Public Health News and Research

RSS

Timing of evening meals not linked to childhood obesity

Researchers at King's College London have found no significant link between eating the evening meal after 8pm and excess weight in children, according to a paper published this month in the British Journal of Nutrition.

17 May 2016

Minority, less educated women believe breast cancer is common killer than heart disease

According to recent studies, the U.S. has a disadvantage in women's life expectancy compared to peer countries despite high rates of health screenings such as mammography and popular national awareness campaigns.

17 May 2016

Magic mushroom compound may offer potential new way for antidepressant research

Psilocybin – a hallucinogenic compound derived from magic mushrooms – may offer a possible new avenue for antidepressant research, according to a new study published in The Lancet Psychiatry today.

17 May 2016

Carol Fabian inducted into KU Women's Hall of Fame for contributions to breast cancer research

Among the women inducted into the University of Kansas Hall of Fame on April 14, 2016, was Carol Fabian, MD. Fabian, a professor of medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center and director of the Breast Cancer Prevention Center at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, is a nationally recognized oncologist and a pioneer in in the field of breast cancer research.

17 May 2016

WHO/PAHO statement on Zika virus and the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recognize that athletes and visitors are seeking more information on the risks of Zika and ways to prevent infection while attending the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games (5 August to 18 September 2016).

16 May 2016

Altered coagulation caused by HIV virus linked to increased risk of non-AIDS diseases

With more than 36.9 million people infected globally, HIV continues to be a major public health issue. Those living with the virus are at an increased risk for other non-AIDS diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, and though it's not entirely clear why, this has been associated with inflammation and abnormal blood clotting.

13 May 2016

International study shows direct link between continued marijuana use during pregnancy and pre-term birth

International research led by the University of Adelaide has for the first time shown a direct link between continued marijuana use during pregnancy and pre-term birth.

13 May 2016

WHO: Air pollution levels increase in low- and middle income cities

More than 80% of people living in urban areas that monitor air pollution are exposed to air quality levels that exceed the World Health Organization limits. While all regions of the world are affected, populations in low-income cities are the most impacted.

13 May 2016

Rotavirus vaccine program reduces hospitalization rates by more than 70% in Ontario

Hospitalization for rotavirus infections decreased by > 70% following the introduction of a vaccine program in Ontario, Canada, according to a study published May 11, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Sarah Wilson from Public Health Ontario and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Canada, and colleagues.

13 May 2016

New research solves mystery of why cetuximab drug proved futile for many colorectal cancer patients

Cancer researchers have identified a marker that shows up in a blood test that determines which patients with colorectal cancer that has spread would benefit from receiving the drug cetuximab.

13 May 2016

New way of understanding neurodegeneration may lead to novel treatments

University of Adelaide researchers have developed a new theory for the causes of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases, involving an out-of-control immune system.

13 May 2016

Histone mutation linked to fatal pediatric brain tumor

A single defect in a gene that codes for a histone — a "spool" that wraps idle DNA — is linked to pediatric cancers in a study published today in the journal Science.

13 May 2016

High level of folate in mothers may double infant's chances of developing autism

Women who plan on becoming pregnant are told they need enough of the nutrient folate to ensure proper neurodevelopment of their babies, but new research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests there could be serious risks in having far too much of the same nutrient.

12 May 2016

Same-day initiation of antiretroviral therapy for HIV patients may lead to better health outcomes

A clinical trial of same-day initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV patients in South Africa led to a higher proportion of people starting treatment and to better health outcomes, according to a new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health researcher.

12 May 2016

Novel rapid diagnostic test and shorter treatment with better outcomes may benefit MDR-TB patients

New WHO recommendations aim to speed up detection and improve treatment outcomes for multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) through use of a novel rapid diagnostic test and a shorter, cheaper treatment regimen.

12 May 2016

Benefits of calcium supplements in preventing broken bones may be cancelled out by increased stroke risk

Taking calcium and vitamin D can help prevent broken bones in older women. However, this benefit may be cancelled out by an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

12 May 2016

Mouse models of Zika virus infection in pregnancy provide basis to develop vaccines, treatments

Two mouse models of Zika virus infection in pregnancy have been developed by a team of researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. In them, the virus migrated from the pregnant mouse's bloodstream into the placenta, where it multiplied, then spread into the fetal circulation and infected the brains of the developing pups.

12 May 2016

Early infection screening programs may lead to lower rates of HIV transmission

Detecting HIV earlier, through screening programs that can identify the virus shortly after infection, may lead to lower rates of HIV transmission in local epidemics, suggest findings from a new study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases and available online.

12 May 2016

Two statistically significant genetic variants may be linked to increased PTSD risk in veterans

In a massive analysis of DNA samples from more than 13,000 U.S. soldiers, scientists have identified two statistically significant genetic variants that may be associated with an increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an often serious mental illness linked to earlier exposure to a traumatic event, such as combat and an act of violence.

12 May 2016

Could oral supplements affect teenage behavior? An interview with Prof. Stein and Dr Tammam

We wanted to see whether supplementing the diet of disadvantaged adolescents with the omega 3 polyunsaturated acids, EPA & DHA, vitamins and minerals over a school term might improve their antisocial behaviour, which usually gets worse during a term.

12 May 2016

Public Health News and Research

Timing of evening meals not linked to childhood obesity

Minority, less educated women believe breast cancer is common killer than heart disease

Magic mushroom compound may offer potential new way for antidepressant research

Carol Fabian inducted into KU Women's Hall of Fame for contributions to breast cancer research

WHO/PAHO statement on Zika virus and the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games

Altered coagulation caused by HIV virus linked to increased risk of non-AIDS diseases

International study shows direct link between continued marijuana use during pregnancy and pre-term birth

WHO: Air pollution levels increase in low- and middle income cities

Rotavirus vaccine program reduces hospitalization rates by more than 70% in Ontario

New research solves mystery of why cetuximab drug proved futile for many colorectal cancer patients

New way of understanding neurodegeneration may lead to novel treatments

Histone mutation linked to fatal pediatric brain tumor

High level of folate in mothers may double infant's chances of developing autism

Same-day initiation of antiretroviral therapy for HIV patients may lead to better health outcomes

Novel rapid diagnostic test and shorter treatment with better outcomes may benefit MDR-TB patients

Benefits of calcium supplements in preventing broken bones may be cancelled out by increased stroke risk

Mouse models of Zika virus infection in pregnancy provide basis to develop vaccines, treatments

Early infection screening programs may lead to lower rates of HIV transmission

Two statistically significant genetic variants may be linked to increased PTSD risk in veterans

Could oral supplements affect teenage behavior? An interview with Prof. Stein and Dr Tammam

News Medical 2025: Healthcare Shifts That Mattered Most 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

Latest News