Public Health News and Research

RSS

Scientific evidence links high levels of copper and iron to age-related disorders

With scientific evidence linking high levels of copper and iron to Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and other age-related disorders, a new report in ACS' Chemical Research in Toxicology suggests specific steps that older consumers can take to avoid build up of unhealthy amounts of these metals in their bodies.

8 Apr 2010

Common myths about teens dispelled

The new book, The Teen Years Explained: A Guide to Healthy Adolescent Development, dispels many common myths about adolescence with the latest scientific findings on the physical, emotional, cognitive, sexual and spiritual development of teens. Authors Clea McNeely and Jayne Blanchard from the Center for Adolescent Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, provide useful tips and strategies for real-life situations and experiences from bullying, to nutrition and sexuality.

8 Apr 2010

UTHealth awarded $15.3M for establishing HIT REC

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today that The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) has been awarded $15.3 million to establish a Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC).

8 Apr 2010

UNC Charlotte researcher improves lives of families and children affected by birth defects

Birth defects remain a leading cause of death in the first year of life. According to the March of Dimes, every 3 to 4 minutes a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States. About 1 in every 33 infants is affected by birth defects.

8 Apr 2010

Educating individuals about healthcare costs could lead to efficient use of healthcare system

Educating individuals about the costs of healthcare could save money and lead to a more efficient use of the healthcare system, report policy researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and Boston University School of Public Health. The study is the first to assess the effect of knowledge and perceptions of cost-sharing levels (the percentage of cost borne by individuals out of total healthcare costs) on self-reported and actual behavior.

8 Apr 2010

L.A. Care Health Plan receives $15.6M federal grant to establish HITEC-LA

L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation’s largest public health plan, announced today that the organization has received a $15.6 million federal grant to establish the Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center, called HITEC-LA, that will help doctors in L.A. County adopt and use Electronic Health Records in a meaningful way.

8 Apr 2010

Researchers find new genomic approach to identify smokers at risk of lung cancer

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine in collaboration with investigators at the University of Utah, have discovered a new approach for identifying smokers at the highest risk for developing lung cancer. The findings, which appear in the April 7th issue of Science Translational Medicine, will allow the researchers to use a genomic approach to prevent lung cancer in these individuals and to personalize cancer chemoprophylaxis and therapy.

8 Apr 2010

The $560 million for cancer centers not enough says Cancer Council

The Federal Government has announced a $560 million for new or upgraded cancer centres across Australia this week. The Cancer Council of Australia while welcoming this gesture has said that this is not the complete solution when it comes to helping regional and rural patients of Australia. This statement was made by the CEO Ian Olver who said that this “unprecedented” amount of money can go a long way to help but more support is needed. One of the regional cancer support networks has gone further to criticize the fact that so much is doled out in patient accommodation instead of advanced cancer treatment and care services.

8 Apr 2010

Cities, leaders worldwide mark World Health Day

Cities throughout the world are marking World Health Day today by promoting urban health, as part of the WHO's "1,000 cities, 1,000 lives" campaign, CNN reports (Shaikh, 4/7).

8 Apr 2010

Women need to be educated on osteoporosis risk factors and treatment: Study

Underscoring what researchers call a serious global public health concern, results from a new study led by Columbia University Medical Center reveal that many women at an elevated level of risk for osteoporosis-associated fractures fail to perceive the implications of the risk factors.

8 Apr 2010

Health reform's Medicaid expansion, payment increase causes mixed feelings for MDs

Kaiser Health News reporter Maggie Mertens writes: "While doctors are worrying a lot about whether Congress will block the 21 percent scheduled cut in Medicare payments, a fix to another public health program is raising another question" (Mertens, 4/6).

8 Apr 2010

Women living in northeastern U.S. more likely to develop RA: Study

Women living in the northeastern United States are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting a link between the autoimmune disease and vitamin D deficiency, says a new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health researcher.

