Politics and Policies:
- The Public Health committee has plans to examine prescription drug shortages during a legislative oversight hearing on Beacon Hill (Source: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20120211public_health_committee_to_examine_prescription_drug_shortage/srvc=home&position=recent ).
- The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a safety advisory for Strattera (ADHD drug- atomoxetine hydrochloride), warning about ‘clinically significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure’ (Source: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/new-warning-on-adhd-drug/story-e6frg12c-1226268557617 ).
- Dr. Francesaca Condradie is appointed by the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society as their new president (Source: http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/goodlife/2012/02/10/new-head-for-hiv-society ).
- Shortage of primary care doctors- biggest threat to health care law (Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/the-health-reform-laws-biggest-threat-30000-too-few-doctors/2012/02/10/gIQALEQp4Q_blog.html ).
- New Delhi has given its final approval to set up Integrated Vaccine Complex (IVC) at Chengalpattu, near Chennai to ensure vaccine security in India (Source: http://expressbuzz.com/topnews/tn-vaccine-complex-gets-central-nod/362303.html ).
- A major reform of the US health insurance system – in birth control, has created uproar (Source: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/health/news/article_1690468.php/ANALYSIS-Birth-control-uproar-echoes-fracture-over-US-health-care ).
- The Crossville City Council (Tennessee) unanimously has approved the third and final reading of two ordinances designated to police- the sale and consumption of synthetic marijuana, bath salts and other synthetic materials within the city of Crossville (Source: http://crossville-chronicle.com/local/x741512153/Synthetic-drugs-ordinance-now-in-effect ).
Programs:
- Jewish Healthcare International (JHI) has send healthcare missions to Haiti and Ethiopia as a part of their mission to improve healthcare services in at-risk communities worldwide (Source: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jewish-healthcare-international-jhi-sends-healthcare-missions-to-haiti-and-ethiopia-138949059.html ).
- The United Nations, International and human rights organizations are appealing for legislation to halt the practice of Female Genetic Mutilation on the Ninth International Day of Zero Tolerance. It involves partial or total removal of external genetalia in women and girls (Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/health/Health-Rights-Groups-Demand-Anti-FGM-Laws-138782694.html ).
- The United States controlled Global Fund has recently announced termination of its funding to the underfunded Zimbabwe’s health sector (Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201202061234.html ).
Research:
- The researchers at the University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia and the Brigham and Women’s hospital, Harvard Medical School, US together has discovered treatment to slow the progression of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (Source: http://ecancer.org/news/2420 ).
- Researchers from Singapore have developed a small crab like robot to get remove early stomach cancer (Source: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/02/the-tiny-crab-like-robot-able-to-remove-early-stomach-cancers/252543/ ).
- Researchers in Australia have found a possible link between drinking soda and lung disease and asthma (Source: http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2012/february/380845/Health-Headlines:-Soda-could-increase-lung-disease-risk ).
- The genetics of Y chromosome can contribute to heart risk for men. Man can inherit heart disease from father (Source: http://www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/news/health/1_in_5_men_has_heart_risk_gene_1_3507600 ).
- A research study published in JAMA, shows a smaller amount of nourishment in acute lung disease patients results in no improvement in infectious complications than those receiving full caloric nourishment (Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/241422.php ).
- A research study published in Diabetes Care reveals that in patients with type 1 diabetes, by their late adolescence and early adulthood, the brain volume and T2 relaxation time declines as compared with similarly aged healthy peers (Source: http://www.veridianbh.com/poc/view_doc.php?type=news&id=144059&cn=21 ).
- A research study shows that exposing children to cigarette smoke can lead to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in them (Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Displayarticle09.asp?section=health&xfile=data/health/2012/February/health_February29.xml ).
- In a recently published literature review the authors have found an association between the phosphates in fast food and health risks (Source: http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/02/11/267408-Phosphate-additives-used-in-fast-food-pose-risk-to-health-.html ).
Diseases and Disasters:
- Zimbabwe courts are shut down due to fear of typhoid outbreaks (Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/11/zimbabwe-typhoid-idUSL5E8DB0B020120211 ).
- Zimbabwe is reported to be treated about 50 cases of typhoid per day (Source: http://allnewsghana.com/more-news/africa/24370-zimbabwe-treats-more-than-1500-typhoid-cases.html ).
- Africa recorded 347 cases of wild poliomyelitis in the year 2011 (Source: http://www.afriquejet.com/health-africa-recorded-347-cases-of-wild-poliomyelitis-in-2011-2012021133151.html ).
- Research is still going to find the cause of the sporadically occurring Nodding Disease which has claimed hundreds of lives in some parts of Africa (Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201202110014.html ).
- Nine people reported to be positive for monkey disease (Kyasanur Forest Disease) in India. This disease is caused by Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV), a member of the virus family Flaviviridae (same facility to which the dengue virus and yellow fever virus belong to) (Source: http://www.examiner.com/infectious-disease-in-national/nine-people-test-positive-for-monkey-disease-india ).
