Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/27/13)

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.

1. Doctors blast ethics of $100,000 cancer drugs: A group of more than 120 cancer researchers and physicians took the unusual step this week of publishing a research paper taking aim at pharmaceutical prices they see as exorbitant and unjustifiable.

2. Mom convinces son he has cancer to scam money from friends, cops allege: Police have charged a New Jersey mother who allegedly lied and said her son was suffering from cancer in order to deceive friends and loved ones out of thousands of dollars.

3. Could a blood test tetect autism? Study aims to answer: A simple blood test might be able to reveal whether a child has autism, according to researchers who recently launched a study to evaluate such a test.


4. U.S. sues Novartis over kickbacks, second case this week: The U.S. government on Friday announced its second civil fraud lawsuit against Novartis AG in four days, accusing a unit of the Swiss drugmaker of paying multimillion-dollar kickbacks to doctors in exchange for prescribing its drugs.


5. How Trees Add To Air Pollution: A new study shows that when isoprene, a substance given off by trees that protects their leaves, combines with man-made nitrogen oxides present in air pollution, it produces more of the very small air-borne particles that can penetrate our lungs and damage health.

6. Helicopter Parenting May Increase Child’s Risk of Being Bullied: Parents may think they can keep their kids safe by hovering over them, but a new study finds that children of overprotective parents are more likely to be bullied.

7. A Brazilian man reportedly survived a harpoon through the brain, following a freak accident in which he accidentally shot himself through the left eye while cleaning his harpoon gun: A Brazilian man reportedly survived a harpoon through the brain, following a freak accident in which he accidentally shot himself through the left eye while cleaning his harpoon gun.

8. Latin America threatened with cancer epidemic: Latin America faces a cancer epidemic, scientists warned Friday as they pressed for urgent action to reduce tobacco use and obesity and allocate more resources to control the disease.

9. Could Facebook Assist Public Health Efforts to Track Obesity?: Analyzing Facebook users' interests could help public health researchers predict, track and map obesity rates in specific cities, towns and neighborhoods across the United States, a new study says.

10. Drills That Readied Boston Hospitals, EMS for Bombings Face Funding Cuts: But with the final 2013 budget still not settled, the programs that enabled doctors and EMTs to save lives on April 15 may face federal cuts.

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/26/13)

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.

1. Poultry markets likely source of new bird flu in China: Poultry markets where birds are sold live and slaughtered on the spot are the likely source of the new H7N9 bird flu that’s killed more than 20 people in China, researchers said Thursday.

2. Latest HIV Vaccine Doesn't Work: Government Halts Study: The latest bad news in the hunt for an AIDS vaccine: The government halted a large U.S. study on Thursday, saying the experimental shots aren't preventing HIV infection.

3. Seattle police look for fake nurse who tried to steal meds from IVs: Seattle police call it one of the boldest attempted drug thefts they have seen: A woman impersonating a nurse, apparently addicted to painkillers, crept through the hospital rooms of patients and tried to steal medication from their IV machines.

4. Depressive thinking can be contagious: We don't think of emotional states as passing from one person to another, but a new study suggests some depressive thoughts can go viral.

5. Abnormal placenta may reveal newborn’s autism risk: As of today, there are no definitive tests to measure a child’s risk for developing autism. Since early intervention and therapy is key for at-risk children, such a test could be critical for managing the early development of a child.

6. Video may help terminal patients make CPR choice: Terminally ill cancer patients who watched either of two videos about the option to forego resuscitation overwhelmingly elected that route for the patient in the video, if not for themselves, according to a new study.

7. Alcohol And Weight Affect Women's Risk Of Getting And Dying From Liver Disease: Congress delegates heard this week about a study that showed the deadly effect that high alcohol intake and excess body weight can have on women's chances of developing and dying from chronic liver disease.

8. Cancer specialists slam high cost of drugs: Treating cancer is expensive. On Thursday, some of the world's top cancer specialists took an extraordinary step on behalf of their patients. They demanded that drug companies roll back their prices.

9. Almost Half of Americans Would Consider Donating Kidney to Stranger: Poll: Percentage of people in favor of donation keeps rising, experts say.

10. Majority of malaria deaths among small children in Africa: There were 219 million cases of malaria and 660,000 malaria-related deaths globally in 2010, World Health Organizations officials in Switzerland said Thursday.The majority of the malaria deaths were among children in Africa age 5 and younger.

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/25/13)

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.

1. WHO: H7N9 virus 'one of the most lethal so far': As the death toll from China's bird flu outbreak rose to 22 with news of another victim in eastern Zhejiang Province, the World Health Organization warned the H7N9 virus was one of the most lethal that doctors and medical investigators had faced in recent years.

2. The children of killers: 'There are wounds you can never heal': The young daughter that Boston bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev left behind may face a future of stigma, secrecy and haunting questions about the father she may never stop loving, say both a forensic psychiatrist and the daughter of a serial murderer.

3. Melanoma drug gets breakthrough status: Merck & Co. said Wednesday that the Food and Drug Administration awarded breakthrough therapy status to its cancer therapy lambrolizumab, which could speed up development of the drug.

4. Sugary drinks can raise diabetes risk by 22 percent -study: Drinking just one can of sugar-laced soda drink a day increases the risk of developing diabetes by more than a fifth, according to a large European study published on Wednesday: Drinking just one can of sugar-laced soda drink a day increases the risk of developing diabetes by more than a fifth, according to a large European study published on Wednesday.

5. Long-Term Care in Aging U.S.: Not for Me, Poll Says: We're in denial: Americans underestimate their chances of needing long-term care as they get older - and are taking few steps to get ready.

