Physician’s Hospitals Are a Model of True Health Care Reform

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Feb 28,2009

Industry looks forward to working with Obama Administration

Physician’s Hospitals of America (PHA) was disappointed to learn that budget documents released by the White House are relying on outdated CBO scores in their evaluation of hospitals owned and operated by reform-minded physicians.

“We understand that this position is most likely a hold-over from past CBO data. We look forward to the opportunity to work with the new CBO as well as the White House to demonstrate the true quality and public savings represented by hospitals that are physician owned and operated,” said Molly Sandvig, Executive Director of PHA.

PHA shares President Obama’s belief, as he states in his budget proposal put out this week by the Office of Management and Budget, that quality patient care must be a top priority in the health care reform process:

From “A New Era of Responsibility, Renewing America’s Promise” available from www.budget.gov:

Improve Patient Safety and Quality Care.

The plan must ensure the implementation of proven patient safety measures and provide incentives for changes in the delivery system to reduce unnecessary variability in patient care. It must support the widespread use of health information technology and the development of data on the effectiveness of medical interventions to improve the quality of care delivered. (pg. 27)

Ms. Sandvig noted, “Our association is optimistic that as providers of the best quality care available, the hospitals owned and operated by physicians will continue to play a strong role in the future of healthcare.” Independent studies, including those conducted by the federal government have shown that physician hospitals have better outcomes in terms of infections rates and other quality measures than do most hospitals that are not physician owned. Patients have shorter stays and better results.

At physician hospitals access to care is enhanced and cost savings are achieved. We are looking forward to demonstrating the positive results that stem from putting control of the practice of medicine where it belongs, in the hands of doctors and their patients. PHA hopes that President Obama and the new Congress will consider all the evidence and look to physician-owned hospitals as a model for the health care reform they seek.

For more information on physician-owned hospitals please visit www.physicianhospitals.org or contact Molly Sandvig at (605) 321-3483.

