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Health Plans Return To Airwaves In Support Of Bipartisan Reform
Health plans launched a new national television advertising campaign in support of bipartisan health care reform.

1957-58 Flu Pandemic Can Provide Clues To Planning For H1N1
As the U.S. prepares for a resurgence of H1N1 influenza this fall, much can be learned from looking at a previous pandemic that had similar patterns. In an article published today in Biosecurity and Bioterrorism, researchers at the Center for Biosecurity of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) examined historical documents, published material, and newspaper coverage related to the 1957-58 influenza pandemic to compare the progress and severity of that outbreak with the current one. The simple, practical actions taken in 1957 allowed the country to continue functioning with minimal disruption.
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Electronic Coding Overestimates Prevalence Of Barrett's Esophagus
In a review of more than 2,000 patients coded for Barrett"s esophagus, electronic diagnosis overestimated the prevalence of the disease according to researchers in California. They found that only 61.9 percent of patients assigned a billing diagnosis code for Barrett"s esophagus actually had Barrett"s esophagus after a manual record review. The study evaluated the accuracy of diagnostic codes for Barrett"s esophagus by contrasting codes from electronic databases with diagnoses from a detailed medical record review. Researchers also evaluated the reproducibility of a pathologic diagnosis of Barrett"s esophagus between two pathologists and between a single pathologist on two different occasions. The study appears in the May issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE).
Sexual Health

Surfers Take Their Knocks, Doctor Says

Surfing under the influence of drugs or alcohol are two of the prime dangers facing surfing enthusiasts, according to information presented today at the 56th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Seattle. Other factors include wave height, board length and interactions among surfers. The most common surfing injuries involve lacerations, contusions and soft-tissue damage, said James MacDonald, M.D., a physician and lead author of the surfing study. Often, the culprit is a surfer"s own board, which, tethered by a leash to the wrist or ankle, recoils into the head or face after a fall. Eye injuries such as ruptured globe or orbital fractures are common. "The "cool factor" sort of mitigates against wearing helmets or ear plugs to protect against swimmer"s ear," MacDonald said. MacDonald cited the "cool factor" as also influencing choice of sun protection. While the most effective sunblocks contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, surfers may shun them and risk skin cancer from exposure to ultraviolet light. Surfers wearing wetsuits often exhibit a telltale sunburn pattern - what MacDonald calls "the surfer"s version of a farmer tan." The notion of a peaceful, harmonious surfer culture may be quaintly outdated, said MacDonald. "I was surprised at how much violence there can be in surfing culture. Some of the injuries I"ve seen have nothing to do with surfing-they"re fisticuffs. There"s no referee out in the water to break up fights." As popular surfing sites become crowded with novices and out-of-towners, veteran surfers may react to protect their "zones." MacDonald urged physicians new to treating surfers to keep in mind that it"s common to surf water ski or conduct other boating sports under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or other drugs. When the surfer is high, so is the risk of drowning. Injury rates tend to high among both the most experienced surfers and the least experienced, according to MacDonald. Large waves - five meters or more in height - tend to keep less experienced enthusiasts away. However, newer surfers often crowd together and, as in skiing, tend to fall off more often. Those with full-time jobs that cut into wave time may experience injuries relating to deconditioning, such as muscle strains, soft tissue damage and falls. "It"s the same way as in skiing you see people getting on the slopes at Thanksgiving and they"re deconditioned - they haven"t skied all year," MacDonald said. Board length also plays a role. "Short boards tend to attract a more aggressive surfing style," said MacDonald. Smaller and less buoyant, short boards affect paddling style as well as surfing style.Whereas the longer boards favored by older surfers can be paddled while kneeling, short boards are usually paddled while prone. This requires arching the back, which becomes more difficult with age. Whatever the risk or injury, said MacDonald, surfers feel compelled to get back to the sport. Surfers often ask him to close lacerations with a liquid adhesive rather than sutures, telling him, "I don"t care what kind of a scar I have, doctor - I just want to get back into the water." American College of Sports Medicine


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