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New polio strategy builds on 99% drop in Nigeria cases but faces 50% funding shortfall

In Geneva this Friday, a broad range of stakeholders will formally launch the new Strategic Plan 2010-2012 for eradicating wild poliovirus.

18 Jun 2010

Light cigarettes to be phased out as part of Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

Effective June 22, 2010, the most popular selling cigarettes – light cigarettes – will be phased out as part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which was signed into law on June 22, 2009. This historic day provides an opportunity for the 70 percent of smokers who want to quit to finally end their addiction to these deadly products.

18 Jun 2010

Researchers study risks and consequences of cigarette smoking in people living in multiple-unit housing

In an effort to protect children from harmful tobacco smoke exposure, health and medical professionals are pushing for a ban on smoking in public housing in a report appearing in this week's New England Journal of Medicine.

18 Jun 2010

Maternal, infant ART drives down mother-to-child HIV transmission through breast-feeding, studies show

According to two new studies, "giving pregnant and nursing women triple antiretroviral drug therapy, or treating breast-fed infants with an antiretroviral medication, can dramatically cut transmission rates, enabling moms to both breast-feed and to protect nearly all children from infection," HealthDay News/Bloomberg Businessweek reports (Goodwin, 6/16).

18 Jun 2010

Paternal involvement in pregnancy reduces infant deaths

Studies have shown fathers who are active in their children's upbringing can significantly benefit their children's early development, academic achievement and well being. Now, a new study by University of South Florida researchers suggests that a father's involvement before his child is born may play an important role in preventing death during the first year of life - particularly if the infant is black.

18 Jun 2010

HHS announces $250 million in federal funding to boost primary care providers

The Washington Post: "In an attempt to address a national shortage of health-care workers, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday that the federal government will spend $250 million in programs to increase the number of doctors, nurses and other care providers. The money ... includes $168 million to train 500 new primary-care physicians over the next five years, $30 million to encourage 600 nursing students to attend school full-time and complete their education, and $32 million to create 600 new physician assistants."

18 Jun 2010

IU-Regenstrief programs to address growing workforce needs for qualified health IT workers

Investments in the future of health care delivery include more than training additional doctors and nurses. Health information technology specialists are critical. While a growing number of hospitals and physicians want to offer their patients the benefits of electronic medical records and health information exchange, there is a nationwide shortage of highly skilled health IT workers to fill an estimated 60,000 positions.

18 Jun 2010

Forget play school for infants, sex school proposed in UK health guidelines

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), UK has come up with its latest health proposal for the improvement of public health. The latest guidance proposal from NICE says sex education should be taught to children from the age of five. This they say is important to help them make the right decisions about delaying sexual intimacy until they are mature enough.

18 Jun 2010

Study: Low-salt foods may be harder for some people to like than others

Low-salt foods may be harder for some people to like than others, according to a study by a Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences food scientist. The research indicates that genetics influence some of the difference in the levels of salt we like to eat.

17 Jun 2010

Study reveals increase of enzyme MAO-A in female brain during immediate postpartum period

Within the first week after giving birth, up to 70 percent of all women experience symptoms of the baby blues. While most women recover quickly, up to 13 percent of all new mothers suffer from symptoms of a clinical-level postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is defined as a major depressive episode starting within 4 weeks after delivery and is a significant public health problem. Postpartum blues represents a major risk factor for developing postpartum depression and severe postpartum blues symptoms can be viewed as a prodromal stage for postpartum depression.

17 Jun 2010

FDA should reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes to non-addictive levels: Former FDA commissioner

Today at Legacy's Warner Series Lecture on the impact of the Family and Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Food and Drug Administration authority over tobacco), Dr. David Kessler, former commissioner of the FDA, called on the FDA to reduce the nicotine level in cigarettes, reducing the yield to non-addictive levels.

17 Jun 2010

AMP raises ethical, laboratory practice concerns in whole genome sequencing at SACHGS meeting

Today, the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) presented public comments to the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society (SACHGS) meeting focused on whole genome sequencing. In anticipation of advances in sequencing and its incorporation into clinical practice, AMP raised ethical and laboratory practice concerns for the Committee's consideration.

