Chiropractic OnLine Today's
In The News feature: Part Eighteen.

July 1, 1998 - December 31, 1998

Oregon Falters on a New Path to Health Care
Five years ago Oregon put an idea to work that seemed harsh and humane: In return for health insurance, the poor would be required to join H.M.O.s and have care rationed. But the health plan has hit roadblocks as the state has abandoned its promise of universal care.

NewsPage from 12/31/98

Prescription Drug Advertising Soars Through Third Quarter; Expected to Top $1 Billion in 1998
NEW YORK, Dec. 30 /PRNewswire/ via NewsEdge Corporation -- Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs continued its trend of rapid and steady growth with $896.7 million spent through the first three quarters of 1998, up 32.3% compared to the same period in 1997.

U.S. health experts urge sugar consumption study
U.S. sugar consumption is "off the charts'' and rising, leading health and nutrition experts said on Wednesday, urging the government to commission a study to avoid negative health impacts. [Reuters [WS], 327 words, PREMIUM]

NY Times from 12/27/98

Failed H.M.O. in New Jersey Exposes Shortcomings in Managed Care Industry
In October, New Jersey's fourth-largest health maintenance organization collapsed, threatening the medical coverage of nearly 200,000 people and leaving hospitals and doctors holding the bag for nearly $120 million in unpaid claims.

Chiro-List from 12/21/98

A Moment of Silence From: "James D. Edwards, D.C." (mailto:jedwards@jamesedwards.com)

I received the following message from Dr. Sharon Vallone, acting administrator of Kentuckiana Children's Center regarding the death of Dr. Lorraine Golden. Please pass it along to others (including chiro-list.)

A real loss for chiropractic, but a bigger loss for humanity. Sharon emailed me yesterday and told me that her body was weak but it looked like she would be here through Christmas. Now her really special children will have her for Christmas instead.

James Edwards, D.C.

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Jim,

Sorry to be giving you this news, but our dearest Dr. Golden has gone to the Father in Heaven as of 1:30 today. She is now resting peacefully with her children in heaven. Please help us let as many people know as possible by putting it out on the chain of doctors you communicate with.

She will be waked tomorrow (Tues) and Wed with the funeral on Wed afternoon in Louisville. We will miss her so much but she has left so many of us with her big idea behind. Be well, my friend!

Sharon

AP from 12/16/98

Attorney general sues six HMOs accusing illegal contracts with doctors
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Texas attorney general has sued six health maintenance organizations, accusing them of penalizing doctors who do not limit patients' medical care and illegally compensating those who did.

NY Times from 12/14/98

Fiercer Aetna Sets Its Sights On Dominating Health Care
Aetna Inc. has transformed itself in less than three years from an insurance giant known as a relatively easygoing nice guy into a hard-driving managed-care company that many doctors say they hate. Now, by swallowing two sizable competitors, Aetna is vastly increasing its power and making a risky bet that it can dominate the nation's health care system.

BMJ from 12/10/98

PREVENTING CANCERS WITH WHAT YOU EAT
(Diet and the prevention of cancer)
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/317/7173/1636

BMJ Volume 317 12 December 1998 pp1636-1643
Diet is one of the most important lifestyle factors that has been estimated to account for up to 80 per cent of cancers of the bowel, breast and prostate. The authors highlight red and processed meats and alcohol as the highest risk foods and cite a diet rich in vegetables and fruit as the most protective. They stress that there is no evidence to suggest that high dose vitamin supplements can help to prevent cancer and these should be avoided. Other environmental factors known to affect susceptibility to cancer include: physical activity, reproductive and sexual behaviour, infection with hepatitis B or C viruses, infection with helicobacter and exposure to sunlight, ionising radiation and chemicals.

Note: As always, COT recommends discussing and dietary changes with a qualified healthcare professional.

NewsPage from 12/10/98

Complementary Medicine Pioneer Andrew Weil, M.D., Will Be Featured Host Of New Original Series On America's Health Network 'Integrative Medicine/ Body, Mind & Spirit'
America's Health Network is unveiling a new half-hour series which will help viewers understand non- traditional health options -- "Integrative Medicine: Body, Mind & Spirit." The leading name in complementary medicine ... [PR Newswire, 500 words, BASIC]

NIHR Experts Discuss Impact of Spirituality on Depression
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by the National Institute for Healthcare Research: The holiday season can be a time of great stress which may overwhelm us to the point of depression. [US Newswire, 400 words, BASIC]

AMA TO DEVELOP "ETHICAL GUIDELINES" FOR SALES OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS in physician offices
Under a resolution approved by the American Medical Association's House of Delegates in Honolulu Dec. 8. [Health News Daily, 556 words, PAY PER VIEW $3.50]

Aetna to Buy Prudential Healthcare
Aetna Inc. is buying the healthcare business of Prudential Insurance Co. of America for $1 billion in a deal that Aetna said will make it the nation's biggest health benefit provider.

The deal announced today would add approximately 6.6 million health members to Aetna U.S. Healthcare's membership base.

NewsPage from 12/8/98

HIV Patients: A Fact Sheet
Key facts about HIV and AIDS are available from Scott-Levin's quarterly HIV Therapy Audit, which projects data from general and family practitioners, internists, and infectious disease specialists who are actively treating HIV patients. [Business Wire, 328 words, BASIC]

Court Rejects Review of FDA Rule
The Supreme Court rejected an attack Monday against the government's policy of keeping health claims off the labels of dietary supplements unless there is ``significant scientific agreement'' the claims are valid. [Associated Press, 477 words, BASIC]

Esophagus Cancer; Obesity, Smoking May Be Responsible for Rise in Cancer
Esophagus Cancer; Obesity, Smoking May Be Responsible for Rise in Cancer One type of cancer of the esophagus has increased more than 350 percent among white men in the past 20 years, and researchers say the reasons may include smoking and an increase in obesity. [CW Henderson, 324 words, PAY PER VIEW $4.00]

NewsPage from 11/24/98

Seattle to Host Nation's Largest Conference on Integrative Medicine
New research and cutting-edge developments in the emerging field of integrative medicine will be extensively explored at the first International Conference on Integrative Medicine. With an expected 3,000 attendees and 100 internationally renowned experts ... [Business Wire, 537 words, BASIC]

World AIDS Day to Focus On Young People
Many of the Georgians with AIDS who were diagnosed in their twenties were probably infected as teenagers. The AIDS epidemic is spreading faster among people under 24 than in any other age group. [Business Wire, 903 words, BASIC]

Labor Secretary Herman Announces New Health Benefits for Women
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 /U.S. Newswire/ --
As part of a national outreach effort, Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman today announced new initiatives by the U.S. Department of Labor to make 83.1 million women in America aware of their new rights under recent health care laws as well ... [US Newswire, 842 words, BASIC]

