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New review article: Pitch center does not exist in auditory cortex

The perceptual feature of sound known as pitch is fundamental to human hearing, allowing us to enjoy the melodies and harmonies of music and recognize the inflection of speech. Previous studies have suggested that a particular hotspot in the brain might be responsible for perceiving pitch. However, auditory neuroscientists are still hotly debating whether this "pitch center" actually exists.

30 Nov 2011

Strengthening family planning services through investment, integration

In this post on Management Sciences for Health's (MSH) "Global Health Impact" blog, MSH President and CEO Jonathan Quick discusses how investing in family planning services and integrating those services into other health care initiatives can save money over the long term and strengthen health systems.

30 Nov 2011

Home visits, mobile clinics do not improve asthma outcomes in children

A new Johns Hopkins Children's Center study of Baltimore City children with asthma shows that two programs designed to improve disease outcomes among those who may be affected the worst fall short of expectations.

30 Nov 2011

Political will, strong leadership from U.S. needed to end AIDS epidemic

"This Thursday's commemoration of World AIDS Day marks a potential turning point in the fight against a global epidemic that has yet to be arrested," a Detroit Free Press editorial states.

30 Nov 2011

Study investigates 'missing link' between environmental factors and heart failure

A University of Cambridge study, which set out to investigate DNA methylation in the human heart and the 'missing link' between our lifestyle and our health, has now mapped the link in detail across the entire human genome.

30 Nov 2011

Global leaders plan next steps at Harvard on World AIDS Day

Thirty years, 30 million deaths and 60 million infections after HIV appeared, medical researchers now have the tools to halt the deadly epidemic. "We have the weapons to win the war against AIDS," says Richard Marlink, M.D., Executive Director of the AIDS Initiative at the Harvard School of Public Health. "It is time to take what we have learned to turn the epidemic around and end AIDS."

30 Nov 2011

Transforming countries from recipients of development aid to donors

In this Washington Post opinion piece, Tony Blair, former prime minister of Britain and founder of the Africa Governance Initiative, highlights South Korea's transformation from aid recipient to aid donor over the past 50 years and writes that, as national and development leaders prepare to meet in the country this week for the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, "The international goal must be to make sure many more countries are transformed."

30 Nov 2011

Car seats sufficiently accommodate broad spectrum of children's body sizes

Researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Center for Injury Research and Prevention studied nearly 1,000 1- to 8-year-old children involved in crashes and found no evidence of increased injury risk for children across a broad weight range. All of the children included in the study were properly restrained in the correct child safety seat or booster seat for their height and weight.

30 Nov 2011

Panel calls for giving N.Y. more authority over troubled hospitals

The New York State health commissioner should be given sweeping new powers to replace the executives and board members of private hospitals, a group appointed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo recommended Monday in a report on how to restructure Brooklyn's failing hospitals and health system.

30 Nov 2011

Study identifies risk factors for women in need of treatment after PTSD

A Florida State University clinical psychologist has identified factors that could cause some women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to have chronic, persistent symptoms while others recover naturally over time.

30 Nov 2011

Tavenner nomination finds support from health care stakeholders

Also in the news, Politico examines Marilyn Tavenner's political giving habits and CNN Money reports on the tenure of Donald Berwick, the exiting Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator.

30 Nov 2011

Study finds no difference in running economy of senior runners

Runners over the age of 60 are the fastest-growing group in the sport. A new study from the University of New Hampshire suggests that their running can remain fast as they age, too.

30 Nov 2011

HHS rejects two MLR waiver requests

The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday delivered the news that health law waiver requests from Indiana and Louisiana had been given the thumbs down, making these two states the third and fourth to have their applications for relief denied outright.

30 Nov 2011

Genentech announces results from pertuzumab studies on HER2-positive breast cancer

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced the company will present results from studies of its investigational medicine pertuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium December 6-10.

30 Nov 2011

Study: Medicaid costs still growing faster than state revenues

A new study from the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers paints a mixed picture -- at best -- of state budgets.

30 Nov 2011

Almac's Diagnostics business unit receives CAP lab accreditation

Almac's Diagnostics business unit has been awarded accreditation for its Craigavon, UK facilities by the Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), based on the results of a recent onsite inspection.

30 Nov 2011

Dems' ad about Romney 'flip flops' triggers analysis, campaign reaction

Mitt Romney's campaign is rebutting the Democratic National Committee's claims about his record on health reform and abortion rights.

30 Nov 2011

Study: Abstinence-only education does not reduce teen pregnancy rates

States that prescribe abstinence-only sex education programs in public schools have significantly higher teenage pregnancy and birth rates than states with more comprehensive sex education programs, researchers from the University of Georgia have determined.

30 Nov 2011

CSIS hosts public launch of USAID Global Health Strategy

The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) on Monday "hosted the public launch of the new USAID Global Health Strategy to support implementation of the Global Health Initiative," according to its website.

30 Nov 2011

Four PhD graduates to showcase cutting-edge research in University of Leicester lectures

The University of Leicester has announced its upcoming Doctoral Inaugural Lectures for 2011, which celebrate and showcase four doctoral graduates who are both outstanding academically and able to present their work in a way that is accessible and engaging. The speakers will talk about their doctoral research, with subjects including: personalising asthma prescriptions, understanding growth disorders of bodily organs, building models of human brain function and defining the mechanisms of pollen fertility in plants.

30 Nov 2011