As treatments for HIV/AIDS improve and patients are living longer, the distribution of cancers in this population has undergone a dramatic shift in the United States. While cases of the types of cancer that have been associated with AIDS progression have decreased, cases of other types of cancer are on the rise. These results, reported … Read more
A preliminary study conducted by a team at the National Institutes of Health has identified a promising new treatment in children for the most common periodic fever disease in children. The syndrome is called periodic fever associated with aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis — or PFAPA — and is characterized by monthly flare-ups of … Read more
Researchers extend use of gene therapy to treat a soft tissue tumor
Scientists have discovered that molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the energy factories, or mitochondria, in cells, may play a role in a rare inherited disorder in which uncontrolled inflammation damages the body’s tissues. Their research in human and mouse cells suggests that blocking these molecules could reduce inflammation in TNF receptor-associated periodic … Read more
Do you file your federal taxes electronically, or are you still using the paper forms? The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) says that almost 100 million taxpayers e-filed their taxes last year. Even I’m surprised that many of us e-file. There are three ways to e-file: Free File – You can go to IRS.gov and use … Read more
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health and the University of Hong Kong have discovered that high levels of a particular protein in cancer cells are a reliable indicator that a cancer will spread.
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
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 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
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
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.
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
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
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.
Rates of death in the United States from all cancers for men and women continued to decline between 2003 and 2007, the most recent reporting period available, according to the latest Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer. The report also finds that the overall rate of new cancer diagnoses for men … Read more
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
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