Health and Medical News Headlines for December 8, 2009

UPDATE 1-Wipro says sees growth in Middle East, China

* Sees China and Latin America as potential growth markets
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 8 Dec 2009 | 2:32 am

UPDATE 1-Pioneer,Shanghai Auto jv aims for $147 mln in sales

* Car navigation jv aims for $147 mln in sales in three years
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 8 Dec 2009 | 2:28 am

UPDATE 2-Activist funds take TNT stake, said seeking breakup

AMSTERDAM, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Investors bought into TNT on Tuesday, trading on prospects the Dutch mail company could be broken up under pressure from two North American activist funds holding a combined...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 8 Dec 2009 | 2:22 am

Natuna LNG development may be delayed - sources

JAKARTA, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The development of the giant Natuna gas project may be delayed due to uncertainty over terms and conditions, which could affect the selection of partners for the project, two...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 8 Dec 2009 | 2:20 am

UPDATE 1-Caledon Resources says not to sell co, shares fall

* Says to focus on growing Cook mine output * Sees 485,000 tonnes of saleable output from Cook in '09 * Plans base production of 700,000 tonnes in 2010
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 8 Dec 2009 | 2:10 am

UPDATE 2-Dubai World, creditors mull new date for Dec debt

DUBAI, Dec 8 (Reuters) - State-controlled Dubai World [DBWLD.UL] is discussing a new date with banks for $3.5 billion in debt falling due on Dec. 14, but with no deal yet announced, spooked investors sold...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 8 Dec 2009 | 2:06 am

UPDATE 1-Green Dragon clears debt, gets BlackRock as investor

* Says paid about $55 mln to redeem last convertible bond
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 8 Dec 2009 | 1:45 am

CORRECTED - UPDATE 1-Dutch TNT targeted by activist funds - report

(Changes shareholding in first bullet point and second paragraph to just over 5 percent from nearly 11 percent)
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 8 Dec 2009 | 1:31 am

Total says Shtokman decision delayed until end-2010

MOSCOW, Dec 8 (Reuters) - A final investment decision on Russia's giant Shtokman gas field is impossible before the end of 2010, nine months later than planned, due to problems with financing, project...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 8 Dec 2009 | 1:29 am

Groups try simple steps to avoid hospital rebound (AP)

AP - Talk about unnecessary misery: One in five Medicare patients winds up back in the hospital within a month — even worse, one in four patients with heart failure.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 8 Dec 2009 | 1:16 am

UPDATE 1-LUKOIL Q3 profit misses forecasts

* LUKOIL says net profit $2.06 bln, forecast was $2.2 bln
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 8 Dec 2009 | 1:13 am

A New Era Of Paperless Medicaid Enrollment Is Launched In New York City

Thousands of New York City residents are receiving faster, more timely access to health care coverage, thanks to a new paperless enrollment system -- Facilitated Enrollment Electronic Application (FEEA™) -- that has been embraced by Health Plus, a leading New York City provider of public health insurance. Health Plus is the first health plan in both New York City and New York State to use FEEA to process paperless applications for Medicaid Managed Care, Family Health Plus, and Child Health Plus...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 8 Dec 2009 | 12:00 am

Global Health: Campaign to Eradicate Guinea Worm in Hard-Hit Nigeria May Have Worked

The Carter Center, which has battled the worm for 20 years, says none have been found for 12 months in a row.

Source: NYT > Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 11:46 pm

Senator Grassley Seeks Financial Details From Medical Groups

Senator Charles E. Grassley has asked the American Medical Association and other major advocacy organizations about sources of income from drug and device makers.

Source: NYT > Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 11:36 pm

First Mention: Huntington’s Disease, 1913

George Huntington described the neurological illness in 1872, but The Times did not mention it until four decades later.

Source: NYT > Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 11:31 pm

Personal Health: Shedding Light on a Tremor Disorder

The mysteries of uncontrollable shaking, without an underlying cause, are being explored by doctors.

Source: NYT > Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 11:30 pm

Well: Firm Body, No Workout Required?

