ZAMP Bionews

CMS Strengthens Efforts To Fight Medicare Waste, Fraud And Abuse

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:35:00 +0000

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it is requiring certain durable medical equipment suppliers to post a surety bond. In addition, CMS is announcing that it has revoked the billing privileges of more than 1,100 medical equipment suppliers in south Florida and southern California and suspending payments to home health agencies in

Research Finds Children Are Bending The Rules To Avoid Healthy School Food And That They Are ‘drowning’ In Fast Food Outlets

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:33:57 +0000

A study from experts at City University London has found that children in Tower Hamlets are regularly ignoring school healthy eating initiatives to binge on fast food on the way to and from school - some even choose to skip lunch to eat fast food at the end of the day. The research also examined

New Year’s Resolutions Could Be Bad For Your Mental Health

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:33:01 +0000

“New year, new you” is a popular phrase, but in the dawn of 2009, leading mental health charity Mind is urging people not to feel obliged to make New Year’s resolutions as they can be bad for your mental health. Around 7 million people in the UK will today make a New Year’s resolution (1), many

Key To Future Medical Breakthroughs Is Systems Biology, Say Leading European Scientists

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:39:28 +0000

Crucial breakthroughs in the treatment of many common diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson’s could be achieved by harnessing a powerful scientific approach called systems biology, according to leading scientists from across Europe. In a Science Policy Briefing released January 6 by the European Science Foundation, the scientists provide a detailed strategy for the application of

Viagra’s Other Talents: To Help A ‘Signaling’ Protein Shield The Heart From High Blood Pressure Damage

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:29:40 +0000

Johns Hopkins and other researchers report what is believed to be the first direct evidence in lab animals that the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil amplifies the effects of a heart-protective protein. The team’s findings, to be published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation online Jan. 5, helps explain why sildenafil, more widely known as Viagra, has

Inflammatory Breast Cancer: A Complex Disease

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:28:40 +0000

This article reviews the following: “Molecular Determinants of the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Phenotype”. The recognition of the existence of an aggressive, lethal subtype of breast cancer known as inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) dates back to 1924, when the first comprehensive assessment of IBC, based on a series of 28 patients, was presented by Lee and Tannenbaum.[1]

21st Century Challenge Of Ovarian Cancer In The Elderly, A Personal Perspective - Cancernetwork.com

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:27:48 +0000

The incidence of ovarian cancer is highest in women over 70 years old, and the disease is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies in the United States and Europe. Nevertheless, improving the quality of medical care for elderly women with ovarian cancer continues to be a challenge. This paper presents the major issues

One Person Diagnosed With Diabetes Every Three Minutes In The UK

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:26:59 +0000

One person is diagnosed with diabetes every three minutes* in the UK, according to new figures from Diabetes UK. The leading health charity, which has released the shocking statistic to mark its 75th Anniversary, says the number of people diagnosed with the condition is growing faster than ever. This is particularly worrying for Black and

Patients To Have A Say In Improving GP Services, UK

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:26:01 +0000

More than five million patients in England are being asked for their views on how to improve family doctor services in a new survey launched by the Government today. Results from the national survey will be used to drive changes to GP services and rewards for GPs who provide fast, convenient services. This is the third

New Study Shows Nicotine Replacement Therapy Appropriate For Gradual As Well As Abrupt Quitters

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:25:09 +0000

Nicotine gum has been in use for over 20 years to help smokers quit abruptly yet close to two-thirds of smokers report that they would prefer to quit gradually. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare have now found that smokers who are trying to quit gradually can also be helped by

Doctors Central To Preventative Health Strategy - Australian Medical Association

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:24:06 +0000

Recognising and supporting the role of doctors in preventative health care are crucial in developing a preventative health strategy to tackle chronic disease in Australia, the AMA has said. The AMA recently presented its submission to the National Preventative Health Taskforce that was established earlier this year by the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon,

Suicide Rate In England And Wales ‘fell After London Bombings’

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:22:30 +0000

The suicide rate in England and Wales fell after the London bombings on 7 July 2005, according to new research published in the January issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry. A second significant reduction also coincided with the second wave of terrorist attacks on 21 July, researchers found. Previous studies have shown that terrorist attacks can

Survey Reveals Prevalence Of Self-harm In Scottish Teenagers For First Time

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:21:37 +0000

New research shows 14% of teenagers in Scotland have self-harmed - and a further 14% have thought seriously about doing so. The research, published in the January issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, is the first-ever study to examine the prevalence of adolescent self-harm in Scotland. The results show that the prevalence of self-harm

1 In 4 Australian Children Have A Parent With A Mental Illness

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:20:41 +0000

Almost a quarter of Australian children are living with a parent who has a mental illness, according to new research published in the January issue of the Psychiatric Bulletin. Of these, just over 1 % (or approximately 60,000 children) have a parent who has a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, manic depression or clinical depression. The

Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery…In Brief

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:18:46 +0000

The following is being released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Can The US Really Cut Health Care Spending? A new study suggests that while health care is one of the strongest sectors of the ailing US economy, achieving a substantial, sustainable reduction is US health care spending is not probable. The author, who completed health

Horizon Gynecology & Obstetric Associates Chooses Sage Intergy EHR

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:17:53 +0000

Horizon Gynecology & Obstetric Associates — a multi-site, 12-physician, 5-nurse practitioner practice comprised of Atlanta Gynecology & Obstetrics and Gynecology & Obstetrics of DeKalb — have chosen the integrated Sage Intergy practice management and Sage Intergy EHR electronic health records system to help improve their practice’s efficiency, enhance coordination of care, and streamline workflow. Rita Foster,

