Preventing Alzheimer's Disease

Several strategies may be worth trying to prevent Alzheimer's.
In the first of a related series of articles focusing on Alzheimer's disease, the Los Angeles Times (7/26, Roan) reports that nothing has been found to prevent Alzheimer's disease, according to an "assessment was issued by a National Institutes of Health task force at an April meeting." However, "several healthy and inexpensive strategies are clearly worth trying, say neurologists and Alzheimer's researchers." Currently, "the strategies with the most support are regular physical activity, a Mediterranean diet, and high levels of cognitive engagement."
Early-stage programs may be valuable for those recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The Los Angeles Times (7/26, Ogilvie) discusses the value of "early stage programs" to assist patients newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's and their families. Such programs provide "a safe place to be heard; educational seminars and day trips; and access to practical advice on matters, such as financial planning and end-of-life care," as well as alleviate the isolation such a devastating diagnosis brings. In fact, according to Steven Arnold, a professor of psychiatry and neurology at the University of Pennsylvania and the director of the Penn Memory Center, "interacting with people who are sensitive to what they're going through...can comfort people with the disease and help alleviate that isolation, as well as the depression that the Alzheimer's Assn. estimates affects 20%-40% of patients."
Five medications have been approved to treat cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's. The Los Angeles Times (7/26, Roan) reports, "Five medications have been approved to treat the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease." The medicines, which include Namenda (memantine), Razadyne (reminyl galantamine), Exelon (rivastigmine), Aricept (donepezil), and Cognex (tacrine) "can reduce some symptoms -- such as difficulties with memory, language, attention and reasoning -- especially in the early stages of the disease." However, "they don't work for everyone, and none of them works permanently."
Researchers now targeting tau as well as beta-amyloid to develop new therapies . The Los Angeles Times (7/26, Adams) reports that researchers "studying treatments for Alzheimer's disease have focused on telltale plaques that appear in patients' diseased brains as a target for therapy. The plaques are clumps of a small protein called beta-amyloid that build up in the space around nerve cells and interfere with normal brain function." However, "earlier this month at an international conference, different tangled structures inside neurons took center stage alongside plaques. These so-called neurofibrillary tangles involve another protein, called tau, that normally functions to move critical supplies around neurons. Tau tangles are now being targeted with new experimental therapies."
Researchers report progress on Alzheimer's blood test. The Houston Chronicle (7/25, Ackerman) reported, "Texas scientists are on the verge of developing a blood test to identify patients with Alzheimer's disease, a potential breakthrough on the difficult-to-diagnose ailment. The test, details of which were presented at an international conference on Alzheimer's in Hawaii this month, would give nonspecialists who often have trouble diagnosing the disease a tool to catch it earlier and make a referral when its progression can still be slowed. ... The study was the product of the Texas Alzheimer's Research Consortium, a Legislature-created collaboration that includes Baylor, Texas Tech, UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio and the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth."
Research in mice explores role sirtuin may play in Alzheimer's. The New York Times (7/24, A9, Wade) reported, "A potentially promising approach to treating Alzheimer's disease has been developed by researchers studying sirtuin, a protein thought capable of extending lifespan in laboratory animals." In fact, by "using mice prone to developing Alzheimer's, the researchers showed that activating sirtuin suppressed the disease and that destroying sirtuin made it much worse." The researchers from the "Massachusetts Institute of Technology...say it raises the hope of treating Alzheimer's, and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Huntington's, with drugs that activate sirtuin." The Boston Globe (7/26, Weintraub) also covers the story.

Dietary Supplement Alert

Dietary supplements found to contain prescription drugs.
The Los Angeles Times (7/22, Dennis) "Booster Shots" blog reported, "Here are two recalls that might not have consumers rushing to get their money back." The FDA "announced today that a lab analysis of Joyful Slim Herb Supplement was found to contain desmethyl sibutramine. Most people know sibutramine as Meridia, a prescription weight-loss drug." In another case, the FDA "announced that some batches of Good Health's Vialipro had been found to contain sulfoaildenafil, a cousin of sildenafil. Most people know that drug as Viagra." The additions "might be one way to counter criticism that many supplements are ineffective. Nonetheless, the FDA is far from pleased."

