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30-Mar-2010 1:30 PM EDT
Smoking May Counteract Benefit of Moderate Drinking on Stroke Risk
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

New research finds any beneficial effect of drinking moderate amounts of alcohol on stroke may be counteracted by cigarette smoking, according to research that will be presented as part of the late-breaking science program at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto, April 10 – 17, 2010.

Released: 9-Apr-2010 4:25 PM EDT
More Adults with Diabetes Are Getting Flu Shots
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

The proportion of Americans with diabetes ages 18 to 64 who reported getting flu shots the previous year rose from 40 percent to 50.5 percent between 2000 and 2007.

6-Apr-2010 11:35 AM EDT
Sleep Apnea Linked to Increased Risk of Stroke
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased risk of stroke in middle-aged and older adults, especially men, according to new results from new research supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. Overall, sleep apnea more than doubles the risk of stroke in men.

30-Mar-2010 11:05 AM EDT
Does Smoking Compound Other MS Risk Factors?
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

A new study shows that smoking may increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in people who also have specific established risk factors for MS. The research is found in the April 7, 2010, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Released: 6-Apr-2010 5:00 PM EDT
Ontario’s Universal Flu Vaccination Plan Saves Lives, Sound Investment
University Health Network (UHN)

The millions of dollars invested by the province of Ontario in its universal flu vaccine campaign saves lives and is a sensible investment, according to an economic analysis by a researcher at the University of Toronto and the University Health Network.

Released: 6-Apr-2010 2:45 PM EDT
Roll-Out of Proven HIV/STD Risk-Reduction Intervention with Teens by Community Groups Successful
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

An approach designed to reduce HIV/STDs previously used exclusively by academic researchers has successfully been implemented by community-based organizations (CBOs), an important component in national strategies to curtail the spread of HIV, meaning far more “at risk” youths can be reached.

Released: 6-Apr-2010 2:05 PM EDT
A Better Flu Vaccine: Add Second Strain of Influenza B
Saint Louis University Medical Center

A Saint Louis University researcher tackles the problem that occurs when the influenza vaccine doesn’t match the strain of the virus circulating in the community. He finds adding a second influenza B virus strain likely would improve the vaccine’s ability to prevent the flu.

Released: 6-Apr-2010 1:15 PM EDT
AHRQ Takes to the Airwaves to Communicate Vital Health Care Information to Spanish Speakers
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

AHRQ has announced the start of "Healthcare 411 en Español," a new audio news series to provide Spanish speakers with consumer information about their health and health care. Spanish version of this article included.

Released: 5-Apr-2010 2:35 PM EDT
Fatal Injuries Increase in Older Americans
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

The risk of dying from injuries is increasing for Americans ages 65 and older according to a new report from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for Injury Research and Policy. The report found significant increases in death rates from falls (42 percent increase), machinery (46 percent increase), motorcycle crashes (145 percent increase) and unintentional poisoning (34 percent increase).

Released: 29-Mar-2010 1:10 PM EDT
Investing Wisely in Child Survival with the Lives Saved Tool (LiST)
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

The International Journal of Epidemiology published a special issue today chronicling the development and recent use of the Lives Saved Tool (LiST)—a user-friendly computer program that helps donor agencies and governments make investments in child survival programs for maximum impact. The special issue was edited by Neff Walker, PhD, a senior scientist with the Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Released: 25-Mar-2010 3:40 PM EDT
Income And Education Are Likely To Affect Everyday Health
Stony Brook University

Research Finding - Income & Education Likely to Affect Everyday Health. People with lower education and income levels are more likely to experience symptoms of colds and flu, headaches, and pain.

Released: 25-Mar-2010 1:35 PM EDT
Doctor Says Sports Events and Cell Phones Can Harm Voice
Johns Hopkins Medicine

From the first tip-off during March Madness to the championship’s final buzzer, and with start of the 2010 Major League Baseball season, on Sunday, April 4, thousands of people will relentlessly scream and shout, placing tremendous strain on their voices. While no one is recommending complete silence, the constant pressure on the vocal cords can cause great damage.

