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Partnerships, additional funding allow for expansion of PEPFAR to combat cervical cancer

In this post in the Public Health Institute's "Dialogue4Health" blog, Jeffrey Meer, director of PHI's Washington-based advocacy on global health, writes that "a significant expansion of PEPFAR's existing work to combat cervical cancer" through a partnership with the George W. Bush Institute known as Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon (PRRR); a 50 percent increase in the U.S. government's "commitment to screen and treat for this type of cancer from $20 million over five years to $30 million"; and additional funding from Susan G. Komen for the Cure "to expand breast cancer awareness and prevention among the same target population of women receiving care at PEPFAR-funded HIV service sites" has allowed "the wonderfully robust PEPFAR prevention and treatment platform, considered one of the great global health achievements in recent times, to be made available to a whole new type of prevention -- in this case for a non-communicable disease (NCD)."

23 Nov 2011

IPS examines HIV in the Caribbean, highlights challenges in addressing at-risk populations

Inter Press Service examines HIV in the Caribbean, where "the HIV burden varies considerably among and within countries" in the region. "'I think the prevention programs in many countries are not reaching the right people,' Michel de Groulards, regional program adviser of the UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team, told IPS," the news service writes, adding, "One factor, de Groulards believed, may be that after 25 years of providing treatment, some countries have reached a plateau.

23 Nov 2011

Researchers pinpoint cancer-fighting potential in bat plant

In a new study published this month in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio have pinpointed the cancer-fighting potential in the bat plant, or Tacca chantrieri.

23 Nov 2011

California providers sue over Medicaid rates; Texas weighs steep cuts for Medicaid rehab

The federal law extends Medicaid coverage to millions of Americans in 2014, including childless adults. But with permission – and dollars – from the federal government, California started the expansion early. ... Surprisingly though, the roll-out of what conservatives derisively call "Obamacare" has largely gone unnoticed in Bakersfield.

23 Nov 2011

New IOM report assesses breast cancer risk posed by environmental factors

Although women have little or no control over some of the risk factors for breast cancer, such as those related to aging and genetics, they may be able to reduce their chances for developing the disease by avoiding certain environmental risks. BREAST CANCER AND THE ENVIRONMENT: A LIFE COURSE APPROACH, a new report from the Institute of Medicine, assesses the breast cancer risk posed by various environmental factors, identifies actions that offer potential to reduce women's risk for the disease, and recommends targets for future research.

23 Nov 2011

Holiday health tips for cancer survivors

Surviving the holidays with one's waistline, bank account and sanity intact can be challenging for everyone, but the season affords specific pitfalls - and opportunities - for cancer survivors who are mindful of staying healthy throughout the season and beyond.

23 Nov 2011

EpiGen to collaborate with Nestl- Research Center in Switzerland

The EpiGen Consortium, an international alliance of the world's leading epigenetics researchers (Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), National University of Singapore, University of Southampton, Medical Research Council - Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, AgResearch Limited, Auckland UniServices Limited) are pleased to announce the creation of a research collaboration with Nestl- Research Center in Switzerland.

23 Nov 2011

Defending Washington's basic health plan; Questioning Wisconsin's proposed health care cuts

The Basic Health program has played an important role in extending the safety net to provide coverage to many low-income people who can't afford to purchase coverage on their own and don't qualify for Medicaid. It's much easier to retain an infrastructure than to build a new one from scratch. Simply put, leaving people without health insurance lengthens the recession and imposes costs on us all.

23 Nov 2011

Nine Heidelberg researchers receive European Research Council grants

In the framework of this year's round of the European Research Council's (ERC) competition for outstanding researchers, Heidelberg University has totted up a remarkable score.

23 Nov 2011

Oral antibiotics might treat Buruli ulcer

It might be possible to treat Buruli ulcer, a crippling and deforming disease, with only oral medicines, which would make treatment easier. And even the current treatment can in many cases be given in an outpatient regimen.

23 Nov 2011

Treatment of Type 1 diabetes patients with DiaPep277- may have several medical benefits

The clinical trial was random, regulated, double-blinded and broad-based. The drug was tested on 457 patients, aged 16-45, who had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a short time before joining the trial. The trial took place in around 40 medical centers in Europe, Israel and South Africa. The patients in the trial were randomly assigned to one of two groups: One received the trial drug (DiaPep277-) through a subcutaneous injection once every three months, for a period of two years, while the control group was given a placebo in the same way.

