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>

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

“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.

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

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.

Announcing, the pilot issue of NIH MedlinePlus Salud!

NIH MedlinePlus Salud features a bilingual format with a PDF featuring one side Spanish / the other English.

The Friends of the National Library of Medicine are partnering with the National Alliance on Hispanic Health to publish this magazine. The goal is to publish at least two issues a year.  Order your free copy of NIH MedlinePlus Salud.

Also, check out the latest MedlinePlus Magazine featuring Ugly Betty’s Ana Ortiz.

The Grace and Harold Sewell Memorial Fund is currently soliciting applications from librarians/informationists for the 2009/2010 Learning Partnerships. The Fund will award two 12-month, paid “Learning Partnerships” that place experienced health sciences librarians within leading health care organizations for the purpose of both partners gaining a greater understanding of how best information sciences can be effectively applied in each environment. This on-the-edge fellowship offers mid-career librarians the opportunity to be fully immersed in the environment of a health care organization. The fellow will participate in team settings designed to utilize the librarian’s skills and knowledge in non-traditional ways, resulting in a tangible and valuable contribution to the host organization. For more information about the Grace and Harold Sewell Memorial Fund, the Learning Partnerships, fellowship application process, and eligibility requirements, please visit the Sewell Fund website at http://www.sewellfund.org/LearningPartnerships2009.htm.

Applications are due April 15, 2009.

The NN/LM-New England Region’s online learning program on Health Information Outreach and Community Engagement:  Lessons Learned from the Experts is full.  We are pleased with the overwhelming enthusiasm for the program.  Due to a large waiting list, the program will be recorded for later viewing.  The NER plans to send the link for the recording directly to participants on the waiting list as well as post it on our Connecting with the NER site.  Unfortunately, MLA CE units will not be awarded for viewing the recording of the program.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has added a new set of tools to the electronic Preventive Services Selector (ePSS). These tools help primary care clinicians provide consumer-friendly information about prevention and preventive care to their patients at the point of care.

The ePSS is a Web-based and PDA-downloadable application designed to help primary care clinicians identify the screening, counseling, and preventive medication services that are appropriate for their patients. The ePSS provides searchable, electronic access to the current evidence-based recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). myhealthfinder, a Web site developed by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in the Department of Health and Human Services, provides personalized preventive services recommendations from the USPSTF for consumers. The recommendations are presented in clear language and are broken into segments that encourage a patient to learn about the service and take action.

Over 20 of the topics in the ePSS now include a link to a companion topic in myhealthfinder that has been translated for consumers and is presented in a simple and engaging way. Through these links in the ePSS, primary care clinicians now have direct access to information they can share with their patients at the point of care. The materials are printable, so patients can take them home after the appointment. As more of the USPSTF recommendations are translated for consumers, the ePSS will be updated, so keep coming back.

You can find out more about the evidence-based recommendations of the USPSTF and AHRQ’s work to improve the delivery of effective clinical preventive services at: http://www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov.

The Maternal and Child Health Library at Georgetown University in collaboration with the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) released a new edition of the knowledge path about oral health for infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant women.   Presented in time for Children’s Dental Health Month in February, this electronic guide points to resources that analyze data, describe effective programs, and report on policy and research aimed at improving access to and the quality of oral health care. The knowledge path contains sections with resources for professionals, resources for consumers, and resources on specific aspects of oral health. Topics include child care and Head Start, dental sealants, early childhood caries, fluoride varnish, K-12 education, pregnancy, school-based care, school evaluation mandates, and special health care needs. The knowledge path is available at http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_oralhealth.html. Knowledge paths on other topics are available at

Susan Brune Lorenzo, MLS
E-mail: smblorenzo@gmail.com
Maternal and Child Health Library
National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health at Georgetown University
Web site: http://mchlibrary.info