Top 10 world news stories of 2013
1. A new pope In a shocking move, Pope Benedict XVI becomes the first pope to resign in almost 600 years. A month later, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is elected … continue reading
Plague
Health :: Medical identity theft – the importance of protecting your health records
Many consumers take precautions against identity theft, but what about medical identity theft? In addition to financial peril, victims can suffer physical danger if false entries in medical records lead to the wrong treatment.
Public Health :: CDC Scientist Awarded China’s Highest Honor for Outstanding Contributions to Public Health
Robert E. Fontaine, M.D., CDC senior epidemiologist and Resident Advisor to the U.S. Field Epidemiology Training Program in Beijing, China, has been honored with the Friendship Award of 2007. The Friendship Award is the highest honor given by the Chinese government to recognize non-Chinese experts who have made outstanding contributions to China’s social and economic development.
Smallpox :: Australian doctor awarded for uncovering smallpox bioterrorism risk
A University of Sydney professor who developed a system to combat bioterrorism has received a major award from the US military.
Stress :: Ancient mechanism for coping with stresses also gives cancer a boost
An ancient mechanism for coping with environmental stresses, including heat and toxic exposures, also helps cancerous tumors survive, reveals a new report in the Sept. 21, 2007, issue of Cell, a publication of Cell Press. The findings could lead to a new way to treat cancer and may also have implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative and other diseases, according to the researchers.
Mental Health :: UCLA receives $22.5 million to explore the fundamental biology of mental disorders
The National Institutes of Health has awarded $22.5 million to a team of scientists centered at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA to fund the Consortium for Neuropsychiatric Phenomics (CNP), an interdisciplinary, campuswide effort to understand the biology underlying a variety of mental disorders.
Antibiotic :: Researchers discover new strategies for antibiotic resistance
With infections increasingly resistant to even the most modern antibiotics, researchers at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) report in the September issue of Nature Reviews Microbiology on new clues they have uncovered in immune system molecules that defend against infection.
Food :: Toxic food trend continues to worry US public
In the past year there have been several high profile recalls of toxic foods, from spinach to canned green beans, pet food to chili. A new book “Death in the Pot” (Prometheus Books, $24) traces the history of food poisoning and how it affects us all. Author and internationally renowned food expert Morton Satin documents several culinary mishaps and misdeeds in an engrossing narrative that spans from the ancient world to present day.
WHO :: International spread of disease threatens public health security, says WHO
More than at any previous time in history, global public health security depends on international cooperation and the willingness of all countries to act effectively in tackling new and emerging threats.
Health :: New International Health Regulations Enter Into Force in the United States
US HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced that the revised International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) enter into force for the United States. The updated rules are designed to prevent and protect against the international spread of diseases while minimizing interference with world travel and trade.