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Too much tea raises the risk of rheumatoid arthritis: Study

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) a severely debilitating inflammatory disease of the joints is on the rise worldwide. It leads to severe pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of movement of joints like knees, wrist and even fingers. RA affects women more than men. RA occurs in people who develop a rogue immune system that attacks the tissue that lines the joint cavities called the synovium leading to degeneration of the joints and the symptoms of the disease. In 1995 36.4 per 100,000 women were diagnosed with RA whereas in 2005 the number rose to 54 per 100,000 women.

20 Jun 2010

Greater focus on mental health is needed says expert

According to mental health expert and Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry the resignation of the head of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health (NACMH), John Mendoza, is an indication of the disappointment of the mental health care sector with the government.

20 Jun 2010

Alcohol consumption guidelines during pregnancy needed: Study

Before 2001 Australian health guidelines recommended that pregnant women should not consume alcohol. These guidelines were introduced in 1992. In 2001 the consensus guidelines recommended avoidance of “high” blood levels of alcohol but did not say no to lower levels of alcohol. In 2009 National Health and Medical Research Council advised that all women planning a pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding should not drink alcohol at all.

20 Jun 2010

American Heart Association CEO on first anniversary of Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

The one-year anniversary of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act brings new consumer protections that will make it increasingly difficult for the tobacco industry to recruit the next Marlboro man, woman or child. With many important provisions already in effect, we can celebrate the lives we have saved with rules restricting Big Tobacco's deceptive marketing practices, particularly towards children.

19 Jun 2010

Special Olympics Minnesota's 2010 Summer Games conclude

Today is the last day of competition at the Special Olympics Minnesota's 2010 Summer Games. Volleyball competition will take place on the third floor of the University of Minnesota's Recreation Center (1906 University Avenue SE) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and tennis competition will be held at Life Time Fitness in Lakeville (18425 Dodd Boulevard) from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. In addition, artistic gymnastics competition will start at 2 p.m. and conclude at 5:30 p.m. at Mini-Hops Gymnastics Club in Minnetonka (131 Cheshire Lane, Suite 100).

19 Jun 2010

Pfizer Canada announces temporary suspension of Lipitor Continuity Card Program

The Regie d'Assurance Maladie du Quebec (RAMQ) recently advised Pfizer that they are examining all pharmaceutical card programs in Quebec. In light of this they have sent us a formal request dated June 16, 2010 to temporarily suspend the Lipitor Continuity Card Program. As part of our ongoing collaboration with the RAMQ, we have made the decision to temporarily suspend the distribution of the Lipitor Continuity Card in Quebec while they complete their analysis.

19 Jun 2010

U.S. releases statement on Global Health Initiative

The U.S. government continues to lay the groundwork for efforts under the U.S. Global Health Initiative (GHI), announcing the first round of "GHI Plus" countries, as well as the program's governance structure. GHI is a six-year, $63 billion initiative to help partner countries improve measurable health outcomes by strengthening health systems and building upon proven results. It places a particular focus on improving the health of women, newborns and children.

19 Jun 2010

NLRB issues third strike against Sal Rosselli, other former SEIU-UHW officials

The National Labor Relations Board issued a third strike against Sal Rosselli, ousted president of the Service Employees International Union - United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW), and other former union officials who formed the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) after they were removed from office.

19 Jun 2010

AORN supports Pennsylvania's signing of HB 1641 requiring perioperative RN during surgery

As advocates for patient safety in the operating room, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, (AORN), announced support for Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell's signing of HB 1641 requiring the presence of a circulating nurse in certain operating rooms. The bill, signed into law on June 16, applies to any hospital or class C ambulatory surgical facility.

19 Jun 2010

Gary and Mary West Foundation announces $25M commitment to West Wireless Health Institute

The Gary and Mary West Foundation today announced a $25 million commitment to enable the West Wireless Health Institute (WWHI) to amplify its aggressive recruitment of world class engineering talent and accelerate its mission on a national and global scale. The additional funding comes on the heels of a $20 million grant announced last month, and brings the total support provided by the foundation to nearly $100 million since the Institute's inception in March 2009.

