A UCSF study found that delivering HIV prevention services to people living with HIV in clinical settings can sharply reduce their sexual risk behaviors. The intervention, led by medical care providers during routine visits, resulted in a consistent decline in risky behavior over the 12-month study period.
The National Guard Health Affairs in Saudi Arabia has been recognized for its efforts to reduce healthcare-associated infections, including an 82% reduction in central line associated BSI rates and an 80% reduction in surgical site infection rates. The organization's multidisciplinary team approach has been key to its success.
A study by University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center reveals that US cancer centers have varying levels of palliative care programs and services, with NCI-designated centers having more comprehensive programs. Despite the differences, there is strong support for integrating palliative care into oncology care.
A study found significant disparities in palliative care services across US cancer centers, with NCI-designated centers offering more comprehensive programs. The researchers identified barriers such as poor reimbursement and limited institutional resources hindering the delivery of high-quality palliative care.
The Positive Prevention Toolkit aims to enable HIV/AIDS caregivers to provide prevention messages when interacting with HIV-positive patients. The toolkit consists of seven sections, including training skills, curricula, and practical resources.
Dr. H. Hunter Handsfield is a leading researcher in STD prevention, recognized for his work on asymptomatic gonorrhea, chlamydia screening, and expedited partner therapy. He has made significant contributions to understanding the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, treatment, and prevention of various STDs.
A study of 269,717 new hemodialysis patients found that dialysis centers using larger doses of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in patients with low hematocrit levels had lower mortality rates. Conversely, centers using more frequent iron dosing in higher hematocrit ranges showed increased mortality risk.
The Tuberculosis Trials Consortium (TBTC) brings together researchers from Barcelona, the US CDC and international partners to develop new treatments and diagnostic tests for TB. With over 12,000 patients enrolled, the consortium aims to improve TB control and prevention globally.
A team of computer scientists at Google, Rutgers University, and universities in California, Michigan, and Virginia will explore ways to create low power modes in servers. The goal is to conserve 40-50% of the power consumed by current servers.
A new study by Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and the American College of Surgeons found that community hospitals can offer safe surgical options for certain types of cancer surgeries. Younger patients with few pre-existing illnesses have similar survival rates at both community hospitals and specialized cancer c...
Researchers found that watching or thinking about someone with good self-control makes others more likely to exert self-control. Conversely, people with bad self-control influence others negatively. The effect of self-control is so powerful that subliminal exposure can change behavior.
A comprehensive infection control program at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance successfully suppressed H1N1 cases among immunocompromised cancer patients, despite a high-risk environment. The program's rigorous screening measures, isolation protocols, and staff vaccination policies significantly minimized transmission and acquisition.
UCSF researchers found that offering rapid HIV tests to patients in community health centers significantly increases the number of patients screened for HIV. The study saw a nearly three-fold increase in screenings from 3,000 to over 11,000 patients.
Two studies published in Annals of Internal Medicine explore alternative approaches to breast lesion diagnosis and the potential of teaching health centers to expand primary care services. The research suggests that core needle biopsy is a viable option for breast lesion diagnosis with comparable accuracy to open surgical biopsy, while...
The university's School of Medicine will oversee two international trial sites in Uganda and the Philippines to test new TB treatments and regimens. The contract aims to improve TB treatment and control programs globally, benefiting millions of people affected by the disease.
A new study found that young people generally favor one type of parental control over another but become indifferent when parents are overly controlling. The researchers argue that adolescents may respond poorly to highly restrictive behavioral control, similar to psychological control.
A new study suggests that the proposed bundled payment system for dialysis could have a significant impact on dialysis units nationwide. The research found that facilities in certain regions, particularly the south and east, are likely to face adverse financial consequences under the new plan.
A study found significant regional variations in geographic access to verified burn centers, with the northeast region having the highest and southern states having the lowest access rates. The researchers suggest optimizing air and ground emergency medical service systems for states with low baseline access rates.
The CWRU Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods aims to foster partnerships within urban neighborhoods to develop effective strategies in preventing chronic disease. The center will collaborate with neighborhood residents, leaders, and community organizations to address environmental and lifestyle issues that contribute t...
Deborah Friberg, COO and Executive Vice President at WakeMed Health and Hospitals, has been recognized by APIC with the first annual Healthcare Administrator Award. She supports infection prevention and control through various initiatives, including MRSA reduction and hand hygiene compliance.
