Drug Safety, Genomes, Sleep Head Harvard's Top Health Newsmakers

According to a press release, on Newswise.com, editors of the Harvard Health Letter, have published what they consider to be the top 2007 health news stories.

First on their list is the issue of Drug Safety. Avandia, the popular diabetes drug is namd as the most recent to have come into question when it was found to have serious side effects. The editors state that the FDA has to be given the resources to research independently after drugs are approved for sale and that the FDA also needs more authority to take action if they find safety problems with the drugs.

The second issue on the Harvard Health Letter list is this year's discovery of "flags" that are found the an organism's genetic material (called genomes). Researchers have been able to identify the "flag" and then search in that specific area for genetic flaws rather than searching in the entire genome. This year they have found genes that are markers for diabetes type 2, multiple sclerosis, and genes that are resistant to HIV, as well as several others.

The third medical advancement to make the list is that progress was made in sequencing or determining the order of the genes. It can now be done much faster and much cheaper. This will enable scientists to eventually be able to quickly and affordably give health advice and medical treatments based on a person's personal genes.

The fourth on the list is the discovery that sleep is related to many health problems. The editors listed diabetes and heart disease as two that are adversely affected when sleep habits are poor. There are two interesting articles that relate to this issue. You can access the first one here. The 2nd one can be read by accessing this link.

Number five on the list is the globalization of many health issues. Diseases that are mentioned include: AIDS, avian flu, and SARS. These are a few that are proving not to be restricted by the borders of a country. The editors also mention that many hospitals are creating global health residency programs and that the trend toward globalization in the health field has affected the American economy, as well as American Medicine.

Six on the list of the Harvard Health Letter is the TNF-alpha blocker drugs that have been found to interfere with proteins that cause inflammation. This discovery will benefit people who suffer with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. The TNF-alpha drugs are very expensive, but they are important because they may give way to other discoveries that will also help those suffering with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

The seventh 2007 issue on the list is the number of people who are still medically un-insured. The editors point out that some state law makers are stepping in because health care costs are going up at a time when employers are cutting back on the coverage they provide. Some of the states are creating programs to cover the state's children. Other states are considering mandating health coverage. Massachusetts already requires that everyone in the state purchase health care coverage. The Medicare Part D Program that extended drug coverage to seniors is mentioned as an important happening in this area.

Number eight on the list is the growing tendency of insurance to reward doctors and hospitals who give quality care and penalized those who do not. Medicare has started a program that gives doctors a bonus when they report certain quality measures. Medicare is also paying hospitals a performance bonus. According to the press release and the Harvard Health Letter, some health plans are refusing to pay for care when there are complications from certain medical errors. Providers (hospitals) have also started their own quality care programs and some are not charging for care that results in certain surgical complications.

Nine on the Harvard Health Letter list is the mammogram and the discovery that MRI scans are better at detecting breast cancer in women who are at a higher risk. The American Cancer Society now states that women who are high risk should get a breast MRI every year, in addition to their regular mammogram.

The number ten medical story for 2007, according to the Harvard Health Letter editors, is the new technology that allows researchers to actually look inside the brain and observe the way the brain functions. One important development in this field in 2007 was made by University of Pittsburgh researchers. They found a way for PET (position emission tomography) scanning to identify the protein fragment called beta amyloid. Scientists believe this is the main cause of Alzheimer's. If this proves to be true, Alzheimer's could be detected and prevented.

The press release states that the Harvard Health Letter is published monthly by Harvard Health Publications, a division of the Harvard Medical School.

Sources used:
Newswise.com
The Top 10 Health Stories of 2007
www.newswise.com/articles/view/535867/