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NIH funded researchers identify and explore different aspects of anesthesia

Anesthesia helps many of us during our lives, whether we need a local painkiller at the dentist, numbing eye drops for laser vision correction or general anesthesia for major surgery. But even though anesthetics have been used in many procedures for more than 150 years, doctors and scientists still don't know exactly how these medicines work in the body.

5 Sep 2012

President orders additional mental health help for Vets

Obama signed an executive order on Friday, directing the Veterans Administration to hire 1,600 new mental health professionals and to expand the capacity of its crisis line so those who are in crisis can see a counselor within 24 hours. ... The White House says money for the additional mental health care will come from existing resources, though the president sought a 10-percent increase in overall VA funding next year.

5 Sep 2012

FDA approves Bosulif to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Bosulif (bosutinib) to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a blood and bone marrow disease that usually affects older adults.

5 Sep 2012

First Edition: September 4, 2012

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including previews of the Democratic convention and a New York Times analysis of how the Obama and Romney campaigns vary on Medicaid policy.

4 Sep 2012

Gene therapy approach restores ability to smell in mouse model of congenital anosmia

Scientists funded by the National Institutes of Health have restored the ability to smell in a mouse model of a human genetic disorder that causes congenital anosmia-the inability to smell from birth. The approach uses gene therapy to regrow cilia, cell structures that are essential for olfactory function.

3 Sep 2012

Utah Gov. sees slowdown in talks between states and HHS on health law implementation

Gov. Gary Herbert tells Politico Pro that efforts likely won't pick up until after the election. Meanwhile, a battle in Missouri appears finished on a health exchange ballot issue and Pennsylvania and Georgia also deal with implementation issues.

1 Sep 2012

Sanford Health researchers to explore origin of cervical cancer in American Indian women

A grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is allowing Sanford Health researchers to explore the origin of cervical cancer in American Indian women.

1 Sep 2012

Astellas Pharma receives FDA approval for Xtandi to treat metastatic CRPC

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Xtandi (enzalutamide) to treat men with late-stage (metastatic) castration-resistant prostate cancer that has spread or recurred, even with medical or surgical therapy to minimize testosterone.

1 Sep 2012

Researchers identify several genetic factors linked to C-reactive protein

African Americans have higher blood levels of a protein associated with increased heart-disease risk than European Americans, despite higher "good" HDL cholesterol and lower "bad" triglyceride levels. This contradictory observation now may be explained, in part, by a genetic variant identified in the first large-scale, genome-wide association study of this protein involving 12,000 African American and Hispanic American women.

31 Aug 2012

Ironwood receives FDA approval for Linzess to treat chronic idiopathic constipation, IBS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Linzess (linaclotide) to treat chronic idiopathic constipation and to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adults.

31 Aug 2012

Full-term pregnancy benefits many U.S. babies

More U.S. babies are getting the benefit of a full-term pregnancy, according to a new government report that shows that 61 percent of births now happen at 39 weeks of pregnancy or later, a five percent increase between 2006 and 2010.

30 Aug 2012

Medicaid cuts hit dental services; Minn. seeks waiver to save $151 million

The New York Times looks at the problems that come when the health care program for low-income people doesn't meet their dental needs. At the same time, Minnesota news outlets report on an effort by the governor to get federal authorities to approve changes in the Medicaid program there.

30 Aug 2012

Sicor Biotech receives FDA approval for tbo-filgrastim to treat severe neutropenia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Sicor Biotech's tbo-filgrastim to reduce the time certain patients receiving cancer chemotherapy experience severe neutropenia, a decrease in infection-fighting white blood cells called neutrophils.

30 Aug 2012

Novartis receives FDA approval for Afinitor Disperz to treat subependymal giant cell astrocytoma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Afinitor Disperz (everolimus tablets for oral suspension), a new pediatric dosage form of the anti-cancer drug Afinitor (everolimus) used to treat a rare brain tumor called subependymal giant cell astrocytoma.

30 Aug 2012

As GOP convention picks up, health issues draw attention

News outlets report on how the most conservative Republicans are uniting around Mitt Romney, even as he appears more open to embracing the Massachusetts health law he signed while that state's governor.

29 Aug 2012

Obama, Romney trade more Medicare barbs

President Barack Obama went on the Medicare attack, using his weekly address to challenge Republican charges that he cut Medicare. Obama also launched a new ad saying that the Romney-Ryan ticket would end Medicare as it exists today. But the Romney campaign has Medicare messages of its own.

28 Aug 2012

HHS makes official a one-year delay for ICD-10

As expected, physicians will not need to start using a new and controversial set of diagnostic codes called ICD-10 until October 1, 2014, a year later than originally scheduled, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today.

28 Aug 2012

Limited evidence supports medical intervention use in adolescents and young adults with autism

Vanderbilt University researchers studying interventions for adolescents and young adults with autism are reporting today that there is insufficient evidence to support findings, good or bad, for the therapies currently used.

28 Aug 2012

SAMHSA announces six new Statewide Family Network Program grants

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Administrator Pamela S. Hyde announced today the awarding of six new grants totaling up to $1.1 million over the next three years that will enhance state capacity and infrastructure to be more oriented to the needs of children and adolescents with a serious mental health condition.

28 Aug 2012

FDA approves Gilead’s Stribild to treat HIV-1 infection

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), a new once-a-day combination pill to treat HIV-1 infection in adults who have never been treated for HIV infection.

28 Aug 2012

Health and Human Services News and Research

NIH funded researchers identify and explore different aspects of anesthesia

President orders additional mental health help for Vets

FDA approves Bosulif to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia

First Edition: September 4, 2012

Gene therapy approach restores ability to smell in mouse model of congenital anosmia

Utah Gov. sees slowdown in talks between states and HHS on health law implementation

Sanford Health researchers to explore origin of cervical cancer in American Indian women

Astellas Pharma receives FDA approval for Xtandi to treat metastatic CRPC

Researchers identify several genetic factors linked to C-reactive protein

Ironwood receives FDA approval for Linzess to treat chronic idiopathic constipation, IBS

Full-term pregnancy benefits many U.S. babies

Medicaid cuts hit dental services; Minn. seeks waiver to save $151 million

Sicor Biotech receives FDA approval for tbo-filgrastim to treat severe neutropenia

Novartis receives FDA approval for Afinitor Disperz to treat subependymal giant cell astrocytoma

As GOP convention picks up, health issues draw attention

Obama, Romney trade more Medicare barbs

HHS makes official a one-year delay for ICD-10

Limited evidence supports medical intervention use in adolescents and young adults with autism

SAMHSA announces six new Statewide Family Network Program grants

FDA approves Gilead’s Stribild to treat HIV-1 infection

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