‘Look deeper and go local’ when crafting public health messages in turbulent political environments
June 13, 2017 In light of ongoing political and resource shifts taking place in health care, Gene Matthews, JD, of the North Carolina Institute for Public Health, shared tips for crafting richer public health messages with the potential to impact policy makers and communities across political lines.
Study findings suggest some individuals are genetically more vulnerable to harm from air pollution
June 9, 2017 Findings from a study led by a doctoral student of epidemiology suggest that some individuals are genetically susceptible to experiencing especially negative effects from air pollution, even when pollution levels fall below current U.S. accepted standards.
Physician researcher calls for end to destructive practice of female genital mutilation
June 9, 2017 A commentary by Dr. Dilshad Jaff calls for an end to the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting in Iraqi Kurdistan. More public health initiatives are needed, he says, to dissuade communities from employing the practice, which has lifelong physical, psychological and public health consequences for girls and women.
Advanced cancer patients survive longer when given chance to report symptoms during treatment
June 8, 2017 Patients who receive treatment for advanced cancers commonly experience symptoms that go unreported to and undetected by clinicians. In an effort to improve patient survival and quality of life, a new study led by Dr. Ethan Basch examines the impact of patients having the opportunity to report symptoms electronically as they occur.
Study evaluates added sugars in packaged beverages, finds black and low-income families most at risk
June 7, 2017 Dr. Shu Wen Ng led a study that lays the groundwork for monitoring the sugar content of pre-packaged sweetened beverages and the purchases of those beverages over time. The data will be an important baseline before and after July 2018, when a federal requirement will oblige manufacturers to list "added sugars" on nutritional labeling.
Obese adults experience increased influenza risk despite being vaccinated, study finds
June 6, 2017 Melinda A. Beck, PhD, of the UNC Gillings Department of Nutrition, is the corresponding author of a new study in the International Journal of Obesity. The study found that, compared to adults of healthy weight, obese adults are twice as likely to contract the flu or a flu-like illness despite being vaccinated.
Initiatives to reduce salt in packaged foods have worked, but more can be done
June 5, 2017 Gillings School researchers have found that Americans are getting significantly less sodium from packaged foods than they did 15 years ago – but they still take in too much salt from these products.
Drug rebates: Who pays, who profits, how can we make drug prices more equitable?
June 5, 2017 A new study led by Dr. Stacie Dusetzina examines how drug rebates result in disparities in medication costs. She and colleagues show that rebates may increase costs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries and the federal Medicare program, while decreasing costs for drug manufacturers and Part D (drug) insurance plans.
Mayer-Davis featured in The Lancet as leader in diabetes research
June 2, 2017 Nutrition chair and distinguished professor Elizabeth Mayer-Davis is profiled in the June 1 issue of The Lancet as a leader in diabetes research.
New study investigates perceptions, ethics of treatment interruptions in HIV cure research
June 2, 2017 Two faculty members from the Gillings School investigated how stakeholders respond to the concept of using analytical treatment interruptions to test the efficacy of potential HIV cure research strategies in the absence of antiretroviral therapy.
