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Steve Miller, CIRES
A new technique developed at CU‑Boulder to identify individuals by the unique communities of hand bacteria they leave behind on objects they have handled may prove to be a valuable forensic tool in the future.
CSIs may one day be able to use more than DNA and fingerprints to catch criminals, as a new study finds that the bacteria that live on our hands are just as unique to each of us as our DNA. And traces of this "personal" DNA left behind on the surfaces we touch can be matched to the person who left it.
The human body—inside and out—plays host to billions of bacteria and other microbes; there are more bacteria in the human body than there are human body cells.
The science of medicine crosses over into every field, including law enforcement, as we are seeing an advanced look at forensics in this article. I didn’t know we all had such a unique zoo of germs.
More than seven million people suffer from atrial fibrillation -- an irregular or rapid heart rhythm
ATLANTA, Georgia — An experimental ablation therapy system that freezes heart tissue with a balloon catheter to treat a common heart rhythm disorder is far more effective than drug therapy, a study found Monday.
Researchers compared the safety and efficacy of the Arctic Front CryoAblation Catheter System produced by US firm Medtronic to drug therapy over at least one year in 245 patients in the United States and Canada.
A year after the non-surgical procedure, nearly 70 percent of patients treated by the system no longer suffered from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Seems strange that freezing heart tissue would ever help any condition, but the tests show it works. We saw another product yesterday, a clip, which replaces open heart surgery, also installed with a catheter.
Karen Ignagni, president of the industry group America's Health Insurance Plans, and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., on "Face the Nation," Sunday, March 14, 2010. (CBS)
(CBS) Last week in a speech about health care reform, President Obama said, "Every year insurance companies deny more people coverage because they've got pre-existing conditions. Every year, they drop more people's coverage when they get sick right when they need it most. Every year they raise premiums higher and higher and higher."
That statement set the tone for a debate on Sunday's "Face the Nation" between Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans, a political advocacy and trade association group that represents health insurance companies. In response to Mr. Obama's statement, Ms. Ignagni said, "We believe that now is the time for health reform," adding that AHIP has been a big player in getting health care reforms off the ground.
I think too many good points have already been published for health care reform to just go away, and in this debate, we see the insurance representative admit that some changes are truly needed.
The US Food and Drug Authority (FDA) denied the approval of a once a week drug made by two companies for the treatment of diabetes
Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Co received a response letter from the FDA asking for clarification on how the once a week version of the drug Byetta was manufactured, finalization of the product labeling, risk evaluation and mitigation strategy.
The companies think that the approval was not given after the agency found some problems in Amylin’s manufacturing plant last December. However, all shortcomings were already addressed.
I seem to remember one of our doctors in the Medical Forum did not like this drug, feeling that older and cheaper drugs were actually better than byetta. Is that why it is having so much trouble getting FDA approval?
Some will go to great lengths for the perfect pout
Forget the collagen, for the perfect pout plump for a lip graft using muscle from your neck, according to US cosmetic surgeons.
A team at the Aesthetic Surgery Centre in Naples, Florida, claim they have achieved good results in 25 patients.
They say the surgery, which can be done at the same time as a facelift, helps defy signs of ageing by making the lips appear fuller and less puckered.
Their findings are published in Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.
I used to openly oppose plastic surgery until my own girlfriend had “work done”. It looked horrible at first, like a class-A beating, but it soon healed into a nice happy face. She was very happy about it.
USA Today
The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, surveyed 1,036 tweens and teens about the cigarette ads. Alongside the ads were promotional giveaways of such items as berry-flavored lip balm, cellphone jewelry, purses and wristbands.
Even though tobacco company reps say the ads were aimed at adults, anti-smoking advocates weren't buying it. Cheryl Healton, president of the anti-smoking group the American Legacy Foundation, says the ads were clearly noticed by teenagers. In 2008, a year after the ads debuted, 22% of teen girls said Camel had their favorite cigarette ads -- twice the number of those who answered Camel in other interviews. Study authors say that clearly shows the campaign -- not the brand -- captured the teens' attention.
I haven’t seen a cigarette ad in ages, but that is only because I don’t read many magazines. Here they are trying to get teen girls hooked on their addictive drug—I thought we had a war on drugs?
Robert Gleeman, Medical Journalist for EMR Update.com Email: robert@emrupdate.com Tel: 1-650-968-6359 Skype and ooVoo user name: robertgleeman EMR progress is a matter of fact. EMR Update supports your right to know.