Fructose Consumption May Accelerate Aging Skin's Elasticity and Softness May Be Affected
Researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have shown in animal studies that excessive consumption of fructose, a sweetener, accelerates processes related to aging. Dr. Moshe Werman and Boaz Levi of the Faculty ... [PR Newswire, 606 words, BASIC]

U.S. response to mounting hepatitis c epidemic is inadequate; 4 million americans infected with hepatitis c, most don't know it american liver foundation calls for 700 percent increase in funding for
In testimony to be provided today before the Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability, the American Liver Foundation will point to serious inadequacies in current funding of U.S. public health efforts aimed at the hepatitis C epidemic. [PR Newswire, 1280 words, BASIC]

NewsEdge Corp. from 11/19/98

NEJM study finds MDs feel HMOs compromise care
The Associated Press via NewsEdge Corporation : Many doctors in managed care feel that the financial incentives and pressures of HMOs are hurting patient care, according to a survey conducted in California.

The majority of the primary care physicians responding to the survey said they feel pressure from health maintenance organizations to see more patients and limit the number of referrals they make to specialists.

CNN Interactive from 11/19/98

CDC: Many rural Americans ignorant about HIV
ATLANTA (AP) -- Some rural Americans still aren't getting the message about how AIDS is spread.

Interviews with HIV-infected patients in rural areas of four states showed that more than half never thought they were at risk of contracting the AIDS virus, though most were engaging in unprotected sex and other risky behavior, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

NewPage from 11/19/98

America`s Health Report Card 1998: Gallup:
Americans are Overweight, Stressed Out, and Still Caught Up in Bad Habits
A major Gallup study on the public's health habits and attitudes -- AMERICA'S HEALTH REPORT CARD 1998 -- offers both encouraging and discouraging news. The public appears to be responsive to the need for physical check-ups and various screening tests, but they remain overweight, stressed out, and still caught up in bad habits.

Osteoporosis test recommended for women older than 65
All white women 65 and older should be tested for osteoporosis if they are willing to get treatment, say new guidelines from the National Osteoporosis Foundation. [Associated Press, 700 words, PREMIUM]

16 States Will Sign Tobacco Deal
Ohio and Idaho joined 14 other states that say they will sign the $206 billion tobacco settlement while attorneys general who have yet to decide conferred by telephone Wednesday about the massive proposal. [Associated Press, 617 words, PREMIUM]

Smoking leaves taste in breast milk
Smoking cigarettes can rapidly affect the taste and smell of breast milk, according to two Philadelphia scientists seeking to explain why the children of smokers are more likely to smoke themselves. [Reuters [WS], 232 words, PREMIUM]

NY Times from 11/15/98

Tide Turns in the Tobacco Wars
The $206 billion tobacco settlement that emerged is a creation of state attorneys general, with no involvement by Federal officials. As such, it does not deal with the issue that cigarette makers have feared most: regulation of their industry by the F.D.A.

NewPage from 11/10/98

Studies show massage therapy enhances immune function
A new study released by the American Massage Therapy Association shows that massage therapy helps bolster the human immune system, strengthening resistance to disease and playing a role in a more healthy life. [Canada Newswire, 306 words, BASIC]

Chiro-List from 11/2/98

L.A. Targeted for First Offices of Nationwide "Brand" of ChiropracticClinics
TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 1998--Los Angeles is an entrepreneurial hotbed and the U.S. city with the highest concentration of chiropractic care. So it makes sense that Camber Chiropractic has selected L.A. for the launch of what will become the first nationwide brand of chiropractic clinics.

Fifteen Camber Chiropractic clinics are slated to open throughout L.A. County in October and November, 10 facilities will open in Orange County in December, and 700 clinics will open nationally within the next four years.

British Medical Journal from 10/31/98

US expands prescribing recommendations for aspirin
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has substantially expanded its official prescribing recommendations and labelling requirements for aspirin to increase use in ischaemic heart disease and stroke.

The effectiveness of aspirin in preventing heart attacks and limiting infarct size is widely known, but only about half of patients who have had a heart attack receive the drug, according to an advisory panel. Under the new ruling, doctors and healthcare professionals will be provided with full prescribing information for aspirin use in stroke, transient ischaemic attack, angina, myocardial infarcts, and certain rheumatological conditions. These dosage recommendations will not be present on the consumer label.

Note: COT presents this information for informational purposes only.

NewsPage from 10/28/98

Medicare Launches Pilot of New Beneficiary Complaint Alternatives Testing to Take Place in Six States
In an attempt to ensure that seniors are consistently receiving the highest quality care, the Health Care Financing Administration, the governmental agency which oversees the Medicare program, has selected CMRI to lead a six-state pilot project ... [PR Newswire, 464 words, BASIC]

Germans Overturn Limits on Abortion
Germany's highest court today tossed out a Bavarian law that sought to severely restrict access to abortion in the state by limiting how much a doctor could earn from the procedure. [Associated Press, 337 words, PREMIUM]

Percentage Of Japanese Smokers Hits Record Low 33.6% -Survey
TOKYO --The percentage of Japanese adults who smoke has fallen for a third straight year and now stands at a record low, according to a survey released Tuesday. [Nikkei America, 223 words, PREMIUM]

Sports Science ListServ from 10/19/98

The Second Congress of the Pathogenetic Mechanism and Therapeutic Modalities of Autoimmune Diseases, which will take place on march 7-12, 1999 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

NewsPage from 10/20/98

New Studies Highlight Importance of Mammograms In Time for Breast Cancer
Awareness Month Are Women of Some Races More Likely to Get Breast Cancer? The studies, while ambiguous, point to one conclusion: Older black women are diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer more frequently than other races, possibly because they receive fewer mammograms. [PR Newswire, 288 words, BASIC]

Obesity An Epidemic - Among Kids, Too - U.S. Conference
Obesity is a major epidemic in the United States, not just among adults but among children too, doctors and nutritionists told a conference Monday. [Reuters [OL], 397 words, BASIC]

NewsPage from 10/19/98

Americans who took diet drug urged to get checkups
Dieters who took fen-phen should get regular heart checkups while studies are made of the long-term effects of the once popular weight-loss drug on people who developed cardiac disease, a researcher said Sunday. [Reuters [WS], 297 words, PREMIUM]

ShermanList from 10/17/98

Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Georgia First To Offer Complementary Medicine Program
ATLANTA, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGA) announces a new complementary medicine program that will be the first of its kind in Georgia. his program offers savings on complementary medicine services and products to members of any BCBSGA or HMO Georgia plan through The EverWell Network of practitioners.