6. Gut bugs are implicated in heart attacks and stroke: Thousands of heart attack victims every year have none of the notorious risk factors before their crisis - not high cholesterol, not unhealthy triglycerides. Now the search for the mystery culprits has turned up some surprising suspects: the trillions of bacteria and other microbes living in the human gut.

7. Binge Drinking In College Years May Raise Risk For Heart Disease: New research from the US finds that otherwise healthy young adult college students who regularly binge drink, that is consume a lot of alcoholic drinks in a short space of time, show damage to blood vessels similar to that caused by high blood pressure and cholesterol, both factors known to increase risk for heart disease later in life.

8. Many Americans Breathing Cleaner Air: Although many Americans are now breathing cleaner air, others are living in cities that are more polluted than they were a decade ago, a new report shows.

9. NFL may test brain injury treatment on retired players: The National Football League Alumni Association is working with Neuralstem, Inc., of Rockville, Md., to possibly test a potential treatment for traumatic brain injuries.

10. H7N9 Vaccine At Least 6 Weeks Away: As the H7N9 bird flu outbreak continues to worsen in Asia, with the first case outside China confirmed in Taiwan Thursday and the World Health Organization confirming the strain is "unusually dangerous for humans," vaccine makers say it will take up to six weeks for the first vaccines to be developed for the strain.

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/24/13): The Child Without Bones

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.

1. Child without bones begins to develop skeletal frame thanks to enzyme therapy: Janelly Martinez-Amador may be 6 years old, but she's just beginning to learning how to use her legs and arms. The girl, who was born with a rare disorder that caused her bones to disappear, is getting a new chance at life thanks to an experimental new therapy that has regrown her bones.

2. Shrinkage of Brain Region May Signal Onset of Multiple Sclerosis: Atrophy of a key brain area may become a new biomarker to predict the onset of multiple sclerosis, researchers say. If so, that would add to established criteria such as the presence of brain lesions to diagnose the progressive, incurable disorder.

3. Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers Tied to Risk for Other Cancers: White people with skin cancer that is not melanoma may be at greater risk for developing other forms of cancer, according to a new study.

4. Study: Chicken, Ground Beef are Riskiest Meats: An analysis of more than 33,000 cases of foodborne illness shows that ground beef and chicken have caused more hospitalizations than other meats.

5. Would you like 2 hours of exercise with that?: Seeing the calories listed next to each item isn't likely to affect your decision, according to a new study being presented at the Experimental Biology 2013 meeting this week. But seeing the amount of time it would take you to work those calories off at the gym just might.

6. What your sneeze says about your personality: We each have our own individual sneezing style. But what, exactly, determines whether those sneezes come out dainty and demure or whether they blow down the whole dang house?

7. Online donations pour in for Boston victims’ medical costs: While victims of the Boston Marathon bombings have a long recovery ahead of them, many will receive financial help thanks to viral online fundraising campaigns started by friends and family.

8. Arkansas governor signs private insurance option into law: Arkansas's Democratic governor signed into law on Tuesday a plan to extend health insurance to more of the state's low-income residents in a move that could offer a model for other states wrestling with opposition to the federal government's Medicaid expansion plan.

9. US hospitals send hundreds of immigrants back home: So Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines took matters into its own hands: After consulting with the patients' families, it quietly loaded the two comatose men onto a private jet that flew them back to Mexico, effectively deporting them without consulting any court or federal agency.

10. Ovarian Cancer May Be Detectable Early By Testing Cells From Uterus Or Cervix: Pioneering biophotonics technology developed in the US can detect nanoscale changes in cells from the cervix and uterus that may indicate early stage ovarian cancer, according to a study published this month in the International Journal of Cancer.

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/23/13)

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.

1. MDs warn teens: Don't take the cinnamon challenge: Don't take the cinnamon challenge. That's the advice from doctors in a new report about a dangerous prank depicted in popular YouTube videos but which has led to hospitalizations and a surge in calls to U.S. poison centers.

2. Bloomberg wants to raise age limit for buying cigarettes: No one under 21 would be able to buy cigarettes in New York City, under a new proposal announced Monday that marks the latest in a decade of moves to crack down on smoking in the nation's largest city.
 
3. Pushing kids to eat may cause obesity later: Denying certain foods to children or pressuring them to eat every bit of a meal are common practices among many parents. But researchers at the University of Minnesota found parents who restricted foods were more likely to have overweight or obese children. And while those who pressured children to eat all of their meals mostly had children of normal weight, it adversely affected the way those children ate as they grew older, according to the study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

4. Warts in kids come from family members, classmates: Public locker rooms may seem like breeding grounds for germs, but when it comes to warts, kids may be more likely to contract a wart-causing virus at home or school, a new study suggests.

5. China says new bird flu case found in northeast: A man in the northeastern Chinese province of Shandong has been infected by a new strain of bird flu, the first case found in the province, state news agency Xinhua said on Monday, bringing the total number of cases in China to 105.

6. Fallout for States Rejecting Medicaid Expansion: Rejecting the Medicaid expansion in the federal health care law could have unexpected consequences for states where Republican lawmakers remain steadfastly opposed to what they scorn as "Obamacare."

7. Low-Dose Aspirin May Halt Breast Cancer: Research done in test tubes and in mice presented at a conference in Boston in the US at the weekend suggests taking low doses of aspirin on a regular basis may stop breast cancer from growing and spreading. However, cancer campaigners urge caution as the results are very early stage and have yet to be shown in patients.

8. Mammograms Can Measure How Breast Cancer Drug Is Working: Study: Those on tamoxifen who showed reduction in breast density had 50 percent lower risk of death within 15 years

9. Could screening prevent suicides? Not enough evidence, says panel: Is there a screening test that could, with some confidence, detect those at risk of committing suicide, and would wide use of it prevent some of the 37,000 suicides that occur annually in the United States? We just don't know, a federal panel said Monday in a draft report.

