Health and Medical News Headlines for July 23, 2009

Flu infects 100,000 in past week

The number of new cases of swine flu in the past week has reached an estimated 100,000 in England, the BBC has learnt.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 23 Jul 2009 | 12:03 pm

UPDATE 1-Occidental earnings tumble, but top Wall St view

NEW YORK, July 23 (Reuters) - Occidental Petroleum Corp reported a 70 percent drop in quarterly profit on Thursday as oil and gas prices tumbled from their record peaks last summer, but the results beat...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Jul 2009 | 11:53 am

Narconon Trois-Rivieres Cites 'Hillbilly Heroin' as Canadian Drug Addiction Crisis

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Jul 2009 | 11:50 am

UPDATE 1-Hercules Offshore posts narrower-than-expected Q2 loss

* Says got lender consent for amending 2 credit agreements
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Jul 2009 | 11:49 am

Petrol Jan-June group net profit down by 72 pct y/y

LJUBLJANA, July 23 (Reuters) - Slovenia's largest fuel retailer Petrol said on Thursday group net profit for January to June fell to 8.7 million euros from 30.8 million in the same period of 2008.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Jul 2009 | 11:46 am

UPDATE 1-Labcorp quarterly net rises, beats Street view

* Adjusted earnings $1.30, beats Street view by 3 cents
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Jul 2009 | 11:45 am

UPDATE 1-Celgene 2nd-qtr profit rises on Revlimid sales

BOSTON, July 23 (Reuters) - Celgene Corp said on Thursday its second-quarter earnings rose on higher sales of its blood cancer drugs.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Jul 2009 | 11:43 am

Sysmex Supports Illinois Chapter Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Jul 2009 | 11:34 am

India ONGC Q1 net falls 27 pct, beats forecast

MUMBAI, July 23 (Reuters) - Indian state-run explorer Oil & Natural Gas Corp reported a 27 percent fall in quarterly net profit on Thursday, a smaller fall then the market had expected, as crude prices...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Jul 2009 | 11:32 am

MedCath Corporation to Hold Conference Call on Third Quarter Results

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Jul 2009 | 11:30 am

Abaxis to Report First Quarter Fiscal 2010 Financial Results Thursday, July 30, 2009

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 23 Jul 2009 | 11:30 am

Manufacturers brewing new swine flu vaccine (AP)

AP - Attention is shifting to the world's five leading flu vaccine makers: How fast are they really producing swine flu vaccine, and just how do they plan to test that it works?

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Jul 2009 | 10:32 am

Study links exposure to pollution with lower IQ (Time.com)

Time.com - In the first study of its kind, researchers link mothers' prenatal exposure to environmental pollution to lower IQ in their children by age 5.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Jul 2009 | 9:40 am

NBCH Releases Report On Health Plans' Performance For Cardiovascular Disease Care And Prevention

Today the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) released a national report on efforts of health plan programs to improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) care and prevention. NBCH used data from eValue8(TM), the nation's leading standardized Request for Information (RFI), a tool utilized by employers and coalitions to measure and compare health plan performance.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

Scientists Test New Drug Combo Against Breast Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates 192,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year with more than 40,000 individuals dying from the disease. In New Jersey alone 6,400 new cases are expected with 1,400 deaths.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

R-Tech Ueno, Ltd. Completes Phase 1 Clinical Study On RK-023

R-Tech Ueno, Ltd. announced on July 17 that as a phase 1 clinical study on the new compound RK-023 that is being developed by our company as a therapeutic drug of androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness; see the note below) has been completed. The phase 1 clinical study of RK-023 consisted of a patch test (open, closed, photo-patch test), single-dose study and 5-day repeated-dose study.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

Patient Has Speedy Recovery From New Heart Valve Procedure

For years, George Forschler knew the mitral valve in his heart was failing and would eventually need repair or replacement. Concerned about the risks associated with open heart surgery the traditional way to access a mitral valve he did his best to postpone the inevitable. Forschler, a retired U.S.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

Survey: 40 Percent Of Senior Citizens Not Taking Prescribed Medicines Due To Budget Concerns

A new survey, released today by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), found that senior citizens are being forced to make drastic cuts to their medical and food budgets due to the recession. The survey, conducted over a three-month period earlier this year, had more than 1,040 respondents aged 65 and over.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

US To Start Human Trials Of H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine In August

The United States will start human trials of an experimental vaccine for preventing the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus in August; the first study will involve 1,000 volunteer adults and children in 10 centres throughout the country.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

AcelRx Announces Perfect Performance Of Handheld Component Of ARX-01 Sufentanil NanoTab PCA System In A Phase 2 Study

AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced positive results from its first Phase 2 clinical study evaluating the functionality of the handheld device component of its ARX-01 Sufentanil NanoTab(TM) PCA System for management of acute post-operative pain in patients requiring opioid analgesia during hospitalization.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

Obama Says Lawmakers Should Not Become Sidetracked By Abortion Debate In Health Reform

In an interview with CBS' "Evening News" on Tuesday, President Obama said that lawmakers should "not get distracted by the abortion debate" as they weigh health reform legislation.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

Childhood Radiation Therapy Increases Future Breast Cancer Risk, Study Finds

Women who underwent radiation therapy for cancer as children have an increased long-term risk for developing breast cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Reuters reports. However, when the childhood treatments included a high dose of radiation to the ovaries, women's risk of developing future breast tumors was "sharply reduced," according to the study.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

FDA Approves Tekturna HCT(R) As Initial Treatment In Patients Unlikely To Achieve Their Blood Pressure Goals With A Single Agent

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tekturna HCT((R)) (aliskiren and hydrochlorothiazide) tablets as initial therapy for patients who are likely to need multiple drugs to achieve their blood pressure goals.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

Researchers to implant pig cells in diabetics (AP)

AP - A New Zealand biotech company began a trial Thursday that will implant cells from newborn pigs into eight human volunteers as an experimental treatment for their diabetes.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Jul 2009 | 7:51 am

Doctors' dilemma

If swine flu bites, who gets care from the NHS?
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 23 Jul 2009 | 7:39 am

Vaccine struggle embodies U.S. health reform battle (Reuters)

Reuters - The confusion surrounding adult vaccination help illustrates some of the big problems looming for Congress as it struggles with healthcare reform legislation, doctors and health officials said on Wednesday.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Jul 2009 | 6:25 am

Obama Moves to Reclaim the Debate on Health Care

President Obama sought to convince an increasingly skeptical American public that proposed changes to the health care system would benefit them and strengthen the economy.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Jul 2009 | 6:13 am

Study Finds Chimps Die From Simian AIDS, Dispelling Widely Held Belief

The finding also suggests that an outbreak of AIDS is contributing to the declining chimpanzee population in Africa.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Jul 2009 | 6:13 am

Summer Camp ’09: A Swim, a Cough, a Quarantine

Tamiflu and hand sanitizer are added to the usual routines of water activities and arts and crafts.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Jul 2009 | 6:07 am

Obama defends healthcare reforms

President Barack Obama defends his plans for health reform in a news conference broadcast live in the US.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 23 Jul 2009 | 6:03 am

Concerns on Plan Show Clashing Goals

Centrist lawmakers have raised concerns about the cost and scope of legislation to overhaul the health care system.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Jul 2009 | 6:02 am

Typhoid vaccine effective for kids: institute (AFP)

AFP - A cheap typhoid vaccine that would be affordable for the poor in developing countries has proved highly effective in protecting pre-school children, an international health body said Thursday.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Jul 2009 | 5:50 am

Clinical Trials for Flu Vaccine Are to Begin Soon

Volunteers for test shots will be recruited at eight sites in a race against a possible resurgence of swine flu in the fall.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Jul 2009 | 5:18 am

Personal Best: Seeking Help for an Injury, at Any Price

A bad injury dispels doubt about a new treatment with minimal study behind it.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Jul 2009 | 4:51 am

Cellular Protein Yields Clues to Diabetes, Alzheimer's (HealthDay)

HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, July 22 (HealthDay News) -- New information about a cellular protein might help in efforts to develop drug treatments for diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, researchers say.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Jul 2009 | 3:49 am

Eating Habits in the Obese May Echo Drug Addicts' Patterns (HealthDay)

HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, July 22 (HealthDay News) -- When it comes to weight control, it might not be the kind of snack that matters, but who eats it.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Jul 2009 | 3:49 am

South Africa tests first African-made AIDS vaccine (AFP)

AFP - South Africa has launched human trials of the first African-produced HIV vaccine, as scientists seek new approaches to battling AIDS in the world's worst-affected country.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 23 Jul 2009 | 2:48 am

FDA, experts warn against use of e-cigarettes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that laboratory tests on popular smoking devices known as electronic cigarettes have found they contain carcinogens and other toxic chemicals dangerous to humans.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 23 Jul 2009 | 2:35 am

The Work-Up: Costly Drugs Known as Biologics Prompt Exclusivity Debate

Companies that own the rights to high-end treatments say allowing copycats to market too soon would hurt financial incentives.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Jul 2009 | 2:31 am

Study nails secret of child sleep

Researchers have found that sedentary children take far longer to 'nod off' at night than their more active playmates.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 23 Jul 2009 | 2:13 am

Swine flu drug sales soar amid stockpiling

Sales of the flu drug Relenza shot up 1,900 percent from a year ago as governments around the world stockpiled in preparation for a swine flu pandemic, drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline said Wednesday.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 23 Jul 2009 | 2:05 am

