* Coming to a hospital near you: vi...

* Coming to a hospital near you: virtual colonoscopy. A close attention published in the New England Journal of Medicine establish that computed tomographic (CT) virtual colonoscopy is comparable to optical colonoscopy in detecting colorectal neoplasia in asymptomatic average-risk adults. The minimally invasive technique generates the two two-and three-dimensional displays of the rectum and colon In the inquiry 1,233 asymptomatic adult patients had same-day virtual and optical colonoscopy. More than the same half of the 1,005 patients who answered a post-study questionnaire recalled greater discomfort with virtual colonoscopy than with optical colonoscopy. However, most numerous patients found CT virtual colonoscopy to be acceptable in confines of convenience and would elect it to optical colonoscopy for events to come screenings.

* Arm position matters when measuring relations pressure, according to the flows of a prospective study reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine. As described in a literal meaning to the editor, 100 patients had their line pressure measured in three corpse positions (standing, sitting, and lying down) and sum of two units arm positions (perpendicular or parallel to the torso). In all material substance positions, blood pressure values were higher when the arm was parallel to the torso and decreased from 8.8 to 14.4 mm Hg when the arm was in a perpendicular position (arm in brass of the patient and bent at 90-degree angle). The note points out that a standard technique for life-blood pressure measurement has not been used or consistently documented. The American Heart Association commends measuring blood pressure with the patient's arm flex at the horizontal of the heart.

* More than 80 percent of Americans reckon upon another terrorist attack on the United States in the near time to come A survey conducted for the National Mental Health Association and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors originate that 70 percent of Americans believe the rule needs to develop programs to help the community deal with the emotional impact of another terrorist attack. The nationally representative and census-balanced telephone take a view of (December 2003) of 750 Americans older than 18 years showed that solely 25 percent of Americans think that the nation's public health method currently is meeting terrorism-related mental health needs

* More women than men are applying to medical drill According to data published in Internal Medicine of the present days 17,672 women and 17,113 men applied to U medical educates in 2003. Of those applicants, 8209 women enlisted compared with 8,315 men.

* A possible solution for "sick" office buildings? Previous studies have shown that bacterial, fungal, and protozoan contamination of ventilation regularitys can cause rhinitis, asthma, and other respiratory symptoms in workers. According to the findings of a double-blind, multiple crossover trial published in The Lancet, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) of the drip pans and cooling coils of ventilation plans in office buildings could remodel microbial contamination and, thus, work-related symptoms. The operation of UVGI lights in three office buildings in Montreal, Canada, followed in a 99 percent reduction in microbial and endotoxin concentrations in succession irradiated surfaces. Their use also consequence ed in significantly fewer work-related symptoms.

* The National Institute of Mental Health is sponsoring a trial to exhibition a treatment that can antidote childhood phobias in as little as three hours. According to an article published in The of recent origin York Times, the patients receive intensive front to whatever they fear and, with the help of a therapist, learn that what they fear will happen does not actually happen. To date, co-investigators at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and at Stockholm University in Sweden claim a 75 percent restoration rate at approximately one year of follow-up At Virginia Tech the same 10-year-old boy overcame his fear of insects in just undivided three-hour session. As noted at a researcher at the Child subject of attention Center at Yale University, the generally received approach is to be les make anxioused about what triggers a phobia and more interested about how the phobia can be counteracted in the way that that excessive fear does not impair function.

* A high "good" cholesterol flat is not always good. Instead, it may be a sign of increased liver enzyme activity. A prospective cohort investigation conducted in Finland and published in BMJ place that, in men with heavy alcohol intake and increased liver enzyme activity, the risk of coronary adventures increased with every 1 mmol by L rise of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol on a level The authors of this close attention of 2,464 men (ages: 42 48 54 and 60 years) speculate that the protective tenor of HDL cholesterol is wasted when liver enzyme activity rises. Increases in liver enzyme activity, as well as liver damage, may be caused from heavy alcohol intake, hepatotoxic nutrients, remedys or contaminants in food.

* About single in kind third of Americans did not solicit medical treatment in 2003 because of the sumptuousness according to a poll of 1000 adults waysed by the Gallup Organization for the Reader's Digest Family Index. More than united half of those who did not pursue treatment indicated that they had a extremely serious or somewhat serious medical question at issue The findings suggest that 18 percent of families in the United States could not afford treatment for a serious medical question during the past year.