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Viewpoints: GOP's 'charge into the fixed bayonets;' Republican health plan is superior to Obama's; Congressional hypocrisy on its health policy

So House Republicans have passed and sent to the Senate a budget that includes no funding for the Affordable Care Act, setting up a political showdown that could result in a government shutdown. We wish the GOP luck, since we support the policy if not the strategy. But however this charge into the fixed bayonets turns out, we hope the folks who planned it will take responsibility for what happens now (9/23).

25 Sep 2013

Engineered nanomaterials inhalation negatively impacts gestational development in animal models

After a decade of rapidly growing industrial use, unimaginably tiny particles surround us everywhere, every day, in everything we do. Used in the manufacturing of cosmetics, clothing, paints, food, drug delivery systems and many other familiar products we all use daily, little is known about the effects these materials have on health.

25 Sep 2013

State highlights: N.C. Medicaid director resigns, heads to private sector; Ohio readies funding for new Medicaid computer system

Carol Steckel, the state's Medicaid director, is leaving after eight months on the job. Her departure is the latest in a string of high-profile departures from the Department of Health and Human Services, which has been plagued of late by personnel issues (Hoban, 9/23).

25 Sep 2013

Disturbances in body insulin levels linked with increased risk of obesity-related cancers

It is estimated that over a third of the new cancer cases expected to occur in the U.S. in 2013 will be related to overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition. Thanks to the work of one NYU Steinhardt researcher, we may better understand why.

25 Sep 2013

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center receives $48.6M grant from NCI

Broad, deep and outstanding research in cancer science, treatment and prevention have earned The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center a $48.6-million, five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute and an "exceptional" ranking, the highest possible, from the NCI's extensive peer-review process.

25 Sep 2013

Breastfeeding and personality: an interview with Dr Amy Brown

In the UK we've got quite a problem with breastfeeding. The government recommends that all women should breastfeed for six months, exclusively just breast milk, and then for up to a year and beyond. But quite a few women struggle in the UK. About 80% initiate breastfeeding but that drops off really quickly.

24 Sep 2013

Depression in cancer patients who receive RT can be identified by 2-item questionnaire

Cancer patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) who are potentially suffering from depression can be effectively identified by a two-item questionnaire, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

ACR journals publish guide that provides new treatments for children with systemic JIA

In the U.S., there are nearly 300,000 children with juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic illnesses according to estimates from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). For pediatric patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), effective treatment for this disabling disease is imperative.

24 Sep 2013

FDA approves revised labeling for Sapien Transcatheter Heart Valve

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved revised labeling for the Sapien Transcatheter Heart Valve, making the device available to an expanded group of patients who have inoperable aortic valve stenosis, a disease of the heart valves that causes narrowing of the aortic valve, restricting blood flow from the heart.

24 Sep 2013

Proton radiotherapy proves to be cost-effective in treating pediatric brain tumors

Proton therapy, an external beam radiotherapy in which protons deliver precise radiation doses to a tumor and spare healthy organs and tissues, is cost-effective in treating medulloblastomas, fast-growing brain tumors that mainly affect children, when compared to standard photon radiation therapy, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

FDA's final guidance outlines tailored approach to mobile medical apps

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued final guidance for developers of mobile medical applications, or apps, which are software programs that run on mobile communication devices and perform the same functions as traditional medical devices. The guidance outlines the FDA's tailored approach to mobile apps.

24 Sep 2013

Genes play meaningful role in sleep quality

Researchers have quantified the contribution genetics makes to sleep quality variation in a twin study of middle-aged men.

23 Sep 2013

European Commission and Japan approve once-daily dual bronchodilator Ultibro Breezhaler (QVA149) nearly simultaneously, for COPD patients

Novartis announced today that the European Commission approved once-daily Ultibro® Breezhaler® (indacaterol 85 mcg / glycopyrronium 43 mcg) as a maintenance bronchodilator treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) approved once-daily Ultibro® Inhalation Capsules (glycopyrronium 50 mcg / indacaterol 110 mcg), delivered through the Breezhaler® device, for relief of various symptoms due to airway obstruction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ultibro® Breezhaler® / Ultibro® Inhalation Capsules were developed under the name QVA149.

23 Sep 2013

Scientists one step closer to developing universal flu vaccine

Scientists have moved closer to developing a universal flu vaccine after using the 2009 pandemic as a natural experiment to study why some people seem to resist severe illness.

23 Sep 2013

Avon Foundation for Women launches competition to bring emerging breast cancer technologies to market

A world-wide competition to bring emerging breast cancer technologies to market is being launched by the Avon Foundation for Women, in partnership with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the NIH, and the Center for Advancing Innovation.

21 Sep 2013

FDA takes action to prevent food distribution from rodent and insect-infested facility

U.S. Marshals seized food products at Gourmet Provisions, LLC and Royal Cup, Inc., after U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigators found widespread and active rodent and insect infestation on the premises.

21 Sep 2013

UNC receives grants from FDA and NIH to establish Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill received two separate grants from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health today as part of an on-going interagency partnership. UNC will house two of 14 Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science, which are receiving a total of up to $53 million for tobacco-related research in fiscal year 2013.

21 Sep 2013

Mother who smoke during her pregnancy may transmit asthma to future generation

Asthma is a serious public health problem. An estimated 300 million people worldwide suffer from this sometimes deadly lung disease, a number expected to increase to 400 million by 2025. One well-established risk factor for asthma is having a mother who smoked during her pregnancy.

21 Sep 2013

Fingerstick blood sample test using i-STAT device not accurate in determining troponin level: Study

Researchers have determined that fingerstick cardiac troponin I assay testing using thepoint-of-care i-STAT device is not accurate enough to determine the exact troponin level without the application of a corrective term.

21 Sep 2013

Study suggests new way to prevent weight gain and obesity

The same message to everyone does not work if the goal is to prevent overweight and obesity in the population. It is also important to reach groups normally considered as being at low risk for gaining in weight. This is what Kristina Lindvall shows in her doctoral thesis at Ume- University, Sweden. Participants in the study come from V-sterbotten County in northern Sweden and from New York State in the US.

21 Sep 2013

Public Health News and Research

Viewpoints: GOP's 'charge into the fixed bayonets;' Republican health plan is superior to Obama's; Congressional hypocrisy on its health policy

Engineered nanomaterials inhalation negatively impacts gestational development in animal models

State highlights: N.C. Medicaid director resigns, heads to private sector; Ohio readies funding for new Medicaid computer system

Disturbances in body insulin levels linked with increased risk of obesity-related cancers

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center receives $48.6M grant from NCI

Breastfeeding and personality: an interview with Dr Amy Brown

Depression in cancer patients who receive RT can be identified by 2-item questionnaire

ACR journals publish guide that provides new treatments for children with systemic JIA

FDA approves revised labeling for Sapien Transcatheter Heart Valve

Proton radiotherapy proves to be cost-effective in treating pediatric brain tumors

FDA's final guidance outlines tailored approach to mobile medical apps

Genes play meaningful role in sleep quality

European Commission and Japan approve once-daily dual bronchodilator Ultibro Breezhaler (QVA149) nearly simultaneously, for COPD patients

Scientists one step closer to developing universal flu vaccine

Avon Foundation for Women launches competition to bring emerging breast cancer technologies to market

FDA takes action to prevent food distribution from rodent and insect-infested facility

UNC receives grants from FDA and NIH to establish Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science

Mother who smoke during her pregnancy may transmit asthma to future generation

Fingerstick blood sample test using i-STAT device not accurate in determining troponin level: Study

Study suggests new way to prevent weight gain and obesity

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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