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Moms more likely to use TV to entertain and soothe fussy infants

Moms, especially those who are obese, are more likely to use TV to entertain and soothe infants who are more fussy and active, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The finding adds to the growing body of knowledge that may help explain the escalating rate of obesity and inactivity in U.S. children, and has led to behavioral and educational strategies that may help mothers combat these effects.

9 Jan 2013

RPB honors Mass. Eye and Ear ophthalmologist with Senior Scientific Investigator Award

Reza Dana, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc. of Mass. Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School, was awarded the Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) Senior Scientific Investigator Award in the amount of $150,000 to support research into the causes, treatment and prevention of blinding diseases.

9 Jan 2013

Glycan released by parasites might help treat metabolic disorders associated with obesity

On the list of undesirable medical conditions, a parasitic worm infection surely ranks fairly high. Although modern pharmaceuticals have made them less of a threat in some areas, these organisms are still a major cause of disease and disability throughout much of the developing world.

9 Jan 2013

Metabolic stress can increase onset of atrial fibrillation

Researchers have found new evidence that metabolic stress can increase the onset of atrial arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation (AF), a common heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate.

9 Jan 2013

Tibial artery calcification predicts foot ulceration

Tibial artery calcification is a significant risk factor for foot ulcers in patients with Type 2 diabetes, research suggests.

9 Jan 2013

Risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity identified

Birthweight and gestational age are risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity and should be considered when screening infants for the condition, a study by Turkish researchers shows.

9 Jan 2013

Competing anesthesiology demands cause missed signals

Competing visual demands and high background noise increase the risk for anesthesiologists missing pulse oximeter pitch changes, shows research.

9 Jan 2013

Cerebrospinal fluid IL-6 increased in schizophrenia

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of interleukin-6 are significantly increased in patients with schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, Japanese study results show.

9 Jan 2013

ADHD symptoms may influence bipolar disorder course

Comorbid attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is common in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), and is associated with more mixed states, more severe psychopathology, and more impaired family functioning, Italian researchers report.

9 Jan 2013

Discussing patients’ end-of-life wishes ‘key’ in Huntington’s

Discussing end-of-life issues with patients suffering from Huntington’s disease is a key responsibility for physicians, say Dutch researchers.

9 Jan 2013

First Edition: January 9, 2013

Kaiser Health News staff writer Ankita Rao reports: "While most health-related deals on sites like Groupon and Living Social are for cosmetic procedures like Botox, providers also offer everyday medical, vision and dental services. Health and medical deals make up about 5 to 10 percent of the online coupon industry, according to Unaiz Kabani, data product manager at Yipit, a service that aggregates companies' daily deals"

9 Jan 2013

Improving access to medical abortion

"In many countries, government policies, and societal practices do not uphold women's right not to continue a pregnancy and women with unwanted pregnancies are forced into motherhood," but "[f]ortunately for women, ... abortion with pills, also known as medical abortion (MA), provides a safe, low-cost and easy to use method to terminate pregnancies," Leila Hessini and Alyson Hyman of Ipas write in an RH Reality Check post.

9 Jan 2013

USAID blog examines WFP cash transfer program in Zimbabwe

A video report in USAID's "IMPACTblog" examines a cash transfer program in Zimbabwe, where, following a drought this year, "the numbers needing food assistance will rise to nearly 1.6 million people in coming months."

9 Jan 2013

High court turns away challenge to Obama administration stem cell policy

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case involving Medicaid and malpractice awards. In addition, the justices rejected an appeal from Social Security recipients who don't want Medicare benefits.

9 Jan 2013

Sebelius, Fla. Gov. Scott have health care chat with no immediate results

A meeting Monday between HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Florida Gov. Rick Scott on the health care law didn't seem to yield any immediate results on whether the GOP governor will implement parts of the law, but his willingness to meet may signal he is willing to do just that.

9 Jan 2013

Judge orders trial on Kan. law restricting insurance coverage for abortions

A federal judge turned down the ACLU's request to summarily invalidate the measure, but said the issues must be adjudicated at trial.

9 Jan 2013

Kingston University professor receives prestigious prize for work on drug metabolism

The Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing at London's Kingston University has received a prestigious prize recognising her lifetime's work on drug metabolism.

9 Jan 2013

Sandy Hook shooting changes lobbying dynamics for guns and mental health

The Washington Post reports on how the recent Sandy Hook shooting has altered the lobbying landscape regarding gun rights and mental health issues.

9 Jan 2013

Antibiotics produce changes in microbial and metabolic patterns of the gut

A study co-led by researchers at the Universitat de València reveals that antibiotics produce changes in the microbial and metabolic patterns of the gut.

9 Jan 2013

'Kangaroo Mother Care' helping infants survive in middle-, low-income countries

Jennifer James, the founder of Mom Bloggers for Social Good who traveled last month with Save the Children to observe their work in Ethiopia, writes in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Impatient Optimists" blog, "I was heartened to see that both hospitals we visited, Black Lion hospital in Addis Ababa and Bishoftu hospital in Debre Zeyit, had a dedicated 'Kangaroo Mother Care' (the practice of wrapping ones' baby to ones' bare chest and breastfeeding exclusively) unit."

9 Jan 2013