Released: 25-Mar-2010 11:00 AM EDT
Statement from the American Academy of Dermatology on the Indoor Tanning Tax
American Academy of Dermatology

Indoor tanning is dangerous. There is compelling, irrefutable scientific evidence which shows that indoor tanning beds can increase your risk for skin cancer. A tax on indoor tanning services serves as a signal from the federal government to young people that indoor tanning is dangerous and should be avoided. In addition, the indoor tanning tax furthers the goal of promoting wellness and prevention as part of health reform.

Released: 25-Mar-2010 10:55 AM EDT
American Academy of Dermatology Association Testifies at FDA Hearing on Indoor Tanning Devices
American Academy of Dermatology

American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) President and dermatologist William D. James, MD, FAAD, along with other dermatologists and leading researchers today testified before a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel considering changes to the current classification of indoor tanning devices. Currently, the FDA classifies indoor tanning devices as Class 1, the category for items that have minimal potential to cause harm to individuals. Items in Class 1 include adhesive bandages and tongue depressors.

Released: 23-Mar-2010 11:55 AM EDT
Focus on Health Marketplace News
Newswise

Increasing interest in health care has lead reporters to seek more sources for health news than ever before. And, as more and more consumers use the web to research health information, the growing demand for health news has an increasing influence on the health industry. In response to these trends, Newswise has developed a new category for medical news called Health Marketplace.

   
18-Mar-2010 8:00 PM EDT
Combining Weight-Focused Counseling, Medication Helps Women Quit Smoking
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

For women smokers worried about their weight, combining cognitive behavioral therapy addressing weight concerns with the medication bupropion appears more effective than counseling alone to help them quit smoking, according to a report in the March 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Released: 18-Mar-2010 4:40 PM EDT
Asian Smokers Use Quitlines
UC San Diego Health

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, led by Shu-Hong Zhu, PhD, professor of family and preventative medicine, examined more than 15 years of data from the California Smokers’ Helpline and compared the use of Asian-language services by Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese callers to the use of English-language services by Caucasian callers. Their findings will appear in the March 18 online issue of The American Journal of Public Health.

Released: 18-Mar-2010 1:15 PM EDT
Shift Workers at More Risk for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

Nurses participating in shift work, especially those working rotating shifts, face a significantly increased risk of developing Irritable Bowel Syndrome and abdominal pain compared to those working a standard day-time schedule, according to research published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Released: 15-Mar-2010 12:00 PM EDT
Vitamin D Levels Have Different Effects on Atherosclerosis in Blacks and Whites
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "go-to" remedy for treating a wide range of illnesses, from osteoporosis to atherosclerosis. However, new evidence from a Wake Forest University School of Medicine study suggests that supplementing vitamin D in those with low levels may have different effects based on patient race and, in black individuals, the supplement could actually do harm.

Released: 12-Mar-2010 9:45 AM EST
UVA Signs Research Collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc to Discover Women's Reproductive Health Drugs
University of Virginia Health System

The University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville today announced that it has entered into a research collaboration with Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) to discover novel drugs for women's reproductive health.

Released: 11-Mar-2010 4:30 PM EST
I Have Colon Polyps: Now What?
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Experts at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center encourage people to review their polyp report.

5-Mar-2010 1:00 PM EST
Kidney Disease a Big Risk for Younger, Low-Income Minorities
American Society of Nephrology (ASN)

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) afflicts a large number of younger minority adults receiving medical care in settings that serve the uninsured and underinsured (settings collectively known as the healthcare safety net). Poor, minority adults with moderate to severe CKD are also two to four times more likely to progress to kidney failure than non-Hispanic whites. These are the findings from a study published online in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).

Released: 10-Mar-2010 8:00 PM EST
The Dangers of Daylight Savings Time
Loyola Medicine

Daylight Saving Time can be hazardous for your health. Studies have found there's a higher risk of heart attacks, traffic accidents and workplace injuries on the first Monday of Daylight Saving.

4-Mar-2010 9:00 PM EST
Vaccinating Children For Flu May Help Prevent Transmission
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Immunizing children and adolescents with inactivated influenza vaccine resulted in reduced rates of influenza in their community compared to a similar community in which children did not receive the vaccine, suggesting that vaccinating children may help prevent transmission of the virus and offer protection for unimmunized community residents, according to a study in the March 10 issue of JAMA.

