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Contract for the production of an investigational vaccine based on an H9N2 strain of avian influenza virus

In 1999 and 2003, an H9N2 influenza strain caused illness in three people in Hong Kong. Scientists are concerned about H9N2 and other emerging types of avian influenza viruses because as they spread—most commonly through poultry—they continually mutate, increasing chances that they may infect humans, evade the body’s immune response and become more lethal.

17 Aug 2004

Why more than 70 per cent of child poisoning cases involve medications

"Although deaths are now rare, poisoning still remains a prime cause of hospitalisation in children under five," Professor Ozanne-Smith said. "Also, the rate of poisoning in this age group is increasing in Victoria, and we need to find out why."

17 Aug 2004

Steps families take to minimize asthma triggers in the home are either wrong or ignored

Parents of children who suffer with asthma are making many efforts to clear their homes of substances that could trigger their child's symptoms, but the steps they take aren't always the ones that could do the most good, a new University of Michigan study finds. And many don't take other steps that are known to help.

17 Aug 2004

South Africa will continue providing Nevirapine as monotherapy to mothers and babies

The South African Government's policy to reduce the risk of mother to child transmission of HIV, remains unchanged.

17 Aug 2004

Adolescent girls that have been physically coerced into sexual intercourse are more likely to have had a sexually transmitted disease

Adolescent girls who say they have been physically coerced into sexual intercourse are more likely to have had a sexually transmitted disease, according to a new study published in the journal Women’s Health Issues.

17 Aug 2004

A quarter of all adults aged over 40 could develop an irregular heartbeat

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder in the U.S., affecting more than 2 million adults. The prevalence of the condition is rising and scientists predict that about 5.6 million Americans will have the disorder by 2050. Known causes of AF include abnormalities in the heart’s structure and long-term uncontrolled high blood pressure.

17 Aug 2004

Support of humanitarian organisations to refugees in developing countries may inadvertently be creating a two-tier health system

With the host population having to cope with poorer health facilities than that provided by aid agencies to refugees.

15 Aug 2004

Death rates for young children are related seasonal levels of particulate air pollution and cold temperatures

Seasonal variations in death rates for young children are related to high levels of particulate air pollution and cold temperatures during the winter months, and to high levels of particulate pollutants and nitrogen dioxide during the summer months

15 Aug 2004

Patients at low risk of dying after coronary artery bypass graft surgery fare better with high-volume surgeons

Patients at low risk of dying after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery have a significantly better chance of survival when treated by surgeons and hospitals that handle many cases, researchers report in today’s rapid access issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

11 Aug 2004

Exposure to arsenic significantly reduces intellectual function

A recent study of children exposed to arsenic-tainted water in Araihazar, Bangladesh found that water arsenic was significantly associated with reduced intellectual function.

11 Aug 2004

Scientists identify compounds that mimic calorie restriction

Investigators from an international consortium of research institutes, including the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, have identified compounds that mimic the effects of a low calorie diet without changing the amount of essential nutrients.

11 Aug 2004

New survey shows that more people on Medicare dislike a new drug benefit law

A new survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health shows that more people on Medicare dislike a new law that adds a drug benefit to the Medicare program.

11 Aug 2004

Alternative to hysterectomy for women with painful uterine fibroids

The University of Toronto’s teaching hospitals are all equipped to perform uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), but many women suffering from benign fibroids aren’t aware that there’s a procedure that can spare their uterus, says Gaylene Pron, professor of public health sciences and author of two 2003 studies evaluating the success of the procedure.

11 Aug 2004

Survey shows Irish happy with smoke free pubs

Results of a survey, commissioned by the Irish Department of Health and Children, show continuing strong public support for the smoke-free at work measure introduced on 29th March, 2004. The survey of 1,000 people was carried out recently by Lansdowne Market Research.

11 Aug 2004

American Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.3 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age

About 40 percent of adults ages 40 to 74 - or 41 million people - have pre-diabetes, a condition that raises a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

11 Aug 2004

Scientists have turned procrastinating primates into workaholics by temporarily suppressing a gene in a brain circuit involved in reward learning

Using a new molecular genetic technique, scientists have turned procrastinating primates into workaholics by temporarily suppressing a gene in a brain circuit involved in reward learning. Without the gene, the monkeys lost their sense of balance between reward and the work required to get it, say researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health .

11 Aug 2004

Mexican-Americans have a far higher chance of suffering a stroke than non-Hispanic whites

And, according to a second study published today by the same team, the difference doesn't appear to be related to Mexican-Americans' higher incidence of diabetes, which had been thought to raise their risk of a certain type of stroke.

9 Aug 2004

Binge drinking accounts for a substantial number of deaths each year in the United States

Binge drinking and harmful drinking, including both medium to high levels of regular alcohol consumption, account for a substantial number of deaths each year in the United States.

9 Aug 2004

Hospital anti-infection strategy probably won't work

Hospital patients increasingly face tenacious bacterial infections because microbes found in hospitals acquire resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics. A recent strategy alternating the most commonly used antibiotics has sparked hope of stopping the spread of antibiotic resistance.

9 Aug 2004

New legislation requires cigarettes be kept out-of-reach behind sales counters and to prohibit minors under the age of 16 from selling tobacco

In an effort to strengthen state laws that limit youth access to tobacco products, Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich has signed legislation to require cigarette packs be kept out-of-reach behind sales counters and to prohibit minors under the age of 16 from selling any tobacco products.

9 Aug 2004

Public Health News and Research

Contract for the production of an investigational vaccine based on an H9N2 strain of avian influenza virus

Why more than 70 per cent of child poisoning cases involve medications

Steps families take to minimize asthma triggers in the home are either wrong or ignored

South Africa will continue providing Nevirapine as monotherapy to mothers and babies

Adolescent girls that have been physically coerced into sexual intercourse are more likely to have had a sexually transmitted disease

A quarter of all adults aged over 40 could develop an irregular heartbeat

Support of humanitarian organisations to refugees in developing countries may inadvertently be creating a two-tier health system

Death rates for young children are related seasonal levels of particulate air pollution and cold temperatures

Patients at low risk of dying after coronary artery bypass graft surgery fare better with high-volume surgeons

Exposure to arsenic significantly reduces intellectual function

Scientists identify compounds that mimic calorie restriction

New survey shows that more people on Medicare dislike a new drug benefit law

Alternative to hysterectomy for women with painful uterine fibroids

Survey shows Irish happy with smoke free pubs

American Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.3 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age

Scientists have turned procrastinating primates into workaholics by temporarily suppressing a gene in a brain circuit involved in reward learning

Mexican-Americans have a far higher chance of suffering a stroke than non-Hispanic whites

Binge drinking accounts for a substantial number of deaths each year in the United States

Hospital anti-infection strategy probably won't work

New legislation requires cigarettes be kept out-of-reach behind sales counters and to prohibit minors under the age of 16 from selling tobacco

Deciphering the Microbiome with The Microsetta Initiative

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

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