PHA Member Hospitals
HOSPITAL NAME CITY STATE
Troy Regional Medical Center Troy AL
Crestwood Medical Center Huntsville AL
NEA Medical Center Jonesboro AR
HealthPark Hospital Hot Springs AR
Arkansas Surgical Hospital North Little Rock AR
Arkansas Heart Hospital Little Rock AR
National Park Medical Center Hot Springs AR
Arizona Heart Hospital Phoenix AZ
Arizona Orthopedic Surgical Hospital Chandler AZ
Arizona Spine & Joint Hospital Mesa AZ
Arizona Regional Medical Center Mesa AZ
Tucson Heart Hospital Tucson AZ
Gilbert Hospital Gilbert AZ
Mountain Vista Medical Center Mesa AZ
Surgical Specialty Hospital of Arizona Phoenix AZ
Patients’ Hospital of Redding Redding CA
Sutter Surgical Hospital – North Valley Yuba City CA
Shasta Regional Medical Redding CA
Fresno Surgical Hospital Fresno CA
Stanislaus Surgical Hospital Modesto CA
Bakersfield Heart Hospital Bakersfield CA
Thousand Oaks Surgical Hospital Thousand Oaks CA
Miracle Mile Medical Center Los Angeles CA
Olympia Medical Center Los Angeles CA
Community Hospital of Huntington Park Huntington Park CA
Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital Norwalk CA
Alvarado Hospital Medical Center San Diego CA
Animas Surgical Hospital Durango CO
Doctors Hospital Augusta GA
Trinity Hospital of Augusta Augusta GA
Hawaii Medical Center-West Ewa Beach HI
Hawaii Medical Center-East Honolulu HI
Treasure Valley Hospital Boise ID
Northwest Specialty Hospital Post Falls ID
Mountain View Hospital Idaho Falls ID
Surgical Hospital of Munster Munster IN
Pinnacle Hospital Crown Point IN
Franciscan Physicians Hospital Munster IN
Hind General Hospital Hobart IN
RiverCrest Specialty Hospital Mishawaka IN
Doctor’s Hospital Bremen IN
Dupont Hospital Fort Wayne IN
Kosciusko Community Hospital Warsaw IN
Indiana Orthopaedic Hospital Indianapolis IN
Indiana Heart Hospital Indianapolis IN
St. Vincent Heart Center of Indiana Indianapolis IN
Surgical and Diagnostic Center of Great Bend Great Bend KS
Salina Surgical Hospital Salina KS
Summit Surgical Hutchinson KS
Manhattan Surgical Hospital Manhattan KS
Doctors Specialty Hospital Leawood KS
Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute Leawood KS
Heartland Spine & Specialty Hospital Overland Park KS
Kansas Spine Hospital Wichita KS
Kansas Surgery and Recovery Center Wichita KS
Kansas Heart Hospital Wichita KS
Kansas Medical Center Andover KS
Galichia Heart Hospital Wichita KS
Southern Surgical Hospital Slidell LA
Fairway Medical Center Covington LA
Doctors Hospital of Slidell Slidell LA
Louisiana Heart Hospital Lacombe LA
Physicians Surgical Specialty Hospital Houma LA
Specialists Hospital Bossier Bossier City LA
Specialists Hospital Shreveport Shreveport LA
Ouachita Community Hospital West Monroe LA
P & S Surgical Hospital Monroe LA
Green Clinic Surgical Hospital Ruston LA
Monroe Surgical Hospital Monroe LA
Greater Baton Rouge Surgical Hospital Baton Rouge LA
The Neuro Medical Center Surgical Hospital Baton Rouge LA
Surgical Specialty Centre Baton Rouge LA
Lafayette General Surgical Hospital Lafayette LA
Park Place Surgical Hospital Lafayette LA
Heart Hospital Lafayette Lafayette LA
Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital Lafayette LA
Southpark Hospital Youngsville LA
Southeast Michigan Surgical Hospital Warren MI
Oakland Regional Hospital Southfield MI
Ozarks Community Hospital Springfield MO
Health Center Northwest Hospital Kalispell MT
Central Montana Surgical Hospital Great Falls MT
North Carolina Specialty Hospital Durham NC
Lincoln Surgical Hospital Lincoln NE
Nebraska Heart Hospital Lincoln NE
Midwest Neuroscience Surgery Center Omaha NE
Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital Omaha NE
Bellevue Medical Center Bellevue NE
Heart Hospital of New Mexico Albuquerque NM
Physicians Medical Center of Santa Fe Santa Fe NM
Sierra Surgery Hospital Carson City NV
Surgery Center of Evendale Cincinnati OH
The Medical Center at Elizabeth Place Dayton OH
Riverview Health Institute Dayton OH
Institute for Orthopaedic Surgery Lima OH
Three Gables Surgery Center Proctorville OH
Butler County Medical Center Hamilton OH
Mercy Hospital Fairfield Fairfield OH
Medical Center of Newark Newark OH
Tulsa Spine & Specialty Hospital Tulsa OK
Oklahoma Surgical Hospital Tulsa OK
Hospital for Special Surgery Oklahoma City OK
Foundation Bariatric Hospital of Oklahoma Edmond OK
Northwest Surgical Hospital Oklahoma City OK
Surgical Hospital of Oklahoma Oklahoma City OK
Oklahoma Center for Orthopaedic &
Multi-Specialty Surgery Oklahoma City OK
Lakeside Women’s Hospital Oklahoma City OK
McBride Clinic Orthopedic Hospital Oklahoma City OK
Oklahoma Heart Hospital Oklahoma City OK
Deaconess Hospital Oklahoma City OK
Oklahoma Spine Hospital Oklahoma City OK
McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center Springfield OR
Edgewood Surgical Hospital Transfer PA
Diversified Specialty Institutes,
Bucks County Bensalem PA
Surgical Specialty Center at
Coordinated Health Bethlehem PA
Westfield Hospital Allentown PA
Surgical Institute of Reading Wyomissing PA
Mary Black Memorial Hospital Spartanburg SC
Lewis & Clark Specialty Hospital Yankton SD
Dakota Plains Surgical Center Aberdeen SD
Same Day Surgery Center Rapid City SD
Siouxland Surgery Center Dakota Dunes SD
Sioux Falls Surgical Center Sioux Falls SD
Black Hills Surgery Center Rapid City SD
Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota Sioux Falls SD
Woods Memorial Hospital Etowah TN
United Regional Medical Center Manchester TN
Texas Spine & Joint Hospital Tyler TX
Woodland Heights Medical Center Lufkin TX
Longview Regional Medical Center Longview TX
Beaumont Bone & Joint Institute Beaumont TX
TOPS Surgical Hospital Houston TX
The Medical Center of Southeast Texas Port Arthur TX
Vista Hospital of Dallas Garland TX
Baylor Medical Center at Frisco Frisco TX
Presbyterian Plano Center for
Diagnostics & Surgery Plano TX
Reliant Rehabilitation Hospital -
North Texas Richardson TX
Presbyterian Hospital of Rockwall Rockwall TX
USMD Hospital at Arlington Arlington TX
Foundation Surgical Hospital Bellaire TX
Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Houston TX
Beacon Specialty Hospital Houston TX
Memorial Hermann Surgical Hospital Kingwood Kingwood TX
Reliant Rehabilitation Hospital -
North Houston Shenandoah TX
Texas Orthopedic Hospital Houston TX
Northwest Hills Surgical Hospital Austin TX
Heart Hospital Of Austin Austin TX
North Cypress Medical Center Cypress TX
Odessa Regional Medical Center Odessa TX
USMD Hospital at Fort Worth Fort Worth TX
GLOBALREHAB Fort Worth TX
Baylor Surgical Hospital at Fort Worth Fort Worth TX
Quail Creek Surgical Hospital Amarillo TX
Northwest Texas Surgical Hospital Amarillo TX
Harlingen Medical Center Harlingen TX
Doctors Hospital at Renaissance Edinburg TX
El Paso Specialty Hospital El Paso TX
Physicians Hospital El Paso TX
The Physicians Centre Bryan TX
St. Joseph Medical Center Houston TX
University General Hospital Houston TX
Lubbock Heart Hospital Lubbock TX
Foundation Bariatric Hospital of San Antonio San Antonio TX
Texan Heart Hospital San Antonio TX
Austin Surgical Hospital Austin TX
The Hospital at Westlake Medical Center Austin TX
Sugar Land Surgical Hospital Sugar Land TX
Vista Medical Center Hospital Pasadena TX
Houston Physicians’ Hospital Webster TX
South Texas Spine & Surgical Hospital San Antonio TX
Southwest General Hospital San Antonio TX
Harris Methodist Southlake Southlake TX
RHD Medical Center Dallas TX
North Texas Hospital Denton TX
Southwest Surgical Hospital Hurst TX
Baylor Medical Center at Trophy Club Trophy Club TX
Cook Children’s Hospital Northeast Hurst TX
Brownsville Doctors Hospital Brownsville TX
Doctor’s Hospital of Laredo Laredo TX
Patients Medical Center Pasadena TX
Doctors Hospital Tidwell Houston TX
Doctors Hospital Parkway Houston TX
Houston Hospital for Specialized Surgery Houston TX
GLOBALREHAB Dallas TX
Pine Creek Medical Center Dallas TX
Baylor Heart and Vascular Center Dallas TX
Gulf States Hospitals Dallas TX
Reliant Rehabilitation Hospital -
Central Texas Round Rock TX
Irving Coppell Surgical Hospital Irving TX
Texas Institute for Surgery Dallas TX
Cache Valley Specialty Hospital North Logan UT
Davis Hospital and Medical Center Layton UT
Salt Lake Regional Medical Center Salt Lake City UT
Jordan Valley Medical Center West Jordan UT
Wenatchee Valley Hospital Wenatchee WA
OakLeaf Surgical Hospital Eau Claire WI
Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin Glendale WI
Aurora BayCare Medical Center Green Bay WI
Charleston Surgical Hospital Charleston WV

