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Positive data from Shire's Phase III trial of TKT-034 in Type 1 Gaucher disease patients who switched to VPRIV

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today presented positive data from a Phase III clinical trial (TKT-034) designed to evaluate the safety of switching to VPRIV (velaglucerase alfa for injection), from imiglucerase, as well as an interim analysis of safety data from an ongoing multicenter open-label treatment protocol (HGT-GCB-058) implemented to provide VPRIV to patients affected by the continuing shortage of imiglucerase.

26 Mar 2010

Targeting Wnt/beta-catenin pathway may prevent growth and development of AML: Study

About 40 percent of children and up to 70 percent of adults in remission from acute myelogenous leukemia will have a relapse. In recent years, doctors have come to believe that this is due to leukemia stem cells, endlessly replicating cancer cells that generate the immature blood cells characteristic of leukemia and are resistant to typical cancer treatments.

26 Mar 2010

Lay health workers can help reduce childhood mortality

Lay persons in many countries who are given special training to promote or carry out some health care services may reduce childhood mortality.

26 Mar 2010

Short-term economic boom not always good for children in developing nations

A short-term economic boom is not always a good thing for children in developing nations, according to a new study in the Journal of Political Economy. The study found that when Colombia's coffee trade suddenly booms, illness and mortality rates among children increase in coffee-producing counties.

26 Mar 2010

New report urges government to ban smoking in cars to limit children's exposure to passive smoke

A new report released by the Tobacco Advisory Group of the Royal College of Physicians urges the government to ban smoking in cars and other public vehicles to limit children's exposure to passive smoke.

26 Mar 2010

White House scrambles to fix health bill language on covering sick kids

The White House is seeking to nail down a provision in the new law it says bars insurers from denying coverage to sick kids starting this year.

26 Mar 2010

Coverage for sick kids under question in new law

Kaiser Health News staff writers Phil Galewitz and Andrew Villegas write that while Democrats have said that the new health law "would immediately stop insurers from denying coverage to children with pre-existing medical conditions, ... health advocates and some insurers say the law does not clearly state that such protection starts this year.

26 Mar 2010

Lack of good health care curtails academic performance: Study

"Educationally relevant health disparities" are key drivers of the achievement gap, "but they are largely overlooked," said Charles Basch, the Richard March Hoe Professor of Health Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

25 Mar 2010

Supporters, opponents plan new P.R. blitz

The health law is signed - though some changes are still pending - but the fight continues, The Washington Post reports. "Interest groups that spent the past year fighting over President Obama's health-care overhaul are quickly transforming themselves for battle in a new arena, working to sway the law to their benefit while helping the lawmakers who supported them during the bruising legislative debate. For instance, labor unions and industry lobbying groups will attempt to influence regulation writing. Progressives and unions will spend millions to sell the still-controversial plan to voters. Conservatives who opposed it are now retargeting their ire to vulnerable Democratic lawmakers who supported the legislation

25 Mar 2010

Children with severe food allergic reactions need two doses of epinephrine

In a large six-year review of emergency department (ED) data, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston, in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital, found that many children with severe food-related allergic reactions need a second dose of epinephrine, suggesting that patients carrying EpiPens should carry two doses instead of one.

25 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 25, 2010

Today's early morning highlights stories from major news organizations, including reports on the progress of the health reconciliation bill, threats against Democrats because of their votes on the new health overhaul law and questions about a highly touted reform.

25 Mar 2010

New legislation mirrors 2006 Massachusetts health care reform

On Tuesday, President Obama signed into law U.S. health care reform legislation, leaving many Americans wondering how it will affect them, their families, and businesses.

25 Mar 2010

National public service campaign launched to highlight underage drinking problems

Officials from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Ad Council will unveil a national public service campaign designed to urge parents to speak with their children about underage drinking in order to delay the onset of and ultimately reduce underage drinking.

25 Mar 2010

Glaxosmithkline, Pfizer will supply 60M doses of reduced-price pneumococcal vaccines to developing countries over 10 years, GAVI says

The GAVI Alliance on Tuesday formally announced that drugmakers GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer had signed off on a "10-year deal … to supply 60 million doses a year of cut-price pneumococcal vaccines to developing nations," Reuters reports.

25 Mar 2010

American Association of Poison Control Centers: K2 herbal marijuana substitute spurred poison calls

K2, an herbal marijuana substitute also known as "spice," is a blend of herbs sprayed with a synthetic marijuana-like drug, and has spurred at least 112 calls to U.S. poison centers since 2009, including 59 calls since March 1, 2010.

25 Mar 2010

Health overhaul will boost coverage for millions, but leaves gaps, too

The health legislation President Barack Obama signed into law would extend insurance to 32 million Americans by 2019, but that still leaves out 23 million, The Christian Science Monitor reports.

25 Mar 2010

Circumcision can protect from HIV transmission: Reports from Zimbabwe

Nearly 1.1 million people in Zimbabwe are HIV positive with 40% unaware of their status. 160,000 children are infected with counts rising by 17,000 yearly. Total HIV prevalence rate for Zimbabwe is 13.7%. There are 2,000 HIV related deaths in Zimbabwe every week. 25% of children in Zimbabwe are orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS related deaths according to UN agency reports.

25 Mar 2010

Committee recommends inclusion of genetic diseases in newborn screening program

The experts who make recommendations for genetic disease screening in newborns face a challenging task: To make conclusions based on the most authoritative available evidence, while considering gaps in the research on such rare conditions, as well as their human impact. An overview of the steps followed by the expert panels tasked with making these recommendations is presented in a special section of the current issue of Genetics in Medicine, the official peer-reviewed journal of The American College of Medical Genetics.

25 Mar 2010

300,000 extra GP visits for children due to passive smoking - time to make cars and homes smoke free

Doctors have urged an immediate review of the anti-smoking laws in light of such alarming facts. They want a ban on smoking in public places and cars.

25 Mar 2010

Colorectal cancer survivor shares her experience

For Hempstead resident Lynette Love, mother of four and grandmother of five, surviving colorectal cancer took courage, diligence and faith. Now a 3-year survivor, Love is giving the love back to the community through her participation in the Sprint for Colorectal Oncology Prevention and Education (SCOPE) run.

25 Mar 2010