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University of Maryland, College Park, UMB announce collaborative school of public health

The University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) today announced a collaborative school of public health that will give graduate students at both institutions expanded opportunities in public health education, research, service, and training.

26 Sep 2012

Health insurance to provide easy-to-understand plan summaries

On Monday, a health law provision goes into effect that requires insurance companies to provide user-friendly guides that provide explanations of plan benefits that will be as clear and easy to understand as the nutrition facts provided on food packages.

26 Sep 2012

Fish-oil fortified nutrition bars can provide health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids

In today's fast-paced society, consumers often reach for nutrition bars when looking for a healthy on-the-go snack. A new study in the September issue of the Journal of Food Science published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) found that partially replacing canola oil with fish oil in nutrition bars can provide the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids without affecting the taste.

26 Sep 2012

Presidential candidates should address HIV epidemic more directly

Following the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) in July, "delegates left Washington with a clear focus on achieving an AIDS-free generation," Chip Lyons, president and CEO of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, writes in the Huffington Post's "The Big Push" blog.

26 Sep 2012

American Society of Anesthesiologists announces partnership with The Medicine Abuse Project

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) today announced its strategic partnership with The Partnership at Drugfree.org's new national campaign, The Medicine Abuse Project, to prevent half a million teens from abusing drugs.

26 Sep 2012

Forbes features interview with president of Friends of Global Fight

Forbes features an interview with Deborah Derrick, president of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, in which she "discusse[s] her motivations for pursuing a career in international affairs and social change, her experience as a senior program officer at the [Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation], what lessons she learned during her time at Gates that are most applicable in her new executive role at Friends of the Global Fight, the current landscape of challenges and solutions, and the role of technology in accelerating progress."

26 Sep 2012

New technique can manipulate and measure magnetic particles without contact

If you throw a ball underwater, you'll find that the smaller it is, the faster it moves: A larger cross-section greatly increases the water's resistance. Now, a team of MIT researchers has figured out a way to use this basic principle, on a microscopic scale, to carry out biomedical tests that could eventually lead to fast, compact and versatile medical-testing devices.

26 Sep 2012

Health insurance costs rise, driven by higher hospital, doctor prices

According to a report by the Health Care Cost Institute, insurance spending jumped in 2011 - a departure from the two previous years.

26 Sep 2012

Dual cigarette and waterpipe users more likely to develop dependence, tobacco-related diseases

People who smoke both cigarettes and waterpipes - dual users - lack sufficient knowledge about the risks of tobacco smoking and are at considerable risk for dependence and tobacco-related diseases, such as cancer, heart disease and stroke later in life, according to findings of a new study by Virginia Commonwealth University.

26 Sep 2012

'Women and Girls Lead Global' initiative launched to 'educate, inspire'

In a post in USAID's "IMPACTblog," CARE President and CEO Helene Gayle describes a new multi-partner initiative, called "Women and Girls Lead Global," which aims to spread "the stories of ... resilient women and girls" through documentary films that will air in nine countries over three years.

26 Sep 2012

Lonafarnib clinical trial for progeria has scientific roots in basic biology discoveries

The good news widely reported this morning of positive results from a clinical drug trial at Boston Children's Hospital for the previously "untreatable" rapid aging disorder in children known as progeria has its scientific roots in basic biology discoveries made in recent years.

26 Sep 2012

Double-digit premium increases seen in popular Medicare drug plans

Seniors in seven of the 10 most popular Medicare drug plans will see marked premium increases for 2013 if they don't opt to change plans, according to an analysis by Avalere Health.

26 Sep 2012

New guide helps children deal with obesity

Have you ever been taken off guard by a child's question about weight? Many parents struggle with what to say and how to say it. In fact, a WebMD/Sanford Health survey found that parents of teens find it more difficult to talk about weight with their child than talking about sex, drugs, alcohol or smoking.

26 Sep 2012

Obama administration warns hospitals on Medicare billing abuses

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder notified hospital trade groups Monday that they planned to prosecute providers that use electronic records to "game the system" by billing Medicare for more complicated care than they actually deliver.

26 Sep 2012

Young women with BRCA mutations feel differently about options for relationships, careers

A study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Nursing (AJN) found that young women who learn they have BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations felt differently about options for relationships, treatment, childbearing and careers.

26 Sep 2012

PRI examines India's efforts to combat malnutrition using local product

PRI's "The World" reports on malnutrition in India, where "eight million children ... suffer from severe acute malnutrition, according to the Indian government." However, the news service writes that "when it comes to treating those children, India lacks what many consider one of the best tools available: so-called ready-to-use therapeutic foods," such as "the most well-known therapeutic food, Plumpy'Nut, ... a patented concoction of peanut butter and micro-nutrients that allows severely malnourished children to be treated at home instead of at a hospital."

26 Sep 2012

Fly neurons may uncover secrets of Alzheimer's disease

Although they're a common nuisance in the home, fruit flies have made great contributions to research in genetics and developmental biology. Now a Tel Aviv University researcher is again turning to this everyday pest to answer crucial questions about how neurons function at a cellular level - which may uncover the secrets of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

26 Sep 2012

Sufficient resources needed to maintain progress against AIDS, TB, malaria

"This week, heads of state, celebrities and CEOs will attend U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's 'Every Woman, Every Child' dinner in New York," an event that "will highlight the amazing contribution of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to the health of women and children in developing countries," Lucy Chesire, executive director and secretary to the board of TB ACTION Group, writes in the Huffington Post's "The Big Push" blog.

26 Sep 2012

Parts of the brain can evolve independently from each other

An Evolutionary Biologist at The University of Manchester, working with scientists in the United States, has found compelling evidence that parts of the brain can evolve independently from each other. It's hoped the findings will significantly advance our understanding of the brain.

From The University of Manchester 26 Sep 2012

Chinese innovations, resources could help create new global health products

In this post in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Impatient Optimists" blog, Christine Rousseau, a program officer at the foundation, describes the importance of diagnostics in HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) care and treatment and writes, This brings me to the tremendous role that China's entrepreneurs can play as partners in global health.

26 Sep 2012