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Pediatric Trauma Program launches holiday PSA against hazards of texting while driving

The Pediatric Trauma Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles is launching a holiday public service announcement focusing on the hazards of texting while driving in an effort to reduce injuries and death across the Southland.

24 Dec 2010

Research reaffirms bovine TB's threat to humans, animals, and to international trade

As part of his doctoral research at The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Demelash Biffa has carried out extensive field and laboratory work on bovine tuberculosis (TB) in Ethiopia since 2007. The main aims of his study were to investigate risk factors associated with prevalence of the disease and to discover the molecular genetic characteristics of mycobacteria, which cause serious pathologic lesions in cattle. The work has led to the development of a new numeric expression approach known as Spoligotype Evolutionary Index (SEI).

24 Dec 2010

High pressure technology holds promise for decontamination of dairy products

The AZTI-Tecnalia technological centre, in a project undertaken by the Tecnolat and Llet de Catalunya dairy product companies within the FUTURAL project, has verified that, as an alternative to the traditional heat treatment for decontamination of a number of dairy products, high pressure technology is highly recommendable. In fact, according to a press release from Tecnolat, the results, especially with ready-to-eat fruit products and in the inactivation of moulds and yeasts in other dairy products, "were highly positive and promising".

24 Dec 2010

$1.1 billion Martek sale measures success of UMD-Mtech 'grads'

The latest success of Martek Biosciences, a rising-star among Maryland biotechs, began more than a decade ago in a plain, brick building on the University of Maryland campus. With a good idea and early-stage nurturing from the university's Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech), the company has been able to grow into a major international business.

24 Dec 2010

New study shows striking changes, variations by region in admission rates for substance abuse treatment

Although the overall rate of admissions to substance abuse treatment in the U.S. remained stable between 1998 and 2008, at about 770 admissions for every 100,000 persons in the population, a new study shows striking changes and variations in admission rates by region. For example, the rate of admissions for alcohol as the primary drug has declined by 15 percent nationally. However admission rates for alcohol in West North Central states (Ark., Iowa, Kan., Minn., Mo., N.D., Neb. and S.D.) remained the same.

24 Dec 2010

Meaningful use of EHR systems is an IT and organizational initiative

Meaningful use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems is more than an IT or clinical initiative, according to Reonel "Joon" Saddul, Vice President, Clinical Informatics, at St. Joseph Health System. It is an organizational initiative. Implementation could cost the organization three times more than it should, if not done right from the start, therefore, Saddul advises that all parties are included in the decision-making and planning processes, and the projects aligned to known and likely future requirements.

24 Dec 2010

The Candie's Foundation welcomes drop in teen birth rates, says more work still to be done

The Candie's Foundation, a teen pregnancy prevention organization, announced today that it welcomes the news that in 2009, the teen birth rate dropped to an all time low. The Candie's Foundation aims to raise awareness about the devastating consequences of teen pregnancy through public service announcement (PSA) campaigns.

24 Dec 2010

22% of hospital admissions in 2008 were for patients over 75 years old: AHRQ

Twenty-two percent of all admissions to U.S. hospitals in 2008 were for patients born the year that Franklin D. Roosevelt was first inaugurated President of the United States or earlier, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

24 Dec 2010

HIT interventions promising tools in fight to improve medication adherence, despite paucity of data

A new study that reviews more than four decades of medical journal articles about the impact of health information technology (HIT) and electronic communications on medication adherence concludes that while there is evidence to suggest that simple electronic reminders are an effective and low-cost means to improve adherence, there are few studies that show how HIT can be leveraged to more thoughtfully engage or motivate patients to take medications as prescribed.

24 Dec 2010

Five-stage reverse osmosis best for removal of hexavalent chromium from drinking water

The only way to learn if your water source has hexavalent chromium is to check with your public water supplier and request a water quality report, said NJIT Professor Taha Marhaba, a civil/environmental engineer. Most municipal or city engineers should be able to provide such a report upon request. Additional information specifically about hexavalent chromium levels may also be available.

24 Dec 2010

Research Roundup: Surgery and health costs; ACOs and independent doctors; Stroke's long-term effects; Improving low-income care

Archives of Surgery: Profile Of Inpatient Operating Room Procedures In U.S. Hospitals In 2007 - Understanding operating room (OR) procedures in the hospital "is critical in debates about how to improve the population's health while attempting to constrain growth in health care costs," write the authors of this study that provides an overview of inpatient operating room procedures in the U.S. from 1997 to 2007.

