Health 

Air Pollution Changes During Beijing Olympics Linked To Systemic Inflammation And Thrombosis Changes - A study featured in the May 16 edition of JAMA shows that changes in air pollution during the 2008 Beijing Olympics were related to changes in biomarkers of systemic inflammation and thrombosis, in addition to measure of cardiovascular physiology in healthy young people. The study's background information states: "Air pollution is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but the mechanisms by which air pollution leads to CVD is not well understood... Wed, 16 May 2012 15:00:00 PDT

AIDS Relief Program Intensity Linked To Lower Death Rates - The May 16 edition of the Global Health themed issue of JAMA reveals a larger drop in all-cause adult mortality in those African countries with more intense operation of the AIDS relief program PEPFAR. The article's background information states: "The effect of global health initiatives on population health is uncertain. Between 2003 and 2008, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest initiative ever devoted to a single disease, operated intensively in 12 African focus countries... Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 PDT

Thought Controlled Robotic Arm For Paralyzed Patients - The journal Nature reports on a science fiction style jump in technology, where an interface on the brain is used to connect to a robotic arm and provide real time thought control. It is a dramatic leap for the technology which has been tested with paralyzed patients and gives hope for Stars Wars style bionic technology, for wounded soldiers and paraplegics. The experiment was conducted on April 12th this year at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island... Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 PDT

Child Mortality Rate Decreased After Prenatal Micronutrient, Food Supplementation Internvention - A study in the May 16 edition of JAMA reveals that survival rates of newborns in poor Bangladeshi communities were significantly improved if their mothers received multiple micronutritions, including iron and folic acid combined with early food supplementation during pregnancy, in comparison with women receiving the usual food supplementation. The article's background information says: "Maternal and child undernutrition is estimated to be the underlying cause of 3.5 million annual deaths and 35 percent of the total disease burden in children younger than 5 years... Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:00 PDT

High Rate Of Malaria And Sexually Transmitted/Reproductive Tract Infections In Sub-Saharan Pregnant Mothers - A review and meta-analysis of studies published in the May 16 theme issue of Global Health in JAMA reveals a significant burden of malaria and STIs/RTIs amongst pregnant women who attend antenatal facilities in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings were discovered after a review of studies reporting estimates of the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections/reproductive tract infections (STIs/RTIs) and malaria over the past 2 decades. The article's background information states: "There are 880,000 stillbirths and 1.2 million neonatal deaths each year in sub-Saharan Africa... Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00 PDT

Obama's Grand Plan To Cure Alzheimer's - Obama's healthcare goals have been controversial at best, and although anti-smoking campaigns and other public health and safety awareness drives have been successful, it's always somewhat dubious when government starts creating grand plans and lofty goals. Nonetheless, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has released an ambitious and wide ranging national plan to fight Alzheimer's disease... Wed, 16 May 2012 11:00:00 PDT