Public Health News and Research

RSS

Researchers discover genetic explanation for non-diabetic kidney disease in African-Americans

Kidney disease is a growing public health problem, with approximately half a million individuals in the United States requiring dialysis treatments to replace the function of their failed kidneys. The problem is particularly acute among African-Americans, whose rates of kidney disease are four times higher than those of European Americans.

20 Jul 2010

Practice nurses increase GP short consultations

The increased role of nurses in general practice is the primary driver of recent increases in short GP consultations, a general practice researcher from the School of Public Health says.

19 Jul 2010

Bayat Foundation commences construction on 50-bed maternity hospital in Lashkargah

The Bayat Foundation laid the cornerstone to begin construction on a 50-bed maternity hospital in Lashkargah, the capital of Helmand, Afghanistan's largest province. When completed later this year, the Fatema Bayat Maternity Hospital will include an operation and recovery room, pharmacy, waiting hall, kitchen, and power system to provide vital access to quality medical care.

19 Jul 2010

International Health News: German hospitals worry over end of compulsory military service; Britain tops study on end-of-life care

The Wall Street Journal: German hospitals are worried that the end of compulsory military service could hurt their workforce as most young German men end up fulfilling their duties there and in other public-service venues. "Increasingly … conscription's main impact has little to do with military training at all.

19 Jul 2010

Today's OpEds: Public opinion and health reform; Hospitals and cost cuts; Medicare fraud 'gusher'

Less than four months after Congress approved historic health care reform legislation, the Obama administration has been making good progress in bringing some early benefits to fruition and issuing rules to guide the reform process. Despite all of the critics' hype and scare tactics, some polls suggest that the public perception of reform is slowly improving (7/18).

19 Jul 2010

Report on current state of research in information security and privacy in healthcare

Information security and privacy in the healthcare sector is an issue of growing importance but much remains to be done to address the various issues raised by healthcare consumers regarding privacy and security and the providers' perspective of regulatory compliance.

17 Jul 2010

FDA can promote personalized medicine by identying gaps in laboratory operations: ACLA

The Food and Drug Administration can promote progress toward personalized medicine by approaching the oversight of laboratory developed tests (LDTs) in a focused, flexible, and balanced way according to the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA). ACLA, which represents the nation's leading clinical laboratories, says that the factors supporting this approach include the growing role that such tests play in clinical decision making, especially in the area of new advanced diagnostics that derive from the mapping of the human genome and help fulfill the promise of personalized medicine.

17 Jul 2010

Capitol Hill Watch: Obama agenda under scrutiny as lawmakers talk Medicare, budgets

President Obama's agenda, which includes a sweeping overhaul of the health care system, is coming under increased political scrutiny as lawmakers struggle with health budget challenges, and consider issues such as medical bankruptcy and improper Medicare payments.

17 Jul 2010

Research findings may help identify human TOR kinase inhibitors

A parasite estimated to afflict as many as 12 million people worldwide relies on a family of genes that should make it vulnerable to compounds developed to treat cancer and other disorders, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found.

17 Jul 2010

Today's OpEds: Shift entitlement spending to the states; The lack of a GOP health plan; Battling tobacco

The U.S. fiscal path is unsustainable, primarily because of out-of-control entitlement spending. … At some point, therefore, the economy is due to crash unless Washington reins in spending. One way to avoid this outcome would be to transfer entitlement programs to the states ... failure to slash entitlements could mean a bankrupt economy. When that happens, it's sure to be the poor who suffer the most (Jeffrey Miron, 7/16).

17 Jul 2010

Researchers compare impact of heat waves on mortality in different European cities

Heat waves may cause increased mortality but, until now, there has been no single scientific definition for the occasional bursts of hot weather that can strike during the summer months. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Environmental Health have created a definition that they use to document, for the first time, how heat wave mortality impact differs between European cities.

16 Jul 2010

New studies explore how child soldiers adjust after they return to their homes

Despite international bans, more than 250,000 children fight as soldiers in 86 countries across the globe, almost half of them in Africa. Two new studies explored how these children adjust after they return to their homes. Key to successful adaptation, the studies found, was the characteristics of the communities to which the children returned.

