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U.S. models of primary care improves quality of life in older patients with multiple chronic conditions

In a review of comprehensive primary care programs for older adults with multiple chronic conditions, authors identified three models that appear to have the greatest potential for improving quality of care and life for these patients, while reducing or not increasing the costs of their health care, according to an article in the November 3 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on aging.

3 Nov 2010

New global map shows distribution of sickle cell gene

At a global scale, the sickle cell gene is most commonly found in areas with historically high levels of malaria, adding geographical support to the hypothesis that the gene, whilst potentially deadly, avoids disappearing through natural selection by providing protection against malaria.

3 Nov 2010

Study: Illnesses and injuries that restrict activity linked to worsening functional ability in older adults

A study by Yale School of Medicine researchers reveals that the illnesses and injuries that can restrict the activity of older adults or land them in the hospital are linked to worsening functional ability, especially among those who are physically frail. The report appears in JAMA's November 3 theme issue on aging.

3 Nov 2010

Tests show Haitian cholera strains match ones from South Asia, CDC says

Tests have shown that the strain in Haiti's cholera outbreak is similar to cholera strains found in South Asia, the CDC said on Monday, Agence France-Presse reports (11/1).

3 Nov 2010

Opinions: Call for African companies to engage in health goals; holistic approach to development

The serious health problems afflicting our continent significantly affect our economies, reducing productivity, creating gaps in the workforce, causing innumerable sick days and restricting growth in African businesses, First Lady of Rwanda Jeannette Kagame and CEO of Access Bank Plc Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, who both serve on the Friends of the Global Fund Africa board, write together in a East African opinion piece that calls upon the private sector to help bolster the work with African governments to improve health outcomes in Africa.

3 Nov 2010

Huber's Health & Nutrition business receives approval to produce active pharmaceutical ingredients

Huber Engineered Materials, a division of the J.M. Huber Corporation, has received approval for its Health & Nutrition business to begin producing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), such as calcium carbonate granulation for use in the manufacturing of antacids and other pharma applications.

3 Nov 2010

Health IT: Apps; Competitive contracts; Electronic medical records

The Wall Street Journal: "Indian technology companies are eyeing a coming wave of U.S. spending to digitize health care records. But sensitivity over outsourcing and resistance by American hospitals to sending medical information overseas could thwart efforts to win big contracts." Next year, the U.S. government will dispense billions to "health-care providers who adopt electronic medical records." Doctors are also facing "a federal mandate to upgrade software as the U.S. switches to a new system of insurance billing codes."

3 Nov 2010

Inviragen receives two grants to develop dengue and chikungunya vaccines

Inviragen, a biotechnology company developing vaccines to protect against infectious diseases worldwide, announced today that it has received two grants totaling $488,958 through the United States government's Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Program.

3 Nov 2010

PAC points finger at British Labour party for health inequalities

The cross-party Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has criticised the British Labor party for allowing inequalities during its 13 years of power. The MPs said on the acute shortage of General Practitioners, “The Department of Health (DoH) should identify, as a matter of urgency, what measures it can take to drive up the numbers of GPs in deprived areas, including using direct financial incentives to encourage GPs into areas of greatest health need.” Tony Blair pledged to put reducing life expectancy differences at the heart of his policy after winning the general election in 1997.

2 Nov 2010

Advanced Life Sciences enters CRADA for Restanza with Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs in the therapeutic areas of infection, oncology and respiratory diseases, today announced that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement ("CRADA") with The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

2 Nov 2010

VaxInnate’s prototype flu vaccine named as Top 10 Infectious Diseases Projects to Watch in 2011

VaxInnate Corporation announced today that VAX125, its investigational prototype vaccine for seasonal flu, has been named one of the Top 10 Infectious Diseases Projects to Watch in 2011 by Elsevier Business Intelligence and the Windhover Conferences.

2 Nov 2010

WHO names Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit as 'collaborating center'

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health today announced that its Department of International Health and International Injury Research Unit have been designated a "collaborating center" by the World Health Organization. The new WHO Collaborating Center for Injuries, Violence and Accident Prevention is only the third collaborating center in the United States to focus on injury prevention and joins a network of more than 800 WHO Collaborating Centers in more than 80 countries.

