There are lingering doubts about the claim that exposing large numbers of travelers to X-ray machines is without danger reports Michael Grabell for Propublica.
Is a trip to China in your long range travel plans? Like to sample local cuisine? The Economist warns that despite official concern food safety issues pose a serious problem to diners, particularly when restaurants reuse contaminated cooking oil.
Wheat may not be your friend, and may be causing gluten sensitivity and celiac's disease writes cardiologist William Davis, MD in a new book reviewed for the Chicago Tribune by Monica Eng. Dr. David is concerned about how grains have changed over time. He theorizes they are connected to insulin spikes and inflammatory responses in the body as well as weight gain and advocates moderation until science rediscovers and cultivates the truly ancient grains.
Japanese car manufacturer Toyota plans to produce robotic devices to support the elderly with balance, walking and practical lifting to alleviate difficulties encountered as Japan deals with its aging population.
Citing a recent reduction in the use of medical services, and the addition of new Medicare and Medicaid participants (boosting the insurer's Medicare drug program participants), Wellcare just posted exceptional profits. MarketWatch reporter Tess Stynes notes that this firm previously dealt with Medicaid fraud issues and financial restatements (to resolve shareholder lawsuits).
Drug manufacturers often pay fines rather than battle government charges. These settlements with regulatory agencies do not require that the companies admit wrongdoing. Does this practice sufficiently protect public safety? Has it done anything to ensure excellence in quality control in prescription medicine manufacturing facilities? The Wall Street Journal's Jeanne Whalen reports that GlaxoSmithKline just agreed to a $3 billion settlement. Don't large financial penalties translate as part of the cost of doing business? If so, aren't consumers eventually covering those payouts via increased drug prices?
There is further procedure some women may want after completing traditional breast reconstruction...nipple tattooing. Certifications for tattoo artists come through the American Academy of Micropigmentation and the Society of Permanent Cosmetics, according to the Pennsylvania Medicine website.
Medco and Express Scripts pharmacists were on Capitol Hill this week to get Congress behind their proposed merger despite the protests from chain pharmacies and big box stores that also fill prescriptions. At stake is both control of the cost of medication and distribution by one large company... Are you concerned? For more, see Brent Kendall's Wall Street Journal article.
Food addictions are real and what you eat matters. Fatty foods, too many carbs, and sweetened foods stimulate our brains like addictive drugs. Highly processed foods full of carbohydrates, snack foods, soft drinks and candy might be your greatest health enemy. Read an excellent article on Bloomberg.
A new proton radiation therapy machine (meant to spare healthy tissue while destroying cancerous tumors) is currently being installed at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Proton treatment has previously been marketed to prostate cancer patients, but doctors hope to use it for brain cancer patients and children who undergo cancer treatment reports the St. Louis - Post Dispatch.
New York magazine has published Jesse Green's (lengthy) article about the long lives of Ashkenazi Jews for anyone who is fascinated by cultural DNA. Scientific American reports that octogenarians appear to have a younger brain structure than their physical age would suggest.
Wal-Mart could soon become a major primary health care provider according to the Los Angeles Times.
Amy Goldstein reporting in The Washington Post describes the resistance to President Obama's push for accountable care organizations, ACOs. This health care approach should handle Medicare cases more effectively by utilizing teams of doctors who will be incentivized for quality outcomes. The AMA has stated that physicians are largely opposed to the idea, and hospitals argue that the operating costs for such physician groups will be higher than the initial proposals suggest. Several midwestern states seem poised to try it.
According to a report in the Washington Post, economic concerns seem to have been a factor in closing down a human embryonic stem cell trial at Geron.
Science Daily reports that the Pew Health Group and others focused attention on the lack of transparency and scrutiny the FDA currently gives the 10,000+ chemicals added to food products.
The American Heart Association announced that a long term study has shown that certain blood types have a heightened susceptibility for stroke according to the Chicago Tribune.
You may soon notice more hospitals surfaces covered in copper. Singularity Hub reports that this metal has been found to resist bacteria and helps health care facilities cut down on infections.
For peripheral artery disease which involves blockage in leg arteries, patients should try an exercise regimen before being recommended for surgical stents which are not always the most effective treatment. The supporting research was presented at a recent American Heart Association meeting reports Bloomberg.
When a blockbuster drug goes off exclusive patent protection, the manufacturer's goal is to retain as many customers as it can. December 1 of this year Lipitor goes generic. A New York Times article describes Pfizer's serious campaign to hold its marketshare by contracting with drug providers before the competition heats up. The Senate is curious about how these efforts will impact the cost of patients' drug coverage plans.
