Health Insurance
The Hypertension and Vascular Research Center at Wake Forest University School of Medicine has received renewal of a multi-million dollar grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health to continue the development of new approaches to treat hypertension and vascular disease. The program is in its 16th year of existence at the School of Medicine.
Research published this week in the journal Autism, published by SAGE, estimate the annual costs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to be more than 27 billion a year. The costs of supporting children with ASDs were estimated to be 2.7 billion per year, 25 billion each year for adults. The findings were presented at the Autism & Employment Workshop at Goldsmiths, University of London.
When school is out, training and networking is in for the thousands of school nutrition professionals who will attend this year"s Annual National Conference of the School Nutrition Association in Las Vegas, Nevada. With the challenge of rising food and labor costs, increased demand for school meals, the legislative push for national nutrition standards through Child Nutrition Reauthorization, and the ongoing efforts to address childhood overweight, this year"s conference promises to be where the action is. Learn more about all the hot topics June 29 - July 3, 2009, in Las Vegas for SNA"s 63nd Annual National Conference (ANC.) The conference includes over 80 accredited educational breakout sessions and the largest exhibit hall in school nutrition, featuring more than 760 booths packed with healthful foods, beverages and ingredients, services, equipment and technology. ANC 2009 will be held at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas.
Certain mutations in the DNA of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are associated with the development of liver cancer and may help predict which patients with HBV infections are at increased risk of the disease, according to a large meta-analysis in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, published online July 2.
It"s estimated two out of three Americans are now overweight or obese*
On Independence Day, Doctors on Strike for Freedom in Medicine will take on the mission of preserving, protecting, and promoting freedom in healthcare. This nonprofit organization"s web site (http://www.doctorsonstrike.com) states that their most pressing goal is to mobilize doctors to go on strike against any new government healthcare plans. Their long-term objective is to supply healthcare providers with intellectual ammunition to win the "philosophical war" against statism in medicine.
Although the tiny roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans has only 302 neurons in its entire nervous system, studies of this simple animal have significantly advanced our understanding of human brain function because it shares many genes and neurochemical signaling molecules with humans. Now MIT researchers have found novel C. elegans neurochemical receptors, the discovery of which could lead to new therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders if similar receptors are found in humans.
US researchers said that undiagnosed cases of celiac disease, where the immune system has a strong adverse reaction to the protein found in
BRITAIN"S top diabetes specialists added their weight to calls for European drug regulatory bodies to launch an urgent investigation into the popular insulin treatment glargine (Lantus). The move by the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) follows this week"s publication of four studies, which raise possible concern about an increased risk of the development of cancer in people who use this long-acting insulin therapy.
- A $10 million project funded by the European Community to improve Iraq"s water and sanitation services is underway. Implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works and the Ministry of Municipalities in Kurdistan, the project will increase the government"s provision of services as well as strengthen their capacity to manage and develop Iraq"s water and sanitation sector.
Health and safety advisers need accreditation to ensure they meet appropriate standards of professional competence, the Chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said.
Video from portable cameras is analysed to calculate the distance of obstacles and predict the movements of people and cars. This information is then transformed and relayed to a blind person as a three-dimensional "picture" of sound.
Genentech, Inc. announced today that the Phase III study BRAVO showed Lucentis® (ranibizumab injection) improved vision, as measured by the primary endpoint of mean change from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity at six months, in patients with macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion. The safety profile of Lucentis was consistent with previous experience and no new adverse events related to Lucentis were observed in the study. Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a common cause of vision loss that occurs when blood flow through a retinal vein becomes blocked, such as by a blood clot.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has responded to the publication of outline plans for the reform of NHS dentistry in England by the Conservative Party which have been released today. The plans, which are outlined in a document titled Transforming NHS dentistry, include commitments to improve access to dental care, scrap the unit of dental activity, reintroduce formal patient registration and reward preventive care given by dentists. The document also sees the Conservatives pledge to properly pilot any reforms.
Common genetic variations spread across five genes raise a person"s risk of developing the most frequent type of brain tumor, an international research team reports online in Nature Genetics.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to buy or use Hardcore Energize Bullet or New Whey liquid products sold in test tube-like vials due to suspected product tampering. The products are being recalled.
