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Psychiatry professor selected for Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow 2013-2014

For millions of people across the United States, health and well-being depends on policy decisions made at the federal level. With mental health at the center of today's health policy discussion, Amir Afkhami, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and global health at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), will bring his "boots on the ground" experience in mental health policy to the government as a 2013-2014 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow.

25 Jul 2013

Study shows 90% of dementia cases in China go undetected; high level in rural areas

An international team of researchers has found that over 90 percent of dementia cases in China go undetected, with a high level of undiagnosed dementia in rural areas. The team of public health experts led by Dr Ruoling Chen at King's College London argues that more mental health education targeting high-risk populations is now needed to improve diagnosis rates, and increase support for sufferers and their families.

25 Jul 2013

Combination treatment can reduce hepatitis C infection in people who inject drugs

The burden of liver disease could be dramatically reduced by scaling up the combination of interventions for hepatitis C infection among people who inject drugs according to University of Bristol researchers. The findings, published today [24 July], form part of new global recommendations on treating the virus.

25 Jul 2013

Researcher identify genetic mutation in Africans with HIV that puts them at higher risk for tuberculosis

A researcher from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and colleagues have identified the genetic mutation in Africans with HIV that puts them at a much higher risk for tuberculosis (TB) infections.

25 Jul 2013

FDA seeks additional information to make informed decisions about menthol in cigarettes

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking additional information to help the agency make informed decisions about menthol in cigarettes. Despite decades of work to reduce tobacco use in the United States, it continues to be the leading cause of preventable death and disease.

24 Jul 2013

Athletes should eat high fiber, low-fat food to maintain muscle, says OSU researcher

Athletes seeking a healthy performance weight should eat high fiber, low-fat food balanced with their training regimen in order to maintain muscle while still burning fat, according to a report by an Oregon State University researcher.

24 Jul 2013

Study reveals fungus coating on stored food may worsen AIDS epidemic

A type of fungus coating much of the stored corn, wheat, rice and nuts in developing countries may be quietly worsening the AIDS epidemic, according to a paper published today in the World Mycotoxin Journal.

24 Jul 2013

Smokers who try e-cigarettes to quit are younger and more motivated to quit, study finds

University of Hawaii Cancer Center Prevention and Control Program researchers Pallav Pokhrel, PhD and Thaddeus Herzog, PhD have found that smokers who use e-cigarettes as a tool to stop smoking tend to be younger and more motivated to quit smoking as compared to other smokers.

24 Jul 2013

NIH awards $2.35M grant to BUSM researcher to study the development of gonococcal vaccine

Lee Wetzler, MD, an attending physician in the department of infectious diseases at Boston Medical Center and associate program director for research in the section of infectious diseases at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), was awarded a four-year, $2.35 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the development of a gonococcal vaccine.

24 Jul 2013

New peer-led intervention helps individuals with HIV adhere to their treatment plans

Individuals diagnosed with HIV nowadays can live long, healthy lives if they follow their medical treatment plans; however, nearly half of individuals with the virus fail to get needed medical help or to continue treatment, according to previous research.

24 Jul 2013

Study: Fluctuations in unemployment rate affect people's health care choices

Fluctuations in the unemployment rate affect people's health care choices, finds a new study in Health Services Research. Specifically, a one percent increase in state unemployment corresponded to a 1.58 percent reduction in the use of preventive health care services such as mammograms, pap tests, and annual check-ups.

24 Jul 2013

Research: No association between pre-natal mercury exposure and autism-like behaviors

The potential impact of exposure to low levels of mercury on the developing brain - specifically by women consuming fish during pregnancy - has long been the source of concern and some have argued that the chemical may be responsible for behavioral disorders such as autism.

24 Jul 2013

MAXIMUS signs new contract to provide support services for California's health insurance exchange

MAXIMUS, a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced that it has signed a new contract with the California Health Benefit Exchange to provide support services for the state's health insurance exchange, known as Covered California.

23 Jul 2013

Fibromyalgia diagnosis: an interview with Dr. Bruce Gillis, CEO of EpicGenetics

Presently, it is a diagnosis of exclusion. Patients end up spending, according to what’s been published in the medical literature, as many as 3 - 5 years going from doctor to doctor seeking a diagnosis because they tend to have nonspecific symptoms of a subjective nature.

23 Jul 2013

Improving vaccination rates in boys plays a crucial role against HPV infection

Improving vaccination rates against the human papillomavirus (HPV) in boys is key to protecting both men and women, says new research from University of Toronto Professor Peter A. Newman from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.

23 Jul 2013

Loyola to start construction on $137M medical research and education building in August

Loyola University Chicago will break ground Aug. 16 on a $137 million medical research and education building to support nearly 500 scientists and staff working together to improve human health.

23 Jul 2013

Study: Young African American women who binge eat more likely to report suicide attempts

Is binge eating a tell-tale sign of suicidal thoughts? According to a new study of African American girls, by Dr. Rashelle Musci and colleagues from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University in the US, those who experience depressive and anxious symptoms are often dissatisfied with their bodies and more likely to display binge eating behaviors. These behaviors put them at higher risk for turning their emotions inward, in other words, displaying internalizing symptoms such as suicide.

23 Jul 2013

Study finds link between mental illness and premature death in people with epilepsy

People with epilepsy are 11 times more likely to die prematurely than the general population, and the risk appears to be much higher for individuals with common co-existing psychiatric illnesses*, especially depression and alcohol and drug use disorders, new research published in The Lancet suggests.

22 Jul 2013

FDA revokes policy that prohibited sale of feed contaminated with Salmonella

On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration formally revoked a 1967 policy that prohibited the sale of feed contaminated with Salmonella. As a result of this policy change the agency will allow feed known to be contaminated with Salmonella to be fed to pigs, chickens and cattle.

22 Jul 2013

Study explores potential of program designed to prevent avoidable rehospitalizations

Recent federal legislation imposes financial penalties on hospitals that experience excessive patient readmissions within 30 days. A new study published today in the Journal of Hospital Medicine looks at the potential of a program designed to improve the discharge process and prevent avoidable rehospitalizations.

22 Jul 2013

Public Health News and Research

Psychiatry professor selected for Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow 2013-2014

Study shows 90% of dementia cases in China go undetected; high level in rural areas

Combination treatment can reduce hepatitis C infection in people who inject drugs

Researcher identify genetic mutation in Africans with HIV that puts them at higher risk for tuberculosis

FDA seeks additional information to make informed decisions about menthol in cigarettes

Athletes should eat high fiber, low-fat food to maintain muscle, says OSU researcher

Study reveals fungus coating on stored food may worsen AIDS epidemic

Smokers who try e-cigarettes to quit are younger and more motivated to quit, study finds

NIH awards $2.35M grant to BUSM researcher to study the development of gonococcal vaccine

New peer-led intervention helps individuals with HIV adhere to their treatment plans

Study: Fluctuations in unemployment rate affect people's health care choices

Research: No association between pre-natal mercury exposure and autism-like behaviors

MAXIMUS signs new contract to provide support services for California's health insurance exchange

Fibromyalgia diagnosis: an interview with Dr. Bruce Gillis, CEO of EpicGenetics

Improving vaccination rates in boys plays a crucial role against HPV infection

Loyola to start construction on $137M medical research and education building in August

Study: Young African American women who binge eat more likely to report suicide attempts

Study finds link between mental illness and premature death in people with epilepsy

FDA revokes policy that prohibited sale of feed contaminated with Salmonella

Study explores potential of program designed to prevent avoidable rehospitalizations

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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