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Roundup: Minn. health care spending slows; Fla. counties may reconsider Medicaid lawsuit against state; Accessing dental care in Georgia

The state Health Department reports the rate of health care spending in Minnesota has slowed to its lowest point since 1997. Health care costs are still rising, but at a much slower pace -- 2.2 percent between 2009 and 2010. State Health Economist Stefan Gildemeister said the recession was a major factor in why Minnesotans spent less on health care. He said many lost their insurance when they lost their jobs and others who kept their jobs were more cautious.

20 Jul 2012

AOA honors Medical College of Georgia student with Kuckein Fellowship

A student at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Health Sciences University is among 47 recipients of the 2012 Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship from the national medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha.

19 Jul 2012

NPR reports on Brazilian clinical trial of Truvada as prevention strategy

NPR's "Shots" blog reports on one of the drug trials considered by the FDA in its approval of the antiretroviral drug Truvada for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV among people at risk of contracting the virus, which "was done at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Research Institute, also known as Fiocruz, in Rio de Janeiro."

19 Jul 2012

Alcohol and marijuana use predict hookah initiation, frequency

Nearly a quarter of college women try smoking tobacco with a hookah, or water pipe, for the first time during their freshman year, according to new research from The Miriam Hospital's Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine.

19 Jul 2012

Metabolic syndrome may reduce cerebral blood flow

Metabolic syndrome, a term used to describe a combination of risk factors that often lead to heart disease and type 2 diabetes, seems to be linked to lower blood flow to the brain, according to research by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

19 Jul 2012

New UC M program to test comprehensive care physician model

Patients who are frequently hospitalized account for a disproportionate amount of health care spending in the United States. Working with a $6.1 million grant, a new University of Chicago Medicine program will test whether an updated version of the traditional general practitioner can reduce spending while also improving care for these patients.

19 Jul 2012

Abscisic acid has anti-inflammatory effects in the lungs and gut

Building on previous work with the botanical abscisic acida, researchers in the Nutritional Immunology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory (NIMML) have discovered that abscisic acid has anti-inflammatory effects in the lungs as well as in the gut.

19 Jul 2012

NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Lung Cancer Screening now available free of charge

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), with the support of the NCCN Foundation and Lung Cancer Alliance, announces the latest addition to the library of NCCN Guidelines for Patients, patient-friendly translations of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

19 Jul 2012

Roundup: Ore. issues new long-term care insurance claims rules; Fla. pushing ahead with prison care privatization

The Oregon Insurance Division receives about 100 complaints about long-term-care policies each year, mostly about delays or denials. But now the state's role is increasing, thanks to a law that went into effect this month. The Oregon law requires insurers to process long-term care claims within 30 days when they're not in dispute. It also allows outside review when an insurer decides a person isn't sufficiently disabled for long-term care.

19 Jul 2012

HCV infections can lead to increased mortality from liver disease or variety of other causes

In a long-term study of people infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), researchers found increased deaths from both liver-related and non-liver related diseases in patients with active infections who had not cleared their infection.

19 Jul 2012

Six young scientists to receive 2012 Klerman and Freedman Awards

Six young scientists will be recognized with the Annual Klerman and Freedman Awards by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation on Friday July 27, 2012 at Le Parker Meriden Hotel in New York City on Friday, July 27.

18 Jul 2012

U.S. News & World Report names U-M among 2012 America's Best Hospitals

The University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers offer the best care in Michigan and some of the nation's best care, according to a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report.

18 Jul 2012

First detailed analysis of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster's global health effects

Radiation from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster may eventually cause anywhere from 15 to 1,300 deaths and from 24 to 2,500 cases of cancer, mostly in Japan, Stanford researchers have calculated.

18 Jul 2012

Applying more stringent ozone standards would minimize premature mortality and morbidity

Establishing a more stringent ozone standard in the U.S. would significantly reduce ozone-related premature mortality and morbidity, according to a new study published online July 18 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

18 Jul 2012

Emerging mHealth field shows promise, faces challenges, Devex reports

In a health care exclusive feature, Devex examines the emerging field of mHealth, "the practice of using mobile devices for medicine and public health practices."

18 Jul 2012

PPAHS releases safety checklist that targets Patient-Controlled Analgesia

The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety (PPAHS), an advocacy group devoted to improving patient health and safety, today announced the release of a concise checklist that reminds caregivers of the essential steps needed to be taken to initiate Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) with a patient and to continue to assess that patient's use of PCA.

18 Jul 2012

FDA approves Truvada as HIV prevention strategy for high-risk, uninfected individuals

The FDA on Monday announced the approval of the first drug for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV among people at risk of contracting the virus, "which some are calling a landmark in the fight against AIDS," ABC News reports.

18 Jul 2012

Vivus receives FDA approval for Qsymia to manage chronic weight

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate extended-release) as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise for chronic weight management.

18 Jul 2012

Researchers assess novel approach to encourage HIV positive people to seek care and treatment

In a new study by ICAP at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health, researchers are assessing a novel approach to encourage newly diagnosed HIV positive people to seek care and adhere to HIV treatment.

18 Jul 2012

Study shows major link between physical and mental health

People who experience a physical health problem, from diabetes and back pain to cancer or heart disease, are three times more likely to seek mental health care than patients who report having no physical ailment, according to a new study by Oregon State University researchers.

18 Jul 2012

Public Health News and Research

Roundup: Minn. health care spending slows; Fla. counties may reconsider Medicaid lawsuit against state; Accessing dental care in Georgia

AOA honors Medical College of Georgia student with Kuckein Fellowship

NPR reports on Brazilian clinical trial of Truvada as prevention strategy

Alcohol and marijuana use predict hookah initiation, frequency

Metabolic syndrome may reduce cerebral blood flow

New UC M program to test comprehensive care physician model

Abscisic acid has anti-inflammatory effects in the lungs and gut

NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Lung Cancer Screening now available free of charge

Roundup: Ore. issues new long-term care insurance claims rules; Fla. pushing ahead with prison care privatization

HCV infections can lead to increased mortality from liver disease or variety of other causes

Six young scientists to receive 2012 Klerman and Freedman Awards

U.S. News & World Report names U-M among 2012 America's Best Hospitals

First detailed analysis of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster's global health effects

Applying more stringent ozone standards would minimize premature mortality and morbidity

Emerging mHealth field shows promise, faces challenges, Devex reports

PPAHS releases safety checklist that targets Patient-Controlled Analgesia

FDA approves Truvada as HIV prevention strategy for high-risk, uninfected individuals

Vivus receives FDA approval for Qsymia to manage chronic weight

Researchers assess novel approach to encourage HIV positive people to seek care and treatment

Study shows major link between physical and mental health

Revolutionizing Life Science: An Interview with SCIEX on ASMS, the SCIEX 7500+ System, and AI-Driven Quantitation

From Discovery Biology to ELRIG Chair

Breathing New Life into Diagnostics: Plasmion's SICRIT Technology

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