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State highlights: L.A. County to trim new hire retiree benefits; lapses in state education for those with disabilities

Los Angeles County supervisors finalized reforms to health benefits for future employees Tuesday, in a move that is projected to save the county as much as $840 million over the next 30 years. Retiree health benefits became a sticking point in contentious labor negotiations last year. Although not technically part of the contract talks, unions objected to the proposal to reduce retiree benefits (Sewell, 6/24).

26 Jun 2014

CHOP launches Fetal Neuroprotection and Neuroplasticity Program

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia today launched the Fetal Neuroprotection and Neuroplasticity Program. Building on growing evidence of the interaction of heart disease and brain development in the fetus, this Program will systematically investigate innovative therapies to protect brain development and to prevent brain injury as early as possible before birth.

26 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 25, 2014

Today's headlines include a report about a recent analysis that finds new health plan enrollees are showing high rates of serious health conditions.

25 Jun 2014

Minnesota to use Elsevier DirectCourse curriculum to train direct care professionals

Elsevier, a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, announced today that the State of Minnesota will provide new online curricula from Elsevier DirectCourse to train those who support people with disabilities using long-term services and supports.

25 Jun 2014

Henry Ford launches clinical trial for treatment of tinnitus caused by noise trauma

Henry Ford Health System has launched a clinical trial to investigate a new drug for the treatment of tinnitus, a chronic ringing of the head or ears that affects more than 600 million people worldwide.

25 Jun 2014

$Regional anesthesia use for hip fracture surgery not associated with lower risk of death$

Regional anesthesia use for hip fracture surgery not associated with lower risk of death

Among more than 56,000 adults undergoing hip repair between 2004 and 2011, the use of regional anesthesia compared with general anesthesia was not associated with a lower risk of death at 30 days, but was associated with a modestly shorter length of hospital stay, according to a study in the June 25 issue of JAMA.

25 Jun 2014

State highlights: Texas immigrant surge brings health crisis

Large stores in California need not keep automated external defibrillators for customers who suffer heart attacks, the California Supreme Court decided. In a unanimous ruling Monday, the state's highest court said California law requires only that fitness centers have such potentially life-saving devices and encourages most public buildings to keep them (Dolan, 6/23).

25 Jun 2014

Texas slow to move those with disabilities out of institutions

Georgia also struggles to move the developmentally disabled out of state hospitals and into community residences, and in Wyoming, cuts are leaving some disabled people with fewer opportunities to get care.

24 Jun 2014

Engaging in physical activity before attempting weight loss helps protect MetS patients from muscle loss

Younger and older women tend to lose lean muscle mass, along with fat, unless they engage in physical activity before they attempt weight loss, a new study from Israel finds. The results were presented Sunday at the joint meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society: ICE/ENDO 2014 in Chicago.

24 Jun 2014

UK scientists unlock untapped genetic information to better understand Intellectual Disability in children

Teams of leading UK scientists have joined forces to unlock an untapped source of genetic information in a bid to better understand and treat children with Intellectual Disability. Experts from Cambridge, Cardiff, and UCL (University College London) will be given unprecedented access to genetic information on intellectual disability from NHS Regional Genetics Centres across the UK as part of a first phase study funded by the Medical Research Council and Medical Research Foundation.

24 Jun 2014

Low levels of testosterone decline physical function in elderly men

Elderly men with low levels of testosterone or other sex hormones have twice the likelihood of having declining physical function over two years' time compared with their peers who have the highest hormone levels, a new study from Australia finds.

23 Jun 2014

VA executives received high ratings before scandal

Data released at a congressional hearing shows that all of the 470 senior executives at the VA received annual ratings of "fully successful" over the past four years, even though the health system was having delays in processing compensation claims and veterans were having trouble getting access to care.

23 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 23, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including news stories about healthcare.gov management changes.

23 Jun 2014

Citizens urged to sign online petition for improved mental health services in Africa

This week Global Health Action has published "A Declaration on Mental Health in Africa: moving to implementation". The 25 original signatories, all leaders within global and mental health from Africa and other nations, call upon citizens and the mental health care community to add their names to an online petition to show support for the actions outlined.

19 Jun 2014

March of Dimes Canada, U of T sign deal to advance research in brain injuries, stroke

Today, March of Dimes Canada and the University of Toronto (U of T) signed a $1.5 million agreement to advance research in recovery from brain injuries and stroke, making the donation to the University the largest made by the national charitable organization in its over 60 year history.

19 Jun 2014

Genetic variants linked to race that explains risk of death among patients taking Plavix after heart attack

Researchers have identified the first genetic variations linked to race that begin to explain a higher risk of death among some African American and Caucasian patients taking the anti-clotting drug clopidogrel (Plavix) after a heart attack.

18 Jun 2014

Study shows similar outcomes between blast and nonblast-related brain injuries

Explosions are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries in veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. A new study shows that military personnel with mild brain trauma related to such blasts had outcomes similar to those with mild brain injury from other causes, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

18 Jun 2014

Evolution of multiple sclerosis treatments: an interview with Mike Panzara, Head of MS & Neurology Clinical Development, Genzyme

The last 20 years have been defined by progress and innovation in the multiple sclerosis (MS) field, with now 10 approved treatment options available for people living with relapsing MS, the most common form of the disease.

17 Jun 2014

Viewpoints: Could Congress sue Obama?; abortion coverage for Peace Corps volunteers

President Obama is setting a dangerous precedent by suspending his enforcement of laws on health care, immigration, drugs, banking and so much else, but the courts may soon be asked to throw a brushback pitch. .

17 Jun 2014

New computer models predict outcome of treatments for TBI

Most people who suffer a severe brain injury take years to recover - if they recover at all. But the right treatment in the crucial hours following an accident can make all the difference.

16 Jun 2014

Disability News and Research

State highlights: L.A. County to trim new hire retiree benefits; lapses in state education for those with disabilities

CHOP launches Fetal Neuroprotection and Neuroplasticity Program

First Edition: June 25, 2014

Minnesota to use Elsevier DirectCourse curriculum to train direct care professionals

Henry Ford launches clinical trial for treatment of tinnitus caused by noise trauma

Regional anesthesia use for hip fracture surgery not associated with lower risk of death

State highlights: Texas immigrant surge brings health crisis

Texas slow to move those with disabilities out of institutions

Engaging in physical activity before attempting weight loss helps protect MetS patients from muscle loss

UK scientists unlock untapped genetic information to better understand Intellectual Disability in children

Low levels of testosterone decline physical function in elderly men

VA executives received high ratings before scandal

First Edition: June 23, 2014

Citizens urged to sign online petition for improved mental health services in Africa

March of Dimes Canada, U of T sign deal to advance research in brain injuries, stroke

Genetic variants linked to race that explains risk of death among patients taking Plavix after heart attack

Study shows similar outcomes between blast and nonblast-related brain injuries

Evolution of multiple sclerosis treatments: an interview with Mike Panzara, Head of MS & Neurology Clinical Development, Genzyme

Viewpoints: Could Congress sue Obama?; abortion coverage for Peace Corps volunteers

New computer models predict outcome of treatments for TBI

Lab Matters host Harriet Gould on building a more connected lab community

The Critical Role of Sample Storage in Drug Discovery and Development

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

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