I wrote today about how Under Armour is putting a fashion spin on its sports attire.

No more plain black and white shorts and shirts for the Baltimore company. The colors are bolder and so are the styles - we're talking zebra print pants here.

The story begs the question about whether it matters what you look like when you work out.

Do cute leggings and sports bras make a woman feel more confident about her body and therefore work out harder? Do shirts that show off a man's chest make him want to pump a few more pounds? You hear of people all the time losing weight and rewarding themselves with a cute workout outfit. It's better than a reward of chocolate cake, right?

Or is it all just a marketing ploy. Plenty of athletes have a "who cares" attitude about what they wear to the gym or to go for a run. A plain T-shirt and shorts works just as well. Why waste the money to look good if you're just going to get sweaty and gross?

To be fair, Under Armour said they are still upgrading the technology and fit of their clothes even as they become more fashion forward.

What do you all think? Do you need to look cute when you workout?

Posted by Andrea Walker at 5:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Many of you probably want to eat healthier, but get confused by what exactly it is you should be eating.

Critics say the Food Pyramid doesn't help matters.

Federal health officials hope to change that when Thursday they plan to introduce what they call a simpler "icon," the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a press statement last week.

The agency didn't say what the icon would be, but several news organizations have quoted sources saying it would be a plate divided into sections.

The new eating tool was prompted by the White House Child Obesity Task Force which called for simple, actionable advice to equip consumers with information to help them make healthier food choices,” according to the USDA release.

Many health experts say that the food pyramid is too complicated.

Check back here this week to see what the USDA introduces.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Johns Hopkins Medicine and the nation’s largest drug store Walgreens have agreed to work together to improve care for those with chronic diseases.

Officials will use (anonymous) patient population data to conduct research into disease management and prevention and determine better methods of treatment. They also plan to train the Walgreens workers.

“By collaborating with Johns Hopkins Medicine, we will access some of the best expertise in health care to develop research, protocols and training programs designed to improve patient outcomes through our nationwide network of accessible community pharmacists, nurse practitioners, physicians and other clinicians,” Kermit Crawford, Walgreens president of pharmacy, health and wellness, said in a statement.

The focus will be on chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease, said Dr. Fred Brancati, professor of medicine and director of the Division of General Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Such arrangements aren’t unusual for Hopkins, which has worked with other corporations to improve health care of workers and employees.

“It makes sense medially, and under health care reform, it makes sense financially,” he said of the Walgreen’s agreement.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Business of health
        

Baltimore native Mark Jeter has been sharing his battle with stomach cancer through this blog.

This week he talks about shrinking tumors and his improving condition.

Read his previous posts here.

First, let me thank all of my friends and those who have been following me on this blog.

Sorry for my absence, but things have been happening so fast and, to my surprise, good for me.

I have had my third treatment of chemo since I last posted, so now I am on my 5th chemo treatment and a lot has happen between now and then. After my 4th treatment I went to get a pet scan and had it looked at by two doctors. To there surprise, one of the cancer tumors has completely disappeared and the other one has shrunk in size. That means no surgery for me at this point.

I went through the 4th chemo treatment with no side effects and no problems at all. I did indeed find a little magic trick that helps with the sickness. It's now my 5th chemo treatment and I have some side effects from this one, but with the help of my little trick it makes life easier to deal day by day.

Now, the doctors are saying that after my 6th treatment I will go into surgery to remove anything they can find, so that I will have a fighting chance.

The funniest thing is that while going through this chemo treatment I have gained 10 pounds. They kept thinking I was retaining fluid so they tried to give me meds to remove the fluid. But to there surprise it was all that good eating of the people who kept me fed with love. I started out at 207 pounds and now I am 218 pounds.

Thank you all for the love, comments, ideas and just taking the time to read my blog posts.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Mark Jeter's Cancer Journey
        

Gov. Martin O’Malley made his picks for the board that will oversee the state’s new Health Benefit Exchange, where the uninsured will go to buy coverage under health care reform.

Consumers are supposed to be able to compare rates, benefits and quality among insurers. The state passed a law creating the exchange and its structure earlier this year. It will launch in 2014.

The board will include: Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association; Lisa Dubay, an Urban Institute Senior Fellow; Darrell Gaskin, an associate professor and a health economist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Jennifer Goldberg,  assistant director of Advocacy for Health Care at the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau; Enrique Martinez-Vidal, vice president at AcademyHealth and director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's State Coverage Initiatives program; and Thomas Saquella, former President of the Maryland Retailers Association.

Three other board members will be the secretary of the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, the commissioner of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the executive director of the Maryland Health Care Commission. Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, the health secretary, will serve as the initial chairman.

The group will first be tasked with establishing advisory committees, adopting procurement guidelines and conducting a search for an executive director.

The state has so far received $7.2 million in federal dollars to implement the exchange.

