Public Health Scene

Sen. Klobuchar, Osterholm discuss U.S. Flu Vaccine Policy

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:51:52 -0600

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and University of Minnesota professor Michael T. Osterholm discussed U.S. flu vaccine policy on Nov. 13 at the University of Minnesota.

Their comments focused on the causes of widespread shortages of the seasonal influenza vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine.

Klobuchar and Osterholm called for new technologies to develop vaccines. And Osterholm explained why the current vaccine-producing methods can result in shortages.

Listen to the entire discussion (57:10)

Carlin named head of Division of Biostatistics

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:08:09 -0600

(Nov. 3, 2009) — Bradley P. Carlin, PhD, has been appointed head of the Division of Biostatistics at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

Carlin, who has been a professor in the SPH since 1991, will take over as division head in May 2010. He will work with other SPH leaders to solidify the division's ranking as one of the top biostatistics units in the nation. In addition to continuing the high level of research productivity among the division's faculty members, he will work to grow the division's student body and educational programs, as well as its focus on collaborative, translational research.

"As head of the Division of Biostatistics, I'm looking forward to working with colleagues across the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center," said Carlin. "More and more, it's critical for biostatisticians to collaborate with colleagues across the health sciences. Our division has a good track record of this sort of collaboration in the broader areas of clinical trials and environmental health, as well as the study of complex chronic conditions such as cancer, heart and lung disease, and HIV/AIDS."

U Included in $185 Million Grant to Fight Emerging Pandemics

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:55:50 -0600

Experts from the University of Minnesota will soon be on the frontlines working to help developing countries better respond to emerging infectious diseases that pose a threat to human and animal health.

The University is part of a team that will implement a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) cooperative agreement with funding up to $185 million.

Many U.S. health care workers lack health care coverage

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:14:35 -0600

More than one in 10 U.S. health care workers lacks health insurance for themselves.

That's according to research by a team of University of Minnesota health policy researchers, led by Associate Professor Lynn Blewett.

Blewett's team examined the rates of uninsurance among U.S. health care workers by health care industry subtype and work force category, using 2004-2006 National Health Interview Survey data.

They found that overall 11 percent of the U.S. health care work force is uninsured. Furthermore, ambulatory care workers were 3.1 times as likely as hospital workers to be uninsured and residential care workers were 4.3 times as likely to be uninsured.

The findings raise concerns about safety and quality of health care in different settings, the researchers said. They add that previous research shows that uninsurance leads to delays in seeking care, fewer prevention visits, and poorer health status.

Other University of Minnesota researchers on the team were Chiu-Fang, Pamela Johnson, and Andy Ward.

More about the study

Vitality Project's long-term changes make Minn. town healthier

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:24:56 -0600

It was a novel idea. Pick a family-friendly, midsized American town, give its residents ideas on how they can live healthier and longer lives, put the ideas into action one summer and see what happens.

It's called the Vitality Project and it was launched earlier this year in Albert Lea, Minn. by Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones, who worked on the project with AARP and University of Minnesota public health experts, such as Leslie Lytle.

"It worked. It worked because we did not focus on short-term diet and exercise programs," Buettner told the USA Today. "We focused on changing their environments and then optimizing social networks."

Health Care Reform: Following Minnesota's Lead

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:40:50 -0600

Health Care Reform

• Following Our Lead
• Improving Access
• Rural Health Care
• CBO Lowers Boom

As of this writing the fate of U.S. health care reform is still in play and forty-six million Americans remain uninsured. What we know for sure is that a national reform effort will never reach its full potential without making the fundamental connection between health care and public health.

For decades, public health professionals have worked to prevent illness, raise quality of care, reduce costs, and expand health care access--all the issues that figure so prominently in the health care debate.

Minnesota has long put these public health concepts front and center and that emphasis helped shape 2008 landmark legislation that brought sweeping reform to the state.

Investing in Disease Prevention

Improving Health Care Access

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:39:44 -0600

Health Care Reform

• Following Our Lead
• Improving Access
• Rural Health Care
• CBO Lowers Boom

Minnesota has some of the highest levels of insurance coverage in the country at around 93 percent. This success can be attributed to strong public programs, extensive employer-sponsored coverage, and a culture that fosters innovation and quality in care delivery.

Yet the state is home to some of the nation’s greatest health disparities, with minority populations experiencing lower coverage rates and worse health than the overall population. Other groups most likely to be uninsured include recent immigrants, young adults, and low- and middle-income families.

“Any health reform aimed at increasing access to health insurance will have an impact on reducing health disparities in Minnesota,” says SPH associate professor Kathleen Call. “While efforts to expand coverage are a step in the right direction, attention to cost and quality will also be needed.”

Rural Health Care: One Size Does Not Fit All

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:38:50 -0600

Health Care Reform

• Following Our Lead
• Improving Access
• Rural Health Care
• CBO Lowers Boom

The fact that this country's health policy is crafted in the urban setting of Washington D.C. is both a symbolic and concrete example of how rural America can be left out of reform discussions, says SPH professor Ira Moscovice.

As director of the Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center, Moscovice has highlighted how reform measures have failed to consider the rural health care context. For instance, proposals that seek to expand coverage have not accounted for the longstanding access issues faced by those living in rural areas. And higher government reimbursements for large, often urban-based providers who invest in robust health information technology put smaller rural-based providers at a disadvantage. Moscovice's team released a series of reports on these issues at the request of the Health Resources and Services Administration, one of the largest agencies in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"Rural heath care shouldn't be an afterthought," says Moscovice. "We want to make sure the 20 to 25 percent of Americans who live in rural settings aren't left behind."

CBO Lowers the Boom on Health Care Reform

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:17:44 -0600

Health Care Reform

• Following Our Lead
• Improving Access
• Rural Health Care
• CBO Lowers Boom

On July 16, Doug Elmendorf, Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), said “a large-scale expansion of insurance coverage would represent a permanent increase of roughly 10 percent” to the federal budget, which is on an “unsustainable path.” With that declaration, the President’s end-of-summer deadline for signing a health care bill died.

CBO reached that conclusion after a thorough in-house analysis. But the agency also regularly consults with a cadre of non-D.C.-based economists. SPH professor Roger Feldman serves on the CBO’s Panel of Health Advisors. Recently, he’s been asked to weigh in on how malpractice reform would affect health care costs and the economic implications of a public option.

This isn’t Feldman’s first time at bat with health care reform or Washington politics--he served on the senior staff of the Council of Economic Advisors during Reagan's presidency and assisted the health reform task force for the Clinton administration. Feldman says this time around a weak economy boosts CBO’s power in the reform process. “The mood in Congress and in the country is very cautious about increasing the deficit,” he says. “CBO has much more influence in this kind of environment.”

National School Lunch Week

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:03:28 -0600

Oct. 8 through 12 is National School Lunch Week, a time to recognize this program that serves 31 million U.S. students each day.

In our Public Health Moment podcast, Jamie Stang, a University of Minnesota assistant professor and nutrition expert, talks about the program's origins.

She also discusses the relatively new Farm-to-Schools movement, under which many schools are starting to buy foods locally. Stang says that Minnesota is a leader in this area.

Listen to Stang

Drinking age of 21 saves lives

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:03:25 -0600

The national policy that set a minimum legal drinking age of 21 is being questioned by a group of 135 college and university presidents through an effort called the Amethyst Initiative.

But history and a comprehensive review of the research tell a much different story. The evidence is clear, consistent and compelling: A drinking age of 21 has led to less drinking, fewer injuries and fewer deaths.

