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Study shows SuperMum campaign improves handwashing behaviour

An analysis of a unique “SuperMum” handwashing campaign shows for the first time that using emotional motivators, such as feelings of disgust and nurture, rather than health messages, can result in significant, long-lasting improvements in people’s handwashing behaviour, and could in turn help to reduce the risk of infectious diseases.

4 Mar 2014

Health reform gives people with history of jail time access to continuous health care

Under the Affordable Care Act, an estimated 4 million people who have spent time in jail will have better access to health coverage for conditions that might-if left untreated-result in higher health care costs and an increased risk of recidivism.

4 Mar 2014

RAND study ignores data pointing to success of PCMH care model, say physicians

Pennsylvania's physicians say a new study by researchers at the RAND Corporation in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) ignores the wealth of recent data pointing to the success of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) care model that gives patients more control of their health care.

4 Mar 2014

New federal standards increase consumption of fruits and vegetables

New federal standards launched in 2012 that require schools to offer healthier meals have led to increased fruit and vegetable consumption, according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers.

4 Mar 2014

Crates and buckets encourage children to be more active, creative than expensive play equipment

Cheap items like crates and buckets encourage children to be more active and creative than expensive play equipment, researchers have found.

4 Mar 2014

Novel scaffold protein regulates mu opioid receptor induced signaling activation

Researchers found initial confirmation that a novel scaffold protein previously unassociated with the mu opioid receptor (MOR) regulates MOR-induced signaling activation.

4 Mar 2014

Outbursts of anger may trigger heart attacks and strokes, shows study

Outbursts of anger may trigger heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems in the two hours immediately afterwards, according to the first study to systematically evaluate previous research into the link between the extreme emotion and all cardiovascular outcomes.

4 Mar 2014

Study examines effects of pay-for-performance-reimbursing health care in China's Ningxia Province

Pay-for-performance-reimbursing health care providers based on the results they achieved with their patients as a way to improve quality and efficiency-has become a major component of health reforms in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other affluent countries. Although the approach has also become popular in the developing world, there has been little evaluation of its impact.

4 Mar 2014

Hangovers following drinking episode appear to have modest effect on subsequent drinking

Many if not most people during their lives have experienced a hangover. Some people believe that hangovers might delay subsequent drinking through pain and discomfort, or perhaps hasten drinking to relieve hangover symptoms, known as "the hair of the dog."

4 Mar 2014

Study finds significant reduction in hospital admissions with Medicare Part D prescription coverage

A new study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Illinois at Chicago finds that Medicare Part D prescription coverage significantly reduced hospital admissions and program expenditures totaling $1.5 billion annually.

4 Mar 2014

Study shows older moderate drinkers who binge drink may have greater mortality

Numerous studies have highlighted the purported association between moderate drinking and reduced mortality. However, these analyses have focused overwhelmingly on average consumption, a measure that masks diverse, underlying drinking patterns such as weekend heavy episodic or binge drinking.

4 Mar 2014

UT Southwestern Medical Center opens new Texas Institute for Brain Injury and Repair

UT Southwestern Medical Center today launched the new Texas Institute for Brain Injury and Repair, a state-funded initiative to promote innovative research and education, with the goals of accelerating translation into better diagnosis and revolutionizing care for millions of people who suffer brain injuries each year.

4 Mar 2014

Angry outbursts increase heart attack risk

Call it what you will - getting red in the face, hot under the collar, losing your cool, blowing your top - we all experience anger. And while we know that anger is a normal, sometimes even beneficial emotion, we're also aware of the often harmful connection between anger and health. New research from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical shows an even more compelling reason to think about getting anger in check - a nearly fivefold increase in risk for heart attack in the two hours following outbursts of anger.

4 Mar 2014

New research uncovers abnormal molecular signaling pathways for kidney failure

Prevention and reversal of chronic kidney disease is an urgent public health need. The disease affects 1 in 10 Americans, is debilitating and deadly, and existing drugs, at best, offer only mild delay in progression to end-stage kidney failure.

4 Mar 2014

Active video gaming increases physical activity and reduces excess weight among obese children

Research published online today by the scientific journal JAMA Pediatrics demonstrates that including active video gaming in a 16-week pediatric obesity intervention program resulted in a clinically significant increase in physical activity and a reduction in excess weight among overweight and obese children. The research will be published in the May issue of the journal.

4 Mar 2014

People with learning disabilities have lower life expectancy, suffer physical disabilities, chronic conditions

People with learning (intellectual) disabilities have a lower life expectancy than the general population and are more likely to suffer physical disabilities and chronic conditions.

3 Mar 2014

Researchers underscore the need to curb designer drug use

In the span of a decade, Canada has gone from ecstasy importer to global supplier of the illegal party drug.

3 Mar 2014

Storytelling can help doctors recall opioid guidelines

In the fight against a nationwide prescription opioid abuse epidemic, Penn Medicine researchers are using storytelling to help doctors recall important, potentially lifesaving national guidelines on how to prescribe these medications.

3 Mar 2014

Despite prevention strategies, suicide rates among young men remain high

Suicide among young men is a major public health concern in many countries, despite great efforts to find effective prevention strategies.

3 Mar 2014

Higher intake of fish increases number of large HDL particles, says study

Increasing the intake of fatty fish increases the number of large HDL particles, according to a recent study completed at the University of Eastern Finland. People who increased their intake of fish to a minimum of 3-4 weekly meals had more large HDL particles in their blood than people who are less frequent eaters of fish.

3 Mar 2014

Public Health News and Research

Study shows SuperMum campaign improves handwashing behaviour

Health reform gives people with history of jail time access to continuous health care

RAND study ignores data pointing to success of PCMH care model, say physicians

New federal standards increase consumption of fruits and vegetables

Crates and buckets encourage children to be more active, creative than expensive play equipment

Novel scaffold protein regulates mu opioid receptor induced signaling activation

Outbursts of anger may trigger heart attacks and strokes, shows study

Study examines effects of pay-for-performance-reimbursing health care in China's Ningxia Province

Hangovers following drinking episode appear to have modest effect on subsequent drinking

Study finds significant reduction in hospital admissions with Medicare Part D prescription coverage

Study shows older moderate drinkers who binge drink may have greater mortality

UT Southwestern Medical Center opens new Texas Institute for Brain Injury and Repair

Angry outbursts increase heart attack risk

New research uncovers abnormal molecular signaling pathways for kidney failure

Active video gaming increases physical activity and reduces excess weight among obese children

People with learning disabilities have lower life expectancy, suffer physical disabilities, chronic conditions

Researchers underscore the need to curb designer drug use

Storytelling can help doctors recall opioid guidelines

Despite prevention strategies, suicide rates among young men remain high

Higher intake of fish increases number of large HDL particles, says study

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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