O’Malley also signed executive orders establishing the Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform, and extending to advisory panels, the Health Care Reform Coordinating Council and the Health Quality and Cost Council. Carolyn Quattrocki, a former deputy legislative officer to the governor, was named executive director of the Office of Health Care Reform.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Health care reform
        

With all the political chatter, are you struggling with what actually is changing with Medicare because of the health care reform law signed last year?

Consumer Reports is offering a free guide called “Medicare: 6 Thing You Need to Know Now.” Call 1-855-CR-GUIDE or click here to download a copy. 

“This guide will help people navigate the changes in Medicare and take full advantage of new services available under the law,” Jim Guest, president of Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, said in a statement.

The guide is 15 pages and includes information on drug discounts and free health screenings for wellness, mammograms and prostate cancer. It also includes information on annual out-of-pocket costs and changes for those with higher incomes. There’s also information on enrollment dates and contact information in each state for when you have questions.

If you're looking for the government's website on health care reform, click here.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: geriatrics
        

The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission announced Wednesday that it will fund 36 new projects worth $10.4 million.

The competitive grants, funded by the legislature, will focus this year on regenerative medicine by including research that addresses conditions such as osteoporosis, traumatic brain injuries, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, schizophrenia, ALS, autism, DNA damage and intestinal tissue generation.

Ten awardees have proposed collaborations with private biotech companies. Two of the projects are collaborations with the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine studying red blood cell production and traumatic axonal injuries, which are common and potentially deadly brain injuries.

The largest number of awards, 27, was given to researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Kennedy Krieger researchers won 3 awards, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, won 5, and the University of Maryland, College Park, won 1.

Last year, the panel funded 42 projects totaling $11.7 million. The program was created in 2006 to fund cutting edge research in the state involving human stem cells.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Medical studies
        

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions, with more than 230 million people around the globe and 26 million people in this country suffering. A new exhibit at the Maryland Science Center in the Inner Harbor gives people an up-close look at the disease and how to prevent it.

Called Diabetes: A Deeper Look, the exhibit uses dozens of interactive displays to explain the disease’s risk factors and means of prevention and management. 

For example, visitors can take a stroll through a giant blood vessel (see above), made of more than 40,000 LED lights pulsating to the sound of a heartbeat. They can see how much sugar is in their soft drinks. And a full-size model of a body shows how parts are impacted when someone doesn’t produce enough insulin.

Other displays from the American Diabetes Association answer common questions about prevention. The Science Center will also host public event on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and the latest research from June-August.

For more information, call 410-685-5225 or go to marylandsciencecenter.org.

Photo courtesy of the Maryland Sciene Center

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Diabetes
        

Freshman Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, wants to keep seeing patients and performing surgeries while he's in office but ethics rules prohibit collecting money from outside employment, according to this story in Politico.

Paul is an ophthamologist and said he'd lose his skills if he stops practicing. And giving away services is tough considering he still has to pay for expensive equipment and liability insurance.

Others have tried in the past to get the ban lifted, including Sen. Tim Coburn, an obstetrician and Oklahoma Republican. But the Senate hasn't budged on pay, though the lawmakers can work in not-for-profit hospitals and not be personally compensated.

What do you think? Would allowing these doctors to accept pay open the floodgates? Is doctoring okay but not consulting, or selling real estate or practicing law?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: News roundup
        

Maryland leads the nation in insuring the dental needs of children with private insurance or Medicaid, according to a new report from a division of the Pew Charitable Trusts.

The state met seven of eight benchmarks, including the share of Medicaid-enrolled children getting dental care, the percentage of residents with fluoridated water and pay to medical providers for early preventive care.

This top ranking comes four years after the death of Deamonte Driver, a Prince George’s teen who had an untreated tooth infection, and the formation of a committee to address the failings. The Maryland Dental Action Coalition recently released a report outlining improvements in care and the next steps.

The state, for example, had raised the number of low-income kids who received dental services from about 11 percent in 2000 to about 42 percent in 2009.

Maryland upped the amount that Medicaid paid dentists, and simplified the system, which officials cited as a reason for improvements. Elsewhere, according to this Tribune story, Medicaid kids are having a hard time making appointments. And indeed, the rest of the nation had a mixed report card.

Twenty seven states earned a grade of A or B while 23 states got a C or lower. Almost half the states improved from last year, but the report said 16 million kids around the country still are going without basic dental care.

The report’s authors noted that having insurance is not enough to ensure children have access to care. The report sought to assess whether the states had policies to promote access ahead of the more than 5 million kids who will gain coverage by 2014 under the health care reform law.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Oral Health
        

Everyone probably knows how physically demanding it is to wait tables or work in a restaurant. But just how mentally demanding do you think it is? 

The owner of Sotto Sopra, the mainstay Italian place on Charles Street, thinks it's plenty tough on the mind. That's why he's added meditation and Tai Chi to staff training.

Chef-owner Riccardo Bosio says the entire front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house staff will participate in an hour-long session after lunch service on Saturday. They will learn proper movement and mind-set to handle “what can be a prolonged high-stress situation with focus and grace.”