IBS and Brain Composition

Scientists identify possible connection between IBS, brain.
The Los Angeles Times (7/22, Roan) "Booster Shots" blog reported that researchers from McGill University and UCLA have identified "a possible connection between IBS and the brain." After taking "MRI scans of 55 IBS patients and 48 healthy women for comparison," investigators noted that the "women with IBS tended to have different amounts of brain gray matter in certain areas; for example, decreases in gray matter in parts of the brain that govern attention and areas that suppress pain." That association has "been identified in other disorders, such as...fibromyalgia and hip pain," which suggests that IBS, "like these other conditions...may be due to the brain's inability to inhibit the pain response."

Risks of Prolonged Sitting

Prolonged sitting may increase mortality risk, regardless of daily exercise.
The CNN (7/22) "The Chart" blog reported that a paper appearing in the American Journal of Epidemiology reveals that "people who spend more time sitting during their leisure time have an increased risk of death, regardless of daily exercise." In fact, after following some 123,000 healthy adults, American Cancer Society researchers "found women who spend over six hours a day sitting during leisure time (watching TV, playing games, surfing the web, reading) were 40 percent more likely to die sooner than women who spend less than three hours sitting," while "men...have a 20 percent increased risk of death." Investigators say that "prolonged time sitting suppresses" the immune system and may increase "resting blood pressure and cholesterol levels."

PTSD in Children

Children also may be vulnerable to PTSD, studies suggest.
Time (7/22, Hamilton) reported that "new research on child survivors of Hurricane Katrina and witnesses of the 9/11 terrorist attacks" suggests that "young children and teens not only exhibit symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression that are similar to those of adults, but that they may react more strongly to trauma because adults do." Recent studies "also show that younger children and girls are more likely to develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than boys and older kids." Notably, "girls of any age were twice as likely as boys to have problems adapting after" a disaster, studies found.

Throat Cancer in Men

HPV may be emerging as leading cause of throat cancer in men.
Forbes (7/22, Herper) reports human papilloma virus (HPV), known for causing cervical cancer, "is emerging as the leading cause of throat cancer in men." Researchers "believe it is transmitted via oral sex," and they estimate that "there are 11,300 HPV throat cancers each year in the US -- and the numbers are growing fast as people have been having more sexual partners since the 1960s." By 2015 "there could be 20,000 cases." Some top researchers are arguing that drug makers should test whether HPV vaccines now used to prevent cervical cancer in women "can also prevent throat infections in boys." Two vaccines, Merck's Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix are approved for cervical cancer; but the drug makers don't seem keen on conducting studies for throat-cancer vaccine because they probably believe it would be hard to get approved, Forbes said. In that case, the federal government "needs to step in and fund the long study," Forbes added, citing some top researchers.

Appealing Denied Health Claims

Obama Administration to unveil new rules for consumers to appeal denied health claims.
The Washington Post (7/22, Galewitz, Andrews) reports, "Patients will find it easier to appeal the denials of health insurance claims under rules being issued Thursday by the Obama administration." These new "regulations guarantee consumers the right to appeal denials -- directly to their insurers and then, if necessary, to external review boards." The White House said in a fact sheet that the "rules issued today will end the patchwork of protections that apply to only some plans in some states, and simplify the system for consumers."

Anxiety and Health Problems

People who feel anxious about relationships may be predisposed to certain health problems.
The Los Angeles Times (7/21, Stein) "Booster Shots" blog reports that "people who feel anxious about relationships or avoid them could be predisposed to certain health problems," according to a study published in the July issue of the journal Health Psychology. Investigators "looked at data on 5,645 people who took part in the nationally represented survey of adults ages 18 to 60." Study participants were also "surveyed about their relationships."
The Time (7/20, O'Callaghan) "Wellness" blog reported that individuals "who were insecure in their relationships were more likely to suffer from a range of health problems including heart disease, and faced a 50% higher risk for heart attack or stroke compared with those not plagued by relationship anxiety."

