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Poor nutrition, health cause disparities in fetal growth and newborn size worldwide

Babies' growth in the womb and their size at birth, especially their length, are strikingly similar the world over - when babies are born to healthy, well-educated and well-nourished mothers.

7 Jul 2014

Transcription factor IRF4 plays key role in brown fat's thermogenic process

The body contains two types of fat cells, easily distinguished by color: White and brown. While white fat serves to store excess calories until they're needed by the body, brown adipocytes actually burn fat by turning it into heat.

4 Jul 2014

Research roundup: 20M gain insurance, coverage's effect on surgery choices; opioid use by service members

This report aims to help readers understand recently announced enrollment numbers, as well as other numbers that have received less attention, and assess their importance for the future of the ACA and our health care system. .

4 Jul 2014

Plasmonic biosensors: A key asset in personalised medicine

A new type of high-sensitivity and low-cost sensors, called plasmonic biosensors, could ultimately become a key asset in personalised medicine by helping to diagnose diseases at an early stage.

4 Jul 2014

Mass. officials seek new option on abortion clinic safeguards; MO. gov. vetoes bill limiting abortions

Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick says he wants new legislation by the end of the month to strengthen security around clinics. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a bill that would require women to wait 72 hours for the procedure.

4 Jul 2014

State highlights: N.C. lawmakers reach Medicaid agreement; Idaho asks SCOTUS to take up Medicaid reimbursement

For the past few weeks, two big issues have kept the two chambers of the General Assembly from reaching an agreement on next year's state budget: teacher salaries and Medicaid. But on Wednesday, the Senate and the House of Representatives finally moved closer to agreement on their Medicaid forecasts, loosening a logjam that's kept legislators in Raleigh past July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year (Hoban, 7/3).

4 Jul 2014

Researchers identify pathogenic mechanism common to several neurodegenerative diseases

An international team of researchers identified a pathogenic mechanism that is common to several neurodegenerative diseases. The findings suggest that it may be possible to slow the progression of dementia even after the onset of symptoms.

4 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Expanding Hobby Lobby decision; the faux war on women; dispute over pelvic exams

The Supreme Court wasted no time in delivering a message to anyone who thought its Hobby Lobby ruling was limited to religious objections to coverage of purported abortion methods: You're wrong.

4 Jul 2014

Women veterans support routine IPV screening, IPV-related care within VHA

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant health issue faced by women veterans, but little has been known up until now about their preferences for IPV-related care. A new study has found that most of these women support routine screening for IPV and want options, follow-up support, transparent documentation and Veterans Health Administration and community resources.

4 Jul 2014

Nine of 10 Obamacare applications with subsidy inconsistencies have yet to be resolved

The inspector general report details the government isn't quite sure how to fix the problem. In the meantime, a new health startup looks to cash in on helping companies enroll low-wage earners in Medicaid instead of company plans.

4 Jul 2014

Multicenter trial aims to find safety, effectiveness of probiotics in infants with stomach flu

Consumers worldwide spend billions of dollars each year on probiotic foods and supplements. But studies evaluating probiotics - microorganisms believed to aid digestive health - have been limited.

4 Jul 2014

NIH expands effort to diagnose misunderstood disorders

The agency announces $43 million for its Undiagnosed Disease Network, which by the summer of 2017 is expected to enroll at least 300 new patients with mysterious and intractable conditions per year. Meanwhile, online ER booking in California is the latest example of how hospitals are attempting to compete with one another.

4 Jul 2014

Medicare proposes to slightly raise kidney care payments

The CMS is proposing changes to payment policies for the treatment of end-stage renal disease that the agency estimates would increase payments by about 0.3 percent, or $30 million, in 2015.

4 Jul 2014

VA's medical inspector steps down

Dr. John Pierce, the director of the VA's medical inspector office, had served in that role since 2004, and is the fifth senior official at the VA to step down during the past six weeks. Also, stories look at how lawmakers are trying to reform the VA, and just why the VA was developed 100 years ago.

4 Jul 2014

Pneumonia patients treated with azithromycin face lower risk of death, slightly increased risk of heart attack

In a study that included nearly 65,000 older patients hospitalized with pneumonia, treatment that included azithromycin compared with other antibiotics was associated with a significantly lower risk of death and a slightly increased risk of heart attack, according to a study in the June 4 issue of JAMA.

4 Jul 2014

N.Y., Colo. insurers seek large 2015 premium increases; Ga. sees drop in rates

In New York, insurer requests for rate increases on the health law's exchange averaged 13 percent, while Denver Health is asking state regulators for a 17.5 percent hike next year. Georgia has a different story: Two companies are planning to enter the exchange next year and Blue Cross, the only statewide plan on the exchange this year, says it will drop rates by 7 percent.

4 Jul 2014

Promising new drug for metabolic syndrome

University of Utah researchers have discovered that an enzyme involved in intracellular signaling plays a crucial role in developing metabolic syndrome, a finding that has a U of U spinoff company developing a drug to potentially treat the condition.

4 Jul 2014

Health law still looms as issue in midterms

Nearly seven in 10 adults say their view of the health law will factor in their congressional voting decisions this fall, a new Bankrate.com survey finds. Other stories look at positions staked out by candidates in Tennessee, Kansas and Oregon.

4 Jul 2014

Digital mammograms may not be better at diagnosing older women, study finds

The Yale review adds to the mixed report card on digital mammography, reports NPR. Meanwhile, big increases in vaccination prices are straining public health budgets and creating dilemmas for some doctors, finds The New York Times.

4 Jul 2014

Administration cites Hobby Lobby ruling in response to challenge by religious nonprofits

The Obama administration cites the Supreme Court's opinion Wednesday to buttress its claim it has offered religious nonprofits an acceptable compromise to the health law's contraceptive coverage mandate. Meanwhile, House Democrats craft legislation that would bar for-profit companies from denying birth control coverage to their employees.

4 Jul 2014

Health Care News and Research

Poor nutrition, health cause disparities in fetal growth and newborn size worldwide

Transcription factor IRF4 plays key role in brown fat's thermogenic process

Research roundup: 20M gain insurance, coverage's effect on surgery choices; opioid use by service members

Plasmonic biosensors: A key asset in personalised medicine

Mass. officials seek new option on abortion clinic safeguards; MO. gov. vetoes bill limiting abortions

State highlights: N.C. lawmakers reach Medicaid agreement; Idaho asks SCOTUS to take up Medicaid reimbursement

Researchers identify pathogenic mechanism common to several neurodegenerative diseases

Viewpoints: Expanding Hobby Lobby decision; the faux war on women; dispute over pelvic exams

Women veterans support routine IPV screening, IPV-related care within VHA

Nine of 10 Obamacare applications with subsidy inconsistencies have yet to be resolved

Multicenter trial aims to find safety, effectiveness of probiotics in infants with stomach flu

NIH expands effort to diagnose misunderstood disorders

Medicare proposes to slightly raise kidney care payments

VA's medical inspector steps down

Pneumonia patients treated with azithromycin face lower risk of death, slightly increased risk of heart attack

N.Y., Colo. insurers seek large 2015 premium increases; Ga. sees drop in rates

Promising new drug for metabolic syndrome

Health law still looms as issue in midterms

Digital mammograms may not be better at diagnosing older women, study finds

Administration cites Hobby Lobby ruling in response to challenge by religious nonprofits

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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