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Researchers find that BMI tool misses children who should be considered obese

Physicians using body mass index (BMI) to diagnose children as obese may be missing 25 percent of kids who have excess body fat despite a normal BMI, which can be a serious concern for long-term health, according to a Mayo Clinic study published online today in Pediatric Obesity.

24 Jun 2014

Nearly 4% of U.S. babies are born before full-term without medical indication, study finds

A large new study, covering millions of U.S. births over 15 years, finds that substantial numbers of babies, nearly one in 25, are born earlier than medically justified, through elective cesarean sections and elective induced labor. The study reinforces long-standing recommendations by professional medical and public health organizations against early-term deliveries without appropriate medical reasons.

24 Jun 2014

Researchers devise kinder, gentler way to measure newborns

After their hectic experience of delivery, newborns are almost immediately stretched out on a measuring board to assess their length.

24 Jun 2014

Scientists turn to old class of antibiotics to fight superbugs resistant to modern medicine

Scientists at the University at Buffalo are turning to an old class of antibiotics to fight new superbugs resistant to modern medicine.

24 Jun 2014

Viewpoints: Concerns about ACOs; problems in Va. gov.'s strategy; Medicaid 'black hole'

Although Obamacare's health insurance expansion has directly provided coverage to only about 4 percent of Americans, changes embedded in the Affordable Care Act could affect many more people, and not always in good ways.

24 Jun 2014

Polly Toynbee to lead debate on public health at Sheffield Hallam University

Renowned journalist and Guardian columnist, Polly Toynbee will lead a debate on the power of research on public health outcomes at Sheffield Hallam University on Friday.

23 Jun 2014

eHealth interventions may help prevent HIV infection in high-risk men

While many HIV prevention interventions have traditionally been delivered face-to-face, a study from Columbia University School of Nursing suggests that digital outreach efforts delivered via text messages, interactive games, chat rooms, and social networks may be an effective way to reach at-risk younger men.

23 Jun 2014

National, state air pollution controls decrease death rates in North Carolina

National and state air pollution controls that went into effect in the early 1990s coincide with decreasing death rates from emphysema, asthma and pneumonia among people in North Carolina, according to a study led by Duke University researchers.

23 Jun 2014

Agricultural pesticides raise risk of autism in unborn children

Pregnant women who lived in close proximity to fields and farms where chemical pesticides were applied experienced a two-thirds increased risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delay, a study by researchers with the UC Davis MIND Institute has found. The associations were stronger when the exposures occurred during the second and third trimesters of the women's pregnancies.

23 Jun 2014

Long-term care for soaring numbers of people with dementia need to be improved, says new RAND study

As millions of Americans struggle to help loved ones with dementia, policymakers should consider more ways to improve long-term services and supports for the soaring numbers of people with the debilitating condition and their caregivers, a new RAND Corporation study says -- and it offers possible ways to do so.

23 Jun 2014

Bisexual men are vulnerable to STIs and other health problems

Bisexual men have many unmet public health needs, which leave them vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other health problems. This new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) illuminates the behavioral, interpersonal, and social realities of men who have sex with men and women (MSMW), and it explores possible interventions to better serve their needs.

23 Jun 2014

Research roundup: Improving colon cancer screening; disparities in heart care; Medicaid expansion's effect on cities

This report estimated the effect of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on 14 large and diverse cities: Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Columbus, Charlotte, Detroit, Memphis, Seattle, Denver, Atlanta, and Miami.

21 Jun 2014

Cubist Pharmaceuticals' SIVEXTRO receives FDA approval for treatment of ABSSSI

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved SIVEXTRO (tedizolid phosphate) for the treatment of adult acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI).

21 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 20, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about a new poll of showing a majority of those signing up for marketplace plans had been uninsured before and the Obama administration's decision to extend marriage benefits, including family leave, to same-sex couples.

20 Jun 2014

Researchers adapt mathematical tool to help control malaria and other infectious diseases

A mathematical tool used by the Metropolitan Police and FBI has been adapted by researchers at Queen Mary University of London to help control outbreaks of malaria, and has the potential to target other infectious diseases.

20 Jun 2014

HIV infection emerges among PWID in the Middle East and North Africa

HIV epidemics are emerging among people who inject drugs in several countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Though HIV infection levels were historically very low in the Middle East and North Africa, substantial levels of HIV transmission and emerging HIV epidemics have been documented among people who inject drugs in at least one-third of the countries of this region, according to findings published today in PLOS Medicine.

20 Jun 2014

Lack of federal funding and Medicaid expansions can impact community health centers

A special federal fund to support community health centers expires after September 2015, creating a funding cliff for primary care clinics located in medically underserved areas.

20 Jun 2014

Clinical trial shows that selumetinib drug can delay progression of metastatic uveal melanoma

For the first time, a therapy has been found that can delay progression of metastatic uveal melanoma, a rare and deadly form of melanoma of the eye.

20 Jun 2014

Citizens urged to sign online petition for improved mental health services in Africa

This week Global Health Action has published "A Declaration on Mental Health in Africa: moving to implementation". The 25 original signatories, all leaders within global and mental health from Africa and other nations, call upon citizens and the mental health care community to add their names to an online petition to show support for the actions outlined.

19 Jun 2014

NICHD urged to enhance scientific expertise of National Children's Study program

A study that would track the health of 100,000 babies to age 21 has been put on hold following the release of an assessment report issued June 16 by the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine (IOM).

19 Jun 2014

Public Health News and Research

Researchers find that BMI tool misses children who should be considered obese

Nearly 4% of U.S. babies are born before full-term without medical indication, study finds

Researchers devise kinder, gentler way to measure newborns

Scientists turn to old class of antibiotics to fight superbugs resistant to modern medicine

Viewpoints: Concerns about ACOs; problems in Va. gov.'s strategy; Medicaid 'black hole'

Polly Toynbee to lead debate on public health at Sheffield Hallam University

eHealth interventions may help prevent HIV infection in high-risk men

National, state air pollution controls decrease death rates in North Carolina

Agricultural pesticides raise risk of autism in unborn children

Long-term care for soaring numbers of people with dementia need to be improved, says new RAND study

Bisexual men are vulnerable to STIs and other health problems

Research roundup: Improving colon cancer screening; disparities in heart care; Medicaid expansion's effect on cities

Cubist Pharmaceuticals' SIVEXTRO receives FDA approval for treatment of ABSSSI

First Edition: June 20, 2014

Researchers adapt mathematical tool to help control malaria and other infectious diseases

HIV infection emerges among PWID in the Middle East and North Africa

Lack of federal funding and Medicaid expansions can impact community health centers

Clinical trial shows that selumetinib drug can delay progression of metastatic uveal melanoma

Citizens urged to sign online petition for improved mental health services in Africa

NICHD urged to enhance scientific expertise of National Children's Study program

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

Changing the landscape of R&D to build clinical success from the ground up

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