Alcohol and Stroke

Stroke risk increases for one hour after drinking.
ABC News (7/15, Carollo) reported, "Happy hour may not be so happy afterward, as" Harvard "researchers have found that stroke risk is more than twice as high the hour immediately after consuming alcohol, even after as little as one drink." But, "health experts say, that's no reason to put down the wine glass or beer mug, because there's a significant body of research showing that moderate alcohol intake can be good for you." What's more, some have "questioned the study's methodology," maintaining that "asking study participants to remember certain things is 'notorious for introducing recall bias.'"
The authors of the study also conceded that "conclusive evidence about the association between alcohol consumption and the acute risk of stroke would require a long-term clinical trial," HealthDay (7/15, Reinberg) reported. "Nonetheless, these results suggest that there is an acute elevated risk of ischemic stroke that may be offset by the potential beneficial effects of long-term moderate alcohol consumption," explained lead investigator Elizabeth Mostofsky. "But the findings may not apply to patients with severe stroke," the team concluded after interviewing "390 patients about three days after their stroke."
They eventually discovered that "relative risk of ischemic stroke rapidly fell off from 2.3-fold higher at one hour after consumption (P=0.002) to 1.6-fold at two hours (P=0.05) and back to baseline by three hours," MedPage Today (7/15, Phend) reported. "But at 24 hours after taking a drink, stroke risk was actually 30% lower than during periods when there was no alcohol consumption (P=0.02)," according to the paper in Stroke.

Open Access Practice

Massachusetts physician cuts waiting time by accepting same-day appointments, walk-ins.
The Boston Globe /Kaiser Health News (7/14, Arnst) reports that a Worcester, MA, family physician, Dennis Dimitri, runs an "unusual" practice: most of his "patients call in the morning and are assigned a time slot later that day" and he accepts few appointments in advance. Dimitri's "open access" system works because it "reduces the number of patients who don't show up for their appointments or who call in with an emergency and plead to be squeezed into an already full schedule," the story notes.

Alzheimers Staging Guidelines

New guidelines propose pre-clinical stage for Alzheimer's disease.
On its front page, the New York Times (7/14, A1, Kolata) reports, "For the first time in 25 years, medical experts are proposing a major change in the criteria for Alzheimer's disease, part of a new movement to diagnose and, eventually, treat the disease earlier." These "new diagnostic guidelines, presented Tuesday at an international Alzheimer's meeting in Hawaii, would mean that new technology like brain scans would be used to detect the disease even before there are evident memory problems or other symptoms." Should the guidelines be "adopted in the fall, as expected, some experts predict a two- to threefold increase in the number of people with Alzheimer's disease."
Reuters (7/14, Steenhuysen) reports that the new diagnostic guidelines would examine Alzheimer's just when the first bits of amyloid protein start to appear in the brain, perhaps as early as 10 years before a patient would receive a formal clinical diagnosis of dementia. Experts now believe that intervention at the earliest stages of the disease would be most effective. The new guidelines, which propose that Alzheimer's be diagnosed as either pre-clinical disease, mild disease, or advanced disease, were put together by three panels of experts assembled by the Alzheimer's Association and the National Institute on Aging.
"The new criteria update previous criteria that were established by a workgroup with experts from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association," WebMD (7/13, Doheny) reported. "The Alzheimer's Association and the National Institute on Aging are launching a website...to solicit input from additional experts." Comments will be accepted until this September.

Tips for Preventing Dementia

Physical activity, tea-drinking, sufficient vitamin D levels may help reduce risk of brain decline, studies suggest.
USA Today (7/12, Marcus) reports that, according to three studies presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, "improved living and diet habits -- including lots of physical activity, regular tea-drinking and sufficient vitamin D levels -- could reduce the risk of brain decline." In a study following some 1,200 elderly individuals over two decades, investigators discovered that "participants who had moderate to heavy levels of physical activity had about a 40% lower risk of developing any type of dementia." A second study "including data on more than 4,800 men and women ages 65 and older" found that "those who drank tea one to four times a week had average annual rates of decline 37% lower than people who didn't drink tea."
HealthDay (7/11, Preidt) reported that a third study that "analyzed data from 3,325 people aged 65 and older" found that "the risk of cognitive impairment was 42 percent higher

ER Visits and Mental Health

Millions of ED visits related to mental disorders, a substance abuse problem, or both.
The Los Angeles Times (7/9, Stein) "Booster Shots" blog reported, "Out of 95 million visits made to emergency rooms by adults in the US in 2007, 12 million, or 12.5%, had to do with mental disorders, a substance abuse problem, or both," according to a report recently released "by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of the Department of Health and Human Services." Specifically, "the top five conditions that made up 96% of all the mental health/substance abuse cases were (in order) mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcohol disorders, drug disorders, schizophrenia and other psychoses, and intentional self-harm."