Complementary medicine, or alternative medicine, covers a broad range of services including acupuncture, herbal therapy, mind-body techniques, neurofeedback, nutritional therapy, traditional Chinese medicine, Tui Na and massage therapy.

NewPage from 10/14/98

Physicians' Desk Reference(R) Announces First Authoritative Guide to Herbal Medicines Available in U.S.
The publishers of Physicians' Desk Reference today announced the introduction of PDR for Herbal Medicines , a comprehensive guide to natural remedies specifically designed for use by physicians and other healthcare professionals. [PR Newswire, 310 words, BASIC]

Drinking Two Glasses of Orange Juice Daily May Help Prevent Heart Disease First Study to Show a Significant Reduction in Homocysteine from a Natural Food Source of Folate Presented at American College of Nutrition Meeting
Adding approximately two glasses of orange juice to the daily diet of adults increased their blood folate levels by 43%, and decreased homocysteine by 11% in 30 days, according to a study conducted at the Medical College of Wisconsin. [PR Newswire, 675 words, BASIC]

Note: As always, COT recommends contacting a qualified healthcare professional prior to beginning or altering any nutrition program, specificaaly when vitamin c and other nutritents are involved.

NewPage from 10/8/98

Statement by the American Chiropractic Association on the Comparison Of Treatments of Low Back Pain Published in The New England Journal of Medicine
The study published in the October 8, 1998 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine is the latest study on back pain; however, it is not the most in-depth or valid study on low back pain conducted in recent years.

Heart Disease still #1 Killer in 1997
Leading causes of death in 1997 and the number of Americans who died from each, according to a report released Wednesday from the National Center for Health Statistics. The data are based on an annual review of death certificates. [Associated Press, 101 words, PREMIUM]

Cranberry, infection link located
Scientists believe they have figured out why cranberry juice helps prevent urinary infections. The secret, it seems, is concentrated tannins in the juice, also known as proanthocyanidins.

The study was financed by Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. and published as a letter in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. [Associated Press, 176 words, PREMIUM]

Note: As always, COT recommends contacting a qualified healthcare professional prior to beginning or altering any nutrition program.

American Children Fail to Meet Daily Dietary Requirements
Recent research from the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests only one percent of this country's children get the proper nutrients they need every day. [PR Newswire, 540 words, BASIC]

Note: As always, COT recommends contacting a qualified healthcare professional prior to beginning or altering any nutrition program.

NewPage from 10/7/98

At a meeting of its Executive Committee, the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) reviewed the recommendations set out by the coroner's inquest into the untimely death of a patient under chiropractic care last February in Saskatoon. The jury did not make a finding that chiropractic treatment was the cause of this tragedy.

``Although this was the first such event associated with chiropractic care in Canada in 103 years,'' said Dr. David Peterson, the association's president, ``we're determined to do everything we can to make sure that chiropractic treatment continues to be among the safest procedures Canadians can choose.''

MORE WORKERS USING ALTERNATIVE ROUTE / COVERING SUCH HEALTH SERVICES CAN HELP BRING IN, KEEP WORKERS SAN FRANCISCO
Baby boomers are turning to alternative medicine in growing numbers, giving employers an opportunity to provide them with a valuable and inexpensive health benefit. [Crain Communications, 851 words, PREMIUM]

Epidemiology (ICAAC Conference News); CDC Study/ Two-Thirds of U.S. Infected With HerpesEpidemiology (ICAAC Conference News)
CDC Study: Two-Thirds of U.S. Infected With Herpes An analysis of data collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a survey of a representative samples of Americans conducted approximately every 10 years ... [CW Henderson, 507 words, PAY PER VIEW $4.00]

Prevention (Colon Cancer); U.S. Study Finds Low Fat Dairy Can Fight Cancer
Low fat milk, yogurt and cheese may reduce the risk of developing colon or rectal cancer - a disease that kills more than 50,000 people a year in the United States - according to a study released. [CW Henderson, 352 words, PAY PER VIEW $4.00]

Note: As always, COT recommends contacting a qualified healthcare professional prior to beginning or altering any nutrition program.

ChiroList from 10/6/98

New Chiropractic Study
AHCPR is at it again. They recently published a new study comparing the efficacy of Chiropractic treatment vs. McKenzie treatment vs. education vs. no treatment. The study is published in the October 8, 1998 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Medicare Report from 9//98

X-Ray Requirements
Medicare policy requires that a subluxation be documented by an x-ray. Although it is not appropriate to perform an MRI or CT scan solely for the purpose of identifying a subluxation, if an existing MRI or CT scan identifies a subluxation, it is not necessary to subject the patient to additional x-ray exposure, per clarification received from the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA).

Tha time frames specified in the Medicare Carriers Manual for chiropractic treatment and x-rays are also applicable for MRIs and CT scans. Report the date of the MRI or CT scan on the claim in lieu of the date of the x-ray. (www.xact.org)

ChiroList from 9/30/98

NJ Chiropractors Under Attack
Perhaps someone on your email broadcast can provide some advice to New Jersey as they fight unreasonable limits to chiropractic care in automobile insurance. A regulatory committee is establishing protocols as a result of automobile insurance reform legislation that has passed. The committee has placed a limit of 4 visits for chiropractic. The DC cannot treat the patient past the 4 visits, even if the patient wants to pay out of pocket. The committee will be hearing testimony on the proposed protocols on November 4. Needless to say, NJ chiros will be speaking against this limit. Any info they can use in their argument would be greatly appreciated.

Janet Jordan
Congress of Chiropractic State Associations

NY Times from 9/27/98

Congress Fears Medicare Will Miss Deadlines for Change
WASHINGTON -- Just three months before a new era in the history of Medicare is to begin, members of Congress and health-policy experts are expressing alarm that the federal Medicare agency cannot make many of the changes scheduled to take effect over the next two years.

NewPage from 9/24/98

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Supporting `Whole Person` Cancer Care
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield today announced that it is supporting a pilot program based on the integration of "whole person" cancer care through the world-renowned Simonton Cancer Program. [PR Newswire, 1018 words, BASIC]

Studies Underway at USC Show Grape Seed Extract May be the Way to Prevent the Number One Killer in the Developed World
Today, Alex Sevanian, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Southern California-Los Angeles, announced the results of his ground-breaking study which found that procyanidins from grape seed extract have a significant antioxidant effect ... [PR Newswire, 310 words, BASIC]

Note: As always, COT recommends consulting with a qualified healthcare professional prior to starting or altering any nutritional program.

