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HIV infection in mothers reduces disease resistance in babies: Study

New research suggests that babies whose mothers have HIV, but are not HIV-infected themselves, are born with lower levels of specific proteins in their blood called antibodies, which fight infection, compared with babies not exposed to HIV.

13 Feb 2011

Genetic map for prostate cancer

Researchers have managed to uncover the whole genetic sequence in prostate cancer. This complete map, hope researchers, will eventually lead to the development of more targeted drugs and a better understanding of which prostate cancers are likely to spread, one of the biggest challenges for physicians and patients.

13 Feb 2011

Daily diet soda raises stroke risk by 61%: Study

A new study suggests that regular intake of diet soda may be boosting the risk of stroke. Stroke is the third leading killer following heart disease and cancer, in the United States. More than 137,000 people a year die from stroke, according to the American Stroke Association.

13 Feb 2011

Genes for prostate cancer mapped for the first time

A genetic blue print that uncovers many of the mutations and genetic damage that drives prostate cancer and could lead to new treatments and better diagnosis has been found. This would mean earlier detection and new breeds of drugs to reverse the damage. Also each patient could have his own “cancer chart” made so that his treatment is personalized. The study, conducted by researchers from the Broad Institute, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Weill Cornell Medical College, appears in the Feb. 10 issue of Nature.

13 Feb 2011

Sec. of State Clinton meets with House Budget Committee chair as budget debate continues

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met Thursday with Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the new House Budget Committee chair, "to set out her objections to the House Republicans' deficit-cutting plans," the Financial Times reports. Obama administration officials and congressional Democrats argue that Republican's proposed budget cuts "will reduce U.S. influence throughout the world ... and cost lives in Africa and beyond," the newspaper writes in a story outlining the different perspectives over how far budget cuts should go.

11 Feb 2011

Gene GFPT1 crucial in causing variation of Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome

The gene, GFPT1, has been identified by researchers at Newcastle University working with international colleagues, as crucial in causing a variation of Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome (CMS).

11 Feb 2011

Guide star and time-reversal mirror in biomedical imaging

Astronomers have a neat trick they sometimes use to compensate for the turbulence of the atmosphere that blurs images made by ground-based telescopes. They create an artificial star called a guide star and use its twinkling to compensate for the atmospheric turbulence.

11 Feb 2011

Silver treated IV connectors may cause potentially deadly infections

Nationally-acclaimed researcher and award-winning author Dr. Cynthia C. Chernecky warned in a speech at the 11th National Conference on Cancer Nursing Research that silver treated IV connectors could actually cause potentially deadly infections they were supposed to prevent.

11 Feb 2011

CMS chief testifies at Ways and Means Committee, stays cool despite grilling

The tense, heated hearing was the first opportunity for the House to question Berwick since July, when he was recess-appointed to his post as head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Haberkorn and Coughlin, 2/10).

11 Feb 2011

New York Medicaid: Task force considers reform ideas, auditors investigate overbilling

News outlets report on developments regarding the New York state Medicaid program.

11 Feb 2011

GOP eyes planned parenthood in efforts to slash federal budget

Planned Parenthood received $16.9 million in 2009 Title X funding, which by law must be spent on health care services such as contraceptives, pelvic exams and safer-sex counseling. It cannot be spent on abortions.

11 Feb 2011

More research needed to determine link between folic acid and breast cancer

Voices from the right offer views on health law repeal, political strategies

News organizations examine how recent court rulings and other matters of constitutional law are transforming the "tea party" movement into a force "attempting to shape national party." Meanwhile, strategies abound in how best to advance the repeal effort, and Mitt Romney tries to differentiate Massachusetts' health law from the federal overhaul.

11 Feb 2011

State roundup: Fla. preps for Medicaid overhaul; Funding cut fears in Mass., Texas; Calif. exchange board's challenges

Both President Barack Obama and House Republicans are moving to rein in federal spending by reducing aid to states and cities, which would deepen their fiscal woes just as economic-stimulus funds from Washington are drying up. ...

11 Feb 2011

Optimer prices underwritten public offering of common stock

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the pricing of a previously announced underwritten public offering of 6,000,000 shares of its common stock, offered at a price to the public of $11.25 per share. The gross proceeds to Optimer from this offering are expected to be $67.5 million, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by Optimer.

11 Feb 2011

High risk insurance pools: Enrollment is up but still short of projections

The Department of Health and Human Services announced a 50 percent jump in enrollment in the health law's pre-existing condition plans during the last three months. Even with this recent jump, the total enrollment is nowhere near the administration's initial projections.

11 Feb 2011

CBO: Health law could result in 800,000 fewer workers

The statistics first surfaced in projections made last summer, but were brought back to the debate Thursday during a House Budget Committee hearing.

11 Feb 2011

Early MRI in young adults associated with lower rate of stroke misdiagnosis

While the American Stroke Association reports that stroke is the third leading cause of death and one of the top causes of disability in the United States, young adults showing signs of suffering a stroke are sometimes misdiagnosed in hospital emergency rooms, preventing them from receiving early effective treatment that can prevent serious damage.

11 Feb 2011

White House, GOP governors spar over health care exchanges

On Thursday, the White House was in the midst of pushing back against the Republican claims that they did not have enough flexibility to implement this key part of the health law.

11 Feb 2011

Research roundup: Access to care in Mass.; Mental health spending; Gender and medical debt: How much do Americans know about health law?

Health Affairs: Lack Of Access Due To Costs Remains A Problem For Some In Massachusetts Despite The State's Health Reforms - Based on an analysis of state data, the authors found that the percentage of people without insurance fell "to twelve-year lows in Massachusetts, from 11.5 percent (SE 0.91) in 1996 to 3.5 percent (SE 0.33) in 2008.

11 Feb 2011