Health

Electronic Nose Capable of Sniffing out Early Traces of Lung Cancer, Cleveland Clinic Research Shows

CLEVELAND, April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The electronic nose, a device long used for safety and quality control in the food, wine and perfume industries, also can be used to detect early evidence of lung cancer, according to research conducted at The Cleveland Clinic.    » read more »

Fire Fighters Seek Study of Cell Phone Tower Radiation as Potential Health Hazard

IAFF Opposes the Installation of Any New Antennas or Towers on Fire Stations Until Health Effects on Fire Fighters Is Known

WASHINGTON, April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the union representing more than 85 percent of the professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel across the United States and Canada, is seeking funding for a study to establish if the use of fire stations as cellular phone base stations for antennas and towers is hazardous to the health of its members.    » read more »

Expanded Initiative to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Expects to Reach 200,000 Women in Seven Nations

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Johnson & Johnson Partner to 'Make Every Child Count' on World Health Organization's World Health Day 2005

WASHINGTON, April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation today announced a $1.25 million partnership with Johnson & Johnson to initiate and expand programs to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in seven developing countries. In recognition of World Health Day and its theme, "Make every mother and child count," the partnership will support training of health care workers, the delivery of HIV counseling, testing and critical drug interventions at 200 health care delivery sites in China, India, Russia, Malawi, the Republic of Georgia, Zimbabwe and Dominican Republic. Through these efforts, the Glaser Foundation expects to reach 200,000 women a year with PMTCT services that significantly reduce a mother's chance of passing HIV to her newborn baby.    » read more »

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Sponsors Walks in 38 States

ARLINGTON, Va., April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Nobel Prize winner John Nash. President Abraham Lincoln. Profiles of courage and recovery from mental illness. Today, tens of thousands of Americans are taking to the streets to raise public awareness that recovery is indeed possible.    » read more »

Flu Shots Effective Half the Time For Winter 2004/2005, According to New Poll of U.S. Adults

But fewer people got flu shots this last winter, and many people claim they tried to get a shot but failed

ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Just over a quarter (27%) of U.S. adults claim to have had a flu shot before the winter of 2004/2005, when there was, initially, a shortage of available vaccine. This is a significant decline from the 35 percent who claimed to have had a flu shot for the previous winter of 2003/2004. Flu vaccines don't prevent all flus, but those who received flu shots for this winter were much less likely to get the flu (13%) than those who did not have flu shots (23%). This suggests that the vaccine was effective about half the time.    » read more »

Historic Health Care Legislation in Maryland Part of National Campaign to Expand Health Care Coverage for Working Families

- Americans for Health Care Working with Health Care Voters Across Country to Duplicate Maryland Model -

WASHINGTON, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on the success of its Maryland campaign in passing the Fair Share Health Care legislation, Americans for Health Care is working in states across the country to pass similar bills to ensure that large, profitable corporations pay their fair share of their employees' health care. The organization is also planning to support efforts to pass a Fair Share Health Care bill in the U.S. Congress.    » read more »

Nike Golf Announces National CPR Mobile Tour

New Hybrid Clubs Saving Rounds of Golf, One City at a Time

BEAVERTON, Ore., April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Golfers experiencing sudden and violent hacking, acute hydrophobia particularly on long Par 3's, or the inoperable dead-pull left ... fear not for help is one swing away.    » read more »

Blue Cross Foundation Targets Health and Social Connectedness of New Americans

First of Four New Initiatives to Reflect Foundation's Focus on Determinants of Health

EAGAN, Minn., April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation has announced the first of four new strategic initiatives to address the links between health and early childhood development, housing, social connectedness and the environment -- factors that research has identified as key determinants of a community's health and well-being.    » read more »

Texas and Canadian Pharmacists, State Legislator, Align to Fight Importation of Internet Drugs

Texas Pharmacists Announce Launch of Campaign Warning Consumers Not to Waive Their Rights as Legislature Considers Importation Bills

AUSTIN, Texas, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the Texas legislature's consideration of two importation bills, The Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA), the Ontario Pharmacists' Association (OPA) and a state legislator gathered today to inform Texans about the dangers of drug importation. The TPA unveiled their new ad campaign entitled, "Waive Goodbye to Your Rights," and the newly created "Texas Pharmacy Patient Bill of Rights." The materials, which will be delivered to 1,200 pharmacies throughout Texas, are designed to make consumers aware of their rights as patients and alert them to the fact that they are signing away these rights when ordering drugs from foreign countries over the Internet.    » read more »

First-Ever Earth Day Virtual March Launched

Marchers See Their Collective Impact on Special Website Map

WASHINGTON, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Care2 and the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund today announced the launch of the first-ever environmental virtual march to coincide with Earth Day, April 22nd.    » read more »

Molecular Testing Impact: Heart Transplant Patients Benefit From New Technology, Easier Monitoring

ISHLT Annual Meeting Today

ADDISON, Texas, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- New technology for cardiac transplant patients indicates a patient's risk of organ rejection with a simple blood test. News of this revolutionary testing method will be presented today at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation's (ISHLT) Annual Meeting and Scientific Session in Philadelphia.    » read more »

Pope John Paul II Lives Exceptional Life; Dies of Common Infection

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- With the passing of Pope John Paul II, many people heard the words septic shock for the first time. According to the Vatican, the Pope ultimately succumbed to septic shock: an all too common condition that claims more lives each year than stroke, breast cancer and lung cancer combined. Sepsis and septic shock are characterized by an overwhelming systemic response to infection, which can rapidly lead to organ dysfunction and ultimately death.    » read more »

U.S. Working with Health Organizations To Fight Avian Influenza

Officials worry that human-to-human transmission might develop

05 April 2005

The United States is actively collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to combat the spread of avian influenza, according to State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.    » read more »

Company Faces Felony Charges for Concealing Vessel Pollution

Environmental crimes cost Taiwan container shipper $25 million

05 April 2005

U.S. Attorneys from five judicial districts announced criminal charges April 5 against Evergreen International, one of many Evergreen-related companies involved in the container shipping business. According to a press release from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Taiwan-based Evergreen will pay $25 million -- the largest amount ever for a case involving deliberate vessel pollution -- and plead guilty to felony charges brought in California, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and South Carolina.    » read more »

Evergreen To Pay Largest-Ever Penalty for Concealing Vessel Pollution

Container Shipping Company To Pay $25 Million
April 4, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. -The United States Attorneys from five judicial districts with major ports today announced criminal charges against Evergreen International, S.A. (Evergreen), one of many Evergreen-related companies involved in the container ship business. Under the terms of a plea agreement, Evergreen will pay $25 million, the largest-ever amount for a case involving deliberate vessel pollution, and plead guilty to felony charges brought in Los Angeles; Newark, NJ; Portland, OR; Seattle; and Charleston, SC.    » read more »