Economic downturn affecting health of Canadians, says medical association poll

SASKATOON - Worries about the global economic downturn may be keeping Canadians awake at night and affecting their overall health, suggests a new poll done for the Canadian Medical...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Aug 2009 | 4:02 am

Egypt signs $2.3 billion oil, gas agreements

CAIRO, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Egypt has signed agreements for oil and natural gas exploration that are expected to bring in new investments of $2.3 billion, an official at the Oil Ministry said on Monday.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Aug 2009 | 3:38 am

DEALTALK-Down under, UBS stealing deals thunder

* Staff turnover at rival bank could have helped UBS (For more Reuters DEALTALKS, click [DEALTALK/])
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Aug 2009 | 3:29 am

Hundreds storm China smelter over lead poisoning (AFP)

AFP - Hundreds of villagers broke into a smelting plant in north China blamed for the lead poisoning of more than 600 children, smashing trucks in protest, state media reported Monday.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 17 Aug 2009 | 3:03 am

Cord Blood America Says Balance Sheet Significantly Strengthened in 2009

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Aug 2009 | 3:00 am

Illinois Dermatologists Tee Up for Sun Safety at Two World-Class Golf Championships

Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Aug 2009 | 3:00 am

Sony Ericsson targeting profits, mkt share

HELSINKI, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Struggling handset maker Sony Ericsson is focusing on a return to profit and increasing its market share, incoming Chief Executive Bert Nordberg told Reuters in an interview...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Aug 2009 | 2:31 am

UPDATE 1-Cellcom Israel Q2 net profit up 15 percent

* Profit boosted by growing value-added, land line services
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Aug 2009 | 2:25 am

UPDATE 2-Dragon Oil to miss output goal; Enoc talks continue

LONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Dragon Oil said it would likely undershoot its production growth target in 2009 due to "operational issues" at several wells, and continues to talk to majority shareholder Emirates...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Aug 2009 | 2:16 am

UPDATE 1-Crucell wins $300 mln vaccine deals, shares jump

* Key vaccine contracts to deliver sales over 3-year period
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Aug 2009 | 1:56 am

The Real Issues of End-of-Life Care (Time.com)

Time.com - Beyond the hyperventilating about euthanasia and death panels, how Medicare works with end-of-life care is a real issue for doctors who deal with the elderly, like geriatrician Dr. Laurie Jacobs
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 17 Aug 2009 | 1:45 am

Torture and execution of Iraqi gays on rise: HRW

Iraqi militias are increasingly torturing and executing men suspected of homosexuality but the authorities in Baghdad are doing nothing to stop the violence, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 17 Aug 2009 | 1:44 am

What Is A Cyst? What Causes Cysts?

A cyst is a closed sac-like structure - an abnormal pocket of fluid, like a blister - that contains either liquid, gaseous, or semi-solid substances. A cyst is located within a tissue, and can occur anywhere in the body and can vary in size - some are so small they can only be viewed through a microscope, while others may become so big that they displace normal organs.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Aug 2009 | 1:00 am

Kenya Announces $314M Plan To Tackle Drought, Food Shortages

The government of Kenya on Wednesday announced a $314 million plan to "tackle a drought which has hit food crop-growing regions, reduced hydro-electricity production and led to widespread water shortages," Bloomberg reports.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Aug 2009 | 1:00 am

Prior To Treatment In Most Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients, MRI May Be Unnecessary

New research findings published in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons challenge the routine use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a means to improve surgical outcomes in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Aug 2009 | 1:00 am

Blogs Comment On Health Reform, New Gallup Poll, White House Health Reform Web Site

The following summarizes selected women's health-related blog entries.~ "U.S. Catholic Bishops: Health Care Bill Funds Abortion," Dan Gilgoff, U.S. News & World Report's "God & Country": In a letter to House members released on Wednesday, the U.S.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Aug 2009 | 1:00 am

Today's Editorials And Opinions

Republican Death Trip The New York Times Right now, the charge that's gaining the most traction is the claim that health care reform will create "death panels" (in Sarah Palin's words) that will shuffle the elderly and others off to an early grave. It's a complete fabrication, of course (Paul Krugman, 8/13).
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Aug 2009 | 1:00 am

New Web Site Seeks More Reliable Comparisons Of Doctors

"If you want to go to dinner or see a movie, it's easy to find reviews and make a reasonably informed choice. If you're choosing a doctor, it can be hard to tell," NPR reports. Patient Central, a new Web site by Consumers' Checkbook, "is trying to help fix that problem" by collecting information about patient experiences with doctors and rating the physicians performance.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Aug 2009 | 1:00 am

Unhealthful Relation Between Animal Foods And Breast Cancer Not Supported By Studies

