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Global economic downturn increases malnutrition, death rates among African children, U.N. assessment indicates

The global economic downturn is "raising malnutrition and death rates among Africa's children" and restricting their access to health care, according to a U.N. assessment released ahead of a G20 leaders meeting later this month that will focus on ways to minimize the effect of the downturn on the world's poorest people, VOA News reports.

3 Sep 2009

Scientists demonstrate the link between cancer and diesel fumes

Scientists here are the first to demonstrate that the link between diesel fume exposure and cancer lies in the ability of diesel exhaust to induce the growth of new blood vessels that serve as a food supply for solid tumors.

2 Sep 2009

Third-quarter fiscal 2009 results announced by Synovis Life Technologies

Synovis Life Technologies Reports Record Revenue Of $15 Million For The Third Quarter Of Fiscal 2009

2 Sep 2009

Healthcare promises to be a sound investment

Amazing medical advancements are made almost every year and Americans are more health-conscious than they've ever been before. As a result, people are living longer lives. While that is unarguably a good thing, the combination of an aging population and new medical discoveries has created a huge demand for healthcare professionals.

2 Sep 2009

Pathogenic microbes can suppress immune system in newborns

Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a bacterial pathogen that causes sepsis and meningitis in newborn infants, is able to shut down immune cell function in order to promote its own survival, according to researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

2 Sep 2009

Union leaders hope to restore relevance in push for health reform

"The man expected to become the AFL-CIO's next president said Monday that lawmakers would pay a political price if they abandon a government-run option in any health care overhaul. 'We need to be a labor movement that stands by our friends, punishes its enemies and challenges those who, well, can't seem to decide which side they're on,' said Richard Trumka, currently the AFL-CIO's secretary-treasurer."

2 Sep 2009

Michigan newborn blood spot data to help understand causes of celebral palsy

A statewide team of researchers led by a Michigan State University epidemiologist are hoping Michigan's archive of newborn blood spots will help them uncover the causes of cerebral palsy, the most common disabling motor disorder in children with annual health costs of $12 billion.

2 Sep 2009

Daylight saving impairs sleep and increases workplace risks

Every March, most Americans welcome the switch to daylight saving time because of the longer days, but also dread losing an hour of sleep after they move their clocks forward. Now a new study shows that losing just an hour of sleep could pose some dangerous consequences for those in hazardous work environments.

2 Sep 2009

Rodents may serve as useful models to interpret parent-offspring relationships

Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, have demonstrated that prairie voles may be a useful model in understanding the neurochemistry of social behavior. By influencing early social experience in prairie voles, researchers hope to gain greater insight into what aspects of early social experience drive diversity in adult social behavior.

1 Sep 2009

Senior citizens in Nevada to be affected by the recent House bill

A new American Health Care Association analysis of the pending House health reform bill, combined with the impact of a recently-enacted Medicare regulation cutting Medicare-funded nursing home care by $12 billion over 10 years, finds seniors in Nevada requiring nursing and rehabilitative care will face total funding cuts of $186 million over that same time period. Nationally, the study finds, seniors' Medicare cuts will total $44 billion over 10 years, prompting Nevada’s long term care community to warn that seniors' care needs are endangered by the House bill, as are the jobs of almost 200 caregivers in Nevada alone.

31 Aug 2009

Virginia Health Information publishes online guide containing information about obstetrical services in Virginia

Childbirth accounts for one in every four hospital discharges in Virginia. Virginia Health Information -- Virginia's source for health care data -- has published an updated, free, interactive online guide containing information on the quality and charges for obstetrical services in Virginia.

29 Aug 2009

Study reveals that the pending health reforms bill will affect senior citizens in Wyoming

A new American Health Care Association analysis of the pending House health reform bill, combined with the impact of a recently-enacted Medicare regulation cutting Medicare-funded nursing home care by $12 billion over ten years, finds seniors in Wyoming requiring nursing and rehabilitative care will face total funding cuts of nearly $60 million over that same time period. Nationally, the study finds, seniors’ Medicare cuts will total $44 billion over ten years, prompting Wyoming’s long term care community to warn that seniors’ care needs are endangered by the House bill, as are the jobs of caregivers and nursing home staff in Wyoming.

29 Aug 2009

Influence: A labor leader's return and the Blue Dogs' campaign cash

Health care lobbyists, industry groups and labor leaders continue to vie for influence as Washington braces for the health reform debate to return to town next month.

28 Aug 2009

Governor Schwarzenegger’s successful public private partnerships to help 2,000 students gain employment in the healthcare field

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s successful public private partnerships under the California Nurse Education Initiative and the Governor’s Allied Health Initiative will continue to expand and implement academic programs within the health care professions beginning August 2009.

28 Aug 2009

New study reveals that persistent job insecurity could pose a major threat to worker health

Persistent job insecurity poses a major threat to worker health, according to a new study published in the September issue of the peer-reviewed journal Social Science and Medicine.

28 Aug 2009

Kennedy death places leadership question mark on health care reform

NPR: "It was perhaps his biggest legislative disappointment that he hadn't managed to realize the goal of providing health insurance for every American. But along the way, he left a major mark on the nation's health care system" (Rovner, 8/26).

28 Aug 2009

Medgenics' EPODURE tissue Biopumps platform technology effective in maintaining hemoglobin levels

Medgenics is pleased to announce that one of the patients, who was treated with the Company’s EPODURE tissue Biopumps almost 11 months ago, continues to be effectively treated for anemia without a single erythropoietin (EPO) injection. This patient (#2) was dependent on frequent injections of the therapeutic protein (EPO) for the 18 months prior to receiving a single administration of 3 tiny EPODURE tissue Biopumps in the Company’s phase I/II anemia trial in Israel.

27 Aug 2009

First Edition: August 27, 2009

Today's news: Speculation begins regarding the impact Sen. Kennedy's death will have on the health reform debate and the Democrat's prospects for success.

27 Aug 2009

Lung Cancer Alliance condoles the death of Edward Kennedy

Laurie Fenton-Ambrose, President and CEO of Lung Cancer Alliance extended condolences to the family of Senator Edward Kennedy who died of brain cancer late last night.

27 Aug 2009

Medquist awarded the preferred vendor contract for Wellmont Health System's Enterprise Transcription project

MedQuist Inc. (Nasdaq: MEDQ), a leading provider of technology-enabled clinical documentation services, today announced that it has been awarded the preferred vendor contract by Wellmont Health System of Kingsport, Tennessee for enterprise medical transcription services, as well as for speech recognition in radiology. As part of the arrangement, MedQuist will offer employment to Wellmont's existing transcriptionists.

27 Aug 2009