East County News Service

February 11, 2017 (El Cajon) - The San Diego Blood Bank will accept blood donations at Granite Hills High School on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 from  8 am ‑  1:30 pm.  The drive will be held at 1719 E Madison Ave., El Cajon in the Wrestling Room.

About 1 in 7 people entering a hospital need blood. One pint of blood, which is the amount volunteers give when they donate blood, can save up to three lives. Approximately, 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood but less than 10% do annually. Since blood is always needed, volunteers are asked to give blood for patients, such as those going through cancer or trauma.

By Miriam Raftery

February 10, 2017 (San Diego) — After doctors attributed the death of a California man to medical marijuana contaminated by a deadly fungus, the University of California, Davis Medical Center arranged testing on 20 medical marijuana samples statewide.  The vast majority were found to be contaminated with dangerous fungi and bacteria, CBS news reports.

East County News Service

February 8, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Trump and Congress may make it easier to get new drugs approved—even if they don’t work  (Los Angeles Times)
• CDC Seeks Controversial New Quarantine Powers To Stop Outbreaks (NPR)
•  Prion Test For Rare, Fatal Brain Disease Helps Families Cope (NPR)
• Genetic study reveals risk of deadly lung disease (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Senator asks Kaleo to explain $4500 pricetag for overdose, allergy devices (CNBC)
• MAP: Find Out What New Viruses Are Emerging In Your Backyard (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Macron offers refuge in France to U.S. scientists, entrepreneurs (Reuters)
• Seed-embedded bullets sprouting flowers: Can the US Army make that a reality? (CS Monitor)
• Exclusive: Boeing's space taxis to use more than 600 3D-printed parts (Reuters)
• Why is Google selling off its satellite fleet? (CS Monitor)
• How app makers increasingly track your every move (CS Monitor)
• Fall armyworm 'threatens African farmers' livelihoods' (BBC)
• Are We Eating Our Fleece Jackets? Microfibers Are Migrating Into Field And Food (NPR)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

East County News Service

February 6, 2017 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking applicants for two scholarship programs, one for nursing students and another for students pursuing careers as medical health technicians.

East County News Service

February 4, 2017 (Sacramento) - Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) this week introduced new bills that will strengthen the San Diego River Conservancy (SB 214), bolster language-assistance services in medical care (SB 223), and help prosecute human traffickers (SB 230).

East County News Service

February 2, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Air pollution may cause 21 percent of dementias worldwide, study suggests (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Trump wants to gut FDA regs. He needs a refresher course on Thalidomine. (Huffington Post)
• Most powerful HIV- attacking antibody yet has been constructed (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Drug distributors penalized for turning blind eye during opioid epidemic (NPR)
• An Early First Menstrual Period May Lead to Premature Menopause (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• How some retailers are tracking you as you walk down their aisles (Marketplace.org)
• Hackers launch major attack against PayPal users (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Privacy by design: How fashion combats surveillance (CS Monitor)
• The confusing, wild world of science under the Trump administration (CS Monitor)
• To catch a python: Florida hires Indian tribesmen to root out invasive snakes (CS Monitor)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Rachel Williams

Photo, left: “Here at The Nile Sisters we’re really trying to address health disparities and improve access to care for our refugee and immigrant population,” said Susan H. the health advocacy coordinator for The Nile Sisters Initiative.

February 1, 2017 (San Diego) -- The Nile Sisters Initiative hosted a panel at The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice on female genital cutting (FGC), also known as female circumcision. Refugees and immigrants face several physical and mental health complications after undergoing the procedure in their home countries.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

January 27, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- In a victory for consumers, the U.S. Court for the District of Columbia has issued an injunction blocking the proposed merger of insurance giants Aetna, Inc. and Humana, Inc. 

The Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge lets fans compete for the most donations for every 3-pointer their team scores

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo: SDSU men's basketball head coach Steve Fisher courtesy goaztecs.com

January 25, 2017 (San Diego) - Making 3-point shots this basketball season takes on even more meaning this year for Steve Fisher and the San Diego State basketball team. The Aztecs will square off against teams across the nation to fight cancer as part of the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge.    

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – Federal funding for abortions has long been banned, including under the Obama administration. But now President Donald Trump has gone farther, signing an executive order to ban all funding for nonprofits that provide abortions overseas, even money that provide vital women’s health services such as birth control, mammograms, pre-natal and maternity care.

Trump’s action could result in 6.5 million unintended pregnancies, 21,700 mothers dying, 2.1 million unsafe abortions, and countless deaths of newborn babies from preventable conditions, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development. 

East County News Service

January 23, 2017 (San Diego) -- Nile Sisters, a local organization dedicated to helping refugees in San Diego County, has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the California Endowment for its certified nursing assistant vocational training program.

By Miriam Raftery

January 22, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – In one of his first actions as President, Donald Trump signed an Executive Order directing federal agencies to reduce financial costs of the Affordable Care Act on insurance companies, healthcare providers and patients, allowing agencies to “waive, defer, grant exemptions or delay implementation of any provision or requirement” of the ACA, also known as Obamacare.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo credit:  Tom and Nadine Abbott

Photo, left:  Dr. James V. Dunford, UCSD ER Director

January 19, 2017 (San Diego) — Leaders at Sharp Healthcare joined with patients and two Democratic Congressional members outside Sharp Memorial Hospital on Sunday, January 15^th, to voice concerns over Senate Republicans vote last week to begin repeal of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, without first passing a replacement plan or providing details of any proposed plan for public review.

Congressional Members Susan Davis and Scott Peters to hold Save Our Health” press event Sunday to share concerns over repeal

East County News Service

January 13, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – In the dead of the night while most Americans were sleeping,  the Senate voted 51-48 to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) even though no replacement plan has been introduced.  That leaves 300,000 people in San Diego County poised to lose their healthcare.  More than 900,000 others receive health care through Medi-Cal, many of whom became eligible through the ACA and could be left with no coverage potentially as soon as later this month, when President-Elect Donald Trump takes office, if he signs a repeal into law. 

The measure still needs approval by the House, but with overwhelming support by Republicans in control, it’s expected to sail through. Even many Republicans are raising doubts over whether any replacement plan could be enacted in time to prevent loss of coverage, how much coverage would cost, or whether some would be left uncovered by a future GOP plan.

San Diego Democratic Congressional members Susan Davis and Scott Peters will hold a “Save Our Healthcare” press event on Sunday, January 15th from 1 p.m. to 1:30 at Sharp Memorial Outpatient Pavilion, 3075 Health Center Drive, San Diego. (view map)

East County News Service

January 10, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Third of breast cancer patients treated unnecessarily, study says (CNN)
• Departing HHS chief cautions Republicans seeking repeal of Obamacare (GovExec.com)
• New Law Provides Fertility Treatment Benefits to Wounded Veterans (NPR)
• Unexpected Risks Found in Editing Genes to Prevent Inherited Disorders (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• New routers defend smart homes against hackers (BBC)
• Study finds more extreme storms ahead for California (MIT News)
• Amazon files patent for flying warehouse (BBC)
• French Law Giving Workers 'The Right to Disconnect' Goes into Effect (NPR)
• Navy dolphins to help locate rare vaquita porpoise (San Diego Union-Tribune)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.