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Heart attack death rates drop in hospitals; CDC reports increase in colon cancer screening rate

USA Today: Hospital heart attack death rates fell, according to new Medicare data. "Death rates at 4,569 hospitals that treat Medicare patients who suffer heart attacks fell by almost half a percentage point, from a national average of 16.6% last year to 16.2%. Death rates for most hospitals ranged from about 14.5% to 17.9%. ...

8 Jul 2010

Physical activity has little role to play in obesity epidemic among children: EarlyBird Diabetes Study

A new report from the EarlyBird Diabetes Study suggests that physical activity has little if any role to play in the obesity epidemic among children. Obesity is the key factor behind diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

8 Jul 2010

Study: Delay in school start time significantly improves adolescent sleep, mood and behavior

A pilot study conducted in a small private high school confirms what many have been touting for years: the benefits of a delayed school start time. Judy Owens, MD, a sleep expert with Hasbro Children's Hospital, reports that a modest delay in school start time of only 30 minutes was associated with significant improvements in adolescent alertness, mood and health. Her findings are published in the July issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.

7 Jul 2010

Suicide barrier fails to stop overall suicide rates: Researchers

Suicide barriers on bridges might not reduce overall suicide rates by jumping from heights, as people may change location for their suicide attempt, according to a new study published on bmj.com today.

7 Jul 2010

Codex Alimentarius Commission provides new guidance to help improve food safety

The maximum amount of melamine allowed in powdered infant formula is 1 mg/kg and the amount of the chemical allowed in other foods and animal feed is 2.5 mg/kg, according to new rulings from the United Nations' food standards body, Codex Alimentarius Commission.

7 Jul 2010

American Lung Association welcomes U.S. EPA proposal to reduce power plant pollution

The cleanup of power plants is long overdue. Power plant pollution causes tens of thousands of premature deaths each year. These plants are major contributors to particulate pollution and ozone in the East and Midwest. The American Lung Association welcomes today's proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce power plant pollution across 31 states.

7 Jul 2010

Severe trauma to head and spine from ATV accidents on the rise: Research

Severe trauma to the head and spine resulting from all-terrain vehicle accidents are increasing dramatically according to research released today from the University of Utah Department of Neurosurgery. The research, to be published in the journal Neurosurgery, highlights the need for efforts to improve ATV stability, increase helmet use, and greater efforts to train riders in safe operation of the vehicles.

7 Jul 2010

ASPREE study aims to assess health benefits of aspirin

In an effort to extend the length of a disability-free life for older adults, researchers from Rush University Medical Center are partnering with colleagues from across the U.S. and Australia in the largest international trial ever sponsored by the National Institute on Aging.

7 Jul 2010

QIAGEN receives CE conformity marking for careHPV Test

QIAGEN has completed European certification of its careHPV™ Test to bring human papillomavirus (HPV) testing to public-health programs in low-resource, developing countries, the company announced today at the International Papillomavirus Conference in Montreal, Canada. The CE conformity marking ("Conformite Europeenne") certifies that the careHPV Test has met European Union consumer safety and health requirements, allowing the test to be distributed in developing countries that recognize the CE mark.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 7 Jul 2010

Study finds additional targets for new therapies to treat advanced prostate cancer patients

In its early stages, prostate cancer requires androgens (hormones that promote the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics) for growth, and current first-line therapies target the receptor for these hormones to slow cancer's development and spread.

7 Jul 2010

Lancet study series examines health in the Gaza Strip

Reuters reports on a series of studies published Friday in the Lancet, which examine the health of populations living in the Gaza Strip. The studies, which examined the effects of the violence on the region, conclude that Israel's blockade of the territory could "cause long-term damage to Palestinians' health, with many children at risk of stunted growth or malnutrition."

7 Jul 2010

Experts show the continuing global impact of Framingham Heart Study

Few medical investigations have had the impact of the Framingham Heart Study. This study, started in 1948, was designed as a cohort, observational study of cardiovascular disease, then recognized as a growing health threat but now has emerged as much more. The Framingham Heart study came to revolutionize thinking about cardiovascular disease, change the study of epidemiology, and even force the biostatistics community to develop multivariate analysis.

7 Jul 2010

Crux Biomedical commences enrollment in Retrieve 2 pivotal U.S. IDE trial of new Vena Cava Filter

Crux Biomedical®Inc. announced today that it has successfully enrolled the first patient in its Retrieve 2 pivotal U.S. IDE trial. The trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Crux's new Vena Cava Filter (VCF). The Crux VCF is a retrievable, implantable filter which is designed to trap blood clots that can lead to a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism (PE). It is the first VCF to be developed that is bidirectional and thus permits insertion or retrieval from either the femoral or jugular veins.

7 Jul 2010

International conference focuses on HPV's impact on women

Scientists, clinicians and public health leaders from around the world are gathered in Montreal this week for the 26th International Papillomavirus Conference where they hope to generate awareness about human papillomavirus, Canwest News Service/Gazette reports (Martin/McCallum, 7/4).

7 Jul 2010

Experts urge community to get behind bowel cancer screening

University of Sydney experts say around 1000 bowel cancer deaths could be prevented every year if a fully-funded, evidence-based bowel cancer screening program was implemented by the Australian Government.

5 Jul 2010

Web sites that promote anorexia raise concern

For women with low self-esteem, poor body image and a certain genetic predisposition towards an eating disorder, the messages promoted on pro-eating disorder web sites can be similar to someone considering suicide finding a loaded gun on her pillow.

3 Jul 2010

Women have longer life expectancy, but with prevalence of disability in old age

Although women have a longer life expectancy, they experience a much greater prevalence of disability in old age than men do. This is the main conclusion of the study published in the latest issue of the Journal of Women's Health.

3 Jul 2010

Pennsylvania Department of Health announces new study on blood disorder Polycythemia vera

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today announced a new, federally-funded study on the blood disorder Polycythemia vera, or PV, in Bedford, Blair, Cambria and Somerset counties.

3 Jul 2010

More than 2B worldwide lack access to adequate surgical services, study finds

"More than 2 billion people worldwide do not have adequate access to surgical services, and low-income countries in particular have low levels of surgical care," according to a study published online Thursday in the Lancet, HealthDay News/Modern Medicine reports (7/1).

3 Jul 2010

Two-day international Osteoarthritis Summit to be held in June 2011

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) plans to host a two-day international Osteoarthritis Summit in June 2011. The Hospital, internationally recognized for its leadership in the fields of orthopedics and rheumatology, will bring together, for the first time, a truly comprehensive multidisciplinary group of world renowned scientists, thought-leaders and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Europe, to discuss all aspects of OA and develop a consensus document on future directions for OA research, prevention and treatment.

3 Jul 2010