Symposia Event: “Fixing US Healthcare: Problems and Solutions”

Posted on January 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

The collaborative Emory University and Georgia Tech Healthcare Innovation Program (HIP) have announced their first offering in a series of quarterly symposia, titled “Fixing US Healthcare: Problems and Solutions”.

The talk is scheduled for Wednesday, February 1 from 11:30-2 pm in Cox Hall on the Emory University Campus, and all students, faculty, and staff can participate by registering for the event.  The talk features a keynote address by Dr. Stephen H. Lipstein, President and CEO of BJC Healthcare, followed by a panel discussion of healthcare provider, economic/business, and technology perspectives.  More information about the event is available here.

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Posted in Events, Health Care

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Predicting tricuspid valve leakage: Changing treatments and saving lives

Posted on January 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

A joint Georgia Tech and Emory University study released in the January issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging utilized 3-D echocardiography images to develop an advanced method for predicting the severity of tricuspid valve leakage.  Not only do the study’s findings offer a new way for cardiologists to more accurately diagnose tricuspid regurgitation, but it also provided insight into ways to improve surgical repair procedures to improve long-term patient outcomes.

For a full description of the study, view this description that includes commentary by the Emory and Georgia Tech research team.

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Posted in Cardiology, Medical School, Research

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U.S. Obesity rates remain steady during last decade

Posted on January 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) finds that the percentage of the population that is obese has not changed significantly in the last 10 years.  That the rates remain steady, at 35.7% of adults and 16.9% of children being obese, indicates that attempts at improving the population’s health by reducing excess adiposity have not been successful in the last decade.

A description of the CDC’s findings is available from the New York Times.  The full report was published online by JAMA on January 17.

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Posted in Nutrition, Research

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Direct access lab testing: Friend or foe?

Posted on January 19, 2012 | Leave a comment

In a world with rising health care costs, many are turning to alternative forms of care, which may or many not provide the benefits that patients are expecting.  One such alternative, direct access lab testing, is a means for patients to receive a variety of laboratory tests of their choosing without consulting with a physician.  While a proposed benefit is the ability to take more control over your health, other negative outcomes ensue: unnecessary tests contribute to increased overall health care spending, false positive and false negative results are difficult to interpret when tests are conducted in isolation, and individuals receiving poor results do not have the associated physician emotional and informational support that would be provided in a physician’s office.

For more information about direct access lab testing, listen or read this story by NPR.

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Posted in Health Care

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Study finds mechanistic explanation for the link between exercise and insulin resistance

Posted on January 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

A study published this week in Nature led by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center reports that, in mice, exercise induces autophagy in heart and skeletal muscle cells, which improves their ability to remain “young” and adjust to changes in energy and nutrition.  The autophagy was associated with increased diet-related insulin resistance and lower rates of diabetes.  These findings provide at least one mechanistic explanation for why exercise is associated with lowering diabetes risk.

A description of the study and interview with the researchers is available through Scientific American.

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Posted in Exercise, Metabolic syndrome

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Spring Semester Classes Begin Tody @ Emory University

Posted on January 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Welcome back Emory students!  The Spring semester officially starts today, Wednesday, January 18th.  For a roundup of news and a preview of events around campus this Spring, see this article in the Emory Report.

The Center is offering a variety of courses this semester, ranging in topic from nutrition to botanical medicine to integrative health.  We additionally look forward to engaging with students across Emory who are participating in the Predictive Health Minor as well as the Peer Health Partner program.

For more information about opportunities related to Human Health, visit the Center for the Study of Human Health website and check back here, at our blog, for up-to-date research highlights, news, and Center information.

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Posted in Courses, Events

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FDA Restricts Antibiotic Use in Livestock

Posted on January 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

Recent decades have witnessed an ever increasing rate of antibiotic-resistant infections across the globe.  Many microbiologists attribute this to the usage of antibiotics among livestock, leading to the FDA to tighten restrictions for the administration of such drugs to animals.  The restrictions apply to the antibiotic class cephalosporins, which are among the most commonly prescribed for children and those undergoing surgery, and used to treat other infectious illnesses such as strep throat, pneumoia, and urinary tract infections.

See the article “Citing Drug Resistance, U.S. Restricts More Antibiotics for Livestock” from the New York Times for more details.

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Posted in Nutrition

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Keep up with your 2012 Fitness Goals with WoodPec

Posted on January 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

Did you know that all Emory students have access to the Woodruff PE Center, including the gym, pool, and rock climbing wall?  There you have access to the more common gym equipment, including treadmills, elliptical machines, weightlifting equipment, and rowing machines, but also to racquetball, basketball, swimming, and an indoor track!  Other opportunities at the WoodPEC include:

  • Intramural Sports, such as flag football, soccer, softball, volleyball and basketball
  • Special sporting competitions for cross country running, table tennis, racquetball, 3 on 3 basketball, swimming and tennis
  • Fitness Emory, which for an additional fee includes classes such as yoga, indoor cycling, Zumba, and Tai Kwon Do

Be sure to visit the WoodPEC this Spring to help you make progress towards your fitness goals in 2012.  Their normal gym hours are Monday – Friday, 6:30 am to 11 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 9 pm.  Check the WoodPec Hours webpage for specific pool and rock climbing wall availability.

 

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Posted in Exercise

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Apps and Touchscreen Devices Aid Learning for Austic Children

Posted on January 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

A team of researchers at the University of Edinburgh designed an iPad app called FindMe that is having remarkable success for learning and communication among autistic children.  The app is aimed at non-verbal children age 18 months and older, and encourages the player to focus on other people and their needs which can be difficult for some people with autism.

For more information, read the full story on the BBC website.

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Posted in Research

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Predictions about the future of personalized medicine

Posted on January 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

A new article from the Wall Street Journal addresses questions about the future of personalized medicine. The article by Dr. David Agus, entitled “A doctor in your pocket: What does the future of medicine hold? Tiny health monitors, tailored therapies  – and the end of illness”, explores the possibilities that await us in the future with advances in portable technologies. Click here to read the full article.

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Posted in Aging

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