24 Dec 2010

Financial Times examines how Brazil's state-run drug sector is engaging in partnerships at home, abroad

"Dilma Rousseff had barely been confirmed as Brazil's new president in November when she made her first foreign visit, to Mozambique," which "included a symbolic stop-off at a pharmaceutical factory that is under construction in preparation for opening in 2014. … The plant will produce a range of medicines for one of its leading lusophone - Portuguese-speaking - African partners, marking the resurgent power and growing reach of its sponsor, Brazil's own state-led drug sector," the Financial Times writes in an article that examines the partnerships Brazil is establishing at home and abroad.

24 Dec 2010

Scientific American examines efforts to increase influenza virus monitoring in pigs to prevent pandemics in humans

Scientific American examines how, in an attempt to improve early recognition of viruses that could give rise to pandemics in people, such as last year's H1N1 swine flu, scientists are looking to better understand "the viruses that infect the estimated 941 million domesticated pigs around the world." However, as the article notes, "[i]ntensive monitoring of pig viruses is unlikely to come any time soon … Most pork-producing countries do not test their pigs at all, and in some that do - such as the U.S. - the testing is done on behalf of the pork producers.

24 Dec 2010

American Regent initiates voluntary recall of Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP 7.5% and 8.4%

American Regent is conducting a nationwide voluntary recall to the consumer and user level of ALL unexpired lots of the following products: Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP, 7.5%, 44.6 mEq/50 mL, Single Dose Vial

24 Dec 2010

Report examines infant, child feeding practices in 33 countries

A report (.pdf), released Wednesday, on breastfeeding practices in 33 countries found that out of 78 million infants born each year, about 42 million do not receive an optimal amount of breastfeeding, IANS/Sify News reports (12/22).

24 Dec 2010

9/11 responders health bill gains congressional nod

In one of the last acts of this not-so-lame lame-duck Congress, lawmakers overcame wrangling and cleared legislation that would cover the costs of medical care for 9/11 rescue workers.

24 Dec 2010

Texas doctor arrested in whistle-blowing case; Mass. judge dismisses hospital payment lawsuit against the state

Texas officials have filed criminal charges against a West Texas physician over accusations that they say he orchestrated against two nurses who had filed a complaint against him with the state medical board (Sack, 12/23).

24 Dec 2010

Health spending and mandates: What is central to the overhaul's implementation and what is not

CQ looks forward and offer analyses regarding how determinations about mandatory and discretionary spending will impact the health law's implementation. Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare reports on a new study exploring how central the individual insurance mandate is to expanding coverage.

24 Dec 2010

Guardian Home Care Holdings sold to AccentCare

Friedman Fleischer & Lowe today announced that it has sold Guardian Home Care Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of home care and hospice services, to AccentCare Inc., one of the nation's fastest growing home healthcare companies.

24 Dec 2010

Electronic health records have only limited effect on improving quality of medical care: RAND study

Use of electronic health records by hospitals across the United States has had only a limited effect on improving the quality of medical care, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

24 Dec 2010

Healthcare News

Pediatric Trauma Program launches holiday PSA against hazards of texting while driving

Research reaffirms bovine TB's threat to humans, animals, and to international trade

High pressure technology holds promise for decontamination of dairy products

$1.1 billion Martek sale measures success of UMD-Mtech 'grads'

New study shows striking changes, variations by region in admission rates for substance abuse treatment

Meaningful use of EHR systems is an IT and organizational initiative

The Candie's Foundation welcomes drop in teen birth rates, says more work still to be done

22% of hospital admissions in 2008 were for patients over 75 years old: AHRQ

HIT interventions promising tools in fight to improve medication adherence, despite paucity of data

Five-stage reverse osmosis best for removal of hexavalent chromium from drinking water

Research Roundup: Surgery and health costs; ACOs and independent doctors; Stroke's long-term effects; Improving low-income care

Financial Times examines how Brazil's state-run drug sector is engaging in partnerships at home, abroad

Scientific American examines efforts to increase influenza virus monitoring in pigs to prevent pandemics in humans

American Regent initiates voluntary recall of Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP 7.5% and 8.4%

Report examines infant, child feeding practices in 33 countries

9/11 responders health bill gains congressional nod

Texas doctor arrested in whistle-blowing case; Mass. judge dismisses hospital payment lawsuit against the state

Health spending and mandates: What is central to the overhaul's implementation and what is not

Guardian Home Care Holdings sold to AccentCare

Electronic health records have only limited effect on improving quality of medical care: RAND study

Advancing brain microphysiological systems (bMPS)

PhD researcher at LifeArc

Unveiling Hidden Potential: Organoids for Disease Modeling in Neuroscience Research

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