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Research findings help explain diverse genetic susceptibility for alcohol use disorders

A genetic variant of a receptor in the brain's reward circuitry plays an important role in determining whether the neurotransmitter dopamine is released in the brain following alcohol intake, according to a study led by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health. Dopamine is involved in transmitting the euphoria and other positive subjective effects produced by alcohol.

19 May 2010

Two common operations for SUI help women achieve similar levels of dryness: Study

Two common operations for stress urinary incontinence help women achieve similar levels of dryness, according to a team of urologists and urogynecologists who compared the treatments in a large U.S. trial supported by the National Institutes of Health. The study is being released online May 17, 2010, by the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with a presentation at the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Results will appear in the June 3 print edition.

19 May 2010

GHESKIO awarded prestigious 2010 Gates Award for Global Health

GHESKIO, an institution in Haiti founded nearly three decades ago to fight a mysterious killer disease later identified as AIDS, has been awarded the prestigious 2010 Gates Award for Global Health for its years of groundbreaking clinical service, research and training to effectively treat and prevent the spread of the HIV/AIDS and other related illnesses.

19 May 2010

To sell plan, White House officials focus on four key aspects of health reform

White House officials eager to sell the most popular aspects of the health reform law are focusing on four areas to gain votes and popularity for key lawmakers ahead of November's midterm elections.

19 May 2010

WPI, Cerus announce positive results from study of INTERCEPT Blood System to inactivate XMRV

The Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease (WPI) and Cerus Corporation announced positive results from a study demonstrating the efficacy of the INTERCEPT Blood System to inactivate XMRV, a human retrovirus, in donated platelet components.

18 May 2010

ICF International awarded multi-year contract to support community action in reducing chronic disease

ICF International, a leading provider of consulting services and technology solutions to government and commercial clients, has been awarded a new $11.6 million multi-year contract by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to develop a resource center for broad-scale community action to reduce chronic disease.

18 May 2010

Insurance groups seek to limit health law damage with medical-loss ratio definitions

Insurance groups are wrangling with regulators on defining a few key terms that will significantly alter how they do business under the new health reform law.

18 May 2010

Emergent BioSolutions' anthrax monoclonal antibody IND for Phase I study clears FDA review

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced today that its Investigational New Drug (IND) application, to commence a Phase I clinical trial for its anthrax monoclonal antibody therapeutic, has cleared U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review. The Phase I study will evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of the company's fully human monoclonal antibody being developed as a parenteral post-exposure therapy for individuals who have symptoms of anthrax disease. In pre-clinical therapeutic studies, Emergent's monoclonal antibody was found to be effective.

17 May 2010

Early CPAP as effective for preemies as ventilator, with fewer complications: Study

Two findings from an NIH research network study provide new information on how much oxygen very preterm infants should receive starting on the first day of life and the most effective means to deliver it to them.

17 May 2010

SAMHSA awards three new TSA Center grants for $5.4M as part of National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is awarding three new Treatment and Services Adaptation (TSA) Center grants for a total of $5.4 million over three years. These new grants are part of SAMHSA's National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative.

15 May 2010

HHS announces $1 billion in Recovery Act awards for construction, repair and renovation of research facilities

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced one billion dollars of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds have been awarded to construct, repair and renovate scientific research laboratories and related facilities across the country. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) administered the grants, which are expected to create or sustain jobs nationwide and to help foster scientific advances that may lead to improved human health.

15 May 2010

Amerigroup expands services to seniors, people with disabilities in Tarrant County

Amerigroup Corporation today announced that its Texas health plan has won its bid to expand health care coverage to seniors and people with disabilities in Tarrant County (Fort Worth). The award was announced by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). It came as the result of a competitive two-region bidding process that increases the role of Amerigroup's Texas subsidiary in the STAR+PLUS program.

15 May 2010

Miami-area resident charged in $23M HIV infusion Medicare fraud scheme

A Miami-area resident who owned and operated an HIV infusion clinic was arrested today and charged for her alleged participation in a $23 million HIV infusion Medicare fraud scheme, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced.

15 May 2010

New research facility at Riley Hospital for Children to improve clinical research trials for children

A new research facility at Riley Hospital for Children will dramatically improve the process of turning the results of laboratory research into new treatments for sick children, federal and local officials said Friday.

15 May 2010

Computerized model for treating nicotine addiction wins first place at ISEF science competition

A project using cutting edge computer modeling to identify potential new medications for nicotine addiction won first place distinction at the annual Addiction Science Awards at this year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) --- the world's largest science competition for high school students.

15 May 2010

National study of factors related to unmet health needs among homeless people

The vast majority of homeless adults surveyed in a national study had trouble accessing at least one type of needed health care service in the preceding year, according to a study that will appear in the July American Journal of Public Health and is now available online.

15 May 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

As the 193 WHO member states gather at next week's World Health Assembly (WHA) "a draft global code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel will be on the agenda. Negotiation and adoption of a WHO code of practice is an unprecedented opportunity to advance global consensus to address the critical challenges of migration of health workers and its effect on health systems worldwide," the authors of a Lancet Comment write.

15 May 2010

GOP launches new challenge to health law with coordinated messaging

Republicans are starting a new bid to undermine Democratic attempts at touting a new health law. The GOP effort includes attacks on both President Barack Obama's pick to run Medicare and on claims that implementation is going smoothly.

15 May 2010

Obama administration cracks down on health care fraud

Modern Healthcare: "The government's efforts to rein in Medicare fraud and abuse recovered $2.5 billion for the program in fiscal 2009, up 29% from $1.9 billion the previous year, according to a new annual report. ... The $2.5 billion collected in fiscal 2009 is attributed to judgments and settlements in previous years as well as 2009, according to the report of the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program.

14 May 2010

SAMHSA grants nearly $8 million for program to reduce chronic homelessness

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced today that it is awarding up to four new grants totaling just under $8 million to local organizations working to prevent or reduce chronic homelessness in their communities. These grants are in addition to $81.5 million in grants awarded under this program in September 2009.

14 May 2010

Health and Human Services News and Research

Research findings help explain diverse genetic susceptibility for alcohol use disorders

Two common operations for SUI help women achieve similar levels of dryness: Study

GHESKIO awarded prestigious 2010 Gates Award for Global Health

To sell plan, White House officials focus on four key aspects of health reform

WPI, Cerus announce positive results from study of INTERCEPT Blood System to inactivate XMRV

ICF International awarded multi-year contract to support community action in reducing chronic disease

Insurance groups seek to limit health law damage with medical-loss ratio definitions

Emergent BioSolutions' anthrax monoclonal antibody IND for Phase I study clears FDA review

Early CPAP as effective for preemies as ventilator, with fewer complications: Study

SAMHSA awards three new TSA Center grants for $5.4M as part of National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative

HHS announces $1 billion in Recovery Act awards for construction, repair and renovation of research facilities

Amerigroup expands services to seniors, people with disabilities in Tarrant County

Miami-area resident charged in $23M HIV infusion Medicare fraud scheme

New research facility at Riley Hospital for Children to improve clinical research trials for children

Computerized model for treating nicotine addiction wins first place at ISEF science competition

National study of factors related to unmet health needs among homeless people

Recent releases in Global Health

GOP launches new challenge to health law with coordinated messaging

Obama administration cracks down on health care fraud

SAMHSA grants nearly $8 million for program to reduce chronic homelessness

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