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Global AIDS response provides lessons for fighting NCDs

"If left unaddressed, [non-communicable diseases (NCDs)] will lead to more death, disability and the implosion of already overburdened health systems in developing countries at huge cost to individuals, families, businesses and society," Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and former UNAIDS executive director, writes in the Huffington Post "Impact" blog, adding, "Like AIDS, NCDs are a problem for rich and poor countries alike, but the poor suffer the most."

21 Sep 2012

Countdown to 2015 report shows slight decline in funding for maternal, child health

"Spending on maternal and child health has stalled, according to an expert analysis, raising concerns that efforts to cut deaths in poor countries to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) may falter," the Guardian reports.

21 Sep 2012

No evidence for added benefits of spinal manipulation for acute lower back pain

Manipulating or "adjusting" the spine is a popular way to treat occasional or acute lower back pain and is covered by many health insurance plans, but a recent review by The Cochrane Library finds no evidence to suggest it is more effective than other therapy options.

21 Sep 2012

Gates blog series on World Contraception Day

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Impatient Optimists" blog continues its series, published in partnership with Women Deliver, to recognize World Contraception Day, observed annually on September 26.

21 Sep 2012

U.S. foreign aid critical to achieving health goals, improving lives, strengthening international relationships

"Day after day, American foreign aid is dramatically improving millions of lives and consequently, impressions of America," former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean and Ray Chambers, chair of the MDG Health Alliance and the U.N. Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Malaria, write in the Huffington Post's "Global Motherhood" blog.

21 Sep 2012

REM sleep behavior disorder more common than reported

A troubling sleep disorder that causes sleepers to physically act out their dreams by kicking, screaming or falling out of bed may be more common than reported, according to Loyola University Medical Center sleep specialist Dr. Nabeela Nasir.

21 Sep 2012

Sanofi, TB Alliance form research collaboration to search for new treatment compounds

French drug maker Sanofi on Thursday announced a new three-year research collaboration agreement with the TB Alliance "to accelerate the discovery and development of novel compounds against tuberculosis," RTTNews reports.

21 Sep 2012

What moms eat before pregnancy affects children epigenetically

Everyone knows that what mom eats when pregnant makes a huge difference in the health of her child. Now, new research in mice suggests that what she ate before pregnancy might be important too. According to a new research report published online in The FASEB Journal, what a group of female mice ate-before pregnancy-chemically altered their DNA and these changes were passed to her offspring. These DNA alterations, called "epigenetic" changes, drastically affected the pups' metabolism of many essential fatty acids.

21 Sep 2012

U.N. report on MDGs shows declining aid; SG Ban urges increased global partnership

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday "urged a stronger global partnership to advance progress on the development targets world leaders have pledged to achieve by 2015, as a new United Nations report finds that significant gains risk slowing due to declining aid," the U.N. News Centre reports.

21 Sep 2012

Adding missing protein to infertile human sperm can 'kick-start' its ability to fertilise eggs

Adding a missing protein to infertile human sperm can 'kick-start' its ability to fertilise an egg and dramatically increase the chances of a successful pregnancy, a team of Cardiff University scientists have uncovered.

21 Sep 2012

Global targets for NCD prevention, control must be carefully considered

Noting this week marks the first anniversary of the U.N. High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), a Lancet editorial states, "The meeting was a crucial step for putting diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease high on the global health agenda. However, little action, other than more talking, has been taken since."

21 Sep 2012

UAB urges women to get tested for key measures throughout their lives

Heart disease, cancer and stroke are the leading causes of death in women of all ages in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To get ahead of these chronic health issues and possibly prevent them from worsening, experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham urge women to get tested for key measures throughout their lives.

21 Sep 2012

Examining the role of ambassador for global health diplomacy

In this post in the Center for Global Development's (CGD) "Global Health Policy" blog, Amanda Glassman, a senior fellow and director of global health policy at CGD, and Jenny Ottenhoff, a policy outreach associate at the center, discuss the closure of the Global Health Initiative (GHI) office and the creation of the Office of Global Health Diplomacy at the State Department, to be "led by an ambassador responsible for 'champion[ing] the priorities and policies of the GHI in the diplomatic arena,'" according to the announcement.