10. HIV Drugs May Help Protect Young Patients' Hearts: Study: Far from harming the cardiovascular health of infected children, drug cocktails may give benefit. 

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/22/13)

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.

1. Boston Nurses Tell of Bloody Marathon Aftermath: The screams and cries of bloody marathon bombing victims still haunt the nurses who treated them one week ago. They did their jobs as they were trained to do, putting their own fears in a box during their 12-hour shifts so they could better comfort their patients.

2. Transit officer still critical after shootout: Doctors say the Boston transit police officer wounded in a shootout with the marathon bombing suspects had lost nearly all his blood and his heart had stopped from a single gunshot wound that severed three major blood vessels in his right thigh.

3. Boston bomings suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev bled for hours from neck, leg wounds, "might not have lived" if not found: More details have emerged about the Friday night capture that brought the intensive manhunt for the Boston bombing suspects to an end. Suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, had been hiding in a boat in Watertown, Mass. Authorities responded to a call from a local man late Friday, after he observed that a tarp covering his boat had been disturbed and there was blood in the boat.

4. Deadly meningitis outbreak among gays worries officials: A deadly bacterial meningitis outbreak striking gay men in New York City is unlikely to abate any time soon, New York City health officials warn. The disease has sickened 22 and killed seven NYC men over the last two years.

5. IMRT Reduces Side Effects Of Breast Cancer Treatments: Treating early breast cancer patients with an advanced form of radiotherapy known as IMRT could reduce the side effects those women experience, according to the results of a randomized trial.

6. Serving Size Is What Drives How Much We Eat More Than Anything Else: Large servings make us eat more, even when we are are taught about the impact of portion size on consumption, according to investigators from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

7. Scientists Spot Cancer Metabolism Changes: Could help efforts to develop drugs to starve tumors, researchers say.

8. Double up: Diet, exercise together are key to success: People who tackle diet and exercise at the same time do better at making healthy changes.

9. Stress key to survival of the fittest: If the woods get crowded, mother squirrels improve their offspring's odds of survival by ramping up offspring growth, U.S. and Canadian researchers say.

10. Doctors win first safe harbor against ACA use in liability suits: States and Congress are urged to pass legislation based on an AMA model bill to prevent health reform criteria from exposing doctors to medical liability.

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/21/13)

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.

1. Boston bombings, West, Texas, plant explosions: How emergency response has evolved to help: The capture of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on Friday night capped a week of intense search-and-rescue by first responders -- not only in the Boston area, but in Texas as well.

2. Two-thirds Of Adults Use A Cell Phone While Driving With Kids: Almost two-thirds of adults use a cell phone while driving with kids in the car, and one-third text, according to a new survey.

3. Hey, coach! Too much sports practice can hurt kids long-term: Kids who play Little League baseball, Pop Warner football, or spend hours at soccer or tennis camps can develop not only a lifetime love of sports, but also life-long injuries if they train too hard before they are fully developed, a new study reveals.

4. Another bird flu death in China as number of infected grows to 95: China reported another death and four new infections from a new strain of bird flu on Saturday, raising the death toll to 18, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

5. Doctor: Dead Bomb Suspect Had Wounds 'Head to Toe': A doctor involved in treating the Boston Marathon bombing suspect who died in a gunbattle with police says he had injuries head to toe and all limbs intact when he arrived at the hospital.

6. China earthquake toll rises to 164, injuries at 6,700: Rescuers poured into a remote corner of southwestern China on Sunday as the death toll from the country's worst earthquake in three years climbed to 164 with more than 6,700 injured, state media said.

7. Young Athletes Urged to Use Face-Protecting Gear: Mouth guards, helmets and face shields can save teeth and more, experts say.

8. New Study Shows Young Athletes At Greater Risk By Specializing In One Sport: A new study has shown that young athletes who specialize and train in one sport have a greater risk for serious injury than more well-rounded athletes.

9. A high-salt diet and ulcer bug may increase cancer risk: Gerbils infected with H. pylori -- the ulcer-causing bacterium -- given a high-salt diet were linked to increased risk of gastric cancer, U.S. researchers say.

10. Study examines link between cognitive complaints and neuropsychological testing abnormalities in breast cancer patients: For many years, breast cancer patients have reported experiencing difficulties with memory, concentration and other cognitive functions following cancer treatment. Whether this mental "fogginess" is psychosomatic or reflects underlying changes in brain function has been a bone of contention among scientists and physicians.A

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/20/13)

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.


1. New bird flu spread quietly, study suggests: A new genetic analysis shows the H7N9 bird flu in China may have been spreading quietly for weeks or months in domestic animals. But it mutates once it infects a person, giving birth to new viruses that feel more at home inside the human body.

2. Second stillborn's remains may have gone to laundry at Minnesota hospital: A Minnesota hospital said Friday that missing remains from a stillborn baby presumed to have been wrapped in linens at the hospital morgue likely was sent to a laundry service that discovered another stillborn's remains earlier this week.

3. Large study finds no vaccine link to nerve disorder: In a review of data covering 13 years and millions of patients, researchers found no evidence of a link between being vaccinated against tetanus, hepatitis, pneumonia or flu, and developing the nerve-degenerating disorder Guillain-Barré.

4. Man Dies as UK Measles Epidemic Spread: U.K. authorities say a 25-year-old man is suspected to have died from measles as an epidemic continues to sweep across south Wales.

5. Study Finds Carrying Infants Triggers Specific Soothing Response: Mothers who pick up their infants and walk with them when they are crying trigger a specific set of emotional and physical responses, according to a new study published in the journal Current Biology on Thursday. Researchers believe the responses originally developed to promote bonding between a mother and her child.