The Victorian hospital system coped well in the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009 but new research, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, suggests the lessons learned over this time must be used to further strengthen the State"s prevention and medical response systems.
High profile doctors have today lent their support to the latest phase of the GMC"s licensing campaign.
A consortium of European and Australian scientists doing a genome-wide association study found three gene variants were strongly linked to
Children with sickle cell disease tend to have interrupted sleep many times during the night leaving them tired and irritable during the day.
While Lands End and John O"Groats may be poles apart geographically they"re side by side when it comes to generosity.
A study of elderly patients receiving CPR in the hospital shows that rates of survival did not improve from 1992 to 2005. During that period, the proportion of hospital deaths preceded by CPR rose, and the proportion of patients who were successfully resuscitated and later discharged home fell. The researchers found that 18.3 percent of the Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older who underwent in-hospital CPR survived to discharge.
The Iowa Independent looks at the complexity of changing Iowa"s HIV transmission law. The Independent writes that Iowa "isn"t a state with a high percentage of people living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Prosecutions related to this particular law are often highly publicized as much for their uniqueness as for a public"s need to know. In addition, of the statute"s 24 convictions since its inception, three have been appealed and subsequently affirmed by the Iowa Supreme Court." The article features comments from a former state legislator and a member of the legislative study committee that could potentially reconsider this law (Waddington, 7/3).
Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces that, at the request of the FDA, in view of a potential restriction on the availability of the current approved and marketed treatment for Gaucher Disease patients, it has filed a treatment protocol for velaglucerase alfa, its enzyme replacement therapy in development for the treatment of Gaucher Disease.
Scientists at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) have discovered that specialized complex sugar molecules (glycans) that anchor cells into place act as tumor suppressors in breast and prostate cancers. These glycans play a critical role in cell adhesion in normal cells, and their decrease or loss leads to increased cell migration by invasive cancer cells and metastasis. An increase in expression of the enzyme that produces these glycans, 3GnT1, resulted in a significant reduction in tumor activity. The research was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Global biomedical sciences companies invested more than US$500 million in
Patients with atrial fibrillation, common in those with advanced chronic heart failure, have an increased risk of hospitalization due to heart failure, according to new research from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The findings, published in June in the European Heart Journal, also suggest that atrial fibrillation is not associated with an increased risk of death in heart failure patients, contradicting previous assumptions.
The findings of the PATRICIA study are reported in an article Online First and in a future edition of The Lancet. It shows that the HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine (GlaxoSmithKline) has high efficacy against the precancerous cervical lesions that can eventually lead to cervical cancer. There is confirmation that the vaccine also shows cross-protective efficacy against other oncogenic (that cause cancer) Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types closely related to HPV-16/18. In addition, it also shows efficacy in the cohorts relevant to universal mass vaccination and catch-up programs. The article is written by Dr Jorma Paavonen, of the University of Helsinki, Finland, and collaborators.
Health professionals are required to provide help for victims of intimate partner violence (IPV), yet many do not even discuss the issue with their patients, according to a University of Pittsburgh study in the current issue of Violence and Victims.
As President Barack Obama pushes to overhaul health care, many look to Europe for examples of government-run health care.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of up to $40 million in grants to help reach families whose children qualify but are not yet enrolled in state Medicaid and Children"s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP). Sebelius was joined for the announcement by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter. Colorado has been a leader in the effort to provide health insurance coverage to more children.
Aine Brady, T.D., Minister for Older People, officially launched the "Directory of Services for Older People in the Stoneybatter Area".
The instruction manual for maintaining an efficient brain may soon include a section on synaptotagmin-IV (Syt-IV), a protein known to influence learning and memory, thanks to a study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers.
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has published a report on Genomic Medicine which argues that recent developments in genomic science stemming from the sequencing of the human genome represent a unique opportunity for real advances in medical care and that the Government and the NHS must take a range of steps to ensure that these advances are realised.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, (CAC) concluded a week-long meeting and adopted more than 30 new international standards, codes of practice and guidelines to improve worldwide food safety and protect the health of consumers.