That's according to the University of Minnesota's Toben Nelson (pictured), Traci Toomey, and John Finnegan, Jr. The three authored a commentary that appears on the CNN.com website.

They say:

"Lowering the drinking age will not save lives or make our campuses and communities better places to live. It will increase heavy drinking and the problems that accompany it in college communities and push the problem back into high schools. Real prevention requires constant vigilance, dedication and the courage to implement difficult solutions."

Read the full commentary

H1N1: Who is at risk? What are the symptoms?

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:27:32 -0600

State health officials report that the flu is now widespread in Minnesota. While not all of the cases are the swine flu, or H1N1, officials believe it's playing a big role in the upsurge.

So, what are the symptoms? We asked John Finnegan, dean of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

He provides background on H1N1, explains the symptoms, who is most at risk and explains when someone should seek medical care.

Listen to Finnegan on Public Health Scene (4:58)

U Of M Expects More And More H1N1 Cases

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:43:38 -0600

The University of Minnesota hosted a panel Thursday morning on the global impact of the H1N1 virus, or swine flu. As WCCO news reported, however, it was not just an academic discussion. The U was part of the story.

University officials say that about 50 to 60 students had H1N1 as of Sept. 10.

"I think that it's going to take off here. I think that we're going to see many more cases. This is just the very, very beginning of it," said University of Minnesota Dean of the School of Public Health John Finnegan.

Read or watch the WCCO report

Meanwhile, Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, stated during the panel discussion that "college campuses will continue to be the primary seeding location for much of the rest of the country."

Listen to the entire presentation with Finnegan, Osterholm, and others

The panel disucssion was hosted by the Global Health Initiative of the Woodrow Wilson Center

Tanning Beds and Skin Cancer Risk

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:17:07 -0600

For many Midwesterners, the tanning bed is a necessity of life. Now, it's also officially a cancer-causing agent, according to the World Health Organization.

In a recent report, the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer states that there is a causal link between ultraviolet radiation produced by tanning beds and cancer.

DeAnn Lazovich a University of Minnesota cancer epidemiologist, explains.

Based on this report and her own research, Lazovich offers advice.

Listen to Lazovich on our Public Health Moment podcast

The link between smoking, high blood pressure and dementia

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:32:22 -0600

Middle-age individuals who smoke, have high blood pressure, or have diabetes run a high risk of being hospitalized for dementia later in life.

That's according to a research study of more than 11,000 people, led by Alvaro Alonso, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist.

Alonso adds that this research provides one more reason why people should quit smoking and concentrate on improving their cardiovascular health.

Listen to Alonso on our Public Health Moment podcast

Stang discusses report on obesity rates by region

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:47:43 -0600

A new report from the Trust for America's Health finds that Minnesota kids have the lowest rate of obesity in the nation — tying with Utah at just over 23 percent.

In this installment of Public Health Scene, Jamie Stang, a nutrition expert and assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, discusses the report and explains why Minnesota might be seeing lower rates.

She says several factors contribute to low obesity rates among Minnesota children. These include higher education levels, ethnic background, and socio-economic standards.

But, perhaps most important, Stang says: Minnesota kids are active.

Listen to Stang on Public Health Scene (5:45)

Diabetes and Depression

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:23:47 -0600

Women with diabetes are 85 percent more likely to suffer from depression during or following pregnancy. That's according to research involving more than 50,000 women.

University of Minnesota epidemiologist Mark Pereira was a co-author of the study.

Pereira recommends that pregnant women, especially those with diabetes, consult closely with their doctor to ensure their health and the health of their baby.

Listen to Pereira on our Public Health Moment podcast

Minnesota has the lowest obesity rate among kids

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:35:24 -0600

A new report finds Minnesota kids have the lowest rate of obesity -- tying with Utah at just over 23 percent.

"It's wonderful to see Minnesota tied for the lowest spot. I think that's great news for us, but I don't think that that means we don't have work to do still," Jamie Stang, an assistant professor with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, told KARE 11 News.

Stang says several factors contribute to low obesity rates among Minnesota children, including: higher education levels, ethnic background and socio-economic standards.

The report is from the Trust for America's Health, a health advocacy group in Washington, D.C.

Download the report (PDF)

More from the Star Tribune

See the news story at KARE 11 News

The Vitality Project aims to improve health of entire community

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:19:07 -0600

Albert Lea, Minnesota is the center of an innovative, ten-month pilot project designed to improve the health and life expectancy of people who live and work there.

It's called the AARP Blue Zones Vitality Project.

Leslie Lytle, a University of Minnesota epidemiology professor, is co-director of the project.

She says that instead of focusing on diet and exercise, the project encourages the best practices of the world's longest-lived populations with strategies such as making it easier to get around on and encouraging the development of social networks.

Listen to Lytle on Public Health Scene

Klobuchar introduces food-safety bill

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:40:00 -0600

Sen. Amy Klobuchar has introduced federal legislation to promote a more rapid and effective national response to outbreaks of foodborne sickness like the recent case of salmonella-tainted peanut butter and last year's outbreak caused by tainted jalapeño peppers.

Last spring, people across the country were getting sick from salmonella. After cases began to show up in Minnesota, public health officials managed to trace the contamination to jalapeno peppers from Mexico. In the fall, people across the country were again getting sick from salmonella, including nine deaths (three of them in Minnesota). Again, the Minnesota team succeeded in tracing the source to peanut butter from a processing facility in Georgia.

Smoking bans do not cause economic harm

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:16:41 -0600

Smoking bans do not cause economic harm to bars and restaurants. That’s according to a study led by epidemiologist Jean Forster from the University of Minnesota.

Forster and colleagues used state-mandated reporting data from 10 Minnesota cities for the years 2003 to 2006. That was before the introduction of a statewide smoking ban, but at a time when a number of local cities had adopted their own full or partial bans.

Forster says that smoking bans are an effective way to protect people—especially bar and restaurant employees—from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

• Listen to Forster on our Public Health Moment podcast

The Economic Case for Health Care Reform

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:20:50 -0600

The American health care system is growing at an unsustainable rate that threatens to have a devastating impact on the growth in workers’ take-home pay and the government budget deficit.

That's according to a new report from the White House Council of Economic Advisors. Jean M. Abraham, University of Minnesota health policy expert, was a co-author. But the report goes on to articulate the advantages of proceeding now with health care reform.

"Our analysis shows that successful health care reform would have major benefits for the U.S. economy," writes Abraham and the co-authors. "Over time, the slowing of cost growth through increased efficiency would bring about substantial increases in Americans’ standard of living. It will also prevent devastating increases in the budget deficit."

Download the report

Burned and charred meat can increase your risk of pancreatic cancer

Wed, 27 May 2009 11:51:46 -0600

People who regularly eat red meat that is very well done, burned or charred may increase their risk of pancreatic cancer by almost 60 percent.

That’s according to a 9-year study that involved more than 62,000 people.

The study was led by Kristin Anderson, a University of Minnesota cancer epidemiologist.

Anderson recommends turning down the heat when you grill meats and says that you should trim away any burned or charred portions.

• Listen to Anderson on our Public Health Moment podcast

Disparities in Health Coverage

Wed, 20 May 2009 13:35:45 -0600

Overall, Minnesota ranks high for the percentage of residents with health insurance.

But Kathleen Call, a professor and health policy expert at the University of Minnesota, says that when one looks closer, you see great disparity.

She says that providing health care access to the uninsured will actually save money in the long term.

• Listen to Call on our Public Health Moment podcast

Ignition locking device targets drunk drivers

Wed, 13 May 2009 10:46:36 -0600

On July 1, Minnesota will expand statewide a voluntary program that encourages repeat drunk driving offenders to use an ignition interlock on their vehicle.