17 Jun 2010

FDA seeks public input on regulation of laboratory-developed tests

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced plans to hold a public meeting on July 19-20, 2010, to discuss how the agency will oversee laboratory-developed tests (LDTs).

17 Jun 2010

HHS Secretary announces series of new investments to strengthen primary care workforce

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced a series of new investments worth $250 million to increase the number of health care providers and strengthen the primary care workforce. The new investments were made possible by the Affordable Care Act. Sebelius was joined for the announcement by U.S. Representative Lois Capps, Health Resources and Services Administration Administrator Dr. Mary Wakefield, and HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard K. Koh.

17 Jun 2010

Experimental vaccine for Marburg hemorrhagic fever prevention shows promise for accidental exposures

An experimental vaccine developed to prevent outbreaks of Marburg hemorrhagic fever continues to show promise in monkeys as an emergency treatment for accidental exposures to the virus that causes the disease. There is no licensed treatment for Marburg infection, which has a high fatality rate.

17 Jun 2010

Obesity linked to bad sexual health: French Study

Now French researchers have found a link between obesity and bad sexual health in their study of 12,364 men and women aged 18 to 69 ranging from normal weight to obese who lived in France in 2006.

17 Jun 2010

AHF's Magic Johnson Testing America Tour arrives in Boston, Massachusetts

AHF's Magic Johnson 'Testing America' Tour, a six-month, 48-state national cross-country HIV testing tour, arrives in Boston, Massachusetts, tomorrow and will offer free HIV testing, along with local partner Casa Esperanza from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM in front of Franklin Park in Boston's South End on Washington Street between East Newton and East Brookline Street.

17 Jun 2010

Alcohol consumption associated with reduced risk of developing several arthritic conditions: Study

Alcohol consumption is associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing several arthritic conditions including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and spondylarthropathy, according to results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy.

17 Jun 2010

Dietary guideline on sodium puts Americans at risk

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture may increase health risks, including obesity, by ignoring sound science as they announce recommendations to reduce sodium consumption to 1,500 mg per day, says the Salt Institute.

16 Jun 2010

Report reveals increase in patients influence on success, failure of new drugs

Patients are emerging as an increasingly strong group when it comes to influencing the success and failure of new drugs - according to a newly published New Health Report commissioned by Quintiles to gauge the opinions of biopharma executives, managed care executives and patients, and to track progress in the New Health.

16 Jun 2010

Public Health News and Research

New polio strategy builds on 99% drop in Nigeria cases but faces 50% funding shortfall

Light cigarettes to be phased out as part of Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

Researchers study risks and consequences of cigarette smoking in people living in multiple-unit housing

Maternal, infant ART drives down mother-to-child HIV transmission through breast-feeding, studies show

Paternal involvement in pregnancy reduces infant deaths

HHS announces $250 million in federal funding to boost primary care providers

IU-Regenstrief programs to address growing workforce needs for qualified health IT workers

Forget play school for infants, sex school proposed in UK health guidelines

Study: Low-salt foods may be harder for some people to like than others

Study reveals increase of enzyme MAO-A in female brain during immediate postpartum period

FDA should reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes to non-addictive levels: Former FDA commissioner

AMP raises ethical, laboratory practice concerns in whole genome sequencing at SACHGS meeting

FDA seeks public input on regulation of laboratory-developed tests

HHS Secretary announces series of new investments to strengthen primary care workforce

Experimental vaccine for Marburg hemorrhagic fever prevention shows promise for accidental exposures

Obesity linked to bad sexual health: French Study

AHF's Magic Johnson Testing America Tour arrives in Boston, Massachusetts

Alcohol consumption associated with reduced risk of developing several arthritic conditions: Study

Dietary guideline on sodium puts Americans at risk

Report reveals increase in patients influence on success, failure of new drugs

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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