Doctors Say `Get Regular Aerobic Exercise' For Better Health; Thirty Minutes Per Day Makes a Difference
The Surgeon General, The American Heart Association, The President's Council on Physical Fitness and the Centers for Disease Control all suggest that adults exercise three to five days per week for better health.

Medical research suggests that aerobic exercise can help reduce the risk of heart disease and colon cancer, and can reduce high blood pressure. In fact, the reduced risk of coronary heart disease attributable to regular physical activity is similar to other lifestyle factors such as keeping free from cigarette smoking, according to the Surgeon General's report, Physical Activity and Health.

Note: As always, COT recommends consulting with a qualified healthcare professional prior to starting or altering any exercise program, particularly if any heart ailments are involved.

Reuters from 9/23/98

Diabetic Heart Risk Tied to Low Vitamin C
NEW YORK, Sep 22 (Reuters) -- Insufficient levels of vitamin C may contribute to the development of heart disease in diabetics who suffer from nephropathy, or kidney disease, a study reports. Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle have found that the kidney clears vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, at a faster rate in patients with diabetic nephropathy. As a result, these patients are more susceptible to cardiovascular disease, a major cause of death in patients with any degree of kidney malfunction, they conclude.

The study does not provide recommendations for supplemental vitamin C, however.

Note: As always, COT recommends consulting with a qualified healthcare professional prior to starting or altering any nutritional program.

Reuters from 9/8/98

Heavy, dangling backpacks may cause pain
NEW YORK, Sep 08 (Reuters) -- Packing the backpack is part of the back-to-school ritual in many households. But children who carry an overstuffed backpack, or a pack that is not adjusted properly, can end up with neck and back pain, according to the American Chiropractic Association.

NY Times from 9/23/98

Disparities Found in HMO Quality
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Enormous disparities exist nationwide in the quality of clinical care and customer service at HMOs, according to an annual set of ratings being released today.

That variability includes the sort of complaints voiced in political commercials about access to care and choice of doctors, but it also covers areas such as childhood immunizations, cancer screenings and follow-up after a hospitalization for mental illness.

In the best plans, for example, 81 percent of older women have had mammograms to screen for breast cancer in the past two years; in the worst, it is 62.6 percent. And 83 percent of 2-year-olds have received all their immunizations in the best plans, compared with just 46.6 percent in the worst.

NewsPage from 9/22/98

Girls, women flocking to sports, U.S. report finds
Women and girls are flocking to sports, joining organised teams and working out by themselves, said a report released on Monday. Girls, especially, are taking part more, the U.S. study by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers' Association found. [Reuters [WS], 261 words, PREMIUM]

NY Times from 9/22/98

Potassium-Rich Diet Linked to Lower Stroke Risk
A study that tracked nearly 44,000 men over eight years has found that those whose diets included large amounts of potassium had one-third fewer strokes than those who did not. The benefits appeared to be greatest for men with high blood pressure.

The study, published today in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, also found that the rate of strokes was lower for men who consumed higher levels of magnesium and cereal fiber.

Note: As always, COT recommends contacting a qualified healthcare professional prior to beginning or altering any nutrition program.

NewsPage from 9/21/98

Sept. 21-27 Marks National Prostate Cancer Awareness Week
Each year some 40,000 men and 44,000 women die from prostate and breast cancers, respectively. One out of every five men is at a lifetime risk for getting prostate cancer; one out of every nine women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. [Business Wire, 874 words, BASIC]

New Studies Cite Positive Health Effects for Tocotrienols; ADM Starting Pilot Production of Palm Oil Product
With studies showing that a new antioxidant -- tocotrienols, a type of Vitamin E produced from palm oil -- can supply positive health benefits, consumers soon will see this new product on store shelves. [PR Newswire, 278 words, BASIC]

Note: As always, COT recommends contacting a qualified healthcare professional prior to beginning or altering any nutrition program.

BMJ from 9/19/98

Working hours are associated with acute myocardial infarction in Japan
Extremely long working hours are suspected of increasing the risk of sudden death from too much occupational stress. Few studies, however, have examined whether long working hours and a change in working hours influence the risk of acute myocardial infarction. In their case-control study Sokejima and Kagamimori (p 775) found a U shaped association between mean monthly working hours and the risk of acute myocardial infarction. In addition, there seemed to be a trend for the risk to increase with greater increases in working hours. Further study is necessary to clarify the mechanism for the U shaped association and its influence on the low morbidity and mortality from acute myocardial infarction in Japan. [British Medical Journal - BMJ - 19 September 1998 (Volume 317, Issue 7161)]

MSNBC from 9/17/98

Performance enhancers harm health
Human growth hormone linked to diabetes, carpal tunnel
Sept. 17 —Athletes who opt for hormonal supplements are wasting their money and may even be harming their health, physicians said Wednesday. Amid reports that some athletes are taking human growth hormone to build muscle mass and recover more quickly from injury, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists issued a health alert, noting that the supplements have been linked to potentially life-threatening diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. NewsPage from 9/15/98

Osteoporosis; Activity Can Lower Risk of Hip Fractures
Elderly women can lower their risk of hip fractures by taking walks or gardening, according to the most comprehensive study yet of the link between physical activity and bone breaks in old age. [CW Henderson, 400 words, PAY PER VIEW $4.00]

Note: As always, COT recommends discussing any exercise program with a qualified healthcare professional.

Prevention; Lifestyle Key to Cancer Prevention
A Mayo Clinic physician reminded northwest Ontario residents that as cancer becomes increasingly common, certain lifestyles and behaviors either prevent or contribute to people's risk of cancer. [CW Henderson, 472 words, PAY PER VIEW $4.00]

Prescription drug costs expected to grow faster than total health care costs in next decade; rx drugs to reach 8% of healthspendingin 2007, hcfa finds.
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS PROJECTED TO ACCOUNT FOR 8% OF HEALTH CARE COSTS IN 2007, up from 6% in 1996, Health Care Financing Administration economist Sheila Smith, et al., project. [Health News Daily, 622 words, PAY PER VIEW $3.50]

Largest Health Symposium in America to Be Held in Philadelphia This October 1-11
The New Health Symposium is a ground breaking event exploring the frontiers of health and healing, fitness and well-being for mind, body and spirit. [PR Newswire, 1144 words, BASIC]

Smoking could kill up to 100 mln Chinese men -WHO
The health threat from tobacco is growing in several Asian and Pacific countries and up to 100 million men now aged below 29 may die of smoking in China alone, the World Health Organisation said on Monday. [Reuters [WS], 464 words, PREMIUM]

Women unaware of serious health risks associated with menopause new study from national center on women and aging shows doctors not discussing menopause and potential risks with patients
Sixty percent of women between 45 and 75 years of age are unaware of significant health risks related to menopause such as heart disease, breast cancer and ovarian cancer, according to a study released today by the National Center on Women and Aging at Brandeis University. [PR Newswire, 712 words, BASIC]

NY Times from 9/15/98

Sharp Rise Predicted in Health-Care Spending in Next Decade
WASHINGTON -- After five years of relatively slow growth, total spending on health care in the United States will climb briskly over the next decade, doubling by 2007, Federal officials said Monday.

