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Refurbishing neighborhood parks may lead to improvements in community health

A new study suggests that refurbishing neighborhood parks may lead to improvements in community health. Increased visitors and higher rates of exercise were observed for more than one year when one community park provided new and varied amenities.

9 May 2012

Viewpoints: Taking aim at 'superbugs'; Friending organ donations; Ariz. and Kansas abortion efforts hurt women

In the battle between humans and infectious bacteria, humans have had the advantage, at least since antibiotics were introduced into our arsenal 70 or so years ago. Now, however, our weapons appear to be turning against us as germs have found ways to outfox antibiotics…. A second challenge is to keep a steady stream of new antibiotics in the pipeline, and this is where the big pharmaceutical companies based in Europe and the U.S. come in….

9 May 2012

Reusable grocery bag can play a role in spreading norovirus infection

Oregon investigators recently mapped the trail of an outbreak of a nasty stomach bug among participants in a girls' soccer tournament to a reusable open top grocery bag stored in a hotel bathroom. Their findings, which illustrate the role that inanimate objects can play in spreading norovirus infection, appear in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

9 May 2012

Higher levels of income inequality in the U.S. lead to more deaths

A new study provides the best evidence to date that higher levels of income inequality in the United States actually lead to more deaths in the country over a period of years.

9 May 2012

'Good' cholesterol may not protect against coronary heart disease

A new study by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers has found that a subclass of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol, may not protect against coronary heart disease (CHD) and in fact may be harmful.

8 May 2012

BCBSMA institutes enhanced safety measures on coverage for powerful pain killers

In an effort to limit possible prescription narcotic misuse and dependence among its members, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) announced today that it is instituting enhanced safety measures on how it will cover the use of powerful pain killers.

8 May 2012

U.S. healthcare system could be burdened with 32 million more obese people within two decades

Researchers have forecast the cost savings and rise in obesity prevalence over the next two decades in a new public health study.

8 May 2012

Mothers of overweight toddlers less likely to accurately perceive their child's body size

A study of mothers and their toddlers suggests that mothers of overweight toddlers often had inaccurate perceptions of their child's body size, according to a report published in the May issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a JAMA Network publication. The study is part of the Nutrition and the Health of Children and Adolescents theme issue.

8 May 2012

Researchers discover potential way to develop universal flu vaccines

University of British Columbia researchers have found a potential way to develop universal flu vaccines and eliminate the need for seasonal flu vaccinations.

8 May 2012

VOA News examines South Africa's rural public health sector

VOA News features a five-part series on South Africa's rural public health sector, which the news service writes is "plagued by a high burden of infectious diseases, severe doctor and nurse shortages, lack of medicines and essential medical equipment and incompetent management," resulting in high patient death rates.

8 May 2012

Newsweek examines Melinda Gates' focus on family planning issues

"In an exclusive interview with Newsweek," Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, discussed how "she has decided to make family planning her signature issue and primary public health a priority."

8 May 2012

Healthy newborns should not be over-protected against natural exposure of gut flora

Infants whose gut is colonised by E. coli bacteria early in life have a higher number of memory B cells in their blood, reveals a study of infants carried out at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

7 May 2012

Options for improving antimicrobial use in food animal production

Today, U.S. regulators and representatives from national food production industries will meet to discuss "Improving Antimicrobial Use in Food Animal Production: Alternatives, Options and Incentives," in Washington, DC.

7 May 2012

Recession drives Medicaid spending

Job losses and diminishing income have pushed Medicaid spending to new heights, according to a study released Friday.

7 May 2012

First Edition: May 7, 2012

Today's health policy highlights include reports detailing what's ahead this week on Capitol Hill as well as state-level developments.

7 May 2012

Drug-related morbidity perceived to affect half of all patients attending healthcare

It is well known that drug-related morbidity is common among hospitalized patients, and is to some extent preventable, but less is known about drug-related morbidity outside hospitals. Two new studies conducted at the Nordic School of Public Health NHV, show that healthcare professionals perceive drug-related morbidity to affect half of all patients attending healthcare.

7 May 2012

Researchers discover how diabetes affects specific brain area leading to memory loss

Badly controlled diabetes are known to affect the brain causing memory and learning problems and even an increased incidence of dementia, although how this occurs is not clear.

7 May 2012

Dengue fever costs Puerto Rico nearly $38M a year, study shows

"The costs of treating and coping with dengue fever in Puerto Rico total nearly $38 million a year, a new study," published Wednesday in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, finds, according to U.S. News & World Report.

5 May 2012

DST Health Solutions, Johns Hopkins to celebrate 20th Anniversary of ACG System

DST Health Solutions, LLC, today announced that they and Johns Hopkins University will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the ACG System this year. Johns Hopkins' ACG System offers one of the best in class case mix methodologies, providing Predictive Modeling, Risk Adjustment and Population Case Mix methods to achieve better disease and case management, and ultimately, better patient care.

5 May 2012

Highlights: D.C. may have funds for illegal immigrant health care; Fla. passed up $200M because it comes from health law; Texas to build 2 new med schools

D.C. Council member David A. Catania has found an additional $20 million in the budget to continue offering free health insurance to 19,000 undocumented immigrants, reversing a proposal by Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) that could have restricted them from receiving emergency care. Catania (I-At Large) … has made full funding of the Alliance Insurance program a chief priority as the council prepares for final budget deliberations.

5 May 2012

Public Health News and Research

Refurbishing neighborhood parks may lead to improvements in community health

Viewpoints: Taking aim at 'superbugs'; Friending organ donations; Ariz. and Kansas abortion efforts hurt women

Reusable grocery bag can play a role in spreading norovirus infection

Higher levels of income inequality in the U.S. lead to more deaths

'Good' cholesterol may not protect against coronary heart disease

BCBSMA institutes enhanced safety measures on coverage for powerful pain killers

U.S. healthcare system could be burdened with 32 million more obese people within two decades

Mothers of overweight toddlers less likely to accurately perceive their child's body size

Researchers discover potential way to develop universal flu vaccines

VOA News examines South Africa's rural public health sector

Newsweek examines Melinda Gates' focus on family planning issues

Healthy newborns should not be over-protected against natural exposure of gut flora

Options for improving antimicrobial use in food animal production

Recession drives Medicaid spending

First Edition: May 7, 2012

Drug-related morbidity perceived to affect half of all patients attending healthcare

Researchers discover how diabetes affects specific brain area leading to memory loss

Dengue fever costs Puerto Rico nearly $38M a year, study shows

DST Health Solutions, Johns Hopkins to celebrate 20th Anniversary of ACG System

Highlights: D.C. may have funds for illegal immigrant health care; Fla. passed up $200M because it comes from health law; Texas to build 2 new med schools

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