2 Nov 2010

Vacuum cleaner with UV technology effective at reducing carpet's surface microbes

New research suggests that the addition of ultraviolet light to the brushing and suction of a vacuum cleaner can almost double the removal of potentially infectious microorganisms from a carpet's surface when compared to vacuuming alone.

2 Nov 2010

FDA selects Rochester to lead initiative to identify improved pain treatments

Pain is the most common symptom leading patients to see a physician in the United States, yet the most widely prescribed medications - opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) - have major drawbacks, including the potential for misuse and abuse and adverse effects that limit long-term use. While scientists have made great strides in understanding the physical and chemical processes that occur when people feel pain, new treatments with improved safety and effectiveness are still needed for the more than 76 million Americans with acute and chronic pain.

2 Nov 2010

LCA releases 2010 National Report Card on Lung Cancer

Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) released its Annual National Report Card on Lung Cancer, an overall assessment of the nation's response to the continuing high mortality of lung cancer, the leading cancer killer.

2 Nov 2010

XXXXL suits now on the racks: UK health experts concerned

In a worrying development Britain’s largest ‘off-the-peg’ suit - the XXXXL - has gone on sale, boasting a 64 inch chest jacket and 60 inch waist trousers. Health experts fear the development and say that a record 5.5 million overweight Britons are now officially on GP registers with an eight percent rise over last year.

1 Nov 2010

Physical activity outside of work reduces risk of depression: Study

Researchers have found evidence that regular exercise reduces the risk of depression provided the activity is carried out in leisure time. People who exert themselves at work, for instance by digging up roads or heavy lifting, were no less likely to suffer depression than those in sedentary desk jobs.

1 Nov 2010

Alcohol - the worst drug!

A new study shows that alcohol abuse is by far the worst habit to have when compared to other recreational drugs like crack or heroin. Neuropharmacologist David Nutt, of Imperial College London who is also a former British government drug advisor and his team rated 20 different drugs on a scale that takes into account the various harms caused by a drug. Drugs are rated on the nine harms a drug causes to an individual and seven harms a drug causes to the society. The scale was developed by a panel of experts called the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs (ICSD), ranges from 0 (no harm) to 100 (greatest possible harm). It is weighted so that a drug that scores 50 is half as harmful as a drug that scores 100.

1 Nov 2010

Marijuana legalization initiatives prompt NFIA to launch 'But What About the Children?' campaign

Whether or not Californians approve Proposition 19 on November 2, the proposition is the first of many to legalize marijuana for recreational use and turn it into an unregulated commercial enterprise.

30 Oct 2010

Former Member of Congress joins Lung Cancer Alliance

Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) proudly announced that The Honorable Michael G. Oxley has agreed to join its Board of Directors. Oxley, a former Member of Congress, joins LCA, the only national organization dedicated solely to all those either living with or at risk for lung cancer, as it prepares to begin its sixth year of patient support and advocacy headquartered in Washington, DC.

30 Oct 2010

Public Health News and Research

U.S. models of primary care improves quality of life in older patients with multiple chronic conditions

New global map shows distribution of sickle cell gene

Study: Illnesses and injuries that restrict activity linked to worsening functional ability in older adults

Tests show Haitian cholera strains match ones from South Asia, CDC says

Opinions: Call for African companies to engage in health goals; holistic approach to development

Huber's Health & Nutrition business receives approval to produce active pharmaceutical ingredients

Health IT: Apps; Competitive contracts; Electronic medical records

Inviragen receives two grants to develop dengue and chikungunya vaccines

PAC points finger at British Labour party for health inequalities

Advanced Life Sciences enters CRADA for Restanza with Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

VaxInnate’s prototype flu vaccine named as Top 10 Infectious Diseases Projects to Watch in 2011

WHO names Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit as 'collaborating center'

Vacuum cleaner with UV technology effective at reducing carpet's surface microbes

FDA selects Rochester to lead initiative to identify improved pain treatments

LCA releases 2010 National Report Card on Lung Cancer

XXXXL suits now on the racks: UK health experts concerned

Physical activity outside of work reduces risk of depression: Study

Alcohol - the worst drug!

Marijuana legalization initiatives prompt NFIA to launch 'But What About the Children?' campaign

Former Member of Congress joins Lung Cancer Alliance

News Medical 2025: Healthcare Shifts That Mattered Most eBook

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

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