And in a reversal of recent trends, they said, private spending will grow faster than public outlays.

In a new report, the Department of Health and Human Services predicted that health spending would rise to $2.1 trillion in 2007, from slightly more than $1 trillion last year.

Chiro-List from 9/12/98

There are 2 bills on Gov. Wilson's desk.
SB 324-Rosenthal & SB 557-Leslie

The current Medical Practice Act makes it a misdemeanor to practice medicine without a license.

SB 324-- "additionally provides that any person who makes a decision regarding medical necessity or appropriateness that affects any diagnosis, treatment, operation, or prescription without possessing a valid, unrevoked, or unsuspended certificate as provided in the Medical Practice Act, is guilty of a misdemeanor."

NewsPage from 9/14/98

Researcher Sees Cancer Risk From Popular Hormone
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Reuters [OL] via NewsEdge Corporation : A popular hormone supplement sold in health food stores in the United States as a means of slowing the aging process could increase the risk of prostate cancer in men, a medical researcher said Friday.

Dr. Marshall Goldberg, an endocrinologist at Jefferson Medical College, said the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, can stimulate production of an insulin-like growth factor known as IGF-1, which has been linked to an abnormal growth of prostate cells.

Note: As always, COT recommends contacting a qualified health professionals prior to beginning or altering any nutrition plan.

Nursing Homes Not Screening Workers
Government auditors have found evidence that U.S. nursing homes employ a significant amount of workers who have criminal records. [Associated Press, 468 words, PREMIUM]

Aspen's Physician Management Bulletin from 9/14/98

Physicians Flexing Contracting Muscle to Make Themselves Heard
In Colorado, North Carolina, and other states around the country, physician groups are dropping out of managed care contracts rather than continuing to provide services at prices they believe are too low.

One of the latest examples is in North Carolina, where MedPartners, Inc., says that the physician groups it manages will terminate participation in Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina's Personal Care Plan. The decision will affect 11,000 customers, primarily in Wake County, who will have to select new primary care physicians.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina says the MedPartners physicians sought an increase in reimbursement rates of 20 percent to 30 percent. Blue Cross rejected the physicians' demand.

Doctors strike against hospital reform
Doctors across Greece Friday began striking against a government plan to abolish a rotating emergency room duty system at hospitals. Only serious cases are being treated. [Associated Press, 118 words, PREMIUM]

Paper/ 1.4M Secret Brazil Abortions
A total of 1.4 million clandestine abortions take place in Brazil every year, a newspaper reported Saturday. The daily O Globo also said that 250,000 Brazilian women were hospitalized after complications following the operations. [Associated Press, 140 words, PREMIUM]

Dark Secrets of Tobacco Co. Exposed
Inside the restricted laboratory compound on the south coast of England, five senior scientists for B.A.T. Industries, the world's second-biggest cigarette maker, were devising ways to make it harder for people to quit smoking. [Associated Press, 3177 words, PREMIUM]

BW HealthWire from 9/11/98

Manipulative and Relaxation Therapies Top the List; HMO Doctors and Patients Embracing Alternative Medicine, New Study Finds
OAKLAND, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 11, 1998--In a study with potentially far-reaching implications for HMOs nationwide, researchers at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California found that nearly 90 percent of the health plan's primary care doctors had recommended alternative therapies or used them on adult members during the previous 12 months, primarily for pain management.

In addition, the study of doctors and members at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California revealed that nearly 50 percent of the members had at some point tried alternative medicine, with younger and middle-aged adults more likely to have done so than people age 65 and older.

The study, published in the September 1998 issue of the Western Journal of Medicine, indicated the alternative therapies most frequently used by members were chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy and relaxation techniques. These therapies, along with acupressure, were also the ones members most frequently said they wanted the health plan to offer as covered benefits.

NY Times from 9/13/98

In Texas, a Laboratory Test on the Effects of Suing H.M.O.'s
DALLAS -- Under the banner of patients' rights, a new set of bills is under consideration in Congress; some of which would allow a broader range of legal actions against health maintenance organizations and other employer health plans. And as Congress takes up the proposals, many eyes are on Texas, where the ability to file such suits, as well as a separate process to appeal insurance decisions, has been available for more than a year.

Information Week from 9/7/98

From Page 14: Have a Happy New Year -- But Don't Get Sick
After the new millenium arrives, Medicare patients may be spending more time trying to find funds to pay for their medication.

That's because Medicare systems aren't year-2000 compliant, and Gartner Group says more than 90% of individual physician practices aren't yet aware of their Y2K problems. Beginning in 2000, that could mean delayed payments by Medicare and insurers, putting more of the burden on patients.

Currently, when a patient submits a Medicare care to a hospital or doctor's office, data from the card is entered into a computer linked to Medicare or insurance eligibility files. This same computer bills the insurance company and the patient as a co-payer. But year 2000 could upset the balance of that relationship.

NewsPage from 9/10/98

Sharpen Brain To Fight Memory Loss
Like muscles, bones and the rest of the body, the brain naturally loses some of its capabilities with age. Consequently some degree of memory loss may accompany aging.

The article lists some ways to sharpen the brain as one ages. [Associated Press, 467 words, PREMIUM]

USA Today from 9/2/98

Alternative Medicine being taught in medical schools.
Almost two-thirds of traditional U.S. medical schools now teach alternative therapies, including chiropractic, acupuncture, herbal remedies and mind-body medicine, a survey found. Read the Story.

Test could ID aggressive prostate cancers
Testing tumor cells for a specific type of protein may identify prostate cancer patients who need aggressive treatment and save others from unnecessary surgery and radiation, researchers say. Read the Story.

Thinking about a Colon Examination?
USA Today provides an explanation. Read the Story.

NY Times from 9/1/98

Dietary Supplement Found to Be Contaminated
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic are reporting that they have found a potentially dangerous contaminant in the popular dietary supplement 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, or 5-HTP, which is sold in drug and health-food stores as a remedy for insomnia, depression, anxiety, obesity, headaches, premenstrual syndrome and other ailments.

Although only six samples were tested and no recent cases of illness have been attributed to 5-HTP, the researchers said their finding still is cause for concern, because contaminated supplements have led to serious illnesses and deaths in the past. The suspected contaminant belongs to a class of compounds known as carboxylic acids.

