Month: December 2016

How Carrie Fisher helped fight mental illness stigma

The world lost more than a smart, funny, beloved actress and writer when Carrie Fisher died Tuesday; it also lost a powerful advocate for mental health. Fisher’s death after suffering a cardiac emergency Friday drew an outpouring of comments lauding her courageous openness about her personal struggle with bipolar disorder and addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Patients suffer over gap between physical and mental health care

Family doctors are the first point of contact for most people seeking diagnosis and care, but a disconnect between physicians and mental health professionals leaves many stranded. Esme Hurst says her son took his own life after their family physician repeatedly told the family he was not suicidal, and failed to refer the Hursts to timely mental health treatment.

Case managers recognized

… program, Community Care Services assigns case managers to facilitate the delivery of behavioral and medical health services to Medicaid-eligible adults who have serious mental illness. Ohana Health Plan has been the sole provider of Community Care …

Apolipoprotein e genotype, plasma cholesterol, and cancer: a Mendelian randomization study.

Observational studies have shown an association between low plasma cholesterol levels and increased risk of cancer, whereas most randomized clinical trials involving cholesterol-lowering medications have not shown this association. Between 1997 and 2002, the authors assessed the association between plasma cholesterol levels and cancer risk, free from confounding and reverse causality, in a Mendelian randomization study using apolipoprotein E genotype.

USA Medical shares 3 tips to help people stick to New Year’s resolutions for better health

At the beginning of each new year, many people make resolutions to improve their health; they may aim to lose weight, stop smoking, exercise more, remember to take prescriptions as directed. USA Medical offers to help people live healthier lifestyles by providing discounts on medications through its customized prescription savings programs in all 50 states including: Texas Prescription Assistance Program, Florida Prescription Assistance Program and California Prescription Assistance Program.

Opicapone as levodopa adjunct cuts motor fluctuations in Parkinson’s disease

For patients with Parkinson’s disease receiving levodopa therapy and experiencing end-of-dose motor fluctuations, treatment with 50-mg/day opicapone is associated with a reduction in mean daily off-time, according to a study published online Dec. 27 in JAMA Neurology . Andrew J. Lees, M.D., from University College London, and colleagues enrolled 427 patients with PD receiving levodopa therapy who experienced signs of end-of-dose deterioration into a phase 3 trial.

Epithelial tight junction structure in the jejunum of children with acute and treated celiac sprue.

Tight junction morphology was analyzed in freeze fracture electron micrographs from biopsies at two locations along the surface-crypt axis in the jejunum of children with treated and untreated sprue and in control subjects. In control jejunum, strand number, meshwork depth, and total depth of the tight junction decreased from surface to crypt, consistent with the concept of the crypt being more permeable than the surface epithelium.

New study finds overuse of hospital ICUs

… who are less likely to benefit from this level of care. These findings are a concern for patients, providers and the health care system because ICU care is frequently invasive and comes at a substantial cost.” The researchers added up the number of …

Military health system to test U-M-developed V-BID approach

A health care reform idea originated by University of Michigan faculty will get a major test among members of the nation’s military and their families, thanks to a provision in the national defense spending bill signed by President Obama on Friday. Called Value-Based Insurance Design , the approach departs from the traditional “one size fits all” approach to health insurance out-of-pocket costs.

Group begins work on community projects

The 2016-17 class of Leadership Hancock County broke up into groups recently and began work on their community projects. The six projects are an eclectic collection of initiatives sponsored by nonprofit groups and will help the classmates develop their teamwork skills.

Silent disorder under radar

… education” on eating disorders, including teaching resources and strategies through the Australian Curriculum’s Health and Physical Education learning area. The spokesman said “a large number” of schools incorporated the Kids Matter approach, which …

Craig Sager-themed pins benefiting foundation to go on sale

A collection of Craig Sager-themed pins will go on sale Thursday at Foot Locker, with all net proceeds benefiting the SagerStrong Foundation. Sager and his wife, Stacy, partnered with Foot Locker on the PINTRILL pin pack a few months ago, and Stacy felt the project should move forward after the popular sideline reporter died of leukemia on Dec. 15. “Each of the pins reflects Craig’s vivacious personality, unstoppable spirit and passion for life,” Stacy said in a statement.

Protection required for pet holidays

Pet owners who are planning to go away on holidays are being reminded to vaccinate their cats and dogs if they plan to take them along or put them in a kennel or cattery to protect them from a range of illnesses and diseases. Pet owners who are planning to go away on holidays and either take their animals with them or place them in a kennel or cattery are being urged to make sure their pets are protected from illness.

Funding to prevent skin cancer in surfers

West Australian surfer Mark Lane has spent his life in the sunshine and never believed he was in danger of skin cancer – until a health scare six months ago. Mr Lane had non-invasive melanomas removed from the side of his temple and is now more vigilant than ever.

Research highlights need to improve sleep for homeless people

The homeless sleep less and are more likely to have insomnia and daytime fatigue than people in the general population, findings researchers believe suggest more attention needs to be paid to improving sleep for this vulnerable population, according to a research letter published online by JAMA Internal Medicine . Sleep is part of good health, but the homeless often have no access to safe and warm beds at night.

FDA grants permission to assess safety of investigational drug for Alzheimer’s disease in humans

Vanderbilt University scientists have received notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that testing in humans may proceed for an investigational new drug for Alzheimer’s disease after more than 10 years of research by scientists at Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. It is relatively uncharted territory for an academic drug discovery group to take a molecule from the laboratory setting to the clinical trials stage.

Avoid risky behaviour, get tested for HIV, NACA admonishes Nigerians

I N the spirit of the yuletide, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, has called on Nigerians about the need to avoid engaging in risky behaviour that can propel the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country. In a goodwill message, the Agency reminded Nigerians to share and show the symbol of love responsibly, so that Nigeria, as a nation can halt the spread of HIV.

Publix Pharma set to tackle rising incidence of illnesses in Nigeria

A s part of efforts to reduce the incidence of communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as Neglected Tropical Diseases in Nigeria, experts have called for increased access of Nigerians to drugs and other treatment facilities to tackle the rising incidence illnesses in the country. Making the call in Lagos, the Superintendent Pharmacist, Publix Pharmaceuticals – a subsidiary of Publix Healthcare UK, Mr. Davies Akindele, said in the face of scarcity of drugs and other treatment facilities to tackle the rising incidence illnesses in the country, there was need for a pharmaceutical company with quality drugs and network to become closer to the people.

Mariah Carey entertains woman living with breast cancer

Christmas arrived a week early for a smiling Larissa Podermanski when she met pop star Mariah Carey Saturday backstage at the Beacon Theater in New York City. Fast-forward to the end of a fairytale night when Podermanski , who grew up in Middletown and Middlefield, spoke to Carey , an international musical diva, during a 15-minute private interlude backstage.