Health Disparities News and Research

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Health disparities (also called healthcare inequality in some countries) refer to gaps in the quality of health and health care across racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and socioeconomic groups.

New Jersey ranked last in efforts to control smoking and tobacco use by children

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a coalition of public health organizations, has ranked New Jersey 51 in the nation, including Washington D.C., in protecting children from smoking and tobacco use.

27 Dec 2013

Periodic meetings with lactation consultant improves chances of breastfeeding

In two separate clinical trials, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have found that periodic meetings with a lactation consultant encourages women traditionally resistant to breastfeeding to do so, at least for a few months—long enough for mother and child to gain health benefits.

20 Dec 2013

Joint initiative aims to eradicate health disparities among communities of color in the U.S.

The world's first and largest group medical practice and one of the nation's premier volunteer service organizations of professional African American women are joining forces to eradicate health disparities among communities of color in the United States. Mayo Clinic and The Links, Incorporated have established a formal collaboration that aims to develop a more diverse health care workforce.

20 Dec 2013

Researchers receive Special Challenge Award to investigate role of high protein levels in prostate tumors

Cleveland Clinic, along with the National Cancer Institute, the University of Chicago and Thomas Jefferson University, are the recipients of a $600,000 Special Challenge Award from the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) to investigate the role of abnormally high protein levels in prostate tumors.

18 Dec 2013

Illinois healthcare coalition receives $7M grant to establish research network to battle chronic illnesses

Governor Quinn today announced that a coalition of 20 health and hospital organizations from Illinois has been awarded an 18-month, $7million federal award to establish a clinical data research network.

17 Dec 2013

New UCSF-led study links obesity to development of chronic kidney disease

A new UCSF-led study of nearly 3,000 individuals links obesity to the development of kidney disease. The work also shows that, when properly measured, declines in kidney function are detectable long before the emergence of other obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

14 Dec 2013

Despite lower socioeconomic status, immigrants often in better health than their naturalized counterparts

Health disparities research has frequently focused on the "health immigration paradox", which finds that recent Latino immigrants are often in better health than their naturalized counterparts, despite lower socioeconomic status. Little previous research has focused on the health status of foreign-born people over the age of 50, who make up over a third of all immigrants.

13 Dec 2013

Boys who grow up in two-parent homes less likely to have high blood pressure as adults

In a study of African-American men, researchers from the National Institutes of Health found that boys who grew up in two-parent homes were less likely to have high blood pressure as adults compared to those raised by a single parent. Reported in the Dec. 12, 2013, issue of the journal Hypertension, this is the first study of an African-American population to document an association between childhood family living arrangements and blood pressure.

13 Dec 2013

First Edition: December 12, 2013

Today's headlines include ongoing coverage of the health law's implementation -- from details of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' Wednesday Capitol Hill appearance and more information about the most recent enrollment numbers to analysis of policy issues related to the overhaul.

12 Dec 2013

HSET protein could help doctors identify aggressive breast cancers in African-American patients

African-American women who get breast cancer often get more aggressive forms of the disease and at younger ages than other women.

12 Dec 2013

Researchers uncover biological factor that may contribute to disparities in prostate cancer incidence

Researchers have uncovered a potential biological factor that may contribute to disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality between African-American and non-Hispanic white men in the United States, according to results presented here at the Sixth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held Dec. 6-9.

9 Dec 2013

Low-income women less likely to receive breast cancer treatment

Women with interruptions in health insurance coverage or with low income levels had a significantly increased likelihood of failing to receive breast cancer care that is in concordance with recommended treatment guidelines, according to results presented here at the Sixth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held Dec. 6-9.

9 Dec 2013

Study helps explain why survival gap persists for African-Americans with head and neck cancer

A team of scientists at Johns Hopkins and in Texas has identified a handful of genetic mutations in black Americans, in addition to some chemical alterations affecting gene activity, which may help explain why the death rate among African-Americans from the most common form of head and neck cancer continues to hover some 18 percent higher above the death rate of whites with the same cancer.

9 Dec 2013

Increased levels of protein HSET linked with worse breast cancer outcomes in African-Americans

Among African-American women with breast cancer, increased levels of the protein HSET were associated with worse breast cancer outcomes, according to results presented here at the Sixth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held Dec. 6-9.

9 Dec 2013

People lack knowledge about efficacy of HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer

Knowledge about the efficacy of the human papillomavirus vaccine in preventing cervical cancer was lacking in the majority of survey respondents for whom the information would be relevant, according to results presented here at the Sixth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held Dec. 6-9.

9 Dec 2013

Study: Ethnic groups with high prevalence of diabetes have high hepatocellular carcinoma rates

Diabetes was associated with an increased risk for developing a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma, and this association was highest for Latinos, followed by Hawaiians, African-Americans, and Japanese-Americans, according to results presented here at the Sixth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held Dec. 6-9.

9 Dec 2013

Silverlink, UnitedHealthcare recognized for increasing colorectal cancer screenings among minorities

Silverlink Communications, Inc., and UnitedHealthcare's program to increase colorectal cancer screenings among minority populations earned the companies a 2013 Outstanding Leadership in Population Health Award from the Care Continuum Alliance at the recent CCA Forum 2013.

6 Dec 2013

Another government shutdown possible in coming months, say majority of Americans in poll

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Americans say it’s likely there will be another government shutdown in the months ahead as Congress continues to debate deficit and budget issues, according to a new national public opinion poll commissioned by Research!America and the American Society of Hematology.

4 Dec 2013

Study indicates that black neighborhoods have limited access to healthy foods

When it comes to health, you are what you eat, as the adage goes. But many Americans have little choice in the matter, with race being an even bigger determinant than poverty.

4 Dec 2013

Scientists investigate factors that influence choice of abused drugs

Prescription opioid abuse has reached epidemic levels in the past 15 years. Scientists investigating why people favor one drug over another have found that oxycodone and hydrocodone are the drugs of choice for 75% of opioid-dependent individuals.

3 Dec 2013

Health Disparities News and Research

Further Reading

New Jersey ranked last in efforts to control smoking and tobacco use by children

Periodic meetings with lactation consultant improves chances of breastfeeding

Joint initiative aims to eradicate health disparities among communities of color in the U.S.

Researchers receive Special Challenge Award to investigate role of high protein levels in prostate tumors

Illinois healthcare coalition receives $7M grant to establish research network to battle chronic illnesses

New UCSF-led study links obesity to development of chronic kidney disease

Despite lower socioeconomic status, immigrants often in better health than their naturalized counterparts

Boys who grow up in two-parent homes less likely to have high blood pressure as adults

First Edition: December 12, 2013

HSET protein could help doctors identify aggressive breast cancers in African-American patients

Researchers uncover biological factor that may contribute to disparities in prostate cancer incidence

Low-income women less likely to receive breast cancer treatment

Study helps explain why survival gap persists for African-Americans with head and neck cancer

Increased levels of protein HSET linked with worse breast cancer outcomes in African-Americans

People lack knowledge about efficacy of HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer

Study: Ethnic groups with high prevalence of diabetes have high hepatocellular carcinoma rates

Silverlink, UnitedHealthcare recognized for increasing colorectal cancer screenings among minorities

Another government shutdown possible in coming months, say majority of Americans in poll

Study indicates that black neighborhoods have limited access to healthy foods

Scientists investigate factors that influence choice of abused drugs

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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