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Those With Darker Skin Might Be More Susceptible To Nicotine Addiction, Study Finds
Blacks and others with darker skin might be at greater risk for tobacco addiction than whites and those with lighter skin because the greater the amount of melanin, the coloring pigment in skin, the more nicotine appears to be stored, according to preliminary findings published in the journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, the New York Times reports. For the study, lead researcher Gary King, a professor of biobehavioral health at Pennsylvania State University, looked at 150 black smokers and measured their levels of melanin and cotinine, a byproduct of nicotine. They also surveyed the participants to determine the level of their smoking habit. Those with the most melanin were found to smoke the most and have the most cotinine in their system. They also had the highest level of dependence on tobacco. The findings might indicate why some people are more affected by nicotine than others, according to the study (Nagourney, New York Times, 5/19).
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Osteoporosis-linked Fractures Have Risen Dramatically
The hospitalization rate of patients admitted for treatment of hip, pelvis and other fractures associated with osteoporosis increased by 55 percent between 1995 and 2006, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
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VA Medical Imaging Reaches Record Level
VistA Imaging, the medical and health care imaging system used in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, attained over one billion stored images in January this year, according to the department.
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Patient Notes - Clarity For Insurers And Doctors

Doctors will have greater clarity around releasing a patient"s full medical notes to insurance companies after the Privacy Commissioner concluded that the law allows insurers to collect only the information that they need to make insurance decisions. The Privacy Commissioner received a request from the New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) to look into insurers" requests for full patient notes. The Commissioner concluded that insurance companies can only ask for patient notes that are of direct relevance to their decision to insure a person or to pay on a claim. "Medical practitioners should expect that the first request from an insurer will be of a more limited nature, such as questions about specific conditions," says NZMA GP Chair Dr Mark Peterson. "In some cases insurers may follow up by requesting more detailed information on a patient"s full notes for a specified period but both the insurer and the doctor will need to ensure that they have the patient"s permission to release additional information." Insurers have said they are willing to make their forms clearer - taking on board the Privacy Commissioner"s conclusions - so that if they intend to collect medical information there is no confusion for patients and doctors. The NZMA has produced a re for members, which reflects the results of the Commissioner"s inquiry. "If a doctor is uncertain whether a patient has authorised disclosure they need to discuss the matter with their patient," says Dr Peterson. "Patients may also want to see their medical notes before they make a decision on authorising disclosure." The Commissioner has said that occasionally an insurer will be entitled to collect full medical notes, if the more specific information does not provide the detail the insurer needs to make a decision. However, these situations should be rare. New Zealand Medical Association


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