Health and Medical News Headlines for March 19, 2010

Acupuncture infection 'link'

Doctors at Hong Kong University call for greater regulation of the acupuncture industry and stricter hygiene measures.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 19 Mar 2010 | 2:08 am

MARKETS-FRANCE-BENELUX/STOCKS =2 PARIS

For more information on Top News visit http://topnews.reuters.com For pan-European market data and news, click on codes in brackets: European Equities speed guide...................<EUR/EQUITY>...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 19 Mar 2010 | 2:00 am

Spanish stocks - Factors to watch on Friday

MADRID, March 18 (Reuters) - The following Spanish stocks may be affected by newspaper reports and other factors on Friday. Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy:
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 19 Mar 2010 | 1:57 am

Philippines' Petron hires banks for $350 mln loan

MANILA, March 19 (Reuters) - Top Philippine oil refiner Petron Corp said on Friday it mandated three banks -- Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd , Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd and Standard...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 19 Mar 2010 | 1:48 am

WRAPUP 1-Samsung, LG see growth, but know rivals are catching

* Samsung targets double digit sales rise, higher op profit
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 19 Mar 2010 | 1:41 am

Growing Number Of Acupuncture-Transmitted Diseases: Experts Call For Infection Control Guidelines

In an editorial on bmj.com today, experts are demanding further funding to establish appropriate infection control guidelines to deal with the growing number of acupuncture-transmitted diseases. The number of reported cases is described as "the tip of the iceberg" by Professor Patrick Woo and colleagues from the University of Hong Kong. Acupuncture is one of the most widely practiced strands of alternative medicine. It is based on the theory that inserting and manipulating fine needles at specific points in the body helps to promote the flow of Qi or energy...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 19 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am

Stem-Cell Development Influenced By Geometry

University of Chicago scientists have successfully used geometrically patterned surfaces to influence the development of stem cells. The new approach is a departure from that of many stem-cell biologists, who focus instead on uncovering the role of proteins in controlling the fate of stem cells. "The cells are seeing the same soluble proteins. In both cases it's the shape alone that's dictating whether they turn into fat or bone, and that hasn't been appreciated before," said Milan Mrksich, Professor in Chemistry and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, who led the study...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 19 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am

Solid-Pseudopapillary Neoplasm Of The Pancreas Or Pancreatic Endocrine Tumor?

Solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas is relatively rare. There are some similarities between SPN and pancreatic endocrine tumor (PET), especially the non-functioning ones, in clinical and pathological manifestations. Even the results of immunohistochemistry reported in the literature showed that the expression profiles of the two tumors overlapped, which sometimes results in difficulty distinguishing the two entities...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 19 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am

Fungi Can Change Quickly, Pass Along Infectious Ability

Fungi have significant potential for "horizontal" gene transfer, a new study has shown, similar to the mechanisms that allow bacteria to evolve so quickly, become resistant to antibiotics and cause other serious problems. This discovery, published Thursday in the journal Nature, suggests that fungi have the capacity to rapidly change the make-up of their genomes and become infectious to plants and possibly animals, including humans. They are not nearly as confined to the more gradual processes of conventional evolution as had been believed, scientists say...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 19 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am

Discovery Of Switch Mechanism For Controlling Traffic In Cells

Scientists have identified a mechanism that switches on an extremely important process for the proper functioning and survival of our body's cells. Specifically, the fast-track transportation pathway of 'cargo' to and from the surface of the cell. Defects in this trafficking pathway can have severe consequences, leading to numerous diseases such as high cholesterol, neuropathies, sterility and complications in immune response. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these disorders is crucial to developing possible treatments and new therapeutic strategies. Dr. Peter McPherson and Dr...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 19 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am

Diabetes Patients' Lives May Be Shorter If They Have Difficulty Trusting And Reaching Out To Others

Mistrust can exact a high toll. Being overly cautious or dismissive in relating to people, researchers are learning, may shorten the lives of people with diabetes. Diabetes patients who have a lower propensity to reach out to others have a higher mortality rate than those who feel comfortable seeking support. These are the findings of a five-year study reported by Dr. Paul Ciechanowski, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington (UW) and an affiliate investigator at Group Health Research Institute in Seattle...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 19 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am