23 Nov 2011

State roundup: Calif. retirees to retain health benefits; Emory, MinuteClinic partner in Ga.; Free services in Md.

Health benefits for government retirees may not be eliminated if state and local governments had clearly promised workers those benefits, the California Supreme Court ruled in an Orange County case Monday. The unanimous ruling is expected to make it more difficult for state and local governments to shave costs by cutting health benefits to retirees if elected officials in previous years made it clear that those benefits would last a lifetime.

23 Nov 2011

FSU professors available to provide perspective on fight against HIV/AIDS

As the world prepares to mark World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, two Florida State University professors are available to provide perspective on the fight against HIV/AIDS.

22 Nov 2011

Biochemists identify structure of hydroxyurea that specifically inhibits proteasome

As the "recycling plant" of the cell, the proteasome regulates vitally important functions. When it is inhibited, the cell chokes on its own waste. Cancer cells, in particular, are very sensitive because they need the proteasome for their uncontrolled growth. Biochemists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) have now identified the lead structure of a new class of drugs that attacks the proteasome in an unusual way. New medication could be developed on the basis of this previously unknown binding mechanism.

22 Nov 2011

Arginine may reactivate T-cells in patients with glioblastoma

In many cases, tumors suppress a patient's immune system in a way that keeps the cancer safe from immune system attack. This is particularly true for patients with glioblastoma, a primary brain tumor that carries a prognosis of only 12-15 months survival after diagnosis.

22 Nov 2011

CWRU receives NHLBI grant to study sleep apnea as possible cause of AF

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has received a $3.8 million grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to study sleep apnea as a possible cause of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most commonly diagnosed type of arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm.

22 Nov 2011

FDA accepts Regeneron's ARCALYST sBLA for review

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the Company's supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for ARCALYST Injection for Subcutaneous Use for the prevention of gout flares in patients initiating uric acid-lowering therapy.

22 Nov 2011

Naltrexone for problem gamblers

According to new practice guidelines Australian doctors treating gambling addicts now can consider prescribing an anti-heroin drug, naltrexone, to help problem gamblers control their impulses. Australia has one of the world’s highest rates of problem gamblers, with about 2.1 per cent of Australians experiencing some form of gambling problem.

22 Nov 2011

Pfizer enters definitive agreement to acquire Excaliard

Pfizer Inc. and Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Pfizer will acquire Excaliard, a privately owned biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel drugs for the treatment of skin fibrosis, more commonly referred to as skin scarring. The acquisition is expected to close before the end of the year.

22 Nov 2011

Number of annual polio cases in Nigeria quadruples; WHO, government working to vaccinate millions of children

Nigeria has reported 43 cases of polio so far this year, up from 11 cases in 2010, and the disease has spread to Niger, Mali, and Cote d'Ivoire, according to a WHO official, BBC News reports.

22 Nov 2011

Research News and Research

Partnerships, additional funding allow for expansion of PEPFAR to combat cervical cancer

IPS examines HIV in the Caribbean, highlights challenges in addressing at-risk populations

Researchers pinpoint cancer-fighting potential in bat plant

California providers sue over Medicaid rates; Texas weighs steep cuts for Medicaid rehab

New IOM report assesses breast cancer risk posed by environmental factors

Holiday health tips for cancer survivors

EpiGen to collaborate with Nestl- Research Center in Switzerland

Defending Washington's basic health plan; Questioning Wisconsin's proposed health care cuts

Nine Heidelberg researchers receive European Research Council grants

Oral antibiotics might treat Buruli ulcer

Treatment of Type 1 diabetes patients with DiaPep277- may have several medical benefits

State roundup: Calif. retirees to retain health benefits; Emory, MinuteClinic partner in Ga.; Free services in Md.

FSU professors available to provide perspective on fight against HIV/AIDS

Biochemists identify structure of hydroxyurea that specifically inhibits proteasome

Arginine may reactivate T-cells in patients with glioblastoma

CWRU receives NHLBI grant to study sleep apnea as possible cause of AF

FDA accepts Regeneron's ARCALYST sBLA for review

Naltrexone for problem gamblers

Pfizer enters definitive agreement to acquire Excaliard

Number of annual polio cases in Nigeria quadruples; WHO, government working to vaccinate millions of children

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Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

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