6. Diabetes Risk Linked To Melatonin Secretion During Sleep: in a JAMA study published online this month they show participants who secreted the least melatonin into the bloodstream during sleep had double the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

7. Community Gardeners More Slim Than Their Neighbors: People with plots in community gardens are less likely to be overweight or obese than those who don’t garden, a new study suggests.

8. Food poisoning from bacteria found in raw milk, poultry and shellfish on the rise: A bacteria found in raw milk and poultry and another found in shellfish has been linked to higher rates of food poisonings.

9. Teen Births May Increase Risk of Obesity Later in Life: Having a child before age 20 linked to 32 percent greater odds of obesity, study finds.

10. Noninvasive Cancer Test Is Effective, Study Finds: A new noninvasive screening test can detect most cases of colorectal cancer and also many precancerous polyps, potentially helping to sharply reduce the death toll from the disease, according to results of a study released on Thursday.

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/19/13)

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference. 

1. Dozens of Okla. dentist's patients positive for hepatitis: They went to the dentist to get a wisdom tooth pulled or perhaps have their jaw realigned. But they may have also contracted a blood-borne virus.

2. Food poisoning on rise in US, survey finds: A crackdown on slaughterhouses has helped cut rates of certain types of food poisoning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday. But other causes of stomach upset are on the rise – a trend that indicates better regulation of meat from hoof to plate is needed, as well as stricter regulation of produce and processed food, the CDC says.

3. Boston Medical Center copes with aftermath of marathon bombing: Physicians at Boston Medical Center said their experiences overseas helped prepare them for Monday’s bombing at the Boston Marathon, according to a news conference Thursday morning.



4. FDA chief defends budget, says agency is taxpayer 'bargain': The head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked Congress for more money on Thursday to improve food safety, police imports and develop countermeasures against chemical and biological threats.


5. Once Doubted Tourniquet Seen As Boston Lifesaver: As people lay badly bleeding in the smoke of the Boston Marathon bombings, rescuers immediately turned to a millennia-old medical device to save their lives - the tourniquet.

6. Experts unclear how China bird flu infects humans: Almost three weeks after China reported finding a new strain of bird flu in humans, experts are still stumped by how people are becoming infected when many appear to have had no recent contact with live fowl and the virus isn't supposed to pass from person to person.

7. New Alzheimer's Treatment May Come From Discovering How Plaques Lead To Tangles: A new study published in the latest issue of Human Molecular Genetics appears to have uncovered an important clue about the link between plaques and tangles in Alzheimer's disease.

8. Light drinking during pregnancy may not harm the baby: Pregnant women who consume one or two drinks a week may not cause any harm to their fetuses.

9. Hard Physical Labor May Boost Risk of Heart Disease, Stroke: Researcher says higher mental stress, lower income could be factors

10. Guideline Changes Have Asperger's Community on Edge: Change in psychiatric manual will fold it into autism spectrum disorders, leaving many unsure about getting needed services

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories:Ricin Scare, Fibroid Prevention, & More

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.


1. Ricin scare: What makes the substance so potentially deadly? The U.S. Capitol Police announced on Wednesday that they had intercepted three suspicious letters this week, one of them addressed to President Obama, which may contain the poisonous substance ricin.

2. Vitamin D May Help Prevent Fibroids: Women with adequate levels of vitamin D are less likely to develop uterine fibroids than those with insufficient levels, a new study finds.

3. FDA bans generic versions of original OxyContin pills: In an effort to curb prescription painkiller abuse, the Food and Drug Administration is banning generic versions of the original OxyContin formula.

4. Bomb's medical costs could be in the millions, experts say: As surgeons and physicians worked to mend nearly 70 hospitalized victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, a new toll emerged: The total medical costs inflicted by the attack may eventually reach or surpass $9 million, according to a rough calculation.

5. Lyme disease rates rise in northern US: Lyme disease is shifting northward within the U.S., with cases in northern states on the rise while cases in southern states decline, a new study says.



6. No poultry contact in some Chinese bird flu cases: WHO: The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that a number of people who have tested positive for a new strain of bird flu in China appear to have had no contact with poultry, adding to the mystery about a virus that has killed 17 people to date.


7. Doctors Flee Puerto Rico For U.S. Mainland: Going to the doctor in Puerto Rico has for years often meant getting in line. Now, it might mean getting on a plane.


8. Indian supply drives down the cost of childhood vaccine: The cost of immunizing children in developing countries with a five-in-one vaccine is set to fall after a deal by an Indian supplier to slash the price it charges the GAVI global vaccines group.

9. Magnetic Brain Stimulation May Help Smokers Quit: The researchers behind the new study suggest repetitive TMS (rTMS) offers a safe option for reducing nicotine craving in dependent smokers.

10.  Nutrient Therapy Won't Help ICU Patients: Study: Findings only apply to critically ill, researcher says

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories: Boston aftermath & more

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.

1.  'Happy to be alive': Blast amputees confront uncertain road ahead: The most severely injured patients from Monday’s bomb blasts in Boston showed up at Massachusetts General Hospital with their lower legs “completely mangled” -- torn limbs hanging by skin and tissue, said Dr. George Velmahos, chief of trauma.

2. Doctors at Boston hospital confident no further lives will be lost: As doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) continue to treat victims from yesterday’s bombings at the Boston marathon, many are confident that the patient outcomes will be as optimal as they can be.

3. Hospitals profit more from surgical complications - report: No patient wants to experience complications after surgery. But such complications can actually lead to higher profits for hospitals if the patients are covered by Medicare or private insurance, according to a report released Tuesday by the Boston Consulting Group.