51st Annual Drosophila Research Conference From The Genetics Society Of America

More than 1600 basic research scientists who study genetic models in Drosophila (fruit flies) are expected to attend the 51st Annual Drosophila Research Conference in Washington, DC, April 7-11, 2010. SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMFor the complete program and Schedule of Events, see http://www.drosophila-conf.org/cgi-bin/dros10-cgi/drosSOE.pl. Plenary Sessions, Thursday, April 8, 8:30 AM - 12:00 Noon Control of Organ Size and Tumorigenesis by the Hippo Signaling Pathway...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 19 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am

The Role Of Haptic Feedback In Laparoscopic Training Using The LapMentor II

UroToday.com - Increasing attention is being directed to the use of simulation in training laparoscopic surgery as it is becoming the standard of care for many surgical diseases. The debate continues in the literature as to the necessity of haptic or tactile feedback as an important component of a laparoscopic simulator for teaching these surgical skills. The Simbionix LapMentor II has the capability of providing tactile feedback for its basic skills training. However, this software adds an estimated cost of $30,000 to this simulator without the haptic feedback...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 19 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am

Human Genome Sciences Announces Results Of Randomized Phase 2 Trial Of Mapatumumab In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) announced the results of its randomized Phase 2 trial of mapatumumab (HGS-ETR1) in combination with the chemotherapy agents paclitaxel and carboplatin as first-line therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The results showed no difference in disease response or progression-free survival for the combination that included mapatumumab vs. the control group, and showed that mapatumumab was well tolerated in this study. HGS expects to present the results in full at an appropriate scientific meeting later in 2010...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 19 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am

Study Finds Selenium Protects Men Against Diabetes

The role of selenium in diabetes has been controversial, with some studies suggesting that it raises diabetes risk and others finding that it is protective. Now, research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Nutrition and Metabolism, has shown that, for men, high plasma selenium concentrations are associated with a lower occurrence of dysglycemia. Tasnime Akbaraly, from the University of Montpellier, worked with a team of researchers to follow 1162 healthy French men and women for nine years, monitoring plasma selenium concentrations and incidence of dysglycemia...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 19 Mar 2010 | 1:00 am

TABLE-Bachem AG Full-year results

Mar 19 (Reuters) - 12 months to 31 Dec 2009 Group (in SFR millions unless otherwise stated)
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 19 Mar 2010 | 12:54 am

Report Says China Sold Bad Vaccines to Hospitals

A newspaper article has reawakened a controversy over whether provincial authorities improperly stored vaccines, rendering them ineffective, and then let them be administered to children.

Source: NYT > Health | 19 Mar 2010 | 12:40 am

Democrats Say Health Bill Will Pay for Itself in the Long Run

Democrats unveiled the completed version of the health care legislation they intend to bring to a vote, saying that it would extend insurance coverage to most of those who lack it.

Source: NYT > Health | 19 Mar 2010 | 12:40 am

TABLE-Chuco -2009/10 parent forecast

PARENT-ONLY EARNINGS ESTIMATES (in billions of yen unless specified)
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 19 Mar 2010 | 12:40 am

Thai PTT gas plant may go ahead in Q2 - official

BANGKOK, March 19 (Reuters) - The sixth gas plant of Thailand's top energy firm, PTT Pcl , may be allowed to open in the second quarter after the government clarifies industrial environmental rules, a...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 19 Mar 2010 | 12:39 am

UPDATE 1-Market Chatter -- Corporate finance press digest

BANGALORE, March 19 (Reuters) - The following corporate finance-related stories were reported by media on Friday:
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 19 Mar 2010 | 12:36 am

UPDATE 1-Market Chatter -- Corporate finance press digest

BANGALORE, March 19 (Reuters) - The following corporate finance-related stories were reported by media on Friday:
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 19 Mar 2010 | 12:36 am

Political Memo: In Health Vote, Democrats Weigh Success vs. Survival

As momentum builds to a vote on the health care legislation, leaders are deciding which politically endangered Democrats can vote against the party.