Public warned about health MOTs

Private health checks offer poor value for money and can lead to painful and often possibly dangerous tests, a consumer group says.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 23 Jul 2009 | 2:03 am

Analysis Finds Toxic Substances in Electronic Cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes contain traces of carcinogens, according to a preliminary analysis by the F.D.A.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Jul 2009 | 1:57 am

U.S. trials for H1N1 vaccine announced

In a race to beat the flu season, medical institutes across the United States will begin human trials for a new H1N1 flu vaccine starting in early August, the University of Maryland announced Wednesday.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 23 Jul 2009 | 12:59 am

Skin Deep: Tossing Out the Diet and Embracing the Fat

A loose alliance of therapists, scientists and others explore whether ignoring dieting will make weight go away.

Source: NYT > Health | 23 Jul 2009 | 12:24 am

Australia to begin first human test of H1N1 vaccine

The first human trials of a swine flu vaccine are expected to start in Australia Wednesday, as the World Health Organization confirmed that more than 700 people had died from the virus worldwide.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 23 Jul 2009 | 12:18 am

Personal Health: Much Has Changed in Surrogate Pregnancies

With the birth last month of twin girls for Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, surrogate pregnancy once again assumed center stage.

Source: NYT > Health | 22 Jul 2009 | 10:18 pm

The Pill may be less effective in obese women (Reuters)

Reuters - Oral contraceptives behave differently in the bodies of obese women than in normal-weight women, new research shows, suggesting that they may not work as well in preventing pregnancy.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 22 Jul 2009 | 9:39 pm

World Population Grows Older, but at a Cost

The global population is aging faster than ever and posing financial and social challenges.
WebMD Health News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jul 2009 | 9:38 pm

Heart-Transplant Pathology Pioneer Billingham Dies

The former ISHLT president developed the Billingham criteria for grading heart-transplant rejection.
Heartwire
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jul 2009 | 9:28 pm

Apart From the Hole: New Theory Proposes "AF-Like" Theory for Stroke in PFO Patients, With No Right-to-Left Embolization

A new study suggests that people with PFOs and moderate to large atrial septal aneurysms may develop left atrial dysfunction something akin to atrial fibrillation, which can cause arterial embolization originating in the left atrium.
Heartwire
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jul 2009 | 9:28 pm

Study: Seniors see savings in Medicare drug option (AP)

AP - Medicare's 3-year-old prescription drug plan has largely met its main goal of making lifesaving medicines more affordable for seniors, a new report found.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 22 Jul 2009 | 9:00 pm

Seeking solutions

Obama's plans to shake up costly US healthcare system
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 22 Jul 2009 | 8:49 pm

Nonactive NRTIs Do Not Improve Outcomes in Treatment-Experienced HIV Patients Receiving Newly Approved Antiretrovirals

The efficacy of the newly approved antiretroviral drugs etravirine, maraviroc, and raltegravir is not enhanced by the addition of older no-longer-active nucleoside agents.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jul 2009 | 7:55 pm

Ritonavir-Boosted Darunavir Has Minimal Effect on Lipid, Glucose Parameters in HIV-Infected Children

Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jul 2009 | 7:37 pm

Moderate Alcohol Consumption May Lower Dementia Risk in Cognitively Normal Elderly

Moderate alcohol consumption may lower dementia risk in cognitively normal older subjects, but any level of alcohol consumption in individuals with MCI appears to be detrimental.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jul 2009 | 7:24 pm

Increased Lymph Node Evaluation Does Not Improve Detection of Advanced CRC

New data suggest that mandatory retrieval of a minimum of 12 lymph nodes as a quality indicator or performance measure is "unfounded"; it does not improve detection of stage III colorectal cancer.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jul 2009 | 6:49 pm

INR Monitoring Curbs Anticoagulant Bleeding Risk

A study of untoward events in patients undergoing anticoagulant therapy suggests the need for international normalized ratios (INRs) that may help reduce the risk of hemorrhage, Dutch researchers report in the July 13th issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Reuters Health Information
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jul 2009 | 4:43 pm

Embryonic Heart Rate Predicts IVF Pregnancy Outcome

The results of a study published in the June issue of Fertility and Sterility suggest that embryonic heart rate is useful in predicting first-trimester pregnancy prognosis after in vitro fertilization.
Reuters Health Information
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jul 2009 | 4:43 pm

Healthcare Reform Needs Better Choices -- Report

Telemedicine, workplace clinics and finding ways to help people stay healthier may be more important for reforming the U.S. healthcare system than insuring everyone, according to a report to be released on Tuesday.
Reuters Health Information
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jul 2009 | 4:43 pm

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