Despite growing evidence that cancer is becoming more prevalent amongst ethnic minority groups, news figures out today at the start of Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Week show that cancer awareness levels are critically low amongst this cohort.
In this week"s open access journal PLoS Medicine, Nayreen Daruwalla and
Salad dressing aside, a pile of spinach has more nutritional value than a wedge of iceberg lettuce. That"s because darker colors in leafy vegetables are often signs of antioxidants that are thought to have a variety of health benefits. Now a team of plant physiologists has developed a way to make lettuce darker and redder - and therefore healthier - using ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
A University of Toronto pilot study that re-conceptualized the hospital labour room by removing the standard, clinical bed and adding relaxation-promoting equipment had a 28 per cent drop in infusions of artificial oxytocin, a powerful drug used to advance slow labours.
Riders across the country will take to the streets on Friday, May 15 in celebration of National Bike to Work Day. In support of their efforts and enthusiasm, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) offers tips for reducing the risk of bicycle-related injury through proper bike fit.
University of Minnesota Medical School researchers have discovered that a common anti-oxidant, widely available as a health food supplement, may help stop the urges of those with trichotillomania, a disorder characterized by compulsive hair-pulling.
Structural muscle damage may be present in patients who have statin-associated muscle complaints, found a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Patients who survive an initial diagnosis of breast cancer often succumb to the disease years later when the cancer shows up in a different part of the body. Now, scientists have identified key signals that support the long term survival of breast cancer cells after they have spread to the bone marrow. The research, published by Cell Press in the July issue of the journal Cancer Cell, may lead to development of treatment strategies that decrease the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence in the bone and other organs.
Many people living with cancer are researching their illnesses online. In fact, research has shown that patients who use the Internet consider it a more useful of information as compared with other media. Further, patients" Internet use can encourage active communication with their physicians.
Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals (P&GP) announced the availability of Asacol HD (mesalamine) delayed-release tablets, which are indicated for the treatment of moderately active ulcerative colitis (UC), a form of inflammatory bowel disease. UC involves inflammation of the lining of the colon and rectum and is typically characterized by flares followed by periods of remission. Moderately active UC is characterized by tougher symptoms than mildly active UC. Asacol HD is proven to help treat these tougher flares of moderately active UC. Asacol HD was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on evaluations from the ASCEND studies [Assessing the Safety and Clinical Efficacy of a New Dose of 5-ASA (4.8 g/day 800 mg tablet)].
The aggressiveness of tumors and their susceptibility to chemotherapy may become easier to predict based on a mathematical model developed at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
With the recall of the cold remedy Zicam nasal spray for possibly causing some people to lose their sense of smell and the prior failures of vitamin C and echinacea to prove effective in trials, viruses seem to be winning the war on colds.
The common cold is the most pervasive recurring illness on earth.
Dozens of the nation"s leading organizations in health care, science, medicine and public health are meeting in Washington, D.C., this week with one goal in mind: to develop a national physical activity plan that will make America healthier. Congressional leaders and members of the public both agree that emphasizing disease prevention measures, such as increasing physical activity, is essential to combating chronic diseases, which account for 70 percent of all deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
State and local health departments get mixed marks for efforts to convey information about the H1N1 virus to the public using their Web sites immediately after U.S. officials declared a public health emergency in April, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
New studies that analyse genetic differences across thousands of human genomes
"While Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) is expected to be on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee only for a short time, he should have a major effect on health reform," Roll Call reports. "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) chose Whitehouse to temporarily take the place of former Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), now secretary of State, on HELP because of his experience with health care policy at the state level." But when Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., takes over "the long-vacant Minnesota seat, Whitehouse"s time on the committee will soon be coming to an end -- but not before the health debate is finished."
Services for veterans have improved recently, but many veterans say more improvements still need to be made.
An Associated Press examination of the "new all-digital Children"s Hospital of Pittsburgh" reveals the benefits of electronic health records in action, and the steep climb the hospital took to achieve those improvements.
