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Clinical scientists call for a reform in clinical psychology training programs

The prevalence of mental health disorders in this country has nearly doubled in the past 20 years. Who is treating all of these patients? Clinical psychologists and therapists are charged with the task, but many are falling short by using methods that are out of date and lack scientific rigor. This is in part because many of the training programs-especially some Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD) programs and for-profit training centers-are not grounded in science.

3 Oct 2009

Bradycardia more likely in patients taking cholinesterase inhibitors

People taking one of several drugs commonly prescribed to treat Alzheimer's disease are more likely to be hospitalized for a potentially serious condition called bradycardia than patients not taking these medications.

3 Oct 2009

$Hip fracture patients more likely to be evaluated for osteoporosis than wrist fracture patients$

Hip fracture patients more likely to be evaluated for osteoporosis than wrist fracture patients

A study published in the October 2009 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery suggests a disconnect between the way wrist-fracture patients and those with a spine or hip fracture are managed and evaluated. The study, conducted in 2007 among 97 percent of the women in Korea, reviewed the incidence of fractures around the hip, spine, and wrist in female patients age 50 and older and the prescription frequencies of bone density scans for osteoporosis, along with the use of medications for its treatment.

3 Oct 2009

Rewarding healthy behavior with incentives helps lower healthcare costs

On September 30, the U.S. Senate voted to adopt a measure aimed at rewarding healthy behavior as part of the Obama Administration's overall healthcare reform legislation. The Senate Finance Committee voted for a bi-partisan amendment that would allow health plans to provide financial incentives for people to quit smoking, exercise more and engage in other healthy activities.

3 Oct 2009

EMCOR Group's employees wear Pink Hard Hats to support Breast Cancer Awareness

EMCOR Group, Inc., a Fortune 500® leader in mechanical and electrical construction, energy infrastructure and facilities services for a diverse range of businesses, is proud to announce that a number of its subsidiaries coast to coast, as well as its UK subsidiary, are commemorating Breast Cancer Awareness month with its employees wearing Pink Hard Hats in support of the Company’s “Protect Yourself” campaign.

3 Oct 2009

Researchers study the role of CHRNA3 and CHRNA5 genes in lung cancer

A recent study published in the October 2009 issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology determined that variations of specific genetic markers identified in previous research, or SNPs, may indicate a greater lung cancer risk in African Americans than in whites. The genes CHRNA3 and CHRNA5 may contribute to lung cancer risk due directly or through their association with nicotine dependence.

3 Oct 2009

Electronic medical records: A valuable asset to healthcare industry

Hundreds of billions of gigabytes of health information are now being collected in electronic medical records, and three-quarters (76%) of more than 700 healthcare executives recently surveyed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP agree that the secondary use of this information will be their organization's greatest asset over the next five years.

3 Oct 2009

New computer modeling technique to study how the brain works

The human brain has evolved over millions of years to become a vast network of billions of neurons and synaptic connections. Understanding it is one of humankind's greatest pursuits.

3 Oct 2009

Study finds an independent link between self-perceived psychological stress and stroke

Many patients urgently admitted to hospital with cerebral infarction state that they were under great stress over a prolonged period prior to suffering their stroke, is shown in a unique patient study conducted in cooperation between the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden.

3 Oct 2009

FHC launches its second-generation female condom in the U.S.

The Female Health Company announced today that its second-generation FC2 Female Condom®, which received regulatory approval from the Food and Drug Administration in March as an HIV prevention method, is now available for purchase in the United States.

3 Oct 2009

Few risks to babies born to parents who underwent cancer treatment in childhood: Study

Whether they can have children is one of the major concerns for adult survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer because fertility can be compromised by cancer treatment. For cancer survivors who can have children, two new studies led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center may help alleviate fears that their childhood disease will adversely impact their newborns.

3 Oct 2009

TMS Health expands its Boca Raton Headquarters

TMS Health, the largest provider of outbound and inbound Teleservices to the U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry, is expanding its Boca Raton headquarters.

3 Oct 2009

TNF-alpha inhibitor drug class sales to increase up to $1.1 billion in 2018

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, in addition to sales of Centocor Ortho Biotech/Schering-Plough/Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma's Remicade, the two emerging TNF-alpha inhibitors Abbott/Eisai's Humira and Centocor Ortho Biotech/Schering-Plough/Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma/Janssen's Simponi will drive sales of the TNF-alpha inhibitor drug class to nearly triple by 2018 for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

3 Oct 2009

Study to determine vitamin D's effectiveness in pregnant women with asthma

A group of pregnant women who have asthma or allergies will get extra vitamin D as part of a study to determine if the vitamin can prevent their children from developing asthma.

3 Oct 2009

Household food insecurity contributes to overweight in children

Both household food insecurity (HFInsec) and childhood overweight are significant problems in the United States. Paradoxically, being food-insecure may be an underlying contributor to being overweight. A study of almost 8,500 low-income children ages 1 month to 5 years, published in the October 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, suggests an association between household food insecurity and overweight prevalence in this low-income population.

3 Oct 2009

University of Florida to study whether exercise can prevent disability in older people

The University of Florida will receive $29.5 million in federal stimulus funds over the next two years from the National Institute on Aging to begin a six-year study on whether a program of structured physical activity can prevent or delay major movement disability in older adults.

3 Oct 2009

SunLink Health Systems' fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 and fourth-quarter results announced

SunLink Health Systems, Inc. today announced earnings from continuing operations for its fourth fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2009 of $850,000, or $0.11 per fully diluted share, compared to earnings from continuing operations of $579,000, or $0.07 per fully diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.

3 Oct 2009

Nyer Medical Group reports fourth-quarter and fiscal year end 2009 results

Nyer Medical Group, Inc., reported results for the Company's fiscal fourth quarter and year ended June 30, 2009. Revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009 increased $1,635,438 or 9.1% to $19,512,082 from $17,876,644 as reported for the comparable quarter in the prior year. Revenues increased $6,127,830 to $74,722,844 or 8.9% for fiscal year 2009, as compared to $68,595,014 for fiscal year 2008.

3 Oct 2009

Study points to subtle differences between boys and girls' attitudes to multiple drugs

New research by Weill Cornell Medical College researchers looks at the specific ways parents and peers influence teenagers to smoke, drink and use marijuana in combination.

3 Oct 2009

Sun Healthcare's subsidiary acquires Allegiance Hospice Group

Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. announced today that its subsidiary, SolAmor Hospice Corporation, has completed the acquisition of Allegiance Hospice Group, Inc. Allegiance is a privately-held, Medicare-certified hospice company headquartered in Lowell, Mass. that provides services to approximately 300 hospice patients in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

3 Oct 2009