Tracy Toomey, a University of Minnesota expert on impaired driving, is a big fan of ignition interlock devices. She and many others working to reduce death and injury from drunk driving say ignition interlock should be standard equipment on vehicles, the way airbags are today.

"It is crazy that we have people that (are) four times, five times, six times and higher in terms of being repeat offenders," she Minnesota Public Radio. "We need to get these people off the road."

Swine Flu: What you should know

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:31:23 -0600

On April 27, after reviewing information about the confirmed cases of swine flu, the World Health Organization raised the level of influenza pandemic alert from the current phase 3 to phase 4.

What does this mean? And what should you know about the swine flu? We talked with Nick Kelley, a research assistant with the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.

For starters, there's a lot that public health experts don't know yet, he says. But he recommends that people stay home if they are sick and says that families should develop their own personal and family emergency plan.

Listen to Kelley on Public Health Scene (4 min. 53 sec)

Resources
World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Health

Swine Flu: Is this the 'Big One?'

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:08:37 -0600

Public health experts have been warning us about the next flu pandemic. Is swine flu it?

It's too soon to tell, says Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

“What makes this so difficult is we may be somewhere between an important but yet still uneventful public health occurrence here — with something that could literally die out over the next couple of weeks and never show up again — or this could be the opening act of a full-fledged influenza pandemic," Osterholm told Fox News.

“We have no clue right now where we are between those two extremes. That's the problem.”

New findings on lung, pancreatic cancers

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:08:30 -0600

Regularly eating red meat that is burned or charred may increase your risk of pancreatic cancer by almost 60 percent, according to a study by Kristin Anderson, a University of Minnesota cancer researcher.

“Our findings in this study are further evidence that turning down the heat when grilling, frying, and barbecuing to avoid excess burning or charring of the meat may be a sensible way for some people to lower their risk for getting pancreatic cancer,” Anderson said.

Meanwhile, University of Minnesota researcher Jian-Min Yuan has found a direct link, for the first time, between cigarette smoking and lung cancer.

“We’ve known for a long time that smoking increases a person’s risk for getting lung cancer, but we have not been able to clearly answer why one smoker would eventually develop lung cancer and another one would not. Now we know one definitive link,” Yuan said.

More about Anderson's study from MPR
Read the release about Anderson's study

More about Yuan's study from CNN.com
Read the release about Yuan's study

Study: Teens eating more fast food

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:09:56 -0600

Research led by Katherine Bauer at the University of Minnesota found a significant increase in the amount of fast food that adolescents are eating today compared with the late 1990s.

She also discovered increases in the amount of fast food the adolescents ate as they moved from middle school to high school, and in male adolescents as they moved from high school into young adulthood.

Perhaps the most surprising finding is that male high school athletes eat more fast food.

Using data from Project EAT, a study of more than 2,500 Twin Cities adolescents, Bauer found that 27 percent of high school girls reported eating fast food more than three times per week in 2004, compared with only 19 percent in 1999.

Listen to Bauer on this installment of Public Health Scene

Older adults not getting enough nutrition

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:10:44 -0600

Many middle-aged and older Americans are not getting adequate nutrition -- even those taking dietary supplements.

That’s according to a study involving 6,200 people, ages 45 to 84. The study included African Americans, Chinese, Hispanics, and whites.

Pam Schreiner, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist, led the study.

Schreiner says she believes that more education and more prevention are needed.

Listen to Schreiner on our Public Health Moment podcast

More about the benefits of home-cooked meals

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:46:19 -0600

The benefits of family meals was in the news again this week. According to research conducted at the University of Minnesota, teens who participated in regular family meals — five or more together each week &mdash reported more healthful diets and meal patterns compared with peers who ate few family meals.

Researchers surveyed 677 boys and girls, aged 12 and 13, about their diet and did so again five years later. Kids who reported eating as a family on a regular basis were more likely to eat breakfast and had a higher intake of vegetables, fibre, calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron at age 17 and 18.

Children who eat home-cooked meals tend to eat more fruits and vegetables and fewer unhealthy foods.

But the study indicates that there's more benefits than just a healthier diet. For example, studies also show that the more families eat together, the less likely kids are to smoke, drink, take drugs and develop eating disorders. Also, these kids are more likely to excel academically.

Minnesota's 'Team D' garners praise

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:28:48 -0600

Last year Minnesota's food-borne illness group, dubbed "Team D" discovered that hot peppers — not tomatoes — were the cause of the largest salmonella outbreak in a decade.

This year, the Minnesota team was the first to identify King Nut peanut butter as the culprit, and Peanut Corp. of America as the producer. It was the first big break in a case that has sickened more than 677 nationwide.

“People die who don't need to die. It happens all the time in food-borne illness outbreaks,” Michael Osterholm (pictured), director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy at the University of Minnesota, told USA Today. “If each state was as effective as Minnesota, more of these could be detected.”

When it comes to food-borne illness investigation, "Minnesota is leap years ahead of … most of the rest of the nation," says James Phillips, head of infectious diseases for the Arkansas Department of Health.

Too much TV leads to poor diet

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:10:11 -0600

The more TV that teenagers watch, the worse that they eat. That’s according to a University of Minnesota study led by Daheia Barr-Anderson.

She says that kids who watched more than five hours of TV per day ate fewer fruits, vegetables and whole grains and more snack foods, fried foods and trans fats years later.

She recommends that parents limit TV time for their children to less than two hours a day and promote healthier foods.

• Listen to Barr-Anderson on our Public Health Moment podcast

Winter Weight Gain

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:54:14 -0600

It’s been a long winter and if you’re like the average person, you’ve likely noticed that your clothes are fitting a bit tighter. Why is it that we seem to gain weight in colder months?

We asked Jamie Stang, a nutrition expert at the University of Minnesota. She provides advice on what we can do to keep the pounds off.

Listen to Stang on our Public Health Moment podcast

Binge Drinking in the Military

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:13:27 -0600

Binge drinking is common among active-duty military personnel and is strongly associated with many health and social problems, including problems with job performance and alcohol-impaired driving, according to a new study released by the University of Minnesota and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Our study clearly shows that binge drinking is a significant public health problem in the military, which is dangerous to both the drinker and to those around them,�? said Mandy Stahre, M.P.H., a doctoral candidate in alcohol epidemiology and first author of the study. “It also underscores the importance of implementing effective strategies to prevent underage and binge drinking, such as maintaining and enforcing the age 21 minimum legal drinking age and increasing alcohol excise taxes.�?

Go to the article in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Eating on the Run

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:04:22 -0600

Young adults who take the time to sit down and share a meal with others rather than eating on the run are more likely to have a healthy diet, according to research led by Nicole Larson, a nutrition expert at the University of Minnesota.

Larson surveyed more than 1,600 men and women with an average age of 20 and a half years old.

Larson recommends that young adults schedule time for meals as they do for other important activities. She adds that there is a message for colleges and businesses, as well.

Listen to Larson on our Public Health Moment podcast

TV and Fast Food

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:29:28 -0600

Teens who watch TV more than five hours a day are prone to become fast-food junkies as adults, a University of Minnesota study suggests.

The connection? Too much time spent watching ads for fast food restaurants, snacks and other unhealthy food choices, says U of M researcher Daheia Barr-Anderson.

"Parents need to adhere to the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that children watch less than two hours of quality television per day," she said.

Dying a good death

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:21:59 -0600

Medical advances and new medications have the power to save and prolong lives, but also can make death a slow and painful process.

