News From Around the Web
> Magnetic resonance imaging can be used to identify brown fat in humans--a finding that could lead to the development of weight loss treatments--according to new research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. "The MRI allows us to distinguish between the brown fat, and the more well-known white fat that people associate with weight gain, due to the different water to fat ratio of the two tissue types," Thomas Barber, an associate professor in endocrinology at Warwick Medical School in the U.K., said in a statement touting the research. "We can use the scans to highlight what we term 'regions of interest' that can help us to build a picture of where the brown fat is located." Announcement
> Researchers at the University of Texas Branch at Galveston are recommending that young women treated with radiation for cervical cancer undergo colon cancer screening earlier than traditionally recommended. Based on a study of cervical cancer cases collected by the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program and published in Medical Oncology, they say that younger women in this group should undergo screening eight years after their initial cervical cancer diagnosis, rather than waiting until they reach the age of 50. Announcement
> University of Pittsburgh Medical Center researchers have determined that an MRI technique called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can help provide information that can help with the early treatment of concussion patients, DOTmed News reported. According to researcher Lea Alhilali, DTI provides a more detailed evaluation of the brain and is more sensitive to white matter changes than regular MRI. Article
Health Finance News
> The number of hospitals, hospital systems and physician groups that use bundled payments is slowly increasing, although many providers say they still remain on the fence about participating in this relatively new form of healthcare finance. Those are the findings of a new survey by audit compliance and consulting firm KPMG. Forty-four percent of the 140 providers surveyed said they already use bundled payments, up from 38 percent last October. Article
Health Insurance News
> Prescription drug insurance for seniors will reduce the use of and spending on nonpharmacy medical services, researchers at the University of Illinois and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore found when comparing national records from before and after Medicare Part D started in 2006. Article
And Finally... The perfect family. Article