THIS ISSUE AVAILABLE ONLINE WITH EXPANDED INFORMATION AND PHOTOS AT:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/newsletter/weekly
IN THIS ISSUE:
1) HHS Expands Medicaid Coverage to 20,000 Uninsured Children in Illinois
2) Science In The News
3) Personal Health
4) Parklawn Classic
5) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson's public schedule
HHS Expands Medicaid Coverage to 20,000 Uninsured Children in Illinois
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson approved a proposal that will make 20,000 Illinois children eligible for State Children's Health Insured Program (SCHIP) who would otherwise not have health coverage.
"This approval means many more Illinois children will enjoy healthier lives and be able to get the health care they need, when they need it," Secretary Thompson said. "The Bush Administration will continue to work together with states to find ways to improve the health and welfare of our children."
The new expansion of their SCHIP program, known as KidCare, will cover 20,000 uninsured children, in addition to the 109,000 children currently enrolled. The families of these children must have incomes no higher than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The federal poverty level for a family of four is $18,400.
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Science In The News
Researchers at The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have discovered how the bacterium streptococcus pyogenes, the bacterium resulting in "flesh eating" infection such as strep throat gains a foothold in the body by subverting a key immune system cell.
Insight into streptococcal infection is one product of a comprehensive picture of immune cell-bacteria interactions developed by NIAID's Rocky Mountain Laboratories scientists in Hamilton, MT. Using microarray technology, Frank R. DeLeo, Ph.D.and his colleagues created a "snapshot" of how all the genes in a type of white blood cell, called a neutrophil, react following exposure to a variety of bacteria.
"This is work of seminal importance," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "By demonstrating that neutrophils respond with altered gene expression to bacterial invasion, the investigators have exposed dozens of possible targets for drug therapies. These findings are likely to be broadly applicable to many types of microorganisms that cause disease in humans, and could lead to new treatments that augment the immune response against multiple pathogens," he adds.
Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and a central player in the body's innate immune system. Like a S.W.A.T. team, neutrophils swarm to the site of infection in the first few minutes after a bacterial attack. Quickly they engulf the invading organisms and destroy them.
Neutrophils are genetically programmed to shut themselves down after they engulf microbes. Because of this controlled shutdown, cellular debris is cleared away from the site of the infection, and any inflammation subsides. Ordinarily, neutrophils are highly effective at their job. Indeed, notes Dr. DeLeo, the vast majority of infectious organisms never make it past this first line of defense.
For more information please contact the National Institutes of Health press office at (301) 402-1663.
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Personal Health
National Cholesterol Education Month - September 2003
High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. It is estimated that 105 million American adults have total blood cholesterol levels of 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and higher, which is above desirable levels. Of these, an estimated 42 million persons have levels of 240 mg/dL or above, which is considered high risk1. Lowering cholesterol levels reduces the incidence of heart disease and reduces deaths among persons either with or without coronary heart disease. To increase awareness of the importance of monitoring cholesterol levels and taking steps to achieve or maintain healthy levels, the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) sponsors National Cholesterol Education Month every September. The NCEP recommends that adults aged 20 years or older have their cholesterol checked once every 5 years. Cholesterol levels can be lowered through lifestyle changes such as dietary improvement, increased physical activity, weight control, drug therapy, or a combination of these.
Facts on Cholesterol
This information is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
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Parklawn Classic
The Twenty-Eighth Annual Parklawn Classic will be held on October 17, 2003!
The Parklawn Classic is nationally recognized as the oldest, largest and continuously run government sponsored race in the country. This mega event has been department sponsored and supported for almost three decades!
Included as part of the event is a run and health walk. The historical five-mile race will start at 10:00 a.m. at the Parklawn complex over a brand new course. The 2.5 mile walk will begin at 11:00 a.m. over the existing walk course, also starting at the Parklawn complex.
For more information about the classic please call (301)443-5350or visit the web site at http://classic.dhhs.gov.
Next year's Parklawn Classic will be held in April.
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Secretary Tommy G. Thompson's public schedule:
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Last updated October 8, 2003
United States Department of Health and Human Services
Contact the HHS Newsletter Team.