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Despite reservations, smoking ban has not increased children's exposure to secondhand smoke

A new study has shown that the introduction of smoke-free legislation has not led to an increase in children's exposure to secondhand smoke in their own homes.

1 Dec 2009

Translational Medicine Graduate Training Program awarded $700,000 HHMI grant

The Graduate Training Program in Translational Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been awarded a four-year, $700,000 "Med into Grad" renewal grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

1 Dec 2009

Drinking sugar-sweetened cola a week prior to pregnancy elevates diabetes during pregnancy

Researchers from LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Harvard School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, have found for the first time that drinking more than 5 servings of sugar- sweetened cola a week prior to pregnancy appears to significantly elevate the risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy.

1 Dec 2009

Investigators identify effective weight control strategies for overweight adolescents

Adolescent obesity is a major public health problem that impacts one out of every three children, resulting in 4-5 million overweight youth in the United States. In a study published in the December 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers evaluated differences in weight control behaviors, including dietary intake and physical activity, comparing overweight adolescents who lost weight and those who did not in order to better understand which strategies could be most effective.

1 Dec 2009

Childhood obesity can lead to spinal abnormalities

Being overweight as a child could lead to early degeneration in the spine, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

1 Dec 2009

Americans living in the Southern region may have elevated risk of dying from stroke

The "stroke belt" has a tight hold. People born in the Southern stroke belt have a higher risk of dying from stroke as adults, even if they later move away, compared to people who were born in other parts of the country.

1 Dec 2009

News outlets examine cholera in Zimbabwe, Kenya

TIME examines growing concerns about increasing risks of a cholera outbreak among the people of Zimbabwe, after an outbreak last year claimed "close to 5,000 lives in the country of 12 million."

1 Dec 2009

Centura Health establishes comprehensive trauma system across its regional facilities

According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, trauma is the leading cause of death for Coloradans ages one to 44. Studies indicate that 30 to 40 percent of all trauma deaths occur within one hour of injury, and that 30 to 40 percent of these deaths are preventable if timely, appropriate care is received.

1 Dec 2009

Also in Global Health news: 'Positive deviance' approach to health; child malnutrition in Madagascar; Somalia's health system; weak harvests in West Africa; improving health equity

The Boston Globe examines "'positive deviance,' an approach to behavioral and social change. Instead of imposing solutions from without, the method identifies outliers in a community who, despite having no special advantages, are doing exceptionally well. By respecting local ingenuity, proponents say, the approach galvanizes community members and is often more effective and sustainable than imported blueprints."

30 Nov 2009

Senate Democrats face rocky road on the way to the health reform finish line

"The 60 votes aren't there any more," The Associated Press reports: "With the Senate set to begin debate Monday on health care overhaul, the all-hands-on-deck Democratic coalition that allowed the bill to advance is fracturing already. Yet majority Democrats will need 60 votes again to finish."

30 Nov 2009

WALFA project demonstrates alternative way to mitigate climate change

A landmark Australian project that mitigates the extent and severity of natural savannah blazes by deploying traditional Indigenous fire management techniques is being hailed as a model with vast global potential in the fights against climate change and biodiversity loss, and for protecting Indigenous lands and culture.

30 Nov 2009

AIDS Healthcare Foundation to hold free rapid HIV testing to mark World AIDS Day

In observation of World AIDS Day this year, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS group and which currently provides more than 15,000 free HIV and STD tests annually in California via its community-based testing programs, is hosting an extended day—and evening—of free rapid HIV testing this Saturday, November 28th, starting at 10 am, going until 2 am Sunday at its ‘Out of the Closet’ Hollywood thrift store and testing location (6210 Sunset). The HIV testing marathon is being held as part of AHF’s ‘Testing Millions’ campaign, a worldwide initiative to test more than three million people in conjunction with the observance of this year’s World AIDS Day, Tuesday, December 1st. In an effort to raise awareness about the event and HIV testing, LA’s KIIS radio station (102.7 FM) will have its mobile van broadcasting live from the testing event from 8 pm to 10 pm Saturday.

