Global Health News

Findings of a new study indicate that uninsured children in the United States are three times more likely to die from trauma-related injuries than children with private insurance. Additionally, children with public insurance are about twice as likely to die as those with private insurance. According to Dr. Heather Rosen, the study’s lead researcher, these findings indicate that not all individuals are receiving the same quality of care.

Researchers at the University College London examined the link between diet and depression. Individuals who ate a large amount of vegetables, fruit, and fish had a 26 percent lower risk of developing depression. Those who favored a diet high in processed foods, sweetened deserts, refined grains, and high-fat dairy were 58 percent more likely to develop depression. The existing body of information suggests a strong link between diet and mental health.

The World Health Organization announced that vaccinations against polio for 8.5 million children will begin soon in Sudan. Between 2004-2006, an outbreak in north Sudan caused 1,200 cases of polio, and sparked a $150 million emergency response. The nation is considered a high risk for spreading the virus internationally. Polio is a virus that attacks the nervous system and can case irreversible paralysis in one in 200 cases.

A recent study indicates a negative correlation between national fertility rates and the United Nations’ (UN) development index. Data from 2005 for 140 nations shows that at the highest development levels, countries’ fertility rates rise. Some of the highest are approaching a replacement value of 2.1 children per woman. The reason for this recent surge remains unclear and will require further analysis.

Cancer treatments can lead to infertility, but new research suggests that children of childhood cancer survivors do not have an increased risk of congenital disabilities. Premature births and low birth weights are common, but children of male and female childhood were no more likely to have malformations or die, and mothers were not at a greater risk of pregnancy complications.

A recent study by the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Barcelona indicates that a diet high in dark chocolate could help ward off heart disease. Participants in the study were given 40g of concentrated cocoa powder, eight times more than the serving found in a chocolate bar. Dark chocolate is known to help boost the body’s supply of flavonoids.

According to the results of a survey by the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, parents are becoming increasingly concerned about their children damaging their hearing. Now ubiquitous personal music players may be leading to an increase in hearing loss in children and teens. About 12.5 percent of youths ages 6 to 19 have sustained permanent hearing damage from excessive noise exposure, according to the CDC.

Data compiled by Dr. Henry Niman, a biomedical researcher in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was coupled with technology from Rhiza Labs and Google to create a real time map of H1N1 infections. Information from official sources, news reports, and user-contributions are added to the map, which is updated several times a day. Graphs, other maps, and forums are also available.

Due to high costs of treatment in the United States, some Taiwanese individuals living in the U.S. elect to travel to Taiwan for medical treatment. Taiwan has one of the most highly-praised medical systems in Asia and a single-payer insurance system similar to Canada’s. Ninety-nine percent of Taiwan’s population of 23 million is covered by insurance, while in the U.S. 45 million remain uninsured.

The first cases of cholera in 50 years were recently recorded in Papua New Guinea and they have been linked to climate change. The periodic flow of warm sea water across the central and eastern Pacific – known as El Niño – can lead to higher temperatures and heavy rains. This provides ideal conditions for the bacterium that causes cholera to multiply and bring on a resurgence of the disease.

New software has been developed for the iPhone that may help to track the spread of infectious diseases, including swine flu. By gathering information from "informal sources," such as the news media and general public, Outbreaks Near Me may be valuable for epidemiologists. The iPhone application collects and displays information regarding recent outbreaks on a map, and users can also submit information about their area.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic say that "teachable software" designed to mimic the human brain may make it easier to diagnose cardiac infections without invasive exams. The software program, known as an artificial neural network (ANN) reacts differently to a given situation depending on its accumulated knowledge. Given a sample of 189 patients with device-related endocarditis diagnosed between 1991and 2003, ANN often offered a correct diagnosis.

Scientists at Clemson University have developed a gel that creates new blood vessels and encourages the body's stem cells to replace dead or destroyed bone or brain cells. The nanparticle-infused hydrogel allows the functions controlled by damaged regions of the brain to be restored. In tests on rats, almost all original muscle and sensory function was restored twelve weeks after sustaining devastating brain injury.

Computer manufacturer, Dell, recently announced a new service that would help doctors and hospitals ease the transition to electronic medical records (EMRs). Like other EMR initiatives, the new system provides a combination of hardware, software, and support to shift from paper to digital records. It will also allow doctors to link to their sponsoring hospitals and share patient information for easier coordination of care.

While reports from the U.N. Children's Fund indicate that infant mortality worldwide have decreased by 30 percent during the last two decades, these decreases have not been as dramatic in West and Central Africa. In these regions where growing populations put a great strain on healthcare delivery systems, the United Nations estimates that mortality rates of children under five have declined by 18 percent.