Bosio believes this not only will help the staff, but will mean better service.

Heard of other ways restaurants are coping with us, the customers?

AFP/Getty file photo of World Tai Chi Day

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 4:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Mental health
        

Muscle atrophy in older people is a big problem, but a common blood pressure drug shows promise in regenerating muscle and also in protecting against its wasting away from inactivity.

The drug, losartan, worked on geriatric mice muscle and tests on humans are in the works.

“The goal of the investigation was to find a way to prevent a bad situation from getting worse in the case of old muscle that's injured or not used,” said Dr. Ronald Cohn, an assistant professor of pediatrics and neurology in Hopkins’s McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine. “As pleased as we were to see that losartan therapy in mice had a positive effect on muscle regeneration, we were most surprised and excited by its striking prevention of disuse atrophy.”

Seniors can have muscle loss and weakness, called sarcopenia, from inactivity, injury or illness. As people age, other studies have shown that activity in a certain protein increases and that means less muscle repair. Losartan promotes muscle regeneration by blocking a protein receptor and tamping down the activity.

There hasn’t been a lot of other attention to this condition, with research more focused on preservation of bone. This research was reported in the May 11 journal Science Translational Medicine.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: geriatrics
        

Saint Agnes Hospital today celebrated the grand opening of its new patient tower.

The 200,000-square-foot "South Tower' building is part of a $200 million renovation at the West Baltimore hospital.

Other improvements include new main entrance with a custom Mary Ann Mears sculpture in the rotunda, five new state-of-the-art operating rooms and 120 private rooms.

The new tower will be open to patients May 22.

Key features of the new tower are:

• Private rooms designed by physicians and nurses to improve patient safety, privacy and staff efficiency

• An expansive new main lobby with floor to ceiling glass windows and a circular drive with a porte-cochere

• Five additional operating rooms

• A seven-story lighted cross, the largest of its kind in Maryland

• Three family waiting areas per floor

• Decentralized nurses stations, increasing efficiency and access

Saint Agnes also has plans for a new 60,000-square-foot medical office building and expanded Cancer Institute, a new parking garage and completion of the Hackerman-Patz House, which broke ground in March and is expected to be completed next spring.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

A group of health advocates from around the country have embarked on a campaign to stop Ronald McDonald from making your kids fat.

The group of 550 people have taken out full-page ads challenging McDonald's to stop marketing junk food to kids. They've also written a letter to the corporation. Check out here who signed on in Maryland.

The letter comes as First Lady Michelle Obama has made childhood obesity a major part of her mission.

Public health groups for years have criticized food companies for marketing sugary snacks and other unhealthy foods to kids using cartoon characters, free toys and other methods.

In recent months, the federal government has stepped up its efforts to address the issue. The Federal Trade Commission recently recommended new guidelines on marketing unhealthy food to kids.

McDonald's has pledged in the past to voluntarily reduce kid's exposure to commercials and other marketing techniques. They've also started offering healthy options such as milk and apples.

But some health advocates claim the number of McDonald's ads has actually increased.

McDonald's shareholders today will vote on a resolution to look at what impact the fast food chain has on people's health.

The issue brings up a debate that has become very common around the issue of obesity. Should companies be responsible for the health of children, or is it a personal responsibility? Maybe parents shouldn't take their kids to McDonald's? But then it may be hard to resist that cute little face begging for that Happy Meal. And what about poor neighborhoods where there are few other dining options?

What do you guys think?

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Dozer was a last-minute entry in the Maryland Half Marathon last Sunday.

The three-year-old goldendoodle busted out of his yard and joined the more than 2,000 runners going past his house at about the 5 mile marker.

He was spotted at several points on the race, with runners and spectators unaware he was unescorted. Organizers snapped this shot of him crossing the finish line – at 2 hours and 14 minutes. (If he ran the whole thing, it would have been a very respectible time of just over 10-minute miles.)

Dozer’s owners were frantically looking for him, according to University of Maryland officials. The race benefited Maryland’s Greenebaum Cancer Center. The dog returned Monday morning with muddy feet and limping.

Dozer’s been to the vet and is fine, the owners reported to Maryland.

Normally, running races as a "bandit" or unregistered, is frowned upon.  But this race's co-chairmen, Michael Greenebaum and Jon Sevel, plan this week to give Dozer a medal and some dog treats.

He’s deserves it. Since the race, he’s raised more than $800 on his runner’s page set up at www.ummsfoundation.org/dozer.

See more photos from the race here. 

Photo courtesy of the University of Maryland

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cancer
        

Hospitals may be misleading their patients about the superiority of robotic surgery over conventional surgery, according to new research from Johns Hopkins.

Robotic surgery is the latest high tech thing, and many facilities are investing heavily in equipment that they then tout on their websites. But much of the information and images are provided by the manufacturers, said Dr. Marty Makary, an associate professor of surgery at Hopkins’s School of Medicine and the study leader.