The G8 summit is scheduled to open Wednesday in L"Aquila, Italy. The World Food Program (WFP) on Tuesday issued a statement praising the G8 leaders" focus on food security and calling for support of its efforts to combat hunger among the world"s poorest people, Xinhua reports. In the statement, WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran recommended leaders take a "twin-track" approach to food security, which includes supporting long-term agricultural production along with immediate hunger assistance.
A study by researchers from Duke University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and published in PLoS Medicine has found that upon infection "three lines of attack by the immune system are quickly neutralized by HIV," findings they hope "will provide a better understanding of how to develop a vaccine to protect against the virus," the Raleigh News & Observer reports. The study, lead by Duke"s Barton Haynes, showed that HIV, "once considered a slow if stealthy invader, actually works incredibly fast at disarming key immune fighters in the body." Haynes said scientists still have a difficult task in developing a vaccine, adding, "It would have to be different than any other vaccine made" (Avery, 7/7).
Giving a local anaesthetic during a Caesarean section helps manage pain after the operation and can reduce consumption of painkillers, according to Cochrane Researchers. The researchers recommend local anaesthetics as part of integrated pain management strategies for Caesarean section operations, provided that consideration is given to the cost.
There is not enough evidence to support using gels and creams containing rubefacients for chronic and acute pain, according to a systematic review by Cochrane Researchers. Rubefacients cause irritation and reddening of the skin, due to increased blood flow. The review focused on formulations containing salicylates, which are widely prescribed or sold over the counter as topical treatments for sports injuries and muscle pain.
Stressing out can cause people to gain weight, according to a study appearing in the July 15 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology. This new study is believed to be one of the first of its kind to look at the relationship between weight gain and multiple types of stress - job-related demands, difficulty paying bills, strained family relationships, depression or anxiety disorder - in the U.S. population.
Terumo Heart Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Terumo Corporation, announced reaching a critical milestone in the worldwide expansion of its DuraHeart(TM) Left-Ventricular Assist System (LVAS) as the 100th patient was treated by Latif Arusoglu, MD and Michiel Morshuis, MD, cardiothoracic surgeons at the Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University of Bochum in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (Nasdaq: AMLN), Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Alkermes, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKS) announced that the New Drug Application (NDA) for exenatide once weekly has been accepted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
SMOKING CESSATION MAY PROVIDE IMMEDIATE BENEFIT TO HEART
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have shown that endoscopic surgery is a valid treatment option for treating esthesioneuroblastoma (cancer of the nasal cavity), in addition to traditional open surgery and nonsurgical treatments. These findings appear in the July issue of Laryngoscope.
A new Northwestern University-led study of human colon, pancreatic and lung cells is the first to report that cancer cells and their non-cancerous cell neighbors, although quite different under the microscope, share very similar structural abnormalities on the nanoscale level.
Results of the Asthma Intervention Research 2 (AIR2) Trial of the Alair(R) Bronchial Thermoplasty System, developed by Asthmatx, Inc., were announced at ATS 2009, the International Conference of the American Thoracic Society, in San Diego, Calif. The AIR2 results demonstrated statistically significant improvements in quality of life measurements, reductions in asthma attacks (severe exacerbations) and emergency room visits for respiratory symptoms in adults with severe asthma who underwent bronchial thermoplasty delivered by the Alair System.
A government-backed youth development pilot programme in England, aimed at reducing teenage pregnancies, drunkenness or cannabis use, didn"t reduce teenage pregnancies and other outcomes and might have increased pregnancies, according to research published on bmj.com.
AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond released
UK health services are failing to meet the needs of millions of chronic joint pain sufferers. More than 80 per cent of chronic back and knee pain sufferers still suffer from pain following treatments recommended by a healthcare professional, according to new research for Bupa.
Typhoid fever is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi. It is also known as enteric fever, or commonly just typhoid. Typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever are clinically indistinguishable diseases, collectively called enteric fever. It easily spreads through contaminated food and water supplies and close contact with others who are infected. The illness is characterized by very high fever, sweating, gastroenteritis, and diarrhea. Although typhoid is very rare in the developed world, it is still a serious health threat in the developing world. Typhoid is treatable with antibiotics.
