Thursday, June 13, 2013: Finally! A ruling in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc. et al. Biotechnology company Myriad Genetics claimed exclusive rights to patents for ovarian and breast cancer DNA that it had isolated and genetically altered.  However, the Supreme Court disagreed…See tweet “No Patents for Natural #DNA…read more in “It’s Unanimous: Natural DNA Is Not Patentable” – http://NationalJournal.com  at http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/it-s-unanimous-natural-dna-is-not-patentable-20130613. (1, 2)

Michael Douglas caused quite a stir with his claim that his throat cancer was linked to the sexually transmitted Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes cervical cancer. (I discuss the cervical cancer, its risks, causes, prevention, and treatment in my February 2013 post, “Cervical Cancer Awareness Month Ends……..”)  Shortly after Douglas’ admission, both he and his spokesman backtracked.  Regardless, the debate rages on….see Tweet “Just in Time for #MensHealthWeek (June 10-16)….http://www.cdc.gov/men/nmhw/  . Video: “Throat Cancer and #HPV“ at http://nyti.ms/ZHr7AP.” (3-6)

Wednesday, June 12, 2013:  Longevity Rules…See Tweet….”Born in 1897? Wow! ‘Last Man Alive From 19th Century Dies’ http://abcn.ws/11X7PDT  (via @ABC)” (7)

Tuesday, June 11, 2013: Thanks to the HITECH Act, we are moving rapidly towards an electronically integrated and connected health care system…See tweet “Electronic Health Records Improve Health Care Quality and Delivery” at PolicyKina…#healthcare…#ehr…http://policykina.com/2013/06/11/electronic-health-records-improve-health-care-quality-and-delivery/ … (8, 9)

Monday, June 10, 2013: Put a Band-Aid on It! The advent of summer means more time outdoors and more bumps and bruises.  A rise in the number of people of color worldwide warrants a culturally-sensitive solution for covering those boo-boos……See tweet  “A multicultural solution for minor cuts and #scrapes…’The Story of the Black Band Aid’….http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/06/the-story-of-the-black-band-aid/276542/ …” (10)

Friday, June 7, 2013: Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is already working in California…See tweet “Obama cites California to tout his healthcare law” http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-healthcare-20130607,0,5283232.story (11)

Image Credit: Bird Logo Courtesy of Twitter

References
1.   “Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc. et al.” Supreme Court Opinion. http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/12-398_8njq.pdf. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
2.   “It’s Unanimous: Natural DNA Is Not Patentable. ”  National Journal. June 13, 2013. http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/it-s-unanimous-natural-dna-is-not-patentable-20130613. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
3.   Sheridan, Emily. “Now Michael Douglas says he DOESN’T blame oral sex for his throat cancer as doctors question his ‘dubious’ claims.” Daily Mail. Website. June 2, 2013. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2334749/Michael-Douglas-Oral-sex-caused-cancer.html. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
4.   Myrick, Dorkina. “Cervical Cancer Awareness Month Ends……..” MSP3 – The Policy Café. February 1, 2013. https://msp3kina.com/2013/02/01/cervical-cancer-awareness-month-ends/. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
5.   “National Men’s Health Week.”  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Website.  Last Updated June 6, 2013.  http://www.cdc.gov/men/nmhw/. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
6. “Throat Cancer and H.P.V.” New York Times. Video. Website.  June 10, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/video/2013/06/10/health/100000002273386/throat-cancer-and-hpv.html. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
7.    Neporent, Liz.  “Last Man Alive From 19th Century Dies.”  ABC News. Website.   June 12, 2013.  http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/06/12/last-man-born-in-the-19th-century-dies/.  Retrieved June 14, 2013.
8.   ‘‘American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Title XIII—Health Information Technology.” Pub. L. 111-05.  http://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/hitech_act_excerpt_from_arra.pdf.
9.   Myrick, Dorkina. “Electronic Health Records Improve Health Care Quality and Delivery.” (Infographic: Courtesy of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)).  PolicyKina. Blog/Website.  June 11, 2013.   http://policykina.com/2013/06/11/electronic-health-records-improve-health-care-quality-and-delivery/. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
10.  Malo, Sebastien. “The Story of the Black Band Aid.” The Atlantic.  Website.  June 6, 2013. http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/06/the-story-of-the-black-band-aid/276542/. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
11.   Levey, Noam and Parsons, Christi.  “Obama Cites California to Tout His Healthcare Law” Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-healthcare-20130607,0,5283232.story. Retrieved June 13, 2013.

Categories: MSP3

Tags: Affordable Care Act, Band-Aid, cervical cancer, dies, DNA, Electronic Health Records, HITECH, HPV, Men's Health Week, Michael Douglas, Myriad Genetics, patent, PolicyKina, Sexually transmitted disease, STD, STI, Supreme Court