Four in 10 hospital websites out of 400 analyzed were publicizing the use of robotic surgery for minimally invasive surgery, and most said it’s better, though there have been no randomized, controlled studies, Makary said. And the hospitals don’t even say to what surgery the robotics are being compared.

“The public regards a hospital's official website as an authoritative source of medical information in the voice of a physician,” Makary said in a statement. “But in this case, hospitals have outsourced patient education content to the device manufacturer, allowing industry to make claims that are unsubstantiated by the literature. It's dishonest and it's misleading.”

Use of robotics has grown 400 percent in the last four years for common procedures such as gynecological, heart and prostate surgeries, Makary said. He said manufacturers can’t back up claims that robotics are more precise and make smaller incisions and lead to shorter hospitals stays and less pain. 

Makary, reporting online in the Journal for Healthcare Quality, said they take more time so they keep patients under anesthesia longer. They also are more expensive.

Anyone have robotic surgery?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Surgery
        

Join us here May 18 at noon for a live chat on thoracic outlet syndrome with Dr. Paul Christo of Johns Hopkins. The condition, which affects approximately 8 percent of the population, involves compression of nerves between the base of the neck and armpit, causing neck pain, headache, numbness and weakness down the arm. Meredith Cohn did an article last year about using botox to treat the condition. Christo is director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He also has a radio talk show Saturday nights on WBAL.

Can't make the chat? Send a question in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and come back to read the transcript. We have an archive of all of our pain live chats at baltimoresun.com/healthchat.

Baltimore Sun file photo

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Think you're being healthy and saving some calories by ordering the salad or oatmeal?

Don't be so sure, says the non-profit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

The group recently tested the nutritional content of some items that fast food establishments are promoting as healthy. The group found they were far from it. Some of the items were packed with more fat, sodium, and sugar than anyone should eat in an entire day.

The group found the worst offenders were Wendy’s Baja Salad with almost twice the recommended amount of sodium for an entire day and McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal with more calories than a hamburger and more sugar than many candy bars.

 “Your health and your waistline will thank you for saying no to these so-called healthy foods,” PCRM nutrition education director Susan Levin, M.S., R.D., said in a statement. “Fast-food chains hope to cash in on consumer ignorance with labels like “fat-free” and “low calorie.”

KFC’s grilled chicken, was also singled out. Marketed to health-conscious consumers as a “better-for-you” alternative over the chain’s high-fat fried chicken, the group said the chicken contains a carcinogen called PhIP that has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer and other cancers.

The five worst “healthy” fast food items are:

Wendy’s Baja Salad - contains 1,990 milligrams of sodium—more than should be consumed in an entire day.

McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal - Contains more sugar than a Snickers Bar.

Subway Fresh Fit 6” Turkey Breast Sub - With standards such as cheese and mayo, this “low-fat” sandwich jumps to 24 grams of fat. Contains processed meat, which is linked to increased cancer risk.

Sonic Strawberry Smoothie - Contains more sugar than five Twinkies.

KFC Kentucky Grilled Chicken - Contains PhIP, a chemical classified as a carcinogen by the federal government.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

What problem do women have in that bikini? Other women.

A new poll from Fitness magazine shows 80 percent of women polled during a swimsuit survey said they think other women are judging them.

About 48 percent wouldn't even get into a bikini until they'd lost 20 pounds or more. 

More than 1,000 women were polled for the June issue out May 17.  

“The survey results shed light on the complicated relationship women have with their bodies and how much time is spent worrying about what other women think,” said Betty Wong, editor-in-chief of Fitness, in a statement. “It is so important to make sure women are empowered to embrace their imperfections and celebrate their bodies-no matter what shape or size.”

Of course, all those pictures of skinny celebrities in their swimsuits doesn't help. The poll showed that women want their bodies -- 37 percent wanted Jennifer Aniston's body specifically. (Though a couple of curvier women made that list, too, including Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce.) 

See more results on the next page.

Also from the poll:

+The toughest critic on the beach? 89 percent said other women.

+Feeling less in shape compared to other women? 60 percent said so.

+Feeling envious and insecure in the presence of a women with a perfect body? 53 percent said yes. 

+How hard is it to find the perfect swimsuit? 65 percent said it was harder than finding perfect jeans.

+Confident in your bikini? 11 percent said yes "as is."

+What would you give up to have a model's body? 43 percent said Facebook.

+What would it take for you to appear on TV or in a magazine in a swimsuit? 61 percent said $100,000. 

+What if you could meet Justin Timberlake but had to wear a swimsuit in public? 36 percent said they'd say no.

You agree with these results? Think these are healthy thoughts?

See the full results and more information here. 

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

States aren’t adequately protecting consumers from bad doctors, according to a new study from the advocacy group Public Citizen.

The group looked at state medical boards and found the rate at which doctors are disciplined has dropped during the past decade: In 2010, the boards took 2.97 serious actions per 1,000 physicians, down three percent from last year and 20 percent from 2004, a peak year when the rate was 3.72 per 1,000 physicians.

