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Obama takes action to address drug shortages

President Barack Obama issued an executive order Monday directing the Food and Drug Administration to, among other steps, speed up reviews of manufacturers' applications to begin or alter production of a drug in potentially short supply.

2 Nov 2011

SmartTots sets agenda for research on anesthetic safety in children

A special section of the November issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS), presents new research, updates, and commentaries about possible toxic effects of anesthetics and sedatives in infants and young children. The IARS is a key partner in the SmartTots initiative, dedicated to finding scientific answers to these urgent public health concerns.

2 Nov 2011

GM mosquitoes show promise in tackling insect-borne diseases, study shows; some concerned over possible unintended consequences

"Genetically modified mosquitoes could prove effective in tackling dengue fever and other insect-borne diseases," according to the results of a study by a U.K.-based scientific team published in the journal Nature Biotechnology on Sunday, BBC News reports.

2 Nov 2011

Longer commute to work may have harmful effects on health

A new study suggests that commuting to work may be bad for health. It is especially more harmful if one drives or take public transportation. Not only are they less physically fit than those who walk or bike to work but they’re also more prone to stress, exhaustion and missed work than “active” commuters, according to researchers.

1 Nov 2011

G20 can turn attention to maternal and child health at upcoming meeting

In a post in Forbes's "Mitch2Maya/Mothers2Mothers" blog, contributors Mitch Besser and Maya Kulycky write that the Group of 20 (G20) "have plenty to discuss at their upcoming November meeting -- and a lot of it is pretty scary."

1 Nov 2011

First Edition: November 1, 2011

Today's headlines include a report that the health law's early retirees' health insurance fund may be running out.

1 Nov 2011

UL, IU and UMMS to implement Center for Excellence in Health and Life Sciences

Indiana University today announced that it is partnering with the University of Liberia and the University of Massachusetts Medical School to administer a transformative $7.2 million project that will address a national shortage of healthcare workers in Liberia, an African nation with which IU has had long-standing ties.

1 Nov 2011

Majority of college students could identify risk factors linked with eating disorders

They're the prime demographic for developing eating disorders, yet new research out of the University of Cincinnati suggests that it could be difficult for college students to notice the warning signs. On Oct. 31, Ashlee Hoffman, a UC doctoral student in health promotion and education, will present her research, titled, "University Students' Knowledge of An Ability to Identify Disordered Eating, Warning Signs and Risk Factors," at the American Public Health Association's 139th annual meeting and exposition in Washington, DC.

1 Nov 2011

BUSM professor delivers Van Meter Award Lecture at 81st ATA meeting

The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is proud to announce that Dr. Elizabeth Pearce, Associate Professor of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, today delivered the Van Meter Award Lecture at its 81st Annual Meeting, held October 26-30, Indian Wells, California.

1 Nov 2011

Three centers to improve clinical preventive services and practices

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) awarded three-year grants totaling $4.5 million to support research in three centers that will focus on improving clinical preventive services and practices such as screening, counseling and use of preventive medications for patients.

1 Nov 2011

ACO rule revisions get nod from medical industry group

An influential medical group's change of heart is boosting President Barack Obama's plan to use Medicare to promote higher quality, less expensive care. The American Medical Group Association represents premier organizations like the Mayo Clinic, the models for the proposed "accountable care organizations" in Obama's health care overhaul law. The networks of doctors and hospitals will collaborate to keep patients healthier.

1 Nov 2011

Study looks into how family doctors' own drinking habits affect their advice to patients

Doctors who drink more themselves are more liberal in their advice to patients on alcohol consumption. They set higher thresholds for what is harmful, and while men who are heavy drinkers get to continue drinking, women are often advised to stop altogether, reveals a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

1 Nov 2011

State roundup: Public employee benefit controversy; Calif. hospital woes; Mass. medical homes

A centerpiece of Republican Gov. John Kasich's legislative agenda, the bill passed the Republican-dominated assembly in the spring. But opponents were able to gather 1.3 million signatures to halt the law's enactment and put it on the November 8 ballot for repeal. ... The bill allows bargaining on wages but bans it for health coverage, pensions or staffing levels. ... The law also requires firefighters, police officers and teachers to pay at least 15 percent of their health insurance premiums.

1 Nov 2011

Potential transmission of HBV, HCV and HIV infections in nail salons and barbershops

The risk of hepatitis transmission through non-single use instruments -- such as nail files, nail brushes, finger bowls, foot basins, buffers, razors, clippers, and scissors -- during nail salon and barbershop visits cannot be excluded, according to the results of a new report unveiled today at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 76th Annual Scientific meeting in Washington, DC.

1 Nov 2011

ER-positive breast cancer patients with high levels of heat shock factor 1 experience poor outcomes

Whitehead Institute scientists report that patients whose estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers have high levels of the ancient cellular survival factor heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) experience poor outcomes—including increased mortality.

1 Nov 2011

Panel backs anthrax vaccine testing on children

An important panel of government advisers Friday recommended that the government should sponsor a controversial study to test the anthrax vaccine in children to see whether the inoculation would protect young Americans against a bioterrorist's attack.

31 Oct 2011

Study: New verbal autopsy methods are fast, effective and inexpensive

New research by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington shows that innovative and improved methods for analyzing verbal autopsies - a method of determining individuals' causes of death in countries without a complete vital registration system - are fast, effective, and inexpensive, and could be invaluable for countries struggling to understand disease trends.

31 Oct 2011

Study examines link between hormonal forms of contraception and sexual functioning

Today's hormonal forms of birth control are vastly different from those used by earlier generations of women, both with lower levels of hormones and with different means of delivery (not just a pill), but many of the same problems related to women's pleasure remain.

31 Oct 2011

Dramatic increase in prevalence of chronic health conditions among minority immigrants

Minority immigrants are at higher risk of experiencing poor health outcomes the longer they stay in the U.S., according to new research released today at the American Public Health Association's 139th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

31 Oct 2011

Study looks at the strain of military deployment on adolescent boys and girls

Adolescent boys with at least one parent in the military are at elevated risk of engaging in school-based physical fighting, carrying a weapon and joining a gang, according to research presented today at the American Public Health Association's 139th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

31 Oct 2011

Public Health News and Research

Obama takes action to address drug shortages

SmartTots sets agenda for research on anesthetic safety in children

GM mosquitoes show promise in tackling insect-borne diseases, study shows; some concerned over possible unintended consequences

Longer commute to work may have harmful effects on health

G20 can turn attention to maternal and child health at upcoming meeting

First Edition: November 1, 2011

UL, IU and UMMS to implement Center for Excellence in Health and Life Sciences

Majority of college students could identify risk factors linked with eating disorders

BUSM professor delivers Van Meter Award Lecture at 81st ATA meeting

Three centers to improve clinical preventive services and practices

ACO rule revisions get nod from medical industry group

Study looks into how family doctors' own drinking habits affect their advice to patients

State roundup: Public employee benefit controversy; Calif. hospital woes; Mass. medical homes

Potential transmission of HBV, HCV and HIV infections in nail salons and barbershops

ER-positive breast cancer patients with high levels of heat shock factor 1 experience poor outcomes

Panel backs anthrax vaccine testing on children

Study: New verbal autopsy methods are fast, effective and inexpensive

Study examines link between hormonal forms of contraception and sexual functioning

Dramatic increase in prevalence of chronic health conditions among minority immigrants

Study looks at the strain of military deployment on adolescent boys and girls

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