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Standardization may improve Canada's ranking in international child health indexes

Canada's ranking in international child health indexes would dramatically improve if measurements were standardized, according to a new study by researchers from the University of British Columbia, Dalhousie University, McGill University, the University of Calgary, and the Public Health Agency of Canada, working with the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

17 Feb 2012

Another short-term 'patch' to Medicare physician payment crisis disappoints

Our organizations, representing nearly 400,000 physicians and medical student members, are deeply disappointed by the agreement in Congress to enact another short-term "patch" that neither solves, nor moves us closer to solving, the Medicare physician payment crisis.

17 Feb 2012

Congressional negotiators announce 'doc fix,' payroll tax cut deal

Some Democrats fretted over cuts to the health care law to help pay for the package; physician groups were disappointed it did not replace Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula.

17 Feb 2012

ESF-COST launch Responses to Environmental and Societal Challenges for our Unstable Earth initiative

Resolving the world's major challenges whether climate change, environmental pollution, urbanisation, our ageing population or resource scarcity requires a sweeping shift in our approach to sustainability research and education, a group of leading scientists told European policy makers today during the launch of their report "Responses to Environmental and Societal Challenges for our Unstable Earth" (RESCUE).

17 Feb 2012

First Edition: February 17, 2012

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations include reports about the latest debate on the Obama administration's regulation to mandate free birth control for women.

17 Feb 2012

Fish oil added to goat cheese can deliver omega-3 fatty acids without compromising taste or shelf-life

Fish oil is an underused ingredient in the food industry because of its association with a strong odor and aftertaste. A new study in the February issue of the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists, shows that fish oil can be added to goat cheese to deliver high levels of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids without compromising taste or shelf-life.

17 Feb 2012

Strong spousal support helps cope with job stress

The growth of two-income families and increasing levels of job stress are two of the most significant work trends affecting American businesses and families in recent years. Having just one stressed-out spouse can harm couple's work and home lives - but what about when it's both?

17 Feb 2012

IHP, PFCD organize expert roundtable on NCDs at New Delhi

India Health Progress (IHP) in association with Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) today organized an expert roundtable on 'Non-Communicable Diseases Burden in India: Strategizing the Way Forward' at Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi.

17 Feb 2012

Patient education program may help reduce kidney transplant-related disparities

Being educated about your health and your treatment options is a good thing. According to a new study, kidney failure patients who take part in an education program are more likely to get evaluated for a kidney transplant.

17 Feb 2012

Young Canadians report higher levels of emotional and behavioural problems

Canadian girls report higher levels of emotional problems and lower levels of emotional well-being and life satisfaction, while boys tend to experience more behavioural problems and demonstrate less prosocial behavior, a new Queen's University-led national study of youth health behavior shows.

17 Feb 2012

Congress to vote on 10-month 'doc fix,' payroll tax deal

News outlets report that the legislation would include delaying the cut in Medicare payments to physicians.

17 Feb 2012

Two GOP Senators propose Medicare overhaul plan

Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Richard Burr of North Carolina call for a "grown-up" conversation about the changes needed to preserve Medicare for future generations.

17 Feb 2012

White House budget director stumbles on question about mandate

The health law's individual mandate is not a tax, the OMB director said under questioning at a Capitol Hill hearing Wednesday, even though the administration has claimed the opposite in its defense of the law before the Supreme Court.

17 Feb 2012

LUMC named one of the nation's top hospitals in cancer treatment

Loyola University Medical Center has been named one of the nation's top hospitals in cancer research, prevention, treatment and education by Becker's Hospital Review.

17 Feb 2012

President Obama's FY13 budget request increases multilateral global health funding

In this post in the Center for Global Development's (CGD) "Global Health Policy" blog, Amanda Glassman, director of global health policy and a research fellow at CGD, and Denizhan Duran, a research assistant at CGD, note that while the decreases in funding for the Global Health Initiative (GHI) and PEPFAR in President Obama's FY 2013 budget request are "alarming," the "bright spot" is that multilateral programs, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the GAVI Alliance, would get increases in their funding.

17 Feb 2012

Web-based intervention can effectively manage chronic migraine

painACTION.com is a free, non-promotional online program designed to support self-management and improve overall function in people with chronic pain. This study tested painACTION.com's ability to increase the use of self-management skills in people with chronic migraine headaches.

17 Feb 2012

Bill to bar synthetic recreational drugs hits roadblock

A broadly popular bill by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., to outlaw synthetic recreational drugs across the nation has run into an increasingly common obstacle in the U.S. Senate: the objection of a single senator. Klobuchar and two other senators backing similar measures took the unusual step of taking to the Senate floor Wednesday to publicly denounce a "hold" placed on their bills by freshman Kentucky Republican Rand Paul. ... Paul spokeswoman Moira Bagley said he believes "law enforcement of most drug laws can and should be local and state issues."

17 Feb 2012

Canadian study quantifies effects of safe water, sanitation on health for first time

"In a study of 193 countries to be released Thursday, Canadian-based researchers say they've been able to quantify -- for the first time -- how safe water and public sanitation efforts affect health when factoring out other variables such as a nation's wealth, fertility or location," USA Today's "Your Life" reports.

17 Feb 2012

Home health industry fights minimum wage rule

USA Today reports about the effort by home health care companies fighting an administration proposal on pay. Meanwhile in Connecticut, officials are considering changes in pay rules.

17 Feb 2012

Nordion celebrates first anniversary of market launch of TheraSphere

Nordion Inc., a leading provider of products and services to the global health science market, today celebrated the first anniversary of the market introduction of TheraSphere, an innovative radioembolic liver cancer therapy, in the Republic of Turkey.

17 Feb 2012