The NIH has awarded $45 million to four new Centers of Excellence in Genomic Science, including two new centers and two existing ones. The new centers will focus on psychiatric disorders and gene regulation, while the existing centers will continue to advance genomic research. Researchers at the University of North Carolina, University...
The K-State institute's intern program has received the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable's Most Valuable Pollution Prevention Program award for its innovation and measurable results in reducing waste and emissions. The program, launched in 2006, has led to significant environmental improvements and cost savings for participatin...
The Medical College of Wisconsin's Center for AIDS Intervention Research received a five-year, $11.16 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue its HIV prevention research. The center will focus on high-risk population segments in the US and expand international HIV prevention programs.
Research highlights striking differences in national prevention policies and cardiovascular mortality rates across EU countries, with Hungary and Greece showing highest rates. The study also found noticeable disparities in risk factor prevalence and CHD prevention policies among the 16 participating countries.
A study at Massachusetts General Hospital found diverse research efforts in academic medical centers, with some unfunded researchers facing challenges. The report highlights the need for policy changes to shape the research enterprise and improve funding efficiency.
A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that adding clinical breast examination to mammography improves breast cancer detection rates and sensitivities, but also leads to higher false-positive rates. The study used a cohort of over 290,000 women screened between 2002 and 2003.
The American Academy of Neurology and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are monitoring H1N1 vaccine safety for Guillain-Barré syndrome. Neurologists are urged to report any new cases following vaccination, as a precautionary measure due to the association between GBS and previous pandemic vaccines.
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center found that long travel distances to high volume centers pose a barrier to optimal cancer care for some patients. The study showed that increased travel distances were more common among patients with less common cancers, such as esophageal and pancreatic cancer.
Recent studies suggest that aspirin may not provide significant benefits for primary prevention in all diabetics. However, the European Society of Cardiology recommends its use for individuals with a high cardiovascular risk profile. Aspirin has been shown to reduce the risk of myocardial infarctions and strokes in this population, par...
A collaborative effort is needed to tackle cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Europe, focusing on lifestyle changes and risk factor management. The European Heart Health Charter has established a roadmap for countries, while guidelines from the Joint European Societies' Task Forces provide practical guidance.
The US Department of Energy has awarded $377 million to fund 46 new energy frontier research centers, aiming to accelerate scientific breakthroughs in clean and renewable energy. The centers will focus on advancing solar energy, biofuels, transportation, energy efficiency, and nuclear energy.
Scientists at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that the Bcl6 gene plays a crucial role in differentiating naive T cells into helper T cells, which then fuel rapid growth and diversification of antibodies in germinal centers. This process is essential for the adaptive immune system to produce effectiv...
The Human Microbiome Project is expanding its efforts to understand the relationship between the microbiome and human health. The NIH has awarded over $42 million to fund sequencing centers and disease projects, including studies on psoriasis, bacterial vaginosis, obesity, and Crohn's disease.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is funding a network of research and training centers in developing countries to prevent and control chronic diseases. The centers will conduct research tailored to local needs and foster the training of emerging scientists and health professionals. With UnitedHealth Group's Chronic...
The Northeast Biodefense Center, a regional collaboration of major centers, will conduct interdisciplinary research on diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines to address emerging infectious diseases. The center has made significant contributions to global health, including the development of diagnostics for SARS and pandemic influenza.
A study by Michael L. Nance and colleagues identified 170 verified pediatric trauma centers in the US, with estimated access ranging from 22.9% in rural areas to 93.5% in urban areas. The authors estimate that 17.4 million children would not have access to a center within 60 minutes.
A new study reveals that over 17 million US children lack access to specialized trauma care within an hour, with the largest gaps in rural areas. Establishing guidelines and maintaining an inventory of pediatric trauma centers could improve fragmented access to life-saving care.
Aspirin use in primary prevention reduces non-fatal heart attacks by around 12%, mainly due to reduced risk of non-fatal heart attack. However, it also increases the risk of internal bleeding by around a third in healthy individuals.
The National Institute of Mental Health is using Recovery Act funds to evaluate the effectiveness of a new training program for telephone crisis counselors. The training, which began in 2008, aims to assess the benefits of the training and shape telephone-based suicide prevention services across the country.
A family-based prevention program was found to be especially effective in reducing substance use and risk behaviors among young teens with a genetic risk factor. The study showed that the program helped adolescents with the short allele of 5-HTTLPR overcome their predisposition to engage in risky behaviors.
