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Michigan newborn blood spot data to help understand causes of celebral palsy

A statewide team of researchers led by a Michigan State University epidemiologist are hoping Michigan's archive of newborn blood spots will help them uncover the causes of cerebral palsy, the most common disabling motor disorder in children with annual health costs of $12 billion.

2 Sep 2009

Single-dose H1N1 vaccine wins approval in China

The Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech Ltd. on Monday announced its H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine won the approval of a panel of experts from China's State Food and Drug Administration, the Associated Press/Forbes reports. The company expects to obtain a production license later this week. According to the company, clinical trials of the H1N1 vaccine showed a single shot produced an immune response capable of protecting against H1N1 (8/31).

2 Sep 2009

Population growth in cities exacerbates transmission of dengue

"The rapid growth of crowded cities has helped spread and increase the transmission of dengue around the world, health experts said on Tuesday, warning up to 3 billion people were already at risk," Reuters reports.

2 Sep 2009

The Leverhulme Trust funds researchers for understanding the relationship between agricultural production and population health

Pioneering researchers coordinated by the London International Development Centre (LIDC) have won approximately £3.5m to address the global food security crisis by investigating the neglected links between agriculture and health. Their programme, funded by The Leverhulme Trust, bridges traditional disciplines and aims to create a new holistic paradigm for understanding the relationship between agricultural production and population health.

2 Sep 2009

Condoms reduce risk of herpes simplex virus 2

Condom use is associated with a reduced risk of contracting herpes simplex virus 2, according to a report based on pooled analysis of data from previous studies in the July 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

2 Sep 2009

House Democrats investigating whether insurers unfairly drop small business coverage

Henry Waxman sent letters Monday to insurers seeking information on how they decide coverage for small businesses after alleging that they drop coverage for smaller firms whose employees get ill.

2 Sep 2009

Eye disease medication lowers death rate among Ethiopian children

Children in Ethiopia who received the antibiotic azithromycin as a method for controlling the contagious eye disease trachoma had a lower odds of death compared to children who did not receive the antibiotic, according to a study in the September 2 issue of JAMA.

2 Sep 2009

New computer software capable of sifting through hundreds of cancer causing genetic mutations

Johns Hopkins engineers have devised innovative computer software that can sift through hundreds of genetic mutations and highlight the DNA changes that are most likely to promote cancer.

1 Sep 2009

Brisk walking avoids obesity

Men and women who walk or ride a bike to work appear more fit, and men are less likely to be overweight or obese and have healthier triglyceride levels, blood pressure and insulin levels, according to a report in the July 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

1 Sep 2009

Health care ad blitz expected to ramp up

Many of the statements made in health care TV ads are "misleading - if not flat-out wrong," The San Francisco Chronicle reports. Those statements include claims that reform would "'ration' care to the nation's oldest citizens and hike premiums '95 percent.'" Already, more that $67 million has been spent on TV advertising, according to Campaign Media Analysis Group, "and more misinformation and nastiness is expected when Congress returns next week."

1 Sep 2009

Fox Chase becomes the seventh cancer center to receive the CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation

Fox Chase Cancer Center has received CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ accreditation, recognizing the organization’s commitment to the health of their employees and family members by certifying their efforts to meet an exceptionally high standard of cancer prevention, screening and care guidelines.

1 Sep 2009

Dr. Raman Bedi to exclusively represent Oragenics' oral care products

Florida-based biopharmaceutical leader Oragenics, Inc. has appointed renowned international oral care authority Dr. Raman Bedi to serve as exclusive representative for the company’s award-winning line of oral care products to the Middle East.

1 Sep 2009

USAction affiliates to participate in rallies in support of affordable health care

As Congress prepares to return to work, USAction affiliates and partner organizations are participating in at least 102 rallies and other events in 20 states in support of quality, affordable health care with a public health insurance option.

1 Sep 2009

State wrap: Mental illness in Arizona, stimulus "windfall" in Texas, Medicaid expansion in Nebraska

Local newspapers report on health care issues including mental health in Arizona, the stimulus "windfall" in Texas and a family health insurance plan in Nebraska.

1 Sep 2009

VBI researcher receives grant from NIGMS for developing network-based models of infectious diseases

A researcher from the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech has received a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to support ongoing work to develop high-performance computer models for the study of very large networks.

1 Sep 2009

Study establishes link between workplace bullying and increased sleep disturbances

A study in the Sept.1 issue of the journal SLEEP shows that current or past exposure to workplace bullying is associated with increased sleep disturbances. Associations also were found between observed bullying and sleep disruption, indicating that bullying has detrimental effects even when it is experienced indirectly.

1 Sep 2009

New clinical predictors required to determine future asthma attacks

Screening tests used to predict asthma activity in patients may have little tracking success when applied to people with persistent disease who are adhering to their health care regimens, UT Southwestern Medical Center physician report.

1 Sep 2009

Gates Foundation task force visits flooded Indian state

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently sent an eight member task force, led by the foundation's country head Ashok Alexander, to the Indian state of Bihar, which has experienced significant flooding in many districts, PTI/Hindu reports (8/30). "With major rivers in spate, there is no let up in the overall flood situation in Bihar where 1.5 million people continue to reel under the deluge in 11 north Bihar districts," according to PTI (8/30).

1 Sep 2009

Gates Foundation appoints new HIV program head

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently announced that Stefano Bertozzi will head up its HIV programs starting August 31, the Puget Sound Business Journal reports (8/27).

1 Sep 2009

Low level exposure to carbon dioxide leads to increased risk of hospitalization in older people

Exposure to carbon monoxide, even at levels well below national limits, is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for the elderly with heart problems, according to a study published today in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

1 Sep 2009

Public Health News and Research

Michigan newborn blood spot data to help understand causes of celebral palsy

Single-dose H1N1 vaccine wins approval in China

Population growth in cities exacerbates transmission of dengue

The Leverhulme Trust funds researchers for understanding the relationship between agricultural production and population health

Condoms reduce risk of herpes simplex virus 2

House Democrats investigating whether insurers unfairly drop small business coverage

Eye disease medication lowers death rate among Ethiopian children

New computer software capable of sifting through hundreds of cancer causing genetic mutations

Brisk walking avoids obesity

Health care ad blitz expected to ramp up

Fox Chase becomes the seventh cancer center to receive the CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation

Dr. Raman Bedi to exclusively represent Oragenics' oral care products

USAction affiliates to participate in rallies in support of affordable health care

State wrap: Mental illness in Arizona, stimulus "windfall" in Texas, Medicaid expansion in Nebraska

VBI researcher receives grant from NIGMS for developing network-based models of infectious diseases

Study establishes link between workplace bullying and increased sleep disturbances

New clinical predictors required to determine future asthma attacks

Gates Foundation task force visits flooded Indian state

Gates Foundation appoints new HIV program head

Low level exposure to carbon dioxide leads to increased risk of hospitalization in older people

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