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Clinton to announce 5-year initiative to cut pollutants; Program could have positive public health impact

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is set to announce on Thursday morning a five-year initiative among the U.S. and five other countries -- Canada, Sweden, Mexico, Ghana and Bangladesh -- to cut pollutants that contribute to global warming, the Washington Post reports.

17 Feb 2012

Indian authorities vaccinate children crossing India-Pakistan border; Distrust of polio vaccines grows in Pakistan

After going a year without recording a polio case, Indian health officials have begun vaccinating young children who cross the border to or from Pakistan at the Munabao railway station in Rajasthan state, BBC News reports.

17 Feb 2012

Over 7.5M children reside with a single-parent with alcohol problems

A new report shows 7.5 million children under age 18 (10.5 percent of this population) lived with a parent who has experienced an alcohol use disorder in the past year. According to the report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 6.1 million of these children live with two parents—with either one or both parents experiencing an alcohol use disorder in the past year.

17 Feb 2012

National Guard soldiers more likely to develop alcohol-related problems after deployment

Soldiers in the National Guard with no history of alcohol abuse are at significant risk of developing alcohol-related problems during and after deployment, according to a new study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal.

16 Feb 2012

First Edition: February 16,2012

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations include the latest reports on congressional efforts to block a cut in Medicare payments to doctors.

16 Feb 2012

AHF dismayed at FDA decision to expedite review for expanded use of Gilead's AIDS drug, Truvada

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation's largest HIV/AIDS nonprofit medical provider, today expressed its disappointment and dismay at the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision to grant an expedited review for Gilead Sciences' application for expanded use of its blockbuster AIDS drug, Truvada, as a means of preventing HIV infection in non-infected people.

16 Feb 2012

Rapid intramuscular injection of midazolam drug is safe, effective for status epilepticus

When a person is experiencing a prolonged convulsive seizure, quick medical intervention is critical. With every passing minute, the seizure becomes harder to stop, and can place the patient at risk of brain damage and death. This is why paramedics are trained to administer anticonvulsive medications as soon as possible -- traditionally giving them intravenously before arriving at the hospital.

16 Feb 2012

Diet exerts a strong influence on heart health

Food is your friend and your biggest foe. A healthy diet sustains us, but a poor diet can raise blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar levels and weight and put you at risk for heart disease.

16 Feb 2012

New parent-training program effective in reducing risk of obesity in preschool Latino children

A UCLA study has found that a new parent-training program is effective in reducing the risk of low-income, preschool-age Latino children being overweight.

16 Feb 2012

Children still exposed to same level of ads for junk foods

Despite new regulations restricting UK TV advertisements for food, children are still exposed to the same level of advertising for junk foods which are high in fat, salt and sugar, researchers have found.

16 Feb 2012

Tentative deal reached to prevent physician pay cuts, preserve payroll tax cut

One day after House Republican leaders made a major concession on the payroll tax cut, congressional negotiators struck a tentative deal that also would extend long-term unemployment benefits and prevent drastic reductions in doctors' Medicare payments.

16 Feb 2012

Drilling down into Obama's budget

The Wall Street Journal reports the plan would scale back money for public health and prevention programs; The Associated Press covers the debate about the proposed defense budget, which would scale back retirees' health coverage.

16 Feb 2012

Small cash transfers to young women may help them avoid HIV infection, study suggests

Cash transfer programs involving small amounts of money paid to schoolgirls and their families who live in low-income settings can help the young women "resist the attentions of older men and avoid HIV infection, according to a new study" published online Wednesday in the Lancet, the Guardian reports.

16 Feb 2012

Midazolam autoinjector may effectively treat status epilepticus

Drug delivery into muscle using an autoinjector, akin to the EpiPen used to treat serious allergic reactions, is faster and may be a more effective way to stop status epilepticus, a prolonged seizure lasting longer than five minutes, according to a study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. Status epilepticus is a potentially life-threatening emergency that causes 55,000 deaths each year.

16 Feb 2012

State roundup: Legislatures tackling abortion restrictions, Medicaid cuts/revamps, Rx drug abuse

A Republican supermajority has muscled two of the most restrictive anti-abortion bills in years through the Virginia House, including one that would all but outlaw the procedure in the state by declaring that the rights of persons apply from the moment sperm and egg unite. The bills passed over bitter yet futile objections from Democrats. And one GOP delegate caused the House to ripple when he said most abortions come as "matters of lifestyle convenience." ... The bills now go to the Senate

16 Feb 2012

African-American children tend to be diagnosed later for autism

The rate of diagnosis for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is the same among all racial groups — one in 110, according to current estimates. However, a study by a Florida State University researcher has found that African-American children tend to be diagnosed later than white children, which results in a longer and more intensive intervention.

16 Feb 2012

Study finds low rate of contraception among sexually active young Latinos

Half of the young adult Latino men and women responding to a survey in rural Oregon acknowledge not using regular effective contraception - despite expressing a desire to avoid pregnancy, according to a new Oregon State University study.

16 Feb 2012

Mencap accuses hospitals of discriminating against patients with learning disabilities

Mencap - a charity organization claimed today that 74 NHS patients with learning disabilities have needlessly died in the last decade because of discrimination. It accused the health system of failing to provide adequate care to those with learning disabilities.

15 Feb 2012

Patient feedback on how NHS hospitals are doing important

Patients are reportedly happy with the services they received at the Weston General Hospital outpatient department. The survey of 850 patients revealed Weston Area Health NHS Trust has improved in 13 areas since the last survey in 2009 and performs significantly better than other NHS trusts in 12 areas.

15 Feb 2012

Air pollution raises risk of stroke and cognitive decline

According to data from two studies published in the Archives of Internal Medicine exposure to air pollution may have serious cognitive and cardiovascular health consequences, even at levels currently deemed acceptable by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

15 Feb 2012

Public Health News and Research

Clinton to announce 5-year initiative to cut pollutants; Program could have positive public health impact

Indian authorities vaccinate children crossing India-Pakistan border; Distrust of polio vaccines grows in Pakistan

Over 7.5M children reside with a single-parent with alcohol problems

National Guard soldiers more likely to develop alcohol-related problems after deployment

First Edition: February 16,2012

AHF dismayed at FDA decision to expedite review for expanded use of Gilead's AIDS drug, Truvada

Rapid intramuscular injection of midazolam drug is safe, effective for status epilepticus

Diet exerts a strong influence on heart health

New parent-training program effective in reducing risk of obesity in preschool Latino children

Children still exposed to same level of ads for junk foods

Tentative deal reached to prevent physician pay cuts, preserve payroll tax cut

Drilling down into Obama's budget

Small cash transfers to young women may help them avoid HIV infection, study suggests

Midazolam autoinjector may effectively treat status epilepticus

State roundup: Legislatures tackling abortion restrictions, Medicaid cuts/revamps, Rx drug abuse

African-American children tend to be diagnosed later for autism

Study finds low rate of contraception among sexually active young Latinos

Mencap accuses hospitals of discriminating against patients with learning disabilities

Patient feedback on how NHS hospitals are doing important

Air pollution raises risk of stroke and cognitive decline

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

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

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