Dr. Robert Kane, in a Jan. 28 interview on Minnesota Public Radio, said that the medical community and society at large need to have a renewed discussion about the way we die.

Listen to the broadcast at MPR.org

Stress and Disordered Eating

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:10:43 -0600

Can the breakup in a relationship, the divorce of your parents, or the death of a loved one prompt teens and young adults to engage in disordered eating habits?

Yes, according to findings from the Eating Among Teens research study at the University of Minnesota. Katie Loth, a University of Minnesota researcher, explains more about disordered eating.

Loth recommends that adults be tuned in and provide support to teens and young adults who are going through stressful times.

• Listen to Loth on our Public Health Moment podcast

Shortage of doctors impacts rural ERs

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:02:05 -0600

A chronic shortage of doctors is forcing rural hospitals to "be creative," as one expert put it, to keep their emergency rooms alive. In this case, the answer was to hire other medical professionals and put them on the front lines.

In many rural emergency rooms, physician assistants and nurse practitioners do much of what doctors do — diagnose and treat patients. That's legal as long as they have a doctor's supervision. In Waseca, local doctors serve as backup, mostly by phone.

"Yes, in an ideal world, we'd love to have a well trained specialist in every situation," Ira Moscovice, director of the University of Minnesota's Rural Health Research Center, told the Star Tribune. "In this case, I think it's a good trade-off."

More from the Star Tribune

Radon Awareness

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:52:40 -0600

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, about 20,000 Americans die each year of lung cancer caused by exposure to radon. What is radon and what can we do to minimize our risk?

Pete Raynor, an environmental health scientist at the University of Minnesota, explains and advises on how to find out if your home has radon.

Listen to Raynor on Public Health Scene

Consumer-directed Health Care: Is it working?

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:53:27 -0600

Five years after their introduction, high-deductible insurance policies linked to health savings accounts have delivered on their promise. People are thinking twice before seeing a doctor.

But are people cutting essential care as well as unnecessary treatment?

“We know that cost-sharing works,” said Roger Feldman, a health economist at the University of Minnesota told the Grand Forks Herald. “What we don't know is exactly what is getting cut back and what the long-run implications are.”

More from the Grand Forks Herald

The Nation's Coal Supply and Pandemic Preparedness

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:11:18 -0600

Government officials have failed to adequately address protections for coal miners and for the delivery of coal during a pandemic. That’s according to a report from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, or CIDRAP.

CIDRAP researcher Nick Kelley says that the coal industry must have safeguards to keep water and sewerage systems running, lights on, and critical drugs available during an inevitable pandemic.

Kelley adds that most first responders depend on electricity to do their job.

• Listen to Kelley on our Public Health Moment podcast

Remembering Jim Rothenberger

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:46:16 -0600

Beloved SPH prof. James Rothenberger passed away Dec. 8. He was 61.

“For someone as young as Jim, he had over the years become an institution within the SPH and the State of Minnesota having taught public health to tens of thousands of undergraduate and graduate students since 1969,” wrote Dean John R. Finnegan, Jr.

“As I have traveled around the state representing the SPH, I almost inevitably would hear these words from someone: ‘Do you know Jim Rothenberger? I took a course from him once. He was one of the best teachers I ever had!’”

Read Finnegan's letter to SPH faculty, staff, and students

Post your own remembrance of Rothenberger in Comments

It's Flu Season

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:13:34 -0600

Flu season is upon us. Each year about 200,000 Americans are hospitalized with complications from influenza and about 36,000 people die each year.

The best prevention is to get a flu shot, says Ed Ehilinger, director and chief health officer at the University of Minnesota’s Boynton Health Service. In this segment of Public Health Scene, he explains who is most at risk.

In addition, Ehlinger discusses the results a recent studh he co-authored, which found students who receive flu shots not only miss fewer classes but also do better on tests and coursework.

Listen to Ehlinger

Our homes: Where health care is really hurting

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:01:30 -0600

Minnesota's hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes consistently rank among the best in the nation in federal quality ratings. But when it comes to home-health care, the picture is surprisingly bleak, the Star Tribune reported Nov. 28.

On quality measures compiled by the federal government, Minnesota's 202 Medicare-certified home health care agencies appear to be among the worst in the nation.

"If I were the state, I'd put somebody to work to find out what's going on,'' said Dr. Robert Kane (pictured), who heads the Center on Aging at the University of Minnesota. "Is something badly wrong? We don't know, but we ought to."

More from the Star Tribune

U of M receives $8.2 million for emergency preparedness training

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:53:04 -0600

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded $8.2 million to the University of Minnesota to develop improved training in public health preparedness. Minnesota is one of seven universities to be awarded the grant.

Debra Olson, the lead researcher, said one of the main goals is to develop educational training opportunities for the public health workforce that are effective and efficient. She said that, among other things, researchers will look at improving existing training models.

Olson says this work is important in helping public health agencies and other emergency responders be better prepared for tomorrow’s calamities. Citing the response to the 35W bridge collapse, Olson says that Minnesota is already doing a good job.

• Listen to Olson on Public Health Moment
• More about the grant

Increased Risk of Death Tied to HIV Therapy

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:23:54 -0600

An increased risk of death from diseases other than AIDS has been tied to a therapy designed to help HIV-positive people.

Jim Neaton, a University of Minnesota biostatistician who led the study, says that the results indicated that patients receiving antiretroviral therapy for HIV had increased risk of death linked to three biomarkers.

Neaton says that additional treatments may be developed as a result of his findings. But he also calls for further research.

• Listen to Neaton on our Public Health Moment podcast

Hospitals worry about bad debt

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:12:02 -0600

A recent national survey found nearly one-third of Americans are having trouble paying medical bills. And, as the economy weakens, uncompensated care is becoming a greater concern for hospitals.

Lynn Blewett, a health policy expert at the University of Minnesota, says that solutions need to be community based.

"We have to think creatively because we're not going to have any money," Blewett told Minnesota Public Radio. "So we can't really just expand MinnesotaCare because we're facing a budget deficit at the state level. And the federal government is into trillion dollar deficit budgeting. So we have to think creatively about how to get people care without a lot of resources."

Bananas: A Fad Diet?

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:04:05 -0600

Demand for bananas in Japan has skyrocketed, thanks to "The Morning Banana Diet." In the past few months, banana sales in Japan have increased 40 percent.

But nutritionists are calling it a fad diet.

"When you think about a diet, it needs to be a diet for life," Lisa Harnack, nutritional epidemiologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health, told the Star Tribune. "I'm not so sure eating bananas for breakfast is something you could do for the rest of your life."

More from the Star Tribune

Plastic Bottles, BPA, and Your Health

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:14:58 -0600

Higher levels of Bisphenol A – or BPA – a chemical compound used in some plastic packaging for food and beverages, are associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver-enzyme abnormalities.

That’s according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Bill Toscano, an environmental health professor at the University of Minnesota, recommends avoiding plastic bottles that contain BPA. That’s easier said than done, he says. Worldwide production of BPA exceeds 7 billion pounds.

• Listen to Toscano on our Public Health Moment podcast

Health Policy and the Presidential Election

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:39:53 -0600

Health care is a prominent issue in the presidential election and both candidates have plans for how they would fix health care and provide health coverage to the more than 47 million Americans who are now uninsured.

Roger Feldman, a health policy expert at the University of Minnesota, has used a micro-simulation model to evaluate each plan.

• Listen to Feldman on Public Health Scene (8:01)

Health Department: It's safe to eat more fish in Minnesota

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:31:32 -0600

The Minnesota Health Department's newest fish consumption guidelines say it's safe to eat more fish than previously recommended.

