According to the CDC, as of yesterday (26 April) there were no reported cases of swine flu in the New England region.

The CDC with HHS has compiled information available on the swine flu at: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

Among the information pages are:

Interim CDC Guidance for Nonpharmaceutical Community Mitigation in Response to Human Infections with Swine Influenza (H1N1) Virus: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/mitigation.htm

Guidance for Clinicians & Public Health Professionals: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance/

You can use the following widget to code in the CDC’s Swine Flu Information website (a green box with links):

<script type=”text/javascript” src=”http://transparency.cit.nih.gov/widgets/swinelinks.cfm?javascript“></script><noscript><iframe src=”http://transparency.cit.nih.gov/widgets/swinelinks.cfm” name=”swineframe” frameborder=0 id=”swineframe” scrolling=”no” height=”160″ width=”198″ marginheight=”0″ marginwidth=”0″ ></iframe></noscript>

MedlinePlus and MedlinePlus en español both now feature a search cloud showing the most frequently searched terms on the site.

Check out the MedlinePlus search clouds at:
•MedlinePlus Search Cloud:
MedlinePlus en español Search Cloud:
•You will find them linked on the lower left hand corner of the MedlinePlus home page.

How many terms are featured in the search cloud?
• The MedlinePlus search cloud displays the top 100 English searches
• The MedlinePlus en español search cloud displays the top 100 Spanish searches.

How frequently is the cloud updated?
The search clouds are usually updated every week day.

How is the cloud organized?
The search terms appear in alphabetical order, and their size represents their relative frequency. The bigger the term, the more often it is searched by people who visit MedlinePlus. A term’s exact ranking is found by placing your cursor over the term, and you can click on any term in the search cloud to conduct a search for that term in MedlinePlus.

Enjoy this new feature on MedlinePlus! It is a great way to stay aware of the most common health terms searched by the public.

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Milton Corn, M.D.,
as NLM Deputy Director for Research and Education.

Prior to joining the NLM, Dr. Corn served with distinction in
numerous top leadership positions at Georgetown University including
Dean of the School of Medicine. Since 1990, as NLM Associate
Director for Extramural Programs, Dr. Corn has led the Library’s
Division of Extramural Programs in an exemplary manner, establishing
numerous collaborations with other agencies and organizations that
have expanded informatics research and training opportunities. Dr.
Corn creatively modified NLM’s Training Program in Biomedical
Informatics to keep pace with developments in biomedical computing.
At present the 18 NLM training grants (involving 27 academic medical
centers) offer tracks in clinical care informatics, bioinformatics,
public health and health services research informatics and the
informatics of clinical and translational research and supports over
250 pre- and post-doctoral trainees. As administrator of the largest
Federal programs for training in informatics and for a significant
share of the research grants available to informatics scientists, Dr.
Corn has become nationally and internationally known as an expert in
research directions in biomedical informatics.

As you know, Dr. Corn brings rich experience, leadership, and talent
- as well as a world class sense of humor - to the position of Deputy
Director for Research and Education, where he will serve as principal
medical advisor on research and development and medical education
priorities for the NLM. Dr. Corn will provide direction and advice
on the full range of NLM’s intramural and extramural research
portfolio.

Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D.
Director
National Library of Medicine

The Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA) 8^th Annual Health Literacy Conference scheduled for May 7-8, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency, Irvine, CA is reaching out to medical librarians. Marge Kars, MLS, AHIP, Bronson Methodist Hospital and author/editor of the recent publication The Medical Library Association Guide to Health Literacy is a featured speaker.  Librarians involved in the MLA Health Information Literacy Research Project will be presenting posters and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine / Pacific Southwest Region is a co-sponsor. As an IHA courtesy, librarians who register online using the coupon code LIBR09 will get a reduced registration rate of $250.  

IHA 8^th

Annual Health Literacy Conference:

Bridging Research & Practice

Location: Hyatt Regency, Irvine, CA

Sponsor: Institute for Healthcare Advancement

Co-Sponsor: National Network of Libraries of Medicine / Pacific Southwest Region

More information: www.iha4health.org

————————————————-

Posted on behalf of:

Sabrina Kurtz-Rossi, M.Ed., Principal

Kurtz-Rossi & Associates

Health*Literacy*Education*Evaluation

781-835-6488 phone; 781-391-4409 fax;

sabrina_kurtz-rossi@comcast.net

“Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine” is now available online! View “Harry Potter’s World” at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/harrypottersworld. The banner show, which will travel to libraries around the country through the American Library Association starting in fall 2009, explores the plants, animals, and magic featured in the Harry Potter book series and their roots in Renaissance traditions that played an important role in the development of Western science.  It incorporates the works of several fifteenth- and sixteenth-century thinkers mentioned in the Harry Potter book series and looks at topics such as alchemy, astrology, and natural philosophy, as well as the ethical issues faced by both the fictitious characters from the novels and the historical figures who influenced them. The website for “Harry Potter’s World” includes the full exhibition text, middle/high school lesson plans, and a higher education module for professors and students.

 Visit the American Library Association’s request for proposals for libraries interested in hosting the traveling banner exhibition at http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ppo/programming/potter/index.cfm.

Please refer any questions about “Harry Potter’s World” to nlmExhibition@mail.nih.gov.

HIV/AIDS Community Information Outreach Projects 2009 (NLM-09-078/SES)

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is pleased to announce the solicitation of quotations from organizations and libraries to design and conduct projects that will improve access to HIV/AIDS related health information for patients, the affected community, and their caregivers.

Projects must involve  one or more of the following information access categories:

• Information retrieval
• Skills development
• State-of-the-art resources
• Resource development
• Document Access.

