News

Border Health Conference in D.C.

The Rio Grande Guardian reported on the 5th Annual Border Conference which takes place this Wednesday:

The Border Health Caucus represents more than 9,000 members, comprising the Texas Medical Association’s county medical societies along the border, plus Bexar and Nueces county societies. The BHC is hosting the 5th Annual Border Health Conference, which takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday in the North Congressional Meeting Room in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center.

The speakers:

Among those slated to speak on this panel are J. Manuel de la Rosa, founding dean of the Texas Tech Health Science Center in El Paso, Sam Howarth, director of policy and multicultural health at the New Mexico Department of Health, Don McBeath, director of advocacy for the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals, Jaime Flores Neder, former president of the Juarez Medical Society, F. Sam Notzon, director of the international statistics program for the National Center for Health Statistics, and Leonel Vela, regional dean of the Regional Academic Health Center in the Rio Grande Valley.

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Briscoe Outreach Participates in 2012 Summer Institutes

Biescoe Library Information Table at the 2012 Summer Institutes

The Outreach Services Program of the Briscoe Library participated in the 2012 Summer Institutes on Evidence-Based Quality Improvement. The conference/exhibit was presented by The University of Texas Health Science Center at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, in downtown San Antonio, Texas. The entire program ran from July 17^th- 21^th and the Library Services Outreach was present on the 19^th & 20^th.

The Summer Institutes Program brought together over 500 clinicians, nurses, physicians, healthcare educators, leaders and researchers from across the nation and foreign countries as well. All were focused on a unified goal of sharing information concerning their own research and availability, while learning about other advancements in improving patient healthcare and patient safety.

The Briscoe Library Outreach Services used this opportunity to present information on PubMed, MedlinePlus, WISER and other National Library of Medicine online products which enable health professionals and consumers to access dependable and current information associated with quality patient care.

Posted in Minority health, News, Resources, South Texas, Staying Well. Connected. | Comments Off

Cancer Gene Identified in Minority Women

A multracial study conducted by researchers from the Northern California Cancer Institute at Stanford University has discovered that a genetic mutation in the BRCA1 gene, known to increase the risk of cancer in certain Jewish women of Eastern European ancestry, is found in significant numbers in Hispanic women who develop the disease. It is estimated that 3.5 percent of Hispanic women with breast cancer also have a mutation of this gene. In women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 35, the prevalence of the mutation is 8.9 percent. Since minority women are less likely to be tested for the BRCA1 mutation, the chance of detecting any possible cancer at an early stage is lower.

The BRCA1 gene makes a protein that helps cells repair DNA, but a mutation of this gene makes them less able to fix DNA and the accumulated mutations can lead to cancer.

Posted in Articles, Hispanic health, Minority health, News, Staying Well. Connected. | Comments Off

Cancer Research amendment on the ballot November 6

Prop 15 would create the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and authorize the state to issue up to $3 billion in bonds over 10 years starting in 2009 to finance research for curing cancer. Ten percent would go to cancer prevention efforts.

Texans to Cure Cancer, a political action committee whose treasurer is former Comptroller John Sharp, is supporting the amendment, along with several nonprofits and politicians in a bi-partisan effort.

Cancer is expected to kill 37,030 Texans this year, and 95,310 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in Texas in 2007, according to Texans Curing Cancer. The disease is the leading cause of death for Texas women between ages 35 and 74 and the second-leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 14.In Texas, lung cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer, followed by breast, prostate and colon cancer, said James Gray, head of government relations in Texas for the American Cancer Society.

One reason the state amendment is so necessary, Gray said, is because federal funding isn’t sufficient and most cancer research grants don’t get financed.

Still, Texas has major urban cancer research facilities and there is cancer research occurring in mid-sized cities like Tyler and Lubbock, Gray said. He said passage of the amendment could lead to more research in those places.

Excerpted from AP News article by Kelley Shannon, October 4

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Candy Recall

“San Antonio-based Villa-Mex Imports Inc. is asking customers to discard the dark brown syrup sold as ‘Barrilito’ — named for its little glass barrels with bright yellow labels. The candy was sold by retailers statewide. Recent laboratory tests showed lead levels above the 0.1 parts per million allowed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Texas Department of State Health Services said. Tested samples ranged from 0.101 to 0.132 parts per million.” (KSAT/Associated Press)

In August the California Department of Public Health issued a warning about this candy and another product sold as “Miguelito.”

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Children’s Health Fair at Laredo Public Library

This Saturday, July 19, Laredo Public Library is hosting a children’s health fair from 1:00 to 5:00. The event is sponsored by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, South Central Region. The UT HSC Libraries will be present to demonstrate MedlinePlus.gov and other resources. The PBS character “Piggley Winks” will also be making a special appearance, courtesy of KLRN.

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Posted in Health Fairs, News, Staying Well. Connected., Youth | Comments Off