Weight Loss and Menopause

Weight loss may help reduce menopausal hot flashes in overweight or obese women.
CNN /Health.com (7/13, Mann) reports, "Overweight women who experience hot flashes -- the uncomfortable flushing and sweating spells that accompany menopause -- may be able to cool those symptoms by losing weight," according to a study published in the July 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
HealthDay (7/12, Holohan) explained that study participants "were encouraged to exercise at least 200 minutes a week and reduce caloric intake to 1,200-1,500 calories per day." Meanwhile, matched controls "received monthly group education classes for the first four months."
WebMD (7/12, Woznicki) pointed out that participants all "had a BMI of 25 or higher" at the study's start. Six months later, "compared with those in the health education program, women who were in the weight loss program and were bothered by hot flashes had more than twice the odds of reporting a measurable improvement after six months." What's more, those women also lost weight, had a smaller waist size, and a decreased BMI. Medscape (7/12, Barclay) also covered the story.

More Recalled Childrens OTC Drugs

J&J expands OTC drug recall.
The AP (7/9) reports that Johnson & Johnson's "McNeil Consumer Healthcare business said it is recalling 21 lots of over-the-counter drugs," including Benadryl, Children's Tylenol, Motrin IB, Tylenol Extra Strength, Tylenol Day & Night, and Tylenol PM "sold in the US, Puerto Rico, Fiji, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica." The recall is "because of a musty or moldy smell" that "was linked to a chemical in shipping pallets and traced to a facility in Puerto Rico."
The Wall Street Journal (7/9, Loftus) reports that there is no clear resolution in sight for the recalls. By next Thursday, McNeil said it will submit a comprehensive action plan on quality improvements to the FDA. The company also said the prospect for adverse medical events from the recalled drugs is remote.
Reuters (7/9, Pierson) adds that Thursday's recall is a follow-up to the company's January recall. There have been two other recalls in the past year.
J&J discloses physician payments. The Wall Street Journal (7/9, Loftus) reports in a separate story that for the first time, J&J publicly disclosed its payments to physicians, although the data is posted on websites of the various operating companies of J&J's pharmaceutical unit. However, J&J is not disclosing aggregate figures on how much it spent or how many physicians received payments. Under the new healthcare reform law, drugmakers beginning in 2013 will be required to report their payments to physicians to HHS, which will make the data available on a public website.

New Website for Health Insurance

HHS launches Web portal to help consumers buy health insurance
On July 1, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius unveiled the government's new website aimed at helping uninsured consumers find and buy insurance. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act required HHS to set up HealthCare.gov. Sebelius called the site a "one-stop, easy-to-use resource where American consumers can see all their health care options in one place." The site also includes information about the health system reform law.
Info about public programs, private insurance plans
HealthCare.gov is the first central database of health coverage options, and includes information about public programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Plan, and high-risk pool coverage provided through the new Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan. In addition, it includes information from more than 1,000 private insurance plans. Consumers can see a list of all private health plans that are accepting new customers by state and zip code.
Coverage options for small businesses
The site also provides coverage options for small businesses, including information about the tax credits available in the health system reform law. While consumers cannot enroll directly through the federal site, they are provided with health plans' Web links and phone numbers. The website also links to a summary of health plans' benefits and the provider networks, as well as the drug coverage offered by the plans.
A list of local individual health coverage plans
The website walks individuals through a checklist where they are asked to indicate their state, age range, and whether they are disabled, healthy, or have a medical condition. They are also asked whether they have any health insurance coverage. The site then provides options to learn about private health plans, public options, COBRA coverage, and the new high-risk insurance pools for people who have not been able to obtain coverage due to pre-existing medical conditions. Once they enter their zip code, a list of plans in their area is provided.
Benefit information, price estimates and performance data
Beginning in October, the website will expand to include benefit information and price estimates, including premiums, deductibles, and coverage limitations. The site eventually will provide additional information such as performance data on plans, including the percentage of claims rejected, medical loss ratios, and how often patients appeal coverage decisions, as well as information on preventing disease and illness and improving health care quality. The website will serve as an information bridge until 2014 when the state health insurance exchanges are operational; at that point, most of the website's functions will be taken over by individual state exchange websites.

