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Dementia patients face higher risk of flu mortality; refine guidelines needed for testing and vaccination policies

An epidemiological study on pneumonia and influenza (P&I) in adults age 65 and over reports that patients with dementia are diagnosed with flu less frequently, have shorter hospital stays, and have a fifty percent higher rate of death than those without dementia.

28 Oct 2009

Microbix and Hunan Biopharmaceutical to build $200-million influenza vaccine facility

Microbix, a developer of a patented technology that doubles the output of influenza vaccine production, announced today it has signed a joint venture agreement with the Hunan Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (a Hunan Province state-owned enterprise) for initial financing to construct Asia's largest influenza vaccine production facility and the third largest vaccine plant in the world.

28 Oct 2009

Experts release policy recommendations to promote better medication adherence and health outcomes

A diverse group of health care and consumer organizations released five policy recommendations this week that are designed to promote better medication adherence and improved health outcomes for patients.

28 Oct 2009

Internet-based diet and exercise program shows promise in lowering healthcare costs

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) have shown that an employer-sponsored, internet-based diet and exercise program shows promise as a low-cost benefit to lower healthcare costs for those at higher risk for above-average costs and healthcare utilization such as cardiac, hyperlipidemia, hypertension or diabetes patients.

28 Oct 2009

HMSMobile Swine Flu Center application to provide information on H1N1 virus introduced

The HMSMobile Swine Flu Center, a new iPhone application developed by the Harvard Health Publications Division of Harvard Medical School, is now available for purchase in the iTunes store.

28 Oct 2009

The stakes are high for the top Medicare job

Reuters reports that health care overhaul currently being considered in Congress "elevates the job of running the government's $700-billion Medicare agency to new heights and all but guarantees a political battle over filling the post."

28 Oct 2009

Global health promotion conference begins in Kenya, maternal mortality addressed

At the 7th Global Conference on Health Promotion, which kicked off in Kenya on Monday, participants discussed reducing maternal mortality and the related Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the Daily Nation reports. According to the newspaper, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki "said that globally, the number of maternal deaths had … risen to 536,000 per year, translating to one death per minute."

27 Oct 2009

New York Times examines journal editorial on neglected tropical diseases in Islamic nations

The New York Times examines the conclusions drawn in a recent PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases editorial that the Islamic world is suffering from a "devastating burden" of neglected tropical diseases.

27 Oct 2009

Consumer health informatics applications help patients to better manage their health care

Electronic tools and technology applications for consumers can help improve health care processes, such as adherence to medication and clinical outcomes like smoking cessation, according to a report by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

27 Oct 2009

Senators draw lines around a handful of swing voters

Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both Maine Republicans, have been in the spotlight this year because of their ability to cross party lines with political impunity, Politico reports. Collins took the lead in negotiating a stimulus bill in February that drew three GOP votes, including Snowe's. Snowe is now at the center of the health reform debate.

27 Oct 2009

SDC-based hard surface disinfectant is effective against the 2009 H1N1

PURE Bioscience, creators of the patented silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) antimicrobial, announced today that its SDC-based hard surface disinfectant is effective against the 2009 H1N1 and is included on the list published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of antimicrobial products effective against the 2009 H1N1 flu strain based on their effectiveness against other influenza A virus strains.

27 Oct 2009

Climate change and public health: only fives states have published public health response plans, says study

Trust for America's Health (TFAH) released a new report today that finds only five states have published a strategic climate change plan that includes a public health response. This includes planning for health challenges and emergencies expected to develop from natural disasters, pollution, and infectious diseases as temperatures and sea levels rise.

27 Oct 2009

Boston Medical Center deploys Fusionfx Immunization Management portal to manage H1N1 vaccination

Acknowledging the critical role of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines in ensuring the safety and efficacy of H1N1 vaccinations, Carefx Corporation, a leading provider of interoperable workflow solutions to advance the quality and safety of patient care, today announced that Boston Medical Center (BMC) has deployed the Fusionfx Immunization Management portal designed to enter and track H1N1 vaccination administration history and support broad, community-wide immunization administration tracking.

27 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 27, 2009

Based on today's headlines, it's fair to say that -- at least for the Senate -- it's all about Majority Leader Harry Reid's announcement regarding the public option.

27 Oct 2009

One in five young teens has high blood pressure; elevated cholesterol levels increasing at alarming rate

A seven-year ongoing study examining over 20,000 Canadian grade 9 students shows most already have at least one major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, Dr. Brian McCrindle told the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2009, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

27 Oct 2009

USAID and USP join to combat substandard and counterfeit medicines

With substandard and counterfeit versions of medicines intended to treat life-threatening diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis posing a growing threat throughout the developing world, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) will expand their joint efforts to combat this menace by launching a new program over the next five years.

27 Oct 2009

Genomics can provide insights in understanding emerging infectious disease

This week, the Public Library of Science, an open-access publisher, presents the "Genomics of Emerging Infectious Disease," a collection of essays, perspectives, and reviews that explores how genomics-with all its associated tools and techniques-can provide insights into our understanding of emerging infectious disease.

27 Oct 2009

Driving restrictions for heart patients after angioplasty

More than half of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) don't get any counselling on their ability to drive after angioplasty - and this could be putting lives in danger, Dr. Ravi Bajaj told the 2009 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

27 Oct 2009

Protein crucial for insulin regulation may play a role in diabetes

A cellular protein from a family involved in several human diseases is crucial for the proper production and release of insulin, new research has found, suggesting that the protein might play a role in diabetes.

27 Oct 2009

FDA files complaint against sandwich manufacturer; company allegedly failed to correct violations

The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has filed a complaint for permanent injunction against Rel's Foods Inc. (Rel's), of Oakland, Calif., seeking to stop the company from manufacturing, producing, and selling adulterated food products.

27 Oct 2009

Public Health News and Research

Dementia patients face higher risk of flu mortality; refine guidelines needed for testing and vaccination policies

Microbix and Hunan Biopharmaceutical to build $200-million influenza vaccine facility

Experts release policy recommendations to promote better medication adherence and health outcomes

Internet-based diet and exercise program shows promise in lowering healthcare costs

HMSMobile Swine Flu Center application to provide information on H1N1 virus introduced

The stakes are high for the top Medicare job

Global health promotion conference begins in Kenya, maternal mortality addressed

New York Times examines journal editorial on neglected tropical diseases in Islamic nations

Consumer health informatics applications help patients to better manage their health care

Senators draw lines around a handful of swing voters

SDC-based hard surface disinfectant is effective against the 2009 H1N1

Climate change and public health: only fives states have published public health response plans, says study

Boston Medical Center deploys Fusionfx Immunization Management portal to manage H1N1 vaccination

First Edition: October 27, 2009

One in five young teens has high blood pressure; elevated cholesterol levels increasing at alarming rate

USAID and USP join to combat substandard and counterfeit medicines

Genomics can provide insights in understanding emerging infectious disease

Driving restrictions for heart patients after angioplasty

Protein crucial for insulin regulation may play a role in diabetes

FDA files complaint against sandwich manufacturer; company allegedly failed to correct violations

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