Category Archives: healthcare

Our Commander-in-Grief Has Given This Damn Speech 11 Times | Dame Magazine

How could he not be sick of it? This country’s obsession with guns is cancerous and even the simplest of cures is considered worse than the disease. Last year, our country lost its collective mind when a man in Texas died from the Ebola virus. There were calls to ban all people in Ebola-stricken nations from coming into the United States in fear that they’d spread the disease. When three people died from a listeria outbreak tied to Blue Bell Ice Cream, the company destroyed 8 million gallons of product and shut down its production across the world. Sunland Peanut Butter Company was shut down completely by the FDA after a salmonella outbreak that didn’t cause any fatalities. We accept and approve of corrective action when it comes to products that are deemed dangerous. But if that product fires a bullet, all bets are off, regardless of the body count.

Source: Our Commander-in-Grief Has Given This Damn Speech 11 Times | Dame Magazine

Most Say Budget Deal Must Include Planned Parenthood Funding

Six-in-ten Americans say any budget deal must maintain funding for the organization. More would blame Republicans (40%) than Democrats (26%) if no deal is reached and the government shuts down.

Source: Most Say Budget Deal Must Include Planned Parenthood Funding

Smoking, alcohol and obesity blemish Europe’s progress in reducing premature mortality

The World Health Organization has announced that despite declining smoking and alcohol consumption rates, Europeans were still the heaviest smokers and drinkers in the world. The report also addressed growing obesity.

Source: Smoking, alcohol and obesity blemish Europe’s progress in reducing premature mortality

Big Price Increase for Tuberculosis Drug Is Rescinded – The New York Times

Cycloserine was acquired last month by Rodelis Therapeutics, which promptly raised the price to $10,800 for 30 capsules, from $500.But the company agreed to return the drug to its former owner, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Purdue University, the organization said on Monday.“We discovered literally on Thursday the strategy that had been undertaken” by Rodelis, said Dan Hasler, the president of the Purdue Research Foundation, which has oversight of the manufacturing operation. “We said this was not what we had intended.”By Saturday, he said, Rodelis had agreed to give back the drug. Rodelis confirmed this in a brief statement on its website.The foundation now will charge $1,050 for 30 capsules, twice what it charged before, but far less than Rodelis was charging. Mr. Hasler said the new price was needed to stem losses.Cycloserine is used to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, a serious form of the disease that does not respond to the usual drugs. There are only about 90 new cases a year in the United States, Mr. Hasler said, and about half those patients get treated with cycloserine.

Source: Big Price Increase for Tuberculosis Drug Is Rescinded – The New York Times

Census Data Show the Value of the Safety Net | National Women’s Law Center

Both the official poverty measure and the Supplemental Poverty Measure show there is still much more work to be done. As poverty rates remain high, especially for single mothers, women and children of color, elderly single women, and women with disabilities safety net programs continue to be essential. Programs like SNAP, Social Security, and tax credits for low-income families all help lift women and their children out of poverty and must be protected. However, if Congress doesn’t act to end the sequester, many already under-funded programs will face further cuts. Yesterday’s Census data confirm that investing in programs that help low-income families and children works, but that these programs need to be strengthened, not cut, as we continue to work to ensure that everyone has a way out of poverty.

Source: Census Data Show the Value of the Safety Net | National Women’s Law Center

McCormick Announces Plans to Expand Organic and Non-GMO Offerings

McCormick & Company, Incorporated, a global leader in flavor, today announced plans to take a leadership position in Organic and Non-GMO herbs and spices ahead of the peak holiday season.  McCormick’s commitment builds on its category-leading quality record.  The company announced the introduction of a Non-GMO labeled Vanilla Extract as well as plans to significantly increase the number of Organic and Non-GMO offerings in 2016.

Source: McCormick Announces Plans to Expand Organic and Non-GMO Offerings

Infographic: Planned Parenthood is sole safety-net provider of birth control for many

Our analysis shows unequivocally that Planned Parenthood plays a major role in delivering publicly supported contraceptive services and supplies to women who are in need of such care nationwide. In two-thirds of the 491 counties in which they are located, Planned Parenthood health centers serve at least half of all women obtaining contraceptive care from safety-net health centers. In one-fifth of the counties in which they are located, Planned Parenthood sites are the sole safety-net family planning center.Of course, many so-called “abortion opponents” actually oppose the work Planned Parenthood does providing contraception too. Take, for example, the arson attack on a Planned Parenthood in Washington state this past weekend. The fire was bad enough that the clinic will remain closed for at least a month. It doesn’t provide any abortions at all.

Source: Infographic: Planned Parenthood is sole safety-net provider of birth control for many

Viral product provokes immune response against RSV

Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania recently found that a subset of viral products once thought to serve no biological purpose in humans could provoke a strong immune defense against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).Nearly all people are exposed to RSV before they turn 2 years old. The majority of these people appear to have the common cold symptoms of coughing, a runny nose, sneezing and a fever. Some very young infants as well as some older adults can have serious reactions to RSV, even needing hospitalization.

Source: Viral product provokes immune response against RSV