Summit to focus on management of radiation dose in computerized tomography

Members of the media are invited to attend a National Institutes of Health conference focused on transforming computed tomography (CT) technology and its use to achieve minimal public health risks from radiation exposure. A specific goal of this conference is to identify the technological steps and associated research required to reduce the radiation dose from … Read more

Researchers identify genetic cause of new vascular disease

Clinical researchers at the National Institutes of Health’s Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP) have identified the genetic cause of a rare and debilitating vascular disorder not previously explained in the medical literature. The adult-onset condition is associated with progressive and painful arterial calcification affecting the lower extremities, yet spares patients’ coronary arteries. The new disease finding … Read more

How to Opt Out of Pre-Approval Offers

How often do you receive offers in the mail for a credit card or insurance that you’ve been pre-approved for? If you just end up throwing the envelopes into the trash unopened, you might be interested in learning you can opt out of receiving mail like this. You have two opt-out options: A five-year opt-out … Read more

Celebrate National Wear Red Day

February 4th was National Wear Red Day.  Since 2002, the first Friday in February, Americans have worn red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness.  The Heart Truth, a national awareness campaign introduced the symbol of the Red Dress as a reminder that women need to protect their heart health and takes steps … Read more

High-quality preschool program produces long-term economic payoff

An early education program for children from low-income families is estimated to generate $4 to $11 of economic benefits over a child*’s lifetime for every dollar spent initially on the program, according to a cost-benefit analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health.

MedicareCard.com encourages women to take charge of their heart health

On Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) The Heart Truth campaign will once again bring the Red Dress to life on the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City, with the debut of the Red Dress Collection 2011. For the first time, the event will be held … Read more

The New National Terrorism Advisory System

Last month, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that DHS would discontinue the five-color Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) the federal government instituted in 2002. You will probably remember hearing about the current threat level color code while watching the evening news. By April, the color-coded HSAS will be phased out and replaced … Read more

Six-month drug regimen cuts HIV isk for breastfeeding infants

Giving breastfeeding infants of HIV-infected mothers a daily dose of the antiretroviral drug nevirapine for six months halved the risk of HIV transmission to the infants at age 6 months compared with giving infants the drug daily for six weeks, according to preliminary clinical trial data presented today.

Recovery Act-funded jobs program helps high school grads who have ASD

JobTIPS, a free, Web-based program unveiled today, aims to help youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other disabilities develop and maintain skills needed for successful employment. Supported through the Recovery Act with a grant for just under $1 million over two years from the National Institutes of Health, this resource targets a critical transition … Read more

Study identifies gene that suppresses cell’s immune activation

A new study of prostate tumors has shown that a gene, FOXO3, suppresses activation of cells related to immunity and thus leads to a reduced immune response against a growing cancer. One of the main problems in treating cancer by vaccine or immunotherapy is that tumors often evade the body’s immune response — and one … Read more