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ASTRO’s guideline details use of adjuvant radiation therapy in treatment of endometrial cancer

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has issued a new guideline, "The Role of Postoperative Radiation Therapy for Endometrial Cancer: An ASTRO Evidence-Based Guideline," that details the use of adjuvant radiation therapy in the treatment of endometrial cancer.

25 Apr 2014

Health law influences small business owners' decisions

The Wall Street Journal reports that even though the mandate was delayed requiring businesses with more than 50 employees to provide coverage for their workers, the overhaul is affecting how companies are run.

25 Apr 2014

New simple screening questionnaire designed to identify testosterone-deficient men

Men whose testosterone falls below normal levels are more likely to have erectile dysfunction and to be overweight and have heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

25 Apr 2014

Survey: Most Americans favor health law's birth control coverage mandate

Though this health law provision continues to be controversial and is the subject of various legal challenges, a recent survey conducted by University of Michigan researchers found that 69 percent of Americans support the requirement.

25 Apr 2014

Aetna raises earnings outlook

In other market news, coverage continues of the cost and effectiveness of Sovaldi, a new drug to treat hepatitis C, and the related earnings gained by Gilead Sciences, its manufacturer.

25 Apr 2014

Better educated people appear to recover from traumatic brain injury

Better-educated people appear to be significantly more likely to recover from a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), suggesting that a brain's "cognitive reserve" may play a role in helping people get back to their previous lives, new Johns Hopkins research shows.

25 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 24, 2014

Today's headlines include a number of reports about how the health law is playing in midterm election campaigns.

25 Apr 2014

Community-based structured weight loss program improves diabetes symptoms

Weight loss and control of blood sugar can reduce the risk of complications in patients with diabetes but this is difficult for many to achieve. A University of California, San Diego School of Medicine randomized controlled trial of obese adults with type 2 diabetes suggests that participants enrolled in a community-based structured weight loss program are able to shed more pounds, improve blood sugar control and reduce or eliminate insulin use and other medications compared to a control group.

25 Apr 2014

Sales of hepatitis drug shatter records

Record sales of the pricey new drug, Sovaldi, pushed first-quarter earnings of Gilead Sciences beyond expectations. Meanwhile, Novartis' recently announced deals with GlaxoSmithKline and Eli Lilly show manufacturers' swing towards specialization, reports The Wall Street Journal.

25 Apr 2014

Zenalux, RPCI collaborate to enhance Zenascope system to detect oral cancers at an early stage

Zenalux Biomedical, Inc., a leader in biophotonic diagnostics, is working with Roswell Park Cancer Institute to further enhance its flagship Zenascope™ product by adding a high-resolution camera to the system.

25 Apr 2014

Regulators vote against approving new painkiller

A key government panel Tuesday voted unanimously against approval of a powerful opioid prescription painkiller intended to provide faster relief with fewer side effects. At the conclusion of a hearing, the Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted 14-0 against recommending that the agency approve Moxduo, the first drug to combine morphine and oxycodone into one capsule (Stein, 4/22).

25 Apr 2014

Lawsuit challenging health law subsidies gains backing of 38 GOP lawmakers

The challenge, brought by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., targets the rule allowing the federal government to pay part of the health insurance premiums for lawmakers and some staffers.

25 Apr 2014

LA BioMed researcher wins Ray E. Helfer Award for contributions to detection, prevention of child abuse

Carol D. Berkowitz, MD, a Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute lead researcher, was recently honored for her distinguished contributions to the detection and prevention of child abuse and neglect by the Ray E. Helfer Society, a national organization of physicians devoted to the problem of maltreated children.

25 Apr 2014

Four insurers enroll nearly 95% of California sign-ups

Nonetheless, experts say California's online marketplace increased competition in the state's individual market. Meanwhile, lower-than-expected enrollment in Oregon creates budget issues, and a Democratic congresswoman from Arizona calls on the administration to extend the enrollment deadline past April 15.

25 Apr 2014

Democrats in tough La., Pa., and Fla. races embrace health law

Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Rep. Allyson Schwartz, who is running for governor of Pennsylvania, and Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist tout the improvements from the law.

25 Apr 2014

Increasing daily coffee consumption may lower type 2 diabetes risk

People who increased the amount of coffee they drank each day by more than one cup over a four-year period had a 11% lower risk for type 2 diabetes than those who made no changes to their coffee consumption, according to a new study led by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers. In addition, the study found that those who decreased their coffee consumption by more than a cup per day increased their type 2 diabetes risk by 17%.

24 Apr 2014

Marijuana may cause heart complications in young people

Marijuana smoking may increase the risk of serious and even fatal heart problems among young or middle-aged users, according to a new French study.

24 Apr 2014

Political cartoon: 'Bill Of Health?'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Bill Of Health?" by Mike Luckovich.

23 Apr 2014

WLSA's Convergence Summit to focus on global adoption of technology-enabled health care

The Wireless-Life Sciences Alliance said today that its ninth annual Convergence Summit here next month will focus on achieving broader global adoption of technology-enabled health care at a time when the pace of innovation in connected health and personal health solutions is accelerating.

23 Apr 2014