Fish Oil and Breast Cancer

Fish oil may help lower risk of certain types of breast cancer.
CNN /Health.com (7/8, Gardner) reported, "Millions of Americans already take fish oil to keep their hearts healthy and to treat ailments ranging from arthritis to depression." Now, a paper appearing in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention indicates that the "supplements may also help women lower their risk of breast cancer." In fact, "postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 76 who took fish oil were...less likely to develop certain types of breast cancer than women who didn't," researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found.
IOM panel investigating possible link between breast cancer, environmental risk factors. NBC Nightly News (7/7, story 7, 2:20, Williams) reported, "It's long been a fear -- more than that, a belief held by many people that things in our environment, our daily life that we come in contact with cause certain kinds of cancer." Specifically, "for breast cancer," there are concerns about "pesticides and chemicals like BPA in plastic bottles and can liners that can disrupt hormone function in animal studies." Yesterday, however, "a panel of experts...in San Francisco heard so far there is no proof of a connection, but it is critical to look." Therefore, the "panel from the Institute of Medicine...is holding studies to determine what further research is needed."

Comparing Hospitals

HHS expands website of hospital comparisons.
Florida's Palm Beach Post (7/8, Singer) reports "health consumers can find out significantly more about the quality of care at their hospitals after the US Department of Heath and Human Services updated its www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov website with searchable data on outpatient surgical infections, heart attack treatment success and more." Data released Wednesday "appeared to bolster that argument, at least for heart attack patients," which showed "a drop in the national 30-day mortality rate for heart attacks of 0.4 percent to 16.2 percent for the three fiscal years of 2006-09." Also, the new healthcare law will "likely" give the comparison data "even greater weight" because some of the information may be used to calculate hospitals' reimbursements after 2013.
The Hill 's (7/8, Pecquet) "Healthwatch" blog reports "the online tool that lets users analyze and compare data on patient care from more than 4,700 hospitals across the country." HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that "thanks to this new update this year, for the first time, Medicare patients can see how efficiently facilities use certain types of imaging equipment and keep them safe from exposure to potentially harmful radiation that may not be necessary."
Modern Healthcare (7/8) notes that new additions to the website "include four measures related to use – or overuse – of medical imaging; two measures related to antibiotic administration in outpatient surgery patients; and four measures related to outpatient care during possible heart attacks."
Comparison data show variations across hospitals, regions. Virginia's Richmond Times-Dispatch (7/8, Smith) reports Hospital Compare, available since 2003, "traditionally" has focused on "inpatient care," and the hospitals get a chance to see the data before they are posted. According to Dr. Barry Straube, CMS' chief medical officer, the data show "hospitals with higher heart-attack and heart-failure death rates are concentrated in the South."
The Boston Globe (7/8, Kowalczyk) reports "Massachusetts hospitals as a whole outperform hospitals across the country on the quality of outpatient care, including providing fast treatment to emergency room patients with chest pain and protecting surgery patients from infections."
The Hartford Courant (7/8, Becker) reports that "on average, Connecticut hospitals performed better than the national average in nearly all measures," including "the number of minutes before outpatients with chest pain get an electrocardiogram." Straube also said the "goal here is not to label hospitals as good or bad, but it's to provide insight to the hospitals as well as the general public on what they are achieving in the care that they render through Medicare and other programs."
The San Antonio Express-News (7/8, Finley) reports that while San Antonio, TX, "hospitals as a group did fairly well, most had at least one area of concern." On the issue of how many patients got a second mammogram or ultrasound within 45 days of a screening mammogram, the government said "the best hospitals" tend to have a rate between 8 percent and 14 percent, "indicating enough – but not too much – follow-up."

New ADHD Medication

FDA approves AD/HD patch for adolescent use.
The AP (7/7) reports, "Shire PLC said Tuesday that US regulators approved its attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patch Daytrana [methylphenidate transdermal] for use in adolescents age 13 to 17." The FDA previously "approved Daytrana in April 2006 for use in children age six to 12." The patch "is sold in strengths of 10 milligrams, 15 milligrams, 20 milligrams, and 30 milligrams, and is designed to be worn for nine hours."
The Philadelphia Inquirer (7/7, Rudolph) notes that the patch is "designed to be used in conjunction with psychological, educational and other measures."

