Unraveling Brain Tumors - Molecular Biologists Devise Strategy To Starve Brain Tumors
July 24, 2008 (Science Daily) Brain tumor researchers have found that brain tumors arise from cancer stem cells living within tiny protective areas formed by blood vessels in the brain. Killing those cells is a promising strategy to eliminate tumors and prevents them from re-growing. The researchers have found that drugs that block new blood vessel formation can destroy the protected areas and stop cancer from developing.
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Hormone Therapy Not Shown to Benefit Older Patients with Early Prostate Cancer
July 16, 2008 (American Cancer Society) A study of nearly 20,000 men aged 66 and older with early-stage prostate cancer found that those who were prescribed androgen deprivation hormone therapy instead of other treatments were no better off than their counterparts who adopted a "wait and see" approach. However, younger men who aren't good candidates for surgery or radiation should still consider the therapy, which reduces androgen levels and often makes prostate cancers shrink or grow more slowly.
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A Threat in a Grassy Stroll: Lyme Disease
July 15, 2008 (The New York Times) My friend Anne and her husband, Richard, spend summers at a resort in Westchester County that has a swimming lake, tennis courts, gardens and beautiful grounds surrounded by woods. But Anne never sets foot on the grass.
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Breast Cancer: 3 Ways to Lower the Risk of Recurrence
July 6, 2008 (U.S. News & World Report) A new study indicates that lower estrogen levels can help keep cancer from coming back. Many women diagnosed with breast cancer find the hardest thing about treatment is facing its end. After the harrowing chemotherapy, the radiation burns, and the hot flashes from anti-estrogen medications like tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, patients then are told there's nothing else they can do to prevent a recurrence; they just have to sit back, wait, and pray for no new breast lumps or painful twinges in their bones.
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Symptoms Plus Blood Test Boost Ovarian Cancer Detection
June 23, 2008 (HealthDay News) The combo uncovered 80% of early-stage tumors, researchers say. U.S. researchers boosted the level of early-stage ovarian cancer detection by 20 percent through use of a blood test to detect a tumor marker as well as a woman's report of new-onset symptoms.
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Many Americans May Benefit From Eating A Higher-Protein Diet
June 18, 2008 (Medical News Today) Current protein recommendations were established with the goal of preventing deficiency, but newer research indicates that many adults may benefit from eating more than the minimum requirement. These findings are presented in a supplement in the May issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition1 describing the conclusions of a Protein Summit held last spring, which brought together the world's leading scientists in protein research.
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Insurer
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 MediGuide offers Second Opinion services to health and life insurance companies beneficiaries who are diagnosed with life threatening medical conditions. The list of eligible (qualifying) medical conditions is determined by the insurer in accordance with demographics, claims experience, regional differences, and benefit plan design. The standard list of qualifying medical conditions (QMCs) includes cancers, benign tumors, and congenital heart defects. The QMCs represent a small percentage of cases, which constitute a significant part of of overall healthcare costs (See Diagram 1, Source: Mercer 2004).
MediGuide facilitates access to quality healthcare services and experienced clinical decision making, which leads to greater acceptability, patient satisfaction, and patient compliance with proposed treatment guidelines (See Diagram 2, Source: MedStat/Palmer/Lawthers, 2004). 
MediGuide provides insurers with tools for improving health care management while also enhancing market positioning and public relations, in particular:
- Improves quality of medical care and outcomes due to more timely and accurate diagnoses, increased patient compliance, and minimization of pain and suffering
- Provides additional means for managing cost of care due to optimized diagnostic and treatment plans, including prescription drug usage
- Builds customer-friendly image and loyalty by easing access to advice from “centers of excellence” while minimizing customer’s out-of-pocket expenses
- Reduces legal exposure due to decrease in medical errors, misdiagnoses, mistreatments, and improved patient-physician communications
- MediGuide’s independence from both insurers and medical centers augments image of objectivity and impartiality, and serves to balance existing mistrust towards health insurance companies
Most importantly, independent Second Opinion services save lives and provide “peace of mind” to all parties involved.
The service is offered on a capitated basis or as a voluntary rider to the health or life insurance policy.
Please visit our online Library to find links to articles and studies published by independent parties on efficacy and impact of Second Opinion and other disease management services.
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