Chrysalis Ventures, a venture capital firm in Kentucky, is looking for health care start-ups that save money and betting that they will get a greater share of health dollars once reform takes shape, The New York Times reports. ""Whatever form health care reform takes, we believe companies that can improve the productivity and efficiency of improvement of health care services and avoidance of medical problems are going to prosper, and we"re putting our money behind that belief," (Chrysalis Ventures Chairman and Managing Director David) Jones said."
The tubes that power X-ray machines are shrinking, improving the clarity and detail of their Superman-like vision. A team of nanomaterial scientists, medical physicists, and cancer biologists at the University of North Carolina has developed new lower-cost X-ray tubes packed with sharp-tipped carbon nanotubes for cancer research and treatment. The tiny technology, presented at this year"s meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine in Anaheim, California,
is being developed to image human breast tissue, laboratory animals, and cancer patients under radiotherapy treatment, and to irradiate cells with more control than previously possible with conventional X-ray tubes. The X-ray machine used in a typical hospital today is powered by a "hot" vacuum tube that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. 
Edema, is swelling caused by fluid retention - excess fluid is trapped in the body"s tissues. In the UK/Ireland/Australasia and some other countries the word is spelled oedema. Swelling caused by edema commonly occurs in the hands, arms, ankles, legs and feet. It is usually linked to the venous or lymphatic systems. Edema was formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy. Edema may be generalized or local. It can appear suddenly, but usually develops subtly - the patient may
first gain weight, or wake up with puffy eyes. Many patients wait until symptoms are well advanced before seeking medical help. The rest of this article refers mainly to generalized edema, unless otherwise specified. Visit our specialized news sections Lymphedemia / Lymphology News Vascular News Cardiovascular / Cardiology News Heart Disease News Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) News Obesity / Weight Loss News Diabetes News According to Medilexicon"s medical dictionary, edema is: "1. An accumulation
of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells or intercellular tissues. 
Healthcare Advocates Will Present Congressmembers with "Happy Birthday Medicare" Cakes-And a Plea to Improve and Expand the Beloved Program What The former personal physician to President Obama will lead more than one thousand nurses, doctors, seniors, and healthcare advocates July 30th in marking the birthday of Medicare, and toasting the success of a "uniquely American" healthcare solution. Similar events are occurring at the district offices of senators
and representatives across the country. The healthcare advocates will celebrate in Upper Senate Park, and then fan out across Capitol Hill with birthday cakes to make the point that we already have a unique American solution to our healthcare crisis, Medicare, which should be improved and expanded to all Americans. That elegant solution-called the "single-payer model"-is succeeding around the world and is being sponsored in Congress by Rep. John Conyers (HR676) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (S703), with a
companion amendment to HR3200 offered by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, that would allow experimentation with state-based single-payer systems.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday voted 13-6 in favor of Judge Sonia Sotomayor"s confirmation to the Supreme Court, the AP/Yahoo! News reports. All Democrats and one Republican -- Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) -- supported the nomination (AP/Yahoo! News, 7/28). The full Senate is expected to vote on the nomination before the August recess, The Hill reports (Rushing, The Hill, 7/27). Sotomayor likely will be confirmed by the full Senate, as almost all Senate Democrats
have said they will vote to confirm and Republicans have pledged not to filibuster. In addition to Graham, four other Republicans have said they will support Sotomayor"s confirmation -- Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Richard Lugar (Ind.), Mel Martinez (Fla.) and Olympia Snowe (Maine) (The Hill, 7/27).On Monday, Senate Finance Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) became the latest Republican to say he would vote against Sotomayor. He said, "At her confirmation hearing, ... I was not convinced
that Judge Sotomayor understands the rights given to Americans under the Constitution, or that she will refrain from expanding or restricting those rights based on her personal preferences.