Muscle-activating shoes claim to tone legs and buttocks while you walk. But do they bring results you can see?

Source: NYT > Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 11:27 pm

18 and Under: Hard Questions to Ask After a Cry for Help

Markers for depression may help identify adults at risk for suicide, but they are not a reliable way to screen adolescents.

Source: NYT > Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 11:27 pm

Mind: Postpartum Depression Strikes Fathers, Too

The effects of postpartum depression in men can be every bit as disruptive as occurs with women.

Source: NYT > Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 11:26 pm

Vital Signs: Hazards: ‘Stay-Tabs’ on Cans Aren’t Staying Out of Children

A radiologist in Cincinnati found that the replacement for pull tabs were not childproof.

Source: NYT > Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 11:26 pm

Vital Signs: Risks: Leaving ‘Stroke Belt’ but Not the Dangers

A study suggested that the risk for the disease might be established early in life.

Source: NYT > Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 11:26 pm

Vital Signs: Symptoms: Infections Lead to More Deaths in I.C.U.

A study involving 75 countries showed that those with infections were more likely to die in intensive care than those without infections.

Source: NYT > Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 11:25 pm

Two Cases Of H1N1 Confirmed In Colorado Cats

Two cats from different households in Colorado have tested positive for H1N1, according to Colorado State University's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The felines are expected to recover, but their cases serve as a reminder to pet owners to seek veterinary attention for companion animals that appear to be ill. The cats in these two cases were diagnosed with lower respiratory tract infections by Colorado veterinarians. Both cats are currently ill and have been ill for multiple weeks, with one illness beginning on Oct. 2 and the other beginning in early November...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 7 Dec 2009 | 11:00 pm

Annual Rate Of Newly Diagnosed HIV Infections In Europe More Than Doubled Between 2000 And 2008, According To A Report Released For World AIDS Day

Nearly 51 600 people in the WHO European Region were newly diagnosed as infected with HIV in 2008, more than double the annual rate in 2000. In the 43 countries in the Region that consistently reported HIV surveillance data during this period, the infection rate rose from 44to 89 cases per million population, according to HIV/AIDS surveillance in Europe 2008, a report releasedlast week...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 7 Dec 2009 | 10:00 pm

Urine Sample May Reveal Sleep Disorder in Kids (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Dec. 7 (HealthDay News) -- A simple urine test could be developed to detect whether a child has obstructive sleep apnea, U.S. researchers say.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 7 Dec 2009 | 9:50 pm

Clinical Trials Update: Dec. 7, 2009 (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 7 Dec 2009 | 9:50 pm

New Target May Be Eyed in Kids' Brain Cancer (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Dec. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have identified oncogenes that play a role in a particularly aggressive type of childhood brain tumor.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 7 Dec 2009 | 9:50 pm

Swine Flu Can Batter Kids With Sickle Cell (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Dec. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Swine flu is more likely than seasonal flu to cause life-threatening complications in children with sickle cell disease, a new study has found.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 7 Dec 2009 | 9:49 pm

U.S. Cancer Cases, Deaths Continue to Drop (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Dec. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Better screening, healthier living and new treatments have all continued to help cut the annual number of cancer cases and deaths in the United States, a new report says.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 7 Dec 2009 | 9:49 pm

Prostate Hormone Therapy May Up Heart Risks (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Dec. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems appear to be more common in men with prostate cancer who are treated with androgen deprivation therapy, which reduces or eliminates the male sex hormones that can promote cancer growth, a new study has found.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 7 Dec 2009 | 9:49 pm

Message For Women And Dogs: Keeping Ovaries Is Linked To Longevity

This year, hundreds of thousands of women and pet dogs will undergo a hysterectomy and have their ovaries removed along with their uterus. Now, two independent research studies looking at longevity may challenge almost four decades of standard operating procedures used in women and in pets. Research published Tuesday (Dec. 1) shows female dogs that keep their ovaries longer also live longer. The study, exploring the factors that favor successful aging in pet dogs, was conducted by a research team led by David J. Waters, a doctor of veterinary medicine...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 7 Dec 2009 | 9:00 pm

