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Study: Fruit and vegetable consumption reduces all-cause mortality

A European study analyzes the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of mortality. As previous research has already suggested, this study concludes that fruit and vegetable consumption reduces all-cause mortality, and especially cardiovascular disease mortality.

26 Sep 2013

Tackling commercial sexual exploitation, sex trafficking of minors in the U.S.

Commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors are serious problems in the United States with long-term adverse consequences for children and society as a whole, and federal agencies should work with state and local partners to raise awareness of these issues and train professionals who work with youths to recognize and assist those who are victimized or at risk, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council.

26 Sep 2013

Research by pharmacists can help improve health literacy

Limited health literacy can lead to difficulties in patients' self-care activities such as taking prescribed medications. Since a considerable amount of health information changes hands in the pharmacy setting, research by pharmacists into evaluating which tools are effective in practice can make a valuable contribution to goals set by the 2010 US National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy and lead to improvements in communications and health care, say experts in this special themed issue on "Pharmacy, Medication Use, and the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy," published in the journal Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.

26 Sep 2013

Banning the use of harmful flame retardants lowers exposures in pregnant women

Phasing out the use of potentially harmful flame retardants in furniture foam, electronics and plastics has lowered pregnant women's exposure to the substances, which are associated with health problems in both pregnant women and their newborns. The new study, which was published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, was the first to examine the phase-out's effectiveness.

26 Sep 2013

Older women living in poorest areas of Appalachia have higher incidence of later stage breast cancer

Older women living in the poorest areas of Appalachia in the U.S. fail to get regular breast cancer screening and have a higher incidence of later stage breast cancer, reports a new study in Health Services Research.

26 Sep 2013

Drug use associated with increased risk of fatal crash involvement

Drugged driving has been a safety issue of increasing public concern in the United States and many other countries but its role in motor vehicle crashes had not been adequately examined. In a new study conducted at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, researchers assessed the association of driver drug use, as well as the combination of drugs and alcohol, with the risk of fatal crash.

26 Sep 2013

Inhibiting use of antibiotics may be more effective in reducing C.diff infection

New ways are needed to fight the infection Clostridium difficile and better use of antibiotics could be key, according to the authors of ground-breaking research.

26 Sep 2013

Janssen signs license agreement with PATH for early development HIV-1 medicine rilpivirine

Janssen R&D Ireland announced today it has signed a license agreement with PATH for the early development of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 medicine rilpivirine in a long-acting injection (depot formulation) as potential pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV infection.

25 Sep 2013

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

Public Health News and Research

Study: Fruit and vegetable consumption reduces all-cause mortality

Tackling commercial sexual exploitation, sex trafficking of minors in the U.S.

Research by pharmacists can help improve health literacy

Banning the use of harmful flame retardants lowers exposures in pregnant women

Older women living in poorest areas of Appalachia have higher incidence of later stage breast cancer

Drug use associated with increased risk of fatal crash involvement

Inhibiting use of antibiotics may be more effective in reducing C.diff infection

Janssen signs license agreement with PATH for early development HIV-1 medicine rilpivirine

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

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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