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Report Finds Racial Health Disparities Among New York State Health Plan Beneficiaries
The New York City-based advocacy group Community Service Society recently released a report that found racial health disparities among state health plan beneficiaries, New York Times" "City Room" reports. The report urged state officials to close the gaps. The roughly 20 health plans that contract with the state public health programs to provide health insurance to low-income residents are required to break down health indicators by race. Using data from the New York State Department of Health, researchers found that out of 12 measures the state uses in quality assurance, including dental visits, asthma management, mammography and almost all diabetes indicators:
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Research To Investigate The Clinical And Cost-effectiveness Of Bone Anchored Hearing Aids
New research commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme will assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of bone anchored hearing aids (BAHAs) for people who are bilaterally deaf (deaf in both ears). Hearing impairment is the most common sensory deficit and it is estimated that there are approximately 688,000 severely to profoundly deaf adults in the UK. According to evidence given to the House of Commons Health Committee, the NHS tariff puts the cost per person of conventional hearing aid provision from appointment and clinic time to use of equipment at about ÷£270. The price of a working BAHA per patient is estimated to be at least ÷£4500.
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Pharmalucence, Inc. Announces FDA Approval For Its Generic Sestamibi Kit
Pharmalucence, Inc., a leading supplier of radiopharmaceutical products, announced that it received approval from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Generic Drugs for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to manufacture and market its Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc-99m Sestamibi Injection. The FDA has determined that Pharmalucence"s Sestamibi Kit is therapeutically equivalent to Cardiolite® 1, an imaging agent used in evaluating myocardial function and to detect coronary artery disease by localizing myocardial ischemia and infarction. The agent is also for use in breast imaging as a second line diagnostic after mammography to assist in the evaluation of breast lesions.
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Treating Depression May Protect Against Insulin Resistance In Type 2 Diabetes Patients

US researchers found that treating depression may protect against insulin resistance observed in depression in patients at risk of type 2 diabetes. The study was conducted by Dr Julie Wagner of the University of Connecticut Health Center, and colleagues, and was presented at the 69th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association that took place in New Orleans, Louisiana from 5 to 9 June. The researchers already knew from other recent studies that there was a link between depression and insulin resistance but the extent to which treatment for depression in adults at risk of type 2 diabetes affected insulin sensitivity was somewhat of a mystery so they decided to investigate. Insulin resistance is where the body makes insulin, but can"t use it properly. Insulin is the natural chemical that helps us use glucose for energy. The muscle, fat and liver cells of an insulin-resistant person don"t respond to insulin as well as they should so their pancreas makes more and more and eventually can"t keep up with the demand. This leads to excess glucose in the bloodstream, and prediabetes. Many people with insulin resistance have both high insulin and high glucose levels in their blood at the same time. For this study the researchers enrolled 55 patients who were on a diabetic prevention program. Each participant"s insulin sensitivity was calculated using the whole body method and their physical activity was assessed using the PA subscale of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (which gives a score of 1 to 4). Depression was measured using the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) where a score of 16 and above indicated depression, and depression medication was assessed from self-reports and chart review. The participants, who on average were 46 years old and obese, were mostly white (53 per cent) and female (90 per cent). 34 per cent had impaired fasting glucose and 28 per cent had impaired glucose tolerance. They were categorized into three groups: (1) non-depressed (CESD score under 16, and not using anti-depressants), (2) treated for depression (on antidepressants regardless of CESD score), or (3) untreated depression (CESD score of 16 or higher, and not taking antidepressants). The results showed that: *33 per cent of the participants were depressed and 19 per cent were taking antidepressants (of these 46 per cent scored over 16 on the CESD scale). *As CESD score went up, physical activity and insulin sensitivity went down (they were inversely correlated). *Analysis of variance showed that those in the untreated depression group had significantly lower insulin sensitivity than those in the non-depressed group. *Those in the treated for depression group had similar insulin sensitivity to those in the non-depressed group. *These links were unaffected when physical activity was taken into account in the analysis of covariance. The authors concluded that the results suggest: "Treatment for depression in adults at risk for T2DM [type 2 diabetes mellitus] may improve the insulin resistance observed in depression." Wagner said in an interview with WebMD that: "Insulin resistance is the hallmark of type 2 diabetes, and this study shows that treating depression is associated with improved insulin resistance." "Basically the depressed people on medication looked like the non-depressed people in terms of insulin sensitivity," she added. However, the authors cautioned that more research is needed before we can confidently say that treating depression delays or decreases the risk of type 2 diabetes. Some experts suggest that depression may contribute to type 2 diabetes through the action of the stress hormone cortisol which plays a key role in the metabolism of sugar and fine tuning sensitivity to insulin. High levels of cortisol are also linked to belly fat, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. As Wagner explained to WebMD, the idea is that the more depressed a person is, the more cortisol their body makes, and this leads to more belly fat, higher risk of diabetes, and so a vicious cycle is set up. Another theory is that depression disrupts the immune system and levels of the mood-regulating brain chemical serotonin which also helps to control metabolism. "Depression, Depression Treatment and Insulin Sensitivity in Adults at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes." Julie Wagner et al. Abstract 1850-P , Poster Session 1, 69th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, June 2009. s: American Diabetes Association, WebMD, National Diabetes Information Clearing House (NDIC). Written by: Catharine Paddock, PhD Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today


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