16 Jul 2010

Federal ban on use of antimicrobials in food animals will impact both animal and human health, says AVMA

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) today cautioned against federal bans on the judicious use of antimicrobials in animal agriculture.

16 Jul 2010

Funding ART in Québec is highly justified and ethical use of public funds, says IAAC

Following the announcement on July 13 by Québec's Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Yves Bolduc, that assisted reproduction treatments (ART) will be covered by the public health system of Québec as of August 5, 2010, many comments have been made about how this new policy will stress the public health system, and neonatology units in particular.

16 Jul 2010

Treatment admissions for abuse of prescription pain relievers increases by over 400%: Study

The proportion of all substance abuse treatment admissions of those aged 12 and older involving abuse of prescription pain relievers rose by over 400 percent from 2.2 percent in 1998 to 9.8 percent in 2008 according to a new study be the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This dramatic rise in the proportion of admissions associated with the abuse of these drugs occurred among nearly all segments of the population regardless of age, gender, educational level and employment status.

16 Jul 2010

Agendia to provide testimony on federal regulation of laboratory developed tests

Agendia, a world leader in molecular cancer diagnostics, announced today that company CEO Dr. Bernhard Sixt will provide testimony at a public meeting on July 20 in Washington D.C. on the federal regulation of laboratory developed tests (LDTs).

16 Jul 2010

Severe exposure to trauma, loss of family members, and domestic violence very stressful on Sri Lankan children

Two studies on children in Sri Lanka who survived the 2004 tsunami and ongoing civil war there found that it's not these stressful events alone that contributed to the youths' psychological health, but also daily stressors like domestic violence that are exacerbated by traumatic events and continue after the disasters.

16 Jul 2010

Aeras, CHC collaborate in Cambodian tuberculosis prevalence study

The Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation and the Cambodian Health Committee today announce the initiation of a study of tuberculosis prevalence in Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia, beginning this month. This is the first study conducted in partnership by the two non-profit research organizations and the first Aeras-sponsored study to be conducted in Cambodia.

16 Jul 2010

Insurers will pick up preventive care costs under new rules

The recommendations of a federal task force on preventive care - once just suggestions for doctors - will soon become coverage requirements for private insurers under regulations unveiled Wednesday by the Obama administration, according to Kaiser Health News and The Washington Post. "Under the new health care overhaul law, insurers will be required to pay fully for services that get an "A" or "B" recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a volunteer group made up of primary care and public health experts."

16 Jul 2010

Duke University researchers, African colleagues to study malaria control strategies

A team of Duke University researchers and African colleagues will be studying strategies to curb the spread of malaria while protecting human and environmental health. The work in regions where the potentially deadly, mosquito-borne disease occurs will be supported by a $2.2 million, four-year grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

16 Jul 2010

Public Health News and Research

Researchers discover genetic explanation for non-diabetic kidney disease in African-Americans

Practice nurses increase GP short consultations

Bayat Foundation commences construction on 50-bed maternity hospital in Lashkargah

International Health News: German hospitals worry over end of compulsory military service; Britain tops study on end-of-life care

Today's OpEds: Public opinion and health reform; Hospitals and cost cuts; Medicare fraud 'gusher'

Report on current state of research in information security and privacy in healthcare

FDA can promote personalized medicine by identying gaps in laboratory operations: ACLA

Capitol Hill Watch: Obama agenda under scrutiny as lawmakers talk Medicare, budgets

Research findings may help identify human TOR kinase inhibitors

Today's OpEds: Shift entitlement spending to the states; The lack of a GOP health plan; Battling tobacco

Researchers compare impact of heat waves on mortality in different European cities

New studies explore how child soldiers adjust after they return to their homes

Federal ban on use of antimicrobials in food animals will impact both animal and human health, says AVMA

Funding ART in Québec is highly justified and ethical use of public funds, says IAAC

Treatment admissions for abuse of prescription pain relievers increases by over 400%: Study

Agendia to provide testimony on federal regulation of laboratory developed tests

Severe exposure to trauma, loss of family members, and domestic violence very stressful on Sri Lankan children

Aeras, CHC collaborate in Cambodian tuberculosis prevalence study

Insurers will pick up preventive care costs under new rules

Duke University researchers, African colleagues to study malaria control strategies

News Medical 2025: Healthcare Shifts That Mattered Most eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

Latest News