Categories
Cardiovascular
Diagnostics
Endocrinology
Health Insurance
Medical Devices
Mental Health
Nutrition
Oncology
Public Health
Sexual Health
Popular Articles

Helping Mentally Ill People Find Jobs Could Save Federal Government $368 Million A Year
A national program to help mentally ill people on Social Security disability programs find jobs could spur greater independence while saving the federal government $368 million annually, according to a study by Robert Drake of Dartmouth Medical School and colleagues in the May-June 2009 issue of Health Affairs.

Upcoming Health IT Decisions Could Spell Success Or Failure
"An unprecedented effort to computerize the nation"s hospitals and physician offices could be the key to reducing crippling health care costs - or a giveaway to technology vendors whose sales will be subsidized by taxpayers," the Dallas Morning News reports. The $45 billion, stimulus-funded effort in question could help reduce costs by cutting into the country"s $37.6 billion in medical errors each year, for instance. But, if requirements for providers seeking stimulus funding are too strict, the program could turn into "a bonanza for software vendors."
News of the day
Taxing Health Benefits Could Be Used To Pay For Expanded Coverage, Drive Out Unnecessary Care, Some Say
Economists say taxing health benefits not only could raise billions per year for health care reform efforts, but also could make the system run better, NPR and KHN report.
Sexual Health

Signature Genomic Laboratories Detects Chromosome Abnormalities In Individuals With Genetic Disorders Associated With Susceptibility To Cancer

Geneticists at Signature Genomic Laboratories recently demonstrated that microarray-based genetic testing can identify chromosome abnormalities that cause genetic disorders associated with susceptibility to cancer prior to the onset of symptoms. In their study, published in the May issue of Genetics in Medicine, geneticists from Signature reviewed data from 18,437 individuals who were tested by microarray analysis for unexplained mental retardation and congenital anomalies. DNA copy number gains or losses that encompassed gene regions associated with recognized genetic conditions with an increased risk for cancer were identified in 34 individuals. Almost three-quarters of those individuals had indications for study that were not specific to the diagnosed syndrome and therefore presumably did not have signs of cancer. The authors describe multiple instances in which early diagnosis improved medical management of the patient and allowed for early surveillance of cancer onset. "It is well known that microarray analysis allows for diagnosis of genetic syndromes at an early age that otherwise may not be diagnosed until onset of symptoms later in life," said Dr. Bassem A. Bejjani, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Signature and senior author of the study. "However, this study shows the impact of early diagnosis is even more profound when a syndrome is associated with childhood-onset cancer, in which the threat of cancer is added to the child"s other medical issues." Signature Genomic Laboratories, LLC


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

© Copyright 2009