Health and Medical News Headlines for October 23, 2008

Waiting for the doctor and waiting and waiting...

Waiting hours past your appointment for your doctor is frustrating. But there is something you can do. In this week's Empowered Patient, CNN Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has these tips when your doctor keeps you waiting...and waiting...and waiting.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 23 Oct 2008 | 1:08 pm

Cervical Cancer Vaccine Called Safe (HealthDay)

HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay) -- Gardasil, the two-year-old vaccine that's designed to prevent cervical cancer, is safe, U.S. officials said Wednesday.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Oct 2008 | 1:03 pm

SEB Q3 operating profit lags forecasts, to cut jobs

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Swedish bank SEB posted third-quarter operating profit below expectations on Thursday and said it would cut jobs due to the current financial market turmoil.
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Oct 2008 | 12:01 pm

ANZ bank shares drop over 5 pct after results

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Shares in Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd fell as much as 5.4 percent on Thursday after it reported a 32 percent drop in second-half cash profit on a sharp rise in bad debt...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Oct 2008 | 12:01 pm

Big Greek banks say will use govt support as needed

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's big banks, which have agreed to a 28 billion euro ($35.9 billion) government rescue plan, said the scheme will enable them to get state funding if and when needed and be on...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Oct 2008 | 12:01 pm

German banks lent most to Iceland borrowers-BIS

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German banks lent the most to Icelandic borrowers and were owed $21 billion before the recent financial storm swept markets, according to figures released by the Bank for International...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Oct 2008 | 12:01 pm

Libya has 4.9 pct of Italy's Unicredit - cenbank

CAIRO (Reuters) - Libya has a stake of 4.9 percent of Italian bank UniCredit and it does not plan to increase that holding for the time being, the governor of the Central Bank of Libya said on Thursday...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Oct 2008 | 12:00 pm

Sabadell sees NPL ratio remaining below average

* Bad loan coverage falls to 140 pct from 430 pct a year ago
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Oct 2008 | 12:00 pm

Babcock & Brown in talks with potential partners

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Babcock & Brown Ltd has been approached by a number of parties on a potential strategic relationship, the troubled Australian investment bank said on Thursday.
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Oct 2008 | 12:00 pm

Goldman Sachs to cut about 3,260 jobs - source

LONDON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc plans to cut about 3,260 jobs, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Oct 2008 | 12:00 pm

SunTrust Banks third-quarter profit falls

NEW YORK (Reuters) - SunTrust Banks Inc , a large U.S. southeast regional bank, said on Thursday that third-quarter profit fell 25 percent, hurt by the effects of the tough credit environment.
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Oct 2008 | 12:00 pm

C.Suisse wary on Q4, investment bank disappoints

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss bank Credit Suisse trimmed exposure to illiquid assets, but a whopping 1.7 billion Swiss franc trading loss in the third quarter and a warning the fourth quarter would be tough...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Oct 2008 | 12:00 pm

Scientists try to stop hunger with retooled foods (AP)

AP - Want to lose weight? Try eating. That's one of the strategies being developed by scientists experimenting with foods that trick the body into feeling full.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Oct 2008 | 11:58 am

China reviews tougher laws amid milk scandal (Reuters)

Reuters - China began reviewing a tougher draft food safety law on Thursday following criticism from the United Nations over its sluggish response to a spreading tainted milk scandal that made thousands of children ill.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Oct 2008 | 11:27 am

Red Bull to Ritalin

Would you take a pill so you could concentrate better?
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 23 Oct 2008 | 11:11 am

Leukemia drug gives hopes to MS sufferers

Researchers in Britain say they have found that a drug used to treat leukemia can halt and even reverse the debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Source: CNN.com - Health | 23 Oct 2008 | 10:26 am

Test Shown To Reduce Mortality By 42% For Patients With Hospital-Acquired Enterococcus Faecium Bloodstream Infections

AdvanDx today announced that a new medical study demonstrated use of AdvanDx's PNA FISH™ test reduced mortality by 42% for patients with highly drug resistant Hospital-Acquired Enterococcus faecium bloodstream infections (BSI's). In addition, the study demonstrated that PNA FISH reduced the time to reporting of laboratory identification results for all enterococcal BSI's by 2.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Oct 2008 | 10:00 am

Attorney General Martha Coakley And 33 Other Attorneys General Announce $60 Milion Settlement With Pfizer

Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley's office, along with 33 other Attorneys General, reached a $60 million settlement with Pfizer Inc., resolving a five-year investigation into allegations of improper marketing of the drugs Bextra® and Celebrex®.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Oct 2008 | 10:00 am

Learning Modules On Research And Evidence-Based Practice Now Available

ANNA's Research Committee has developed a series of learning modules designed to empower nephrology nurses with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to employ evidence-based practice.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Oct 2008 | 10:00 am

Early Trial Of New Multi-Kinase Inhibitor Shows Impressive Activity In Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Preliminary trials of a new multi-kinase inhibitor have indicated it has impressive tumour shrinkage activity in patients with a difficult to treat type of thyroid cancer. The results have put the drug's development on a fast track, prompting the accelerated initiation of a large phase III trial.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Oct 2008 | 10:00 am

Hospital Discharges To Home Health, Nursing Homes Increasing, USA

The rate of patients discharged from hospitals but who still needed home health care increased 53 percent (from 2 million to 4 million) between 1997 and 2006, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Oct 2008 | 10:00 am

Study Finds BRAF Mutations In Colorectal Cancer Cause Resistance To Anti-EGFR Therapy

European researchers have found that metastatic colorectal cancer patients with a mutation in the BRAF gene do not respond to anti-EGFR therapy with cetuximab and panitumumab. The finding could help doctors better identify which patients are likely to benefit from such treatment, which is commonly used as last-effort therapy but only works in a fraction of patients.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Oct 2008 | 10:00 am

Overweight Women May Find Accessing Healthcare Difficult And Stressful

Women who are overweight and obese can find accessing healthcare difficult and stressful, according to research in the latest UK-based Journal of Advanced Nursing. Researchers from Texas, USA, carried out in-depth interviews with women aged between 20 and 61, after recruiting them through local advertisements placed in community agencies and a regional newspaper.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Oct 2008 | 10:00 am

MPs support embryology proposals

MPs vote to back controversial changes to embryology laws after a row over ministers' handling of discussion on abortion.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 23 Oct 2008 | 9:58 am

Depression 'doubles' early birth

Women who are depressed during pregnancy have twice the risk of their babies coming early, according to US researchers.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 23 Oct 2008 | 9:02 am

Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force Reports On Progress Toward Reducing The Black-White Disparity

In what is gaining national recognition as a model for citywide collaboration to address racial health care disparities, The Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force delivered its first report to the community, one year after releasing a major report that outlined more than 30 recommendations for action.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Oct 2008 | 9:00 am

Underlying Cause Of Multiple Sclerosis Targeted By Alemtuzumab

WHAT: Today, Thursday, October 23, the New England Journal of Medicine publish the results of the Phase II clinical trial comparing the investigational compound alemtuzumab against an approved therapy in early, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Oct 2008 | 9:00 am

Family Planning Association Reacts To The Dropping Of Abortion Amendments From The HFE Bill, UK

A Programme Motion from the Government has restricted debate on amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill to modernise the 1967 Abortion Act, including extending the act to Northern Ireland. This makes it impossible for the amendments on abortion to be discussed in the House of Commons today. Julie Bentley, Chief Executive, fpa said: "We are extremely dismayed.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Oct 2008 | 9:00 am

'Get the smokers'

A day with an anti-cigarette hit-squad in Delhi
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 23 Oct 2008 | 8:47 am

Panel Calls for Vaccine for Adult Smokers

Adult smokers should be vaccinated against infections caused by common respiratory bacteria, according to a scientific committee at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Oct 2008 | 8:19 am

From BBC Health

Get the facts on the most common sex infections
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 23 Oct 2008 | 8:10 am

Rise Seen in Food Allergies in Children

Food allergies now affect about 3 million American children, according to the first federal study of the problem.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Oct 2008 | 6:42 am

Picking Up Good Vibrations (With Limitations)

Hearing aids provide many benefits, but they do not restore hearing to normal, and that is a tough lesson to learn for many people who use them.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Oct 2008 | 6:08 am

Fitness: Workout Regimens You Can Live With

The federal government issues guidelines for exercise, emphasizing the variety of activities.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Oct 2008 | 5:45 am

Food allergies increasing in US kids, study says (AP)

AP - Food allergies in American children seem to be on the rise, now affecting about 3 million kids, according to the first federal study of the problem.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Oct 2008 | 5:10 am

Eating Fast Until Full Triples Overweight Risk (HealthDay)

HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- People who eat quickly and until they're full are three times more likely to be overweight than others, a Japanese study says.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Oct 2008 | 3:48 am

