Report Looks At Racial, Ethnic Differences In Certain Birth Defects

“Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Birth Prevalence of Spina Bifida — United States, 1995-2005,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: The report updates previously reported data on the prevalence of neural tube defects such as spina bifida and assesses racial/ethnic differences. The findings are based on U.S. birth certificate data for four periods from 1995 to 2005 and birth defect data from the National Vital Statistics System. Researchers compared the number of cases of spina bifida per 10,000 live births during the four periods — relative to a January 1998 mandate that folic acid be added to all enriched cereal grain products to prevent neural tube defects. The analysis indicates that from the early post-mandate period, 1999 to 2000, to the most recent surveillance period, 2003 to 2005, the prevalence of spina bifida decreased by 6.9%. The analysis also showed significant decreases in prevalence among infants with non-Hispanic black mothers, but not among infants with non-Hispanic white mothers or Hispanic mothers. “Additional public health efforts targeting women with known risk factors,” such as obesity and certain genetic factors, “likely are needed to further reduce the prevalence of spina bifida in the United States,” according to the report (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 1/9).

Study Looks At Association Between Sexual Orientation, Race/Ethnicity And Prostate, Colon Cancer Screening Rates

“Sexual Orientation and Testing for Prostate and Colorectal Cancers Among Men in California,” Medical Care: The study, led by Kevin Heslin, an assistant professor at the Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, examines prostate and colorectal cancer screening rates based on sexual orientation and race and ethnicity. Researchers analyzed data on 19,410 men who participated in a statewide health survey (Heslin et al., Medical Care, December 2008). Researchers looked at the use of prostate-specific antigen testing among gay/bisexual and heterosexual men and found no significant differences. However, the percentage of black gay/bisexual men who had undergone the test was 15% to 28% lower than gay/bisexual whites and 12% to 14% lower than heterosexual black men. The finding is significant because black men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than any other racial or ethnic group (University of California-Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Researchnewsletter, December 2008). The study suggests that further research be conducted to examine racial and ethnic differences in cancer testing (Medical Care, December 2008).

PBS’ ‘NewsHour’ Looks At Health Care Access Problems In New Mexico

PBS’ “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” on Wednesday examined access-to-care issues facing people who live in rural New Mexico, the state with the second-highest rate of uninsurance in the country. More than half of all New Mexico residents live in non-urban areas, often in towns that have no pharmacy and few physicians.

Many of these uninsured residents work for small businesses that cannot afford to offer coverage, and they must rely on outreach programs that work with insurers and drugmakers to provide basic services, including blood pressure checks and diabetes screenings. A physician shortage in the state has forced many primary care physicians in small communities to be on call 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Additionally, because of the overwhelming demand for physicians, some rural residents must travel to the closest urban emergency department to receive immediate treatment.

PBS’ ‘NewsHour’ Looks At Health Care Access Problems In New Mexico

PBS’ “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” on Wednesday examined access-to-care issues facing people who live in rural New Mexico, the state with the second-highest rate of uninsurance in the country. More than half of all New Mexico residents live in non-urban areas, often in towns that have no pharmacy and few physicians.

Many of these uninsured residents work for small businesses that cannot afford to offer coverage, and they must rely on outreach programs that work with insurers and drugmakers to provide basic services, including blood pressure checks and diabetes screenings. A physician shortage in the state has forced many primary care physicians in small communities to be on call 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Additionally, because of the overwhelming demand for physicians, some rural residents must travel to the closest urban emergency department to receive immediate treatment.

Assisted Living Industry Looks At Future Of Alzheimer’s – ALFA Submits Testimony On Alzheimer’s Care, USA

The nation’s leading organization of assisted living providers today urged the Senate Special Committee on Aging to look to assisted living providers for the model of care for victims of Alzheimer’s disease.

Richard Grimes, the CEO and president of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), submitted testimony to the committee as it launched hearings on the impact on Americans of the progressive brain disease.

Grimes said that he was unable to attend the hearing because his stepmother, a longtime sufferer of Alzheimer’s, died this week. His 89 year old father cared for her at home for years until her condition grew worse when she moved to an assisted living community where she received excellent care until her death.

Assisted Living Industry Looks At Future Of Alzheimer’s – ALFA Submits Testimony On Alzheimer’s Care, USA

The nation’s leading organization of assisted living providers today urged the Senate Special Committee on Aging to look to assisted living providers for the model of care for victims of Alzheimer’s disease.

Richard Grimes, the CEO and president of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), submitted testimony to the committee as it launched hearings on the impact on Americans of the progressive brain disease.

Grimes said that he was unable to attend the hearing because his stepmother, a longtime sufferer of Alzheimer’s, died this week. His 89 year old father cared for her at home for years until her condition grew worse when she moved to an assisted living community where she received excellent care until her death.

Assisted Living Industry Looks At Future Of Alzheimer’s – ALFA Submits Testimony On Alzheimer’s Care, USA

The nation’s leading organization of assisted living providers today urged the Senate Special Committee on Aging to look to assisted living providers for the model of care for victims of Alzheimer’s disease.

Richard Grimes, the CEO and president of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), submitted testimony to the committee as it launched hearings on the impact on Americans of the progressive brain disease.

Grimes said that he was unable to attend the hearing because his stepmother, a longtime sufferer of Alzheimer’s, died this week. His 89 year old father cared for her at home for years until her condition grew worse when she moved to an assisted living community where she received excellent care until her death.

Assisted Living Industry Looks At Future Of Alzheimer’s – ALFA Submits Testimony On Alzheimer’s Care, USA

The nation’s leading organization of assisted living providers today urged the Senate Special Committee on Aging to look to assisted living providers for the model of care for victims of Alzheimer’s disease.

Richard Grimes, the CEO and president of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), submitted testimony to the committee as it launched hearings on the impact on Americans of the progressive brain disease.

Grimes said that he was unable to attend the hearing because his stepmother, a longtime sufferer of Alzheimer’s, died this week. His 89 year old father cared for her at home for years until her condition grew worse when she moved to an assisted living community where she received excellent care until her death.

Assisted Living Industry Looks At Future Of Alzheimer’s – ALFA Submits Testimony On Alzheimer’s Care, USA

The nation’s leading organization of assisted living providers today urged the Senate Special Committee on Aging to look to assisted living providers for the model of care for victims of Alzheimer’s disease.

Richard Grimes, the CEO and president of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), submitted testimony to the committee as it launched hearings on the impact on Americans of the progressive brain disease.

Grimes said that he was unable to attend the hearing because his stepmother, a longtime sufferer of Alzheimer’s, died this week. His 89 year old father cared for her at home for years until her condition grew worse when she moved to an assisted living community where she received excellent care until her death.