Glucosamine Update

Glucosamine appears to have no effect on chronic low back pain, degenerative lumbar osteoarthritis.
On its website, ABC News (7/6, Allen) reported, "Glucosamine has looked like salvation to many people with joint pain," and "statistics attest to the supplement's widespread appeal." For example, a "2007 federal survey of Americans' use of complementary and alternative medicine found that more than 6 million adults in the United States had taken glucosamine in the previous month." Meanwhile, a "study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published in 2004, found that among women treated at New Mexico hospitals for joint and muscle pain, 25 percent of those with osteoarthritis used glucosamine."
Nevertheless, there have been mixed study results regarding the effectiveness of the treatment, according to the Los Angeles Times (7/6, Stein) "Booster Shots" blog. "Some studies have shown the supplement to be effective in treating some joint pain, but others show no benefit." Now, research coming out of Norway reveals "that glucosamine was no different from a placebo in treating lower back pain."
The study included 250 individuals with "chronic back pain and degenerative lumbar osteoarthritis" who were randomly assigned "1,500 milligrams daily of glucosamine or an inactive placebo," HealthDay (7/6, Reinberg) reported. The "patients' pain was measured using the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire at 6 weeks, then again at 3, 6 and 12 months," according to the paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association. "At the start of the...trial, patients taking glucosamine scored 9.2 on the pain scale while the patients taking placebo scored 9.7."
Six months later, "the average score in both groups was 5.0," MedPage Today (7/6, Smith) reported. "At a year, the average score was 4.8 for glucosamine and 5.5 for placebo, but the difference remained nonsignificant." What's more, "between the end of the intervention and the end of follow-up, there was...no significant difference in average disability score, lower back pain at rest and during activity, and quality of life."
Still, pointed out the author of an accompanying editorial, "no one study settles any question," WebMD (7/6, DeNoon) reported. But the supplement "did no harm," explained lead author Philip Wilkens. "And some patients who improved while taking the supplement told him they were sure it helped them." Reuters (7/7) and Medscape (7/6, Anderson) also covered the study.

Screening Rate Changes

Colon cancer screening rates rise, but mammograms plateau.
ABC World News (7/6, story 7, 2:10, Sawyer) reported, "There's a new study...showing some real progress in all of us, and our health." According to data released by the CDC, "more people are getting checked for colon cancer." Approximately "two out of three adults age 50 and older are getting screened regularly," but that "means more than 20 million of us still are not."
However, the "number of mammograms has remained unchanged," the CBS Evening News (7/6, story 8, 0:25, Couric) reported. Yet, the "CDC said...the lives of at least 10,000 Americans could have been saved last year alone if they'd gotten breast and colon cancer screenings."
The newly passed healthcare law, the CDC's Thomas Frieden pointed out, could help change those numbers, however, the Wall Street Journal (7/7, Dooren) reports. In fact, it will require insurers to cover recommended screenings. Frieden added, "We know that many, many lives could be saved, particularly with an increase in colon-cancer screening."
The "data come from the state-level 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey," the Baltimore Sun (7/6) "Picture of Health" blog reported. The figures reveal that "colorectal screening increased from 52 percent in 2002 to 63 percent in 2008," the CNN (7/6, Curley) "The Chart" blog reported. Investigators also noted that "adults with health insurance had higher colorectal screening rates than the uninsured: 66 percent compared with 36 percent." In addition, "racial and ethnic minorities...showed lower screening rates, except for black" Americans.

Ultrasound Pain Device

Student develops miniature ultrasound pain relief device.
The Los Angeles Times (7/5, Dance) reported on "a coin-size device to make ultrasound pain relief available any time, anywhere." The device is being developed by George Lewis, a biomedical engineering student who is about to receive his doctorate from Cornell University, and who says his ultrasound generator "calms aches and joint pain." Lewis "has tried the device on a few dozen sufferers...and most, he says, report that it relieves their pain," although "the results are very preliminary."

New STD Risk

STD rates higher among men taking ED drugs.
Bloomberg News (7/6, Ostrow) reports, "Men taking drugs for sexual potency showed almost triple the rate of sexually transmitted diseases compared with those not taking the medications." In fact, the "higher rate of infections was seen in the year before and after the men started taking the prescription medicines," Harvard researchers explained. Investigators "looked at health insurance claims from 44 large US employers from 1997, one year before Viagra [sildenafil] was introduced, through 2006."
The "most frequently reported STD was HIV/AIDS, followed by chlamydia," HealthDay (7/5, Behen) noted. The study's lead investigator, Dr. Anupam B. Jena, "speculated that HIV/AIDS was the most frequently reported STD because 'the symptoms that are associated with a primary HIV infection are the kinds of things that make men more likely to show up to a doctor, rather than go to a free clinic where they know they can get tested for an STD anonymously.'" In conclusion, the findings detailed in the Annals of Internal Medicine "suggest a need for greater responsibility in prescribing ED medications." The Boston Globe (7/5, Cooney) "White Coat Notes" blog also covered the study.