Clinical Trials Update: Oct. 22, 2008 (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch:
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Oct 2008 | 3:48 am

U.S. FDA Expands Approval for J&J HIV Drug

U.S. health regulators have expanded approval for Johnson & Johnson's Prezista in combination with other drugs to treat HIV patients who are just beginning to take medication for the virus, the company said on Wednesday.
Reuters Health Information
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 23 Oct 2008 | 2:15 am

U.S. FDA Inspection System Outdated, Slow: GAO Report

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's system that monitors inspections of drug manufacturing plants worldwide is outdated and inaccurate, according to a government report released on Wednesday.
Reuters Health Information
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 23 Oct 2008 | 2:13 am

Fitness: Staying Healthy in a Sick Economy

Businesspeople wonder how a perilous financial climate will affect their physical fitness — and if exercise could help them weather hard times.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Oct 2008 | 2:12 am

Panel calls for vaccine for adult smokers (AP)

AP - For the first time, an influential government panel is recommending a vaccination specifically for smokers. The panel decided Wednesday that adult smokers under 65 should get pneumococcal vaccine. The shot already recommended for anyone 65 or older protects against bacteria that cause pneumonia, meningitis and other illnesses.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Oct 2008 | 1:01 am

Sick economy has patients skimping on medicine (AP)

AP - The ailing economy is leading many Americans to skip doctor visits, skimp on their medicine, and put off mammograms, Pap smears and other tests. And physicians worry the result will be sicker patients who need more expensive treatment later.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Oct 2008 | 1:01 am

Reports of serious drug reactions hit record (AP)

AP - The number of serious drug reactions and deaths reported to the government shot up in the first three months of this year to set a new record, a health industry watchdog group said Wednesday.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Oct 2008 | 1:01 am

Drug may reverse MS brain damage

A drug developed to treat leukaemia may be a powerful new weapon against multiple sclerosis, early trials suggest.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 22 Oct 2008 | 11:35 pm

Diet drug 'doubles weight loss'

An anti-obesity drug vastly outperforms rivals that are currently available, early Danish trials suggest.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 22 Oct 2008 | 11:20 pm

In the swing

New MS drug helps golfer regain his touch
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 22 Oct 2008 | 11:17 pm

Mouse Memories Erased, No Harm Done

Scientists have successfully selected and safely erased specific memories in a mouse’s brain, leaving others intact, it was announced today.
Source: Livescience.com - Health | 22 Oct 2008 | 9:37 pm

Eating Until Full and Eating Quickly May Triple the Risk for Overweight

A cross-sectional survey shows that a combination of eating until full and eating quickly may increase the risk for overweight by 3-fold.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Oct 2008 | 9:00 pm

Guidelines Issued on Management of Hyperglycemia in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

The American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes have updated their consensus statement, which highlights new classes of medications available.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Oct 2008 | 9:00 pm

Patient Self-Administered Report Effective to Screen for Domestic Violence

In a randomized trial of 3 methods to screen for domestic violence in the primary care setting, patient self-administered domestic violence screening was as effective as a clinician interview.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Oct 2008 | 9:00 pm

Vigorous Physical Activity May Improve Knee Joint Structures

A study suggests that vigorous physical activity benefits knee cartilage in patients without knee injury and that walking reduces the risk for bone marrow lesions in the knee.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Oct 2008 | 9:00 pm

FDA Safety Changes: Advair HFA, Tekturna HCT, Lovenox

The FDA has approved revisions to the safety labeling for fluticasone propionate plus salmeterol xinafoate, aliskiren hemifumarate plus hydrochlorothiazide tablets, and enoxaparin sodium injection.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Oct 2008 | 9:00 pm

Recommendations for Management of Cow's Milk Protein Allergy in Infants

A review offers recommendations to assist general pediatricians and primary care clinicians in diagnosing and managing cow's milk protein allergy in breast-fed and formula-fed infants.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Oct 2008 | 9:00 pm

"Western" Diet Increases MI Risk Worldwide

Applicable in all regions of the world, a Western diet high in fried foods and meat products increases the risk for a myocardial infarction, and a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is protective.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Oct 2008 | 9:00 pm

Response to Cetuximab Predicted by KRAS Mutation in Colorectal Cancer

Treatment with cetuximab is associated with increased median overall and progression-free survival among colorectal cancer patients with wild-type KRAS tumors. However, a significant survival benefit from cetuximab was not observed among patients with tumors that had KRAS mutations.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Oct 2008 | 8:59 pm

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