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Researchers divided over effects of climate change on NTD transmission, IRIN reports

IRIN examines the relationship between climate change and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), writing, "Many researchers are concerned changes in rainfall patterns could result in a loss of 'endemic stability' for diseases carried by mosquitoes, ticks, and other disease hosts, and that environmental conditions could become favorable for disease transmission." However, "many researchers believe there is simply not enough information available to warrant alarm," the news service adds.

7 Nov 2012

Include policymakers in discussions surrounding UHC

In this UHC Forward blog post, Abeba Taddese, a program officer with the Results for Development Institute, writes about the importance of including policymakers in discussions surrounding universal health coverage (UHC). She provides the example of a recent workshop held in Marrakech, Morocco, which offered "a rare opportunity to bring technical experts and parliamentarians together for a full four days of interactive discussion."

7 Nov 2012

Failure to renew U.S. Farm Bill would be missed opportunity to help end global hunger

"The U.S. Farm Bill that was up for renewal in September in the House of Representatives could have included policies to support farmers in developing countries in their efforts to grow enough food to feed the local population," but "Congress allowed the Farm Bill to expire on Sept. 30," Ruth Messinger, president of the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), writes in the Huffington Post's "Religion" blog.

7 Nov 2012

Nigeria experiences worst flooding in 50 years; Officials fear disease outbreaks, food shortages

"Nigeria's worst flooding in at least half a century has killed 363 people since the start of July and displaced 2.1 million people," according to the country's National Emergency Management Agency, Reuters reports.

7 Nov 2012

WHO survey shows low knowledge level, acceptance of polio vaccine among Pashtun Pakistanis

"Polio will never be eradicated in Pakistan until a way is found to persuade poor Pashtuns to embrace the vaccine, according to a study released by the World Health Organization" in its November bulletin, the New York Times reports.

7 Nov 2012

Recent Africa Braintrust 2012 forum 'informative, inspiring' for those committed to continent's advancement

"Recently I attended the Africa Braintrust 2012 forum entitled 'Africa Rising: A Continent of Opportunity,' hosted by U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) as part of their Annual Legislative Conference, in Washington, D.C.," human rights activist Ivanley Noisette writes in the Huffington Post's "World" blog.

7 Nov 2012

Laws that end smoking result in fewer hospitalizations for heart attacks, strokes

Laws that end smoking at work and other public places result in significantly fewer hospitalizations for heart attacks, strokes, asthma and other respiratory conditions, a new UCSF analysis has found.

7 Nov 2012

State roundup: Ga. considers Medicaid managed care 'light' touch; AMA files Fla. 'docs and glocks' court brief

Kansas has updated its roster of disabled residents who have requested state-funded, in-home medical care and is now better equipped to provide that care more quickly and efficiently, officials in the governor's office said Monday. The waiting list was cut by more than a third, from 3,423 to 2,197 people, after a company hired by the state spent the last few months trying to reach out to those on the lists, Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer and Aging and Disability Services Secretary Shawn Sullivan said.

7 Nov 2012

Medicare news: Young workers' benefits at center of fiscal debate; Feds seek to move seniors out of poorly rated plans

Although retirement may still be years away for these younger workers, key decisions could come in the looming debate on the nation's spending. Meanwhile, Medicare officials are sending letters to beneficiaries warning them that their plans are not meeting standards.

7 Nov 2012

Study highlights value of specialized care in heart failure treatment

When a cardiologist attends to heart failure patients, even when the severity of illness is higher, patients have reduced rates of hospital readmissions, compared with those patients who are treated by a hospitalist, according to a trial being presented today at the American Heart Association's scientific sessions in Los Angeles.

7 Nov 2012

Loyola announces 2012 Junior and Senior Scientist of the Year during St. Albert's Day

Katherine L. Knight, PhD, one of the nation's leading immune system researchers, has been named 2012 Senior Scientist of the Year at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Sakthivel Sadayappan, PhD, FAHA, who is doing groundbreaking research on a protein that is critical for the normal functioning of the heart, has been named 2012 Junior Scientist of the Year.

7 Nov 2012

Mayo Clinic and collaborators to test new ways to provide specialized TBI care

For people who are hospitalized for traumatic brain injury, recovery may involve physical and cognitive problems that linger for years. The road back to health can be even more arduous for those who live in remote rural areas and don't have access to brain rehabilitation specialists. Mayo Clinic and collaborators, have received a $2.2 million federal grant to test new ways to provide specialized TBI care, with a focus on reaching rural areas and underserved urban populations.