The department recently revised its entire fish consumption advisory guide.

Betsy Wattenberg, a toxicologist and professor at the University of Minnesota, told Minnesota Public Radio that regularly re-evaluating those guidelines is a good public health practice.

"In this case, the benefits of eating fish are very direct because of their nutritional benefit," Wattenberg said. "So I think it was a good idea for them to go back, do the reassessment, realize that people could benefit very directly from eating more fish without increasing their risk of toxicity from exposure to the chemicals that are present in the fish."

Inflammation, Coagulation Tied to Non-AIDS Deaths in HIV Cases

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:07:43 -0600

An increased risk of death from diseases other than AIDS has possibly been tied to a therapy designed to help HIV-positive people, according to a new study led by Jim Neaton, a University of Minnesota biostatistician in the School of Public Health.

The results, stemming from an international study published inPLoS Medicine, found that patients receiving either of two methods of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV had increased risk of death from conditions such as cardiovascular complications linked to three biomarkers: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and D-dimer.

“There is a growing body of evidence that indicates that HIV impacts a number of diseases besides AIDS-defining conditions,�? Neaton said. “The data from this biomarker study support that line of thinking.�?

Talk About Prescriptions Month

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:54:15 -0600

According to the Institute of Medicine there are about 1.5 million adverse prescription drug events each year that are preventable. That’s one reason that the National Council on Patient Information and Education is promoting October as Talk About Prescriptions Month.

Judy Garrard, a University of Minnesota professor who is an expert in the use of medications by the elderly, explains why that simple message is so important.

The bottom line, she says: Talk to your doctor and your pharmacist.

• Listen to Garrard on Public Health Moment

National School Lunch Week

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:25:29 -0600

About 31 million children participate daily in the National School Lunch Program, which this week celebrates National School Lunch Week.

Mary Story, a nutrition expert at the University of Minnesota, says that schools have made good progress in the last decade in providing kids with more nutritious meals.

Story adds that a larger issue is the availability of unhealthy snacks at schools — outside of the lunch room.

View Story on Fox 9 News
Listen to Story on our Public Health Moment podcast

$8.2 million grant allows U of M to establish emergency preparedness research center

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:08:55 -0600

The University of Minnesota School of Public Health was one of seven schools nationwide to be awarded a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant, which will provide $8.2 million to the school over five years for a new preparedness and emergency response research center.

“The University of Minnesota has always been recognized for its technology-enhanced simulation. This is an opportunity to bring these resources and the expertise of our public health preparedness systems, educational effectiveness, and exercises in simulation to a national level,�? said Debra Olson, associate dean for public health practice education and principal investigator of the project.

The University of Minnesota project will focus its research on how to enhance the usefulness and facilitation of emergency response training. The project, “University of Minnesota: Simulations and Exercises for Educational Effectiveness�? (U-SEEE), will identify best practices for the design and delivery of preparedness training and facilitate the translation of research results into improvements in public health preparedness systems.

“The CDC’s funding of these types of research centers is really a move in a very unique and important direction,�? Olson told the Minnesota Daily. “We’ll know what makes education more effective to improve performance in response conditions.�?

More about the $8.2 million grant from the Minnesota Daily
Read the news release

Breast Cancer Awareness

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:34:20 -0600

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States. This year, nearly 180,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. And about 40,000 women will die from the disease.

Who is at risk and what are the risk factors?

According to Kristin Anderson, a cancer epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, family history, obesity, lack of physical activity, and alcohol are all risk factors.

She said that women 40 and older without a family history should have annual or biannual screenings. Women with a family history should consult their physician. Mammograms, Anderson adds, have been shown to reduce mortality.

• Listen to Anderson on our Public Health Moment podcast

Out-of-pocket costs slow medical demand

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:17:35 -0600

A state health department report states that Minnesotans are paying significantly more out-of-pocket for their health care, which has resulted in a lower demand for medical care.

The report also said that such efforts as disease prevention and management may also have contributed to a decreased demand.

Roger Feldman (pictured), a health economist at the University of Minnesota, told the Star Tribune that previous research has shown that high deductibles cause people to spend significantly less.

"Employees are paying more out-of-pocket, and that is cost-shifting but it is also cost-reducing," said Feldman, who was not involved in preparing the Health Department report.

More from the Star Tribune

Fewer lumpectomy patients follow through with radiation

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:27:21 -0600

Lumpectomy is as effective as mastectomy only if it includes lymph node testing and a course of radiation treatments. But according to a 2003 study, only 71 percent of lumpectomy patients followed through with radiation — down from 79 percent in 1992.

That's according to University of Minnesota epidemiologist Beth Virnig.

“A lot of women with serious breast cancer are not getting comprehensive treatment,” she told Good Housekeeping magazine.

Social Oppression, Homosexuality, and Health

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:50:14 -0600

For more than 150 years, scholars and educators have debated whether homosexuality is an objective disorder or whether social oppression, not homosexuality, leads to the higher rates of depression, drug use, and HIV in gay men.

In a study of 422 Midwestern gay and bisexual men, Simon Rosser, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist, found that in all cases, internalized negative attitudes about homosexuality predicted poorer mental health.

Rosser says that his findings show that the old advice, which encouraged gay men to deny their homosexuality, is harmful.

• Listen to Rosser on our Public Health Moment podcast

The Health Benefit of Whole Grains

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:01:00 -0600

Each year the Whole Grains Council promotes September as Whole Grains Month.

Why are whole grains important for our diet? We asked Lyn Steffen, a University of Minnesota expert on nutrition.

She says that research at the University of Minnesota indicates that greater consumption of whole grain food is associated with a lower mortality rate and a decreased risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

Steffen adds that the best sources for whole grain include whole grain breads and cereals, including oatmeal.

• Listen to Steffen on our Public Health Moment podcast

BPA associated with heart disease, diabetes

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:24:13 -0600

Higher levels of Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical compound used in some plastic packaging for food and beverages, is associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and liver-enzyme abnormalities, according to a study in the Sept. 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Bill Toscano, an environmental health professor at the University of Minnesota, says that the study is unique because it's the first time that risks from BPA have been identified to affect humans.

He recommends minimizing exposure for kids and parents. But that's easier said than done.

In an interview with KARE 11, Toscano said: "It's everywhere. We make about 7 million pounds of it a year. It's in plastic, hard plastic bottles, Nalgene bottles, a lot of baby bottles, inside liners of tin cans; it's used in dentistry now to replace mercury."

Diet, exercise key to healthy aging

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:39:44 -0600

September is Healthy Aging Month, a campaign intended to focus attention on the positive aspects of growing older.

Lyn Steffen, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist, says that it’s important for seniors to adopt healthy dietary practices in order to better manage chronic conditions. She says that 80 percent of elderly Americans have at least one chronic condition and 50 percent have two or more.

Steffan adds that an active lifestyle is also a key to healthy aging.

• Listen to Steffen on Public Health Moment

Lowering the Drinking Age

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:56:35 -0600

Underage drinking has long alarmed college administrators and health professionals. But now a deep schism is forming among those same people on how to address the problem.

Last month, more than 100 college presidents signed a petition calling for a debate on whether the minimum legal drinking age should be lowered from 21 to 18.

That's a bad idea, says Traci Toomey (pictured), a University of Minnesota researcher. She says in a 2002 analysis of high-quality studies on the age-21 drinking law's effects, the majority of studies found that the higher drinking age resulted in lower rates of traffic crashes, none found the opposite.

