Chronic Disease News and Research

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CBO Director on health law: New estimates indicate net deficit decrease of $210 billion

Previously, the Congressional Budget Office had estimated a 10-year deficit reduction figure of $124 billion. The update reflects a change in the time period on which the projection is based.

1 Apr 2011

Obeticholic Acid safe and effective against Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Results from an international study presented today at the International Liver Congress have shown Obeticholic Acid (OCA) is a safe and effective treatment in patients suffering from Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) as demonstrated by substantial decreases in the levels of alkaline phosphatase (AP) enzyme in the blood, a key marker for PBC.

1 Apr 2011

Could HIV-infected organs save 'lives?

Johns Hopkins researchers argue for reversing ban on transplanting infected organs and making them available to HIV-infected patients

30 Mar 2011

Early symptoms of Parkinson's disease may be revealed in dream sleep

During a large-scale study of the socioeconomic costs of this neurodegenerative disease, Danish researchers, some from the University of Copenhagen, discovered that very early symptoms of Parkinson's disease may be revealed in dream or REM sleep.

28 Mar 2011

Study finds eye movement difference in two different populations

The team, working with Sichuan University in Chengdu, China, investigated eye movements in Chinese and British people to further understanding of the brain mechanisms that control them and how they compare between different human populations.

25 Mar 2011

Study: High intake of omega-3 fats can help prevent obesity-related chronic diseases

A study of Yup'ik Eskimos in Alaska, who on average consume 20 times more omega-3 fats from fish than people in the lower 48 states, suggests that a high intake of these fats helps prevent obesity-related chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

25 Mar 2011

Inadequate nutrition linked to greater risk of anemia in postmenopausal women

A new study published in the April 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association indicates that inadequate nutrition is linked to a greater risk of anemia in postmenopausal women.

25 Mar 2011

Children with epilepsy more likely to have psychiatric symptoms

A newly published report reveals that children with epilepsy are more likely to have psychiatric symptoms, with gender a determining factor in their development.

25 Mar 2011

NYC expands YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program to help adults avoid disease consequences

The YMCA of Greater New York today announced the New York City expansion of the YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program, a 16-session group behavior change class that helps people at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes prevent the disease through healthy eating, increased activity and other positive lifestyle changes.

22 Mar 2011

Study explores impact of electronic record systems on quality of care in developing countries

A new study, conducted by researchers from the Regenstrief Institute and the schools of medicine at Indiana University and Moi University, is one of the first to explore and demonstrate the impact of electronic record systems on quality of medical care in a developing country.

19 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: Houston's 'painful' E.R. decision; Arizona's 'war' on kids' health care; protecting elders from abuse

Women are the majority of public-sector employees at the state and local levels and have already lost 320,000 public-sector jobs in the past two years. In addition, the GOP majority is attempting to defund Title X services, which have connected millions of American women to health care since 1970.

18 Mar 2011

Home care and hospice nurses, aides and providers march on Washington to ensure the right of every American to be cared for in their home

Hundreds of home care and hospice providers will arrive in that nation’s capitol to keep the fight alive for the critical, high-value, high-quality care that is delivered every day to some of the nation’s most vulnerable individuals.

17 Mar 2011

Skyline Diagnostics launches unique test to detect patients with AML

Each year over eight million people die of cancer worldwide. Patients' chances of survival vary widely: depending on the type of cancer involved, the stage at which it is diagnosed and the speed with which appropriate treatment is launched.

17 Mar 2011

State roundup: Moving ahead on exchanges; Ga. training minority docs

House Majority Leader Amy Stephens is no fan of "Obamacare." So Stephens, at first glance, seemed an unlikely co-sponsor of legislation that would enact one of the key tenets of health reform: the requirement that states set up health insurance "exchanges," marketplaces where individuals and small businesses can shop for insurance.

17 Mar 2011

Human growth, height, size: Reasons to be small

Almost everybody these days thinks that it is best to be tall, meaning much taller than the average traditional height of Asian populations, and even taller than the current average height of populations in high-income countries. It is also often believed – though people might be shy to admit this – that tall people are intrinsically superior to short people. The expressions 'look up to' and 'look down on' are significant.

15 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 15, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about the pace of legal challenges to the health law as well as ongoing congressional attempts to reach partisan agreement on a short-term budget bill to avert a government shutdown.

15 Mar 2011

AYA cancer patients require targeted care, say experts

Adolescents and young adults are neither children nor adults and those affected by cancer require targeted care that crosses the boundaries between pediatric and adult oncology, according to several pioneers in this still-developing field of adolescent and young adult oncology.

15 Mar 2011

Type 2 diabetes drug less likely to cause weight gain, raise cholesterol levels

An inexpensive type 2 diabetes drug that has been around for more than 15 years works just as well and has fewer side effects than a half-dozen other, mostly newer and more expensive classes of medication used to control the chronic disease, new Johns Hopkins research suggests.

15 Mar 2011

Global chronic disease burdens are increasing rapidly: Research

Those working for healthier humans around the globe are making headway in fighting communicable diseases such as AIDS, malaria and diarrheal illness, according to research from the Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures in the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies.

15 Mar 2011

Canadian Partnership to receive second mandate from Harper Government for cancer control

Today's announcement of renewed support for cancer control by Prime Minister Harper is great news for Canadians. The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is receiving a second five-year mandate, to begin in 2012, and $250 million in funding to continue implementation of Canada's national cancer control strategy.

11 Mar 2011