Source: Physician’s Hospitals of America

Report: Many Cancers Could Be Prevented in US

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Feb 27,2009

Comprehensive, Evidence-Based Recommendations for All Levels of Society

A new global policy report estimates that approximately 45 percent of colon cancer cases and 38 percent of breast cancer cases in the US are preventable through diet, physical activity and weight management. The report sets out recommendations for policies to reduce the global number of cancer cases.

The overall message of the report, Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention, published today by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), is that all sections of society should make public health, and cancer prevention in particular, a higher priority. It includes estimates on the proportion of all cancer cases that could be prevented through diet, physical activity and weight management.

Overall, the report estimates that approximately one third of the most common cancers in the US could be prevented. That figure does not include smoking, which alone accounts for about a third of cancers.

A panel of experts made a total of 48 recommendations for nine different sectors of society. These sectors are: multinational bodies; civil society organizations; government; industry; media; schools; workplaces and institutions; health and other professionals; and people.

Sir Michael Marmot, Chair of the WCRF/AICR Panel, said: “The evidence shows that when it comes to cancer prevention, all levels of society have a role to play. This report is relevant to everyone from heads of government down to the people who do the weekly food shopping for their family.”

The new WCRF/AICR Policy Report is a companion document to an expert report called Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective, which was published by AICR and WCRF in November of 2007.

“The 2007 expert report identified the specific choices that people can make to protect themselves against cancer, but actually making those healthy choices remains difficult for many people,” said policy report panel member Shiriki Kumanyika, PhD, MPH, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. “The policy report takes the next step – it identifies opportunities for us as a society to make those choices easier.”

To read the report’s recommendations, detailed estimates of the proportion of cancer cases that could be prevented by diet, physical activity and weight management, and view interviews with panel members, visit www.aicr.org/policy.

Source: American Institute for Cancer Research

Applying Clinical Findings to the Practice of Medicine

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Feb 26,2009

New research offers hope, propels treatment for common orthopaedic conditions

The Kappa Delta Sorority and the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) presented four research awards to scientists who are closing the gap between basic research and clinical medicine, at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) (http://www.aaos.org/) . Award winners have been working towards new treatment for the following areas of musculoskeletal health:

• Torn rotator cuffs (http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00064)
• Osteoporosis (http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00232) and
• osteoarthritis (http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00227)

Skeletal defects

• Dupuytren’s contracture (http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00008)and
• frozen shoulder (http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00071)

In 1947, at its Golden Anniversary, the Kappa Delta Sorority announced the establishment of the Kappa Delta Research Fellowship in Orthopaedics, the first award ever created to honor achievements in the field of orthopaedic research. The first annual award, a single stipend of $1,000, was made available to the Academy in 1949 and presented at the AAOS meeting in 1950. The Kappa Delta Awards have been presented by the Academy to persons who have performed research in orthopaedic surgery that is of high significance and impact.