NewsPage from 8/31/98

Properly Worn Backpacks Can Prevent Needless Pain and Injury
Now that summer vacation is over and the kids are going back to school, thousands of elementary, high school and college students are heading to their classes with an overstuffed backpack slung over one shoulder. [PR Newswire, 695 words, BASIC]

USA Today from 8/31/98

New drugs boosting pharmacy sales
The number of prescription drugs Americans take will rise an estimated 6% in 1998 from 1997, based on sales during the first six months of this year, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores reported Sunday. Retail pharmacy sales are expected to rise 15% to $102.5 billion from $89 billion last year.

Consumers will pick up 2.8 billion prescriptions this year - more than 11 for every man, woman and child in the United States, the group said.

Pharmacists, drug makers and consumer groups attribute the rise to an aging population, increased advertising, a rise in managed care prescribing and a change in Medicare rules that expands drug coverage.

New York Newsday from 8/30/98

Support for HMO Appeals
On his last full day of vacation on Martha's Vineyard, Mass., (President) Clinton announced in his weekly radio broadcast that the Labor Department will require federally regulated workplace health plans to implement timely, internal processes for patients appealing coverage denials.

"That means that 120 million more people will no longer have to take an HMO accountatn's 'no' for an answer," Clinton said.

Those 120 million Americans covered under such private insurance will be ensured access to claim-denial records.

CNN.com from 8/27/98

Low sunlight exposure can still raise risk of cataracts
ATLANTA (CNN) -- While it is generally known that spending a lot of time in the sun can lead to cataracts, a new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that even low amounts of sunlight can increase the risk of developing the eye disorder.

NewsPage from 8/27/98

Test to find leukemia cells traces predicts relapse
A high-tech test that looks for lingering leukaemia cells can predict whether the cancer will return, according to a study of 178 children published in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. [Reuters [WS], 189 words, PREMIUM]

Report Highlights Best Programs for Breast Cancer
A new report from the American Association of Health Plans identifies model programs for safeguarding and improving the health of women with breast cancer. [AM Best, 377 words, PAY PER VIEW $1.75]

NewsPage from 8/26/98

FDA Scientist Slams Review Process
In the latest sign of growing concern about drug safety, one of the Food and Drug Administration scientists responsible for evaluating new medicines is publicly criticizing the process. [Associated Press, 308 words, PREMIUM]

Clinton creates council to halt foodborne illness@ (New throughout, previous EDGARTOWN, Mass.)
President Clinton on Tuesday set up a food safety council aimed at drastically reducing food-borne illnesses in the United States that kill an estimated 9,000 people every year and make up to 81 million others sick. [Reuters [WS], 519 words, PREMIUM]

High percentage of underage have drinking experience
OSAKA, Aug. 25 _ More than half of first-year junior high school students surveyed said they have consumed alcoholic beverages, according to a survey conducted by two national health institutions and released Tuesday. [Kyodo, 320 words, PREMIUM]

Study Finds Family History of Breast Cancer
May Increase Risk of Fatal Prostate Cancer
A new study from researchers at the American Cancer Society suggests that men with mothers or sisters who have had breast cancer may have an increased risk of dying from prostate cancer. [PR Newswire, 610 words, BASIC]

Intellihealth from 8/26/98

Calcium supplement eases PMS symptoms
NEW YORK (UPI) - Calcium supplements may be an effective solution for millions of women suffering monthly from the physical and emotional discomfort of premenstrual syndrome.

http://www.intelihealth.com/enews?195190

Note: As usual, COT recommends obtaining advice from a qualified healthcare professional prior to starting or altering a nutritional plan.

CNN.com from 8/16/98

Dental surgeons say they've found why snoring can kill
Blocked airways increase blood pressure, damaging arteries and leading to stroke
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Dental surgeons said Saturday they have discovered why snoring can kill sometimes: It can actually cause damage to the arteries.

ABCNews.com from 8/15/98

Hope for New Thumb
The Associated Press
For the first time, doctors implanted bone cells engineered in a laboratory into a man’s thumb Friday, hoping to grow a new segment of bone where the thumb had been severed.

ABCNews.com from 8/14/98

Asthma Drug May Stunt Growth
The Associated Press
Hundreds of thousands of children with asthma and allergies find relief, even lifesaving treatment, from inhaled steroids. Now studies are finding the drugs also may slow some children’s growth, and doctors are wrestling with what to tell parents.

NY Times from 8/14/98

Court Backs Protections for Medicare Patients Denied by H.M.O.s
WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court has ruled that Medicare patients are entitled to immediate hearings and other protections when they are denied care by health maintenance organizations.

In ruling on a nationwide class action suit, the court said many HMOs had failed to provide adequate explanations for the denial of benefits and had failed to inform patients of their appeal rights.

The decision, issued on Wednesday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in San Francisco, was a major victory for consumers. The lawsuit was filed in Arizona on behalf of nearly 6 million Medicare patients in HMOs around the country. The opinion, for a unanimous three-judge panel, was written by Judge Charles Wiggins, a former Republican congressman from California.

For the last seven months, Congress has debated whether to guarantee similar rights for more than 150 million Americans with private health insurance. The White House has denounced Republicans and HMOs for resisting President Clinton's demand for a "patient's bill of rights" with such guarantees.

Federal Appeals Court Rules on HMOs
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The federal government must not renew contracts with HMOs that deny care to Medicare patients without giving them a reason and a chance for a quick challenge, a U.S. appeals court ruled.

Health maintenance organizations act as government proxies when serving Medicare patients and are bound by the constitutional guarantee of due process, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Wednesday in upholding a lower court's ruling.

Denying service without a reason can result in an ``erroneous deprivation of medical care to Medicare beneficiaries,'' the opinion by Judge Charles Wiggins said.

The government is responsible for ensuring that denial and appeal procedures are clear and prompt because of its close relationship with HMOs, the court said. The U.S. pays HMOs to treat Medicare patients within a framework of laws and regulations that allows the government the right to overturn HMO decisions.

A Tucson, Ariz., group called Center for Medicare Advocacy Inc. sued the government in 1993 for failing to protect the rights of five elderly women who were turned down by an HMO without any specific reason. The lawsuit was granted nationwide class-action status.

NewsPage from 8/13/98

Exercise Can Ease Arthritis
NEW YORK - The Associated Press via NewsEdge Corporation : Nearly 40 million Americans, about one in seven, suffer from arthritis, a disease characterized by sore and stiff joints. About half of all people with arthritis are 65 years of age or older.

Many elderly people with arthritis do not believe anything can be done to help them besides taking medication to reduce inflammation and pain.