�?It is the most well-studied alcohol control policy we have in this country,�? says Toomey, an associate professor in the School of Public Health.

Listen to Toomey discuss this issue

More about lowering the drinkin age from theday.com

Prostate Cancer Screening

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:54:15 -0600

A national task force of has recommended that doctors stop screening men ages 75 and older for prostate cancer because the search for the disease in this group was causing more harm than good.

The PSA or Prostate Specific Antigen test is the screening method that doctors use, says Tim Church, a University of Minnesota expert on cancer screenings.

Church adds that two large clinical research trials are looking at whether or not screening is beneficial for men under age 75. While awaiting those results, Church says men who have concerns should talk to their doctor.

• Listen to Church on Public Health Moment

Alcohol Standards Lax at Pro Stadiums

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:12:25 -0600

If you're underage or intoxicated and want a beer, go to the ballgame.

A new University of Minnesota study found that three out of four people posing as intoxicated fans and one out of five trying to pass as underage drinkers without ID succeeded in buying alcohol at sports stadiums around the country.

"We know that we have problems with fans drinking too much and contributing to problems in and around stadiums," Traci Toomey, the lead researcher, told U.S. News and World Report. "We need to make sure we prevent these illegal sales from occurring."

Her advice to vendors? Check IDs for anyone who appears under 30, and take the time to talk with anyone who looks like they may have already had enough.

PFCs and Lake Johanna

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:26:07 -0600

In the first study of its kind locally, University of Minnesota researchers are analyzing perfluorochemical levels—or PFCs—of Lake Johanna, a suburban Minnesota lake that contains high PFC levels but is not connected to any known source of PFCs.

Matt Simcik, a University of Minnesota professor of environmental health sciences, says what he learns in Lake Johanna will be beneficial for other lakes in Minnesota and the United States.

• Listen to Simcik

Who are the uninsured in Minnesota?

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:26:51 -0600

About 14 percent of Minnesota's artists are uninsured, according to Artists Count, a 2007 survey of about 20,000 artists conducted by Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.

That's nearly double the 7.2 percent rate of the state's overall uninsured population, according to the latest Fact Sheet (PDF) prepared by the Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health.

While low-income people certainly dominate the ranks of the uninsured, increasing numbers of the so-called middle class are joining them, says Kathleen Call (pictured), an associate professor in the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health/Division of Public Policy and Management who has worked on the state surveys since the mid-1990s.

"The middle class is having a lot of difficulty affording health care coverage, and it's getting harder for employers to offer it," Call stated in an article today on MinnPost.

More about Minnesota's uninsured from MinnPost

When Adding Fish to Diets, Choose Wisely

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:32:07 -0600

Regular consumption of some types of fish can significantly reduce the risk of silent strokes according to a recently released study co-authored by University of Washington professor, David Siscovick.

The risks associated with silent strokes, or subclinical brain infarcts, are that they are known to increase cognitive impairment, dementia and full-blown strokes, according to the research.

That’s why eating fish, which is also known to be heart-healthy, can be a good dietary choice for many people.

Still, SPH professor, Deborah Swackhamer cautions that just adding fish to diets may not be the safest thing to do.

Some fish, such as tuna and mackerel, that are rich in the healthful omega-3 fatty acids tend to be filled with methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and other industrial chemicals. Because the pollutants can accumulate in the body they can be toxic to the brain, particularly to the developing brains of fetuses and young children.

“Eat smaller fish and fish that are lower on the food chain — fish that are more vegetarian," said Swackhamer. "The contaminants are carried up the food web and are retained at each level of that web. So the top predators have a lot more contaminants than those lower on the food chain."

The High Cost of Health Care

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:25:31 -0600

As the cost of living skyrockets, so does the price consumers pay for insurance and health care and that that’s a big problem, says SPH professor Roger Feldman.

Today’s rates are not only far greater than there were during the lean financial times of the 70’s and early 80’s, they’ve increased at a rate that is greater than general inflation.

Feldman makes his point by referring to the average cost of a health care plan for a single U of M employee in 1980. Then, a person paid less than $40 a month, he says.

“Now the cheapest plan available to me costs $470 a month. That’s more than a 10-fold increase in more than 28 years," he said.

He adds that the cost of medial care, including doctor’s visits and hospitalizations that uninsured people might pay for out of pocket, has increased more than inflation has since 1980.

"If we think of the prices of all goods and services going up three times since 1980, the price of medical care services going up five times, and the price of insurance premiums up 10 times, I think now we have some really good comparisons," Feldman says.

Alcohol and Homicides

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:45:23 -0600

A new study has found that poor neighborhoods with high concentrations of African Americans had higher homicide rates and significantly greater numbers of off-sale alcohol stores than other neighborhoods.

Rhonda Jones-Webb, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist, says this study was unique because it looked at neighborhoods rather than individuals. She says that communities should consider policies that limit the promotion and marketing of alcohol in these neighborhoods.

• Listen to Jones-Webb on Public Health Moment

Why is it called Salmonella Saintpaul?

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:20:00 -0600

A quirky connection that explains how the most recent outbreak of Salmonella was named after Minnesota’s capital city was explained by SPH professor, Michael Osterholm.

In a City Pages posting reporter Kevin Hoffman wrote about how he learned of the connection after watching Osterholm on a national news television program.

Osterholm told Hoffman that the name, Salmonella Saintpaul, came about after a local professor first diagnosed the Salmonella in turkeys. Osterholm also revealed that data from Minnesotans sickened helped reveal the Salmonella source.

Obesity Rate Stabilizes

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:42:34 -0600

Childhood obesity has been on the rise for more than 20 years. Now, however, the rate appears to have stabilized.

Melissa Nelson, a University of Minnesota expert on nutrition and obesity, says the news should be greeted with cautious optimism. While the rate has flattened, the prevalence of obesity, she says, remains very high. In addition, racial disparities are vast.

• Listen to Nelson on Public Health Moment

Rise in Health Insurance Premiums

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:39:34 -0600

Over the last five years, employer-based health insurance premiums have increased 10 times faster than workers’ incomes.

That’s according to a study from the University of Minnesota’s State Health Access Data Assistance Center.

Associate Professor Lynn Blewett led the study. She says that in addition to rising costs, the number of companies offering health insurance benefits is declining.

• Listen to Blewett on Public Health Moment

Salmonella scare hit California growers hard

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:06:33 -0600

California's tomato sales plummeted more than 40 percent during the most recent Salmonella scare. Melanie Horwath, a member of the fourth generation of the family that runs Gonzales Packing Company in the Salinas Valley blamed government for her company's estimated crop losses of $2 million.

"The government has a responsibility to only provide facts, not idle speculation. They're going to put us all out of business."

The FDA is now looking at jalapeno and serrano peppers as possible sources of the Salmonella instead of tomatoes.

"I don't think we have all answers yet," said Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota.

Fish Consumption Advisories

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:32:22 -0600

A diet that includes fish provides an excellent source of low-fat protein and may reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

But fish can contain contaminants such as mercury that can harm human health.

Matt Simcik, a University of Minnesota professor of environmental health sciences, says pregnant women and young children are most at risk. He recommends following the Minnesota fish consumption guidelines.

A New Report Urges Lake and Wetlands Restoration

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:14:45 -0600

A new report that could have a substantial impact on public policy was recently released by The University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment. The report outlines recommendations for preserving the state's natural resources.

"The recommendations in this report will serve as foundation for Minnesota's environment going forward," said Deb Swackhamer, interim director of the Institute on the Environment and the report's main author.

The report, which took 18 months to produce and relied on 40 U of M researchers and 50 people from other places, was written on behalf of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. It could influence lawmakers funding decisions for proposals identified in the 330-page document.

