September 2nd, 2011 by MuinKhouryMDPhD in Health Tips, Research
Tags: Cancer, CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Diabetes, DNA Testing, Effectiveness, Family Health History, Gene-Environment Interaction, Genetic Testing, Genetics, Genomics, Government Accountability Office, Healthy Choices, Healthy Lifestyle, Heart Disease, Kari Stefansson, Personal Genomic Tests, Spit
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Campaigns against public spitting in the 19th century were largely driven by concerns about the spread of tuberculosis. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, spitting seems to be making a comeback. Over the past few years, several companies have begun offering personal genomic tests online to the public. There have been famous images of “spit parties”, where celebrities are seen filling tubes with saliva to ship for DNA testing. Getting information on one’s genes has been promoted as fun, as part of social networking, and as a basis for improving health and preventing disease.
When it comes to spitting to improve one’s health, we say: think before you spit. Our knowledge of the potential benefits and harms of these tests is incomplete at best. Despite exciting research advances in genomics of common diseases, there is still much to learn about what this information means and how to use it to prevent disease. A little bit of incomplete or inaccurate information may even be harmful.
There are at least 2 key questions to consider when deciding whether personal genomic tests are worth your spit. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Genomics and Health Impact Blog*
September 2nd, 2011 by RamonaBatesMD in Research
Tags: Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, Auricular Keloids, Custom made, Ear Lobe, Fibroblast Degeneration, Fibroblast Disintegration, Keloids, Localized Hypoxia, Off-the-shelf Pressure earrings, pressure earrings, Pressure Treatment, Scar Formation Time, scars, Treatment, Upper Ear
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I have written of keloid treatment (general, not site specific) previously. I have always tried to include pressure treatment as part of the plan when treating keloids of the ear lobe. This pressure treatment came in the form of pressure earrings — clip-on, disc-shaped.
The recent article (full reference below) in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery journal introduces a new pressure device which looks like it will work better than what has been available (photo credit)
and as can be seen in this photo, the upper ear can be treated with pressure which has not been possible with the clip earrings: Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Suture for a Living*
August 31st, 2011 by John Mandrola, M.D. in Health Tips, Research
Tags: Activity, ADHD, Anthracyclines, Apoptosis, Arthritis, Cancer, Cancer Patients, Cardiac injury, Cardiac Toxicity, Concentration, doxorubicin-induced cardiac injury, Endurance, Exercise, Healthy Living, Heart Disease, Hippocampus, Intelligence, Memory, NSAIDs
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It’s Wednesday, so I would like to tell you about some cool things I learned this past week about the science of how exercise can be used as a treatment for three common ailments.
First, some background about exercise: The great thing about exercising every day that you eat is that this magic potion is not a shot or a pill. It does not involve a doctor burning or squishing anything in your body. There are no HIPAA forms, no insurance pre-certifications, and not even a co-pay. It’s as we say, easy and free. And drum roll please…exercise is active—not passive.
Here’s the Mandrola take on how exercise might treat three specific medical conditions: Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Dr John M*
August 31st, 2011 by PreparedPatient in Health Policy, Research
Tags: Barriers to health care, Doctor-Patient Communication, Financial Concerns, Health Services Research, Jeffrey Kullgren, Jessie Gruman, Lying, Making Appointments, Manage My Practice, Mary Whaley, Office Location, Payment Process, Rules of Engagement
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It’s not just about money – Americans Face Barriers to Health Care Beyond Cost. A study released recently in Health Services Research found that while financial concerns prevent 18% of Americans from getting needed health care, more Americans – 21% – delay health care for nonfinancial reasons. These barriers include getting to the doctor, getting a timely appointment and taking time out of other responsibilities. Lead author Jeffrey Kullgren, M.D. adds what he believes is the crux of the issue: “We need to think about how to organize the existing resources we have in ways that are going to improve access to care.”
In Would You Lie to Your Own Doctor?, Connie Midey of The Arizona Republic reports on a common practice that can “compromise [doctors’] ability to diagnose and treat patients effectively.” The reason? Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Prepared Patient Forum: What It Takes Blog*
August 30th, 2011 by RyanDuBosar in News, Research
Tags: 2010, 2011 Medical Group Compensation and Financial Survey, Allergy Specialty, American Medical Group Association, Compensation, Emergency Medicine, Hospitalist-Internal Medicine, Income, Operating Margins, Pay Raise, Primary Care Specialties, Specialties, Surgeons
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Although nearly 70% of medical specialties saw increases in compensation in 2010, increases were marginal, reports the American Medical Group Association’s 2011 Medical Group Compensation and Financial Survey.
Primary care specialties saw about a 2.6% increase in 2010, while other medical specialties averaged an increase of 2.4% and surgical specialties averaged around 3.8%. Specialties with the largest increases in compensation were allergy (6.38%), emergency medicine (6.37%), and hospitalist-internal medicine (6.29%).
In comparison, in 2009, primary care and surgical specialties saw about a Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at ACP Hospitalist*