4. World experts to help China with bird flu investigation: An international team of flu experts will go to China this week to help with investigations into the deadly H7N9 virus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

5. Health Law Can Overwhelm Addiction Services: The number of people seeking treatment could double over current levels, depending on how many states decide to expand their Medicaid programs and how many addicts choose to take advantage of the new opportunity, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data.

6. Groups sue to block Arkansas' 12-week abortion ban: Abortion rights advocates filed a lawsuit Tuesday that seeks to overturn the more restrictive of Arkansas' two new abortion laws, saying the near-ban of abortions from the 12th week of pregnancy onward is unconstitutional.

7. Men With Enlarged Prostate Get Symptom Relief From Minimally-Invasive Shrinking Treatment: Now early findings from a small US study presented at a conference this week suggests a minimally-invasive treatment called prostatic artery embolization (PAE), which shrinks the prostate back to its more youthful size by reducing blood flow to it, may provide significant relief from symptoms and help men avoid surgery.

8. Drugs Can Cut Breast Cancer Risk for Some, Task Force Finds: The drugs tamoxifen and raloxifene (Evista) could reduce the risk of breast cancer among women who are at high risk of developing the disease, a new report confirms.

9. Infants with colic may be more inclined to have migraines when older: Colicky infants may be more likely to have migraines when they get older, a new study published on April 17 in JAMA revealed.

10. Report: Exercise Might Prevent Alcohol's Brain-Damaging Effects: Those who exercised the most saw 'no strong relationship' between white matter damage and heavy drinking

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/16/13): Boston bombing and more

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.

1. Boston blast injuries required battlefield savvy, experts say: For the doctors, cops and other emergency personnel who responded to the Boston marathon bombings Monday, it was nothing less than a war zone, disaster experts say.

2. What government tests found in your meat: When you shop for turkey burgers for dinner tonight, you may be buying more than meat.

3. 4-year-old boy in China found to be carrier of bird flu: A new case of bird flu in China's capital, a 4-year-old boy who displayed no symptoms, is adding to the unknowns about the latest outbreak that has caused 63 confirmed cases and 14 deaths, health officials said Monday.

4. Arkansas fails to muster Medicaid compromise seen as U.S. model: Arkansas lawmakers rejected on Monday a compromise measure that would have extended health insurance to more of its low-income citizens, turning back what some saw as a possible model for other states also wrestling with opposition to U.S. government expansion plans for Medicaid.

5. Newtown Families Back Study for Clues to Violence: On Monday, they announced a scientific advisory board for the Avielle Foundation, which was established with the goal of reducing violence.

6. Justices wary of wide human gene patent ruling: The Supreme Court justices on Monday signaled reluctance to issue too broad a ruling about patents on human genes, and some indicated they might seek a compromise distinguishing between types of genetic material.

7. Luminous Bacteria Control Clock Genes In Host's Body: Another new study takes a further step toward revealing the pervasive influence microbial communities that inhabit plants and animals have on their biology. Scientists in the US have discovered that the luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri regulates the daily rhythm of its host, the Hawaiian bobtail squid, by interacting with its clock genes.

8. Just tasting beer may make you want to drink more: Just tasting cold, refreshing beer -- with no influence from alcohol -- make increase your desire to get drunk.

9. Are Pricey Computer-Aided Mammograms Worth It?: Early breast cancer found more often in large study, but not more cases of invasive disease.

10. Study: Live Music Soothes Premature Babies, Leads to Health Benefits: It's been said that music cures the soul, but research is showing that it might actually help premature babies in a medically verifiable way. By helping decrease stress in infants, several important health benefits have been measured in a study of preterm newborns, according to the journal Pediatrics, published on Monday.

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/15/13)

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.

1. New Utah law allows organ donations from prisoners; nearly 250 sign up: Utah’s governor, Gary R. Herbert, signed the first state law on March 28 that explicitly permits general prisoners to sign up for organ donation -- and cracks the door to the controversial option of allowing death-row inmates to donate as well.

2. Death toll from bird flu in China rises to 13: Two more people have died in China from a new strain of bird flu, raising the death toll from the virus to 13, state media reported Sunday.

3. U.S. top court weighs patentability of human genes: Soon after learning that his son had autism, Hollywood producer Jon Shestack ("Air Force One") tried to get researchers investigating the genetic causes of the disorder to pool their DNA samples, the better to identify genes most likely to cause that disorder. But his approach to scientists at universities across the country in the late 1990s hit a brick wall: They refused to join forces, much less share the DNA.

4. Lab-made rat kidneys raise hopes for dialysis patients: Scientists have discovered yet another way to make a kidney - at least for a rat - that does everything a natural one does, researchers reported on Sunday, a step toward savings thousands of lives and making organ donations obsolete.

5. Gastric Bypass Surgery Corrects Genes As Well As Shrinking Waists: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery does not only shrink waists, but also results in gene-expression alterations, researchers from the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, reported in the journal Cell Reports.



6. Freezing Treatment May Help Destroy Lung Tumors: Study: A method designed to target, freeze and destroy a tumor's cellular function seems effective in combating lung tumors, a small ongoing study finds.

7. Boulder, Colo., least likely to be obese, McAllen, Texas, most likely: Residents of Boulder, Colo., are the least likely to be obese and those of McAllen-Edinburg-Mission in Texas are most likely, a survey of U.S. cities indicates.

8. The Antioxidant Controversy: The jury is still out, but food sources probably win over pills.

9. Utah Researchers Studying Benefits Of Fasting: Many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fast as a way to grow closer to God, but Utah medical researchers want to know whether the practice is also reducing their risk of diabetes and heart disease.