The sorority increased the number of awards from one to three, and increased the dollar amount. At present three annual awards of $20,000 each are given. Two awards are named for the sorority national past presidents who were instrumental in the creation of the awards: Elizabeth Winston Lanier and Ann Doner Vaughn. The third is known as the Young Investigator Award.

The fourth award, also providing $20,000, is the OREF Clinical Research Award. Established in 1995, the award recognizes outstanding clinical research related directly to musculoskeletal disease or injury.

Torn rotator cuffs

The 2009 Young Investigator Award, given to outstanding authors who are under 40 years of age or no more than seven years beyond training, was presented to Washington University researcher Stavros Thomopoulos, Ph.D.

Dr. Thomopoulos and his research team knew that torn tendons cause a severe amount of pain and disability, and fixing them through orthopaedic surgery is no easy task. Fascinated by tissue engineering, his team took on the challenge of re-attaching tendon to bone.

“One of the challenges of my research is that connecting tendon to bone is like connecting rope to cement,” stated Dr. Thomopoulos. “The mechanical properties of the two tissues are that different.”

His award-winning paper, “Structure, Biomechanics, and Mechanobiology in the Attachment of Tendon to Bone” aims to understand how cells at the tendon-to-bone insertion respond to changes in their mechanical environment. “My hope is that this research provides guidance for tissue engineering efforts to improve healing and surgical repair of the tendon-to-bone insertion,” stated Dr. Thomopoulos.

Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis

Hiroshi Kawaguchi, MD, Ph.D. and co-authors at the University of Tokyo won the 2009 Kappa Delta Ann Doner Vaughan Award. Takashi Yamada, MD, Ph.D., Toru Akune, MD, Ph.D., and Naoshi Ogata, MD, Ph.D. worked with Dr. Kawaguchi on “Mouse Genetic Studies on Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Bone and Cartilage Disorders.”

This research outlines mouse genetics studies on the molecular backgrounds of representative degenerative skeletal disorders, like debilitating conditions such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, which are suffered by millions of people. The molecular mechanisms of both conditions have not been identified, although this promising research attempts to reveal the molecular mechanism. The potential of this research may have the power to stop these bone and cartilage conditions before beginning.

Skeletal Deformity

The third Kappa Delta Award, named in honor of Elizabeth Winston Lanier, went to Michael J. Yaszemski, M.D., Ph.D. and co-author Lichun Lu, Ph.D., of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine for the paper “Osteoinductive Injectable Degradable Polymeric Scaffolds for Osseous Defect Repair.” This research team studied the field of bone tissue engineering and set out to develop orthopaedic biomaterials for treating skeletal disorders. “Bone, after blood, is most commonly transplanted tissue worldwide,” the paper stated.

The team used two strategies – one for contained defects, which are holes contained within the bone, and another for segmental defects, which are gaps between bones. The composite biomaterial, consisting of polymers, metals, ceramics, drugs and biologics, used in either clinical strategy induced bone regeneration by providing an osteoconductive scaffold and by releasing osteoinductive factors. An osteoconductive scaffold is a material that mimics the normal tissue that the bone cells attach to and make bone, upon which bone can grow and osteoinductive factors are molecules that direct stem cells to become bone cells and make bone.

According to Dr. Yaszemski, “The osteoconductive scaffolds and osteoinductive factors are intended to replace bone graft in these procedures. Usually, the bone graft is harvested from the patient’s pelvis, and these new techniques might decrease or eliminate the need for an orthopaedic surgeon to obtain the bone graft from this area of the body.”

Dupuytren’s Contracture and Frozen Shoulder

Helping patients to regain mobility and pain-free motion was the goal of the 2009 OREF Clinical Research Award recipients Lawrence C. Hurst, MD; Marie A. Badalamente, Ph.D.; and Edward D. Wang, MD. This State University of New York at Stony Brook research team and their paper “Injectable Clostridial Collagenase: Striving Toward Nonoperative Treatment Options for Fibroproliferative Disorders” focused on the use of injectible Clostridial collagenase as an alternative to surgery in treating these conditions.

According to the paper, “Fibroproliferative disorders like Dupuytren’s contracture and adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) seriously impact quality of life.” Dupuytren’s contracture is characterized by a progressive accumulation of collagen in the palm of the hand that causes “Dupuytren’s cords to form, leading to a progressive flexion of the fingers…the standard of care is surgery.” Dr. Hurst and his team injected Clostridial collagenase to the joint and reduced contractures in metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints within zero degrees to five degrees of normal extension after the last injection.

An additional study in humans with frozen shoulder yielded promising results, concluding “this investigational minimally invasive injection therapy shows potential for patients with fibroproliferative disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system.”

About OREF and the Kappa Delta Award (http://www.aaos.org/research/committee/research/Kappa/Kappa.asp)

Previous Kappa Delta Award Winners (http://www.aaos.org/research/committee/research/Kappa/kappa_winners.asp)

Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Egyptian Doctor, Nicaraguan NGO Win 2009 UN Population Award

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Feb 25,2009

An Egyptian doctor, Mahmoud Fathalla, and a Nicaraguan non-governmental organization, Movimiento Comunal Nicaraguense (MCN), have won this year’s United Nations Population Award. The Award is given to individuals and institutions for outstanding work in population and in improving the health of individuals.

