Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Preventive Medicine News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/preventive-medicine/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172074.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172074.php A regional initiative launched in the 1990s to eliminate onchocerciasis (river blindness) in the Americas has substantially reduced the prevalence of the disease in recent years, as evidenced by a 31% decrease in the number of individuals requiring mass drug administration in six endemic countries. Results were reported at the 58th annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). Eye Health / Blindness Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172075.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172075.php An urgent need for new medicines to treat neglected infectious diseases in the developing world has prompted a growing number of collaborations among academic researchers, non-profit product development partnerships (PDPs), and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Tropical Diseases Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172077.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172077.php Meaningful and lasting progress in addressing global health challenges cannot be achieved without partnerships and collaboration, according to a publication released, Case Studies for Global Health. Preventive Medicine Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172078.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172078.php For the protection of frontline health care and emergency medical workers at high risk of infection, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a compliance directive to ensure uniform procedures when conducting inspections to identify and minimize or eliminate high to very high risk occupational exposures to the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus. Swine Flu Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172082.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172082.php Chronic pain is experienced by as many as two out of three older adults. Now, a new study finds that pain may be more hazardous than previously thought, contributing to an increased risk of falls in adults over age 70. The findings appear in the November 25 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Seniors / Aging Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172021.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172021.php Influenza, particularly H1N1, has understandably captured the attention of public health officials, the media and the public. However, an analysis from Children's Hospital Boston, based on patients seen in its emergency department (ED) during several recent flu seasons, shows that another virus - respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - takes a substantially greater disease toll among young children than does seasonal flu. Respiratory / Asthma Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171917.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171917.php Viruses are nasty, yet surprisingly simple organisms. Most human flu viruses have 11 genes at most, compared to the more than 20,000 genes found in humans. What makes flu so potentially dangerous is that it's not very good at making copies of itself, which leads to mutations, or slight changes in its genetic code. Though most mutations don't amount to anything, some can lead to new versions or strains of the flu that could spread more easily or make people sicker once infected. Swine Flu Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171722.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171722.php Effective communication of health news is needed to raise awareness and encourage behavior changes in populations who experience health disparities, or inequalities in health status, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Preventive Medicine Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171750.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171750.php A team of scientists from the US and the UK have shown that blocking an enzyme called lysyl oxidase (LOX) that causes tissue to stiffen reduces the likelihood of abnormal but non-malignant breast tissue turning into tumors, suggesting that LOX and similar enzymes could be new targets for effective anti-cancer drug therapies. Breast Cancer Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171600.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171600.php Thanksgiving is an opportunity to share a meal with loved ones, but it is also a time when small mistakes in the kitchen can lead to foodborne illness. Dr. Ben Chapman, food safety specialist and assistant professor of food science at North Carolina State University, can offer suggestions to ensure your Thanksgiving meal is a safe one. The U.S. Nutrition / Diet Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171608.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171608.php Immunization with either live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV, also known as FluMist®), or trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV), appears to offer a protection (~ 45%) against the novel A/H1N1 virus, the cause of the present influenza pandemic. However, the benefit was largely attributed to the youngest age group. The finding emerges from an evaluation of medical encounters and seasonal influenza immunization of U.S. military service members. Swine Flu Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171539.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171539.php Indoor smoking bans have forced smokers at bars and restaurants onto outdoor patios, but a new University of Georgia study in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that these outdoor smoking areas might be creating a new health hazard. The study, thought to be the first to assess levels of a nicotine byproduct known as cotinine in nonsmokers exposed to second-hand smoke outdoors, found levels up to 162 percent greater than in the control group. Smoking / Quit Smoking Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171468.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171468.php US secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a statement saying that the government policy on what age routine screening mammograms should begin has not changed, following a recent task force recommendation that routine screening mammograms should start at age 50 and not age 40. Preventive Medicine Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171263.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171263.php The Executive Committee of the American Society of Breast Disease issued the following response to changes in breast cancer screening recommendations issued by the United States Preventive Services Task Force on November 16, 2009. The new U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's recommendations on screening mammography, clinical breast exam, and self-examination conflict with the facts. Breast Cancer Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171203.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171203.php People who received daily text messages reminding them to apply sunscreen were nearly twice as likely to use it as those who did not receive such messages, a new study led by a UC Davis Health System dermatologist has found. Researchers hope their findings, which appear in the November issue of the Archives of Dermatology, will inspire other health-care providers to use text messaging to encourage healthy habits in their patients, such as taking prescribed medications properly. Dermatology Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171156.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171156.php News outlets report on a variety of health issues at the state level including the upcoming launch of a huge Medicaid data project in Florida, health care changes that could reduce spending in Georgia and a model for reform in Vermont. Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171116.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171116.php An alliance of institutions collectively managing an estimated 80 percent of all public health research funding worldwide announced their first targets for concerted action in the fight against "chronic non-communicable diseases" (CNCDs). Preventive Medicine Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171120.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171120.php An independent medical expert panel that advises the US federal government on preventive and primary healthcare recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years and suggests instead that the decision to start regular screening before the age of 50 should be an individual one. Preventive Medicine Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171106.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171106.php The H1N1 flu virus is spreading misery around the country, but University of Michigan researchers say that implementing and sustaining infection-limiting measures will still be a challenge. In focus groups with residents from four Michigan communities, U-M researchers found that people's mistrust in government and concerns about job security or financial burdens would make social distancing efforts hard to maintain in any pandemic. Swine Flu Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170965.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170965.php Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) released a new public opinion survey that finds that 71 percent of Americans favor an increased investment in disease prevention and that disease prevention is one of the most popular components of health reform. Forty-four percent of Americans strongly favor investing more in prevention. Preventive Medicine Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170971.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170971.php In the last 10 years, the St. Louis area has seen an alarming increase in new diagnoses of HIV and sexually transmitted infections among 13-24 year-olds. Between 1997-2007, more than 50 new diagnoses of HIV were made each year among adolescents and young adults, who are often disconnected from the health-care system or support services. Nationwide, St. Louis has among the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases in this age group. Sexual Health / STDs Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170914.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170914.php Leading Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) nutrition and health researcher Walter Willett, M.D., Dr. P.H., has written a letter to the President-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) offering an alternative to the organization's decision, announced in October, to accept a six-figure grant from the Coca-Cola Company to develop web content on beverages and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition / Diet Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170823.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170823.php The risk of cancer can be dramatically reduced through everyday choices about diet, exercise and tobacco use, according to a Special Report on Cancer Prevention in the November issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. Evidence suggests that one-third of the more than 560,000 cancer deaths that occur in the United States annually are related to diet, exercise and weight. Another one-third of annual cancer deaths are related to tobacco exposure. Cancer / Oncology Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170682.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170682.php A study at Orebro University in Sweden indicates that mobile phones and other cordless telephones have a biological effect on the brain. It is still too early to say if any health risks are involved, but medical researcher Fredrik Söderqvist recommends caution in the use of these phones, above all among children and adolescents. Few children who regularly use mobile phones use a headset often or always, even though the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority recommends this. Neurology / Neuroscience Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170573.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170573.php Medical schools are changing to adapt to the shifting medical landscape around America by increasingly preparing students for alternative methods of care, increased demand for their services and a world where health care reform will likely soon change the landscape again, The Washington Post reports. In Washington D.C. Medical Students / Training