Released: 9-Mar-2010 9:05 AM EST
Study Provides a Better Understanding of How Mosquitoes Find a Host
USDA, Office of Research, Education, and Economics

The potentially deadly yellow-fever-transmitting Aedes aegypti mosquito detects the specific chemical structure of a compound called octenol as one way to find a mammalian host for a blood meal.

Released: 5-Mar-2010 1:00 PM EST
For Those Allergic to Polyurethane, Big-Box Retailers Pose Potential Perils
Vystar Corporation

Visit the bedding section and you may find memory-foam contour pillows and mattresses. These frequently contain polyurethane foam which not only exudes an unpleasant odor for several days after purchase, but also can cause serious irritation to the eyes and lungs.

Released: 5-Mar-2010 1:00 PM EST
Study Explores Role of Nutrition on Risk of Dengue Virus Infection
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

A new study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators disproves reports that well-fed children are more vulnerable to the dengue virus.

Released: 2-Mar-2010 1:00 PM EST
Chronic Adolescent Nicotine Use Leads to Increased Susceptibility to Alcohol Withdrawal in Adulthood
Baylor University

If you smoked cigarettes when you were a teen, new research indicates you might be more susceptible to the negative effects of alcohol withdrawal later in life.

Released: 2-Mar-2010 10:05 AM EST
Cigarette Ads Fuel Teens’ Desire to Start Smoking
Health Behavior News Service

The more that teens see cigarette ads, the greater their risk of taking a puff.

Released: 1-Mar-2010 3:00 PM EST
Pandemic Flu, Like Seasonal H1N1, Shows Signs of Resisting Tamiflu
Ohio State University

If the behavior of the seasonal form of the H1N1 influenza virus is any indication, scientists say that chances are good that most strains of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus will become resistant to Tamiflu, the main drug stockpiled for use against it.

Released: 1-Mar-2010 8:00 AM EST
Columbia University Licenses Student Health Information Solution to FairChoice Systems
Columbia Technology Ventures

Columbia University and FairChoice Systems, Inc. have signed a multi-year commercialization agreement that will bring to market a cost-effective, online student health information system developed and implemented by Columbia University’s own Student Health Services.

   
Released: 28-Feb-2010 3:00 PM EST
African-Americans Have Highest Stroke Rate, Southerners More Likely to Die
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Latest REGARDS data includes more than 26,500 participants followed for nearly five years with a documented 299 strokes. In the 45-54 age group, blacks had a 2.5-fold greater stroke rate compared to whites, and the stroke rate was greater than 12 percent higher in eight Southeast states known as the Stroke Belt. Notably, racial differences in stroke rates disappear and ultimately flip as age increases, UAB researchers said.

Released: 26-Feb-2010 4:15 PM EST
Loyola Physician Discusses What Happened to the Flu
Loyola Medicine

Doctor discusses why this is the peak time for the flu but it's no where in sight.

25-Feb-2010 10:40 AM EST
Novel Compound Found Effective Against Avian Influenza Virus
University of Wisconsin–Madison

A novel compound is highly effective against the pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus, including some drug-resistant strains, according to new research led by a University of Wisconsin-Madison virologist.

Released: 25-Feb-2010 12:30 PM EST
New Study Finds Similar Advertising Strategies Used by Indoor Tanning and Tobacco Industries
American Academy of Dermatology

While the proven negative health consequences of smoking and tanning are undeniable, tobacco and indoor tanning advertisers would like consumers to think otherwise. In fact, a new study comparing the tactics used in advertising tobacco and indoor tanning products found several similarities in how these two industries market unhealthy products.

Released: 24-Feb-2010 11:00 AM EST
Anti-Drinking Ads Can Increase Alcohol Use
Indiana University

Public service advertising campaigns that use guilt or shame to warn against alcohol abuse can actually have the reverse effect, spurring increased drinking among target audiences, according to new research from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business.

Released: 23-Feb-2010 11:00 AM EST
The Cost of Delay: State Dental Policies Fail One in Five Children
American Dental Association (ADA)

Comments by ADA President Dr. Ron Tankersley on the Pew Center on the States’ report.

