Health and Medical News Headlines for October 2, 2009

UPDATE 2-GE looking at partnership or IPO for NBC Universal

* Due diligence on Brazil telecom GVT nearly completed-WSJ
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 2 Oct 2009 | 4:03 am

Probiotic health claims dismissed

EU experts say there is no hard evidence to back many health claims for 'probiotic' drinks and yoghurts.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 2 Oct 2009 | 3:48 am

Nasal spray flu vaccine becoming available (AP)

AP - The long-awaited first vaccinations against swine flu the squirt-in-the-nose kind begin early next week in parts of the country, and states are urging people to be patient until more arrives.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 2 Oct 2009 | 3:38 am

UPDATE 1-EU agency recommends Baxter's H1N1 flu shot

LONDON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The European Medicines Agency recommended Baxter's Celvapan flu vaccine for approval on Friday and said it expected the shot to get a licence from the European Commission shortly...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 2 Oct 2009 | 3:35 am

New diabetes drug hits target in late stage study

VIENNA (Reuters) - An experimental diabetes drug from Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca met its main target in a late stage study, achieving significant reductions in glycosylated...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 2 Oct 2009 | 3:21 am

New diabetes drug hits target in late stage study (Reuters)

Reuters - An experimental diabetes drug from Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca met its main target in a late stage study, achieving significant reductions in glycosylated hemoglobin levels.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 2 Oct 2009 | 3:21 am

UPDATE 1-New diabetes drug hits target in late stage study

* Bristol-Myers, Astra drug cuts haemoglobin after 24 weeks
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 2 Oct 2009 | 3:18 am

UPDATE 1-Deals of the day -- mergers and acquisitions

Oct 2 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals involving European, U.S. and Asian companies were reported by 0900 GMT on Friday. (For Reuters columns on deals, click on [DEALTALK...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 2 Oct 2009 | 3:11 am

New diabetes drug hits target in late stage study

VIENNA, Oct 2 (Reuters) - An experimental diabetes drug from Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca met its main target in a late stage study, achieving significant reductions in glycosylated haemoglobin...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 2 Oct 2009 | 3:02 am

Elcoteq says Videocon to buy stake; shares jump

HELSINKI, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Loss-making Finnish electronics firm Elcoteq said on Friday India's Videocon Industries Ltd would buy an equity stake in it, two days after it said plans for a similar deal...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 2 Oct 2009 | 2:39 am

RPT-Iberia looks forward to explaining alliance to EU

(Repeats to additional subscribers with no change to text)
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 2 Oct 2009 | 2:31 am

Do Candy-Eating Kids Become Criminal Adults? (Time.com)

Time.com - A British study suggests a curious association between eating candy as a kid and committing violent crimes in adulthood
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 2 Oct 2009 | 2:30 am

Moody's afrms Adaro's Ba1 rating and assigns a (P)Ba1 bond rtng

Reuters has stopped distributing the full text of Moody's Investors Service press releases on ratings actions, effective April 1, 2009. The text of this Moody's Investor Service rating is available at...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 2 Oct 2009 | 2:22 am

UPDATE 2-Oce posts Q3 loss, sees signs US mkts bottoming out

* Early indication of bottoming out in some U.S. markets
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 2 Oct 2009 | 2:07 am

Cry of joy

Why newly qualified Somali woman doctor loves her job
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 2 Oct 2009 | 2:00 am

Research Indicates People Over 65 Should Take High Dose Of Vitamin D To Prevent Falls

A study published on bmj.com today reports that a daily supplement of vitamin D at a dose of 700-1000 IU reduces by 19 percent the risk of falling among older people. However, a dose inferior to 700 IU per day has no effect. IU is an international unit of measurement for vitamins and other biologically active substances.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 2 Oct 2009 | 1:00 am

Epigenomics Of Cognitive Decline Is Focus Of $5.5 Million NIH Grants To Rush

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Rush University Medical Center approximately $5.5 million in grants to study how epigenetic changes - chemical modifications to genes that result from diet, aging, stress, or environmental exposures - define and contribute to memory formation and cognitive decline.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 2 Oct 2009 | 1:00 am

Cancer Genome Atlas Grant Awarded To UNC

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of twelve centers announced by President Obama as part of an unprecedented large-scale, collaborative effort by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) to systematically characterize the genomic changes that occur in cancer.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 2 Oct 2009 | 1:00 am

Stillbirths And Infant Deaths Related To Smoking During Pregnancy And Socioeconomic Inequalities

New research published on bmj.com today reports that addressing the problem of smoking during pregnancy may help to reduce the socioeconomic inequalities in stillbirths and infant deaths by as much as 30 to 40 percent. Without a doubt smoking during pregnancy has been associated with stillbirth.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 2 Oct 2009 | 1:00 am

Increase In 'academic Doping' Could Spark Routine Urine Tests For Exam Students

The increasing use of smart drugs or "nootropics," to boost academic performance, could mean that exam students will face routine doping tests in future, suggests an article in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 2 Oct 2009 | 1:00 am

