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AP/Businessweek examines efforts to sell low-cost, portable toilets in developing world

The Associated Press/BusinessWeek examines the Singapore-based company Rigel Technology's efforts to sell "state-of-the-art portable, fertilizer-making, toilets for as low as $30" in developing countries. "Experts estimate about 2.5 billion people lack functioning, hygienic toilets and instead excrete in the open, a habit that can contaminate water supplies and spread diseases such as E. coli bacteria and other viruses," the publication writes.

3 Dec 2009

Also in global health news: U.S. aid to Philippines, Swaziland, Guyana; Uganda Bills; Botswana HIV/AIDS

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney said the U.S. will give the country an additional $10 million worth of food aid for people affect by the recent typhoons, the Manila Bulletin reports. This brings "the total amount of its disaster relief and recovery assistance to US$30 million" (Sabater, 12/3).

3 Dec 2009

Report on the type 2 diabetes drug market in Brazil

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, forecasts that the type 2 diabetes drug market in Brazil will grow from $417 million in 2008 to $834 million in 2013.

3 Dec 2009

Senators prepare to debate abortion treatment in Senate bill

The Associated Press: "Senators debating health care legislation are headed for a clash over abortion, the issue that threatened to derail the bill in the House. Anticipating the showdown, hundreds of abortion rights supporters gathered on Capitol Hill Wednesday to call on senators to keep new abortion restrictions out of the health care bill.

3 Dec 2009

Will 'Cadillac tax' push employers to trim health insurance costs

Kaiser Health News staff writer Julie Appleby examines the potential reach of the Cadillac tax.

3 Dec 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

Defenders of the status quo in health care would happily let the drive for reform bog down amid a debate over President Obama's new war strategy. Democrats can't let this happen (12/3).

3 Dec 2009

Senate leaders say health bill amendment votes to start today

The Wall Street Journal reports that "after three days of debates without a vote on a single amendment ... Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin, (D., Ill.) announced Wednesday evening that" Republicans and Democrats had "come to agreement" on how to proceed. The first two votes will occur today "on amendments aimed at requiring health plans to cover preventive services for women's health.

3 Dec 2009

NIH approves new stem cell lines for research

The National Institutes of Health announced approval of embryonic stem cell lines for federally funded research. The Washington Post reports the decision is "opening the way for millions of taxpayer dollars to be used to conduct research that was put off-limits by President George W. Bush.

3 Dec 2009

Caliper Life Sciences releases Living Image 4.0 software for its IVIS in vivo imaging systems

Caliper Life Sciences, Inc., a leading provider of tools and services for drug discovery and life sciences research, today introduced Living Image 4.0 software for IVIS® in vivo imaging systems. Living Image software drives the more than 800 Caliper IVIS systems currently installed in laboratories worldwide.

3 Dec 2009

Medicare cuts in Senate health bill get support from seniors' groups

Bloomberg: Senate Democratic leaders, who are battling Republican attempts to "block Medicare spending cuts, face an even bigger headache: overcoming concern among members of their own party about the program's future funding."

3 Dec 2009

KHN column: Debating cost control

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, James Capretta explores perspectives related to cost control in health reform.

3 Dec 2009

GOP playbook highlights Senate procedural tactics

A memo circulated by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., spells out the arsenal of parliamentary maneuvers available to Republicans as they seek to stall the Senate's health debate, The New York Times reports on its Prescriptions blog. Gregg has a reputation as one of the GOP's "foremost experts on legislative war games."

3 Dec 2009

iCo Therapeutics to present an overview of its iCo-007 VEGF "+" agent at the ISOPT conference

iCo Therapeutics Inc. is pleased to announce that an overview of iCo-007, entitled "iCo-007 a VEGF "+" Agent for the Potential Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema and Diabetic Retinopathy" will be presented at the 8th International Symposium on Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics ("ISOPT"), a major international ocular conference.

3 Dec 2009

Doctors' groups break ranks to oppose Senate health overhaul

The California Medical Association - which represents more than 35,000 doctors - will announce its opposition to the Senate version of the health overhaul bill later this week, the Los Angeles Times reports. The group's leaders voted to oppose the bill last week, joining several other states, including Florida and Texas.

3 Dec 2009

At House hearing, panel seeks to clarify advice on mammograms

Members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force testified at a hearing Wednesday before the the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health.

3 Dec 2009

Reid still seeks common ground on public option

"The public option has gone through several stages of evolution this year, but it could soon face extinction unless one of the new versions picks up political momentum," The Hill reports.

3 Dec 2009

States weigh health cuts; Mass. considers student health 'revision'

News outlets report on budget squeezes in Oklahoma and Florida and a proposed overhaul of student health insurance in Massachusetts.

3 Dec 2009

Fear of swine flu impacts lifestyle

One of the lasting legacies of 2009 and looming challenges of 2010 is the H1N1 virus. Fears about contracting H1N1 (commonly known as the swine flu) have consumed many Americans for most of the year, so EarnMyDegree.com (http://www.earnmydegree.com), a web resource of EducationDynamics, which connects prospective students with online classes, commissioned a new study about whether flu-related worries have caused people to change their habits.

3 Dec 2009

GTSI named value-added reseller of the Intel Health Guide RPM solution

GTSI Corp. an enterprise technology solutions and services provider was recently named a value-added reseller to deliver the Intel® Health Guide, a comprehensive, next-generation remote patient monitoring (RPM) solution that combines an in-home patient device, the Intel Health Guide PHS6000, with the Intel® Care Management Suite, an online interface that allows clinicians to monitor patients and remotely manage care.

3 Dec 2009

New health IT grants to be 'models' for the nation

The federal government will offer $235 million in grants for communities to upgrade and improve their health information technology, The Dallas Morning News reports. Only organizations that are already using health IT are eligible. Health secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, "Our hope is that the communities will become models for the rest of the country" (Roberson, 12/2).

3 Dec 2009