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Scientists zero in on dose levels of "sacred mushroom"

Scientists at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have zeroed in on the dose levels of the "sacred mushroom" chemical capable of yielding positive, life-changing experiences, while minimizing the chance of transient negative reactions in screened volunteers under supportive, carefully monitored conditions.

15 Jun 2011

Essential benefits rule, McKinsey study continue to draw headlines

Also, Neal Katyal, the acting solicitor general who has argued four of the cases challenging the health law before appeals courts, has announced that he will leave the Department of Justice at the conclusion of the current Supreme Court term.

15 Jun 2011

Long carbon nanotubes could cause cancer in the lung lining

Tiny fibres used to strengthen everyday products such as bicycle frames and hockey sticks could pose health hazards to those involved in their manufacture.

15 Jun 2011

FDA issues final rulemaking on testing and labeling of sunscreen products

"FDA's recognition today of the important role sunscreens play in protecting the public not only from sunburn but also from skin cancer and premature aging due to the sun is a very significant victory for public health. The role of UV rays in causing skin damage and the role of sunscreens in protecting against this sun damage are widely acknowledged within the medical and scientific communities, and we're very pleased the agency has taken this critical step.

15 Jun 2011

California's rural elders more likely to be obese, physically inactive and food insecure

Despite living in the countryside, where open space is plentiful and there is often significant agricultural production, California's more than half a million rural elders are far more likely to be overweight or obese, physically inactive and food insecure than their suburban counterparts, according to a new policy brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

15 Jun 2011

Precise method to determine age of bruises

Forensic scientists have to rely on their own subjective experience when asked to ascertain the age of contusions. Now, however, researchers in Norway have found a far more objective and precise method.

15 Jun 2011

Leukothera effectively treats psoriasis in humanized mouse xenograft transplantation model

Psoriasis is a persistent, long-lasting chronic skin disease affecting 2-3 percent of the world's population or more than 125 million individuals. For some, it is just a nuisance. For others, it is disabling.

15 Jun 2011

High proportion of men with prostate cancer die from the disease

Up to half the number of men with prostate cancer who die do so as a direct result of the disease, rather than from other causes according to a new study presented at the National Cancer Intelligence Network conference in London.

15 Jun 2011

Spinal Modulation completes Series D financing for $30 million

Spinal Modulation, Inc. announced today the completion of its $30 million Series D financing. Medtronic, Inc. joined existing investors DeNovo Ventures, ePlanet/DFJ, InCube Ventures, Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation (JJDC), Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, MedVenture Associates, and Raffles Venture Partners.

15 Jun 2011

Meeting promotes partnership to end malnutrition in first 1,000 days of life

Government officials, nutrition and health experts, as well as civil society advocates from around the world, met in Washington, D.C., on Monday to promote the 1,000 Days Partnership, which launched in September 2010, VOA News reports in a piece featuring quotes from U.S. officials about efforts to end child deaths from malnutrition.

15 Jun 2011

OncoSec Medical third quarter net loss increases to $491,000

OncoSec Medical Incorporated, which is developing its advanced-stage ElectroOncology therapies to treat solid tumor cancers, today reported financial results for the quarter ended April 30, 2011.

15 Jun 2011

Improve water access to avoid serious public health crisis in Pakistan

Haider Warraich, a research fellow at Harvard Medical School, examines how a "lack of access to water in Pakistan only exacerbates the country's already dire public health situation" in this post on Foreign Policy's "AfPak Channel" blog.

15 Jun 2011

Botox injections can reduce wrinkles with half as many sessions after 20 months

Patients receiving Botox Cosmetic treatments can reduce wrinkles with half as many sessions after 20 months, according to research conducted at Oregon Health & Science University's Casey Eye Institute.

15 Jun 2011

Obama administration regulatory review won't include health law rules

An official from the Department of Health and Human Services told a House oversight subcommittee that the health law's regulations are too new for a second look. However, some Republican members of the panel disagreed, saying that the waivers that have been granted are reason enough for such examination.

15 Jun 2011

Editorial, opinion pieces respond to GAVI pledging conference

Editorials and opinion pieces are responding to the GAVI Alliance pledging conference, which raised $4.3 billion for childhood vaccinations.

15 Jun 2011

Studies examine surgery survival odds, hospital readmission risks

News outlets report on a pair of studies related to Medicare populations. The first concludes that the odds for a Medicare patient surviving a complex surgery are improving. Meanwhile, a second study found that better informed patients have lower costs, do better managing their medications and can slow the rate of readmissions.

15 Jun 2011

High FGF-23 hormone levels linked to increased risk of end-stage renal disease and death

Patients in the early stages of chronic kidney disease who had elevated levels of the endocrine hormone fibroblast growth factor 23 (that regulates phosphorus metabolism) had an associated increased risk of end-stage renal disease and death, according to a study in the June 15 issue of JAMA.

15 Jun 2011

Panel discusses funding for universal access to HIV treatment

The Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog includes a summary of a recent Global Fund meeting on HIV financing. "The most dynamic and passionate remarks came from Morolake Odetoyinbo, CEO of the non-governmental organization Positive Action for Treatment Access in Nigeria and a woman living with HIV/AIDS. She argued that African nations were not doing enough to use their resources to care for their own people," according to the post.

15 Jun 2011

John Theurer Cancer Center, LRF partner for Philadelphia Lymphoma Rounds program

On June 15, the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF), in collaboration with the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, will bring together lymphoma experts to discuss the latest practices in the diagnosis and management of lymphoma.

15 Jun 2011

New York Times examines evolving role of social media in disease tracking efforts

The New York Times examines how social media is changing efforts to monitor the spread of diseases. According to the article, technology is democratizing the disease-hunting process, upsetting the old equilibrium by connecting people through channels effectively outside government control.

15 Jun 2011