A propensity for activities in the evening rather than in the morning may offer clues to behavioral problems in early adolescence, according to psychologists who have found that kids who prefer evenings are more likely to exhibit antisocial behavior, rule-breaking, and attention problems. [click link for full article]

Health plans seldom require screening for substance abuse and mental health in primary care even though it can improve detection, according to a new Brandeis University study published in the July issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine. This may be a missed opportunity to help people with mental illness or substance abuse problems, only a fraction of whom currently receive treatment. [click link for full article]

Heart attack patients admitted to hospitals ranked to be among “America’s Best” by U.S. News & World Report are less likely to die within 30 days than those patients admitted to non-ranked hospitals, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in Archives of Internal Medicine. [click link for full article]

“Am I going to die” I have no future.” “I feel depressed at times, fearful I may not see my children marry or be a grandparent.” Such heart-rending statements from patients with chronic hepatitis B reveal the social and mental impact of this disease, which affects 350 million worldwide. [click link for full article]

House Education and Labor Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee Chair Robert Andrews (D-N.J.) and ranking member John Kline (R-Minn.) during a hearing on Tuesday said they support mental health parity legislation, although it is unclear whether they agree on how strong such legislation should be in mandating coverage, CongressDaily reports (Johnson, CongressDaily, 7/11). [click link for full article]

Measuring levels of a chemical found in blood offers the best indicator yet of the amount of fat surrounding abdominal organs, according to a new study of lean and obese individuals reported in the July issue of Cell Metabolism, a publication of Cell Press. The buildup of such “visceral fat” is of particular health concern as it has been linked to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease risk. [click link for full article]

Black women are more likely to develop breast cancer tumors that are more advanced and more aggressive than white women, and biology is thought to be a major factor behind the disparity, according to a study published in the journal Cancer, the [click link for full article]

Have you experienced symptoms of itching, flushing, hives, nausea or shortness of breath after receiving iv contrast dye for a radiological study? If so, then you may have an iv…

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review has found only limited evidence for an association between eating tomatoes and a decreased risk of certain cancers, according to an article published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.Several studies have reported an association between the consumption of tomatoes or lycopene, an antioxidant that gives tomatoes their red hue, and a decreased risk of some cancers, particularly prostate cancer. [click link for full article]

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons in recent weeks has met with lawmakers to lobby for legislation to address “what it calls a looming crisis in its professional ranks,” The Hill reports. [click link for full article]