The Award Committee, chaired by Malaysia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Hamidon Ali, chose the laureates from 18 international nominees. The Committee consists of 10 United Nations Member States, with UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, serving as its secretariat. The awards are due to be presented on Monday, 1 June, at the United Nations, New York. Each winner will receive a diploma and a gold medal.

According to documents submitted to the Award Committee, Dr. Fathalla is a renowned doctor and professor of obstetrics/gynaecology at Assiut University, Egypt, where he began his academic career. Beyond academia, Dr. Fathalla also works as a manager, adviser and advocate on family planning, reproductive health and safe motherhood.

In 1974, Dr. Fathalla founded the Egyptian Fertility Care Society, one of the first family planning organizations in the Arab world, according to documents with the Award Committee. Since then, he has advised the Egyptian Family Planning Association, Ministry of Health and the National Population Council. He has also advised international organizations, such as the World Health Organization; International Women’s Health Coalition; Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health; International Planned Parenthood Federation; David and Lucille Packard Foundation; and the Committee on Population of the National Research Council of the United States.

Dr. Fathalla has won many honours, such as the Pioneer Award from the President of Egypt, while British and American Colleges of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have made him an Honorary Fellow. A maternal health advocate, he was one of the founders of the Safe Motherhood Initiative.

Created in 1978, Movimiento Comunal Nicaraguense (MCN) works to improve living conditions in Nicaragua through social and community development, gender equality and environmental protection, according to documents with the Award Committee. It works in 120 municipalities and 2,000 local communities, with an ability to mobilize around 20,000 persons, such as community leaders, educators and health promoters, including midwives, according to the documents. More recently, MCN has focused on young people, with the aim of improving gender relations, eliminating violence, preventing sexually transmitted infections and reducing teen pregnancies.

The United Nations Economic and Social Council elects countries to the Award Committee for three-year terms. Currently, members are Algeria, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Iran, Malaysia, Peru, Sweden and Tanzania. The United Nations Secretary-General and the UNFPA Executive Director are ex-officio members.

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.

Source: UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund

For Iraq Veterans, Headaches Continue After Traumatic Brain Injury

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Feb 25,2009

Many soldiers who experienced mild head trauma or a blast exposure while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan are returning to the United States with headaches, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle, April 25 to May 2, 2009.

The study, conducted at Fort Lewis, WA, involved 978 U.S. Army soldiers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan in 2008. All had experienced a concussion, head injury or blast exposure while deployed.

Nearly 98 percent of the soldiers reported having headaches during the last three months of their deployment. The headaches started within one week of the traumatic brain injury for 37 percent of the soldiers, and within one to four weeks for 20 percent. Among the soldiers whose headaches started within a week of the injury, 60 percent had migraine-like headaches and 40 percent had headaches that interfered with their ability to do their daily activities. Thirty percent had headaches for 15 or more days each month.

“Mild traumatic brain injury is occurring in 15 to 25 percent of soldiers deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan,” said study author Brett J. Theeler, MD, of Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, WA, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “The associated headaches can be a source of impaired occupational functioning. These findings should alert health care providers, especially those affiliated with the military or veteran health care systems, to the need to identify and properly treat headaches among soldiers.”

The study was supported by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences through a grant from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as multiple sclerosis, restless legs syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, narcolepsy, and stroke.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com.

The AAN 61st Annual Meeting, the world’s largest gathering of neurology professionals, takes place April 25 to May 2, 2009, in Seattle. Visit www.aan.com/am for more information.

To access 2009 AAN Annual Meeting abstracts available February 25, 2009, visit http://www.aan.com/go/science/abstracts.

Late-breaking abstracts will be featured in press release at the 2009 AAN Annual Meeting in Seattle.

Source: American Academy of Neurology

Top 5 Most Annoying Dental Patient Behaviors

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Feb 25,2009

Dentists Dish On What Drives Them Crazy While They Work…

30,000+ Dentists Converge in Chicago February 27-March 1

Who: The Chicago Dental Society (CDS) recently polled more than 300 members to find out some wacky, unusual, and just plain distracting behaviors they’ve encountered while patients are in their chair.

As we countdown to CDS’s annual Midwinter Meeting, one of the largest displays of dental products in North America, here are the most annoying patient behaviors, according to those surveyed. Give your dentist a break and avoid these activities if possible.

5) Public displays of affection. Your breath may be minty fresh after a cleaning, but don’t test it on your significant other until after you leave the dental office.

4) Playing games on your handheld. A few dentists reported getting knocked upside the head during an exam while their patients tried to continue playing their games at arms-length. Really, Tetris can wait.

3) Reading a book or magazine while the dentist is trying to perform an exam. You’ll have to relinquish that People magazine or John Grisham novel so your dentist can get a look at your teeth.