As a result, they become less active. Physical fitness decreases, while risk of depression increases. The original problem snowballs....

During the past decade, a growing body of research points to exercise as one of the best ways to keep joints in working order, boost overall health, and, in some cases, prevent further damage.

But a person with arthritis should not rush down to the neighborhood gym and begin pumping iron. Arthritis, especially in the elderly, requires a more cautious approach.

Note: As usual, COT recommends obtaining advice from a qualified healthcare professional prior to starting or altering an exercise program.

Health fraud comprises two-thirds of pending DoJ civil fraud cases, GAO finds; no settlements have required FCA's potential $5,000 per-claim penalty.
JUSTICE DEARTMENT HEALTH CARE FRAUD CASES UNDER REVIEW TOTALED OVER 4,000 in 1997, making up the bulk of the total 6,500 civil fraud cases at DoJ, the General Accounting Office reported Aug. 11. [Health News Daily, 769 words, PAY PER VIEW $3.50]

Vitamin C, E Supplements Help Cyclists; Antioxidants Fight Off Lung Damage
A health test in the Netherlands has found that Vitamins C and E, taken as supplements, helped amateur bicyclists avoid the negative effects of ozone concentration on functioning of their lungs. [PR Newswire, 260 words, BASIC]

Note: As usual, COT recommends obtaining advice from a qualified healthcare professional prior to starting or altering a nutritional plan.

US open heart surgery to go live on TV, Internet
The cable TV company that showed the first live birth on the Internet said on Wednesday it would air the first live broadcast of a heart operation. [Reuters [WS], 279 words, PREMIUM]

Reuters from 8/12/98

Managed Care Can Assist Chronically Ill
NEW YORK, Aug 12 (Reuters) -- As the population ages and the impact of chronic illness grows, managed care organizations could provided better and more cost-effective care for patients than traditional payment plans, argues Dr. Robert L. Kane of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. "The shift to chronic disease care is inevitable," Kane writes in a paper published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. "The seemingly inexorable expansion of managed care can be used to catalyze needed reforms in care style to meet this challenge if changes in the payment environment are implemented to create incentives for managed care to address chronic disease actively."

British Medical Journal from 8/8/98

Zinc supplements improve children's health
Zinc supplementation reduces the incidence and severity of childhood infections and may lower child mortality in impoverished areas, according to studies conducted by members of the Child Health Research Project.

The project is a collaboration of the World Health Organisation, Harvard University in Massachusetts, Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh. It carried out a number of studies, which are published in a special 200 page supplement to the August issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Note: As usual, COT recommends obtaining advice from a qualified healthcare professional prior to starting or altering a nutritional plan.

NY Times from 8/12/98

Privacy a Concern as Medical Industry Turns to Internet
The Internet is already a popular place to search for general information about medicines and treatments, but now a growing number of insurers and doctors are also using it to provide members and patients with personal medical information, from lab results to payment records.

Struggling Oxford Health Posts $507.6 Million Loss
Oxford Health Plans Inc., the popular health plan that has been struggling for nearly a year to return to profitability, reported a loss of $507.6 million in the second quarter, reflecting several large charges and continued operating losses.

NY Times from 8/9/98

Gaps in Health Coverage Continuing to Grow
WASHINGTON -- Congress is confronting demands to provide broad new consumer protections for patients fed up with the restrictions of managed care. Lawmakers also face a deeper, more intractable problem. Despite the passage of several laws intended to expand coverage step by step, the number of Americans without insurance has risen steadily, by an average of one million a year.

NY Times from 8/3/98

Doctors Caught Up in Rapidly Changing Health-Care System
Last year, 92 percent of the nation's physicians had some type of managed-care contract, according to the American Medical Association. "Capitated" contracts, which pay a set fee for each patient, accounted for one-third of the average doctor's salary. Five years earlier, capitation was barely a blip on the medical association's radar screen, so negligible that the organization did not bother keeping tabs on it.

As the free market has achieved what President Clinton's ill-fated health-care overhaul proposal could not -- increased efficiency and lower costs -- doctors have learned to cope with burdensome paperwork, discounted fees and insurance company restrictions on the specialists they refer to and the drugs they prescribe. But what troubles them most, it seems, are the intangibles that have been lost.

[Graphic Representation]

NY Times from 8/1/98

Clinton Pushes Patient Rights Bill
AMAGANSETT, N.Y. (AP) -- Dismissing as ``an empty promise'' GOP-backed legislation to create a patients' bill of rights, President Clinton on Saturday pressed Congress to pass a measure that would allow patients to sue their health insurers.

"`They should reject proposals that are more loophole than law,'' Clinton said Saturday in his weekly radio address, delivered live during his weekend getaway in the Hamptons.

IntelliHealth from 7/28/98

Postmenopausal DHEA has adverse effect on HDL levels
WESTPORT, Jul 28 (Reuters) - Dehydroandrosterone (DHEA) taken by postmenopausal women lowers high-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein A1 levels, investigators warn in the July issue of Fertility and Sterility. DHEA has been documented to induce a sense of well-being in men and women and to have a synergistic effect with estrogen for postmenopausal women. However, 6 months of micronized DHEA, 25 mg/day, given to 13 normal-weight to overweight, healthy nonsmoking postmenopausal women resulted in a 38% increase in insulinlike growth factor-I to insulinlike growth factor binding protein-3 ratio at the 3-month mark. The ratio returned to baseline levels by the end of the 6-month study period, but HDL levels declined by nearly 13% and apo-A1 levels declined 7.8%.

NewsPage from 7/22/98

Researchers link Alzheimer's to vascular disorders
New research data show that Alzheimer's disease may be tied to vascular disorders, including high blood pressure and heart disease, findings presented at a major international conference on the disease show. [Reuters [WS], 385 words, PREMIUM]

Gene Patterns Can Predict When - But Not Whether - Alzheimer's Will Strike
Scientists at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health have discovered that one of three normal variants of a gene called apolipoprotein-E can be used to predict when a person will get Alzheimer's disease, if that person is predisposed to the disorder in the first place. [PR Newswire, 575 words, BASIC]

U.S. babies still put on stomachs despite warnings
A U.S. public education campaign instructing mothers to put babies down to sleep on their backs to lessen the risk of sudden infant death syndrome has succeeded except among poorer minorities, researchers said on Tuesday. [Reuters [WS], 301 words, PREMIUM]

Reuters HealthNews

Arthritis: 40 Million In US And Rising
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Forty million Americans -- 15% of the population -- have some form of arthritis and that number is expected to rise to nearly 60 million people, or 18% of the population, by the year 2020, according to a report published in the May issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism. The findings were presented at a press briefing Tuesday in Washington, DC, held in conjunction with National Arthritis Month. 5/6/98

Anxiety, depression tied to chronic headache
NEW YORK, Jul 01 (Reuters) -- Nearly half of people with chronic tension headaches may also have anxiety or depression, a study finds.

