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Indomethacin given after digestive diagnostic procedure may prevent pancreatitis: Study

There is a high risk of pancreatitis after a diagnostic procedure - ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). ERCP is a procedure that is commonly utilized to treat or diagnose problems of the bile and pancreatic ducts. During an ERCP procedure, a lighted scope is inserted through the mouth while X-ray pictures are taken to check the tubes that drain the liver, pancreas and gallbladder.

15 Apr 2012

Toxic plants and animal products found in traditional Chinese medicines

A study has found that some traditional Chinese medicines contain potentially poisonous plants, unlabelled ingredients and bits of endangered animals. This has triggered a bid for routine testing and tighter regulation of complementary medicines.

15 Apr 2012

Bat on a plane gives rise to rabies exposure risk: CDC report

On 5th August 2011, a bat flew through the cabin of a commercial airliner minutes after takeoff during an early morning flight from Wisconsin to Georgia. This potentially exposed the passengers and flight crew to rabies virus. Three days later, the Wisconsin Division of Public Health (WDPH) requested assistance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct a rabies risk assessment for those on board and the ground crew.

15 Apr 2012

Around a quarter of all babies born to unwed couples: CDC study

According to health officials nearly a quarter of all babies born are born to unmarried couples who are living together. The rise is significant from a decade ago. The increase came even as the picture for U.S. births and parenthood remained largely unchanged from the 2002 data, the report said.

15 Apr 2012

Natural products isolated from marine mollusks and sponges can reverse multidrug resistance in cancer cells

Many marine natural products show anticancer activity, but some can reverse multidrug resistance in cancer cells. A new investigation by Robert J. Capon of the University of Queensland correlates the products' structures with their activity.

12 Apr 2012

Bahrain: Despite reforms access to healthcare still a concern, says Médecins Sans Frontières

As Bahrain implements reforms following protests that started last year, a significant number of patients – from all political and religious backgrounds - continue to avoid seeking medical care in public hospitals due to perceived discrimination, harassment, and ill treatment, the international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières said today.

12 Apr 2012

Ovarian cancer screening may not be needed on routine basis for all women says panel

In its latest review since 2004 of the benefits and harms of ovarian cancer screening, the United States Preventive Services Task Force found no new evidence to support routine screening.

12 Apr 2012

Toxic nail varnish at salons raises concerns

It has been long seen that workers at nail salons suffer health problems. Workers have more headaches, respiratory problems and skin irritations than the general population and are exposed to chemicals at higher than recommended levels, according to research in scientific journals.

12 Apr 2012

FDA urges restriction in injudicious use of antibiotics in livestock

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has urged drug companies Wednesday to help limit the use of antibiotics in farm animals. The researchers say that this decades-old practice has contributed to a surge in dangerous, drug-resistant bacteria.

12 Apr 2012

Over-the-counter insect bite remedies not very effective

Research suggests that most victims of home-bred midges, mosquitoes, flies, bedbugs and fleas will get better without any treatment at all. The review in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB), which offers impartial advice to doctors, admits that getting bitten may be horribly uncomfortable but there is little evidence that over-the-counter remedies work. Putting a cold compress to relieve pain and swelling could be a better option say researchers. Medical help should clearly be sought if serious symptoms, such as infections or anaphylactic shock, developed the DTB added.

12 Apr 2012

Niceness is gene deep

Researchers at the University of Buffalo and University of California, Irvine, found a connection between people being nice and versions of receptor genes for two hormones, oxytocin and vasopressin, that have been associated with niceness in past studies.

12 Apr 2012

Inadequate sleep linked to higher diabetes risk

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12 Apr 2012

Flu shots offered to populations at risk at the beginning of season

All Care Inala Medical Centre doctor Michael Ho said flu shots were becoming more popular each year. “Flu seasons tends to begin in late March early April to June,” he said. “More and more people are opting to get vaccinations because they are promoted well within the community.” He added, “It is particularly important for elderly people to be immunized because their immune system is already not at its best…This is also the case for people who have chronic medical conditions like diabetes, severe asthma, or heart disease. With their current condition, if they catch the flu they can end up with a worse outcome.”