Massachusetts ED Visits

Number of people visiting hospital EDs climbed in Massachusetts.
The Boston Globe (7/4, Kowalczyk) reported, "The number of people visiting hospital emergency" departments "has climbed in Massachusetts." After the passage of "the insurance law in 2006, officials hoped it would increase access to primary care doctors for the uninsured, which would improve their health and lessen their reliance on" ED's "for the flu, sprains, and other urgent care." Yet, "according to a report from the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, expanded coverage may have contributed to the rise in emergency" department "visits, as newly insured residents entered the healthcare system and could not find a primary care doctor or get a last-minute appointment with their physician." In fact, ED "visits rose by 9 percent from 2004 to 2008, to about 3 million visits a year," according to state data.

Chronic Pain Variables

Individual factors influence experiences with pain.
The Los Angeles Times (7/5, Hansen) reported, "Unlike blood pressure or temperature or other symptoms easily measured and defined, the physical reaction to unpleasant stimuli is hard to quantify or predict. It varies from person to person, with each individual describing pain -- and its intensity -- differently." Research published earlier this year "found that people who had a normal variation in" a certain "gene also had higher pain thresholds," and "for those with the variation in both of their copies of the gene, thresholds were even higher."
Millions suffer from chronic pain. Karen Ravn wrote in the Los Angeles Times (7/5) that "with chronic pain...the underlying problem that started it has usually (though not always) been fixed and yet the patient is still hurting." Ravn added, "No one knows a sure-fire way to avoid chronic pain. Still, you can improve your chances by avoiding the temptation to simply tough it out when you get injured."
Studies suggest movement therapies may help reduce chronic pain. The Los Angeles Times (7/5, Stein) reported, "Movement-based therapies such as yoga, tai chi, qigong, and more mainstream forms of exercise are gaining acceptance in the world of chronic pain management." In fact, "many pain clinics and integrative medicine centers now offer movement-based therapy for pain caused by cancer and cancer treatments, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases and conditions." And, "several small studies in peer-reviewed journals attest to the effectiveness of these therapies."

Sugar and Hypertension

Added sugar may be linked to an increased risk of developing hypertension.
The Los Angeles Times (7/1, Kaplan) "Booster Shots" blog reported that added sugar may be linked to an increased risk of developing hypertension, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Investigators "from the University of Colorado Denver checked to see whether added sugar intake was linked to blood pressure among the thousands of representative Americans who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2003 and 2006." The researchers, "by comparing the diets and systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) of all the volunteers...found that those who ate and drank more fructose from added sugars (as opposed to healthy sources like fresh fruit) had higher blood pressure than those who didn't."
MedPage Today (7/1, Neale) reported that "there are several possible mechanisms that might explain the positive association between fructose and blood pressure, the authors wrote, 'including stimulation of uric acid, inhibition of [the] endothelial nitric oxide synthase system, and stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, or by directly increasing sodium absorption in the gut.'"
CNN /Health.com (7/2, Gardner) reports that "one important drawback of the study is that the participants reported their own diets based on memory, which makes the estimates of fructose intake less accurate."

