Coffee consumption and risk of lethal and advanced prostate cancer. Kathryn M. Wilson1, Julie L. Kasperzyk1, Jennifer R. Stark1, Michael N. Pollak2, Meir J. Sampfer3, Edward Giovannucci1, Lorelei A. Mucci3. 1Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA; 2McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; 3Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Background: Coffee is a commonly consumed beverage which contains many biologically active compounds. It is a major source of caffeine and antioxidants, and it has effects on insulin and glucose metabolism as well as sex hormone levels. This suggests that coffee may have a beneficial effect on risk …

By Eryn Jelesiewicz
Patients rely on their physicians to recognize signs of trouble, yet for common heart murmurs, that ability is only fair at best.  Fortunately, the solution is simple: listening repeatedly.  In fact, intensive repetition — listening at least 400 times to each heart sound — significantly improved the stethoscope abilities of doctors, according to a study presented today at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting.
After demonstrating last year that medical students greatly improved their stethoscope skills by listening repeatedly to heart sounds on their iPods, lead investigator …

By Alan Lyndon

President Obama’s efforts for massive healthcare reform endured a predictable setback in July.  With so many moving parts, Obama’s chances of fast-tracking reform before the August recess were small.   For physicians, the meat of the bill is being buried in the press coverage and appeals to voters.
In late July, the president went live on primetime for the fourth time in his six months in office – this time in an attempt for one last push to the public and to Congress to pass healthcare legislation prior to a …