If the rate had stayed consistent from 2004, there would have been 745 more actions last year. (The rates are an average based on the past three years.)

Maryland’s board took 79 serious actions last year for a rate of 2.55 – for a rank among the states of 39th. That was an improvement in rank from previous years. It was 43rd in 2009, down from 48 in 2003, the group said.

The least active state last year was Minnesota, with a rate of 1.29. Others near the bottom were South Carolina, Wisconsin and Connecticut.

The most active state was Louisiana, with a rate of 5.98. Others near the top were Alaska, Ohio and Oklahoma.

“One reason for medical boards’ declining rate of discipline is likely tighter state budgets,” said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, in a statement. “The ability of certain states to rapidly increase or decrease their rankings, even when calculated based on three-year averages, can only be due to changes in practices at the board level.”

So, is it possible that fewer doctors acted improperly? 

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care professionals
        

Those infected with HIV are way less likely to pass on the virus to sexual partners if they take oral antiretroviral drugs before their immune systems are compromised, a series of studies supported by the National Institutes of Health shows.

The studies -- including two conducted in Thailand and Malawi by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers -- involved 1,700 mostly heterosexual couples where one partner was infected but realtively healthy.

“These data conclusively demonstrate that beginning HIV treatment early is a natural form of HIV prevention,” said David Celentano, principal investigator for the Thailand study site and the Charles Armstrong Chair and Professor of Epidemiology at the Bloomberg school, in a statement.
The data showed that the drugs reduced transmission by 96 percent, an unprecedented level of impact.

The studies were conducted at 13 sites around the globe. Only 39 infections were found among previously uninfected partners. There was only one case of HIV infection among couples where the HIV-infected partner had begun drug therapy immediately.

“Previous data about the potential value of antiretrovirals in making HIV-infected individuals less infectious to their sexual partners came largely from observational and epidemiological studies,” said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, in a statement. “This new finding convincingly demonstrates that treating the infected individual—and doing so sooner rather than later—can have a major impact on reducing HIV transmission.”

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: HIV/AIDS
        

The University of Maryland Baltimore and the University of Maryland Medical Center unveiled a new logo today that they hope shows a more visually unified front.

The two institutions have always been intertwined - sharing faculty and staff - but officials said there was a perception in the public that they weren't related. The new logo is part of an effort to rebrand the relationship between the two.

The logo is a modernized version of Davidge Hall, the historic building at Lombard and Greene Streets that was the institution's founding medical school building. It is also the oldest medical facility in the country continuously used for medical education.

Banners featuring the new logo were rolled down the front of Davidge Hall today for display. The new logo was a year in the making and replaces dozens of logos used by the individual schools within the university as well as by the medical system.

The medical system is a tax-exempt entity that is legally separate from the university. But the two share in many other ways.

UMB students and faculty conduct research and provide clinical care at UMMC facilities. UMMC doctors teach at the university. The two campuses are also physically connected through various buildings.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Calls to 911 can drive up medical costs, but a pilot program in Baltimore that targets the people who call the most seems to help save some money.

The program, Operation Care, assigned a case worker to the people who called 911 most often.

These callers often didn't have medical insurance and access to care or weren't able to navigate the complicated medical system. They often had chronic conditions or mental and substance abuse issues.

Caseworkers assigned to 10 callers under the pilot, created by non-profit Baltimore Healthcare Acess, put them in touch with primary care physicians and support programs and taught them only to dial 911 in case of a true emergency.They were referred to programs such as Meals on Wheels and support groups for alcoholism.

After the counseling, calls by these individuals were cut by nearly half. In the three months the program was implemented, it saved $14,300, with more than $6,300 in savings at the fire department.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

If you have an elderly or disabled person that needs long term care, you might not be happy about the results of a new survey.

The cost of assisted living facilities in the state is higher than the natural average and has risen in cost in recent years, according to a survey done by Genworth.

The median annual cost of a long term care assisted living facility was $39,135 nationally, an increase of 6 percent over the past six years. The cost is $39,600 in Maryland, an increase of 6.2 percent.

The median hourly rate for care at home was $20 an hour in Maryland, a 3.5 percent increase over the past six years. Nationally, it cost $19 an hour, a 1.4 percent increase.

The median cost of a private nursing home room in Maryland has risen 4.1 percent annually in the past six years to $89,972 per year. The national rate is $77,745, an increase of 4.4 percent.

Genworth offers these tips to help contain costs:

Fee waiver - Assisted living facilities may charge a one-time fee prior to move-in. They may waiver fees or offer other financial incentives such as free rent if there are many vacant units in the market. Don't be afraid to ask for a deal.

Room upgrade - Try for a more expensive room at a lower price if vacancies are high.

Special rates- See if there are discount rates for moving in at a certain time of the month.

