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Two UM events examine timely issue of medicinal marijuana use

Two events this week at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law examine the timely issue of medicinal use of marijuana.

12 Apr 2012

Number of people worldwide with dementia expected to triple by 2050; Caregivers need support, report says

The number of people living with dementia is expected to double to 65.7 million by 2030 and more than triple by 2050, with "the current estimated cost of treating and caring for those with the condition at $604 billion a year," according to a report released Wednesday by the WHO and Alzheimer's Disease International, Agence France-Presse reports.

12 Apr 2012

First Edition: April 11, 2012

In today's news highlights, reports about the Obama administration's latest ACO announcement as well as a new poll exploring Americans' expectations for the Supreme Court's health law ruling.

12 Apr 2012

FDA takes three steps to protect public health and promote judicious antimicrobial use

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it is taking three steps to protect public health and promote the judicious use of medically important antibiotics in food-producing animals.

12 Apr 2012

U.S. State Department fact sheet details bilateral health cooperation with Brazil

The State Department on Monday published a fact sheet detailing bilateral health cooperation between the U.S. and Brazil. "For several decades the United States and Brazil have participated in a bilateral dialogue that provides a formal venue for discussing our mutual interests in medical research, disease surveillance, and improving public health," the fact sheet states.

12 Apr 2012

Times of India examines how female health volunteers are improving maternal, child health in India

"In many parts of India, teenagers and housewives are now donning the garb of health volunteers and convincing pregnant women to deliver in hospitals, and not at homes," the Times of India reports, and profiles Lata Ravikar, "one of the many ordinary women who are leading a silent revolution in urban slums and villages across the country."

11 Apr 2012

Act of coming out associated with better health for LGB adults

A comprehensive new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher Emily Rothman shows that two-thirds of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults in a representative Massachusetts sample reported receiving positive support from their parents after coming out to them. Their incidence of mental health and substance abuse problems was significantly lower than those who did not receive support, the authors reported.

11 Apr 2012

New online tool determines extent of exposure to radio alcohol ads among young people

A new online tool from the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health determines the extent of exposure to radio alcohol advertisements among young people ages 12 to 20 in 75 different media markets.

11 Apr 2012

New report calls on nations to recognise dementia as a public health crisis

A report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) calls for governments and policymakers to make dementia a global public health priority.

11 Apr 2012

Fish oil not as beneficial for the heart as thought: Study

Fish oil, a combination of omega-3 fatty acids that has attracted much research on its effects on heart health. So far, the evidence has been inconclusive -- some studies have found fish oil has been major in preventing heart attacks, strokes and sudden cardiac death, while others have found fish oil has no benefits at all.

10 Apr 2012

Report: 88 American youths died from work-related injuries in 2010

Dozens of American youth under the age of 20 die on the job each year while thousands more are injured, often due to poorly regulated work environments, according to a new report released by the Colorado School of Public Health.

10 Apr 2012

First study to examine long-term effects of climate change on life expectancy

New research from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) suggests that seemingly small changes in summer temperature swings-as little as 1-C more than usual-may shorten life expectancy for elderly people with chronic medical conditions, and could result in thousands of additional deaths each year.

10 Apr 2012

U.S. must embrace competitive election process for World Bank presidency to support Kim's nomination

In this New York times opinion piece, Thomas Bollyky, senior fellow for global health, economics and development at the Council on Foreign Relations, comments on the controversy surrounding President Barack Obama's nomination of Jim Yong Kim for the World Bank presidency, writing, "For the first time since the World Bank's creation at the end of World War II, the United States is facing a real challenge over the bank's leadership. Leaders of some developing and emerging economies have refused to support President Obama's unexpected choice of Jim Yong Kim, the president of Dartmouth College, to lead the bank."

10 Apr 2012

U.S. children would need to eliminate an average of 64 excess calories per day to prevent obesity

In order for the nation to achieve goals set by the federal government for reducing obesity rates by 2020, children in the United States would need to eliminate an average of 64 excess calories per day, researchers calculated in a study published today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

10 Apr 2012

Study finds successful weight loss strategies for obese people

A third of Americans are now obese, and up to 70% of them are trying to lose weight. In a new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers from Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston have found in a nationally representative sample that obese dieters who said they ate less fat, exercised more, and used prescription weight loss medications were more likely to lose weight.

10 Apr 2012

Regular dental x-rays increase risk of meningioma in the U.S.

People who received frequent dental x-rays in the past have an increased risk of developing the most commonly diagnosed primary brain tumor in the United States. That is the finding of a study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

10 Apr 2012

Aristolochic acid exposure leads to kidney failure and UUC

Aristolochic acid (AA), a component of a plant used in herbal remedies since ancient times, leads to kidney failure and upper urinary tract cancer (UUC) in individuals exposed to the toxin.

10 Apr 2012

States roundup: Aetna goes ahead with small biz coverage hike; 1.2M Texas kids without insurance; Legal immigrants join Mass. health plan

Despite criticism from the state insurance commissioner and several statewide consumer groups, Aetna said Thursday it's going ahead with a recent hike in health care premiums for small businesses. Aetna's new increases, which average 8 percent annually and took effect April 1, were deemed "unreasonable" this week by state Department of Insurance Commissioner David Jones.

10 Apr 2012

Berries may reduce Parkinson’s disease risk in men: Study

A new study has found that men who regularly consume foods rich in flavonoids, such as berries, apples, certain vegetables, tea and red wine, may significantly reduce their risk for developing Parkinson's disease. The study was published in the journal Neurology this week. It added that there was no such effect among women.

9 Apr 2012

UK tobacco display ban to reduce youngsters taking up the habit

A ban on displays of tobacco is coming into force in England. Ministers hope it will help curb the number of young people taking up smoking. Cigarettes and other products will have to be kept below the counter in large shops and supermarkets, while small outlets are exempt until 2015. Other parts of the UK are planning similar action to drive down smoking rates.

9 Apr 2012

Public Health News and Research

Two UM events examine timely issue of medicinal marijuana use

Number of people worldwide with dementia expected to triple by 2050; Caregivers need support, report says

First Edition: April 11, 2012

FDA takes three steps to protect public health and promote judicious antimicrobial use

U.S. State Department fact sheet details bilateral health cooperation with Brazil

Times of India examines how female health volunteers are improving maternal, child health in India

Act of coming out associated with better health for LGB adults

New online tool determines extent of exposure to radio alcohol ads among young people

New report calls on nations to recognise dementia as a public health crisis

Fish oil not as beneficial for the heart as thought: Study

Report: 88 American youths died from work-related injuries in 2010

First study to examine long-term effects of climate change on life expectancy

U.S. must embrace competitive election process for World Bank presidency to support Kim's nomination

U.S. children would need to eliminate an average of 64 excess calories per day to prevent obesity

Study finds successful weight loss strategies for obese people

Regular dental x-rays increase risk of meningioma in the U.S.

Aristolochic acid exposure leads to kidney failure and UUC

States roundup: Aetna goes ahead with small biz coverage hike; 1.2M Texas kids without insurance; Legal immigrants join Mass. health plan

Berries may reduce Parkinson’s disease risk in men: Study

UK tobacco display ban to reduce youngsters taking up the habit

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