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Smokers with COPD may find relief with cystic fibrosis drug

A drug developed to treat certain strains of cystic fibrosis may be useful in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, one of the most common lung diseases, which is seen frequently in smokers and has no cure. The findings were published online Friday, June 29, 2012 in the online journal PLoS ONE by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

30 Jun 2012

New Lancet issue focuses on HIV ahead of AIDS 2012 conference

This week's issue of the Lancet "has an HIV theme ahead of the International AIDS Society meeting in Washington, D.C., ... on July 22-27," a Lancet editorial states, noting, "The issue of antiretrovirals for prevention, specifically pre-exposure prophylaxis, is presently under intense debate."

30 Jun 2012

CIHR and CH.I.L.D. create Canadian Children Inflammatory Bowel Disease Network

Dr. Grace McCarthy, Chairman of the Board of The Foundation for Children with Intestinal and Liver Disorders (CH.I.L.D), today announced an important new partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to fund the creation of the Canadian Children Inflammatory Bowel Disease Network: A Joint Partnership of CIHR and the CH.I.L.D. Foundation.

30 Jun 2012

'Tax' term looms over health law decision

By upholding the individual mandate as a tax, the Supreme Court's ruling on the health law could be a potent political weapon for conservatives, news organizations report.

30 Jun 2012

CEOs, NGOs send open letter to Congress asking for support of Water for the World Act

Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent the Water for the World Act (S 641) to the Senate for a floor vote, and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs is set to vote on a companion bill, the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2012 (HR 3658), PSI's "Healthy Lives" blog notes, adding that "a coalition of CEOs of NGOs have published an open letter encouraging the House Foreign Affairs Committee to allow the bill to be voted upon in the House floor."

30 Jun 2012

Blocking bombesin/GRP receptor improves survival in sepsis animal models

Septic shock is the most severe outcome associated with pathogen infection in the bloodstream. It is a life-threatening condition invariably leading to multiple organ dysfunctions. Currently, septic shock is one of the most frequent causes of death in intensive care units worldwide.

30 Jun 2012

Study details canonical Wnt signaling pathway

Many lung cancers are driven by mutations in the epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR), and so it makes sense that many successful modern treatments block EGFR activity. Unfortunately, cancers inevitably evolve around EGFR inhibition, and patients with lung cancers eventually relapse.

30 Jun 2012

Roberts' position dismays conservatives, surprises President who once opposed his confirmation

The chief justice treads a very narrow path to find the health law constitutional and helps to redefine the public's view of the court.

30 Jun 2012

Researchers discover new gene mutations associated with megalencephaly

A research team led by Seattle Children's Research Institute has discovered new gene mutations associated with markedly enlarged brain size, or megalencephaly.

30 Jun 2012

Rate of small bowel biopsy is low in the U.S.

Under-performance of small bowel biopsy during endoscopy may be a major reason that celiac disease remains underdiagnosed in the United States, according to a new study published online recently in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

30 Jun 2012

States prepare new push on exchanges post-SCOTUS decision -- or grind to a halt with confusion, opposition

From the states... reactions involving confusion, celebration or stiff opposition regarding the implementation of the health law's insurance exchanges -- despite affirmation of the overhaul's constitutionality by the Supreme Court Thursday.

30 Jun 2012

Noven Pharmaceuticals provides update on status of generic Lidoderm ANDA

Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today provided an update on the status of its pending Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) seeking approval to market a lidocaine topical patch 5%. Noven's lidocaine topical patch 5% is a generic version of Endo Pharmaceuticals' Lidoderm.

30 Jun 2012

Women in rural Bangladesh prefer traditional cookstoves despite significant health risks

Women in rural Bangladesh prefer inexpensive, traditional stoves for cooking over modern ones despite significant health risks, according to a Yale study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

30 Jun 2012

Longer looks: Native American rehab facility helps families in Ore.; Growing popularity of home births; Sexuality in the nursing home

Pearl Scott lifts the baby from the crib and balances the child on her hip, just as someone did with her when she was a baby 20 years ago. Her mom went through addiction treatment here in the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest's residential center. Now Scott works for NARA, operated by and for Native Americans. She helps care for the 10 children, all 5 years old and younger, of parents in treatment.

30 Jun 2012

Enlightening risk factor findings for REM sleep behavior disorder

Cigarette smoking, head injury, farming, pesticide exposure, and a lower level of education may be risk factors for idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, researchers report.

29 Jun 2012

Duty-hour restrictions worry surgical interns

Surgical interns in the USA fear that resident duty-hour standards implemented in 2011 by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education will have a significant negative impact on their training and patient care, show study results.

29 Jun 2012

$Simple tests may ease scaphoid fracture assessment$