Health and Medical News Headlines for February 20, 2009

Growing HIV rates among gay, bisexual men in Asia (AP)

AP - The AIDS virus is spreading rapidly among gay and bisexual men in Asia as younger people shun condoms and authorities fail to increase awareness of the disease, health officials said Friday.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 20 Feb 2009 | 2:12 pm

Cherry-flavored malaria drug launched for kids (AP)

AP - Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis is launching a new cherry-flavored malaria drug that it says children will be less likely to spit out.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 20 Feb 2009 | 2:09 pm

German insurer AOK postpones generic drug contracts

FRANKFURT, Feb 20 (Reuters) - German health insurer AOK said it is to postpone 2.3 billion euros ($2.94 billion) worth of bulk procurement contracts for generic drugs by about three months, after drugmakers...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 20 Feb 2009 | 2:02 pm

Bill Clinton, Health Groups to Tackle Childhood Obesity (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, Feb. 19 (HealthDay News) -- In what they called a "landmark agreement," former President Bill Clinton and the American Heart Association announced Thursday the launch of a national initiative on childhood obesity, aimed at getting up to 6 million American kids covered for routine visits to both primary care physicians and dietitians.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 20 Feb 2009 | 2:02 pm

New Issue-DCP Midstream sells $450 mln 10-yr notes

Feb 20 (Reuters) - DCP Midstream LLC, parent of DCP Midstream Partners LP , on Thursday sold $450 million of 10-year notes in the 144a private placement market, said IFR, a Thomson Reuters service.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:59 pm

UPDATE 1-Venoco to record $645 mln charge in Q4

Feb 20 (Reuters) - Venoco Inc said it expects to record a non-cash writedown of about $645 million in the fourth quarter to reflect the fall in value of its reserves following the steep decline in commodity...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:34 pm

UPDATE 1-Teck Cominco sells Hemlo stake to Barrick

TORONTO, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Teck Cominco has agreed to sell its 50 percent stake in the Hemlo gold operations to joint venture partner Barrick Gold as part of Teck's plan to raise cash and pay down debt,...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:05 pm

Well-off Venezuelans say Chavez led them to Stanford

CARACAS, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Droves of middle-class and well-heeled Venezuelans invested with Texan financier Allen Stanford, who is accused of "massive fraud," because they say they feared their money...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:04 pm

Gold Oil says share subscriber fails to pay

Feb 20 (Reuters) - Latin America-focused oil explorer Gold Oil Plc said on Friday that one of the subscribers to its share issue last month had failed to pay up and it would chase the defaulter to recover...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:00 pm

Metrovacesa says owner hands control to banks

MADRID, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The owners of Spain's Metrovacesa , the Sanahuja family, have reached an agreement with creditors to hand control of the property firm to the banks, the company said on Friday...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:59 pm

Merckle debts hit 5 bln eur before suicide-sources

FRANKFURT, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Industrialist Adolf Merckle racked up 5 billion euros ($6.3 billion) of debt before he committed suicide, now forcing his family to sell swathes of his empire to repay it,...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:51 pm

UPDATE 1-WellCare to suspend enrollment into Medicare plans

Feb 20 (Reuters) - WellCare Health Plans Inc , which administers Medicare and Medicaid programs for state agencies, said it will suspend marketing of, and enrollments into, its Medicare health plans by...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:47 pm

Pakistani stocks end lower; rupee flat

KARACHI, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Pakistani stocks weakened on profit-taking on Friday, but still ended the week 6.6 percent higher, dealers said.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:40 pm

British study points to peanut allergy treatment (Reuters)

Reuters - Children with severe peanut allergies given small daily doses of peanut flour were able to build tolerance to the nuts, according to a study that suggests it is possible to treat the potentially deadly condition.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:37 pm

Stop PSA Screening in Men Over 75 But Only Those With Low PSA, Says New Study

Screening for prostate cancer with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) can safely be discontinued in men 75 to 80 years old with low PSA levels, a new study concludes.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:03 pm

Kansas Gov. Sebelius Emerging As Top Choice For HHS Secretary, Advisers Say

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) "is emerging as the president's top choice" for HHS secretary, although other candidates remain under consideration, the New York Times reports. Sebelius has eight years of experience as Kansas insurance commissioner and six years of experience as a governor in charge the state Medicaid program.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:00 am