Source: NYT > Health | 19 Mar 2010 | 12:10 am

Uruguay is wine world's rising star

Argentina has its Malbec. Chile has its Carmenere. Now Uruguay, not to be out-muscled by its more famous wine-producing neighbors, is taking the world of viticulture by storm, with its...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 19 Mar 2010 | 12:10 am

How Health Care Costs and Goals Came Out Right for Obama

Building the health care legislation was not a shopping spree, but more like a trip to the local fruit stand with a set amount of money in hand and every item clearly marked.

Source: NYT > Health | 19 Mar 2010 | 12:10 am

Doctor and Patient: When Is the Worst Time to Go to the Hospital?

A “full house,” weekend admissions, nurse staffing and the seasonal flu can all affect a patient’s risk of dying in the hospital.

Source: NYT > Health | 19 Mar 2010 | 12:10 am

Teva Acquires Top German Generics Maker for $5 Billion

The acquisition of Ratiopharm catapults Teva, the global leader in generic drugs, from fifth place among German generic players to the No. 2 spot.

Source: NYT > Health | 18 Mar 2010 | 10:40 pm

Company Races to Extend Blood Thinner Patent

The Medicines Company is disputing whether it really did miss a deadline in applying for a patent extension for its blood thinner Angiomax.

Source: NYT > Health | 18 Mar 2010 | 10:40 pm

Federal Tobacco Rule Is Set to Go Into Effect in June

Officials said they would implement a measure banning the sale and marketing of tobacco products to teenagers 15 years after its proposal.

Source: NYT > Health | 18 Mar 2010 | 10:00 pm

Obese maternity care risk warning

Maternity services for obese women are not good enough and may be putting mothers-to-be at risk, experts warn.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 18 Mar 2010 | 9:55 pm

Health Tip: Medications and Breast Feeding (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Just as when they were pregnant, breast-feeding moms need to monitor the drugs they take, which could reach their infants.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 18 Mar 2010 | 9:49 pm

Selenium Could Shield Against Diabetes (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, March 18 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have found evidence that older men with higher levels of selenium are less likely to suffer from dysglycemia, or improper blood-sugar metabolism.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 18 Mar 2010 | 9:49 pm

Prenatal Stress May Boost Baby's Asthma Risk (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, March 18 (HealthDay News) -- A stressful pregnancy may increase the risk that a baby will develop asthma, a new study finds.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 18 Mar 2010 | 9:49 pm

FDA Toughens Rules on Tobacco Sales to Kids (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, March 18 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. health officials issued new federal rules Thursday cracking down on the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to children and teens.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 18 Mar 2010 | 9:49 pm

Review Faults Usefulness of Gene Expression Signatures (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, March 18 (HealthDay News) -- A review of research on gene expression-based prognostic signatures in lung cancer contends that the signatures aren't ready for prime time.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 18 Mar 2010 | 9:49 pm

More Kids Now Extremely Obese (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, March 18 (HealthDay News) -- The obesity epidemic is hitting children harder than ever, with 7.3 percent of boys and 5.5 percent of girls classified as extremely obese in a California study, researchers from Kaiser Permanente report.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 18 Mar 2010 | 9:49 pm

Infection warning on child deaths

Greater vigilance by doctors for childhood infections could have a significant impact on child deaths, say researchers.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 18 Mar 2010 | 9:45 pm

Plan Approved for Public Hospitals in Miami to Tackle Deficit

After warning that it would run out of money within weeks, Miami’s public hospital group has cobbled together a stabilization plan.

Source: NYT > Health | 18 Mar 2010 | 9:32 pm

Mardell's America

Weighing merits of health reform in Pennsylvania
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 18 Mar 2010 | 8:42 pm

Arizona Drops Children’s Health Program

Arizona’s budget makes it the first state to eliminate its Children’s Health Insurance Program, leaving nearly 47,000 low-income children without coverage.

