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Tobacco industry involvement in p53 gene research impairs integrity of the scientific process

The strategies used by the tobacco industry to counteract research linking tobacco smoke to cancer-causing mutations in a gene called p53 are detailed in a study published in The Lancet.

13 Jan 2005

New Dietary Guidelines is the most health-oriented ever

The new Dietary Guidelines is the most health-oriented ever. It provides stronger recommendations for consuming less sodium and trans fat and more whole grains. The Guidelines also recommends eating nine servings a day—about four-and-a-half cups—of fruits and vegetables, up from five servings.

13 Jan 2005

New tool to assess the quality of home health care

University of Michigan researchers are part of a team that has developed a new tool to assess the quality of home health care, with the goal of improving care and providing meaningful feedback about the care.

12 Jan 2005

More research needed to explore links between physical activity and built environment

Latest Canadian mad cow case poses no threat

The recently confirmed case of mad cow disease in Canada is an isolated case and does not represent a threat to the food chain, according to the Pan American Health Organization’s top expert on the issue.

12 Jan 2005

Lowering health care costs overall seen as top U.S. health priority

The public favors reducing jury awards in malpractice lawsuits and allowing drugs to be imported from Canada, but ranks them relatively low on a list of 12 health care priorities for President Bush and Congress to address this year, according to a new post-election survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health.

12 Jan 2005

Elevated glucose levels and diabetes associated with a greater risk for cancer

New research involving more than one million people indicates that having high fasting serum glucose levels and diabetes are risk factors for several major cancers, according to a study in the January 12 issue of JAMA.

12 Jan 2005

No link between eating fruits and vegetables and a subsequent decreased risk for breast cancer

Contrary to findings in previous studies, new research that includes a large group of women found no link between eating fruits and vegetables and a subsequent decreased risk for breast cancer, according to a study in this week’s JAMA.

12 Jan 2005

School strategies to combat obesity epidemic

Skyrocketing obesity among young children and the ways in which schools can help address the epidemic, as well as educating students about healthy lifestyles, is the focus of the newest edition of the State Education Standard, the journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education.

12 Jan 2005

Elevated blood sugar levels and diabetes are risk factors for developing several types of cancer and mortality

The researchers followed over 1.2 million Koreans for 10 years, tracking new cancer cases and deaths from cancer. Study participants with diabetes, as well as those without diabetes and higher fasting blood sugar levels, were more likely to develop cancer or to die from cancer.

11 Jan 2005

New publication on adolescent health

The Pan American Health Organization has just released a new publication on adolescent health and positive behavior change greatly enhances the knowledge base on this important public health issue. It presents the firstever systematic collection and reporting of the application of behavioral change theories and models specifically to adolescents.

11 Jan 2005

Weight loss may be an early sign of dementia

Dementia-associated weight loss begins before the onset of the definite dementia symptoms and accelerates by the time of the diagnosis, according to a study in the January issue of Archives of Neurology.

10 Jan 2005

Modafinil may be a possible medicinal treatment for cocaine dependence

Cocaine dependence is a major public health problem affecting thousands of people around the globe. Despite years of active research there are still no approved medications for the treatment of this life-shattering addiction.

10 Jan 2005

Macular degeneration patients benefit from self-management training

A 12-hour self-management program for individuals with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) leads to lasting improvements in mood and function, especially in depressed patients, and decreases the development of clinical depression in AMD patients over time, according to a University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Shiley Eye Center study published in the January 2005 Archives of Ophthalmology.

10 Jan 2005

Seven percent of college students have used prescription stimulants for non-medical purposes

Seven percent of college students have used prescription stimulants for non-medical purposes over their lifetimes and 4 percent have used in the past year, according to a study of students at 119 four-year colleges and universities nationwide published in the January issue of the journal Addiction.

10 Jan 2005

Trial of naproxen and celecoxib suspended

Use of study drugs in a large, federally funded Alzheimer prevention trial has been suspended following a decision by the study's leadership on Dec. 17, 2004.

9 Jan 2005

Most alcohol-related plane crashes occur at night and in poor weather

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that nighttime flying and worsening weather conditions are two key characteristics of fatal plane crashes in general aviation where alcohol consumption by the pilot was also a factor.

7 Jan 2005

Single abnormal cell can duplicate to form cancerous tumors

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have identified how a single aberrant cell can duplicate to form cancerous tumors, suggesting a specific protein mechanism as a target for the treatment of cancer, they report in a paper titled "Spindle Multipolarity Is Prevented by Centrosomal Clustering," published in the Jan. 7 issue of Science.

6 Jan 2005

PAHO dispels myths about the handling and the effects of mass casualties

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has published a new manual that dispels myths about the handling and the effects of mass casualties following a natural disaster, such as the December 26 earthquake and tsunami in South Asia.

5 Jan 2005

Night-time splinting can effectively improve discomfort from early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome

After a long day on the job, tired minds and sore feet look forward to a long night of rejuvenating rest. A new study finds that nocturnal rest can do a world of good for your hands and wrists too, especially if you are one of the millions of American workers who are just beginning to feel the common pain and discomfort linked to carpal tunnel syndrome.

5 Jan 2005

Public Health News and Research

Tobacco industry involvement in p53 gene research impairs integrity of the scientific process

New Dietary Guidelines is the most health-oriented ever

New tool to assess the quality of home health care

More research needed to explore links between physical activity and built environment

Latest Canadian mad cow case poses no threat

Lowering health care costs overall seen as top U.S. health priority

Elevated glucose levels and diabetes associated with a greater risk for cancer

No link between eating fruits and vegetables and a subsequent decreased risk for breast cancer

School strategies to combat obesity epidemic

Elevated blood sugar levels and diabetes are risk factors for developing several types of cancer and mortality

New publication on adolescent health

Weight loss may be an early sign of dementia

Modafinil may be a possible medicinal treatment for cocaine dependence

Macular degeneration patients benefit from self-management training

Seven percent of college students have used prescription stimulants for non-medical purposes

Trial of naproxen and celecoxib suspended

Most alcohol-related plane crashes occur at night and in poor weather

Single abnormal cell can duplicate to form cancerous tumors

PAHO dispels myths about the handling and the effects of mass casualties

Night-time splinting can effectively improve discomfort from early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome

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