Fighting Prostate Cancer With Speed And Accuracy: RapidArc® Radiotherapy Available At The Delaware Valley Urology Cancer Treatment Center

Former New Jersey Assemblyman Francis Bodine was surprised and delighted when his radiotherapy treatment sessions for prostate cancer went from about 20 minutes each day to less than five...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 7 Dec 2009 | 8:00 pm

Group corrects statement about safety of hot toys (AP)

AP - A consumer group that reported several of the holiday season's must-have toys are unsafe wants to make a correction.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 7 Dec 2009 | 7:59 pm

Experts: Colon cancer deaths could make big drop (AP)

AP - Colon cancer deaths could drop dramatically in the next decade because of better screening and treatment, according to an optimistic new prediction by top researchers. The estimate was made in an annual report that shows that, overall, the U.S. cancer death rate is continuing to decline, as it has since the 1990s.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 7 Dec 2009 | 7:40 pm

H1N1 vaccine likely to become widely available

Restrictions limiting the H1N1 flu vaccine to high-risk groups could be lifted in many U.S. states now that production of the vaccine has increased, state health officials said Monday.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 7:02 pm

Role Of Evidence-Based Medicine In Informing Clinical Decision-Making Addressed By American College Of Physicians In House Testimony

The controversy over recent breast cancer screening guidelines offers an opportunity to engage individual patients in an informed discussion of the importance of evidence-based clinical efficacy assessments in contributing to better care decisions, Donna Sweet, MD, MACP today told the Subcommittee on Health of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Dr. Sweet testified at a hearing, Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations, on behalf of the American College of Physicians (ACP). Dr...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 7 Dec 2009 | 7:00 pm

Vaccination, Antivirals And Social Distancing May Blunt Impact Of H1N1 Influenza, Finds Epidemiological Modelling Study

The relatively low number of new cases created by a single case of H1N1 influenza indicates that mitigation strategies such as vaccination, social distancing and the use of antiviral drugs may help to lessen the final impact of the virus, suggests an epidemiological modelling study reported in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal.) The study looked at data from laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1 between April 13 and June 20, 2009 in Ontario, Canada and performed 1000 simulations to estimate epidemiological parameters for the virus...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 7 Dec 2009 | 6:00 pm

Association Of Tight Glycemic Control With Road Crashes In Diabetic Patients

A study from Canada published this week in /PLoS// Medicine/ suggests an association between tighter glycemic control and an increased risk of a motor vehicle crash in diabetic adults. Using a population-based case control analysis over a 2 year period, Donald Redelmeier and colleagues from the University of Toronto studied the association between measured glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in diabetic drivers and the risk of a motor vehicle crash...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 7 Dec 2009 | 6:00 pm

Severity Of Swine Flu In The United States

Research published this week in PLoS Medicine presents the most accurate assessment to date of the severity of the swine flu (H1N1) pandemic in the US. Scientists need to measure the severity of swine flu (how often infection with the swine flu virus results in symptoms leading to illness, hospitalization or death) so that appropriate pandemic plans can be put into place...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 7 Dec 2009 | 6:00 pm

Validity Of Cost-effectiveness Models Based On Randomized Clinical Trials

Cost-effectiveness studies are widely used to guide prescribing policy in many countries, as part of health technology assessment programmes. However, a new study published this week in /PLoS// Medicine/ by Tjeerd-Pieter van Staa and colleagues suggests that cost-effectiveness analyses based on data from randomized controlled trials may not be realistic enough to accurately inform policy...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 7 Dec 2009 | 6:00 pm

Senate health care debate to focus on abortion

Senate debate on a sweeping health care bill proceeds to one of the most controversial issues Monday: an amendment to tighten restrictions on federal funding for abortion.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 5:10 pm

Test 'reduces birth false alarms'

A simple test can help determine if signs of a premature delivery are likely to be a false alarm, research says.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 7 Dec 2009 | 5:02 pm

