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Economic crisis impacts health department capacity to address rising STD rates

Amid the mounting toll of budget cuts across the country, a new study from the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) shows just how much an impact the economic crisis is having on sexually transmitted disease (STD) programs and in turn, having more broadly on public health infrastructure.

17 Nov 2009

Colorado receives “D” on Premature Birth Report Card for the second consecutive year

For the second consecutive year, Colorado received a “D” on the Premature Birth Report Card issued by the March of Dimes. However, the state did show improvement in two key areas that affect prematurity, including the rate of smoking for childbearing-age women.

17 Nov 2009

Program for childhood cancer survivors to quit smoking

As smokers nationwide struggle to quit the habit, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is offering assistance to those childhood cancer survivors who need help with smoking cessation.

17 Nov 2009

Roche receives EUA from FDA for its RealTime ready Influenza A/H1N1 Detection Set for the 2009 H1N1 virus

Roche`s RealTime ready Influenza A/H1N1 Detection Set for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus has received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Roche kit detects RNA from the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus and allows rapid and accurate identification of patients infected with this virus.

17 Nov 2009

New Web-based application for tracking the H1N1 flu virus across the globe

New methods of studying avian influenza strains and visually mapping their movement around the world will help scientists more quickly learn the behavior of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus, Ohio State University researchers say.

17 Nov 2009

PPD, Janssen Pharmaceutica to develop therapeutic compounds for IBS and bacterial infections

PPD, Inc. today announced it has entered an agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. to develop and commercialize two Phase II-ready therapeutic compounds, one to treat diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-d) and the other to treat complicated skin and skin structure and respiratory infections.

17 Nov 2009

New data shows obesity costs will quadruple over the next decade

A new study released today shows that rising obesity rates will continue to be an increasing burden on the health care system over the next decade. The report, titled, "The Future Cost of Obesity: National and State Estimates of the Impact of Obesity on Direct Health Care Expenses," is the first to estimate obesity prevalence and costs at the state and national level 10 years from now.

17 Nov 2009

National health leaders collaborate to create environmentally responsible health care system

Twelve national organizations representing all areas of the health sector, joined by the David Suzuki Foundation, have produced a joint statement spelling out a new commitment to creating an environmentally responsible health sector.

17 Nov 2009

Food allergies among children is increasing: Study

A newly published article provides further evidence that the prevalence of food allergies among children is increasing. The article, "Food Allergy Among Children in the United States" appears in the December issue of Pediatrics, a US medical journal.

17 Nov 2009

Scientists find major genetic differences between the pandemic H1N1 strain and seasonal strains

As the number of deaths related to the pandemic H1N1 virus, commonly known as "swine flu," continues to rise, researchers have been scrambling to decipher its inner workings and explain why the incidence is lower than expected in older adults.

17 Nov 2009

NIH awards $3 million grant to ASU professors for research on rapid DNA sequencing technology

Arizona State University has been awarded nearly $3 million in federal stimulus funds from the National Institutes of Health. ASU professors Stuart Lindsay and Paul Westerhoff will lead a pair of two-year, innovative projects designed to tackle challenges in the fields of rapid DNA sequencing and the potential health risks of nanotechnology.

17 Nov 2009

Handwashing: A simple, effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases

In this day and age, with the latest in medical equipment and scientific advances adding both quantity and quality to our lives, it is easy to forget that the simplest actions can provide some of the most important results. In fact, your mother's instructions to "wash up before dinner" should be considered some of the soundest medical advice ever offered.

17 Nov 2009

Agilent Technologies acquires MassCode Tag technology from Eurofins MWG Operon

Agilent Technologies Inc. today announced it has purchased the MassCode Tag technology from Eurofins MWG Operon, a division of Eurofins. The purchase includes the MassCode trademarks and intellectual property, including four families of patents.

17 Nov 2009

Sterile Insect Technique can play a vital role in malaria elimination

The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), the release of sexually sterile male insects to wipe out a pest population, is one suggested solution to the problem of malaria in Africa. A new supplement, published in BioMed Central's open access Malaria Journal, reviews the history of the technique, and features details about aspects of its application in the elimination of malaria.

16 Nov 2009

Implementing infection-limiting measures a challenge, say researchers

The H1N1 flu virus is spreading misery around the country, but University of Michigan researchers say that implementing and sustaining infection-limiting measures will still be a challenge.

16 Nov 2009

NIH grant to establish East African Center of Excellence in Health Informatics

A $1.3 million grant to Indiana University from the National Institutes of Health's Fogarty International Center will establish the East African Center of Excellence in Health Informatics.

16 Nov 2009

Los Angeles Times examines health care in Sierra Leone

The Los Angeles Times writes: "Sierra Leone is one of those nations where decades of foreign aid have failed to appreciably lift the fortunes of the people. The country is a charity case: 60% of its public spending comes from foreign governments and nonprofit organizations.

16 Nov 2009

Opinions: Health system funding; malnutrition assistance; social dimension of HIV

"For too long, global health funding has gone to diseases like AIDS with the most vocal lobby groups and not to the diseases with the greatest need," Philip Stevens, a senior fellow at International Policy Network, writes in a Business Daily opinion piece.

16 Nov 2009

SynerMed and L.A. Care team up to launch e-consult program

SynerMed, Inc., the largest Medicaid managed service organization (MSO) in the country, in collaboration with L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation’s largest public health plan, announced today the launch of an e-consult pilot program.

16 Nov 2009

Electronic health records not yet making impact, patients turn to web for advice

As the United States launches "an ambitious program, backed by $19 billion in government incentives, to accelerate the adoption of computerized patient records in doctors' offices and hospitals," a new study of 3,000 hospitals "has found little difference in the cost and quality of care," The New York Times reports.

16 Nov 2009

Public Health News and Research

Economic crisis impacts health department capacity to address rising STD rates

Colorado receives “D” on Premature Birth Report Card for the second consecutive year

Program for childhood cancer survivors to quit smoking

Roche receives EUA from FDA for its RealTime ready Influenza A/H1N1 Detection Set for the 2009 H1N1 virus

New Web-based application for tracking the H1N1 flu virus across the globe

PPD, Janssen Pharmaceutica to develop therapeutic compounds for IBS and bacterial infections

New data shows obesity costs will quadruple over the next decade

National health leaders collaborate to create environmentally responsible health care system

Food allergies among children is increasing: Study

Scientists find major genetic differences between the pandemic H1N1 strain and seasonal strains

NIH awards $3 million grant to ASU professors for research on rapid DNA sequencing technology

Handwashing: A simple, effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases

Agilent Technologies acquires MassCode Tag technology from Eurofins MWG Operon

Sterile Insect Technique can play a vital role in malaria elimination

Implementing infection-limiting measures a challenge, say researchers

NIH grant to establish East African Center of Excellence in Health Informatics

Los Angeles Times examines health care in Sierra Leone

Opinions: Health system funding; malnutrition assistance; social dimension of HIV

SynerMed and L.A. Care team up to launch e-consult program

Electronic health records not yet making impact, patients turn to web for advice

From Discovery Biology to ELRIG Chair

Breathing New Life into Diagnostics: Plasmion's SICRIT Technology

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

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