Public health Archives

Vitamin B and Folic acid do not appear to affect cancer risk

Combined folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 treatment had no significant effect on overall risk of total invasive cancer or breast cancer among women during the folic acid fortification era. – A daily supplementation combination that included folic acid and vitamin B6 and B12 had no significant effect on the overall risk of cancer, including breast cancer, among women at high risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study in the November 5 issue of JAMA.

Hydrogen sulfide regulates blood pressure

Researchers discover hydrogen sulfide – a gas generated by bacteria living in the human colon – is a major regulator of blood pressure. – Anyone with a nose knows the rotten-egg odor of hydrogen sulfide, a gas generated by bacteria living in the human colon. Now an international team of scientists has discovered that cells inside the blood vessels of mice – as well as in people, no doubt – naturally make the gassy stuff, and that it controls blood pressure.

Depressed pregnant women may have preterm delivery

Depression during pregnancy can double risk of preterm delivery. Study of 791 women finds preterm delivery risk grows with severity of depression. – Depressed pregnant women have twice the risk of preterm delivery than pregnant women with no symptoms of depression, according to a new study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research.

X PRIZE to help fight tuberculosis with Gates Foundation

X PRIZE Foundation to help fight tuberculosis worldwide with Gates Foundation support. Gates Foundation providing grant to explore prize for innovative breakthroughs in TB Diagnostics. – The X PRIZE Foundation has received a planning grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop an X PRIZE for effective diagnosis of tuberculosis in the developing world.

Estimating lives lost due to delay in HIV drug use in South Africa

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) estimate lives lost due to delay in antiretroviral drug use for HIV/AIDS in South Africa. – More than 330,000 lives were lost to HIV/AIDS in South Africa from 2000 and 2005 because a feasible and timely antiretroviral (ARV) treatment program was not implemented, assert researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) in a study published online by the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (JAIDS) (http://www.jaids.com/).

Kids from low income families are without health insurance

Although mom, dad have health insurance through work, kids may go without. Parents often can?t afford to pay extra to cover their kids. – New research at Oregon Health & Science University reveals millions of children from low- to middle-income families are going without health insurance, even when at least one parent has private health insurance through his or her employer.

Parents believe their children are in average weight range

43% parents with underweight and overweight children mistakenly believe their children are in the average weight range. – More than four in 10 parents with underweight and overweight children mistakenly believe their children are in the average weight range, according to University of Melbourne research.

Antiretrovirals with TB treatment reduces mortality in HIV patients

Antiretroviral therapy with TB treatment for HIV patients reduces mortality up to fifty five percent. – A South African treatment study conducted by researchers in the Department of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health shows that mortality among TB-HIV co-infected patients can be reduced by a remarkable 55%, if antiretroviral therapy (ART) is provided with TB treatment at the same time.

A new research on climate change and public health – WHO

WHO agreed on a research agenda on climate change and public health – World Health Organization. – A meeting of experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Madrid agreed to a research agenda to develop an evidence-based framework for action on the human health implications of climate change.

12 diseases worsened by climate change

‘Deadly dozen’ reports diseases worsened by climate change – Health experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society. – Health experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society released a report that lists 12 pathogens that could spread into new regions as a result of climate change, with potential impacts to both human and wildlife health and global economies.

People with mental illness smoke more

People with mental illness smoke at four times the rate of general population, says new University of Melbourne study. – Australians with mental illness smoke at four times the rate of the general population, says a new study from the University of Melbourne.

Indoor pollution in homes in China causing respiratory diseases

Smoking and solid fuel use in homes in China projected to cause millions of deaths. Large-scale interventions needed to reduce disease burden. – If current levels of smoking and biomass and coal fuel use in homes continues, between 2003 and 2033 there will be an estimated 65 million deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 18 million deaths from lung cancer in China, accounting for 19% and 5% of all deaths in that country during this period.