Public Health News and Research

RSS

People with generalized anxiety disorder have weak brain connections

A new University of Wisconsin-Madison imaging study shows the brains of people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have weaker connections between a brain structure that controls emotional response and the amygdala, which suggests the brain's "panic button" may stay on due to lack of regulation.

5 Sep 2012

U.S. outbreaks of Dengue, West Nile demonstrate need for U.S investment in neglected diseases

The "growing public health problems" of West Nile and dengue viruses in the U.S. can "serve as opportunities to pull the U.S. squarely into the global fight against these mosquito-borne viruses," a Bloomberg View editorial states.

5 Sep 2012

September issue of WHO Bulletin available online

The September issue of the WHO Bulletin features an editorial on expanding HIV testing in Europe, a public health news roundup, a research article on male circumcision programs in Kenya.

5 Sep 2012

Lawmakers in the Philippines working to negotiate compromise on reproductive health bill

"After 14 years in limbo," legislation being considered by the Philippines Congress would "requir[e] the government to provide contraceptives, information on modern family planning methods at public health centers, and comprehensive reproductive health curriculum in schools," CNN reports.

5 Sep 2012

Democrats to spotlight health care, abortion rights support at convention

Party leaders will be touting the health overhaul passed two years ago, as well as efforts to expand contraception coverage. In addition, the platform looks ahead at issues such as health disparities, public health and HIV, Politico Pro reports.

5 Sep 2012

Motor coordination in children with sedentary lifestyles: an interview with Dr. Luis Lopes

The importance of an adequate motor coordination level in childhood has recently reemerged. In literature on motor skill development, the focus is mostly on the proficiency/competence level in movement skills. Motor competence/coordination can be defined as a person’s ability to execute different motor acts, including coordination of both fine and gross motor skills (Henderson & Sugden, 1992).

4 Sep 2012

Study finds increase in HIV treatment use in the U.S.

Between 2000 and 2008, the proportion of HIV-infected patients in the U.S. receiving effective treatment known as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) increased, and HIV-infected patients appeared to be less infectious and have healthier immune systems at death, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

4 Sep 2012

Whole-genome sequencing can track origin and movement of TB pathogens

Reconstructing the spread of killer diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) from person to person using DNA sequencing quickly identifies the origin and movement of pathogens. This approach is directly informing public health strategies to control infectious disease outbreaks, says a scientist speaking at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn Conference at the University of Warwick.

4 Sep 2012

Exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid appears to increase risk of CVD and peripheral arterial disease

Exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a manmade chemical used in the manufacture of some common household products, appears to be associated with cardiovascular disease and peripheral arterial disease in a study of 1,216 individuals, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

4 Sep 2012

Plain cigarette packaging likely to reduce appeal of smoking for young people

While Australia has recently passed legislation to ban logos from cigarette packages and to make plain packaging mandatory, other countries are still considering whether or not to take similar measures. New research published in Biomed Central's open access journal BMC Public Health provides a report on the appeal of plain cigarette packs, compared to branded packs, among women in Brazil, and finds that plain packs reduce the appeal of their contents.

4 Sep 2012

Western Schools offers new 4th Edition West Nile Virus continuing education course for nurses

West Nile virus is showing up earlier and producing more severe cases than normal this year, and nurses must be able to recognize who is at risk and how to best protect against it, an expert at Western Schools said today.

3 Sep 2012

2 Large Minn. health systems announce merger

In Minnesota, two large health systems -- HealthPartners and Park Nicollet -- plan to merge, creating the second biggest system in Minnesota -- just behind the Mayo Clinic.

1 Sep 2012

Study assesses post-coronary artery bypass graft surgery atrial fibrillation and long-term survival

Atrial fibrillation is a common complication of cardiac surgery, occurring in 10 percent to 40 percent of patients. Recent studies show it to be associated with poorer health following surgery and poorer long-term survival. Furthermore, development of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery leads to average additional health care costs of $15,000 to $20,000.

1 Sep 2012

Health Net helps to increase awareness about importance of whooping cough vaccination

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of whooping cough cases in the United States could reach a 50-year high in 2012. The CDC's forecast is based on the fact that, as of July 2012, twice as many cases of whooping cough - or pertussis as it's referred to clinically - had been reported to the CDC thus far this year as compared to the same point in 2011.

1 Sep 2012

Roundup: Flurry of health bills as Calif. legislature winds down; Kansas City health data exchange opens up

The window to save the Healthy Families program is narrowing to a small slit, with just a single day left to pass bills. ... Today -- until midnight tonight -- is the last day for legislation to be passed this year. The governor has until the end of September to veto or approve bills.

1 Sep 2012

French data highlight women under 60 at risk for heart disease

An analysis of four French registries has shown a dramatic drop in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction mortality from 1995 to 2010, accompanied by a significant change in patient characteristics.

31 Aug 2012

Prenatal exposures to polyfluoroalkyl compounds may lead to obesity in babies

Pregnant women who are highly exposed to common environmental chemicals - polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) - have babies that are smaller at birth and larger at 20 months of age, according to a study from Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health published online in the August 30 edition of Environmental Health Perspectives.

31 Aug 2012

CSIS report examines reform in Liberia's health system

The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) on Tuesday released a report titled "Road to Recovery: Rebuilding Liberia's Health System," the center's "Smart Global Health" blog reports.

31 Aug 2012

New cholera cases after tropical storm do not amount to outbreak, Haitian officials say

Haiti has "reported new cases of cholera as aftermath of the tropical storm Isaac, but Public Health Ministry General Director Guirlene Raymond said that "so far the numbers do not match outbreak ratings," Prensa Latina reports.

31 Aug 2012

Researchers identify several genetic factors linked to C-reactive protein

African Americans have higher blood levels of a protein associated with increased heart-disease risk than European Americans, despite higher "good" HDL cholesterol and lower "bad" triglyceride levels. This contradictory observation now may be explained, in part, by a genetic variant identified in the first large-scale, genome-wide association study of this protein involving 12,000 African American and Hispanic American women.

31 Aug 2012

Public Health News and Research

People with generalized anxiety disorder have weak brain connections

U.S. outbreaks of Dengue, West Nile demonstrate need for U.S investment in neglected diseases

September issue of WHO Bulletin available online

Lawmakers in the Philippines working to negotiate compromise on reproductive health bill

Democrats to spotlight health care, abortion rights support at convention

Motor coordination in children with sedentary lifestyles: an interview with Dr. Luis Lopes

Study finds increase in HIV treatment use in the U.S.

Whole-genome sequencing can track origin and movement of TB pathogens

Exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid appears to increase risk of CVD and peripheral arterial disease

Plain cigarette packaging likely to reduce appeal of smoking for young people

Western Schools offers new 4th Edition West Nile Virus continuing education course for nurses

2 Large Minn. health systems announce merger

Study assesses post-coronary artery bypass graft surgery atrial fibrillation and long-term survival

Health Net helps to increase awareness about importance of whooping cough vaccination

Roundup: Flurry of health bills as Calif. legislature winds down; Kansas City health data exchange opens up

French data highlight women under 60 at risk for heart disease

Prenatal exposures to polyfluoroalkyl compounds may lead to obesity in babies

CSIS report examines reform in Liberia's health system

New cholera cases after tropical storm do not amount to outbreak, Haitian officials say

Researchers identify several genetic factors linked to C-reactive protein

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