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Alleviation of global hunger an urgent agenda for world leaders in 2013

"The fact that an inexpensive and readily treatable condition that affects 868 million people, kills 2.3 million children per year, and was targeted as a Millennium Development Goal, should remain uncontrolled year after year is as shocking as it is shameful," a Lancet editorial writes about global hunger.

2 Feb 2013

Modafinil may help some people to reduce drinking by improving their impulse control

Poor impulse control contributes to one's inability to control the consumption of rewarding substances, like food, alcohol, and other drugs. This can lead to the development of addiction. FDA-approved medications for alcoholism, like naltrexone (Revia) and disulfiram (Antabuse), are thought to reduce alcohol consumption by curbing cravings and creating unpleasant reactions to alcohol, effects which reduce the desire to drink alcohol.

2 Feb 2013

Guardian reports on HIV-related employment discrimination case in China

"An aspiring teacher in south-east China has become the country's first person to win compensation for an HIV-related employment discrimination, according to state media reports," the Guardian writes.

2 Feb 2013

Review article highlights growing evidence for lasting impact of alcohol on the brain

Excessive alcohol use accounts for 4% of the global burden of disease, and binge drinking particularly is becoming an increasing health issue. A new review article published Cortex highlights the significant changes in brain function and structure that can be caused by alcohol misuse in young people.

2 Feb 2013

Debate about health law's Medicaid expansion is hot topic in state Capitols

Lawmakers, officials and health advocates continue to press their policy positions on the pros and cons of expanding the Medicaid program.

2 Feb 2013

New drug to prevent early stages of Alzheimer's could enter clinical trials soon

A new drug to prevent the early stages of Alzheimer's disease could enter clinical trials in a few years' time according to scientists.

2 Feb 2013

'Impatient Optimists' blog reflects on recent Global Maternal Health Conference

In this post in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Impatient Optimists" blog, Mariam Claeson, deputy director of maternal, newborn, and child health at the foundation; France Donnay, senior program officer for maternal, neonatal and child health at the foundation; and Melanie Walker, deputy director of global development special initiatives at the foundation, reflect on the Global Maternal Health Conference 2013, which took place recently in Arusha, Tanzania.

2 Feb 2013

Scientists identify cause of certain forms of epilepsy in cats

There is something sinister about epilepsy: the disease affects the very core of our being, our brain. Epileptic attacks can lead to seizures throughout the body or in parts of it. Clouding of consciousness or memory lapses are also possible. The causes are still only partially understood but in some cases brain tumours, infections, inflammations of the brain or metabolic diseases have been implicated.

2 Feb 2013

Survey finds few states have laws to enforce new consumer health protections

A report by the Commonwealth Fund finds that 39 states do not have measures to allow officials to enforce some key insurance regulations from the federal health law.

2 Feb 2013

Potential connection between autism and insulin-like growth factor

A New York-based physician-researcher from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, best known for his research into fertility and twinning, has uncovered a potential connection between autism and a specific growth protein that could eventually be used as a way to predict an infant's propensity to later develop the disease.

2 Feb 2013

Kaiser Family Foundation releases primer on U.S. engagement in global health issues

A new Kaiser Family Foundation primer "provides a comprehensive overview of the U.S. government's engagement in global health issues, including a look at the federal programs that support these efforts," according to an email alert from the foundation.

2 Feb 2013

Scientists report first generation of hiPSCs from patients with maturity onset diabetes of the young

Joslin scientists report the first generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with an uncommon form of diabetes, maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY). These cells offer a powerful resource for studying the role of genetic factors in the development of MODY and testing potential treatments.

2 Feb 2013

Medicare expands competitive bidding program

The new prices will kick in July 1 and are expected to save on average 45 percent for products such as walkers, wheelchairs, oxygen equipment and other medical products.

2 Feb 2013

Study shows how female steroid hormones can make changes to the breast genetic material

Melbourne scientists have discovered how female steroid hormones can make dramatic changes to the genetic material in breast cells, changes that could potentially lead to breast cancer.

2 Feb 2013

Researchers await clinical trial results of potential TB vaccine, expected early next week

"After nearly 100 years, researchers could be on the verge of finding a vaccine that would eradicate tuberculosis [TB] infections," Reuters reports, noting, "Global health experts are eagerly awaiting clinical trial results, expected early next week, of the first new vaccine in 90 years designed to prevent tuberculosis infections."

2 Feb 2013

Quantum dots can rapidly deliver calcitriol to targeted tumor sites for treatment of IBC

The shortened daylight of a Maine winter may make for long, dark nights - but it has shone a light on a novel experimental approach to fighting inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), an especially deadly form of breast cancer.

2 Feb 2013

Secretary Clinton announces new partnerships at event celebrating power of collaboration

"Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday hosted over 200 representatives from business, non-governmental organizations, and civil society groups to celebrate the power of collaboration," Melanne Verveer, ambassador-at-large for global women's issues, and Kris Balderston, the special representative for global partnerships, write in the State Department's "Dipnote" blog.

2 Feb 2013

SIR, Society for Vascular Surgery partner on IVC filter study

The Society of Interventional Radiology and Society for Vascular Surgery jointly will launch PRESERVE-the first large-scale, multispecialty prospective study to evaluate the use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters and related follow-up treatment.

2 Feb 2013

Administration issues proposed rule on contraception coverage mandate and nonprofit religious organizations

The Department of Health and Human Services today announced a proposed rule that, according to an agency press release, lays out "how nonprofit religious organizations, such as nonprofit religious hospitals or institutions of higher education, that object to contraception on religious grounds can receive an accommodation that provides their enrollees separate contraceptive coverage, and with no co-pays, but at no cost to the religious organization."

2 Feb 2013

Study offers new evidence of natural emission of influenza

A new study suggests that patients with influenza can emit small virus-containing particles into the surrounding air during routine patient care, potentially exposing health care providers to influenza. Published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, the findings raise the possibility that current influenza infection control recommendations may not always be adequate to protect providers from influenza during routine patient care in hospitals.

2 Feb 2013

Medical News

Alleviation of global hunger an urgent agenda for world leaders in 2013

Modafinil may help some people to reduce drinking by improving their impulse control

Guardian reports on HIV-related employment discrimination case in China

Review article highlights growing evidence for lasting impact of alcohol on the brain

Debate about health law's Medicaid expansion is hot topic in state Capitols

New drug to prevent early stages of Alzheimer's could enter clinical trials soon

'Impatient Optimists' blog reflects on recent Global Maternal Health Conference

Scientists identify cause of certain forms of epilepsy in cats

Survey finds few states have laws to enforce new consumer health protections

Potential connection between autism and insulin-like growth factor

Kaiser Family Foundation releases primer on U.S. engagement in global health issues

Scientists report first generation of hiPSCs from patients with maturity onset diabetes of the young

Medicare expands competitive bidding program

Study shows how female steroid hormones can make changes to the breast genetic material

Researchers await clinical trial results of potential TB vaccine, expected early next week

Quantum dots can rapidly deliver calcitriol to targeted tumor sites for treatment of IBC

Secretary Clinton announces new partnerships at event celebrating power of collaboration

SIR, Society for Vascular Surgery partner on IVC filter study

Administration issues proposed rule on contraception coverage mandate and nonprofit religious organizations

Study offers new evidence of natural emission of influenza

Fourier 80: bringing benchtop NMR systems to the laboratory

How industrial hygiene flow calibration supports defensible exposure data

How electrical engineering ensures accurate calibration and patient safety

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