12 Apr 2012

FDA approves HUD designation for SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart for destination therapy

SynCardia Systems, Inc., manufacturer of the world's first and only FDA, Health Canada and CE (Europe) approved Total Artificial Heart, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a Humanitarian Use Device (HUD) designation for the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart to be used for destination therapy in addition to its current PMA approval as a bridge to transplant.

12 Apr 2012

Importance of advance healthcare decision-making

Understanding advance directives and making plans for health care issues before there is a crisis, is a difficult task. Johns Hopkins experts are educating patients and families about the importance of advance healthcare decision-making as part of National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 14, 2012.

12 Apr 2012

Longer looks: Diagnosing autism in minutes; Finding new uses for old drugs; Cancer war victories

Autism is an extremely complex diagnosis. Parental insight, physician observations and hours of data can factor into determining whether a child actually has the condition or is just a little on the quirky side. Now a Harvard researcher, Dennis P. Wall, has published research about a Web-based tool he developed that promises to diagnose autism in minutes, not hours -

12 Apr 2012

Regulatory streamlining can improve access to treatments

Loren Becker, manager of the Global Health Technologies Coalition's (GHTC) Global Health Regulatory Team, discusses the new East African Community's (EAC) Medicines Regulatory Harmonization initiative, launched at the end of March in Arusha, Tanzania, in this post in GHTC's "Breakthroughs" blog.

12 Apr 2012

Impax initiates challenge of patents related to generic Gralise

Impax Laboratories, Inc. today confirms that it has initiated a challenge of the patents listed in the Orange Book in connection with Gralise (gabapentin tablets, 300 mg and 600 mg).

12 Apr 2012

Roundup: No new policies from cross-border insurance law; Dental Medicaid abuse in Texas?

Proponents said these out-of-state policies, stripped of Georgia's mandates, would have lower premiums – and allow more people to afford individual health insurance coverage. ... But a year later, nothing has happened. No insurer here has started selling a non-Georgia health plan.

12 Apr 2012

Sri Lankan health officials report increase in number of dengue cases in first quarter compared to 2011

Sri Lankan health authorities "have reported a three-fold increase in the number of recorded dengue fever cases in the first quarter of this year," IRIN reports.

12 Apr 2012

Medical News

Indomethacin given after digestive diagnostic procedure may prevent pancreatitis: Study

Toxic plants and animal products found in traditional Chinese medicines

Bat on a plane gives rise to rabies exposure risk: CDC report

Around a quarter of all babies born to unwed couples: CDC study

Natural products isolated from marine mollusks and sponges can reverse multidrug resistance in cancer cells

Bahrain: Despite reforms access to healthcare still a concern, says Médecins Sans Frontières

Ovarian cancer screening may not be needed on routine basis for all women says panel

Toxic nail varnish at salons raises concerns

FDA urges restriction in injudicious use of antibiotics in livestock

Over-the-counter insect bite remedies not very effective

Niceness is gene deep

Inadequate sleep linked to higher diabetes risk

Flu shots offered to populations at risk at the beginning of season

FDA approves HUD designation for SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart for destination therapy

Importance of advance healthcare decision-making

Longer looks: Diagnosing autism in minutes; Finding new uses for old drugs; Cancer war victories

Regulatory streamlining can improve access to treatments

Impax initiates challenge of patents related to generic Gralise

Roundup: No new policies from cross-border insurance law; Dental Medicaid abuse in Texas?

Sri Lankan health officials report increase in number of dengue cases in first quarter compared to 2011

Advancing Menopause Care: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Vasomotor Symptoms

Building quality into drug development for safer, faster medicines

How Pulp Fixin Is Turning Paper into High-Performance Sustainable Labware

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