Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Atlas of Health Care Charts Performance
Quality of Care Varies by Area by Jayne O'Donnell. USA Today. October 31, 2012.
The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care can be found here.
While this document is designed to help medical students find appropriate and attractive residencies, the article points out that it can also be used to help consumers determine how their local hospital differs from the norm. Using 2010 Medicare data, the report documents variations of treatment of patients at the end of life, as well as surgical procedures, and patient experiences.
Trends in Birth Control
IUDs and Implants are Changing Birth Control Landscape by Kim Painter. USA Today. October 30, 2012.
LARCs or "long lasting reversible contraceptives" are growing in popularity for a variety of reasons: (1) Under the Affordable Care Act insurers will be required to cover the up-front costs. (2) The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has started recommending LARCs. (3) The failure rate for LARCs is a fraction of that for hormonal pills. Some IUDs last up to 10 years.
LARCs or "long lasting reversible contraceptives" are growing in popularity for a variety of reasons: (1) Under the Affordable Care Act insurers will be required to cover the up-front costs. (2) The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has started recommending LARCs. (3) The failure rate for LARCs is a fraction of that for hormonal pills. Some IUDs last up to 10 years.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Hidden Dangers of Obesity
Revealing the Unexpected Dangers of Obesity by Shirley S. Wang. The Wall Street Journal. October 29, 2012.
Obesity is a complex condition involving hormones, inflammatory molecules and chemicals that can have wide impact. Just how wide is only now beginning to be understood. For example, the olfactory bulb contains one of the densest collection of insulin receptors outside the pancreas. In mice research, there are indications that the change in the sense of smell is related to obesity, either as a effect or as a cause. Sleepiness, apart from sleep apnea, could also be related to obesity as perhaps is fertility and cancer.
Obesity is a complex condition involving hormones, inflammatory molecules and chemicals that can have wide impact. Just how wide is only now beginning to be understood. For example, the olfactory bulb contains one of the densest collection of insulin receptors outside the pancreas. In mice research, there are indications that the change in the sense of smell is related to obesity, either as a effect or as a cause. Sleepiness, apart from sleep apnea, could also be related to obesity as perhaps is fertility and cancer.
A Lasting Flu Virus Vaccine?
Scientists Move Closer to a Lasting Flu Vaccine by Carl Zimmer. The New York Times. October 30, 2012.
The basic obstacle to a lasting flu vaccine is that immune system's B and T cells must learn how to develop a specific response to the unique characteristics of the flu prevalent for the season. To circumvent that problem scientists at Oxford University are developing a T cell-based flu vaccine that targets parts of the virus that change little from year to year. Other researchers are focusing on antibody-based broad-spectrum flu vaccine. They have discovered that certain antibodies can attach to the flu virus protein in a variety of locations thus facilitating the search for a long-lasting flu vaccine.
The basic obstacle to a lasting flu vaccine is that immune system's B and T cells must learn how to develop a specific response to the unique characteristics of the flu prevalent for the season. To circumvent that problem scientists at Oxford University are developing a T cell-based flu vaccine that targets parts of the virus that change little from year to year. Other researchers are focusing on antibody-based broad-spectrum flu vaccine. They have discovered that certain antibodies can attach to the flu virus protein in a variety of locations thus facilitating the search for a long-lasting flu vaccine.
Confronting Mental Health Issues in Sports
With No One Looking, A Hurt Stays Hidden by William C. Rhoden. The New York Times. October 29, 2012.
Athletic gladiators often do not want to admit mental health problems. To do so increases the risk of the stigma of weakness, the perception that the athlete cannot overcome the problem alone. There is also the issues of confidentiality and fear that mental health issues will prevent advancement. This article discusses the roles of coaches (Is training in mental health needed?), club owners, and public attitudes toward mental health.
Athletic gladiators often do not want to admit mental health problems. To do so increases the risk of the stigma of weakness, the perception that the athlete cannot overcome the problem alone. There is also the issues of confidentiality and fear that mental health issues will prevent advancement. This article discusses the roles of coaches (Is training in mental health needed?), club owners, and public attitudes toward mental health.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Georgia Researchers Find Magnetic Stimulation Treats Depression
Magnetic Brain Stimulation Helps Treat Depression by Urvaksh Karkarla. Atlanta Business Chronicle. October 26, 2012.
Major Depressive Disorder is the leading cause of disability for ages 15 to 44, affecting 14.8 million American adults in a given year.
Georgia Health Science University researchers have found that powerful magnetic stimulation of the frontal lobe of the brain can alleviate symptoms of depression. The Neuronetics Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS Therapy System has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of depression. The therapy did not contribute to insomnia or oversleeping, a problem for those with depressive disorder.
Major Depressive Disorder is the leading cause of disability for ages 15 to 44, affecting 14.8 million American adults in a given year.
Georgia Health Science University researchers have found that powerful magnetic stimulation of the frontal lobe of the brain can alleviate symptoms of depression. The Neuronetics Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS Therapy System has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of depression. The therapy did not contribute to insomnia or oversleeping, a problem for those with depressive disorder.
New Atlas Charts Relationship of Climate and Disease
U.N. 'Atlas of Health and Climate" Offers Leaders Tool For Early Warning of Disease Outbreaks. Associated Press. October 29, 2012.
This volume relates, as an example, the number of cases of meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa with the dry season, a relationship which has resulted in approximately 25,000 deaths over the past 10 years.
It was created with the cooperation of the World Health Organization and World Meteorological Association and was designed to assist leaders and policymakers.
The atlas can be found here.
This volume relates, as an example, the number of cases of meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa with the dry season, a relationship which has resulted in approximately 25,000 deaths over the past 10 years.
It was created with the cooperation of the World Health Organization and World Meteorological Association and was designed to assist leaders and policymakers.
The atlas can be found here.
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