2) Grooming. The light in the dental chair might be just right for touching up makeup or – heaven help us – plucking your eyebrows, but dentists really would prefer you save those activities for the bathroom.

And the most annoying thing patients do while in the dentists’ chair?

Answering cell phone!

Why: Data was collected for the Chicago Dental Society’s 144th annual Midwinter Meeting, which begins at McCormick Place in Chicago on February 26, 2009. The exhibit floor opens on February 27.

Source: Chicago Dental Society

The Journal of Nutrition Publishes Study Indicating that AHCC Provides Immune Support against West Nile Virus

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Feb 24,2009

Results demonstrate potential for AHCC(R) in individuals living with West Nile Virus or susceptible populations such as the elderly or immune compromised

A study published online from The Journal of Nutrition (2009 Jan 13.) has demonstrated that AHCC(R) (Active Hexose Correlated Compound) enhances host resistance by boosting protective immune responses specific to West Nile Virus. This study is an important initial finding indicating that dietary supplements containing AHCC may be beneficial for individuals living with West Nile Virus.

West Nile Virus is a major public health concern that has been closely monitored by U.S. government agencies. The virus can cause brain inflammation (encephalitis) and is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 28,975 reported cases with 1,124 deaths since 1999. In 2003, the highest number of cases was reported at nearly 10,000. Currently there is no effective treatment for the disease.

“Our results indicate that AHCC increases several critical immune responses associated with protecting the body from West Nile Virus,” said Tian (Tina) Wang, Ph.D., lead researcher for the study and Assistant Professor, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. “This study shows that AHCC may provide benefits against the West Nile Virus infection and demonstrates its role for immune system enhancement.”

The West Nile Virus study utilizing AHCC examined its effect in both young and aged mice infected with a potent strain of West Nile Virus. AHCC was administered both prior to and post infection at specific intervals. Blood was drawn and analyzed for key parameters such as IgM (Immunoglobulin M) and IgG (Immunoglobulin G) antibody levels as well as gamma delta T cells. Increasing these responses helps the body protect itself from the virus. Results from the study demonstrated that AHCC increased the production of West Nile Virus-specific IgM, IgG and gamma delta T cells in young mice. Producing higher levels of these critical antibodies and lymphocytes is essential in helping the immune system protect itself from infection. AHCC also had an effect in aged mice but it was not as strong as on young mice. This initial study suggests that AHCC enhances protective immune responses against West Nile Virus infection in young and aged mice. Although additional studies are needed, these results are promising for individuals living with the disease as well as West Nile Virus susceptible populations such as the elderly and those individuals with a weakened immune system.

AHCC has been the subject of over 80 research studies worldwide. Research has demonstrated that AHCC enhances the immune system proving beneficial for a number of diseases that include flu, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.

What is AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound)?

AHCC is derived from the hybridization of several subspecies of medicinal mushroom, cultivated in Japan and then produced from a specialized manufacturing process. AHCC is the leading immune-enhancing supplement in Japan and is utilized by over 700 hospitals and healthcare facilities worldwide as a standard preventative supplement for incoming patients to help reduce the risk of hospital infections as well as supporting the body’s fight against the formation of abnormal cells.*

AHCC is manufactured by Amino Up Chemical Company in Sapporo, Japan and is distributed in the United States by Maypro Industries. Maypro sells AHCC to a number of leading supplement companies including Quality of Life Laboratories, a subsidiary of Maypro.

The AHCC Research Association was founded in 1986 to promote further study. Each year since 1994, over 300 medical doctors and researchers have gathered in Sapporo, Japan for the AHCC Research Association Symposium to share and discuss the latest developments.

To learn more about AHCC, visit the AHCC Research Association Web site at http://www.ahccresearch.com/

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or mitigate disease.

Breast Cancer Patients May Have a New Treatment Option When Cancer Spreads

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Feb 23,2009

New procedure could offer a safer, more convenient treatment for spine tumors

For orthopaedic researcher Joyce Keyak, Ph.D., finding ways to battle breast cancer is a personal as well as a professional mission. Her cousin died from the disease several years ago. Dr. Keyak still remembers the incredible pain her cousin experienced when the cancer spread to her spine. A new study released by Dr. Keyak and her colleagues at the University of California, Irvine, shows patients whose breast cancer metastasizes to their spines may have a better option than the usual treatment, which can include up to 10 sessions of radiation therapy. The study looked at alternative — injecting radioactive bone cement into the vertebral body — with promising results.

The UCI researchers collaborated with a colleague from St. Jude Heritage Medical Group in Fullerton, Calif., to investigate this technique. Dr. Keyak is presenting the team’s findings in the paper “Feasibility of Using Radioactive Bone Cement to Treat Vertebral Metastases” during the 55th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, Feb. 22-25, 2009, in Las Vegas.