7 Nov 2012

Viewpoints: Fight for the Senate will impact GOP effort to void health law; Figuring out insurance is tough even for health economist

For Republicans intent on unraveling President Obama's accomplishments, electing Mitt Romney has been only one part of the equation. Almost as important was installing a Republican majority in the United States Senate, where 50 votes (plus the vice president) would be necessary to repeal much of health care reform, roll back tax increases on the rich and gut social welfare programs. The party's hopes, however, have been severely damaged in recent weeks.

6 Nov 2012

Imaging Healthcare Specialists implements successful radiation dose reduction program

According to an article in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology, a medical imaging facility in San Diego, Imaging Healthcare Specialists, has implemented a successful radiation dose reduction program, reducing radiation exposure by up to 90 percent in some patients.

6 Nov 2012

IRIN examines controversy surround AMFm

IRIN examines the controversy surrounding the Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm), writing, "The argument over the way it operates has reignited ahead of a board meeting of the [Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria] on 14-15 November, which is due to assess the success of the project and its reliance on private sector providers."

6 Nov 2012

Racial differences in fatal coronary heart disease associated with risk factor burden

Despite treatment advances for coronary heart disease over the past 20 years, black men and women still have twice the risk of fatal coronary heart disease compared with white men and women, according to a study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham appearing in the Nov. 7, 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

6 Nov 2012

Reducing malnutrition among refugees in South Sudan

"A combined effort by health, water, sanitation and nutrition partners, including the World Food Programme (WFP), to reduce alarming malnutrition rates amongst Sudanese refugees who have settled in Maban County of South Sudan, is beginning to yield fruit," WFP reports in an article on its webpage, adding, "Parents say they have seen dramatic improvements in their children's health."

6 Nov 2012

Promotoras help diabetics overcome cultural, social and economic barriers

New findings from a 15-year series of studies led by care providers at Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute reveal that culturally tailored community-created programs are effective at reducing health-related costs and delivering higher quality care.

6 Nov 2012

State roundup: Examining health issues on state ballots

Sprinkled throughout ballots across the country are state initiatives that run the gamut from education to animal rights to marriage. And health care is well-represented, too. The National Conference of State Legislatures labels health a "key issue" in this cycle's roundup of state ballot questions.

6 Nov 2012

Both candidates use abortion issue to turn out their base

NPR takes a long look at how both candidates have put abortion "front and center," while the Los Angeles Times describes how the issue is galvanizing Catholic and evangelical Protestant voters in the swing state of Ohio. And then there are the robo-calls.

6 Nov 2012

Healthcare News

Researchers divided over effects of climate change on NTD transmission, IRIN reports

Include policymakers in discussions surrounding UHC

Failure to renew U.S. Farm Bill would be missed opportunity to help end global hunger

Nigeria experiences worst flooding in 50 years; Officials fear disease outbreaks, food shortages

WHO survey shows low knowledge level, acceptance of polio vaccine among Pashtun Pakistanis

Recent Africa Braintrust 2012 forum 'informative, inspiring' for those committed to continent's advancement

Laws that end smoking result in fewer hospitalizations for heart attacks, strokes

State roundup: Ga. considers Medicaid managed care 'light' touch; AMA files Fla. 'docs and glocks' court brief

Medicare news: Young workers' benefits at center of fiscal debate; Feds seek to move seniors out of poorly rated plans

Study highlights value of specialized care in heart failure treatment

Loyola announces 2012 Junior and Senior Scientist of the Year during St. Albert's Day

Mayo Clinic and collaborators to test new ways to provide specialized TBI care

Viewpoints: Fight for the Senate will impact GOP effort to void health law; Figuring out insurance is tough even for health economist

Imaging Healthcare Specialists implements successful radiation dose reduction program

IRIN examines controversy surround AMFm

Racial differences in fatal coronary heart disease associated with risk factor burden

Reducing malnutrition among refugees in South Sudan

Promotoras help diabetics overcome cultural, social and economic barriers

State roundup: Examining health issues on state ballots

Both candidates use abortion issue to turn out their base

Membrane proteins in focus: Turning high-risk targets into routine workflows

How metabolic phenotyping can detect viral infections in minutes

Directed enzyme evolution and the Nobel Prize: Making enzymes evolve in the lab

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