Public Health News and Research

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New web site dedicated to improving the accuracy of medical news stories

The Newcastle Institute of Public Health (NIPH) has launched a web site dedicated to improving the accuracy of news stories about new medical treatments in the media.

1 Jul 2004

Celiac disease may affect 3 million Americans, ten times higher than previous estimates

Celiac disease is considerably under-diagnosed, according to an independent consensus panel convened this week by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

1 Jul 2004

The medical use of marijuana

The medical use of marijuana enjoys wide public support. More than 70% of respondents to recent surveys agree that marijuana should be available medically. Sources: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Feb. 14-19, 2001 and The Gallup Poll. March 19-21, 1999.

30 Jun 2004

Women delay AIDS with vitamins B, C and E

Daily intake of multivitamins appears to delay the progress of the AIDS virus according to the results of a study of HIV infected women in Tanzania by Harvard researchers.

30 Jun 2004

Doctors call on the British Government to make all workplaces smokefree

Today (Wednesday 30 June) at the BMA's annual conference in Llandudno, Dr Peter Maguire signed a giant prescription form in front of 500 doctors calling on the Government to make all workplaces smokefree.

30 Jun 2004

States working to protect public health through fine particle standard

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) informed states and tribes of the status of counties as the country prepare to meet the nation's first fine particle (PM2.5) air quality standard.

29 Jun 2004

The full effects of passive smoking may have been underestimated

Passive smoking and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke: prospective study with cotinine measurement BMJ Online First.

29 Jun 2004

New £18M Medical Research Council facility

A new £18M Medical Research Council (MRC) facility to understand and compare the genetics of disease in mice and humans will be opened today, Wednesday 30 June, by Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science and Technology.

29 Jun 2004

On-screen smoking by movie stars leads young teens to smoke

Teenage girls who have never smoked, never even puffed on a cigarette, are far more likely to start smoking if their favorite movie star smokes in movies, according to a 3-year study

29 Jun 2004

12 sites testing a new vaccine to prevent anthrax

The phase II trial will evaluate the safety and immunogenic response of a new recombinant anthrax vaccine, known as rPA102. The vaccine candidate consists of recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA), a synthetic protein that induces antibodies designed to prevent illness by neutralizing anthrax toxins, and aluminum hydroxide to enhance the immune response.

29 Jun 2004

Study questions 20,000 people who worked in WTC towers

On Monday, May 24, invitations to complete a comprehensive questionnaire on the evacuation and fire safety practices of the WTC were mailed to 20,000 employees who worked in Towers 1 & 2 of the World Trade Center (WTC).

29 Jun 2004

Eleven states oppose mercury emissions proposal

Attorneys General and top environmental officials from eleven states joined today in formally opposing a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposal that would allow coal-fired power plants to escape Clean Air Act mandates that require them to reduce mercury emissions that threaten public health – particularly the health of children and pregnant women.

29 Jun 2004

PAHO urges countries to sign tobacco treaty prior to deadline

With just one day left before the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) closes for signature, the director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Mirta Roses, today urged PAHO's Member States to take advantage of the small window of opportunity remaining to sign the treaty.

29 Jun 2004

New Harvard website recommendations could help prevent over half of all chronic disease in the U.S.

Your Disease Risk offers users the chance to find out their risk of five of the most important diseases in the United States and get personalized tips for preventing them.

29 Jun 2004

The EU is contributing €9 million to the “Vigilance against Viral Resistance” (VIRGIL) project

Viruses’ growing resistance to drugs means diseases such as hepatitis B and C are increasingly difficult to treat. New pandemics may arise with unforeseeable consequences.

29 Jun 2004

California Attorney General says emissions plan fails to adequately protect air, public health

"Exposure to mercury can cause severe health damage, particularly to pregnant women and young children," said Lockyer. "If implemented, these rules will protect the profits of polluters at the expense of the environment, people and public health."

29 Jun 2004

First university-based research center devoted to studying epigenetics

With a $5 million, five-year federal grant, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is establishing what is believed to be the first university-based research center devoted to studying epigenetics

28 Jun 2004

A shameful record of exploitation throughout the history of the NHS

A shameful record of exploitation throughout the history of the NHS, with the UK reliant on other countries sending us doctors to meet our healthcare needs, was condemned today (Monday 28 June 2004) by the chairman of the British Medical Association, Mr James Johnson.

28 Jun 2004

New York study reveals that babies in the womb are more sensitive than their mothers to DNA damage from pollution

A new study of the effects of combustion-related air pollutants in New York City reveals that babies in the womb are more sensitive than their mothers to DNA damage from such pollution.

26 Jun 2004

Antibiotic use early in life does not increase the subsequent risk of asthma

Previous research has indicated that infections in early life may offer protection from developing asthma. Therefore, it has been suggested that antibiotics increase the risk of asthma by reducing the protective effect of infections or by interfering with normal bacterial flora in the gut.

26 Jun 2004