21 Sep 2012

Adult stem cell therapy may benefit COPD patients

New developments in regenerative medicine are bringing about exciting, novel approaches to create therapies for hard to treat diseases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a hard to treat disorder that progressively blocks airflow in the lungs making it increasingly difficult for an individual to breathe, and is one of the leading illnesses in the US. Yet, current treatments for COPD can only try to limit the extent of damage to the lungs, and to bring some relief from symptoms.

21 Sep 2012

Child mortality rate nearly halved in Niger since 1998, analysis shows

"Niger has nearly halved the death rate of children below five years old since 1998, a significant drop highlighting the benefits of free universal health care for children and pregnant women as well as increased donor funding for health," according to a analysis published in the Lancet, IRIN reports.

21 Sep 2012

Partially-matched bone marrow transplants can eliminate sickle cell disease in some patients

In a preliminary clinical trial, investigators at Johns Hopkins have shown that even partially-matched bone marrow transplants can eliminate sickle cell disease in some patients, ridding them of painful and debilitating symptoms, and the need for a lifetime of pain medications and blood transfusions. The researchers say the use of such marrow could potentially help make bone marrow transplants accessible to a majority of sickle cell patients who need them.

21 Sep 2012

Smoking, obesity and lack of insurance may be shortening life span for some Americans

The New York Times reports that the nation's life-expectancy trend has reversed by four years since 1990 for the country's least-educated whites.

21 Sep 2012

Auditory, visual, and tactile cues hold potential in rehabilitation of Parkinson's Disease patients

Walking to a beat could be useful for patients needing rehabilitation, according to a University of Pittsburgh study. The findings, highlighted in the August issue of PLOS One, demonstrate that researchers should further investigate the potential of auditory, visual, and tactile cues in the rehabilitation of patients suffering from illnesses like Parkinson's Disease-a brain disorder leading to shaking (tremors) and difficulty walking.

21 Sep 2012

Research roundup: 'Early' cost-control lessons from Mass.; Colonoscopy coverage; Impact of PSA recommendations

On Aug. 8, Massachusetts' third health care cost control bill became law. It "sets annual state spending targets, encourages the formation of accountable care organizations, and establishes an independent commission to oversee health care system performance."

21 Sep 2012

NCI awards Provocative Questions grant to Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers

Two Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers are among a select group of scientists from around the world who have been recognized by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for their quest to answer the most pressing questions about cancer. Stuart Aaronson, MD, Professor and Chair of Oncological Sciences and Ross Cagan, PhD, Professor of Oncological Sciences at Mount Sinai, have received the NCI's new "Provocative Questions" grant, which was established to explore the important yet less obvious questions about cancer that may have been neglected in this era of significant discovery.

21 Sep 2012

Medical News

Global AIDS response provides lessons for fighting NCDs

Countdown to 2015 report shows slight decline in funding for maternal, child health

No evidence for added benefits of spinal manipulation for acute lower back pain

Gates blog series on World Contraception Day

U.S. foreign aid critical to achieving health goals, improving lives, strengthening international relationships

REM sleep behavior disorder more common than reported

Sanofi, TB Alliance form research collaboration to search for new treatment compounds

What moms eat before pregnancy affects children epigenetically

U.N. report on MDGs shows declining aid; SG Ban urges increased global partnership

Adding missing protein to infertile human sperm can 'kick-start' its ability to fertilise eggs

Global targets for NCD prevention, control must be carefully considered

UAB urges women to get tested for key measures throughout their lives

Examining the role of ambassador for global health diplomacy

Adult stem cell therapy may benefit COPD patients

Child mortality rate nearly halved in Niger since 1998, analysis shows

Partially-matched bone marrow transplants can eliminate sickle cell disease in some patients

Smoking, obesity and lack of insurance may be shortening life span for some Americans

Auditory, visual, and tactile cues hold potential in rehabilitation of Parkinson's Disease patients

Research roundup: 'Early' cost-control lessons from Mass.; Colonoscopy coverage; Impact of PSA recommendations

NCI awards Provocative Questions grant to Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers

How real-time off-gas analysis improves fermentation process control

Advancing Drug Safety Assessment With AI, Predictive Modeling, and Human-Relevant Data

AI-powered analytics and experimental validation

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