Women Who Consume Olive Oil Preserve Their Bone Mass Better

A study from the Harokopio University of Athens (Greece) determines that adherence to a dietary pattern close to the Mediterranean diet, with high consumption of fish and olive oil and low red meat intake, has a significant impact in women skeletal health. Results suggest that this eating pattern could have bone-preserving properties throughout adult life.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:00 am

European Medicines Agency Recommends Continued Vaccination With Gardasil

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has reviewed the available information on the two cases of status epilepticus with myoclonus (repeated and prolonged seizures and loss of consciousness) reported in two girls vaccinated with the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil in Spain.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:00 am

CRESTOR Cuts Risk Of Stroke By Nearly Half In JUPITER Study

A new analysis from the JUPITER study presented at the International Stroke Conference (ISC) in San Diego, California, describes details of the stroke data according to gender, ethnicity and baseline risk factors.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:00 am

DrugScope Responds To Publication Of NICE Guidelines On Needle And Syringe Programmes, UK

DrugScope, the leading independent centre of expertise on drugs and drug policy, has today welcomed the publication of new guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) [1] on the benefits of needle and syringe programmes (NSPs).
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:00 am

NCCS, UCLA, Wellpoint, And Genentech Launch Initiative To Provide Coordinated Follow-Up Care For People Surviving Cancer

Tens of thousands of people surviving a cancer diagnosis may benefit from a new program being introduced today by a collaboration of health care providers, patient advocates, health benefit insurers and a biotechnology company.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:00 am

University Of Edinburgh And Castle Craig Hospital Launch Pilot Study For Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy In The Treatment Of Alcoholic Liver Disease

A pilot study to treat alcoholic liver disease with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is being launched by Castle Craig Hospital and the Department of Hepatology at The University of Edinburgh, after obtaining Ethical Committee approval.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:00 am

European Medicines Agency Recommends New Contraindication And Warning For Rasilez And Other Aliskiren Medicines

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended adding a contra-indication to the Product Information for aliskiren, stating that it must not be used in patients who have experienced angioedema (swelling of the tissues beneath the skin) when taking aliskiren in the past.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:00 am

Varian Medical Systems Has Received CE Mark For Proton Therapy System

Varian Medical Systems today announced that it has received CE mark for the Varian Proton Therapy System, which is designed to help doctors to improve treatments and outcomes in many cancer cases. With proton therapy, doctors can use higher doses of radiation to control and manage tumors while significantly reducing damage to healthy tissue and vital organs.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:00 am

Peanut Allergy Desensitization Trial Successful

A small group of UK children with peanut allergy were successfully treated in a desentization trial bringing closer the hope that a cure will one day be possible. The children were gradually given increasing amounts of peanut flour then peanuts until they were able to eat at least 10 whole peanuts without having an allergic reaction.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:00 am

Lawmakers Seek to Return Right to Sue Device Makers

A Supreme Court decision in 2008 barred lawsuits against makers of medical devices approved by the F.D.A.

Source: NYT > Health | 20 Feb 2009 | 9:33 am

Guilty Pleas in Inquiry Into Stryker’s Marketing

A Justice Department inquiry into the off-label use of human bone growth products has resulted in guilty pleas by former company sales representatives.

Source: NYT > Health | 20 Feb 2009 | 9:18 am

London Journal: Squirming, but Watching a Dying Reality Star

The crude-talking, hard-drinking Jade Goody, who struck a chord on “Big Brother,” wants to take reality TV to a new extreme.

Source: NYT > Health | 20 Feb 2009 | 8:44 am

Peer Portner, Heart Pioneer, Dies at 69

Mr. Portner’s studies of the heart led to development of the Novacor pump, an electrical device used to let seriously ill patients survive long enough for a heart transplant.

Source: NYT > Health | 20 Feb 2009 | 7:40 am

Maternity art

Turning pregnancy bumps into moving masterpieces
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 20 Feb 2009 | 7:33 am

Health Care Industry in Talks to Shape Policy

The secret talks appear to be inching toward a consensus that comprehensive health care legislation should include a requirement that every American carry insurance.

Source: NYT > Health | 20 Feb 2009 | 7:09 am

Cleveland Clinic Gets Victim of Chimp Attack

The transfer of the woman, who was mauled by a chimpanzee, means a face transplant is being considered.

Source: NYT > Health | 20 Feb 2009 | 6:46 am

Suit Progresses on Housing for Mentally Ill

A lawsuit filed six years ago seeking to force New York State to overhaul the housing system for mentally ill adults will proceed to trial.

