Top Story

• Data support osmotic laxatives for constipation in elderly
  Osmotic laxatives, such as polyethylene glycol and lactulose, have the strongest supporting data for treatment of constipation in older patients, according to a literature review by researchers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center in Toronto, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Evidence to support the use of stool softeners, bulking agents, stimulants or prokinetic agents was limited, inconsistent or absent. MedPage Today (free registration) (1/29)

Guide to Healthy Living

• CDC: Vaccination rates for certain diseases "unacceptably low"
  CDC officials reported Tuesday that vaccination rates for certain diseases -- including pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis, shingles and whooping cough -- were "unacceptably low" among U.S. adults. "We are encouraging all adults to talk with their health care providers about which vaccines are appropriate for them," said HHS assistant secretary Dr. Howard Koh. Reuters (1/29)

• Report calls for U.S. to move toward preventive health model
  The nonprofit Trust for America's Health proposed shifting U.S. health care from a sick-care model to a prevention format, and while executive director Jeffrey Levi called it the humanitarian thing to do, economists disagreed with the group's assessment that it would reduce costs. Data show some preventive services may not improve an individual's health, and health policy expert Peter Neumann of Tufts University School of Medicine said that "prevention itself costs money, and some preventive measures can be very expensive, especially if you give them to a lot of people who won't benefit." Reuters (1/29)

• Leafy greens are leading source of foodborne illnesses in U.S.
  Of the nearly 50% of foodborne illnesses linked to farm produce, 22% were caused by leafy green vegetables, according to a CDC study. Meat, especially poultry, accounted for 43% of all deaths resulting from foodborne diseases, researchers said. HealthDay News (1/29)

• Cookbook author offers tips for gluten-free baking
  Cookbook author Martha Rose Shulman, whose sister is gluten intolerant, finds creating her own gluten-free flour for baking is better than using commercial mixes. She got some advice from Gluten-Free Girl Shauna James Ahern and used a mixture of 70% gluten-free grain and 30% starch to develop a banana-chocolate muffin recipe. Using a scale to weigh ingredients instead of measuring volume is especially important in gluten-free baking because it includes working with formulas, Shulman says. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (1/28)

Diagnosis & Treatment

• Technique may ID patients with GERD-induced asthma
  In a study of GERD-induced asthma, investigators used a specially designed catheter to measure levels of acid exposure in the patient's airway. Researchers from West Penn Allegheny Health System also reported in JAMA Surgery that GERD surgery helped relieve asthma symptoms. HealthDay News (1/25)

• Expert shares positive view on hepatitis C research
  The outlook for hepatitis C research is good, said Dr. Donald Jensen, director of the University of Chicago's Center for Liver Diseases, in this interview. Researchers are using the word "cure" when, previously, they would limit the discussion to a "sustained response," he said. The university has formed HCV CURE, an organization of patients who are willing to share their experiences with treatment to raise awareness. Chicago Tribune (tiered subscription model) (1/30)

Policy Watch

• Experts: Higher Medicaid copays may lead to deferred care
  Some health care experts believe a proposal to allow states to charge Medicaid beneficiaries higher copays for some services may lead the poorest people to delay getting needed care until their health condition becomes dire. The plan would give states a tool to discourage patients from seeking care at emergency departments for nonemergent issues and likely would affect hospital-based physicians more than office-based doctors, consultant Jennifer Kowalski of Avalere Health said. American Medical News (free content) (1/28)

• Poll finds bipartisan support for "better deal" on dual-eligible drugs
  Almost 70% of respondents in a study co-sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation support forcing drugmakers to give the government "a better deal on medications for low-income people on Medicare." The idea was strongly favored by 77% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans. A majority of respondents opposed spending cuts for Social Security, Medicare and education. PharmExec.com/PharmExecBlog (1/28)

The Last Word

News and information from the American College of Gastroenterology

• Foodborne illnesses: Protect your gut
  At some point in our lives, we've all gotten sick from eating contaminated or undercooked food. You can reduce your risk of developing foodborne illnesses by following a few safety tips. Learn more about the common types of foodborne illnesses and what you can do to protect your gut.

SmartQuote

Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat." --F. Scott Fitzgerald, American writer