Inadequate insurance payments for services provided by psychiatric units in general hospitals have led to widespread closing, downsizing, or off-campus transfer of inpatient psychiatric units. Yet, these units are essential for treatment of coexisting medical and psychiatric conditions, appropriate care of psychiatric disorders in the emergency room, and education of medical trainees. [click link for full article]

UroToday.com- While laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) have been shown to be effective management in patients with localized renal tumor; there is limited data on the long term effect on postoperative renal function in these two patient groups. [click link for full article]

UroToday.com- This article published in the British Journal of Urology International by Georges-Pascal and Gill detail the oncologic findings and short-term recovery from laparoscopic radical cystectomy for clinically organ confined bladder cancer. The authors evaluated 37 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy from 1999 to 2005. There was equal distribution of patients receiving a neobladder and an ileal conduit. [click link for full article]

CSL Biotherapies, a subsidiary of one of the world’s leading manufacturers of influenza vaccine, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Afluria (influenza virus vaccine) for active immunization of persons age 18 years and older against influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and type B present in the vaccine. Today’s approval marks the company’s first entry into the U.S. vaccine market. [click link for full article]

UroToday.com- Antiproliferative factor (APF) is a sialoglycopeptide elevated in the urine of patients with interstitial cystitis. APF is detectable in the urine of 95% of IC patients as compared to approximately 9% of controls and is also a low molecular weight glycosylated peptide related to the membrane receptor frizzled 8. [click link for full article]

UroToday.com- Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a condition characterized by inflammation and fibrosis in the retroperitoneal space. The disease process begins with the clinical symptoms of flank pain and unexplained weight loss. Radiologically fibrosis starts by surrounding the infrarenal aorta. It then progresses inferiorly and ultimately leads to ureteral obstruction and acute renal failure. [click link for full article]

American Diabetes Association calls for greater awareness to the 75 million Americans who have diabetes or are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.WhatDiabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and around the world. One in four Americans has diabetes or is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. [click link for full article]

A preliminary study into bullying has found 14 per cent of female students aged 11 to 19 were cyber bullied this year. The study found over half of those students were also bullied face-to-face. “Far too many Australian children are living in fear of being bullied,” said psychologist and study author, Dr Marilyn Campbell. [click link for full article]

Pharmacy Self Care has launched a new health promotion campaign covering the topic of Allergies - Hayfever (allergic rhinitis). [click link for full article]

A protein, known as AKAP18, could help the heart to beat faster in response to adrenaline or noradrenaline, according to a study published online this week in EMBO reports.The protein has a crucial role in correctly targeting protein kinase A (PKA) to a molecular complex that helps control the rate and strength of heart muscle contractions. [click link for full article]