19 Jun 2010

New phase I/IIa clinical trial of AR-42 for blood cancer at OSUCCC-James

For the second time within a year, an experimental drug invented by cancer researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James) is being tested on patients in a clinical trial.

19 Jun 2010

Research findings support the need to establish standards for DFSA care

New toxicology findings reveal the presence of drugs and/or alcohol in 76 per cent of women and men who suspect they were victims of drug-facilitated sexual assault. Of those, 64 per cent did not report voluntarily consuming the drugs found, supporting their belief that they may have been slipped a drug. In addition, unexpected male DNA was found in a substantial number of cases, confirming sexual activity.

19 Jun 2010

NPAF draws attention on need to ensure patients' right to privacy in Virginia's HIE

The National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) – a national, non-profit organization dedicated to the mission of creating avenues of improved patient access to health care through public policy reform at the state and federal levels – delivered a letter to Dr. William Hazel Jr., M.D., Secretary of Health and Human Resources and Chair of Virginia Governor's Health Information Technology Advisory Commission (HITAC), bringing attention to the need to ensure patients' right to privacy in the state's health information exchange (HIE).

19 Jun 2010

Lightning Safety Awareness Campaign reduces death and injury from lightning strikes in the U.S.

This year marks the 10th Lightning Safety Awareness Campaign, June 20-26. Spearheaded by the National Weather Service, the campaign has reduced death and injury from lightning strikes in the U.S., with average annual deaths dropping from 72 to 40 in the last decade.

19 Jun 2010

Research findings open door to new model for health and fitness measurement

A University of Southern California study appearing in the current issue of peer-review journal, Nutrition Research reports that the user-friendly, Web-native Stayhealthy BC1 System offers clinical-grade body composition analysis comparable to the most rigorous clinical tools. According to the company, the study's findings open the door to a new, far more effective and engaging model for health and fitness measurement, reporting body composition analysis, rather than body weight or the outdated body mass index.

19 Jun 2010

End Duchenne Day to be celebrated on June 26, 2010: PPMD

Patricia A. Furlong, Founding President and CEO of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, the largest non-profit organization in the United States focused on finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, announced that the Mayor of Denver, Colorado, John W. Hickenlooper, has proclaimed June 26, 2010 "End Duchenne Day" in recognition of PPMD's 16th Annual Connect Conference. Denver is playing host to the country's largest Duchenne-specific, international conference, June 24 – 27, 2010.

19 Jun 2010

Active surveillance sufficient for patients with low-risk prostate cancer

Active surveillance or watchful waiting might be sufficient treatment for patients with prostate cancer that has a low risk of progression, according to a new study published online June 18 in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

19 Jun 2010

Comparative Effectiveness to impact orthopaedic industry

"Comparative Effectiveness will have the most significant impact on the orthopaedic industry moving forward," noted John Engelhardt in his luncheon Keynote Address today at the 6th Annual Orthopaedic Manufacturing & Technology Exposition and Conference (OMTEC) in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Engelhardt, CEO of ORTHOWORLD Inc. and Managing Member of Knowledge Ventures, LLC, emphasized that industry will be compelled to adopt the concept of comparative effectiveness throughout its business models in order to gain the efficiencies required to thrive in the future.

19 Jun 2010

Canadian scientists describe safe, inexpensive way for kids to make microfluidic devices

With "hands-on" experiences in childhood and adolescence having sparked so many science careers, scientists in Canada are describing a quick, simple, safe, and inexpensive way for kids to participate in making microfluidic devices. Those devices are at the heart of lab-on-a chip, inkjet printing, DNA chip, and other technologies.

19 Jun 2010

Hyundai Hope on Wheels announces nationwide initiative to raise funds for childhood cancer research

Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a partnership of Hyundai dealers across the U.S. and Hyundai Motor America, today announced a new nationwide initiative to raise funds to fight childhood cancer. Hyundai dealers have pledged to donate a total of $3 million dollars to Hope on Wheels based on vehicles sold during the month of September (National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month).

19 Jun 2010