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Taste may give a clue in how to treat depression

Researchers in the UK have found that taste tests could determine the cause of depression in patients and also indicate which is the best drug to treat the illness.

6 Dec 2006

Program in Iran provides treatment for HIV-positive people

An HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention program in Iran founded by two local physicians is providing antiretroviral drugs and clean needles to HIV-positive people in the country, the Washington Post reports.

5 Dec 2006

Chinese province to require couples to receive HIV tests before marriage

China's Yunnan Province beginning Jan. 1, 2007, will require couples to receive HIV tests before getting married, Xinhua/People's Daily reports.

5 Dec 2006

Susan Winckler appointed as acting FDA Chief of Staff

Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs (FDA), today announced the appointment of Susan C. Winckler, RPh, Esq., as the agency's Acting Chief of Staff. Ms. Winckler is replacing Patrick Ronan who announced his resignation last week after several years of service at the FDA.

5 Dec 2006

Vascular targeted nanoparticles for imaging and treatment of brain tumors

Combining two promising approaches to diagnosing and treating cancer, a multidisciplinary research team at the University of Michigan has created a targeted multifunctional polymer nanoparticle that successfully images and kills brain tumors in laboratory animals.

4 Dec 2006

Pfizer stops all Torcetrapib trials

On December 2, 2006, FDA was notified that Pfizer will suspend a large, Phase 3 trial evaluating the investigational cardiovascular therapy torceptrapib/atorvastatin (T/A) due to an increased rate of mortality (death) in patients receiving the combination compared to those receiving atorvastatin alone.

4 Dec 2006

City kids with asthma lose out on preventive treatment

A new study by specialists at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center and elsewhere suggests that only one in five inner-city children with chronic asthma gets enough medicine to control dangerous flare-ups of the disease.

4 Dec 2006

Internet exacerbates problems of anorexia and bulimia in teens

The Internet is being blamed by researchers in the U.S. for exacerbating the problems of anorexia and bulimia in young people.

4 Dec 2006

Older schizophrenia drugs cheaper and work just as well

According to a new study an older antipsychotic drug has been found to be both cheaper and as effective for some patients with schizophrenia as the newer drugs on the market.

4 Dec 2006

Chemo drugs damage healthy brain cells

According to new research chemotherapy drugs which are used to treat cancer, damage the brain.

4 Dec 2006

Drug coated heart stents more likely to cause blood clots

A review and analysis of studies on drug-coated heart devices known as stents, has found that patients with them are four to five times more likely to get blood clots when compared to the older bare-metal variety.

4 Dec 2006

Chronic use of nicotine can reinforce the rewarding effects of alcohol

When sober alcoholics are tempted to fall off the wagon, the same receptor is stimulated as is activated by nicotine in their brain.

2 Dec 2006

The role of gut worms in allergies

Gut parasites could hold the key to increasingly common conditions such as eczema, asthma and hay fever, according to scientists at The University of Nottingham.

2 Dec 2006

Compound from olive oil slows down spread of HIV

Olive oil has become part of the fight against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) - the cause of AIDS - thanks to research carried out by the Bionat team, from the University of Granada , headed by Prof. Andres García-Granados, senior lecturer in Organic Chemistry.

2 Dec 2006

Guanfacine no more effective than a placebo

Guanfacine, a medication commonly prescribed to alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, is no more effective than a placebo, according to a study led by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.

2 Dec 2006

Governments, donors falling short of antiretroviral treatment goals

Governments and international donors are falling short of their goals of providing antiretroviral drugs to HIV-positive people in developing countries who need them, according to a report released on Tuesday by the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, the International Herald Tribune reports.

2 Dec 2006

Why COX-2 inhibitors such as Vioxx can cause heart attacks and strokes

COX-2 inhibitors are primarily used to treat pain in conditions such as arthritis. They work by blocking the COX-2 enzyme, which is expressed at sites of inflammation and underlies the production of hormones called prostaglandins which swell the joints and cause the feeling of pain.

2 Dec 2006

Advocates in India shift focus toward preventing spread of HIV among injection drug users

Some HIV/AIDS advocates in India are shifting their approach to fighting the country's epidemic from promoting condom use and safer-sex practices among commercial sex workers, truck drivers and migrant laborers to largely targeting injection drug users, the AP/International Herald Tribune reports.

2 Dec 2006

Cipla, Ranbaxy to cut pediatric antiretroviral drug prices

Indian pharmaceutical companies Cipla and Ranbaxy under an agreement with the Clinton Foundation will reduce the prices of 19 different pediatric antiretroviral drugs in 62 developing countries to an average of 45% less than what treatments currently cost in the countries, former President Clinton announced on Thursday ahead of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, the AP/Forbes reports.

2 Dec 2006

West Virginia pilot project would create incentive program for Medicaid beneficiaries to live healthier

The New York Times on Friday examined new revisions to the West Virginia Medicaid program that will "reward 'responsible' patients with significant extra benefits or -- as critics describe it -- punish those who do not join weight-loss or anti-smoking programs, or who miss too many appointments, by denying important services" to help reduce costs.

2 Dec 2006