Emphasis is placed upon the following types of organizations or arrangements for developing these programs:

• Community-based organizations (CBOs) or patient advocacy groups currently providing HIV/AIDS related serves to the affected community
• Public libraries serving communities in the provision of HIV/AIDS-related information and resources
• Health departments or other local, municipal, or state agencies working to improve public health
• Faith-based organizations currently providing HIV/AIDS-related services
• Multi-type consortia of the above-listed organizations that may be in existence or formed specifically for this project.

Standard Awards are offered for up to $60,000;  Express Awards are offered for up to $10,000.

Quotations are due to NLM on Monday, June 1, 2009.

The solicitation for the 2009 HIV/AIDS Community Information Outreach Projects is posted at http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/hiv/2009aidsrfq.html .

Please share this information with your colleagues.

Primary Point of Contact:

Shari E. Shor, Contract Specialist

shorse@mail.nlm.nih.gov

Phone: 3014354388

Fax: 301-402-0642

Secondary Point of Contact:

Robin D. Hope-Williams, Contracting Officer

rhwilli@mail.nih.gov

Phone: 301-435-4379

Fax: 301-402-8169

Check out the April issue of NIH News in Health, the monthly newsletter bringing you practical health news and tips based on the latest NIH research. And consider joining us on Facebook, where you can write on our wall to suggest topics you’d like us to cover, or start a discussion about how you use the newsletter.  Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/NIH-News-in-Health/45385547967 and become a fan. In this edition:

Get Moving and Stay Healthy
Make Physical Activity Part of Your Life
People from all walks of life find it difficult to get enough exercise. But research shows that all Americans need physical activity for good health. New government guidelines can help you get started and stay active.
full story

   

Remember To Take Your Pills?
Jog Your Memory of What To Take and When
We forget things every day—people’s names, our keys or whether we locked the front door. But when it comes to taking your medicines, don’t let your memory fail you.
full story

Health Capsules:

• Study Questions Prostate Cancer Test
• Vitamin C May Ward Off Gout
• Featured Web Site: Rethinking Drinking

Click here to download a PDF version for printing.

Please pass the word on to your colleagues about NIH News in Health.  We are happy to send a limited number of print copies free of charge for display in offices, libraries or clinics.  Just email us or call 301-435-7489 for more information.

Harrison Wein, Ph.D., Writer/Editor
National Institutes of Health
Office of the Director, Office of Communications and Public Liaison
Bldg. 31, Rm. 5B64A, MSC 2094
Bethesda, MD 20892-2094
Phone:  301-435-7489
Fax:  301-480-4026
E-mail:  weinh@od.nih.gov

The NIH News in Health: http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/

NIH Research Matters (eColumn): http://www.nih.gov/news/research_matters

Take this brief quiz to see how much you really know about all the latest changes to MedlinePlus.gov.

a) Collections break the results into subsets from the major areas within MedlinePlus

b) Clusters are grouping of items with similar concepts found within the text

c) Collections are groupings of items with similar concepts found within the text

d) Clusters break the results into subsets from the major areas within MedlinePlus

e) A and B

2) Which section on MedlinePlus.gov has a new look?

a) Interactive tutorials

b) Encyclopedia

c) Dictionary

d) Surgery Videos

3) How many days are news items archived for?

a) 90 in English and Spanish

b) 90 in English / 30 in Spanish

c) 30 in English / 90 in Spanish

d) 30 in English and Spanish

4) Which part of MedlinePlus is now also available in Spanish?

a) Directories

b) MedlinePlus Magazine

c) Go Local

5) What is RHIN and where will you find it on MedlinePlus?

a) Refugee Health Information Network; a multilingual resource on the Multiple Languages page

b) Resources for Health Information Network; on the health topics page

c) Roundtable on Health Interests of the Nation; on the health topics page

6) Which of the following search strategies are possible with the MedlinePlus search box?

a) Phrase searching, example “genetic brain disorders”

b) Wildcards, example leuko*

c) Boolean searching with OR, NOT

d) All of the above

7) Is it possible to restrict a search within MedlinePlus to a specific web site?

a) Yes

b) No

ANSWERS (in bold)

1) Which statements below are true?

a) Collections break the results into subsets from the major areas within MedlinePlus

b) Clusters are grouping of items with similar concepts found within the text

c) Collections are groupings of items with similar concepts found within the text

d) Clusters break the results into subsets from the major areas within MedlinePlus

e) A and B

2) Which section on MedlinePlus has a new look?

a) Interactive tutorials

b) Encyclopedia

c) Dictionary

d) Surgery Videos

3) How many days are news items archived for?

a) 90 in English and Spanish

b) 90 in English / 30 in Spanish

c) 30 in English / 90 in Spanish

d) 30 in English and Spanish

4) Which part of MedlinePlus is now also available in Spanish?

a) Directories

b) MedlinePlus Magazine

c) Go Local

5) What is RHIN and where will you find it on MedlinePlus?

a) Refugee Health Information Network; a multilingual resource on the Multiple Languages page

b) Resources for Health Information Network; on the health topics page

c) Roundtable on Health Interests of the Nation; on the health topics page

6) Which of the following search strategies are possible with the MedlinePlus search box?

a) Phrase searching, example “genetic brain disorders”

b) Wildcards, example leuko*

c) Boolean searching with OR, NOT

d) All of the above

7) Is it possible to restrict a search within MedlinePlus to a specific web site?

a) Yes; example breast cancer site: cancer.gov

b) No

MedlinePlus announces a Medical Words Tutorial.  This outstanding tutorial aims to help consumers learn about basic medical terminology.  Increased knowledge leads to better health outcomes.  The tutorial is interactive and includes quizzes to confirm understanding of the words.  Test your medical terminology knowledge and give this tutorial a try!  Be sure to spread the word about this new resource to your friends, family and, of course, library users.