Selective strategy for D-dimer testing in DVT

Selecting certain patients for D-dimer testing appears to be a safe and more efficient way of diagnosing deep vein thrombosis than uniformly testing all patients suspected of having the condition, report researchers.

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Study demonstrates ways in which quality measurement from EHRs can be improved

Health care providers and hospitals are being offered up to $27 billion in federal financial incentives to use electronic health records (EHRs) in ways that demonstrably improve the quality of care. The incentives are based, in part, on the ability to electronically report clinical quality measures.

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WHO recommends switching to injectable polio vaccine

"[T]his month the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, proposed a shift in [polio] vaccination strategy from oral vaccines to injected ones that may have to be administered in clinics," Nature reports, adding, "The change is needed to mop up the last remaining pockets of polio, but experts say that it poses challenges in [rural areas], which have poor access to health care."

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Sp2 protein plays a key role in creation of neurons from stem cells

A protein known as Sp2 is key to the proper creation of neurons from stem cells, according to researchers at North Carolina State University. Understanding how this protein works could enable scientists to "program" stem cells for regeneration, which has implications for neural therapies.

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Analyzing how well the individual mandate may work

Politico looks at the practical task ahead for the health law's individual mandate.

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Link between infections and venous thromboembolism in surgical patients

Despite receiving blood thinners and other clot prevention treatment, some patients still develop potentially lethal blood clots in the first month after their operations anyway, especially if they developed a surgical-site infection while in the hospital, according to results of a study at Johns Hopkins.

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Ariz. governor backs Medicaid expansion under health law

Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican critic of the law, surprised many when she announced in her State of the State speech that she would support expansion of the federal-state program for low-income residents.

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Fifteen established scientists to receive NARSAD Distinguished Investigator Grants

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (formerly NARSAD, the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression) announced the latest recipients of its highly competitive NARSAD Distinguished Investigator Grants.

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Addressing cholera with an 'integrated approach' in 2013

"There has been so much news related to cholera and cholera research since the start of 2013 I can only hope it means this year will be a banner year for prevention efforts," Helen Matzger, a program officer in new vaccine delivery at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, writes in the foundation's "Impatient Optimists" blog.

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Eating diets high in sugar and fat may not affect health outcomes of older adults

Eating diets high in sugar and fat may not affect the health outcomes of older adults ages 75 and up, suggesting that placing people of such advanced age on overly restrictive diets to treat their excess weight or other conditions may have little benefit, according to researchers at Penn State and Geisinger Healthcare System.

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UnitedHealth, Mayo partnering to merge insurance, care data

UnitedHealth announced it will partner with the Mayo Clinic to merge insurance and medical data to try to improve and standardize care in order to lower costs.

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Researchers identify new group of growth factor receptors that signal to brain tumours

One in 25,000 people worldwide is affected by neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a condition where the loss of a tumour suppressor called Merlin results in multiple tumours in the brain and nervous system.

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Gates Foundation official discusses efforts to fight malaria

AllAfrica features an interview with David Brandling-Bennett, deputy director of the malaria program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in which he discusses "current tools being used to fight the disease, the prospect for a vaccine, and the hope of new drugs to accelerate progress," according to the news service.

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Florida Atlantic University announces $3M gift to endow medical student scholarships

Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine has announced a $3 million gift to endow medical student scholarships. The endowment will be named the "Dr. Morton and Cynthia Levitt Endowed Scholarship for Medical Education," and the announcement was made during the Schmidt College of Medicine's inaugural "Your Medical School" celebration honoring Dick and Barbara Schmidt.

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Flu: ERs seeing more patients, N.Y. declares state of emergency

Emergency rooms around America are dealing with an influx of those with the flu while the virus forces New York officials to declare a state of emergency.

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Thermo Scientific QMS Everolimus Assay Kit receives CE Mark for liver transplant application

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today announced that its Thermo Scientific QMS Everolimus Assay Kit has been CE marked for sale in the European Union for a third application, namely liver transplants.

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As debate heats up, how does Medicare fit into debt limit fight?

President Barack Obama signals an interest in "modest adjustments" to Medicare and other safety net programs -- but not in the context of debt limit discussions -- as Republicans demand spending cuts be part of a deal to raise the federal debt limit.

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Stroke survivors with depression more likely to die

People who are depressed after a stroke may have a tripled risk of dying early and four times the risk of death from stroke than people who have not experienced a stroke or depression, according to a study that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego, March 16 to 23, 2013.

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Malaria control: an interview with Dr Jo Lines

Malaria is a tropical, mosquito-borne disease. It is found all over the tropics, in every continent but diminished now a great deal in most of Latin America, most of Asia. Still 90% of the world’s deaths due to malaria – are in Africa and most of them are in young children in Africa.

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Blog highlights global health challenges, opportunities in 2013

Chatham House's "Expert Comment" blog features commentary on four global health issues the organization's experts view as important in the year ahead.

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