10. Researchers Investigate Benefits Of Aquatic Exercise For Older Women: Women who participated in a six month, high-intensity aquatic workout plan became stronger and suffered fewer falls on average, researchers from the Universidade Federal de São Paulo claim in a new study.

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/14/13)

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.

1. First case of new bird flu strain found in Beijing: A 7-year-old girl has become Beijing's first confirmed case of a new strain of the bird flu virus that has killed 11 people and sickened 37 others in eastern China, officials said Saturday.

2. Turkish womb transplant patient is pregnant: The first woman to have a successful womb transplant from a dead donor is pregnant, a hospital in southern Turkey said.

3. Medicare Increase Could Ding Some in Middle Class: Pugach doesn't see herself as upper-income by any stretch, but President Barack Obama's budget would raise her Medicare premiums and those of other comfortably retired seniors, adding to a surcharge that already costs some 2 million beneficiaries hundreds of dollars a year each.

4. Polio vaccine developer Koprowski dies: A pioneering scientist who developed a polio vaccine used two years before Jonas Salk's injectable version has died. Dr. Hilary Koprowski was 96.

5. Botox Injections Can Make You Depressed: Cosmetic injections to decrease crows' feet may actually leave people feeling depressed, a new small study reveals.

6. Medicare chemo patients are feeling sequester's sting: It may have appeared at first that the federal spending cuts known as the sequester might not cut too deeply. But as some Medicare patients who need chemotherapy are learning to their dismay, there's some real pain in the process.

7. Louisiana company recalls 468K pounds of meat: The U.S. Department of Agriculture says a Louisiana-based meat packing company has expanded a recall of meat products because of possible bacterial contamination. No illnesses have been reported.

8. Doctors urged to pause before they post, text, email: Doctors should not “friend” patients on Facebook, should text them with “extreme caution” and should use email only with those who understand the risks of lost privacy, according to the latest set of guidelines to help doctors navigate the online world.

9. Household Chores May Ease Nighttime Menopausal Symptoms: For menopausal women who can't make it to the gym, higher levels of routine physical activity during the day may help relieve sleep problems caused by hot flashes or night sweats, a small new study suggests.

10. Montana Doctors Could Face Jail Time for Assisted Suicide: Dr. Eric Kress has been a family physician for 26 years, but he will never forget the terminally ill patient who called him a "coward" for hesitating to prescribe him lethal medication that would ease his pain and help him die.

Biggest Surgery Myths and How Medical Technology Continues to Grow

We live in a society of great myths, and these myths have transcended traditional folktales into medical science. But the fact is that innovations in medical technologies and procedures are fast putting an end to these myths, especially as they relate to surgery, and rendering them unfounded in the face of modern medical procedures.

Now, with the rise in the interest for cosmetic surgery and the many successes with plastic surgeries, we also have surgery myths that center on all aspects of plastic and cosmetic surgeries – from breast reduction/enlargement to anti-aging and facial reconstructions. What then are some of these surgery myths and how have medical technologies and procedures been able disprove them?

i. Plastic and cosmetic surgery make you look like someone else: This is not really true. There is no way you can entirely look like someone else in spite of the amount of cosmetic surgeries done on you. It is possible that you have undergone reconstructive surgeries because of some injuries you have sustained on your nose, eyes, lips and ear among others, but a perfect cosmetic surgery cannot make you look like someone else after all else has been done. With laser treatments, facial marks would be reduced.

ii. They cut you up with all surgeries: The idea that people are cut up during internal surgeries is not entirely true, because depending on the kind of surgery required, it is possible to employ non-invasive methods to operate on your vital organs without cutting you up. While it is quite normal to fear being cut up and the resultant scars that might follow, you might request for non-invasive surgeries that do not require elaborate cuts or leave scar tissues. But even at that, laser treatments could remove scar tissues and relatively restore your skin.

iii. A face lift reverses the aging process: A face lift cannot reverse the aging process because after some few years, the toll of aging starts to set in again. A face lift would definitely make you look younger and radiant than your actual age, but it does not stay the hands of aging or reverse its encroachments. You can sure look 5 or 10 years younger, but you will surely feel the hands of aging on your body and spirit. Botox and filler injections may deal with the hollows and laser treatment or microdermabrasion may also deal with scars and wrinkles, but they wear off after some years.

iv. Liposuction induces weight loss: This is never true because you can never lose weight with liposuction. It is true that through liposuction, excess fats could be removed from your body and you feel temporarily light and thin, you still start to put on weight if you continue at those factors that tend to weight gain. Liposuction removes body fat, but it does not stop you from gaining weight again.

v. The plastic they put in you causes discomforts: It is true that they might put plastics in your nose, ear, and other parts of your body if you are undergoing facial or reconstructive surgeries, but it is not true that it causes discomforts or really harms you. When it is used to reshape your nose for instance, it does not interfere with your breathing or even affect your sight, and this is where LASIK eye surgery has come to stay. They only help in reshaping your tissues and firming up your features. This does not mean that there are no risks involved, but you might have to speak to your doctor for reassurances and clarifications if you are ever scared of anything or wish to dispel any hearsay.

These are just a few examples of how, when it comes to surgery, reality is a lot less scary and extreme than the myths circulating in pop culture would portray it. This isn't to suggest you should run right out and have an unnecessary surgery. But don't let unfounded fears delay a serious operation you or a loved one needs.

The above post is a guest blog entry.

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/13/13)

Here you will find listed the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Only at the MedFriendly Medical Blog. Bookmark for future reference.

1. Bionic hands controlled by iPhone app: The hand offers "unparalleled dexterity and control, enabling wearers to more easily perform activities of daily living and thus increase their quality of life," said Ian Stevens, CEO of Touch Bionics.