Fate Therapeutics, Inc. announced the presentation of data from its research on small molecule modulators of the Wnt pathway for osteo-regeneration at the 7th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) in Barcelona, Spain. In its findings, the Company demonstrated that selected Wnt activators induce the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to mature, bone-forming osteoblasts. The study highlights the potential for using small molecule Wnt activators as osteogenic agents. Because osteogenic agents stimulate positive bone growth, they may offer an improved course of action in clinical settings ranging from orthopedics to osteoporosis as compared to current medications aimed at preventing bone decay.
People who have superior language skills early in life may be less likely to develop Alzheimer"s disease decades later, despite having the hallmark signs of the disease, according to research published in the July 9, 2009, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Scientists investigating the cough reflex have discovered a new group of molecules on the surface of nerve cells that make us cough when irritated.
The British Association of Dermatology annual meeting sees the launch of the first topical calcineurin inhibitor to be approved for the maintenance treatment of moderate to severe atopic eczema to prevent flares and prolong flare-free intervals. PROTOPIC ointment (tacrolimus monohydrate) is already licensed to treat moderate and severe eczema (atopic dermatitis), often involving the treatment of flares as and when they occur.* It is now also approved for twice-weekly application to previously affected skin to prevent these exacerbations and prolong flare-free periods in PROTOPIC-responsive patients. Clinical studies have shown that this new approach brings significant benefits with over 40% of patients with moderate to severe eczema remaining flare-free for at least a year.1 Flares are known to place an enormous burden on patients. The International Study of Life with Atopic Eczema (ISOLATE) found that about 55% of these patients worried about the onset of their next exacerbation and that they spent on average over a third of the year (136 days) with their eczema in flare.2
New research reveals around 22 million people suffered back pain in the last year - just under half of all UK adults (45 percent)[1]. More than one in four UK adults - nearly 13 million people - suffered from knee pain in the last year. Over 80 percent of the people with back or knee pain still suffer some pain after undergoing treatment recommended by a healthcare professional. Bupa is making APOS Treatment for knee and lower back pain available in the UK for the first time. The breakthrough treatment can eliminate the need for prescription pain relief for seven out of 10 people[2].
Scientists in Japan are reporting development of a faster, less expensive version of the fabled polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a DNA test widely used in criminal investigations, disease diagnosis, biological research and other applications. The new method could lead to expanded use of PCR in medicine, the criminal justice system and elsewhere, the researchers say. Their study is scheduled for the July 15 issue of Analytical Chemistry, a semi-monthly journal.
Police, teachers and other public sector workers should be trained in spotting signs of mental ill-health as a new report from a coalition of mental health groups sets out its vision for mental health services that spans across public services.
Researchers in London have demonstrated the ability of adult stem cells from bone marrow (mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs) to deliver a cancer-killing protein to tumors.
New consensus has been reached by a panel of leading European experts on the guidelines for the treatment of acute minor wounds which states that healing is accelerated by a moist wound environment.
Noncommunicable diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, cancers, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and common injuries account for the vast majority of all global deaths, but because they are not yet included as priorities in the global development agenda, donors and international organizations have yet to pledge support to help developing countries address these leading health problems.
It"s well known that those who suffer from mental illness can benefit greatly from an active lifestyle. But most of the existing research focuses almost solely on physical activity, and while exercise is certainly important for mind and body, Temple researcher Yoshitaka Iwasaki says it"s not the only aspect of an active lifestyle.
Technology is the way of the future, or at least the way of the American future, which is why dentists throughout the United States have increased their use of digital technology. And as making a better use of patients" two most useful res: time and money becomes increasingly important in the practice of dentistry, technology becomes the key to success. Dennis J. Fasbinder, DDS, MAGD, ABGD will help dentists decrease the amount of time that patients" spend in the office by leading a discussion and providing information about using computer-assisted design and computer-assisted machining (CAD/CAM) technology at the Academy of General Dentistry"s (AGD) 57th Annual Meeting, which is taking place in Baltimore, Md., July 8 - 12, 2009.
Boston University School of Medicine researchers (BUSM) have observed in a study of pregnant women that consumption of at least seven servings per day of fruits and vegetables moderately reduced the risk of developing an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). The BUSM study appears online in the journal Public Health Nutrition.
