Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Study details cost-effectiveness of rheumatoid arthritis treatments for Medicare recipients

For elderly and disabled rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sufferers, the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) brought the promise of better disease management with "biologic" drugs.

15 Apr 2008

Scientists create monoclonal antibody libraries against avian influenza

An international group of American and Turkish research scientists, led by Sea Lane Biotechnologies, has created the first comprehensive monoclonal antibody libraries against avian influenza (H5N1) using samples from survivors of the 2005/2006 "bird flu" outbreak in Turkey.

15 Apr 2008

Call for hospital cleaning drive

Hospital cleaners need greater resources to defeat healthcare-associated infections, UNISON health conference delegates declared in Manchester this week.

15 Apr 2008

Corporate world is helping employees deal with the global HIV/AIDS epidemic

Major companies are creating a wide variety of programs to help employees deal with the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, according to a report released today by The Conference Board, the global business research and membership organization.

11 Apr 2008

Giving patients greater choice over who provides their care

Patients with long term, chronic conditions should be given money to organise and purchase their own care, according to an article in this week's BMJ.

11 Apr 2008

Prioritise patients, not privatisation

UNISON is calling on NHS trusts across England to refocus on patients, after the government's health watchdog revealed the findings of its latest staff survey.

10 Apr 2008

Obesity costs U.S. companies $45 billion annually in medical expenditures and work loss

The rate of obesity in the United States has doubled in the last 30 years, and those extra pounds weigh on companies' bottom lines, according to a new report from The Conference Board.

10 Apr 2008

Carotid endarterectomy versus carotid stenting for clogged neck arteries

Like horses running down the long stretch of a race track, two different artery-opening treatments appear to be running neck-and-neck when it comes to preventing stroke among people with clogged neck arteries and other health problems.

10 Apr 2008

The impact of health problems on seniors' finances

A new study underscores the need for seniors to maintain their health -- in order to maintain their wealth.

10 Apr 2008

Genetic test offers clues about cardiac hypertrophy in children

A mechanic uses diagnostic tests to determine why your engine is making strange sounds before lifting a wrench to fix the problem.

10 Apr 2008

Shutting down schools in the event of a bird flu pandemic could prevent up to one in seven cases

Closing schools in the event of a flu pandemic could slow the spread of the virus and prevent up to one in seven cases, according to a new study published today in the journal Nature.

10 Apr 2008

Burn care skills shortage to be treated by UK's first specialist professional qualification

The University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust has launched the UK’s first programme specifically for practitioners in burns care - with backing from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).

10 Apr 2008

Wireless EEG system self-powered by body heat and light

In the framework of Holst Centre, IMEC has developed a battery-free wireless 2-channel EEG system powered by a hybrid power supply using body heat and ambient light.

10 Apr 2008

Humour can play an essential role in the most serious healthcare settings

...even when patients are receiving intensive or end of life care, according to research in the April issue of the UK-based Journal of Clinical Nursing.

9 Apr 2008

Health summit to focus on prevention rather than cure

The National Prevention Summit in Melbourne this week is the first such summit to be held in Australia.

9 Apr 2008

Expert warns of anti-psychotic drugs use in children

Research from Britain is suggesting that an increasing number of children are being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs to treat a range of conditions which are not licensed for use in children.

9 Apr 2008

Electronic health records help monitor medications and avoiding usage problems in seniors

Use of medications that are linked to increased risk of falls in the elderly can be reduced through careful review of patient files in the Electronic Health Record, new Geisinger research shows.

8 Apr 2008

UK takes action against PVL-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus

Lots of work is being done to recognise and control infections such as community acquired MRSA and the UK is learning from situations in community and healthcare settings both here and abroad to stay ahead of the game, scientists will be told today at the Society for General Microbiology's 162nd meeting being held this week at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

8 Apr 2008

ACP reports on how scheduled Medicare pay cuts will affect patients

Medicare patients - many of whom have multiple chronic illnesses - face severe difficulty in receiving healthcare if Congress does not act to avert pending cuts to Medicare payments, according to first-hand reports from physicians who specialize in internal medicine released today by the 125,000-member American College of Physicians (ACP).

8 Apr 2008

Special journal section explores geriatric assessment

The latest issue of The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences (Vol. 63, No. 3) features a special section devoted to the phenomenon of multidimensional geriatric assessment - an interdisciplinary diagnostic process to determine the medical, psychological, and functional status of at-risk and frail elderly patients in order to develop a coordinated, integrated plan for treatment and long-term follow-up.

7 Apr 2008