Some 2% to 3% of Americans have chronic tension headaches, in which pain on both sides of the head and neck can last for periods ranging from a half an hour to several weeks. 7/1/98

Reuters HealthNews from 7/21/98

Exercise "Time Out" Calms Anxiety
NEW YORK, Jul 20 (Reuters) -- Exercise may calm people -- even highly anxious people -- because it gives them "time out" from their worries, according to a study in the current issue of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Findings from numerous studies suggest that people feel more relaxed after exercising. But why exercise has this effect, and whether it might soothe even the highly anxious, was unclear, note the study's authors.

Note: As always, COT recommends obtaining professional advice prior to initiating or modifying any exercise routine.

Reuters HealthNews from 6/12/98

Heavy lifting dries out vertebral discs
NEW YORK, Jun 12 (Reuters) -- Heavy lifting may trigger a range of physiological changes that can hasten damage to the discs that cushion the bones of the spine, eventually leading to back pain and disability, according to a study presented by California researchers at a meeting in Belgium on Friday. The study findings may lead to better treatments for back pain and new ways to prevent back injuries.

The report helps shed light on the changes that lead to disc degeneration, a condition in which the spongy cushions separating the vertebral bones in the back become dehydrated and damaged. A common condition, disc degeneration can be painful and debilitating.

NY Times from 7/20/98

Medical I.D. Number for All Americans Faces Hurdles
The Clinton Administration is laying plans to assign every American a "unique health identifier" -- a computer code that could be used to track someone's medical history. Opponents say the code smacks of Big Brother.

NewsPage from 7/20/98

DRAFT REGULATION RE TARIFF DUTY ON SWISS FOOD SUPPLEMENTS
European Union, Jul. 16, 1998 -- Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning the tariff treatment applicable upon importation of certain types of food supplements originating in Switzerland. [Spicer`s Centre for Europe, 277 words, BASIC]

Triathletes Warned of Illness Risk
More than 1,800 athletes from 44 states who competed in recent triathlons in Illinois and Wisconsin may be at risk of contracting a dangerous illness, health investigators said. [Associated Press, 155 words, PREMIUM]

U.S. ARS/ New simple, inexpensive test
accurately detects E. Coli 0157 Using technology developed by a private company, a USDA biochemist has developed a rapid, easy-to-use test that detects E. coli in food products. The test uses magnetic beads coated with anti-E. coli 0157 antibodies and ruthenium- labeled antibodies. [M2 Communications, 244 words, PREMIUM]

N.Y. Tobacco Lawsuit
Snuffed Out A New York state appeals court has dismissed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of more than a million smokers who accused tobacco companies of concealing the addictive quality of cigarettes. [Associated Press, 233 words, PREMIUM]

NY Times from 7/14/98

DO YOU KNOW YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE?
As Silent Killer Returns, Doctors Rethink Tactics to Lower Blood Pressure
.... Of the 50 million Americans estimated to have high blood pressure, only 34 million know it. Just 27 million seek treatment, and only half of them get their blood pressure under control, which is defined as below 140/90 millimeters of mercury. Those figures, from a survey taken from 1991 to 1994, show people to be worse off than three years before, when awareness, treatment and control were all slightly higher.

Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood as it pushes out against the walls of the arteries. When pressure surges too high, it can damage the vessels and lead to arteriosclerosis, heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. Doctors define optimal blood pressure, associated with the lowest cardiovascular risk, as below 120/80 millimeters of mercury. The first number, the systolic pressure, is measured while the heart is contracting, and the second, the diastolic reading, is taken while the heart is relaxing between beats.

But basing treatment decisions solely on the numbers read off a sphygmomanometer, the familiar cuff used to measure blood pressure, can be a mistake. Two people may have the same high blood pressure reading for different reasons, and their odds of developing heart disease may also differ, depending on other risk factors like smoking, age, obesity, race, high cholesterol and triglycerides, abnormal glucose metabolism, kidney problems and enlargement of the heart.

H.M.O. Group Backs Controls G.O.P. Rejects
WASHINGTON -- A coalition of 25 health maintenance organizations said on Monday that it was willing to accept substantial federal regulation -- much more than the Republican leaders of Congress want.

In a move that they said should restore public confidence in their industry as it is buffeted by sharp partisan attacks, the HMOs endorsed a series of guarantees, including coverage of emergency room care, grievance and appeal procedures for patients and assured access to medical specialists.

NY Times from 7/7/98

Clinton to Punish Health Insurers Who Deny Coverage to Sick
President Clinton will punish health insurance companies that deny coverage to sick people, in violation of a 1996 law, by excluding them from the lucrative insurance market for Federal employees, Administration officials said Monday.

The law was intended to make insurance more readily available to millions of Americans who change or lose their jobs. But Federal and state officials said they saw worrisome signs that some health insurance companies were circumventing the law. They said some companies had discouraged sales to eligible individuals, charged very high premiums or penalized insurance agents selling coverage to customers with pre-existing medical problems.

NY Times from 7/5/98

Prevention Remains the Best Hope in Fight Against AIDS
GENEVA -- The 12th World AIDS Conference ended here Friday in a somber mood.

A series of reports about new problems with anti-AIDS drugs and setbacks in vaccine trials left many participants thinking that their best hope against the epidemic is the strategy they have had since it began -- prevention.

USA Today from 6/29/98

Gates gives $1.5M to AIDS research
GENEVA — Software billionaire Bill Gates has given AIDS vaccine research a $1.5 million shot in the arm, endorsing a global strategy to step up the slow pace of progress.

NewsPage from 7/2/98

187 People Sick From Texas Oysters
Another 59 people were identified Wednesday as suffering illnesses related to eating bad raw oysters harvested from Galveston Bay since late May. [Associated Press, 198 words, PREMIUM]

Study/ Exercise a necessary part of a cholesterol-lowering diet
BOSTON - AP World News via NewsEdge Corporation : People w)mh edigh cholesterol need to exercise to get the full benefits of a healthy diet, a study concludes.

Note: COT always suggests contacting a qualified health professional prior to starting any new or modified exercise regimen.

Osteoporosis, A Health Burden For Europe
Osteoporosis could be a huge financial burden on Europe's health services over the next decade, when the incidence of the disease is expected to grow dramatically in the European Union as life expectancy increases and the post-war baby boom generation ages ... [Marketletter, 291 words, PAY PER VIEW $4.00]