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Women struggling to find truly free health care in Sierra Leone's system, Amnesty International report says

"Sierra Leone's free health care plan for pregnant women and young children is dysfunctional and hobbled by corruption and a lack of accountability," according to a report released Tuesday by Amnesty International, Agence France-Presse reports.

8 Sep 2011

Study: Family meals may encourage children to try new types of food

A study has found that eating together as a family may encourage children to be more open to trying new types of food. This finding will be presented at the Developmental Psychology Section Annual Conference to be held at Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne from 7-9 September.

8 Sep 2011

Tips for packing school lunches for kids

You do everything you can think of to ensure your kids eat a healthful lunch. But do you also consider the safety of the food you pack in their lunch bags each day? "Packing your child's school lunch not only helps you know they're eating healthful fare, it can also save money - an important consideration in the current economy," says food safety expert Dr. Don Schaffner of the Institute of Food Technologists and Rutgers University. "Parents also need to keep in mind, however, the importance of safe handling practices when preparing food for their children's lunch boxes."

8 Sep 2011

Save the Children index measures reach of health care workers, ranks best and worst countries for child health

A new index released Tuesday by Save the Children measures the nationwide reach of health workers and ranks the best and worst countries for a child to fall sick in, with Chad and Somalia at the bottom and Switzerland and Finland at the top, according to a Save the Children press release.

8 Sep 2011

Running may trigger the production of new brain cells throughout life, research shows

Researchers have, for the first time, isolated exercise as the key factor in triggering the production of functional new cells in the learning and memory centre of the brain.

7 Sep 2011

Top-line results from Teva-Alcobra MG01CI Phase II trial for ADHD

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Alcobra Ltd. announced today top-line results from a six week, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase II multi-center study designed to assess the safety and efficacy of MG01CI in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

7 Sep 2011

PSI to develop statewide enterprise content management solution for Maryland DHR

Policy Studies Inc. (PSI), a recognized expert in systems design and development for health and human services (HHS) programs, announced today that the Maryland Department of Human Resources (DHR) awarded PSI a 34-month contract to develop and implement a statewide enterprise content management solution (ECMS) to help manage and store DHR's hundreds of thousands of documents. Initial work on the project started on August 1.

7 Sep 2011

The ABCs of proper brushing

For kids, brushing their teeth isn't always top of mind, and getting them to brush properly can be a real challenge for parents. But getting back into daily school routines is a great time to make sure kids are brushing often - and properly.

7 Sep 2011

Individuals with excess BMI more likely to develop type 2 diabetes

Obesity is a known risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. But it hasn't been clear whether the "dose" of obesity—how much excess weight a person has, and for how long—affects the risk of diabetes.

7 Sep 2011

Abortion-rights supporters looking to courts for help

Federal courts have been hesitant so far to support moves in a number of states by GOP officials to restrict abortion options. Last Friday, a judge in South Dakota said that while the state may require doctors to tell women about their legal relationship with the fetus, they do not have to tell women that an abortion increases their risk of suicide.

7 Sep 2011

Infants at higher risk of ASD have poorer movement skills

Poorer movement skills detected as early as 7 months old are observed in children at a higher risk of developing Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) than children in the general population.

7 Sep 2011

DOJ investigates Miss. mental health care; N.H. pharmacists win permission to vaccinate

The Justice Department is now investigating Mississippi's mental health system, seeking to determine whether those suffering from mental illness are receiving appropriate treatment. Justice Department officials are expected to return to the Magnolia State later this month, and it's a safe bet they will make similar recommendations against Mississippi as they have against Virginia and other states, said Region 8 Executive Director Dave Van.

7 Sep 2011

London scientist hopes to improve diagnosis for Jeune syndrome

A London scientist is hoping a new study funded by children's charity Action Medical Research, will help to improve diagnosis and work towards new treatments for a rare, incurable genetic disorder called Jeune syndrome.

7 Sep 2011

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe urges men to take larger role in HIV prevention

"Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Monday opened a national HIV and AIDS conference with a call for the nation's men to take a larger role in the response to the deadly pandemic, not only for their own health but that of women and children," VOA News reports.

7 Sep 2011

Impact of colds and flu on school absenteeism, workplace and economy

Queen's University medical researchers today released some key findings from the first study of its kind done in Canada on the impact of colds and flu on school absenteeism, the workplace, and the economy.

7 Sep 2011

Researchers discover new genetic defect that can lead to Leigh syndrome

In Leigh syndrome, infants are born apparently healthy only to develop movement and breathing disorders that worsen over time, often leading to death by the age of 3. The problem is that the mitochondria responsible for powering their cells can't keep up with the demand for energy in their developing brains.

7 Sep 2011

March of Dimes urges all pregnant women to get influenza immunization

Getting a flu shot during pregnancy protects the mom-to-be from what could be a very serious – even fatal – illness and can protect her newborn who is too young to receive his or her own immunization.

7 Sep 2011

Oxycodone no safer than codeine for breastfed infants: New study

Doctors have been prescribing codeine for postpartum pain management for many years, and, until recently, it was considered safe to breastfeed while taking the opioid. But the death of an infant exposed to codeine through breast milk has many health care providers questioning the safety of the drug when used by breastfeeding mothers.

7 Sep 2011

New blood test could help identify babies at risk of sickle cell disease

A new blood test is being developed by researchers in Cambridge and Oxford, which, for the first time, could help identify babies at risk of a severe form of sickle cell disease, allowing immediate and more intensive treatment to be given, thanks to a grant from children's charity Action Medical Research.

7 Sep 2011

Researchers investigate special diets that could help youngsters keep the weight off

A shocking 17 per cent of boys and 15 per cent of girls aged two to 15 years are obese in the UK, putting them at risk of serious, long-term health problems. Now a team of Aberdeen researchers are investigating special diets which could help youngsters keep the weight off, thanks to a grant from children's charity Action Medical Research.

7 Sep 2011