UMN: Bio-Med Library - Public Health

Public Health Information and Data Tutorial
provides instruction for members of the public health workforce on
issues related to information access and management. This tutorial is
based on Public Health Information and Data: A Training Manual.
There are no copyright restrictions on the contents of this tutorial or
the training manual, and users are free to adapt or duplicate any
portion.

The contributors and
authors of this tutorial’s content represent city, county, state and
federal agencies. They establish clear connections to recognized
competencies in public health and provide examples representing much of
the diversity inherent in the practice of public health.

Start Here: http://phpartners.org/tutorial/index.html

(This item has also been added to the Public Health Research Quickstart Page)

Posted by Chad Fennell at 09:27 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Americans have more options than ever to use in protecting themselves from mosquito bites. Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidance about effective mosquito repellents available in the United States. The updated guidance includes addition of two active ingredients - picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus - which have been shown to offer long-lasting protection against mosquito bites. Repellents containing DEET continue to be a highly effective repellent option and are also included in the CDC guidelines.

Full Article: http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r050428.htm

Posted by Chad Fennell at 05:31 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

They might be cute and cuddly, but furry "pocket pets" and docile petting zoo animals can spread deadly bacteria to children just like snakes and exotic pets.

. . .

"I don't want people to be alarmed by these pets. That's not our goal," said Swanson, who also works in the Minnesota Department of Health and was involved in the investigation. "I really just want them to be aware of the possibility of infection from these cute, but potentially contaminated pets."

Full Article: http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/regional/s_334623.html

Posted by Chad Fennell at 05:29 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (1)

10 May 2005 – With the success of vaccinations leading to a dramatic drop in fatalities but an increase in the number of alarmist and misleading websites threatening to counter that accomplishment, the United Nations health agency today welcomed 23 non-commercial Internet pages to its Vaccine

Full Article: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=14224&Cr=vaccine&Cr1=

Posted by Chad Fennell at 05:26 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Montreal, 17 May 2005--Those considered high-risk for melanoma--the most dangerous form of skin cancer--are no more likely to sunbathe protected than those who are unaware of their risk, according to a new study conducted by MUHC researchers. The study, published in the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, examined the behaviour of melanoma patients in order to assess the efficacy of sun-awareness and protection campaigns.

Full Article: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-05/mu-tah051605.php

Posted by Chad Fennell at 05:24 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

PORTLAND, Ore. -- While prostate cancer is a very common diagnosis, it is a deadly disease in relatively few men. One in 6 men will develop prostate cancer during his lifetime. However, of these, only one in 10 cases will be life-threatening.

Full Article: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-05/ohs-poh051605.php

Posted by Chad Fennell at 05:23 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

One out of 12 people in the western world suffers from type 2 (adult onset) diabetes. Worldwide, 150 million people are diabetic and their numbers are expected to double in the next 20 years, a result of the growing obesity epidemic. Yet, the reasons for the strong correlation between excess body fat and diabetes have been puzzling researchers. Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science and the University of Umea, Sweden, have now unraveled a mechanism by which fat contributes to the onset of the disease. Their results were published in the April issue of Cell Metabolism.

Full Article: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-05/acft-tfc051605.php

Posted by Chad Fennell at 05:22 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

A study published last month in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests an association between maternal exposure to toxoplasmosis and increased risk for developing schizophrenia in adult children. The study, which evaluated archived blood samples from pregnant women who participated in a large birth cohort called the Child Health and Development Study (CHDS) from 1959–1967, was conducted by researchers at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the Department of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, in collaboration with the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Plan, Northern California Region.

Full Article: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-05/cums-sfm051605.php

Posted by Chad Fennell at 05:21 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (1)

A study led by a Mayo Clinic medical oncologist and conducted by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) provides important new data about the effectiveness and safety of a breast cancer treatment combining chemotherapy and a drug called trastuzumab (Herceptin).

Full Article: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-05/mc-mrt051305.php

Posted by Chad Fennell at 05:19 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

A pediatric oncologist at Brenner Children's Hospital hopes his latest research into treating a common childhood cancer will reduce the number of long-term side effects that survivors experience as they grow into adulthood. Allen Chauvenet, M.D., presented his findings today at the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Full Article: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-05/wfub-ldo050905.php

Posted by Chad Fennell at 05:18 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

While the benefits of physical activity in reducing colon and breast cancer are well established, results of studies on exercise and ovarian cancer have been inconclusive. Because ovarian cancer has such a poor prognosis, it is even more important to identify modifiable lifestyle factors that could prevent it. A new study, published online May 16, 2005 in the International Journal of Cancer, the official journal of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), found that regular moderate recreational and work-related physical activity may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. The study is available via Wiley InterScience at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/ijc.

Full Article: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-05/jws-tlb050905.php

Posted by Chad Fennell at 05:13 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The second candidate will interview later this week for the Bio-Medical Reference Librarian position. The presentation topic is, "Serving the Biomedical Research Community: Future Roles, Challenges and Opportunities" Candidate resumes are available at http://staff.lib.umn.edu/ateam/HRCandidateSearchesMain.html

On Wednesday, May 11, Elizabeth Fine will interview. Her presentation is 10:00-11:00 in 555 Diehl Hall. Liz is currently at the Biomedical Information Service of the University's Bio-Medical Library.

Posted by Chad Fennell at 10:17 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This symposium brings together a panel of the nation’s most prominent public health experts, each of whom has headed a major federal public health agency or office. They will explore the future of public health in America and seek consensus on solutions, address the challenges facing public health in America and strategies for improving the system, and consider key issues the policy makers must face in the coming years, including:

• What is the optimal relationship between the federal government and state and local health agencies?


