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Four new AIDS medicines added to the World Health Organization prequalification list

Four new AIDS medicines are this week being added to the World Health Organization prequalification list, thus further increasing access to a choice of quality products.

15 Jul 2004

Quality HIV/AIDS treatment eased through extended agreement about lowest-priced drugs and diagnostics

During the International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, IDA ARV Procurement Services BV and Clinton Foundation announced the agreement that enables developing countries to purchase high-quality AIDS medicines and diagnostics at the lowest available prices.

15 Jul 2004

Computer-based program that assesses the health of people enrolled in a given health plan

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have signed a multi-year agreement with PharMetrics, Inc., of Watertown, Mass., to acquire data from the company’s proprietary Anonymous Patient-Centric Database.

13 Jul 2004

Nanotechnology-based applications are accelerating the development of nanomedicine

With the potential for targeted therapy, and therefore reduced side effects, nanomedicine holds the promise of significantly improving quality of life parameters.

5 Jul 2004

Doctors failing to identify smoking in adolescents

Doctors are failing to identify smoking status in about half of the adolescent patients seen, according to a University of Wisconsin-Madison study.

24 Jun 2004

Recommended guidelines to govern genetic testing in Europe

Genetic testing may soon prove that prevention is better than cure. However, the emerging practice could have certain less desirable ethical and practical implications.

17 Jun 2004

In-depth examination of potential improvements for breast cancer screening

A report released today by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the National Research Council of the National Academies provides an in-depth examination of potential improvements for breast cancer screening and detection services in the United States.

11 Jun 2004

Conflicting views on embryonic and adult stem cells complicate research in stem cell therapeutics

Though there has been considerable biological and political debate over the use of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) vs. adult stem cells (ASCs) as therapies for tissue engineering and organ transplants, inherent benefits and drawbacks in both techniques compel them to coexist and complement each other.

10 Jun 2004

Over one-third of British population cannot name a famous disabled person

Scope, the national disability organisation, has surveyed the British public to test their attitudes towards disabled people. Despite the achievements of Home Secretary David Blunkett, Professor Stephen Hawking and sportsperson Tanni Grey-Thompson, 36 per cent of those questioned in a YouGov survey could not name one single famous disabled person.

7 Jun 2004

Anemia is a major determinant of fatigue in patients with cirrhosis

Fatigue is a common complaint among patients with cirrhosis with many possible contributing factors, including severity of liver disease, anemia, and cardiopulmonary complications.

27 May 2004

Nelson Mandela backs call for equality amongst disabled people

Scope, the leading national disability organisation, today launches its Time To Get Equal campaign to end discrimination and prejudice against the UK’s 10 million disabled people.

26 May 2004

Scientists move closer toward treatment for degenerative diseases

Scientists at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine have discovered a key step that will provide new targets for treatments of many degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Cystic Fibrosis and Diabetes.

17 May 2004

50 Fortune 500 companies join forces to give four million uninsured working Americans access to affordable health insurance

More than 50 Fortune 500 companies have joined forces to give an estimated four million uninsured working Americans access to affordable health insurance coverage. The united effort is part of a broad market reform to reduce spiraling health care costs and incorporate performance standards that help consumers choose hospitals and physicians.

10 May 2004

Statement on patient safety principles for office-based surgery

Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of invasive procedures being performed in the office setting. Recognizing that many states still haven't issued patient safety guidelines in this area, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) sponsored a resolution, which was passed at the American Medical Association's (AMA's) December 2002 Interim Meeting of its House of Delegates.

22 Apr 2004

FDA makes moves to block foreign drug imports

The Food and Drug Administration today announced a new partnership with the Virginia Pharmacists Association to distribute consumer educational materials outlining the risks of purchasing medicines outside of FDA’s regulatory scope. Over the past month, FDA has co-sponsored agreements with state pharmacists associations in Illinois, California, Texas, Maryland, New York, and Nebraska, and the Agency anticipates that additional agreements will be signed in the weeks ahead.

13 Apr 2004