Health and Medical News Headlines for April 17, 2009

Morning Rounds: Defective Fitness Balls, H.I.V. in Prisons and Obese Airline Passengers

Health news from around the Web.

Source: NYT > Health | 17 Apr 2009 | 12:52 pm

UPDATE 1-Sepracor claims patent rights on Wyeth's Pristiq

NEW YORK, April 17 (Reuters) - Specialty drugmaker Sepracor Inc said on Friday it is claiming patent rights on Wyeth's Pristiq antidepressant.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Apr 2009 | 12:15 pm

Subsidy Plan Seeks to Lower Cost of Malaria Drugs

A new plan to lower the cost of malaria medicine down to as little as 20 cents was announced Friday.

Source: NYT > Health | 17 Apr 2009 | 12:05 pm

UPDATE 1-Media General posts loss; ad sales fall

* EPS Loss excl items $0.77 vs Wall St view of $0.05 loss
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Apr 2009 | 12:01 pm

Spain's Prisa awaiting loan extension details

MADRID, April 17 (Reuters) - Prisa is still waiting to sign a deal with six creditor banks to extend for a year the terms of a 1.95 billion euro ($2.56 billion) bridge loan, a spokeswoman for the Spanish...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Apr 2009 | 11:57 am

Indonesia's Indo Tambangraya sees higher '09 revenue

JAKARTA, April 17 (Reuters) - Indonesian coal miner PT Indo Tambangraya Megah forecast on Friday its revenue would climb to between $1.33-$1.54 billion this year, compared with $1.32 billion in 2008,...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Apr 2009 | 11:47 am

New National Online Survey Says Bipolar Depressive Symptoms Have Impact on Day-To-Day Tasks as Well as Social Activities(1)

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Apr 2009 | 11:45 am

UPDATE 2-Germany's AOK wins key cases, sees drug contracts soon

* Contracts for 49 of 63 drugs tendered to start June 1
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Apr 2009 | 11:00 am

Lotte bows out of final bid for InBev's OB -source

HONG KONG, April 17 (Reuters) - South Korean retail giant Lotte Group will not submit a final offer for Oriental Brewery (OB), a source said on Friday, opening the way for a private equity buyer for the...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Apr 2009 | 10:59 am

SNAPSHOT - Financial Crisis - 1047 GMT

- ECB'S Trichet, IMF's Strauss-Kahn urge action for recovery in 2010
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Apr 2009 | 10:48 am

India minor fire at MRPL refinery contained

NEW DELHI, April 17 (Reuters) - India's Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd on Friday said it had contained a minor fire that broke out in the cooling tower of its refinery. "There was a minor...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Apr 2009 | 10:48 am

UPDATE 3-ASMI will not reappoint CFO in contractual dispute

* ASMI says will defend itself in dispute over severance pay
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Apr 2009 | 10:47 am

Pregnancy exercise 'helps baby'

Exercise during pregnancy can be good for the developing baby as well as for the mother, research suggests.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 17 Apr 2009 | 9:56 am

Pennsylvania Nurses Call For Guaranteed Healthcare Law For All State Residents

Registered nurses from throughout the state will be joined by physicians, patients, and healthcare activists at a hearing this Friday before the House Democratic caucus in support of a landmark single-payer healthcare bill.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Apr 2009 | 9:00 am

The Benefits Of "Mirthful Laughter," Coupled With Standard Diabetic Treatment

The connection between the body, mind and spirit has been the subject of conventional scientific inquiry for some 20 years. The notion that psychosocial and societal considerations have a role in maintaining health and preventing disease became crystallized as a result of the experiences of a layman, Norman Cousins.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Apr 2009 | 9:00 am

Recipients Of The 2009 APhA Academy Of Pharmacy Practice And ManagementPresentation Merit Award Announced

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) announces the recipients of the APhA Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management (APhA-APPM) Presentation Merit Award. This award recognizes eligible participants on practice-related topics presented at the APhA2009 Contributed Poster Session.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Apr 2009 | 9:00 am

Evidence Needed On Breaking The Cycle Between Mental Illness And Homelessness, Says St Mungo's, UK

What kind of housing works best for people with mental health problems who are at risk of sleeping rough? What are the barriers preventing homeless people with a mental illness from receiving appropriate treatment? What should be the roles and responsibilities of central, regional and local governmen
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Apr 2009 | 9:00 am