Prolonged Nevirapine In Breast-Fed Babies Prevents HIV Infection But Leads To Drug-Resistant HIV

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:16:54 +0000

Babies born to HIV-positive mothers and given the antiretroviral drug nevirapine through the first six weeks of life to prevent infection via breast-feeding are at high risk for developing drug-resistant HIV if they get infected anyway, a team of researchers report. But the investigators highlight the proven superiority of the six-week regimen in preventing mother-to-child

New Hope For Cancer Comes Straight From The Heart

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:15:53 +0000

Digitalis-based drugs like digoxin have been used for centuries to treat patients with irregular heart rhythms and heart failure and are still in use today. In the Dec. 16 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine now report that this same class of

Geisinger Heart Expert Interview To Appear On ReachMD, XM 160

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:13:35 +0000

Peter B. Berger, MD, Director of Geisinger’s Center for Clinical Studies and an interventional cardiologist at Geisinger’s Heart Institute, is featured on Reach MD’s Heart Matters program, at XM Satellite Radio Channel 160, beginning Monday, January 26 2009. Dr. Berger, a recognized expert in the field of antiplatelet therapy and stenting, will address controversies related

Home Visits Reduce Risk Of Low Birth Weight Babies

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:12:45 +0000

Socially disadvantaged mothers who receive home visits from trained community visitors are less likely to deliver low birth weight babies than other mothers in similar circumstances, a new study finds. Moreover, the earlier that visits occur in a women’s pregnancy, the greater the reduction. These results held true even after researchers adjusted for factors such as

Goal-Setting Drills Make For More Active Coworkers

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:10:33 +0000

Workplace programs that encourage employees to set exercise goals pay off, finds a new study that looked at physical activity levels of Home Depot employees who participated in the “Move to Improve” program. The program increased the proportion of employees who regularly participated in either moderate or vigorous physical activity from about 30 percent at the

Carotid Endarterectomy Yields Better Short-Term Results Than Stenting

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:09:45 +0000

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) yields better short-term results than carotid artery stenting (CAS) in patients with carotid artery disease, according to a 30-day outcomes report from the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Vascular Registry for Carotid Procedures, published in the January 2009 issue of the Journal of Vascular Surgery®, by the Society for Vascular Surgery. Carotid artery

Staying Healthy In A Tough Economy

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:08:53 +0000

With the economy in a state of decline, it is difficult for many Americans to afford health care. Visits to doctors are down 10 percent to 15 percent and many individuals are not taking their medicines as prescribed. However, there are certain measures that can be taken to lessen the burden while facing tough economic

Researchers Have Identified Seven Personality Types Who Are Most Likely To Help Sick-listed Employees Back To Work

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:08:05 +0000

The International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS), which is Norway, have studied which leadership qualities could help employees return from sick leave early. Being considerate, understanding and able to maintain contact with the sick-listed are the most important leadership qualities, according to the study. “The manager has a key role when it comes to sick leave.

Into The Wild

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:07:13 +0000

Researchers in the University of Essex’s Centre for Environment and Society have been working with young offenders from Essex to help them turn their lives around. Professor Jules Pretty, Jo Barton and Rachel Hine were involved in ‘The TurnAround 2007 Project’, initiated by the Wilderness Foundation UK to help seven vulnerable young people in Chelmsford and

Discussion Of Data Relevant To Psychoanalytic Treatment At Annual Meeting Of The American Psychoanalytic Association

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:06:29 +0000

On Saturday, January 17, 2009, members of two research groups who are international leaders in the investigation of factors underlying change in psychoanalytic treatment will make presentations as part of the Winter 2009 Meeting of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA) which will be held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, 301 Park Avenue in New York.

New Data On Cell-Based Therapeutic Approaches To Cardiovascular Diseases To Be Presented At Conference On Cell Therapy

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:05:32 +0000

WHAT: The Fifth International Conference on Cell Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease (IC3D) will include a new session on stem cells for non-cardiac organ injury. The session will include new data on stem cells for islet disease and diabetes, bone marrow cells for stroke patients, and treating Parkinson’s disease with bone marrow cells. Highlights from other sessions include

2nd Eastern Mediterranean Meeting Of The European Association Of Urology Expected To Highlight Cystectomy

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:04:28 +0000

Because the 1st Eastern Mediterranean Meeting (EMM), which was held in Antalya (TR) in 2007, was a great success the ’second edition’ will be organised on 23 and 24 January 2009 in the Pyramisa hotel in Cairo (EG). Approximately 250 participants from the eastern Mediterranean area are expected to participate. Professor Hassan Abol-Enein, Chairman of the

Cytomegalovirus: Cell Death May Bring New Life To Treatment Of Retinal Disease

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:03:27 +0000

Just days after the first retinal cell gets infected with the common cytomegalovirus, contiguous cells start committing suicide and researchers believe their death may provide clues to better treatment of this potentially blinding infection. Understanding the cell death may also provide new insight into the larger issue of how the retina responds to assault, whether by

International Copper Industry Defines Role In The Fight Against Hospital Infections

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:02:14 +0000

The copper industry is working together to answer one very important question: Can copper and copper alloys (brass and bronze) help curb the spread of bacteria that cause hospital infection? Results of laboratory testing and clinical trials indicate that they can. Scientists from around the world shared their work at the first world congress, ‘Copper

Survey Of Spanish-Speaking Women Finds Most Are Missing Benefits Of Folic Acid

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:01:20 +0000

Only 17 percent of Spanish-speaking women of childbearing age in the United States are taking a multivitamin containing folic acid daily, according to the first nationally representative folic acid awareness survey to focus on this population. Folic acid can prevent neural tube defects (NTDs), serious birth defects of the brain and spine such as spina bifida