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The Medical Minute: AIDS Awareness Month

It has been 28 years since the first case reports of individuals with a newly recognized immunodeficiency disorder called AIDS were described. Soon thereafter the viral cause of AIDS, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), was discovered. This discovery led to the development of tests that could quickly and accurately diagnose HIV infection. We then began to watch as the epidemic spread not only in the United States and other developed nations, but to a much greater extent in the developing world, particularly on the African continent where the combination of a deadly infection coupled with an often non-existent health care infrastructure resulted in untold misery and hardship, says the newest edition of The Medical Minute, a service of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

The Medical Minute: Study estimates one in 91 individuals have autism

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders marked by impaired social interactions, restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, and communication impairment, which persist throughout a person's lifetime. The ASD prevalence rate--the number of individuals diagnosed with autism--has been steadily increasing over time. A new report from the U.S. Department of Health's Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), based on a phone survey of over 78,000 families, set the prevalence rate at nearly one in 91 children. This is an increase from the prior statistic of one in 150 children reported in 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says The Medical Minute, a service of the Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

The Medical Minute: Study estimates one in 91 individuals have autism

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders marked by impaired social interactions, restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, and communication impairment, which persist throughout a person's lifetime. The ASD prevalence rate--the number of individuals diagnosed with autism--has been steadily increasing over time. A new report from the U.S. Department of Health's Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), based on a phone survey of over 78,000 families, set the prevalence rate at nearly one in 91 children. This is an increase from the prior statistic of one in 150 children reported in 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says The Medical Minute, a service of the Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

New set of faculty trading cards introduced

Penn State has just introduced its third annual series of faculty trading cards, and already they're on their way to becoming collectors' items, having been requested for the archives of the Trading Card Museum, a popular Web site built by and for trading card enthusiasts, artists, dealers and producers. This year's set follows the pattern of the 2007 and 2008 sets by profiling 10 contemporary and historical Penn State faculty who have earned distinction through their research and scholarly activities.

New set of faculty trading cards introduced

Penn State has just introduced its third annual series of faculty trading cards, and already they're on their way to becoming collectors' items, having been requested for the archives of the Trading Card Museum, a popular Web site built by and for trading card enthusiasts, artists, dealers and producers. This year's set follows the pattern of the 2007 and 2008 sets by profiling 10 contemporary and historical Penn State faculty who have earned distinction through their research and scholarly activities.

Medical Minute: Outdoor injury prevention starts in your own backyard

Each of five major child injury hazards -- motor vehicles, drowning, burns, falls and poison -- can be found in the back yard during the summer. Riding mowers, inflatable pools, home playground equipment and even natural vegetation and sunlight require a few simple precautions. All of the safety guidelines you apply to sports, playgrounds and swimming apply to those activities in your own back yard, says this week's edition of The Medical Minute, a service of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Medical Minute: Outdoor injury prevention starts in your own backyard

Each of five major child injury hazards -- motor vehicles, drowning, burns, falls and poison -- can be found in the back yard during the summer. Riding mowers, inflatable pools, home playground equipment and even natural vegetation and sunlight require a few simple precautions. All of the safety guidelines you apply to sports, playgrounds and swimming apply to those activities in your own back yard, says this week's edition of The Medical Minute, a service of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

The Medical Minute: Effects of weight loss on the ability to conceive

Researchers at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania are studying the effects of weight loss on the ability to conceive in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and have been awarded a $3.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. This study is the first to test the effects of preconception weight loss in a controlled clinical research study, according to the latest edition of The Medical Minute, a service of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. While weight loss is generally consistent with an improvement in health quality, it is unknown whether weight loss just prior to pregnancy improves outcomes, as stored energy in fat may be helpful for a pregnancy. This study will attempt to answer the bigger question of whether fat is a friend or foe to pregnancy in these women.