Source: NYT > Health | 20 Feb 2009 | 6:46 am

Heart Stents Found as Effective as Bypass for Many Patients

Many patients with severe heart disease fare just as well after receiving stents as those who undergo invasive bypass surgery, researchers reported.

Source: NYT > Health | 20 Feb 2009 | 6:03 am

Ending prostate PSA test safe for most elderly men (Reuters)

Reuters - Most men over age 75 can safely discontinue screening for prostate cancer with the PSA blood test, although such screening may still benefit some older men, U.S. researchers said on Friday.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 20 Feb 2009 | 5:12 am

Clinical Trials Update: Feb. 19, 2009 (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch: Clinical Trial Updates Date 02/19/2009
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 20 Feb 2009 | 4:48 am

Stress May Speed Melanoma Progression (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, Feb. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Stress appears to hasten the progression of aggressive or advanced melanoma skin cancer, but commonly prescribed blood pressure drugs may slow the disease and improve the quality of patients' lives, according to an Ohio State University study.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 20 Feb 2009 | 4:48 am

Morning Rounds: Another Salmonella Outbreak, a Popular Cancer Vaccine and a Drug Patent Under Fire

Health news from around the Web.

Source: NYT > Health | 20 Feb 2009 | 4:47 am

Food poisoning strikes 1 in 4 Americans each year (AP)

AP - Next time you have a case of diarrhea that lasts a day or more, chances are better than 1 in 3 that it was food poisoning. As many as a quarter of Americans suffer a foodborne illness each year though only a fraction of those cases get linked to high-profile outbreaks like the recent salmonella-peanut scare, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 20 Feb 2009 | 2:11 am

Lifestyle 'doubles stroke risk'

Unhealthy lifestyles are associated with more than double the risk of a stroke, a UK study reports.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:41 am

Hope over peanut allergy 'cure'

A group of children with peanut allergies have had their condition cured after being desensitised, doctors believe.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:41 am

Doctor and Patient: Getting Off the Patient Treadmill

Paying doctors for performance, rather than volume, may help cut spiraling health costs, but how will it affect doctor-patient relations?

Source: NYT > Health | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:19 am

Psoriasis Drug Linked to Deaths From Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

Three deaths from PML and a possible fourth case have been reported in patients taking the immunosuppressant drug efalizumab, according to the FDA.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 19 Feb 2009 | 10:54 pm

Study: Proximity to fast-food linked to stroke risk

A person's risk of stroke is associated with the number of fast-food restaurants near their residence, according to a study presented Thursday at a stroke conference in San Diego, California.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 19 Feb 2009 | 10:49 pm

Simple Clinical Decision Rule Aids Management of Clinically Suspected Deep Vein Thrombosis

This diagnostic management strategy in primary care, including a point-of-care D-dimer assay, reduced the need for referral of patients with clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis by almost 50%.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 19 Feb 2009 | 10:14 pm

FDA Approvals: Kapidex and ATryn

The FDA has approved dexlansoprazole delayed-release capsules (Kapidex) and a recombinant antithrombin product (ATryn).
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 19 Feb 2009 | 10:04 pm

Coffee Intake Associated With Decreased Stroke Risk in Women

A new analysis of data from the Nurses' Health Study shows that long-term intake of up to 4 or more cups of coffee per day was not associated with an increased risk for stroke.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 19 Feb 2009 | 10:00 pm

Warfarin Does Not Reduce Thromboses in Cancer Patients With Catheters: WARP Results

The use of warfarin vs no warfarin in cancer patients who need central venous catheters for chemotherapy is not associated with reduced rate of catheter- or non-catheter-related thrombosis.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 19 Feb 2009 | 10:00 pm

Hand Washing May Reduce Episodes of Diarrhea by 30%

A Cochrane review suggests that hand washing reduces episodes of diarrhea by 30%, which is comparable to the effect of providing clean water in low-income areas.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 19 Feb 2009 | 10:00 pm

Simple Clinical Decision Rule Aids Management of Clinically Suspected Deep Vein Thrombosis

FDA Approvals: Kapidex and ATryn

Prediction of Initial Dose of Warfarin Aided by Genetic Testing

An algorithm incorporating genetic information is helpful in predicting the appropriate initial dose of warfarin in patients who are outliers--that is, the almost 50% of people who require either higher- or lower-than-average doses of the drug, according to the largest and most inclusive study of its kind to date.
Heartwire
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 19 Feb 2009 | 9:53 pm

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