NIAID To Fund Development Of Emergent BioSolutions' Advanced Anthrax Vaccine Candidate

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) announced that it was awarded a cooperative agreement from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, to further the development of one of Emergent's advanced anthrax vaccine candidates known as dmPA7909.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 2 Oct 2009 | 1:00 am

New Book Promises Solution For Teaching Evolution Without Conflict

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Associate Professor Lee Meadows, Ph.D., is author of a new book that claims it's possible to teach evolution without offending students who have strong religious convictions against the theory.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 2 Oct 2009 | 1:00 am

Adults Who Ate Sweets Every Day In Childhood Are At Increased Risk Of Aggression

Children who eat sweets and chocolate every day are more likely to be violent as adults, according to new research. A study of almost 17,500 participants in the 1970 British Cohort Study found that 10-year-olds who ate confectionary daily were significantly more likely to have been convicted for violence at age 34 years.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 2 Oct 2009 | 1:00 am

No Link Between Smoking Cessation Drug And Increased Risk Of Self Harm Or Depression

New research published today on bmj.com suggests there is no strong evidence that the popular smoking cessation drug varenicline increases the risk of self harm or depression compared to other cessation products. The newly introduced Varenicline is a smoking cessation product of proven effectiveness.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 2 Oct 2009 | 1:00 am

Current Life Expectancy Trends And Challenges: Will We Live To Be 100 Years?

A review in this week's edition of The Lancet discusses the challenges of an aging population. If current life expectancy trends continue, more than half of babies born in rich nations today will live to 100 years. Not only are we living longer, but those added years are spent with less disability and fewer limitations on daily life than in the past.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 2 Oct 2009 | 1:00 am

Half of babies 'will live to 100'

More than half of babies now born in wealthy nations can expect to live to 100 years of age, researchers say.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 2 Oct 2009 | 12:32 am

The Health Care Monologues

Can Anna Deavere Smith’s one-woman play about health care bring other voices to the debate?

Source: NYT > Health | 2 Oct 2009 | 12:11 am

Doctor and Patient: When the Doctor Is Distressed

Ignoring the stress of medical training can lead to errors and doctors leaving the profession.

Source: NYT > Health | 1 Oct 2009 | 11:37 pm

Bayer Labels’ Cancer-Fighting Claim Draws Suit

The suit over prostate health claims comes while Bayer is the subject of other scrutiny over charges of deceptive marketing.

Source: NYT > Health | 1 Oct 2009 | 11:33 pm

A Rule on Eye Treatment Is Likely to Cost Millions

Curtailing the use of Avastin, a cancer drug, as a treatment for retinal diseases may force doctors to use a more expensive alternative.

Source: NYT > Health | 1 Oct 2009 | 11:29 pm

Senate Panel Softening Insurance Penalties

The move would help people facing financial burdens in buying even the cheapest insurance available.

Source: NYT > Health | 1 Oct 2009 | 10:44 pm

Republicans Call Health Legislation a Tax Increase

Seizing on a new line of attack, Republican leaders say the proposed health care overhaul is a vehicle for a barrage of hidden and not-so-hidden tax increases.

Source: NYT > Health | 1 Oct 2009 | 10:44 pm

Swine Flu Spreading Widely; Worry Over Pregnant Women

Health officials released Tamiflu for children and began taking orders from states for the new vaccine.

Source: NYT > Health | 1 Oct 2009 | 10:38 pm

Support Appears to Drop for Abortion Rights

A poll suggests that the gap has narrowed between Americans who favor keeping abortion legal and those who do not.

Source: NYT > Health | 1 Oct 2009 | 9:53 pm

Health Tip: Reduce the Risk of Preterm Labor (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Preterm labor occurs earlier than 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 1 Oct 2009 | 9:49 pm

Clinical Trials Update: Oct. 1, 2009 (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 1 Oct 2009 | 9:49 pm

Battlefield medics

NHS staff undergo final training before tour in Afghanistan
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 1 Oct 2009 | 9:27 pm

Predictors of Completed Suicide Differ by Sex in Older Individuals

Risks for completed suicides differ between men and women as they age.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 1 Oct 2009 | 9:24 pm

More Patients Arriving Within 2 Hours of Ischemic Stroke Are Receiving TPA

Although no more stroke patients arrived within 2 hours of symptom onset between 2001 and 2004, more of those who did arrive received thrombolytic therapy, suggesting system improvements.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 1 Oct 2009 | 9:13 pm

Merck Serono Submits NDA for Cladribine Tablets in RRMS

Merck announced it has submitted an NDA to the FDA for cladribine in MS on the strength of the CLARITY trial.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 1 Oct 2009 | 9:04 pm

H1N1 vaccine rollout on schedule, official says

The rollout of vaccine intended to protect against the global pandemic of H1N1 influenza is continuing on or ahead of schedule, a federal health official told reporters Thursday.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 1 Oct 2009 | 7:12 pm

