities on private healthcare, suggests that people are turning to "self-pay" private surgery in response to lengthening NHS waiting lists and the escalating cost of private health insurance.The research also highlights the wide variation of the costs of surgery in the UK's private hospitals and how consumers are finally able to shop around for the best "fixed price surgery" deal thanks to the on-going Competition Commission enquiry into the sector.

American Society of Hematology releases list of commonly used tests and treatments to question as part of Choosing Wisely® Campaign

Date: Dec-05-2013
The American Society of Hematology (ASH), the world's largest professional organization dedicated to the causes and treatments of blood disorders, today released a list of common hematology tests, treatments, and procedures that are not always necessary as part of Choosing Wisely®, an initiative of the ABIM Foundation.

FDA issues safety communication on HeartStart automated external defibrillators from Philips Healthcare

Date: Dec-05-2013
Certain HeartStart automated external defibrillator (AED) devices made by Philips Medical Systems, a division of Philips Healthcare, may be unable to deliver needed defibrillator shock in a cardiac emergency situation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on December 3rd in a new safety communication for users of these previously recalled devices.The safety communication includes recommendations to better inspect and monitor the readiness of these devices, as well as steps to follow if someone must use a recalled device in an emergency situation.

Patients urged to heed doctors' follow-up advice, Australia

Date: Dec-05-2013
The AMA has released its Position Statement on Patient Follow-Up, Recall, and Reminder Systems 2013. The new Position Statement has combined and updated the AMA Position Statement on Patient Follow-Up and Tracking 2000 (Revised 2002) and the AMA Position Statement on Patient Recall 1992.In order to assist in diagnosing and treating a patient's condition, a doctor may recommend the patient undertake further testing, such as pathology or diagnostic imaging, and/or refer the patient to another clinician.

Fear of being single leads people to settle for less in relationships

Date: Dec-05-2013
Fear of being single is a meaningful predictor of settling for less in relationships among both men and women, a new University of Toronto study has found. The results are published in the December edition of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology."Those with stronger fears about being single are willing to settle for less in their relationships," says lead author Stephanie Spielmann, postdoctoral researcher in the University of Toronto's Department of Psychology.

Targeting evolving cancer stem cells in prostate cancer

Date: Dec-05-2013
UCLA researchers have discovered how prostate cancer stem cells evolve as the disease progresses, a finding that could help point the way to more highly targeted therapies.Following recent studies showing that prostate cancer originates in basal stem cells, UCLA researchers were surprised to discover that the cancer eventually begins to grow from a different type of cell called a luminal stem cell. The new discovery indicates that the basal stem cells evolve into luminal stem cells as the cancer grows.

New way found to stabilize proteins

Date: Dec-05-2013
A UConn research team has found a way to stabilize hemoglobin, the oxygen carrier protein in the blood, a discovery that could lead to the development of stable vaccines and affordable artificial blood substitutes.The team's novel approach involves wrapping the polymer poly(acrylic acid) around hemoglobin, protecting it from the intense heat used in sterilization and allowing it to maintain its biological function and structural integrity.

The obesity-cancer link: even with healthy BMI, greater visceral fat may put older men at risk for cancer

Date: Dec-05-2013
Researchers at the National Institute for Aging are working to improve understanding about obesity and cancer. A study, published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, is the first to use direct radiographic imaging of adipose tissue rather than estimates like body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference, and focuses on the relationship between obesity and cancer risk in aging populations. Findings emphasize the negative impact of adiposity on long term health particularly for older men and women.

Reorganization of blood vessels after face transplantation surgery

Date: Dec-05-2013
For the first time, researchers have found that the blood vessels in face transplant recipients reorganize themselves, leading to an understanding of the biologic changes that happen after full face transplantation. The results of this study were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).Face transplantation is a recent development in reconstructive surgery for patients who have lost some or all of their face from injury or disease.

Breast cancer prognosis may be affected by mammography screening intervals

Date: Dec-05-2013
In a study of screening mammography-detected breast cancers, patients who had more frequent screening mammography had a significantly lower rate of lymph node positivity - or cancer cells in the lymph nodes - as compared to women who went longer intervals between screening mammography exams. Results of the study were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).In its earliest stages, breast cancer is confined to the breast and can be treated by surgically removing the cancer cells.