• How can we build and sustain public support for a strong public health system?


• How should public health intersect with the medical care system?


• What key regulatory changes would support a stronger public health system?

Full Article: http://www.usip.edu/symposium/
* What technologies and human resources are most needed to strengthen public health capabilities?

Posted by Chad Fennell at 10:15 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Washington, D.C., April 27, 2005 - As a national supporter of Cover the Uninsured Week, the American Public Health Association (APHA) today expressed alarm that 45 million Americans -- 15.6 percent of the total U.S. population -- lack insurance coverage of any kind for an entire year. Eight out of 10 uninsured Americans either work or are in working families, according to federal data.

Full Article: http://www.apha.org/news/press/2005/uninsured.htm

Posted by Chad Fennell at 10:11 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

FRIDAY, May 6 (HealthDay News) -- The first year of college can take a toll on students' health, with a new study suggesting the stresses and loneliness experienced by many freshmen weakens their immune systems.

Lonely students had less robust immune responses to the flu shot than other students, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh report in the May issue of the journal Health Psychology.

Full Article: http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docid=525415

Posted by Chad Fennell at 10:10 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

12th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections HIV InSite's coverage of the 12th CROI, Boston, MA, 2/22-25/05.

Posted by Chad Fennell at 09:42 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

A University of Minnesota study is the first to show that if you eat too much fat, it can go straight to your liver and damage it. Although the study was performed on people with liver disease, it should serve as a warning that this is what can happen to people who do what the star of "Super Size Me" did: eat too darn much fat and gain a lot of weight.

In the study, which examined obese people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), fat from the diet ended up "stuck" in the liver, where it doesn't belong. It was known that the livers of NAFLD patients accumulated fat, but its origin was unknown. The new work implicates fat from the diet as one cause of NAFLD and shows that fat buildup in the liver results when the liver loses its ability to manage the various influxes of fat that occur during transitions between the fasted and fed states. Identifying the origins of accumulated fat in the livers of NAFLD patients will be important in preventing and reversing this condition, which can lead to more serious liver trouble. The work was published May 2 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Full Artircle: http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Fat_causes_liver_damage.html

Posted by Chad Fennell at 12:44 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The concentration is a result of the increased popularity in the alternative field.
By Naomi Scott

Starting in fall, the University’s School of Public Health will offer a concentration in complementary and alternative medicine.

The concentration is a result of the increased popularity of alternative medicine and complementary therapies in the United States today, said Pam Schreiner, an epidemiology professor, who proposed the concentration.

Full Article: http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2005/04/19/64244

Posted by Chad Fennell at 08:53 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Presented by: Professor David R. Jacobs, Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor Mark A. Pereira, Ph.D.

When: Friday, May 6th, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m

Where: WBOB, 1300 South 2nd Street, Conference Room 364 (3rd floor)

Full Announcement: http://www.sph.umn.edu/news/events/episeminarcoffee.html

Posted by Chad Fennell at 08:52 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This year's Minnesota Public Health Association (MPHA) meeting willl focus on environmental health issues. For more information, please visit http://www.mpha.net/2005ConferenceSaveTheDate.pdf.

Tyrone Hayes, Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley, will be delivering a keynote lecture on Atrazine Exposure in Frog Development. Student representative Scott Sibbel is organizing bus transportation to the event for students, staff or faculty who would like to attend. The bus will return to campus late afternoon. In addition a bus driver is being sought (must be at least 25 years old, have a clean driving record, and a valid US Driver's License). For more information contact Sibbel at sibbe008@umn.edu.

Full Announcement: http://www.sph.umn.edu/news/events/mphameeting.html

Posted by Chad Fennell at 08:50 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

After nearly two years of planning, community meetings and in-depth study involving more than 300 health care professionals and community leaders, Minnesota’s first plan to coordinate cancer control and prevention activities in the state was announced last week.

The plan is titled Cancer Plan Minnesota 2005-2010: Recommendations for policymakers, planners, providers and advocates. The four areas of action for the first year of the plan include:

• Reduce smoking by advocating for increased state taxes on cigarettes and expanded smoke-free workplace laws.
• Reduce racial disparities by expanding cancer screening and treatment for racial minorities to reduce the high incidences of lung, colon, prostate and other cancers.
• Reduce colon cancer by increased emphasis on screening to detect cancer early when it can be prevented or treated.
• Increase information by creating an interactive website so that Minnesotans can more easily find out about services and support programs.

Several Cancer Center members played key roles in developing this plan: DeAnn Lazovich, Ph.D., served on the steering committee and co-chaired the Prevention Work Group; Nancy Baxter, M.D., Ph.D., co-chaired the Early Detection Work Group; and Bruce Peterson, M.D., co-chaired the Treatment Work Group. In addition, the following Cancer Center members served on work groups: DeAnn Lazovich, Ph.D., and Beth Virnig, Ph.D., M.P.H., Data Review Committee; Marva Bohen, M.S., R.N. and Janet Smith Yee, Disparities Committee; Andrew Flood, Ph.D., Deb Hennrikus, Ph.D., and Phyllis Pirie, Ph.D., Prevention Work Group; Ann Mertens, Ph.D., Survivorship Work Group; Timothy Church, Ph.D., Resa Jones, M.P.H., and Mark Yeazel, M.D., Early Detection Work Group; and Beth Virnig, Ph.D., M.P.H., Treatment Work Group. The Cancer Center also was part of a resolution to support the Cancer Plan, and John Kersey, M.D., spoke at the appreciation event for people who developed the plan.

Full Announcement: http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/ccmembers/members.html

Posted by Chad Fennell at 04:58 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)