2. Deaths from new bird flu underscore grim fears: A new report on three of the first patients in China to contract a novel strain of bird flu has U.S. officials worried about a grim scenario that includes severe illness with pneumonia, septic shock, brain damage and multi-organ failure.

3. New technology speeding progress on bird flu vaccine: Even as U.S. officials this week awaited the arrival of a sample of the new bird flu virus from China - typically the first step in making a flu vaccine - government-backed researchers had already begun testing a "seed" strain of the virus made from the genetic code posted on the Internet.

4. Supplement ingredient DMAA is illegal, dangerous, FDA says: The Food and Drug Administration is warning to consumers not to buy dietary supplements containing the ingredient dimethylamylamine, or DMAA.

5. FDA advisory panel to reconsider Avandia safety: A federal health advisory panel in June will reconsider safety data on GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Avandia diabetes drug, although the British drugmaker on Friday said it has not sought permission to make the nearly discontinued drug widely available again in the United States.

6. Upper-Income Seniors' Medicare Hike: President Barack Obama's plan to raise Medicare premiums for upper-income seniors would create five new income brackets to squeeze more revenue for the government from the top tiers of retirees, the administration revealed Friday.

7. Why Apple-Shaped People Have Higher Risk Of Kidney Disease: A new study may help explain why being "apple-shaped", that is carrying excess weight around the middle, is more closely linked with kidney disease than being pear-shaped, regardless of BMI.

8. Work Out or Fix a Meal? Survey Finds It’s One or the Other: Preparing meals can mean less time for exercise, according to a new study.

9. FDA cracks down on compounding pharmacies: More than 700 people have become ill and more than 50 of them have died of meningitis since a pharmacy in Massachusetts manufactured thousands of vials of contaminated steroids. It's the worst pharmaceutical disaster in recent times and it's drawn attention to the rapid growth of compounding pharmacies. There are thousands of them in America making high risk drugs, but they're not supervised by the FDA. Since the disaster, the FDA has been looking into this.

10. Do Teens Who Sleep In Stay Slimmer?: Study finds association between more shuteye, healthier weight.

Medical Equipment for Home Use

The proliferation of medical equipment that you can order and obtain online is significant and sometimes confusing. The way most people figure it, if it is available online and I can get it without a doctor having to approve it, then my insurance company will pay the bill if I submit a claim.

Stop right there … you may be in for a surprise or two. Let us talk about what most people use in terms of medical insurance at the point in their lives when they routinely need medical equipment of some type to treat health problems, namely Medicare and Medicaid. In general, these programs cover the cost of the equipment itself but that is not the whole story. A lot of this equipment also requires the place where you live to be modified to be able to use the equipment effectively. Medicare and Medicaid DO NOT cover home modifications in any way. If you are a veteran, the VA is a little more progressive and has grant programs where they will give you the money to at least pay for some of the cost of home modification.

Medicare/Medicaid

Pay attention to the rules when you are dealing with Medicare or you just might end up in a significant amount of unintended debt. Let us talk about the Part B stuff now. First, any medical equipment you need MUST BE certified as needed by a licensed doctor. That usually means you must have a prescription from the doctor with his signature on it. Second, the medical equipment must be portable. It cannot be permanently installed or affixed to the house in any permanent manner. The words you are looking for in the Medicare book of knowledge is “durable medical equipment.”

Once you have sorted that out in your mind and have a level of comfort with the process, you can either rent or buy the eligible items. The typical stuff we are a talking about is hospital style beds, wheelchairs, scooters, oxygen equipment, blood sugar meters, blood dialysis machines and a host of other things needed for the physically challenged and medically informed patient. Note the common characteristics of these items … they are all free to move and are not attached to anything but you when you use it. If you need a safety railing in your shower, DO NOT think that Medicare will provide it. They will not. Why not? Because, it is a piece of equipment that is permanently mounted. Just because you think you need it to be safe means nothing to Medicare.

There is also a Part C to Medicare called Medicare Advantage. This plan potentially provides extra coverage for equipment not covered under Part B plus the out of pocket expenses are lower as well. As you know, this is the State’s extension of the Federal Medicare program. As a result, you can expect the same rules to apply in general. The one thing to check out with the State program is to see if they are running any special programs that deal with permanent home modifications. It will be a special rule that the state is providing the money for, so the Medicare book of knowledge doesn’t apply. Look at State’s rules and follow the guidelines and application procedure. Be approved BEFORE you contract with a home builder to make the modifications.

Guest post by http://www.medicalmachinesonline.com/

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/12/13)

Back by popular demand, this new MedFriendly Blog feature compiles the top 10 daily news stories from reputable sources across the internet. No more searching multiple health websites for health news as they are accessible from here. Bookmark for future reference.

1. Fewer moms having C-sections before 39 weeks: Moms can be convinced to change their minds about having their babies before they are at full term, according to a study released this week in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.

2. Study shows pain really is all in your head, and you can see it: Researchers say they’ve figured out an objective way to measure pain -- by imaging the brain’s response, in real time.

3. Some drinking tied to longer life post-breast cancer: Women with breast cancer who had a few alcoholic drinks per week before their diagnosis were slightly less likely to die from their cancer, according to a study that followed newly-diagnosed patients for 11 years, on average.

4. U.N. aims to end child deaths from pneumonia, severe diarrhea: Child deaths from pneumonia and severe diarrhea, mainly among the poor in Africa and South Asia, could be virtually eliminated by 2025 under an "integrated" strategy that includes better sanitation and newer vaccines, U.N. agencies said on Friday.

5. Implanted "Bracelet" Helps Treat Chronic Heartburn: A tiny magnetic bracelet implanted at the base of the throat is greatly improving life for some people with chronic heartburn who need more help than medicine can give them.