Call for out-of-hours GP scrutiny

NHS trusts in England must monitor the quality of out-of-hours GP care more closely, says a watchdog.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 1 Oct 2009 | 6:46 pm

Drug therapy record 'encouraging'

One in three heroin or crack cocaine addicts in drug treatment schemes stops using within six months, research suggests.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 1 Oct 2009 | 6:45 pm

High-Dose Vitamin D Supplement May Reduce Risk of Falling Among Older People

A meta-analysis shows that a daily supplement of vitamin D at a dose of 700 to 1000 IU is associated with a 19% reduction in the risk of falling among older people.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 1 Oct 2009 | 6:40 pm

Most babies born this century will live to 100 (AP)

AP - Most babies born in rich countries this century will eventually make it to their 100th birthday, new research says. Danish experts say that since the 20th century, people in developed countries are living about three decades longer than in the past. Surprisingly, the trend shows little sign of slowing down.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 1 Oct 2009 | 5:05 pm

Half of addicts quit after 6 months of treatment (AP)

AP - About half of heroin and crack cocaine addicts in England's treatment programs quit the drugs after six months, a new study says.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 1 Oct 2009 | 5:01 pm

Suppliers face winter flu vaccine delays, cutbacks (AP)

AP - Waiting for the swine flu vaccine? Well, you might have to wait a bit longer for a seasonal flu shot, too.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 1 Oct 2009 | 4:56 pm

Vital Signs: High Heels and Pumps Now, Foot Pain Later

Researchers determined that women, unlike men, tended to choose bad footwear, leading to discomfort as they age.

Source: NYT > Health | 1 Oct 2009 | 4:01 pm

Vital Signs: Researchers Look at Deaths After Surgery

A study found that death rates varied widely from hospital to hospital, but complication rates did not vary significantly.

Source: NYT > Health | 1 Oct 2009 | 3:57 pm

REVERSE, MADIT-CRT Make Case for Extending CRT to Mild Heart Failure: Should Guidelines Change?

Now in print after having been presented at meetings, the REVERSE randomized trial's European-cohort two-year results are consistent with the recently published, much larger MADIT-CRT trial in showing both clinical and LV structural benefits from resynchronization therapy in patients with NYHA class 1–2 heart failure.
Heartwire
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 1 Oct 2009 | 3:45 pm

HORIZONS Analysis: 600-mg Clopidogrel Load Preferable in Primary PCI

The higher dose was associated with a reduced rate of ischemic events without an increase in bleeding in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI.
Heartwire
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 1 Oct 2009 | 3:29 pm

Hospitals in 15 States May Run Out of Beds in Full-Scale H1N1 Pandemic

If 35% of Americans became sick from the influenza A (H1N1) virus, hospitals in 15 states would reach or exceed their bed capacity at the peak of the pandemic, according to a report released today by the nonprofit Trust for America's Health.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 1 Oct 2009 | 3:19 pm

FDA tells doctors new heparin formula less potent (AP)

AP - The Food and Drug Administration is alerting doctors that a widely used blood thinner has been reformulated to improve its safety, though the change could open the door to dosing errors.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 1 Oct 2009 | 3:16 pm

Grounding Flights Won't Stop Flu

Experts say travel limitations won't affect the spread of swine flu.
Source: Livescience.com - Health | 1 Oct 2009 | 3:10 pm

What to know about getting H1N1 vaccine

Next week, the long-awaited H1N1 vaccine is expected to arrive. The question is, do you want it? Many Empowered Patient readers still have unanswered questions so we consulted a team of infectious disease experts to get answers.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 1 Oct 2009 | 3:04 pm

Learning About Neonatal Resuscitation: An Expert Interview with Jeanette Zaichkin, RN, MN, NNP-BC

Neonatal resuscitation training programs are shifting from lecture-based learning in a classroom to hands-on simulated practical programs in a real-world environment.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 1 Oct 2009 | 3:00 pm

Overweight mothers linked to infant heart defects (Reuters)

Reuters - Women who are overweight or obese when they get pregnant are more likely to give birth to children with congenital heart defects, according to a U.S. government study released on Thursday.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 1 Oct 2009 | 2:42 pm

Breast Cancer Deaths Drop Again

Despite the decline in breast cancer deaths, the African-American death rate is still higher.
WebMD Health News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 1 Oct 2009 | 2:28 pm

Surgical Mask May Be Comparable to N95 Respirator in Halting Flu Transmission

In a randomized controlled trial, use of a surgical mask compared with an N95 respirator was associated with noninferior rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza in healthcare workers.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 1 Oct 2009 | 2:21 pm

Treating gestational diabetes benefits mom, baby

Women who develop a mild case of gestational diabetes during pregnancy tend to have fewer complications and healthier babies if the diabetes is treated, according to the first large-scale randomized trial in the U.S. to address whether such treatment leads to health benefits for mother and child.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 1 Oct 2009 | 1:51 pm

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