Released: 19-Feb-2010 3:00 PM EST
Project Homeless Connect Offers Free Mammograms to Homeless Women
California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute

Poor and low income women who have no health insurance will be able to get a mammogram and the medical care they need, at the next Project Homeless Connect event on Wednesday, February 24th.

17-Feb-2010 12:00 PM EST
Am Jrl of Public Health: April 2010
American Public Health Association (APHA)

1) Living in Areas with High Household Income Influences Mortality Rates in Virginia; 2) Proximity to Physical Activity Resources Found to Benefit Older Men; 3) Child Labor Violations Still Occur with Youth Workers.

17-Feb-2010 3:10 PM EST
Socioeconomic Stresses Could Lower Life Expectancy
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)

Socioeconomic status can affect life expectancy, a Virginia Commonwealth University researcher said in a study published today.

Released: 16-Feb-2010 11:00 AM EST
Independently-Owned Ethnic Restaurants Have More Food Safety Violations
Kansas State University

Diners who are skeptical of the food safety practices in ethnic restaurants have new research to back up some of their assumptions. In a study of independently owned restaurants in 14 Kansas counties, Kansas State University researchers found a significantly higher number of food safety violations in ethnic restaurants than in nonethnic restaurants.

Released: 12-Feb-2010 11:35 AM EST
Quitting Smoking Especially Difficult for Select Groups
American Psychological Association (APA)

With the national trend toward quitting smoking flat, psychologists are finding some success with treatments aimed at helping smokers from underserved groups, including racial and ethnic minorities and those with psychiatric disorders.

   
Released: 11-Feb-2010 9:00 PM EST
Spanish-Language Ads Get Message Across for Smoking Quit Lines
Health Behavior News Service

It pays to advertise. It especially pays to advertise in Spanish if you want Spanish speakers to use a telephone helpline to quit smoking.

Released: 11-Feb-2010 9:00 PM EST
Breast Cancer Rates Decline Most for Affluent White Women
Health Behavior News Service

Breast cancer rates are declining, but some groups have seen a more significant decline than others, with race, ethnicity and economic background playing a part.

Released: 11-Feb-2010 2:00 PM EST
Protecting Patients: Study Shows That Johns Hopkins Flu Vaccination Rates Are Twice the National Average
Johns Hopkins Medicine

A campaign that makes seasonal flu vaccinations for hospital staff free, convenient, ubiquitous and hard to ignore succeeds fairly well in moving care providers closer to a state of “herd” immunity and protecting patients from possible infection transmitted by health care workers, according to results of a survey at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

8-Feb-2010 3:40 PM EST
Scientists Prove Hypothesis on the Mystery of Dengue Virus Infection
La Jolla Institute for Immunology

A leading immunology research institute has validated the long-held and controversial hypothesis that antibodies – usually the “good guys” in the body’s fight against viruses – instead contribute to severe dengue virus-induced disease, the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology announced today. The finding has major implications for the development of a first-ever vaccine against dengue virus, a growing public health threat which annually infects 50 to 100 million people worldwide, causing a half million cases of the severest form.

Released: 10-Feb-2010 4:15 PM EST
Burden of HIV/TB Infections Falling on Hispanics
UC San Diego Health

The results of an innovative study to understand what factors may influence who contracts tuberculosis (TB)/HIV co-infection in San Diego show a significant shift in the ethnic makeup of the disease, with the majority of cases now coming from the Hispanic community.

1-Feb-2010 1:00 PM EST
American Journal of Public Health Highlights: April Supplement 2010
American Public Health Association (APHA)

1) Racial Disparities Found in Vaccination Rates among Elderly in Nursing Homes; 2) WIC Interventions Shown to Reduce Disparities, Especially in African American Population; 3) Surprising Breast Cancer Disparities in Asian Women Urges Further Analysis.

9-Feb-2010 8:00 PM EST
Mexican-Americans Closest to Making Physical Activity Goals
University of Chicago

When it comes to meeting national health goals for physical activity, Mexican-Americans are the most active group in America and may benefit from exercise that researchers typically have not measured. The new research, which used electronic devices to measure people’s movement, challenges other studies that claimed whites are most active.



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