28 Nov 2009

XenaCare Holdings becomes national sponsor of Arthritis Foundation

XenaCare Holdings, Inc., a company specializing in the marketing and retail distribution of consumer healthcare products, has announced today that is has become a national sponsor of the Arthritis Foundation at the National Proud Sponsor level.

27 Nov 2009

Dr. Gail Harrison to receive the March of Dimes Agnes Higgins Award

A nutritionist whose research was instrumental in adding fruits and vegetables to the federal Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food subsidy will receive the March of Dimes Agnes Higgins Award for outstanding achievement in the field of maternal-fetal nutrition.

27 Nov 2009

Researchers predict diabetes cases to double and cost to triple in the next 25 years

The diabetes population in the United States will almost double over the next 25 years and annual medical spending on the disease is projected to hit $336 billion, up from $113 billion today, according to a study published in the December issue of Diabetes Care. The National Changing Diabetes® Program (NCDP), a program of Novo Nordisk, commissioned the analysis by a team from the University of Chicago.

27 Nov 2009

UCLA engineers and physicians develop PAD treatment device to prevent thrombosis

A fortuitous discovery that grew out of a collaboration between UCLA engineers and physicians could potentially offer hope to the nearly 10 million Americans who suffer from peripheral arterial disease.

26 Nov 2009

Free, confidential HIV testing at Northern California ‘Out of the Closet’ locations

To commemorate World AIDS Day 2009, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), together with local partners, will offer free, confidential HIV testing at all five of its popular Bay Area “Out of the Closet” Thrift Stores on Tuesday, December 1st, from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. The events are part of AHF’s World AIDS Day 2009 “Testing Millions” campaign which seeks to test several million people for HIV in conjunction with this year’s observance of World AIDS Day.

26 Nov 2009

Senior doctors unite together to address health effects of climate change

Senior doctors from across the globe have come together to form the International Climate and Health Council. Their aim is to mobilise health professionals across the world to help tackle the health effects of climate change.

26 Nov 2009

GIS scientists publish the first genetic historical map of Han Chinese

The first genetic historical map of the Han Chinese, the largest ethnic population in the world, as they migrated from south to north over evolutionary time was published online today by the American Journal of Human Genetics by scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS).

26 Nov 2009

LCA-GA issues 4th Annual Report Card on Lung Cancer

Today, Lung Cancer Alliance-Georgia (LCA-GA) issued the 4th Annual Report Card on Lung Cancer. This Report is an assessment of progress being made against this lethal disease in the state of Georgia.

26 Nov 2009

Public Health News and Research

Despite reservations, smoking ban has not increased children's exposure to secondhand smoke

Translational Medicine Graduate Training Program awarded $700,000 HHMI grant

Drinking sugar-sweetened cola a week prior to pregnancy elevates diabetes during pregnancy

Investigators identify effective weight control strategies for overweight adolescents

Childhood obesity can lead to spinal abnormalities

Americans living in the Southern region may have elevated risk of dying from stroke

News outlets examine cholera in Zimbabwe, Kenya

Centura Health establishes comprehensive trauma system across its regional facilities

Also in Global Health news: 'Positive deviance' approach to health; child malnutrition in Madagascar; Somalia's health system; weak harvests in West Africa; improving health equity

Senate Democrats face rocky road on the way to the health reform finish line

WALFA project demonstrates alternative way to mitigate climate change

AIDS Healthcare Foundation to hold free rapid HIV testing to mark World AIDS Day

XenaCare Holdings becomes national sponsor of Arthritis Foundation

Dr. Gail Harrison to receive the March of Dimes Agnes Higgins Award

Researchers predict diabetes cases to double and cost to triple in the next 25 years

UCLA engineers and physicians develop PAD treatment device to prevent thrombosis

Free, confidential HIV testing at Northern California ‘Out of the Closet’ locations

Senior doctors unite together to address health effects of climate change

GIS scientists publish the first genetic historical map of Han Chinese

LCA-GA issues 4th Annual Report Card on Lung Cancer

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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