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Reminder to avoid handling bats for risk of rabies

In the wake of an increase in calls reporting human and pet contacts with bats, the Washington Department of Health has reminded people that avoiding bats can protect them from rabies. Bats are not aggressive animals and they generally do not intentionally attack humans.

9 Aug 2004

New health threat, federally-funded health policy based on junk science

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), the nation's largest taxpayer watchdog group, today released its latest Through the Looking Glass Report: A New Health Threat: Federally-Funded Health Policy Based on Junk Science.

9 Aug 2004

Latinos living in the United States have high rates of eye disease and visual impairment

Researchers found that Latinos had high rates of diabetic retinopathy, an eye complication of diabetes; and open-angle glaucoma, a disease that damages the optic nerve.

9 Aug 2004

Carb-conscious dieters may be lowering their risk of breast cancer

Carb-conscious dieters may be lowering their risk of breast cancer while they’re shedding pounds, based on the findings of research published in this month’s edition of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

9 Aug 2004

Three comprehensive reports on cigarette smoking

Two analyze indoor smoking policies in the state’s work places, and in bars and restaurants, and one examines tobacco dependence treatment and referral practices among New Jersey health care providers.

7 Aug 2004

People living with HIV in rural communities may face different barriers to taking proper care of themselves

People who live with HIV in rural areas are less likely to keep up with their treatment schedules if they are problem drinkers, say Tulane University researchers. Overall, about one in three HIV positive people surveyed by the researchers reported skipping at least one dose of their medications in the past week.

7 Aug 2004

Tobacco industry's efforts to influence the print media

A study based on the tobacco industry's own documents shows the extent of the tobacco industry's efforts to influence the print media on the health effects of secondhand smoke.

7 Aug 2004

Ontario's first probable human case of West Nile virus

Dr. Sheela Basrur, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health and Dr. Allen Heimann, Medical Officer of Health for Windsor-Essex County confirmed Ontario's first probable human case of West Nile virus in the Windsor-Essex area.

6 Aug 2004

Illinoisans get legislation giving the state more regulatory authority over water bottling plants

In an effort to ensure that the bottled water that Illinoisans are drinking is safe, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation giving the state more regulatory authority over water bottling plants and private water source operators.

6 Aug 2004

To prevent heart attack, stroke, amputation, and death, National “PAD Coalition” is formed

Vascular Disease Foundation spearheads new national, multidisciplinary organization to educate patients, clinicians on peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

6 Aug 2004

Second case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease infection that was probably caused by blood transfusion

Research reported in The Lancet this week details the second case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) infection that was probably caused by blood transfusion. The rogue prion responsible for vCJD was identified at postmortem five years after an elderly person received a blood transfusion from a donor who later developed vCJD.

5 Aug 2004

Report shows promising findings on adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs

A new report by the Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University Bloomington presents promising findings on adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

5 Aug 2004

24-year long asthma study is answering doctors' questions about asthma and its causes

Doctors have concluded that children do not usually outgrow asthma after puberty as was previously assumed. There are also other factors that contribute to the onset of asthma in test subjects, including infection and obesity.

5 Aug 2004

Current estimates have cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounting for 17 million deaths annually

Renowned public health specialist, Professor Stephen Leeder, will present the central findings of a report highlighting the disturbing trend towards a growth in cardiovascular disease in developing countries, at a special colloquium to be held at The University of Sydney.

5 Aug 2004

Approval of fixed-dose combination treatments for HIV-1 infection

The Food and Drug Administration has announced the approvals of Epzicom (abacavir/lamivudine) and Truvada (tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine), two fixed-dose combination treatments for HIV-1 infection.

5 Aug 2004

Exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months provides all the energy and nutrients a child needs

Exclusively breastfeeding infants for the first six months of their lives provides all the energy and nutrients a child needs while reducing the risks of infant diarrheal and respiratory infections, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

5 Aug 2004

Growing crisis of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Scientists, the federal government and the pharmaceutical industry must work together quickly to solve the growing crisis of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a Virginia Commonwealth University infectious disease expert said in today's issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

5 Aug 2004

45% of specialists admit having made a recent medical error

Otolaryngologist Dr. David Roberson has first-hand experience with medical errors. He remembers one near-miss in a patient about to receive a cochlear implant – and says it typifies the kinds of mistakes he and his colleagues have turned up in a national survey.

3 Aug 2004

Mothers who catch a flu during pregnancy may increase the risk of their child developing schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease. Approximately 1 percent of the population develops schizophrenia during their lifetime — more than 2 million Americans suffer from the illness in a given year.

3 Aug 2004

$19 million in grants to help 66 of the nation’s health centers expand capacity

The Department of Health and Human Services has announced more than $19 million in grants to help 66 of the nation’s health centers expand capacity to serve 270,000 more rural and inner-city Americans, including many without health insurance.

3 Aug 2004

Public Health News and Research

Reminder to avoid handling bats for risk of rabies

New health threat, federally-funded health policy based on junk science

Latinos living in the United States have high rates of eye disease and visual impairment

Carb-conscious dieters may be lowering their risk of breast cancer

Three comprehensive reports on cigarette smoking

People living with HIV in rural communities may face different barriers to taking proper care of themselves

Tobacco industry's efforts to influence the print media

Ontario's first probable human case of West Nile virus

Illinoisans get legislation giving the state more regulatory authority over water bottling plants

To prevent heart attack, stroke, amputation, and death, National “PAD Coalition” is formed

Second case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease infection that was probably caused by blood transfusion

Report shows promising findings on adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs

24-year long asthma study is answering doctors' questions about asthma and its causes

Current estimates have cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounting for 17 million deaths annually

Approval of fixed-dose combination treatments for HIV-1 infection

Exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months provides all the energy and nutrients a child needs

Growing crisis of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

45% of specialists admit having made a recent medical error

Mothers who catch a flu during pregnancy may increase the risk of their child developing schizophrenia

$19 million in grants to help 66 of the nation’s health centers expand capacity

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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