New Website for Coverage Questions

New HHS website helps consumers determine health coverage options.
The Christian Science Monitor (7/2, Grier) reports, "Healthcare.gov is up and running -- and that should be good news for the many US citizens who are trying to understand the brave new world of US health care following this year's passage of sweeping reform legislation." The site is intended to be a one-stop-shopping site for individuals looking to see what their insurance options are." According to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, "Healthcare.gov will take some of the mystery out of shopping for health insurance."
NPR (7/2) prints an interview with Sebelius about the website, during which she said, "This is such a huge step forward in terms of somebody being able to sit in their living room, at their kitchen table, with a family member, get information, where nobody's trying to sell you anything." NPR's Andrea Seabrook noted, "That's key, says Sebelius. There's no marketing on the site, no soft sell in the guise of information -- just all the options, both public and private, arranged for each user personally." Seabrook also pointed out that "in October, it'll start showing price estimates. And it's all lined up so you can compare across companies."
The Hill's (7/2, Lillis) Healthwatch blog quotes Sebelius as saying about the site's usefulness, "Before you make decisions, you need to know what your options are. ... And too many Americans have no idea." But, with this website, "consumers can tap information on more than 5,500 private plans sponsored by more than 1,000 insurers nationwide, Sebelius said," as well as "every plan under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program." Meanwhile, a representative of Families USA called the site "pretty phenomenal," and added, "You're about three clicks away from personalized coverage."
CBS News (7/2, Hunter) says on its website, "The most interesting part of the site may be the search tool," which "allows people to click on their state, then choose responses to questions about their family and medical status. A program processes the data and then spits out the best insurance options available."

Long Life Genetic Markers

Newly pinpointed genetic markers could be used to predict "exceptional longevity" with 77% accuracy.
ABC World News (7/1, story 10, 2:00, Sawyer) reported, "We all know about those people who live well past 100, vibrant, thriving. Is it some special food or some rule they live by?" Yet, according to NBC Nightly News (7/1, story 6, 2:00, Curry), there may be a question that's far more interesting: "If a test could tell you could live to be 100, would you take that test?" It's a conversation that seems to have deep roots in "science fiction." That may soon change, however, because "a scientist who spent decades trying to figure out why some people live to be 100 has now concluded the answer may have a lot more to do with genetics than you might think."
Boston University researchers identified "a genetic signature which may help predict who among us will reach the century mark," the CBS Evening News (7/1, story 10, 0:20, Pelley) reported. According to USA Today (7/2, Weise), the "gene clusters seem to trump disease-causing genes that would otherwise cause common problems of aging."
Commenting on the work detailed in Science, "Winifred K. Rossi, deputy director of the National Institute on Aging's Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology, which funded the research," told the Washington Post (7/2, A04, Stein), "It's an important steppingstone towards helping us understand the complex genetic and environmental factors that lead to a healthy, long life."

Prostate Screening Stats

PSA screening helped reduce prostate cancer mortality by nearly 50 percent.
Bloomberg News (6/30, Hallam) reported, "Prostate-cancer screening has been controversial because the tests can detect cancers that don't threaten the patients' health, resulting in unnecessary treatment that can impair quality of life." Although conflicting schools of thought continue to exist, researchers in Sweden are now saying that a "blood test for prostate cancer helped reduce deaths from the disease by almost 50 percent." In fact, the authors of the Lancet Oncology paper maintain that the "prostate-cancer tests reduced deaths from the disease more than comparable screening has done for breast cancer and colorectal cancer." One urologist who was not involved in the study said, "Most of us feel better overtreating than undertreating," and "this study supports that approach."

Doctors Practice Model

New practice models targeting patient dissatisfaction with long waits.
The New York Times (6/30, Schultz) "Bucks" blog reports, "Patient dissatisfaction with long waits is not lost on physicians, and new practice models are popping up around the country partly in response." Such practices may charge annual membership fees and use "information technology to help manage costs" to prevent patient visits for "routine ailments like urinary tract infections." These patients can be diagnosed "by e-mail or phone," and "refills are also done online" to "help limit the number of patients coming into the office." Patients would also have "longer appointment times" to "create an extra buffer in case a patient shows up late."

Teen Substance Abuse Trends

Survey finds higher number of teenage girls use alcohol, drugs to cope.
USA Today (6/30, Steinberg) reports, "Teen girls are more likely than teen boys to identify potential benefits from drugs and alcohol, says a study released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America." In a 2009 survey of "3,287 teenagers in grades nine to 12 in private and public schools," over "two-thirds of teen girls reported that using drugs helps kids cope with problems at home, and half said drugs help teens forget troubles." These data show that "people should not believe girls are less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol than boys, says Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of Partnership for a Drug-Free America."
These figures represent an increase of "11 percent in the past year, from 53 percent to 59 percent" among girls, while "boys have stayed at about the same level, hovering around 52 percent," Newsweek (6/30, Dailey) reports. Yet, "these numbers are more indicative of a long-term trend than a sudden uptick. In 2005 the rate of girls who had used alcohol in the past year as surveyed by the partnership hit 57 percent, only to fall back to 55 percent in 2007 and 53 percent in 2008."