Breast cancer is the 7th leading cause of mortality in the United States and results in approximately 41,000 deaths each year. Although genetic factors are important, there is considerable evidence that breast cancer risk is related to modifiable lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, body weight, alcohol intake, and dietary choices.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Aug 2009 | 1:00 am

Media Run 'Fact Checks' On Abortion Coverage In Health Reform Bills

The issue of how abortion services will be covered, if at all, in health care reform legislation continues to be controversial as members of Congress host town-hall meetings across the U.S. Two media sources recently ran "fact checks" on abortion coverage in health reform legislation. Summaries appear below.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Aug 2009 | 1:00 am

Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation At Risk Of Stroke Could Have An Alternative To Long Term Warfarin Therapy

An article published in this week's edition of The Lancet reports that patients with atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke could be offered percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage instead of long-term warfarin therapy. The findings are from the PROTECT AF study. The article is the work of Professor David R Holmes, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA, and collaborators.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Aug 2009 | 1:00 am

Obama Heads West To Gain Momentum For Reform

President Barack Obama is again heading West in hopes of winning support for his health reform push, The Associated Press reports. "Democrats have made recent election inroads in the region by successfully courting independents, Republican crossovers and conservative-to-moderate loyalists in their own party.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 17 Aug 2009 | 1:00 am

‘Public Option’ in Health Plan May Be Dropped

For President Obama, giving up on a public insurance plan could punch a hole in Republican arguments but could also alienate liberal Democrats.


Source: NYT > Health | 17 Aug 2009 | 12:27 am

Swine flu: How-to tips for school flu vaccinations (AP)

AP - Giving injections to thousands of children — even something as easy and safe as influenza vaccine — is complicated. But there are resources to help schools plan flu-vaccine clinics.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 16 Aug 2009 | 10:12 pm

AP ENTERPRISE: Schools gear up for swine flu shots (AP)

AP - Hundreds of schools are heeding the government's call to set up flu-shot clinics this fall, preparing for what could be the most widespread school vaccinations since the days of polio.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 16 Aug 2009 | 10:09 pm

In Arkansas, a Democrat Navigates the Health Fight

Arkansas, home of Senator Blanche Lincoln, has become emblematic of the centrist dilemma in the age of Obama.


Source: NYT > Health | 16 Aug 2009 | 9:35 pm

Genes Tied to Gap in Treatment of Hepatitis C

A Duke University team found that coding at a single site on the DNA helped explain why the standard drugs were more effective in whites than in blacks.


Source: NYT > Health | 16 Aug 2009 | 9:27 pm

NYC schools prepare for 2nd outbreak of swine flu (AP)

AP - At St. Francis Preparatory School this fall, the auditorium will double as a sick room. New York City might make students wash their hands several times a day. There will be a unit on swine flu in health class.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 16 Aug 2009 | 8:38 pm

Child leukaemia 'genes' revealed

Genetic flaws that increase the risk of the most common form of childhood leukaemia have been uncovered by British scientists.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 16 Aug 2009 | 5:14 pm

Charity seeks end to lunchbox ham

Parents are urged to avoid putting processed meat into children's lunchboxes amid concerns about links to cancer.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 16 Aug 2009 | 5:09 pm

Gene variant predicts hepatitis treatment success (AP)

AP - Scientists say they've found a big reason why treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection works better for white patients than for African-Americans. It's a tiny variation in a gene.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 16 Aug 2009 | 11:06 am

Two Acres of Hope for Recovering Addicts

At Renewal Farm, the men tend to kale and lettuce and flowers by day, and then exorcise their worries at a rehabilitation center where they sleep.


Source: NYT > Health | 16 Aug 2009 | 10:44 am

Competing Ads on Health Care Plan Swamp the Airwaves

A cascade of commercials in the health care fight is helping to create a full-blown national political campaign.


Source: NYT > Health | 16 Aug 2009 | 9:19 am

Gov't recommends child care plan if swine flu hits (AP)

AP - The government is urging parents to have a backup plan for caring for their kids in case they are hit by swine flu once the new school year begins.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 16 Aug 2009 | 8:20 am

Caffeine Causes and Cures Headaches

Those who suffer from occasional headaches might try cutting back on caffeine.
Source: Livescience.com - Health | 16 Aug 2009 | 8:16 am

Health Care in Britain: Expat Goes for a Checkup

Notes on the National Health Service from an American who now lives in Britain.


Source: NYT > Health | 16 Aug 2009 | 7:47 am

Obama invokes grandmother's death in health debate (AP)

AP - Now, it's personal. President Barack Obama invoked his own anguish over the death of a loved one as he challenged the debunked notion that Democratic efforts to overhaul the nation's health care would include "death panels."

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 16 Aug 2009 | 5:33 am