Urgent care centers (UCCs) tend to be open outside of office hours and offer a wider range of services than primary care offices. They have significantly expanded hours of operation and provide services like fracture care, suturing lacerations, and x-rays, more commonly associated with emergency departments.
A $6 million initiative supports 68 community health centers in Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Pennsylvania to become patient-centered medical homes. The goal is to improve coordinated care, access, and quality improvements for over 500,000 patients.
A study at the University of Arizona found that remote CT colonography is feasible in rural health centers using teleradiology. Technicians performed CTC exams on 86 patients and sent data to a local server for interpretation by an off-site radiologist.
A study analyzing 19,363 patients found no significant difference in mortality rates or complications between bariatric surgery centers of excellence and other hospitals. However, these centers performed more procedures annually, resulting in higher costs per patient.
A pilot study is testing the effectiveness of text messaging as a medium for delivering HIV prevention education to at-risk teens. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, uses a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-approved curriculum and involves sending text, image, and video material to teen participants.
Patients with end-stage renal disease who receive pre-dialysis care from a nephrologist have higher chances of surviving the first year on dialysis. The study also identified geographic clusters where suboptimal care is prevalent, suggesting targeted improvement efforts could be beneficial.
The USPSTF updated its guidelines to recommend aspirin use for primary prevention of heart attack and stroke in specific age and gender groups. The task force emphasizes the importance of discussing the benefits and risks of daily aspirin use with patients, particularly those between 45-79 years old.
A study found a widening gap between heart disease guidelines and patients' lifestyles, with doctors prescribing more drugs while lifestyles remain unchanged. Lifestyle interventions are crucial to prevent heart disease, but comprehensive programs are lacking.
Researchers at University of Michigan propose a plan to save up to 75 percent of data center energy by implementing PowerNap, which puts idle servers to sleep, and RAILS, a more efficient power supplying technique. The approach addresses the significant energy waste in data centers, where computers spend most of their time doing nothing.
A new study by Queen's University reveals that Canadian long-term care facilities are not meeting recommended standards for infection prevention and control. The findings highlight a lack of essential activities, including surveillance and control measures, resulting in increased morbidity, mortality, and financial expense.
A recent survey of over 27,000 EMS professionals found that nearly 83% believe they should participate in disease and injury prevention programs. Many respondents reported already providing such services during emergency calls, particularly those with experience, suggesting a potential expansion of prevention efforts.
The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have published a special issue of Health Promotion Practice on evaluating sexual violence prevention programs. Four CDC-supported empowerment evaluation programs are highlighted, demonstrating the effectiveness of putting program s...
Continuing statin therapy is associated with a reduced risk of death over four to five years, even among those without diagnosed heart disease. Patients who took statins for at least 90% of the follow-up period showed a 45% lower risk of death compared to those who did not adhere to treatment.
UCSF's Positive Choice: Interactive Video Doctor and Healthy Living interventions have been selected by the CDC for their effectiveness in reducing HIV risk behaviors. These programs address crucial aspects of living with HIV, including stress and coping, transmission risk behaviors, and adherence to medication regimens.
A study published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine found that US academic medical centers do not meet current American Diabetes Association hospital diabetes care standards. The research highlights the need for improved insulin therapy and standardized protocols to enhance patient outcomes.
Frank L. Meyskens Jr., a renowned cancer prevention researcher, has received the AACR-Prevent Cancer Foundation Award for his significant contributions to the field. His work on chemoprevention, including the development of topical all-trans-retinoic acid for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, has moved the field forward.
The NIH has awarded $55 million to five new Institutional Development Awards (IDeA) centers across the US. These centers focus on reproductive biology, obesity and cardiovascular disease, nanomedicine, and schizophrenia research, aiming to strengthen institutional biomedical capabilities and increase competitiveness.
The NIH is funding two new Biomedical Technology Research Centers to develop innovative imaging techniques for diagnosing and treating neurodegenerative diseases. The centers will also create cutting-edge software for identifying and analyzing sets of interacting proteins that are important in various diseases, including cancer.
Researchers will analyze human blood samples to discover proteins that could serve as biomarkers of infectious diseases. The goal is to identify specific biomarkers present in infected individuals but absent in uninfected people, guiding diagnostics, therapies, and vaccines.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is awarding three new grants to investigate the role of environmental factors in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. The research will focus on identifying mechanisms that link pesticide exposure, mitochondrial damage, and altered dopamine storage to the dev...