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More Ugandan men seeking circumcisions to lower HIV risk

An increasing number of Ugandan men are seeking circumcisions in response to increasing evidence that the procedure could reduce a man's risk of contracting HIV, the AP/Advocate reports

2 Apr 2007

Breast-feeding exclusively lowers risk of vertical HIV transmission to children in developing countries

HIV-positive women in developing countries could reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to their infants if they exclusively breast-feed rather than supplement breast milk with formula, animal milk or solid food, according to a study published in the March 31 edition of the Lancet, Reuters reports.

2 Apr 2007

Monthly premiums for low-cost health plans in Massachusetts fell by 8% in second round of bidding

Monthly premiums for the four lowest-cost health plans submitted to the Massachusetts Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority decreased by an average of 8% in the second round of bidding, the Boston Globe reports.

2 Apr 2007

Bush apologizes for Walter Reed Army Medical Center issues

President Bush on Friday during a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center apologized for recently reported problems with outpatient living conditions and bureaucratic delays at the facility, the Washington Post reports.

2 Apr 2007

Lawmakers should not reduce funds for Medicare Advantage program

While Congress has some tough budget choices to make, lawmakers must realize that Medicare Advantage funding cuts would not only disrupt care for beneficiaries, but leave Medicare woefully unprepared to manage the care for millions of people with multiple chronic conditions," Scott Serota, president and CEO of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, writes in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece.

2 Apr 2007

Stark introduces universal health insurance bill

House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair Pete Stark (D-Calif.) on Thursday introduced a bill that would seek to provide health insurance to all U.S. residents through Medicare and employer-sponsored coverage, the Oakland Tribune reports.

2 Apr 2007

Tommy Thompson enters Presidential race

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) on Sunday announced his candidacy for the 2008 presidency, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

2 Apr 2007

Family history of diabetes, awareness of risk factors, and health behaviors among African Americans

African-Americans who have family members with diabetes are more aware of the disease's risk factors - but that awareness may not lead to a healthier lifestyle.

2 Apr 2007

Breakthrough research finds genes which may help smoking cessation

Scientists supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, have for the first time identified genes that might increase a person's ability to abstain from smoking.

2 Apr 2007

BMA comment on Conservative Party election manifesto

Responding to the Scottish Conservative Party's election manifesto launched today, Dr Dean Marshall, chairman of the BMA's Scottish General Practitioners Committee said that the Party had proposed some policies that were particularly interesting for general practice in Scotland.

2 Apr 2007

Hot flashes in women linked to high blood pressure

Women who get hot flashes have higher blood pressure than those who don't, according to a new study led by Weill Cornell Medical College.

2 Apr 2007

Six centers of excellence for influenza research and surveillance established in U.S.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has announced it is awarding $23 million per year for seven years to establish six Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance.

2 Apr 2007

Conquest of cancer and the next generation

It is never too early to start thinking about what you want to be when you grow up, especially if you want to be a cancer researcher.

2 Apr 2007

Guidelines for obstetric anesthesia revised

Recognizing that each patient's labor and delivery experience is unique, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Practice Guidelines for Obstetric Anesthesia were recently revised to enhance the quality of anesthetic care for obstetric patients, improve patient safety by reducing the incidence and severity of anesthesia-related complications, and increase patient satisfaction.

2 Apr 2007

Precautions against C. difficile infection

Illness related to C. difficile, a bacterium commonly found in hospitals, is becoming more widespread, more severe, and harder to treat, reports the April 2007 issue of Harvard Women's Health Watch . Health experts are worried that a new, more virulent strain may be to blame.

2 Apr 2007

Ultrasound and blood tests screen high-risk pregnant mothers for placental damage

If the placenta is not functioning properly it could be a potential danger to the health of the mother and fetus. Abnormalities can lead to conditions such as preeclampsia, which is maternal high blood pressure, stillbirth or the need for a pre-term delivery.

2 Apr 2007

Patient safety incidents at the nation's hospitals rose three percent

Patient safety incidents at the nation's hospitals rose three percent over the years 2003 to 2005, but the nation's top-performing hospitals had a 40 percent lower rate of medical errors when compared with the poorest-performing hospitals, according to the largest annual study of patient-safety issued today by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings company.

2 Apr 2007

Gender differences and skin cancer

Inherent gender differences – instead of more sun exposure – may be one reason why men are three times more likely than women to develop certain kinds of skin cancer, say researchers at Ohio State University Medical Center.

2 Apr 2007

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy directly associated with having an overweight child

Pregnant women who gain excessive or even appropriate weight, according to current guidelines, are four times more likely than women who gain inadequate weight to have a baby who becomes overweight in early childhood.

2 Apr 2007

PCV7 vaccine reduces frequent ear infections in children

A vaccine has been shown to help reduce the number of infants and toddlers developing frequent ear infections, according to new research from Katherine A. Poehling, M.D., a pediatrician at Brenner Children's Hospital, part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

2 Apr 2007