Government Researchers And Practitioners Meet In London To Discuss The Future Of Social Research And Public Policy

While public policy aims to resolve social issues such as social exclusion, crime, welfare and poverty, a recent report from the British Academy has warned that the full value of social science research into these and other social issues has not been properly recognised by policy makers.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Apr 2009 | 9:00 am

Pioneering Medical Nanotechnology Offers New Cancer Breakthrough Hope

A multi-disciplinary team of scientists from the University of Leicester could be potentially paving the way for the development of a powerful new strategy for both the early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. The research is to use cutting edge nanotechnology to identify a pioneering treatment which could also be applied to other aggressive cancers.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Apr 2009 | 9:00 am

Clavis Pharma Initiates Phase II Clinical Study Of Intravenous CP-4126 In Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Clavis Pharma ASA (OSE: CLAVIS) announced initiation of the first phase II study with Intravenous CP-4126 (a novel Lipid Vector Technology analogue of gemcitabine) in patients with newly diagnosed, advanced pancreatic cancer. The standard treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer is currently gemcitabine (Gemzar®).
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Apr 2009 | 9:00 am

Medicare Announces Sites For Pilot Program To Improve Quality As Patients Move Across Care Settings

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the 14 communities around the nation that have been chosen for the Agency's Care Transitions Project, seeking to eliminate unnecessary hospital readmissions.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Apr 2009 | 9:00 am

Parents: Bottled Water Trend Poses Threat To Dental Health

Five billion gallons of bottled water were consumed in 2000, an increase of more than 200 percent from a decade earlier.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Apr 2009 | 9:00 am

Mental Health America Calls For Action To End Mental Health Disparities

In recognition of National Minority Health Month, Mental Health America is calling for action to end the disparities that exist for people of color in need of mental health care and treatment.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Apr 2009 | 9:00 am

Doctor and Patient: Life and Death on the Operating Table

Transplant surgeon Dr. Thomas E. Starzl, a pioneer of modern medicine, offers advice for doctors and patients.

Source: NYT > Health | 17 Apr 2009 | 7:23 am

A Cheap, Fast and Possibly Deadly Route to Beauty

Officials fear that a growing number of women are using illegal silicone injections instead of cosmetic surgery.

Source: NYT > Health | 17 Apr 2009 | 7:09 am

Glaxo and Pfizer Join Forces to Develop and Market H.I.V. Drugs

The pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer said they would form a specialty company to research, develop and market treatments for H.I.V.

Source: NYT > Health | 17 Apr 2009 | 6:44 am

Task to Aid Self-Esteem Lifts Grades for Some

The students who benefited most were blacks who were doing poorly, the study found.

Source: NYT > Health | 17 Apr 2009 | 6:39 am

To Fill Food Safety Gap, Processors Pay Inspectors

Safety scares prompted California’s so-called leafy greens industry to pay for inspections that the F.D.A. rarely does.

Source: NYT > Health | 17 Apr 2009 | 6:36 am

State finds clinic reused supplies on patients

More than 5,000 patients at a South Dakota urology clinic may have been exposed to hepatitis and HIV after the facility reused single-use medical products on them, state health officials said.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 17 Apr 2009 | 6:32 am

Many unaware of alcohol calories

Many people are unaware that the calorie content of alcohol can undo the benefits of an otherwise healthy diet, a survey suggests.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 17 Apr 2009 | 4:47 am

Clinical Trials Update: April 16, 2009 (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch and ClinicalConnection.com:
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 17 Apr 2009 | 3:49 am

Less Than Half of Young Women Screened for Chlamydia (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- A nationwide assessment of screening data finds that while rates of testing for sexually transmitted chlamydia have risen since 2000, more than 50 percent of young, sexually active U.S. women still do not get screened.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 17 Apr 2009 | 3:49 am

Writing About Values Boosts Grades for Middle Schoolers (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- When children write about their values, these self-affirmation exercises can help boost grades, new research suggests.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 17 Apr 2009 | 3:49 am

Reducing LDL Cholesterol With Statins Reduces Stroke Risk: Meta-Analysis

The meta-analysis, which included 24 studies and more than 165 000 patients, showed that for every 39-mg/dL decrease in LDL-cholesterol levels, there was a 21% reduction in the relative risk of stroke.
Heartwire
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 17 Apr 2009 | 1:01 am