8 Apr 2010

$Women unaware of risk of dangerous osteoporosis fractures$

Women unaware of risk of dangerous osteoporosis fractures

Only one in three Australian women diagnosed with osteoporosis are aware they are at higher risk of sustaining debilitating bone fractures, according to a landmark international study published with input from University of Sydney researchers.

7 Apr 2010

Cepheid to launch GeneXpert Infinity-48 in Europe at 20th ECCMID

Cepheid will initiate European launch of its newest addition to the GeneXpert® family of molecular diagnostic testing systems, the GeneXpert Infinity-48, at the 20th annual European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Vienna, Austria. The GeneXpert Infinity-48 System is the world's first and only fully-automated, random-access system designed for management of the entire molecular testing workflow — from sample data, cartridge loading and unloading, to final reporting of test results and disposal of cartridges.

7 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 7, 2010

Today's headlines highlight developments regarding the implementation of the new health law as well as health developments from the state level.

7 Apr 2010

CBOs implement proven HIV/STD risk-reduction intervention with adolescents

An approach designed to reduce HIV/STDs previously used exclusively by academic researchers has successfully been implemented by community-based organizations (CBOs), an important component in national strategies to curtail the spread of HIV, meaning far more "at risk" youths can be reached.

7 Apr 2010

WHO launches campaign to highlight urban planning to improve public health

Urban settings have a direct impact on the health of the people who live there. On World Health Day WHO is launching a campaign to highlight urban planning as a crucial link to building a healthy 21st century. In particular, the Organization calls upon municipal authorities, concerned residents, advocates for healthy living and others to take a close look at health inequities in cities and take action.

7 Apr 2010

Future of health care in practice at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

The future of health care is here. And it's in practice at Cincinnati Children's.

7 Apr 2010

Implementation of electronic health record systems may not be enough to improve health quality

The implementation of electronic health record systems may not be enough to significantly improve health quality and reduce costs. In the April 2010 issue of Health Affairs, researchers from the Mongan Institute for Health Policy at Massachusetts General Hospital report finding that currently implemented systems have little effect on measures such as patient mortality, surgical complications, length of stay and costs.

7 Apr 2010

Guidant imposed criminal penalty over $296M for withholding cardioverter defibrillator failure information

Guidant LLC pleaded guilty today in St. Paul, Minn., before U.S. District Court Judge Donovan W. Frank to criminal violations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Justice Department announced. The medical device manufacturer's admission of criminal wrongdoing is the result of a four-year investigation into Guidant's handling of short-circuiting failures of three models of its implantable cardioverter defibrillators: the Ventak Prizm 2 DR (Model 1861) and the Contak Renewal (Models H135 and H155).

7 Apr 2010

Public Health News and Research

Scientific evidence links high levels of copper and iron to age-related disorders

Common myths about teens dispelled

UTHealth awarded $15.3M for establishing HIT REC

UNC Charlotte researcher improves lives of families and children affected by birth defects

Educating individuals about healthcare costs could lead to efficient use of healthcare system

L.A. Care Health Plan receives $15.6M federal grant to establish HITEC-LA

Researchers find new genomic approach to identify smokers at risk of lung cancer

The $560 million for cancer centers not enough says Cancer Council

Cities, leaders worldwide mark World Health Day

Women need to be educated on osteoporosis risk factors and treatment: Study

Health reform's Medicaid expansion, payment increase causes mixed feelings for MDs

Women living in northeastern U.S. more likely to develop RA: Study

Women unaware of risk of dangerous osteoporosis fractures

Cepheid to launch GeneXpert Infinity-48 in Europe at 20th ECCMID

First Edition: April 7, 2010

CBOs implement proven HIV/STD risk-reduction intervention with adolescents

WHO launches campaign to highlight urban planning to improve public health

Future of health care in practice at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Implementation of electronic health record systems may not be enough to improve health quality

Guidant imposed criminal penalty over $296M for withholding cardioverter defibrillator failure information

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Latest News