Source: NYT > Health | 18 Mar 2010 | 8:19 pm

Glowing fly sperm yields results

Researchers in the US genetically engineer fruit flies to have glowing sperm in order to track its performance in the female.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 18 Mar 2010 | 7:40 pm

What Is the Organic Liaison Diet? (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - "Fat Actress" star Kirstie Alley - following a well-publicized failure as spokeswoman for weight loss company Jenny Craig - has developed a new diet system called Organic Liaison. So if you want to look like Kirstie Alley, here's your chance. But Organic Liaison is not just a diet, since diets per se cannot be trademarked or copyrighted. ...
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 18 Mar 2010 | 7:00 pm

Dems: Bill would cost $940 billion

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Democrats' revised health care bill will cost $940 billion over the next 10 years, two House Democratic sources told CNN on Thursday.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 18 Mar 2010 | 4:41 pm

Calif. board to study requiring condoms in porn (AP)

AP - California's worker safety board voted Thursday to further study a proposal that would require porn actors to wear condoms during sex scenes.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 18 Mar 2010 | 4:29 pm

New Omapatrilatlike Drug Impressive in Hypertension

A new BP-lowering drug that acts in a similar way to omapatrilat--an agent that never quite made it to the market--has shown promise in a preliminary trial. Crucially, this dual inhibiting agent, named LCZ696, blocks angiotensin II rather than angiotensin-converting enzyme; there was no indication of angioedema in the study.
Heartwire
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 18 Mar 2010 | 4:17 pm

FDA toughens kid-tobacco rules

Every day, nearly 4,000 children in the U.S. under the age of 18 try their first cigarette, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 18 Mar 2010 | 4:07 pm

What Is the Organic Liaison Diet?

Organic Liaison is a paid membership online program.
Source: Livescience.com - Health | 18 Mar 2010 | 4:03 pm

More, younger US kids are 'extremely obese': study (AFP)

AFP - More US children are becoming extremely obese at a younger age, putting them at risk of dying decades younger than normal-weight children and of suffering old-age illnesses in their 20s, a study warned Thursday.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 18 Mar 2010 | 3:29 pm

Older Patients Less Likely to Get Adjuvant Chemo for Colorectal Cancer

Older patients in the community are less likely to receive supplemental chemotherapy for colorectal cancer, despite findings suggesting that therapy is no more toxic in this population.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 18 Mar 2010 | 2:48 pm

Attempt stalls to ban smoking at Calif state parks (AP)

AP - An attempt by the California Legislature to impose what is believed to be the nation's most far-reaching smoking ban in state parks stalled Thursday over objections it would inappropriately punish smokers.

Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 18 Mar 2010 | 2:35 pm

ID Society Calls for 10 New Antimicrobials by 2020

With increasing antimicrobial resistance and a paucity of new antimicrobials in the pipeline, the Infectious Diseases Society of America urges various key stakeholders to ramp up research and development.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 18 Mar 2010 | 2:08 pm

Reconciliation Bill for Healthcare Reform Sets Up Congressional Showdown

The House could vote on the Senate-enacted reform bill this Sunday, and then amend it with the reconciliation bill.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 18 Mar 2010 | 1:32 pm

US health bill 'will cut deficit'

Congressional officials say the healthcare bill will cut the deficit by $138bn over 10 years, ahead of a possible vote on Sunday.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 18 Mar 2010 | 1:20 pm

FDA Approves First Totally Prosthetic Hearing System for Sensorineural Loss

The FDA has approved the first totally implanted hearing system for the treatment of moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss in patients aged 18 years and older.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 18 Mar 2010 | 12:40 pm

FDA Approves Orphan Drug Status for Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine

The FDA has approved orphan drug status for a therapeutic vaccine to treat pancreatic cancer.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 18 Mar 2010 | 12:37 pm

Biomimetic Signaling Gel Reduces Signs of Photoaging

An investigational gel containing electrically charged zinc and copper microparticles significantly reduces signs of photoaging, including under-eye wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 18 Mar 2010 | 12:13 pm

Triplet Births Rising and Death Rates High - Study

Triplet births are on the increase, even when IVF pregnancies are discounted, and the death rate for triplets is 10 times higher than for single births, Norwegian scientists said on Wednesday.
Reuters Health Information
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 18 Mar 2010 | 11:52 am

Insurer Targeted HIV Patients to Drop Coverage

In May, 2002, Jerome Mitchell, a 17-year old college freshman from rural South Carolina, learned he had contracted HIV. The news, of course, was devastating, but Mitchell believed that he had one thing going for him: On his own initiative, in anticipation of his first year in college, he had purchased his own health insurance.
Reuters Health Information
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 18 Mar 2010 | 11:52 am

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