"Health & Medical News"

Washington — Physicians now can take advantage of new tools that go beyond bone density scores to help assess the fracture risk faced by older patients with low bone mass.

FRAX, an algorithm developed by the World Health Organization to calculate an individual’s 10-year risk of fracture, was released Feb. 21, as was a new clinician’s guide for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, that incorporates the algorithm. The guide was developed by the National Osteoporosis Foundation in collaboration with the American Assn. of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American College of Radiology, the American Orthopaedic Assn. and the International Society for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: unranked [?]

Washington — A wealthy Maryland county is working on a plan to provide at least basic health care to most of its 15,000 uninsured adults — a concept that could be reproduced in many counties around the United States, its proponents say.

The proposal, announced by Howard County leaders in October, would provide free primary, specialty and hospital care; personal care plans; and prescription drugs to enrollees. Individuals would pay monthly premiums ranging from $50 to $85, depending on income. These premiums would cover the bulk of the program’s $2.8 billion cost.

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: unranked [?]

Kevin Robertson, DO, and Philip O’Halloran, MD, were on the Utah slopes a few years ago hoping to cross paths with other skiers when an idea occurred to them. It would be useful to have a Web site linking people who participate in various physical activities, such as skiing. In turn, this network could help people become more physically active and try out new activities. As an added benefit, it might help eliminate at least one excuse — not having an activity partner — that so many patients had given them for not getting off the couch.

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: unranked [?]

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have shown that hormone therapy can extend life in ovarian cancer patients, giving women a new alternative to chemotherapy.

The study, published today in Clinical Cancer Research, has proved for the first time that the targeted use of an anti-oestrogen drug could prolong the life of some patients by up to three years, and delay the use of chemotherapy in others.

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 5% [?]