“With further development, this technology may yield a clinically feasible procedure that would eliminate the need for 10 radiation therapy sessions, making it more convenient for the patient,” says Dr. Keyak, an associate professor in UCI’s department of orthopaedic surgery. “This procedure would also deliver a higher dose to the bone metastases and a lower dose to the spinal cord and other normal tissues than conventional external beam radiation therapy, potentially improving the clinical outcome,” she explains. “The negligible dose to the spinal cord would also make it possible to treat recurrent spinal tumors in patients who have already received the maximum allowable radiation dose to the spinal cord.”

According to the American Cancer Society, almost 185,000 people in the United States — mainly women — were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2008. In addition, a study published in the journal Spine showed that, of those patients whose breast cancer metastasizes, almost 75 percent develop spine tumors.

Spinal metastases can cause pain and vertebral collapse. And, due to the proximity of the spinal cord and nerves, those tumors can lead to serious neurological complications. Conventional treatment often occurs in two phases:

1. A surgical procedure (vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty) in which bone cement is injected into the body to stabilize the bone
2. Subsequent external beam radiation therapy (or EBRT) to control tumor growth

The effectiveness of EBRT for spinal metastases is limited because the spinal cord restricts the dose of radiation that can be safely delivered. In addition, EBRT is typically provided in multiple sessions to reduce toxicity to the spinal cord, making treatment inconvenient for the patient.

The therapy investigated by Dr. Keyak and her colleagues would combine the two treatment phases into one procedure by mixing a radioactive compound with the injected cement. A single procedure using this radioactive bone cement would provide structural reinforcement to the bone while simultaneously irradiating the tumor from within (i.e., vertebral brachytherapy). Results of the study showed that a therapeutic dose of radiation would reach the intended bone without undue risk to tissue beyond a certain range (such as the spinal cord).

Once the results are validated, subsequent studies will look at the following:

• Refining the choice of radioisotope(s), amount of activity and geographic distribution of the cement

• Sensitivity of the radiation dose distribution to variations in bone size, density and tumor type; differences in bone cement formulations; and other factors associated with a potential clinical application

An abstract of the study is available online at http://www.ors.org/web/Media.asp.

Source: Orthopaedic Research Society

Project Runway Designer in San Francisco to Educate About Living with HIV and Combat Stigma Associated with the Disease

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health Advices, Health News
• Date: Feb 23,2009

Jack Mackenroth to kick off 2009 Living Positive By Design local tour at largest Academy Awards(R) party outside Hollywood

Jack Mackenroth, from the hit reality television series “Project Runway,” is visiting San Francisco for the Academy of Friends’ annual Academy Awards Night Gala, representing Living Positive By Design, his national HIV and AIDS education initiative. The Living Positive By Design campaign, a major sponsor of the Gala, seeks to help combat the stigma associated with HIV by engaging people in thoughtful conversation about the disease and is being supported by Merck & Co., Inc. At the Gala, which benefits 12 local Bay Area HIV and AIDS service organizations, Jack will unveil a new series of Living Positive By Design video vignettes that he has created to garner support for the goals of the program as well as provide on-site commentary on the celebrity fashions from the awards show. The Gala event is being held on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at Fort Mason.

“I am excited to bring Living Positive By Design to San Francisco in partnership with the Academy of Friends, an organization committed to improving the lives of people living with HIV,” said Mackenroth. “Through Living Positive By Design, I have been speaking about my experiences living with HIV for more than 20 years, addressing the stigma still associated with the disease and highlighting the importance for people living with HIV to have a positive outlook on life while effectively managing their disease.”

In addition to Jack, local HIV specialist Lisa Capaldini, M.D. of Castro Medical will also be available the weekend of the Gala to discuss the current and future landscape of HIV and AIDS treatment and research.

“One of the goals of Living Positive By Design is to educate people living with HIV that taking medications to help reduce the amount of virus in the blood to undetectable levels and helping to restore their immune system must be some of the priorities for today’s disease management,” said Dr. Capaldini. “In addition to this, with new advancements in HIV treatment, physicians should also factor in the tolerability of treatment regimens.”

In 2008, Jack held Living Positive By Design events in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the 2008 United States Conference on AIDS (USCA); in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Atlanta AIDS Walk; and in New York, New York, at the Gay Men’s Health Crisis’ (GMHC) annual Fashion Forward fundraiser. He will continue to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS through events in additional cities, including Houston, Texas. For more information on Living Positive By Design and participating cities, please visit: www.LivingPositiveByDesign.com.

Prevalence of HIV and AIDS

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one million Americans are living with HIV and AIDS in the U.S. and approximately 55,000 new people become infected every year. In 2006, 50 percent of new diagnoses were among men who have sex with men (MSM). The state of California has the second highest number of reported AIDS cases compared to any other state in the U.S. At the end of 2007, 15,470 San Francisco residents were living with HIV or AIDS.

Source: Living Positive By Design

American Lung Association of New England Launches Online Asthma Control Test

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News
• Date: Feb 22,2009

Results To Offer New Insights on How Well Asthma is Controlled in New England

The American Lung Association of New England (ALANE) has partnered with QualityMetric Incorporated of Lincoln, Rhode Island to offer an online survey and corresponding report that will help asthma sufferers learn how well their condition is being controlled and encourage them to discuss the results with their physician.