Researchers of the University of Granada (Spain) have used a technique consisting of the induction of neuronal degeneration neuronal for intense light exposure in the mouse"s retina that will be helpful for the study of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a group of hereditary diseases which lead to blindness and affect more than one million persons a year all over the world. In addition, the results of this research work could be very useful for the detection of new factors or molecules originated by microglial cells and related to degenerative processes of the retina.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)"s Associate Professor Zhong Guofu has made a significant contribution to the field of organic chemistry, in particular the study of using small organic molecules as catalysts, in the synthesis process called organocatalysis. Such synthesis process takes place for example, during the production of chiral drugs.
Treatment with the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab improved hearing and alleviated other symptoms in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). In a paper to appear in the July 23 New England Journal of Medicine, which is receiving early online release, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) report that bevacizumab treatment successfully shrank characteristic tumors in a small group of NF2 patients, the first reported successful NF2 treatment not involving surgery or radiation.
The giant monoliths of Easter Island are worn, but they have endured for centuries. New research suggests that a compound first discovered in the soil of the South Pacific island might help us stand the test of time, too.
Inpatients at Southampton"s teaching hospitals are to be offered advice on lifestyle and weight management as part of a radical new project. Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust"s pharmacy team has invented an innovative plan to tackle obesity during routine risk assessments for venous thromboembolism (VTE), better known as blood clots.
For the past half-century or more, conservation goals
Wiley-Blackwell, the scientific, technical, medical and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons, Inc (NYSE: JWa), (NYSE: JWb), has announced that the inaugural issue of its new journal, Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, is now live online.
SunTech Medical, a leading manufacturer of blood pressure monitors and OEM non-invasive blood pressure (OEM NIBP) modules, is pleased to announce the inclusion of their clinical-grade blood pressure technology in ExpressMD"s Electronic House Call™ remote patient monitoring device for telemedicine.
The California Immunization Coalition recently bestowed the Natalie J. Smith, MD, MPH Immunization Champion Award upon Steve Baranov, vice president for community health at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) and executive director of South Los Angeles Health Projects.
Specialty care physicians can improve the health of high-risk patients by reviewing electronic health records and proactively providing e-consultations and treatment plan recommendations with primary care physicians, according to a Kaiser Permanente paper published online in the British Medical Journal.
Four out of 10 adults who stutter have been denied a job or promotion and 82 percent of children who stutter have been bullied or teased, according to a new survey by the National Stuttering Association. People who stutter make up about 1 percent of the population.
ZyGEM Corp. Ltd., a provider of innovative enzyme-based products for DNA extraction and other life sciences applications, today announced the availability of a new application note documenting that its prepGEM(R) Bacteria DNA extraction kit is capable of producing high quality, ready-to-analyze DNA from a broad range of bacterial species, including mixed or unknown sample types. This addresses an important unmet need --current DNA extraction methods typically require the use of different enzymes for each type of bacteria tested. The prepGEM(R) Bacteria kit also uses a single closed-tube system that reduces extraction time and cost while protecting the sample from contamination and making the kit easily adaptable for automation.
Dr. Francis S. Collins, the Yale-educated, guitar-strumming physician and geneticist who led the Human Genome Project, was nominated Wednesday to head the National Institutes of Health, the New York Times reports. "Dr. Collins"s selection, which had been rumored for weeks, was praised by top scientists and research advocacy organizations for whom the health institute is a crucial patron," the Times reports. He is expected to sail through Senate confirmation.
IRIN reports that Ghanaians "are mixing high hopes with caution" in anticipation of President Obama"s arrival in the country Friday - "his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa." Obama is expected to "make a major policy statement," according to IRIN. The article looks back at some of the commitments that former Presidents Bush and Clinton previously made to Africa (7/8).
Starting in October 2009, Springer will publish The HUGO Journal in cooperation with the Human Genome Organisation (HUGO). Formerly published at Springer as Genomic Medicine, The HUGO Journal has a new design, new features and a new editorial team. Members of HUGO will receive free access to the journal online and be able to purchase print subscriptions at discounted rates.
Dental disease may be a wake-up call that your diet is harming your body.