Shop Around - Agencies may lower their rate if they know you are looking elsewhere.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

We connect so much with our book friends Harry Potter and Edward when we read about them that we, psychologically speaking, become wizards and vampires, according to new research.

A study at the University of Buffalo shows that we become submerged enough in the fantasy to satisfy our need for human connection. And we get the same sense of satisfaction and happiness that we’d get if we were actually part of those worlds, said authors Shira Gabriel, an associate professor of psychology, and Ariana Young, a graduate student.

“Social connection is a strong, human need,” Gabriel said in a statement, “and anytime we feel connected to others, we feel good in general, and feel good about our lives. Our study results demonstrate that the assimilation of a narrative allows us to feel close to others in the comfort of our own space and at our own convenience.”

The researchers tested the theory on 140 students who read for 30 minutes from “Happy Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” or “Twilight.” Then they answered questions that tested their conscious and unconscious responses.

Harry Potter readers identified with wizards and their world and Twilight readers identified with vampires and their world. They also adopted attitudes and behaviors – though no one tried to suck blood or fly on a broom, they noted.

The study, called Becoming a Vampire Without Being Bitten: The Narrative Collective Assimilation Hypothesis, was published in the current issue journal Psychological Science.

So, do you believe you are a wizard or a vampire, or just friends with one?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Mental health
        

What better way to promote healthy living then with a picture of a hunky Congressman?

That is what Men's Health magazine is doing with its latest issue which features a bare-chested picture of Congressman Aaron Schock - six pack abs and all.

A member of the House of Representatives from Illinois, 29-year-old Schock is the youngest member of Congress. Definitely not the wonkish-looking types we're used to seeing.

He said he decided to do the cover to help promote healthy eating.

Some of his colleagues think it is a bit much and question whether the photo is appropriate. But Schock certainly is getting some attention.

Schock said he can be a role model for good health. "I think if you want to start talking about healthy lifestyles and staying in shape, then you yourself should do your best to try to be a role model," he said in the article.

And while he is a Republican, he is complimentary of Michelle Obama's campaign to curb childhood obesity.

Schock said he changed his lifestyle after he started to notice his body start to become a little out of shape after college.

He works out before sunrise: "It's got to happen early or it's not going to happen," he said.

 He said exercise also helps him alleviate stress.

Don't know how many people will change their lifestyle because of Schock, but I at least took a second look. I'm sure others will too.

What do others think? Will baring it all - or most of it - help promote healthy living?

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

There's tons of diets out there and it's hard for most of us to figure out which is best.

Do we take out the carbs, banish the sweets or live on a diet of distilled water flavored with cayenne pepper? It can all cause a mass of confusion more than anything else.

Well, Consumer Reports has done the work for us. They've tested out the latest diets and ranked which ones would show the best results.

The best, they say, is Jenny Craig, with an overall score of 85. The diet involves eating premade meals you buy from the company and weight loss counseling.

Slim Fast ranked second with 63 points. This diets consists of a Slim Fast shake or bar for breakfast and lunch  and a 500-calorie dinner that you make at home.

Third place was Weight Watchers with 57 points. On this diet you eat whatever you want but have to stay within a certain number of points.

Other diet rankings were:

Zone: 54 points - Consumer Reports describes this diet as one with insulin supressing anti-inflammatory meals and snacks

Ornish: 48 points - near-vegan diet with no added sugars and low-fat

Atkins: 48 points - High protein diet coupled with no-starchy carbs and vegetables

I say forget the dieting and just eat healthy and stay active.

What do others think? What diets have worked for you?

Posted by Andrea Walker at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Liposuction may have given you that flat tummy for now, but that persistent pooch may likely reappear, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Colorado found that patients who undergo liposuction often regain fat later.

The study followed premenopausal women who had underonge the cosmetic surgery. They checked their fat levels after the surgery at six weeks, six months and a year.

Fat deposits usually reappeared in the abdominal area a year after surgery. Those who had liposuction performed on the hip and thigh area showed better results, with fat reappearing at a much slower rate.

Exercise didn't do much to help. The women in the group participated in moderate activity an average of five days a week. They ate three healthy meals a day. Their body weight also didn't change much in the time period.

Liposuction can cost thousands of dollars. Seems like a lot of money for a short -term fix.

What do you guys think? Would you still consider liposuction if you know it won't last?

Posted by Andrea Walker at 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Another study is showing the benefits of breast milk for babies. This time, it’s may provide more than a healthy meal, it may prevent a potentially deadly condition in extremely premature babies.
The multi-center study lead by Johns Hopkins Children’s Center found that the preemies fed human donor milk were less likely to develop the intestinal condition necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which damages a baby’s bowel, than those fed premature infant formula made from cow’s milk.

Only one of 29 infants fed breast milk developed the condition and didn’t need surgery. Five of 24 babies on formula got NEC and four needed surgery.

The babies also tolerated food better and could be taken off supplemental nutrition given through an IV sooner. IV nutrition is given to all premature babies to supplement feeding.

