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"Make Our Food Safe" coalition urges Senate to enact stronger food safety laws

Over the next several weeks, the U. S. Senate has an historic opportunity to take a major step toward improving food safety for all Americans. That is why a coalition of public health professionals, consumer organizations and groups representing victims of foodborne illness is sending the message that it is time to "Make Our Food Safe for the Holidays!"

13 Nov 2009

Health Insurer tells its employees to directly lobby U.S. Senators for weaker health reform and higher insurer profits

The nation's largest health insurance company, United Healthcare, launched a new push this week to get employees to directly lobby U.S. Senators for weaker health reform and higher insurer profits. The new campaign, in an e-mail sent to all employees Nov. 10, offers employees template letters to send from company computers on company time and urges them to write grassroots-style letters to the editor to local newspapers. Consumer Watchdog, which obtained the letters, called on the Senate and newspapers to reject this deceptive corporate-directed campaign.

13 Nov 2009

People in their 60s may have more disabilities than their counterparts from prior generations

In a development that could have significant ramifications for the nation's health care system, Baby Boomers may well be entering their 60s suffering far more disabilities than their counterparts did in previous generations, according to a new UCLA study. The findings, researchers say, may be due in part to changing American demographics.

13 Nov 2009

Scientists describe how HIV assemble at the membrane of infected cells and are released to attack healthy cells

Although recent advances have raised hopes that a protective vaccine can be developed, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) remains a major public health problem. Much has been learned about HIV-1, the virus that causes the disease.

13 Nov 2009

Alternative proposal from HSPH to AAFP for developing web content on beverages

Leading Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) nutrition and health researcher Walter Willett, M.D., Dr. P.H., has written a letter to the President-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) offering an alternative to the organization's decision, announced in October, to accept a six-figure grant from the Coca-Cola Company to develop web content on beverages and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

13 Nov 2009

Reid's option: Individuals earning more than $250,000 a year to pay a modest increase in payroll tax

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reportedly is moving closer toward a progressive way to fund quality, affordable health care for all.

13 Nov 2009

Health-related and psychosocial characteristics are associated with elder self-neglect

Seniors who neglect themselves, risking their own health and safety, tend to be individuals with limited social networks and little social engagement, according to a study by Rush University Medical Center.

13 Nov 2009

African-Americans more likely to die from colorectal cancer than Caucasians, says new study

New research published in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons shows that African-American patients with colorectal cancer are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced disease and are less likely to undergo surgical procedures compared with Caucasians, suggesting that improvements in screening and rates of operation may reduce differences in colorectal cancer outcomes for African-Americans.

13 Nov 2009

New book 'Thinking in Circles About Obesity' presents a novel approach to address weight crisis

Low-carb-low-fat-high-protein-high-fiber-Americans are food-savvy, label-conscious, calorie-aware - and still gaining weight in spite of all their good intentions. Worse still, today's children run the risk of a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

13 Nov 2009

Exposure to deadly bacteria can result in stillbirths

A new study shows the risk for severe effects of exposure to Listeria monocytogenes among susceptible populations may occur at doses lower than suggested by previous studies.

13 Nov 2009

CDC expected to revise estimated number of U.S. H1N1 deaths

Ahead of the anticipated CDC release of revised U.S. H1N1 (swine flu) death toll estimates, Reuters examines how the agency and WHO measure the impact of the virus, after both organizations "stopped trying to count actual cases months ago, once it became clear that H1N1 was a pandemic that would infect millions."

12 Nov 2009

CDC expected to revise H1N1 mortality figures

The New York Times: "About 4,000 Americans - rather than about 1,200 - have died of swine flu since the disease emerged in April, according to new figures being calculated by [CDC] epidemiologists" - an estimate that combines the number of "deaths from laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu and deaths that appear to be brought on by flu, even though the patient may have ultimately died of bacterial pneumonia, other infections or organ failure."

12 Nov 2009

Childhood exposure to environmental pollutants could impact development in the long-term

Children who eat fish more than 3 times per week show a worse performance in the general cognitive, executive and perceptual-manipulative areas. Those with higher levels of exposure to mercury show a generalised delay in cognitive, memory and verbal areas. Mercury is a contaminant found especially in oily fish and canned fish and to a lesser extent in white fish.

12 Nov 2009

Artificially increasing selenium status above the level required is unwarranted, study calls for further research

A new study from the University of Warwick has discovered taking too much of the essential mineral selenium in your diet can increase your cholesterol by almost 10%.

12 Nov 2009

ADOA praises APHA for passing landmark Elimination of Asbestos Resolution

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) applauds the American Public Health Association (APHA), the largest and most diverse public health organization in the world.

12 Nov 2009

Resources to help understand stroke and carotid artery disease

The Society of Interventional Radiology offers numerous resources-including publications and the first-ever Catheter Lysis of Thromboembolic Stroke (CLOTS) course-for interventional radiologists, neuroradiologists, neurointerventionists, body interventionalists, and IR and INR fellows to aid in the understanding of stroke and carotid artery disease.

12 Nov 2009

54% of Americans are inconsistent in taking prescriptions, reveals survey

A new survey finds that 54 percent of Americans say they do not consistently take prescriptions as instructed even though 87 percent believe prescription medicines are important to their health – pointing to a growing public health problem.

12 Nov 2009

Oregon state officials confirm that three more ferrets have tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 virus

Three more ferrets in Oregon have tested positive for the 2009 pandemic influenza H1N1 virus, state officials confirmed this afternoon, bringing the total number of cases affecting ferrets in the state to four.

12 Nov 2009

Results from an analysis emphasizes the financial burden of SMI on the criminal justice and HHS systems

Results from a large, retrospective analysis of inmates with a serious mental illness (SMI) underscores the financial burden of mental illness on the criminal justice and health and human services (HHS) systems, and may provide useful information to policy makers.

12 Nov 2009

Some benefits from prescription drug DTCA, but significant risks remain

While the debate over prescription drug advertising persists, a new study released online in the American Journal of Public Health offers guidelines for improving drug ads in order to minimize potential harm and maximize benefits. The study reveals that while there are some benefits from prescription drug direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA), there are significant risks that are magnified by the prominence of DTCA.

12 Nov 2009

Public Health News and Research

"Make Our Food Safe" coalition urges Senate to enact stronger food safety laws

Health Insurer tells its employees to directly lobby U.S. Senators for weaker health reform and higher insurer profits

People in their 60s may have more disabilities than their counterparts from prior generations

Scientists describe how HIV assemble at the membrane of infected cells and are released to attack healthy cells

Alternative proposal from HSPH to AAFP for developing web content on beverages

Reid's option: Individuals earning more than $250,000 a year to pay a modest increase in payroll tax

Health-related and psychosocial characteristics are associated with elder self-neglect

African-Americans more likely to die from colorectal cancer than Caucasians, says new study

New book 'Thinking in Circles About Obesity' presents a novel approach to address weight crisis

Exposure to deadly bacteria can result in stillbirths

CDC expected to revise estimated number of U.S. H1N1 deaths

CDC expected to revise H1N1 mortality figures

Childhood exposure to environmental pollutants could impact development in the long-term

Artificially increasing selenium status above the level required is unwarranted, study calls for further research

ADOA praises APHA for passing landmark Elimination of Asbestos Resolution

Resources to help understand stroke and carotid artery disease

54% of Americans are inconsistent in taking prescriptions, reveals survey

Oregon state officials confirm that three more ferrets have tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 virus

Results from an analysis emphasizes the financial burden of SMI on the criminal justice and HHS systems

Some benefits from prescription drug DTCA, but significant risks remain

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