New data presented by BD Biosciences, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 7th Annual Meeting in Barcelona, Spain, highlights two novel flow cytometry-based sorting and analysis methods for neural and embryonic stem cell research. The two data presentations further validate the viability of tools used for separating near-pure populations of stem cell-derived neurons from undifferentiated stem cells (Abstract ID 2276, Poster ID 1177) and shows improved cell recovery and survival of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) after cell sorting (Abstract 2268, Poster ID 1170).
-- The NPHS influenza surveillance scheme, which records reports of diagnoses of flu from more than 300 GP practices across Wales, shows low levels of influenza activity in all parts of Wales. Further detail can be found on the NPHS website: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?orgid=457&pid=38241
A clinical report from Dresden supports the impression that "Spice Gold" is strongly addictive. In the current edition of Deutsches Arzteblatt International (Dtsch Arzteblatt Int 2009: 106[27]: 464-7), Ulrich S. Zimmermann, from Dresden Technical University, and his colleagues describe a young man who developed physical withdrawal symptoms after regular consumption of this designer drug, accompanied by a dependence syndrome.
The strain of influenza, A/H1N1, that is currently pandemic in humans has been shown to be infectious to pigs and to spread rapidly in a trial pig population.
Several large adoption agencies are reporting an increase in the number of women with unintended pregnancies who are considering adoption, a trend that some advocates say is tied to the recession, USA Today reports. Scott Mars of American Adoptions said that he has observed a 10% to 12% increase in the past year in the number of women asking about adoption and a 7% to 10% increase in actual placements. Mars said that the economy has led women to "take a second look at adoption." Adam Pertman of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, a research group, said, "Finances are one of the major reasons women feel compelled to place their children for adoption." According to USA Today, more women also are considering delaying pregnancy or inquiring about abortion because of financial factors. A recent Gallup poll found that the economy has prompted one in 10 married women to delay pregnancy. Vicki Saporta of the National Abortion Federation, which represents abortion providers, said that calls to the group"s hotline have increased nearly threefold since 2008 and that many of the calls have come from women who have experienced job loss in their families.According to Joan Jaeger of the Chicago-area adoption agency The Cradle, about 30% more women are asking about placing a child for adoption than in 2008. She noted that many of the women inquiring about adoption are in their 20s and have at least one child. Joseph Sica of Adoption by Shepherd Care said he has seen a "dramatic increase in girls calling us from the hospital" who are interested in placing a child for adoption. Sica said that many of these women expect to receive assistance in raising their infants but inquire about adoption after they give birth and find that little help is available. He said that in 2008 his agency facilitated 14 such adoptions, an increase from 11 in 2007 and four in 2006. However, Chuck Johnson -- chief operating officer of the advocacy group the National Council for Adoption -- said that the percentage of women who place a child for adoption remains low overall, which he attributed to access to legal abortion and greater societal acceptance of single parenthood. Data from the National Center for Health Statistics show that before abortion became legal in 1973, one in five never-married white women and one in 10 never-married women overall placed a child for adoption after giving birth. Since then, that rate has "plummeted," USA Today reports. A 2002 survey, the most recent available, found that only 1% of such women placed a child for adoption (Koch, USA Today, 5/19).
Nine-year-old Martha sits in front of a poster that depicts a single chocolate chip sitting on top of five pounds of grapes. After several weeks participating in a University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing research program on healthy eating and weight management the message is not lost on her. The chocolate chip has the same amount of fat grams as the grapes.
UroToday.com - In the Annals of Oncology, Dr. Dror Michaelson and associates reported Phase II data on the efficacy and safety of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Sunitinib inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), both elevated in prostate cancer (CaP).
