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Simple placebo pill can track footprints of prior antidepressant use

Individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) often undergo multiple courses of antidepressant treatment during their lives. This is because the disorder can recur despite treatment and because finding the right medication for a specific individual can take time.

27 Mar 2012

Hospital happenings: Arizona nurse shortage complication, other news

Many hospitals in downtrodden areas of New York City and across the state are faltering, raising concerns that a wave of closings will deprive poor people of badly needed care. A three-month investigation by The New York Times into Wyckoff, based on dozens of interviews and an examination of internal documents, offers a sobering portrait of how one such hospital has been undermined by the very people entrusted to run it.

27 Mar 2012

UC professor to show new anticancer agent at ACS Spring 2012 meeting

Advances in chemotherapy have dramatically improved the outlook for many cancer patients, but the side effects of this treatment are daunting. A new generation of chemotherapy drugs with fewer side effects is the goal of Edward J. Merino, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Cincinnati.

27 Mar 2012

BRICS countries increasing global health, development aid, report says

As their economies grow, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- known collectively as BRICS -- "are injecting new resources, innovation and momentum into efforts to improve health in the world's poorest countries, according to a report by Global Health Strategies initiatives [GHSi]" released on Monday, Business Live reports.

27 Mar 2012

Ten warning signs of ASD or other communication disorders

Though autism is often not diagnosed until the age of three, some children begin to show signs of developmental delay before they turn a year old. While not all infants and toddlers with delays will develop autism spectrum disorders (ASD), experts point to early detection of these signs as key to capitalizing on early diagnosis and intervention, which is believed to improve developmental outcomes.

27 Mar 2012

On Capitol Hill, both parties see political advantage in Rep. Ryan's newest plan

The budget proposal offered last week by the Wisconsin Republican would revamp the Medicare system.

27 Mar 2012

AIUM to honor four individuals in the field of medical ultrasound

During the opening session of the 2012 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) Annual Convention at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 30, 2012, Alfred Z. Abuhamad, MD, president of the AIUM, will present awards to individuals who have significantly contributed to the growth of medical ultrasound.

27 Mar 2012

U.N. SG Ban calls for global effort to fight TB on World TB Day

Speaking on Saturday at a World Tuberculosis (TB) Day event, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "called for a global effort to diagnose and treat tuberculosis," United Press International reports.

27 Mar 2012

Chronically ill Central American immigrants struggle to pay for health care

The national recession didn't just hit people living in the U.S. - it's made it more difficult for people to pay for medical bills in poor countries like Honduras, according to a new University of Michigan study.

27 Mar 2012

White House nominates global health expert Jim Yong Kim to head World Bank

"The White House on Friday named Jim Yong Kim, the president of Dartmouth College and a global health expert, as its nominee to lead the World Bank" beginning "on June 30, when its current president, Robert B. Zoellick, will step down at the end of his five-year term," the New York Times reports.

27 Mar 2012

Obese youths with particular genetic variants may be more prone to fatty liver disease

Obese youths with particular genetic variants may be more prone to fatty liver disease, a leading cause of chronic liver disease in children and adolescents in industrialized countries, according to new findings by Yale School of Medicine researchers.

27 Mar 2012

State roundup: Wash. state exchange bill now law

Gov. Chris Gregoire on Friday signed into law a bill setting rules for insurers preparing for the state's online-insurance exchange. ... The state exchanges for individual and small-group plans are set to go live on Jan. 1, 2014. ... State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said that his office is committed to getting the exchange in place on schedule. "If we slowed down to be anxious, we'd be in trouble," Kreidler said. "It's the health law, and we're proceeding as quickly and as prudently as we can."

27 Mar 2012

Promotion and education of female condom prevent HIV and save medical care costs

A new economic analysis, conducted by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and featured in the current issue of Springer's journal AIDS and Behavior, showed that the DC Female Condom program, a public-private partnership to provide and promote female condoms, prevented enough HIV infections in the first year alone to save over $8 million in future medical care costs.

27 Mar 2012

Health solutions developed in lower-income countries will help bring end to aid

"It is not just quantity of aid that counts nowadays, but the quality and perspective of that aid, as well as innovation, investment and experience domestically," Jonathan Glennie, a research fellow at the Overseas Development Institute, writes in the Guardian's "Poverty Matters Blog."

27 Mar 2012

Hapten licenses HPT-721 to prevent poison ivy dermatitis

Hapten Sciences Inc. of Memphis, Tenn., has licensed a compound developed by ElSohly Laboratories Inc. and University of Mississippi pharmaceutical researchers to prevent reactions to poison ivy, oak and sumac.

27 Mar 2012

Chevron recognized as first 'Global Fund Corporate Champion,' VOA News reports

VOA News reports on a March 20 panel meeting in Washington, D.C., that highlighted the contributions of corporations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

27 Mar 2012

Study reconfirms specific genetic risks associated with PTSD

A new study released by Geisinger Health System researchers and appearing in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment reconfirms specific genetic risks associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and hopes to identify better screening and treatment options for the condition.

27 Mar 2012

Opinion pieces, editorial respond to nomination of Jim Yong Kim to lead World Bank

On Friday, March 23, President Obama nominated Jim Yong Kim to be the next president of the World Bank. The following is a summary of several opinion pieces and an editorial published in response to his nomination.

27 Mar 2012

Pharmaplan, Moberg Derma to distribute Nalox/Emtrix in South Africa

Moberg Derma AB has entered into a distribution agreement with Pharmaplan (Pty) Ltd. for Nalox//Emtrix - for discolored and damaged nails caused by nail fungus (onychomycosis) or nail psoriasis.

27 Mar 2012

South African government plan aims to eliminate new HIV, TB infections within 20 years

The South African "government plans to bring down new HIV infection rates to zero in the next 20 years, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Saturday" at a World Tuberculosis (TB) Day event at the Goldfields mine in Carletonville, Gauteng, SAPA/Independent Online reports.

27 Mar 2012