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Poor handling of oranges in squeezing machines stimulates bacterial contamination

Scientists from the University of Valencia in Spain have analysed fresh orange juice squeezed by machines in catering establishments. They have confirmed that 43% of samples exceeded the acceptable enterobacteriaceae levels laid down by legislation. The researchers recommend that oranges are handled correctly, that juicers are washed properly and that the orange juice is served immediately rather than being stored in metal jugs.

15 Dec 2011

U.N. issues $1.5B 2012 joint appeal for humanitarian aid in Somalia

The U.N. on Tuesday issued its 2012 consolidated appeal process (CAP), or joint appeal, for $1.5 billion to fund 350 projects in Somalia, "where famine and conflict have already cost tens of thousands of lives," the Guardian reports.

15 Dec 2011

Potential breakthrough test would predict breast cancer progression, recurrence

A Queensland University of Technology (QUT) PhD student has developed a potential breakthrough test for predicting the likelihood of the spread or return of breast cancer.

15 Dec 2011

Medicaid spending claims increasingly larger share of state budgets

According to the National Association of State Budget Officers, Medicaid spending by the states has steadily gone up during the last three years, and this trend is likely to continue. Media outlets also report on Medicaid developments in Texas, Florida, New York and California.

15 Dec 2011

UT MD Anderson offers CAP gift for pediatric cancer patients

The holidays are here, and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Children's Art Project (CAP), offers a line of gifts based on artwork created by pediatric cancer patients. Sale proceeds from each item fund a variety of educational and recreational programs for patients and their families.

15 Dec 2011

Goal of near-zero malaria deaths attainable with continued will, resources

In this TIME "Ideas" opinion piece, David Bowen, CEO of Malaria No More, writes that with the right resources and political will, an end to malaria is possible.

15 Dec 2011

New drug candidate may halt mental decline of Alzheimer's

A new drug candidate may be the first capable of halting the devastating mental decline of Alzheimer's disease, based on the findings of a study published today in PLoS one.

15 Dec 2011

Viewpoints: Berwick's advice; Romney's wager; Fighting AIDS

Dr. Donald Berwick, who was blocked by Republicans from serving a full term as the administrator of the agency that runs Medicare and Medicaid, has been speaking out. He makes a compelling case about the harm caused by partisan demagoguery and about the need for health care professionals to take the lead in implementing reforms.

15 Dec 2011

More than half of older patients with anemia do not need transfusions after hip surgery

More than half of the older, anemic patients in a New England Journal of Medicine study did not need blood transfusions as they recovered from hip surgery, according to new research co-authored by University of Maryland School of Medicine scientists.

15 Dec 2011

Paul Farmer discusses equity in international health with Scientific American

In this Scientific American "60-Second Health" podcast, journalist Katherine Harmon interviews Paul Farmer, a Harvard professor and co-founder of the non-profit Partners in Health, who is "famous for his health work in Haiti."

15 Dec 2011

Cereblon protein now holds hope in fight against multiple myeloma

Research on the same protein that was a primary mediator of the birth defects caused by thalidomide now holds hope in the battle against multiple myeloma, say Mayo Clinic researchers who presented results of several clinical trials at the 53nd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology Dec. 10-13 in San Diego.

15 Dec 2011

TIME examines lawsuit against U.N. alleging responsibility for cholera outbreak

"The question of who is responsible for Haiti's cholera epidemic -- the first that the Caribbean nation, the western hemisphere's poorest, has seen in a century -- has raised tempers since the first case was detected in October 2010," TIME reports in an article examining a lawsuit filed against the U.N. claiming it is responsible for bringing the disease into the country and seeking damages for cholera victims and their families.

15 Dec 2011

Vaginal progesterone safe and effective in preventing preterm birth

Women with a short cervix should be treated with vaginal progesterone to prevent preterm birth, according to a landmark study by leading obstetricians around the world. Vaginal progesterone decreased the rate of preterm birth by 42%, and significantly reduced the rate of respiratory distress syndrome and the need for mechanical ventilation, as well as a composite of several complications of premature newborns.

15 Dec 2011

Much in play for health interests as congress works on payroll tax cut measure

A two-year fix to the formula that sets Medicare payments for physicians was included in yesterday's House-passed version of this bill. Still, the fix's future is not certain. Meanwhile, other health interests are trying to protect their own funding, which has so far been targeted as a way to pay for the payroll tax holiday extension.

15 Dec 2011

Five tips to identify unstable individuals during holidays

While it is true that the suicide rate at the holidays is actually lower than at other times of the year, the holidays can be a very lonely time for those with nowhere to go and no one to turn to. As a result, the hospital emergency department sees an increase in visits from people who have engaged in potentially self-destructive or depressive behavior.

15 Dec 2011

Administration report finds 2.5 million young adults gain health insurance coverage

A report to be released today by the Obama administration finds that the number of people between the ages of 19 and 25 who have gained coverage exceeds earlier estimates.

15 Dec 2011

GeneKey launches personalized medicine service for cancer patients

GeneKey Corp., announced today that it has launched a personalized medicine service that empowers cancer patients and their oncology teams to develop treatment strategies based on insight into the biology of individual tumors.

15 Dec 2011

Chevron's role in fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa

In this Africa.com opinion piece, Ana Ruth Luis, medical director of the Southern Africa Strategic Business Unit at Chevron Africa and Latin America Ex in Angola, discusses what she calls "the important role Chevron has in driving down the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Africa."

15 Dec 2011

OA patients benefit from walking skills training following total hip arthroplasty

Researchers in Norway report that patients who receive walking skills training following total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis show improved physical function. The physical therapy program displayed a positive effect on walking distance and stair climbing which continued 12 months following hip replacement surgery.

15 Dec 2011

Congress should give clean water to world's poor through Water for the World Act

In this Huffington Post opinion piece, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) writes about access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation among the world's poor, stating, "As America prepares for the holiday season ... I hope that Congress will give a gift of life, health and hope by helping people around the world with something that most Americans take for granted: safe drinking water."

15 Dec 2011