National Partnership for Women & FamiliesDuring his visit to the Vatican on Friday, President Obama is likely to receive a warmer welcome from Pope Benedict XVI than he has from some U.S. Roman Catholic bishops, experts on the church say, the New York Times reports. The meeting will occur after the conclusion of the Group of Eight industrialized nations summit in Italy and three days after the pope released an encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate," updating the church"s social teaching on the global economy.Early in Obama"s administration, U.S. Catholic bishops "set an adversarial tone" over Obama"s views on abortion rights, contraception and embryonic stem cell research, the Times reports. Although the pope also disagrees with Obama on those issues, he and Obama both recognize an opportunity to come together on international issues like climate change, poverty, nuclear nonproliferation and immigration reform, according to the Times. In a session with reporters from Catholic publications last week, Obama said the church has "always been a powerful moral compass" on questions of social justice. He also said that U.S. bishops "have a profound influence" and that he would take his critics" opinions seriously.The Vatican has often taken a much softer approach than the U.S. bishops in its reactions to Obama"s abortion-rights policies, according to the Times. The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a letter issued after the election that "aggressive pro-abortion policies" would "be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion." In contrast, the Vatican sent Obama a telegram of congratulations immediately after his election, which experts say is "a highly unusual gesture" because the Vatican usually waits until inauguration, the Times reports.More recently, several U.S. bishops denounced the University of Notre Dame for inviting Obama to give the spring commencement address and receive an honorary degree. The Vatican"s newspaper ran a "markedly positive" article about Obama"s speech in reaction to the controversy, according to the Times. Some Vatican officials have also expressed support for Obama"s "common ground" approach to reducing the need for abortion, whereas some U.S. bishops and antiabortion-rights leaders have reacted with "suspicion and disdain," the Times reports (Goodstein, New York Times, 7/10).According to John Allen, a Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, cultural differences between U.S. and European Catholic views on abortion rights help explain their contrasting approaches to the issue. Allen said that abortion is usually "the defining social and political issue" in the U.S., and that "everything else, in a way, takes second place." In Europe "that has never been the case," and "even the most conservative Catholics in Europe ... don"t evaluate political leaders exclusively through the basis of their positions on abortion and other so-called life issues," Allen said (Poggioli, "Morning Edition," NPR, 7/10).The Vatican and the U.S. bishops also have different approaches to working with governments, according to the Rev. Drew Christensen, editor-in-chief of the national Jesuit weekly magazine America. Christensen, who formerly worked for the church in international relations, said that some Obama critics "think you have to be at war, and the pope is saying, there"s a different way to proceed here and it"s very essential to the church"s approach, in that what you want is consensus." Christensen added that the pope is "trying to engage America"s capacity for good in the world at a time when it"s really critical" (New York Times, 7/10).
African countries, with the support of WHO and other development partners, are continuously strengthening their general capacity to deal with cases of Influenza A/H1N1 virus if an outbreak occurs in the region.
President Obama has asked Congress to deliver a bill by October that would "cut healthcare costs and provide medical coverage to most of the 46 million uninsured Americans," a goal that may no longer be realistic as members of the president"s own party move to stall efforts, the Reuters/The Washington Post reports (Allen, 7/9).
"Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) presented his members Thursday with more than a dozen ways to pay for health care legislation, ranging from new fees on industry to an income-tax hike on couples making more than $1 million a year," Politico reports.
The Obama administration on Thursday said a nationwide vaccination program could begin as early as mid-October to protect Americans from the H1N1 (swine flu) virus and pledged $350 million to help prepare communities across the country for this effort, the Washington Times reports (Ward, 7/9).
Results from two large studies using DHA, an omega 3 fatty acid, were reported at the Alzheimer"s Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer"s Disease (ICAD 2009) in Vienna.
UroToday.com - At a glance one could assume that this study was solely empirical - on the contrary! Shock waves (SWs) seem to have a greater therapeutic potential than is assumed and understood today. Finally, the effect of SW cannot be explained by current models of thinking. The recently published SW model by Wess1 is a very promising and tremendous basic approach: SW could modify brain processes and pain storage patterns - both to be influenced therapeutically. We are going to follow these concepts by specific research investigating processes inside the brain during SW application. Possible reactions in the brain and changes under running Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment (ESWT) are presently the most promising approaches to understanding the working mechanisms of SW. We intend to apply SWs not only clinically, but also to enhance our knowledge by basic research about their therapeutic effects. The missing animal model for chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) does not contribute to simplifying the understanding of pathophysiological processes influenced by ESWT, in particular due to the fact that the knowledge about CPPS pathophysiology itself is very limited.