FDA Issues Recall for Arrow International IAB Catheters

The FDA has issued a class 1 recall for a number of intra-aortic balloon pump catheters manufactured by Arrow International because of a fault in the connector of the pump tubing assembly. The problem could have serious consequences, the agency notes, although the company said this week there have been no reports of injury or death.
Heartwire
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 17 Apr 2009 | 12:54 am

Meta-Analysis Supports Heart-Health Benefits From a Mediterranean Diet

A review of over 200 studies finds strong evidence that a Mediterranean diet can protect against CHD; dietary patterns appear more important than individual foods.
Heartwire
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 17 Apr 2009 | 12:49 am

Depression Linked to Heart Failure After Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease

A study shows that diagnosis of depression is associated with an increased incidence of heart failure after coronary artery disease diagnosis, regardless of antidepressant medication treatment.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 17 Apr 2009 | 12:38 am

FDA Approvals: Coartem and Benzyl Alcohol Lotion

The FDA has approved artemether-lumefantrine tablets (Coartem) and benzyl alcohol 5% lotion.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 17 Apr 2009 | 12:30 am

Doctors 'must root out bad care'

NHS staff - and in particular doctors - must do more to tackle bad care, the head of the new health regulator says.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 16 Apr 2009 | 11:43 pm

Doctors issue health warning to women with excess hair

Women with excess hair growth probably have an underlying medical condition and need to be assessed, experts advise.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 16 Apr 2009 | 11:22 pm

Health advocates tout new model of female condom (AP)

AP - Advocates of the female condom are promoting a less costly, more user-friendly version that they hope will vastly expand its role in the global fight against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. An early version of the female condom was introduced in 1993, and it remains the only available woman-initiated form of protection against both STDs and unintended pregnancy.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 16 Apr 2009 | 11:05 pm

Genetic Variant Associated With Ischemic Stroke

A prospective population-based study has found variants near gene NINJ2, on human chromosome 12, to be strongly associated with risk for ischemic stroke; 1 SNP was further validated in individual replication samples with white Dutch and black participants.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 16 Apr 2009 | 10:07 pm

Sound advice

Help with stresses and strains on vocal cords
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 16 Apr 2009 | 9:12 pm

Depression Linked to Heart Failure After Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease

Screening for Asymptomatic CAD in Diabetic Patients Does Not Reduce Cardiac Events

Screening for asymptomatic coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes fails to significantly reduce future cardiac events, according to the results of a new study.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 16 Apr 2009 | 9:00 pm

FDA Approvals: Coartem and Benzyl Alcohol Lotion

The FDA has approved artemether-lumefantrine tablets (Coartem) and benzyl alcohol 5% lotion.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 16 Apr 2009 | 9:00 pm

CCTA Should Be Routine for Assessing Suspected CAD Patients

A new study clearly demonstrates the capability of coronary computed-tomography angiography to predict cardiac events in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 16 Apr 2009 | 9:00 pm

Skin Deep: Many Cutbacks but Not for Straight Teeth

Even in a recession, parents see braces for their children as an investment in the future.

Source: NYT > Health | 16 Apr 2009 | 7:21 pm

Promising Test for Dendreon’s Prostate Cancer Drug

A prostate cancer drug developed by the biotechnology company Dendreon prolonged the lives of men in a decisive clinical trial, the company said.

Source: NYT > Health | 16 Apr 2009 | 5:57 pm

Obese young adults risk disability later (Reuters)

Reuters - People who are overweight or obese in young adulthood and middle-age are at elevated risk of being disabled in their later years, a new study suggests.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 16 Apr 2009 | 5:16 pm

School a 'soft landing' for post-rehab teens

It was Halloween night when 12-year-old Lucy Gross picked up her first marijuana cigarette, starting a spiral from which she is still struggling to recover.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 16 Apr 2009 | 5:16 pm

Jet Lag Caused By Out-of-synch Brain

Jet lag caused by brain cells falling out of synch with change in light-dark cycle.
Source: Livescience.com - Health | 16 Apr 2009 | 4:03 pm

Showdown at the Coffee Shop

The world of artificial sweeteners is changing as a new player, dressed in green, hopes to shift the balance of power.

Source: NYT > Health | 16 Apr 2009 | 3:43 pm

Twin Reno girls treated for rare disease (AP)

AP - Twin 5-year-old girls living with a rare disease are among the first in the country being treated for their condition at a Reno hospital after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted special permission to use an experimental drug.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 16 Apr 2009 | 3:02 pm

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