International Diabetes Federation Kicks Off World Diabetes Day Campaign.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) launched its World Diabetes Day campaign under the slogan "Understand diabetes and take control." Celebrated every year on November 14, World Diabetes Day is a campaign led by the International Diabetes Federation and its member associations. It was created in 1991 by IDF and WHO in response to growing concerns about the escalating threat of diabetes worldwide. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007. This year sees the first of a five-year campaign that will address the growing need for diabetes education and prevention programmes. "Many people fail to acknowledge the serious threat that diabetes poses to individuals, families and communities," said Phil Riley, IDF"s World Diabetes Day Campaign Manager. "The World Diabetes Day campaign calls on everyone to understand diabetes and take control." For people with diabetes, the campaign slogan is a message about empowerment through education. For governments, it is a call to implement effective strategies and policies for...

Lawmakers Follow Doctors' Orders, Pass Legislation To Improve Patient Care.

"Thanks to patients" champions in the House and Senate, the 2009 Texas Legislature passed bills to reform health insurance, increase access to health care, preserve the patient-physician relationship, and improve the health of all Texans. "In January, the Texas Medical Association prescribed a solid platform designed to fix Texas" broken health care system. Physicians asked lawmakers to begin building a health care system that allows all patients to receive the care they need, when they need it. TMA"s Doctor"s Orders called on state leaders to support measures that would: - Add accountability and performance standards to health insurance, - Expand access to care for all Texans, - Enhance patient safety, and - Improve quality of care. "Despite the economic downturn and late-session delay tactics that killed hundreds of bills, TMA"s prescription was followed. Here are just a few of the health care highlights from the 81st legislature that will improve patient care in Texas: - Preserved Texas" landmark 2003 medical liability reforms; - Funded community-based obesity prevention...

Jellyfish Shed Fluorescent Light On How The Brain Works.

New research offers prospect of watching the brain as it learns. Scientists at the University of Leicester are developing new ways of studying how brain cells work -thanks to jellyfish! Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Leicester, Nicholas Hartell, is leading a research group examining the connections between brain cells, called synapses. And thanks to fluorescent protein sensors derived from proteins originally discovered in jellyfish, the researchers can watch synapses as they transmit and store information. Professor Hartell, of the Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, will be explaining his research at an inaugural public lecture to be held on Tuesday 9 June at 5.30pm in Lecture Theatre 1, Ken Edwards Building. It is open to the public and free. He said: "Changes in the strength of signalling between excitable cells in the brain provide a mechanism for information storage in the brain. In this lecture, I will discuss how synapses, the specialised connections formed between brain cells, can change their properties and so contribute to the learning and the formation of memory.

Hoyer Objects To Medicare Cost Control Plan.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said he disagrees with President Obama"s support of transferring Congress"s price-setting powers over Medicare to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), which now acts as an advisory panel, USA Today reports. In a letter to senators Wednesday, Obama floated support for the idea: "Under this approach, MedPAC"s recommendations on cost reductions would be adopted unless opposed by a joint resolution of the Congress." USA Today quotes Hoyer: "I don"t think there is great enthusiasm for a take-it-or-leave-it proposal coming out of some commission." It"s no surprise that Hoyer rejects the proposal, health policy expert Kenneth Thorpe told the paper: "Congress never likes to give up power" (Schouten, 6/5). This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.