The Asthma Control Test(TM) (ACT(TM)) is a five-question health survey which takes an average respondent about two minutes to complete. Used to measure asthma control in individuals 12 years of age and older, the survey measures the elements of asthma control as defined by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). NHLBI has included ACT in their Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. ACT is a brief, reliable, and valid method of measuring asthma control. The ACT report was designed with input from some of the leading asthma clinicians in the U.S.

“New Englanders have significantly higher asthma rates than the rest of the country. ALANE wants to get a better handle on how well asthma is being controlled and how well people are living with asthma. The Asthma Control Test will give us an accurate snapshot of New England, state by state, and we’ll be able to work with healthcare providers to increase asthma control and decrease triggers,” says Robert Petix, Esq., chair of the Board of Directors of the American Lung Association of New England

“We are delighted to be offering the ACT to the American Lung Association of New England,” says James E. Dewey, PhD, Chief Innovations Research Officer at QualityMetric. “This partnership is part of an overall initiative to put healthcare in the hands of the patient, to empower them to take better control of their health, and in this case, to better manage their asthma. Anyone can now go to www.lungne.org, complete this easy-to-use survey, and get a report that they can use for themselves, their family members, support groups, and doctors.”

ACT and SF-12v2 Health Survey Combined

Specifically for the partnership between ALANE and QualityMetric, the ACT is offered in combination with the SF-12v2(R) Health Survey. The SF-12v2 is a brief, reliable measure of overall health status. It is the instrument of choice in population health surveys and has also been used extensively as a screening tool. Because of its brevity, it is frequently embedded in longer, disease-specific health surveys. The two surveys, in combination, will provide a comprehensive view of an individual’s functional health and well-being, which can then be used in discussion with a physician.

Data Will Show Status of Asthma Management

Data collected from persons with asthma who take the online ACT and SF-12v2 will provide valuable information on how well asthma is being controlled in New England. As the database grows, ALANE will be able to release information by state and by regions within each of the New England states.

Asthma in New England

A 2006 report produced by the Asthma Regional Council (ARC) offers the following information on the burden of asthma in New England. New Englanders have significantly higher rates of asthma than the rest of the country. Nearly 15% of adults and 14% of children living in New England have asthma, compared to 7.9% for the rest of the country. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data on asthma prevalence shows that the top four states in the country for asthma rates are Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Additionally, asthma affects low-income adults and children, and minorities, at higher rates.

Additional New England asthma facts include:

• Over 30% of adults with asthma reported an activity limitation
• 22% were in fair or poor overall health
• 17% reported frequent mental distress
• Asthma is significantly correlated with employment status: 9% of adults with asthma report being unable to work
• About 21% of adults that are unable to work have asthma

The ARC recommended that more needs to be done to ensure the proper care and control of asthma in New England, with better attention given to the psychosocial aspects of the disease and increased education for patient self-management.

Asthma Rates in Your State

Regionally, New England has higher asthma rates than the rest of the country and Maine leads the nation with a current asthma rate of 10.3% for adults. The current asthma rates for New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island all hover around 10%, while the current rate for Vermont is 9.6% and Connecticut is 9.3%, according to the CDC.

Why Asthma Management is Important

Asthma attacks usually occur in reaction to allergens, certain air pollutants such as secondhand smoke, weather conditions, respiratory illnesses such as cold or flu, and even stress. Proper asthma management is important because asthma that is not well-managed results in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, loss of school and work days, and a reduced quality of life. Well-managed asthma patients are not expected to require crisis interventions or experience life limitations as seen in the ARC report.

Take the Test

Go to www.lungne.org to take the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and discuss the results with your healthcare provider at your next visit.

American Lung Association:

The American Lung Association of New England is part of the American Lung Association, the oldest voluntary health organization in the U.S. Originally formed in 1904 to eradicate tuberculosis, today the focus is on all lung disease, including asthma. The mission is to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. For more information, call 1-800-LUNG USA or visit lungne.org.

QualityMetric:

QualityMetric works with the world’s largest healthcare and life sciences companies to measure health outcomes. Our products help market new drugs and biologics, track health improvement or decline, screen populations for disease, and identify future health risks. QualityMetric’s patient-reported outcome (PRO) surveys provide scientifically valid assessments of both physical and mental health. Our PROs include the SF-36v2(R), SF-12v2(R), and SF-8(TM) Health Surveys, SF-10(TM) Health Survey for Children, Asthma Control Test(TM) (ACT(TM)), Pain Impact Questionnaire(TM) (PIQ-6(TM)), and DYNHA(R) Dynamic Health Assessments. Our Outcomes Insight Consulting(TM) Division can develop customized PROs and provide in-depth analysis of the results. QualityMetric’s founder and CEO, John E. Ware, Jr., PhD is a thought-leader in the field of psychometrics and health outcome measurement. Visit us at www.qualitymetric.com.