“The stark differences in the risk of NEC, its complications and the need for surgery between babies who receive human donor milk and those who get formula signal the need for a change in feeding practices across neonatal intensive care units,” said lead investigator Dr. Elizabeth Cristofalo, a Hopkins neonatologist, in a statement.

The researchers said that these babies, weighing less than 3.3 pounds, should only get human milk. They said there has been concerns in the past about donor milk, but it has shown to be superior to when mixed with mother’s milk than mother’s milk fortified with cow’s milk protein.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Pediatrics
        

It's common practice for some mommies to rub Anbesol or Orajel on their babies sore gums when they're teething.

But The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning that an ingredient in these pain relievers is linked to a serious illness.

Benzocaine, the main ingredient in liquids or gels applied to gums and mouth to reduce pain, is related to a rare condition called methemoglobinemia. The condition causes greatly reduced levels of oxygen to flow through the bloodstream. It can cause death in the most severe cases.

Benzocaine drugs are sold under brands such as Anbesol, Hurrricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel, Orabase and other store brands. The disease has been detected with all strengths of benzocaine, including concentrations as low as 7.5 percent.

The cases occured mostly in children ages two years and under who used the painkillers for teething.

The FDA is saying children under two shouldn't use the drugs unless directed by a physician. Instead, they suggest giving the child a teething ring chilled in the refrigerator or gently rubbing or massaging the child's gums with your finger.

Read more from the FDA here.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Oral Health
        

Extreme weather brought on by global climate change could lead to more death, say researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The researchers looked at heat waves to make a more specific evaluation for one American city: Chicago.

They used models for climate change, as well as air pollution and mortality rates, and concluded that the city could experience between 166 and 2,217 more deaths a year because of heat waves for the final decades of the 21st century.

“For a major U.S. city like Chicago, the impact will likely be profound and potentially devastating,” Roger Peng, lead author of the study and associate professor in the department of biostatistics, said in a statement. “We would expect the impact to be less severe with mitigation efforts including lowering CO2 emissions.”

For the study, published in the Mary 1 journal Environmental Health Perspectives, the researchers developed three climate change scenarios for 2081 to 2100 based on estimates on the climate change models and other data. Some 53 people died a year from heat waves from 1987 to 2005, but 166 to 2,217 died in the models that couldn’t be explained by higher population.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Environmental health
        

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have discovered that suppressing a protein in the brain of rats not only reduces the animals’ calorie intake but seems to have turned the typical white fat into a brown kind that burns off more energy.

The researchers say someday maybe people could be given an injection of brown fat, usually found in babies but not adults, and that could stimulate weight loss.

“If we could get the human body to turn 'bad fat' into 'good fat' that burns calories instead of storing them, we could add a serious new tool to tackle the obesity epidemic in the United States,” said study leader Dr. Sheng Bi, in a statement.

Government data shows that two-thirds of American adults are overweight and more than a third are obese.

In the study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, the researchers had been looking to see the effect of suppressing the appetite-stimulating neuropeptide Y (NPY) protein in the brain. It did, which wasn’t a surprise, said Bi, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

But when they went to look at the animals after the experiment, they were surprised to see more brown fat in the rats with suppressed proteins. The researchers say the brown fat may not totally disappear in adults, but may normally be inactive and stored in stem cells.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Radar, like the kind used by police to target speeders, could be used to diagnose concussions suffered by athletes and service members, according to some Georgia Tech researchers.

The researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute said radar can detect movements of body parts in a way that shows if they are not normal. As long as the walking test is performed along with a cognitive test, such as saying the months of the year backward, the radar was good at screening. Brain injuries make it hard to walk and think at the same time.

They tested the device on people wearing goggles that simulate drunkenness because concussions produce similar impairment as brain injury.

If they can shrink the size of the radar (and get U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval) the device could be used at sporting events and on the battlefield to help those in charge decide if a person is ready for more activity.

“When a person with a concussion performs cognitive and motor skill tasks simultaneously, they have a different gait pattern than a healthy individual, and we can identify those anomalies in a person's walk with radar,” said GTRI research engineer Jennifer Palmer, in a statement.

She and others presented the findings at the SPIE Defense, Security and Sensing conference this week. Others have found changes in gait can help diagnose concussions, but measuring has been done slower and more intrusive clothing and cameras. 

Diagnosing a concussion has been difficult because symptoms are not always easily detectible. Mostly, cognitive abilities are assessed. Early detection can prevent further injury and long-term problems. More than a million concussions and other mild traumatic brain injuries are reported every year in the United States.

Baltimore Sun file photo/Elizabeth Malby

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Safety
        

Now that public health officials know how real the threat of pandemic flu has become, the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and others plan three days of pandemic flu exercises. They begin today.

The exercises will test the readiness of officials with simulated emergencies around the state. There will also be virtual activities involving every Maryland county.

"Statewide exercises are important to helping us test the public health system's capability to respond to such an emergency," said Frances Phillips, the state's deputy secretary for public health services, in a statement. "We expect to do well in some areas and learn valuable lessons to help us do better in the future."