Coffee 'might cut prostate risk'

Drinking coffee could help cut the risk of advanced prostate cancer, a Harvard Medical School study suggests.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 7 Dec 2009 | 5:01 pm

Loneliness 'raises cancer risk'

Loneliness could make cancer more likely, say researchers who found rodents kept alone developed more tumours.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 7 Dec 2009 | 5:00 pm

U.S. cancer cases, deaths continue to decline

New cancer cases and mortality rates linked to the disease have fallen significantly in recent years for almost all gender and ethnic groups in the United States, researchers said Monday.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 4:51 pm

Doing More With Less: Researchers Discuss Techniques for Reducing CT Contrast

New research is finding techniques to reduce patients' exposure to iodine contrast solution during cardiac CT scans.
Heartwire
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 7 Dec 2009 | 4:46 pm

Clopidogrel Resistance: Is It Just Noncompliance?

The idea that clopidogrel nonresponsiveness could actually be due to noncompliance has been suggested.
Heartwire
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 7 Dec 2009 | 4:46 pm

Body-Mass Index and Waist Circumference Equally Predictive for CV Events, Mortality

Body-mass index and waist circumference were both equally predictive of cardiovascular disease events and mortality over a decade in a new study carried out in the Dutch general population.
Heartwire
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 7 Dec 2009 | 4:46 pm

Drug Eases Hormone Therapy Side Effect in Men

A study shows medroxyprogesterone treats hot flashes caused by prostate cancer treatment.
WebMD Health News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 7 Dec 2009 | 4:00 pm

New Safety Data on Lacosamide Reassure, but Questions Remain About Cognitive Effects

Findings at 6 months and 1 year are similar to short-term results reported in clinical trials of the drug in partial-onset seizures.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 7 Dec 2009 | 3:28 pm

NHS IT scheme 'faces £600m cuts'

The government will cancel some parts of its NHS IT scheme in a bid to save £600m, Health Secretary Andy Burnham says.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 7 Dec 2009 | 3:15 pm

New FDA Guidelines to Avoid Excess Radiation Exposure During CT Perfusion Scans

The FDA has issued interim recommendations to address concerns of excess radiation exposure during CT perfusion imaging.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 7 Dec 2009 | 2:50 pm

Half of teen girls have STIs by 2 years of first sex (Reuters)

Reuters - Within 2 years of having sex for the first time, half of teenage girls may be at least one of three common sexually transmitted infections (STIs), according to results of a study published today. Often, those girls are infected by the age of 15.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 7 Dec 2009 | 2:46 pm

Improved Biochemical Control If Statins Used During Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer

Being on a statin while undergoing radiation treatment for prostate cancer appears to improve the prostate-specific antigen response, especially in patients with the most aggressive cancers.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 7 Dec 2009 | 2:32 pm

Antidepressants Can Change Personalities

Using SSRI antidepressants can lead to positive personality changes, fewer negative emotions.
Source: Livescience.com - Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 2:02 pm

Functional MRI Shows Permanent Brain Damage From Lead Poisoning in Early Childhood

People in their 20s who were exposed to lead in early childhood showed evidence of permanent brain injury when tested with functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 7 Dec 2009 | 2:01 pm

A day in the 'normal' life of a Nobel winner

She was folding laundry when the call came at 5 a.m. After hanging up, Dr. Carol Greider woke her kids. She had to tell them she'd won the Nobel Prize, even if it meant getting them up early.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 1:08 pm

The smartphone apps that could save your life

There are a growing number of smartphone applications aimed at assisting medical professionals or improving personal health.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 7 Dec 2009 | 12:15 pm

Everybody's Doing It: Radiation Oncologists and Advanced Imaging

A survey of radiation oncologists provides some insight into the use of advanced imaging techniques in the field.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 7 Dec 2009 | 11:27 am

Novel Agent Shows Promise for T1351 Positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

The investigational agent omacetaxine might be a viable treatment option for patients with T3151 positive chronic myeloid leukemia who do not respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 7 Dec 2009 | 10:53 am

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