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Cancer News: Ultrasound In Ovarian Cancer; Racial Disparities In Colorectal Cancer; Increase In Thyroid Cancer; Drinking And Prostrate Cancer
ULTRASOUND OUTPERFORMS SYMPTOM ANALYSIS IN DETECTING OVARIAN CANCER

Doctor And Nurse Shortages Plague U.S.
The nation"s struggles with physician and nurse shortages are evident as health care reform takes shape.
News of the day
Media Looks At Surgeon General Nominee's Potential Influence On HIV/AIDS, Other Health Issues
The AP/Lexington Herald-Leader on Tuesday examined the nomination of Alabama physician Regina Benjamin for U.S. Surgeon General by President Obama, the history of the position and how former Surgeon Generals have addressed health issues such as HIV/AIDS (Stobbe, 7/14). According to Advocate.com, "During her speech accepting the nomination, Benjamin acknowledged her familiarity with HIV complications and issues, as her brother died at the age of 44 of an HIV-related illness. Having such a personal experience, especially a loss, due to HIV/AIDS could have a strong impact on her policy and public health campaigns, [Phil Curtis, director of government affairs at AIDS Project Los Angeles], told Advocate.com on Tuesday." The article states, "Curtis said that Benjamin has the ability to reach out to communities that have been largely underserved by efforts to reduce the rate of infection," and she "will also be able to contribute to Congress"s current debate on health care policy, including strategies for early HIV prevention, and accessibility to prescription drugs" (Garcia, 7/14).
Endocrinology

Oral Health The Key To Alzheimer's Cure?

A major research grant will help scientists study the links between memory and oral health in a bid to establish control over Alzheimer"s disease. The news of a $1.3 million study to be carried out on thousands of participants has been welcomed by the UK"s leading oral health charity - the British Dental Health Foundation. Research has long associated oral health with overall health problems, including dementia - though no studies have made clear how the state of the teeth and mouth affect mental function. Last year researchers found a link between mild memory loss and gum disease* and the seven-figure grant will enable examination of medical records of thousands of Americans to further pursue the link. Foundation chief executive Dr Nigel Carter welcomed the news saying: "Oral health and gum disease in particular has been increasingly linked to overall health through studies such as this exciting piece of research. "The recent review of NHS dentistry suggested the government is committed to preventive care. "It would be a great boost if scientists could prove preventive treatment could not only protect our teeth but also help prevent chronic diseases such as Alzheimer"s. "We will watch developments with interest and urge the public to make sure they look after their oral health with simple steps which can reduce the risk of gum disease. "Minimising the risks caused by poor oral hygiene is as simple as brushing teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and visiting the dentist regularly for professional check-ups." The US studies will be led by Dr Bei Wu of the University of North Carolina and Dr Richard Crout of the University of West Virginia, who will continue with a program testing oral health and memory in 273 people aged 70. The new funding will establish larger studies looking for links between oral health and brain function over time, while scientists will also seek to establish a link between improved cognitive function and better oral hygiene through intervention to improve oral health. In an interview this week Dr Crout, who has predicted that dentists may in future be in a position to administer memory tests on older patients, said: "to have overall good general health you need to have good oral health." The British Dental Health Foundation


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