6. Worrisome Levels of Lead Found In Imported Rice: An analysis of imported brands found surprising levels of the metal.

7. Melanoma Succumbs To Natural Plant Substance Gossypin In Lab Tests: For the first time, using lab tests on cell cultures and mice, researchers in the US have shown that gossypin, a naturally-occurring substance found in plants, may be an effective treatment against melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

8. Why Chocolate Can Be Deadly For Dogs: Chocolate is a sweet treat for many people, but for dogs it can be a killer.

9. NYC soda ban would lead customers to consume more sugary drinks, study suggests: A new study suggests this type of law may backfire and actually cause people to purchase more sugary beverages.

10. Belly Fat May Be Tied to Kidney Damage: Study links an apple-shaped figure to early signs of kidney problems.

Top 10 Daily Medical News Stories (4/10/13)

This is a test of a new potential feature on MedFriendly in which top news stories are compiled from around the web and posted here in one single source. Feedback is appreciated. 

1. NFL wants players' suit over concussions dismissed: The National Football League attempted on Tuesday to dismiss more than 200 cases brought by nearly 4,200 retired players who said they were not warned of the dangers of head trauma.

2. Study links gene to doubled Alzheimer’s risk in blacks: African-Americans with a particular gene are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease in old age as those without it, says a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. This finding is a result of the largest database search for Alzheimer’s genes among African-Americans.

3. VA still prescribing tranquilizers to veterans with PTSD, despite warnings: Veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are still being prescribed tranquilizers – such as Valium and Xanax – by doctors from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Stars and Stripes reported.

4. Breakfast cereal tied to lower BMI for kids: Regularly eating cereal for breakfast is tied to healthy weight for kids, according to a new study that endorses making breakfast cereal accessible to low-income kids to help fight childhood obesity. 

5. FDA Approves Return of Drug for Morning Sickness: Talk about a comeback: A treatment pulled off the market 30 years ago has won Food and Drug Administration approval again as the only drug specifically designated to treat morning sickness.

6. United Health units hit with $500 million verdict in hepatitis case: A Nevada jury awarded $500 million in punitive damages in a closely watched case against two affiliates of UnitedHealth Group stemming from a hepatitis C outbreak in the state, according to a spokeswoman for a law firm in the case.

7. Artificial Ovary Offers More Natural Hormone Replacement: Researchers in the US have bioengineered an artificial ovary that makes hormones in the same proportions as a healthy one. They report that in the lab setting at least, the bioengineered ovary shows sustained released of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and suggest it may provide a more natural option for women than hormone replacement therapy.

8. How Exercise May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk: Older women who are physically active have lower levels of estrogen and its breakdown products in their bodies, according to a new study, perhaps explaining why exercise may reduce breast cancer risk.

9. "Shocking" number of melanoma survivors tan, don't wear sunscreen: Doctors are concerned by new research that finds a surprising number of people who survive melanoma engage in risky behaviors after beating cancer, including not wearing sunscreen or visiting a tanning salon.

10: The Legal Perils of Giving Medical Advice on the Internet: A Texas law barring veterinarians from offering online consultation draws First Amendment scrutiny

What Do Ergonomic Chairs Offer Doctors

When searching for doctor chairs to use in offices and clinics, doctors have a lot of options to choose from such as adjustable chairs and plain, flat stools. Among the various options available, ergonomic chairs are often preferred. As doctors spend long periods of time while sitting, a lot of stress can build up as the weight of the upper body is transferred to the thighs and buttocks. 

Conventional chairs for doctors were not designed considering the mechanism of the body, and therefore, they can lead to discomfort in the form of back pain, neck pain, leg pain and pain in other areas of the body. Ergonomic chairs, on the other hand, have been manufactured after a lot of research going into the body’s posture while sitting and the causes of pain resulting from skeletal stress.

Here are some benefits that ergonomic chairs provide:

1.  Improves the posture of sitting

Whether doctors are preparing medical reports or examining patients, ergonomic chairs are going to improve the posture of sitting. The pressure exerted on the discs in spinal cord as in case of conventional chairs is reduced to a great extent as there’s natural support for the neck and back.

The upper body weight is easily transferred to the backrest through the tilt adjustment or reclines in the chair, which makes changes to the seat in relation with the floor.

2.  Reduces the chances of wrist and elbow pain

Due to the advancement of technology in the medical field, it’s now common for doctors to use different devices such as laptops, tablets and notebooks. However, doing so for a long period of time leads to stress on the elbows and wrists, which can lead to pain that can even become chronic with time.

Ergonomic chairs include armrests that can be adjusted in different positions in case of height and width along with soft padding that provides comfort to both elbows and wrists, making sure they’re being used in a proper posture.

3.  Forward working posture

The common sitting posture on a conventional chair leads to pressure and exertion on the back of the thighs, but with an ergonomic chair, there’s tilt adjustment which can be configured by doctors to sit a forward-working position.

This posture works well when patients are being examined, as it reduces the need to stand up or lean forward. The tilt adjustment also contains reasonable space between the front edge of the chair and the upper thighs.

4. Improves blood flow to the body

Traditional chairs in the clinic and office creates a posture that is static and  leads to stress in the body, which in turn prevents the proper circulation of the blood and even cause nerve damage in some cases.

Ergonomic chairs reduce these problems, thereby leading to less fatigue and improving blood circulation. All this comes together to increase productivity at the work place.

Conclusion

There’s a large range of ergonomic chairs to choose from such as with ergonomic medical stool, side chairs, desk chairs etc. They can also be custom build as each doctor has their own preferences in terms or whether they want one on the carpet or a hard floor. Custom build also allows the option of choosing different fabrics, diameter and height of the chair. The aim of the chair is to create the perfect balance while providing maximum comfort.

The above entry is a guest blog post.