The five categories of recommendations include integrated planning, critical land protection, land and water restoration, sustainable practices and economic incentives for sustainability.

More about the institute's report from MinnPost

Binge drinking tied to college culture

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:08:31 -0600

What is the cause of binge drinking by U.S. college students? A new study links it to college culture — campus environments that allow easy access to inexpensive alcohol and have weak control policies and lax enforcement.

The 14-year study by the Harvard School of Public Health involved more than 50,000 students at 120 colleges and found that heavy drinking behavior of students was more common in college environments that have a strong drinking culture.

One of the lead researchers, Toben Nelson (pictured), now at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, said that binge drinking varies widely depending on the college.

"At some colleges almost no students binge drink, while at others nearly four in every five students do," Nelson said.

Nurses bear brunt of patient violence

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:23:54 -0600

Half of all nonfatal injuries resulting from workplace assaults occur in health care and social service settings, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Nurses and other personal care workers are at most at risk — suffering workplace injuries at 12 times the rate of the overall private sector.

One of the largest studies on the issue was a 2004 survey of 6,300 randomly selected nurses in Minnesota, in which 13 percent of respondents reported having been physically attacked during the previous year and 39 percent reported having been threatened, verbally abused or sexually harassed.

“Nurses find different kinds of responses from their administrations and different levels of support,” said lead researcher Susan Gerberich, a University of Minnesota professor of environmental health sciences. “Everything from ‘This is not tolerated at our institution’ all the way to ‘If you don’t like it, people, you can leave your job.’”

More from North Carolina's Blue Ridge Now (This article originally appeared in the New York Times)

Abraham named to president’s economic panel

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:11:53 -0600

The University of Minnesota's Jean Abraham has been selected to serve on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA).

Abraham, an assistant professor of health policy in the School of Public Health, and her fellow staff economists will provide President Bush and other government departments and agencies with the best current academic thinking on a wide range of subjects.

“This appointment will enable Professor Abraham to have a lasting impact on economic policy and health care reform,” said University President Robert Bruininks.

Said Abraham: “This is a particularly exciting time, given renewed interest in health care reform at the federal level.”

Abraham’s research specialties include health economics and policy, with a specific focus on issues of health insurance access by families, affordability of insurance coverage and medical care, consumer use of health care information to support plan and provider decision-making, and the relationship between quality improvement and costs.

More about Abraham's appointment

Abortion rate increases for older teens

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:34:45 -0600

Although there was an overall decline last year in the number of abortions in Minnesota, the number increased for the 18- and 19-year-old age group.

For those teenagers who received an abortion, the number who said that they had never used birth control increased from 116 to 150.

“Especially with teenagers, we know that almost all induced abortions are the result of an unintended pregnancy. An important piece is contraceptives,” says Wendy Hellerstedt (pictured), an associate professor at the University of Minnesota who studies trends in reproductive medicine.

The Minnesota Department of Health study also indicated that the number of pregnancies and births of Minnesota girls ages 15 to 19 increased 6 percent in 2006 — twice the national average.

More from the Star Tribune

Web may hold key to fighting new HIV wave

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:27:04 -0600

The Sexpulse website, in development at the University of Minnesota, is the newest strategy to slow a second wave of the HIV/AIDS epidemic rising among young gay and bisexual men.

Infection rates in that population have increased 12 percent annually since 2001, according to federal officials.

To stop the epidemic, experts like the University's Simon Rosser (pictured) say they have to go to where those connections are being made — which is less and less often in gay bars and neighborhoods and increasingly online.

Rosser and others at the University are using a $3.5 million federal grant to create Sexpulse, a prototype for online HIV intervention specifically for gay men.

"If this is successful, it is huge," Rosser told the Star Tribune. "We can flick a switch and make it available to every gay man in the world."

More about Sexpulse from the Star Tribune
More about Rosser from reporter Josephine Marcotty's blog

Cook meats at low temperatures

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:47:11 -0600

Cook meats and fish at low temperatures, recommends Kristin Anderson, a University of Minnesota cancer epidemiologist.

Today, Anderson was featured on CNN.com with recommendations on the healthiest temperature to cook meat, chicken, or fish.

She says it's also important to trim off any charred or burned pieces.

In interviews with the University of Minnesota's Public Health Moment and Advances magazine, Anderson discussed how her research links charred meat to higher risks of pancreatic cancer.

Anderson on Public Health Moment
Anderson at CNN.com
Anderson in Advances magazine

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:24:20 -0600

Scanning the heart's arteries for calcium deposits accurately predicts the overall death risk for American adults, a new study suggests in the July 1 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Meanwhile, a multi-institutional study led by the University of Minnesota's Aaron Folsom (pictured), provided additional evidence for the benefits of calcium scanning. It compared the prognostic value of calcium scans with measurements of the wall of the carotid artery, the major artery leading from the heart to the brain.

Researchers reported that the study of almost 6,700 middle-aged and older Americans who were followed for up to five years found that "coronary artery calcium score is a better predictor of subsequent cardiovascular events than carotid intima-media thickness [measuring the artery's wall]."

Folsom's study was published in the June 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

More about these studies in the Washington Post

Letters from 'Scene' Readers

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:57:23 -0600

Sharon Farsht Torodor sent in the following question regarding the June 19 Public Health Scene on Tomatoes and Salmonella that featured Craig Hedberg.

Hello:
I've been wondering -- should we be concerned about tomatoes we're growing in our own yards or that we buy from a local farm? How can we know they are safe? It would be great to see that addressed in one of these messages. By the way, I really like and appreciate these PH Scene messages!

Sharon

Hedberg responds:

Sharon,

Thank you for your question. As this outbreak reminds us, growing fresh fruits and vegetables in a natural environment means that there are possibilities for contamination to occur. We need to be mindful of this and take reasonable steps to make eating these fresh produce items both healthy and enjoyable.

Fresh produce is grown in dirt. We want to wash our hands and wash our produce under running water to remove any dirt that may be present. We want to be sure that knives and cutting boards are cleaned and sanitized to prevent cross-contamination from raw meat or poultry. Finally, we want to serve cut produce items promptly, or refrigerate them, to prevent the growth of potentially harmful bacteria.

We don't have any particular reason to be concerned about home-grown or locally produced tomatoes, and they are certainly not part of the nationwide outbreak of Salmonella infections that has been going on. But we do need to realize that all fresh produce is grown in environments that may contain potentially harmful bacteria from time to time. We all share responsibility for keeping the food we eat safe.

The Healthy Foods Healthy Lives Institute at the University of Minnesota has funded a multidisciplinary research and outreach project to work with local producers on produce safety and Good Agricultural Practices. This project is headed up by Dr. Francisco Diez, from the College of Food, Agriculture and Nutrition with collaborators from the School of Public Health and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

We anticipate that this study will help us better understand potential threats to locally grown produce, and how to prevent them.

Thanks,

Craig Hedberg

Feel free to send us your comments by e-mail (sphpod@umn.edu) or click on Comments at the bottom of each entry.

Hospitals prepared for Republican convention

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:30:10 -0600

MPR reports that Twin Cities hospitals are prepared for a worst-case scenario when the Republican National Convention opens in St. Paul later this summer.

But a recent federal report questioned whether local emergency rooms have the capacity for a large-scale disaster, particularly an act of terrorism.

Michael T. Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, says that the biggest concern is a terrorist attack involving explosives or chemicals.

“Our health care system in Minnesota, like the rest of the country, has been gnawed to the bone, and frankly we've been sucking calcium. We have no real excess capacity,” he says, adding that additional federal funds for medical equipment and personnel will help.