State health officials coordinated with local health departments, hospitals, health care providers, schools and private businesses and community organizations for the exercises.
 
The main areas to be tested include: Communications, mass prophylaxis or preventive medicines, emergency operations center management, critical resource logistics and distribution, emergency public information and warning, medical supplies management and distribution.

For more information on the flu, go to flu.gov or the state's flu site.  

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Swine flu/H1N1
        

The Maryland Health Care Commission is launching a new web portal to help small businesses compare health care plans.

Called Virtual Compare (http://mhcc.maryland.gov/virtualcompare), it will allow side-by-side comparisons of benefits, premiums and out-of-pocket costs for various HMO and PPO plans. It will also offer guidance about choosing insurance, federal tax credits and state subsidies available to small, low-wage companies (50 employees or less).

Businesses won’t be able to apply for insurance on the site, but they will be get information on 600 brokers who have pre-registered on the site.

“Virtual Compare is an important piece of our commitment to transparency, assuring that information about the quality and cost of health plans and providers is available to the public,” said Marilyn Moon, chair of the Health Care Commission, in a statement.

The portal was the result of 2009 legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Rob Garagiola. He said small business face challenges in choosing insurance for employees.

Employers will be able to compare up to four plans at a time and sort by various features on the portal, designed and developed by Benefitfocus.

If you use the portal, let us know how it goes.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care reform
        

Many people were moved to gather in Washington and New York and cheer the death of Osama bin Laden. They sang the national anthem. They chanted “U.S.A.” Newspaper headlines, including The Sun’s screamed “Dead”.

But what is the normal response? How should the victim’s families feel?

There isn’t one answer, said Anne E. Brodsky, associate chair and associate professor in the University of Maryland Baltimore County department of psychology. (Here are some reactions from victims' family.)

And that goes for Americans and for those who were victims of his terror network around the world.
“Some will feel a sense of justice, others will find it a painful continuation of a cycle of violence,” said Brodsky, whose work has focused on risks to and resilience of Afghan women under the Taliban.

Some 9/11 family members formed a group called September 11 Families for Peace, advocating for “nonviolence and adherence to the rule of law in the pursuit of justice and accountability.”

She said she doubts they feel satisfaction in bin Laden’s death as a form of vengeance. But some Afghans will feel joy because he brought so much pain and suffering to their country. Others, she said will fear that this is not the end.

“I don't think any news of [bin Laden] could fail to open wounds and memories for many here in the U.S. and around the world,” she said. “How people cope with this last chapter for this one man, where we will go from here, and what is healthy for any individual, family, community or nation remains to be seen.”

What was your response? What is appropriate?

Getty Images photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Mental health
        

MedChi, the Maryland state medical society, adopted principles Saturday that the group’s leaders say will protect patients' access to care. The principles will guide the group’s legislative efforts.

The doctors' group, which tussles with cost-conscious insurers over coverage, wants to establish itself as the primary decision makers for patients.

“MedChi has increasingly heard from our physician members about the significant intrusion of health insurance plans into the patient-physician relationship, and about the adverse impact that these barriers to care can have on patient health,” said Gene Ransom, chief executive of MedChi, in a statement.

Ransom claims insurers have a “well-established track record of implementing complex requirements” that end up being such a burden some doctor quit their practices.

Ransom said the move to electronic records around the state will be an opportunity to improve communications with insurers.

The principles are on the next page.

+Physicians must retain the ultimate responsibility for patient treatment decisions regarding all medical issues, including what services, procedures and medications are most appropriate for individual patients on a case-by-case basis;

+Within the bounds of accepted medical practice, clinical judgment and patient choice must always take precedence over payer cost considerations in decisions about individual care, and should supersede fail first (step-therapy), therapeutic substation, generic switching and other protocols that restrict the physician’s ability to make the most appropriate treatment decisions for individual patients;

+It is the responsibility of attending physicians to make the most therapeutically appropriate AND fiscally responsible choices for individual patients; as such, health insurers can provide information about treatment options and costs, provided it is evidence-based, but final decisions must rest with attending physicians;

+With the adoption of HIT and e-prescribing platforms, physicians must be able to prescribe any medication available in the United States without electronic barriers preventing transmission of a prescription to a pharmacy;

+Electronic medical record systems should be provided through a neutral and open platform that does not advance the commercial interests of any particular participant (e.g., health insurers, hospitals, pharmacy benefits managers, pharmaceutical companies, etc.) to the potential detriment of the patient;

+Health plans shall not cause harmful delays in care by using fail-first (step-therapy) protocols, which restrict the physician’s ability to make the most appropriate treatment decisions for individual patients in a timely fashion;

+E-prescribing platforms must include easy and obvious mechanisms by which physicians can over-ride insurance plan protocols for step-therapy, therapeutic switching and generic substitution when the physician determines they are not in the best interest of the patient.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Health care professionals