More about convention preparedness from MPR

Tomatoes and Salmonella

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:51:31 -0600

About 280 people in 28 states have become ill during the recent Salmonella outbreak involving contaminated tomatoes.

Craig Hedberg, a University of Minnesota expert in food-borne disease, provides some perspective on this outbreak and offers advice to consumers. For example, he says that in general people are eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, which is good, but also puts us more at risk of acquiring a food-borne disease.

“Our message is that we're working with industry, we're working with growers to try to minimize the opportunities for contamination and to identify which strategies may be in place to minimize contamination after it occurs,” Hedberg said.

He also states that irradiation offers promise to prevent future outbreaks.

Listen to Hedberg discuss this issue

Repelling the attack of the tainted tomatoes

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:08:29 -0600

Irradiation of food is an important, safe and effective tool that has been vastly underused, largely due to opposition from the organic food lobby and to government over-regulation, writes Henry I. Miller in the Chicago Tribune.

In fact, technology such as irradiation could help prevent the outbreak of food-borne disease such as Salmonella Saintpaul—which contaminated raw tomatoes and is tied to at least 160 cases of illness in 16 states, writes Miller.

Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, agrees.

"If even 50 percent of meat and poultry consumed in the United States were irradiated, the potential impact of food-borne disease would be a reduction [of] 900,000 cases and 300 deaths [a year]," he says.

More about Salmonella and tomatos in the Chicago Tribune

Researchers to keep miners informed

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:27:34 -0600

The research team looking into a rare cancer on Minnesota's Iron Range says it wants to meet often with mine workers and retirees.

Fifty-nine men in northeastern Minnesota have died of mesothelioma, which strikes the lining of the lung.

The University of Minnesota's School of Public Health is leading the $5 million investigation, drawing on a database of 72,000 miners. One part of the complicated effort is figuring out just how much rock dust to which workers have been exposed.

A good night's sleep can help keep you alive

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:14:38 -0600

As men age, they need their sleep if they want to live long. That's according to a health study from the University of Minnesota. Disrupted sleep somehow manages to kill off even men who are in apparently good health.

Beginning in 2003, researchers followed about 3,000 healthy men age 67 and older. By January 2008, 180 of the men were dead. The men with poor sleep patterns were the most likely to die.

“Waking early, staying up late, and severely disturbed sleep patterns may have a detrimental impact on health in older men, especially since this group was generally in good health,” Misti Paudel, who led the study, told the Ottawa Citizen. “A good night's sleep is important.”

More on the benefits of Family Meals

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:11:30 -0600

A University of Minnesota study that documents the benefits of family meals was featured in the June 10 Orlando Sentinel. What was the study's key finding? That teens who frequently ate meals with their family during adolescence were more likely to eat healthier as young adults.

“We no longer live in a world where the mother stays home and cooks,” says Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, a University of Minnesota expert on nutrition, obesity, and disordered eating. “So if we’re going to have more family meals, we need to find creative ways of making it happen.”

Neumark-Sztainer's study is part of Project Eat (Eating Among Teens).

The key to a happy old age

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:34:27 -0600

Author Dan Buettner has scoured the Earth—not for the fabled Fountain of Youth—but for the key to a happy old age. In his book, “The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest,” Buetnner interviews several experts on aging, including the University of Minnesota's Robert Kane (pictured).

In an excerpt from the book, Kane offers advice for adding good years: "Rather than exercising for the sake of exercising, try to make changes to your lifestyle. Ride a bicycle instead of driving. Walk to the store instead of driving. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. ..."

Internet, tolerance spark change in urban gay communities

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:08:17 -0600

Gay communities—such as clubs, bars, events and neighborhoods—appear to be changing worldwide in light of several key factors, including Internet dating and achievement of civil rights, according to new University of Minnesota research by Simon Rosser.

“With the exception of London and possibly New York, gay bars and culture are changing. On almost all measures, we’re seeing the same trend: decreasing number of gay bars/clubs, decreased attendance at gay events, less volunteerism in gay or HIV/AIDS organizations and, less gay media, resulting in an overall decline in gay visibility,�? said Rosser, a professor in the School of Public Health’s Division of Epidemiology and Community Health. "The biggest reason for these changes, we think, is the Internet."

With HIV cases on the increase, Rosser says the Internet could be used to promote HIV prevention.

Listen to Rosser discuss his study
More from the news release

Air particulate tests begin on Iron Range

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:17:09 -0600

The Duluth News Tribune reported today that researchers have collected their first batch of filters from a particle-sampling machine that sits atop Virginia City Hall.

In the coming months, three of these machines will be operating across the Iron Range, helping to assess what airborne particles are found in the shadow of the region’s mines.

“This is an exciting opportunity to look at dust in the air and find out how the background changes from east to west across the Range,�? Tamara Diedrich, a research associate for the UMD's Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), told the News Tribune.

The NRRI and the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health are spearheading a five-year $4.9 million study to investigate whether dust from mines poses health risks to miners.

More about particle-sampling machines from the News Tribune

Parents not helping overweight children to eat a healthy diet

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:49:43 -0600

If your teenager is overweight, don't tell him or her to go on a diet—it can make matters worse, according to a new University of Minnesota study led by Dianne Neumark-Sztainer (at right).

Project Eating Among Teens (EAT) researchers found that overweight teens, especially girls, who were encouraged by their parents to diet for weight control were more likely to remain overweight five years later, compared with their peers whose parents did not encourage dieting.

“Our findings suggest that less emphasis should be placed on informing parents that their children are overweight, and more emphasis should be placed on providing parents with the information, tools, and support to help their children make healthier eating and physical activity choices," said Neumark-Sztainer.

Listen to Neumark-Sztainer discuss the findings of her study (4:25)

More about the Project Eat Study

More about the study in the Star Tribune.

High Protein Levels May Signal Lower Lung Function

Thu, 29 May 2008 21:23:55 -0600

Higher levels of proteins called ICAM-1 (intracellular adhesion molecule) are associated with lower lung function. That’s according to a study co-authored by David Jacobs, Mayo Professor of Public Health at the University of Minnesota.

The protein exists in endothelial cells that line the arteries and help initiate the immune system's inflammatory response to “invaders” such as cholesterol deposits.

“We found a fairly substantial decline in lung function in people with the highest levels of ICAM, compared with people with lower levels, regardless of their weight,” Jacobs told Florida’s Sun Sentinel.

The study used data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) observational cohort.

Asthma Awareness

Thu, 29 May 2008 08:46:00 -0600

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that affects about 20 million Americans. And since the early 1980s Asthma has been on the rise, although researchers and health professionals are not sure why.

John Adgate, an associate professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota, says that the causes of asthma are not clear. But he says that there are prevention steps that people can take to reduce their risk of asthma.

These include keeping your home clean—encasing your pillows and mattresses, for example—and not smoking. Indoor allergens such as dust mites, cockroaches, and pet dander can trigger attacks in people with asthma.

For more, listen to Adgate by clicking play below:

Percent of kids overweight has stabilized

Wed, 28 May 2008 15:56:13 -0600

The rate of obesity in U.S. children has remained stable since 1999, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers reported that the about 32 percent of U.S. children were overweight or obese in 2006—the same as in 1999.

It's not clear why the obesity rate has remained stable and the rate remains high. Yet the news provides hope to public health researchers that awareness efforts may be making a difference.

"Parents, governments, schools, businesses and communities are really working hard to do something about obesity. It shows obesity is not an unstoppable force," said Mary Story, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist.