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Chinese man dies of bird flu

A 39 year old Chinese bus driver tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus and died Saturday in a city bordering Hong Kong. According to health officials this is the country’s first reported case of the disease in humans in 18 months.

2 Jan 2012

Pfizer’s Prevenar 13 gets US approval for adults

Health authorities of United States have approved the expansion of Pfizer Inc's Prevnar vaccine for use in adults 50 and older to fight pneumonia, meningitis and other diseases cause by pneumococcus bacteria. The vaccine, which had been approved for children in the United States, is already one of Pfizer's biggest brands and an expanded population of adults could generate more than $1.5 billion in annual sales.

2 Jan 2012

FDA notes shortage of ADHD medicines

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are in such short supply that hundreds of patients complain daily to the agency that they are unable to find a pharmacy with enough pills to fill their prescriptions.

2 Jan 2012

Anytime Fitness to open clubs in the Middle East

Anytime Fitness, the fastest-growing fitness club chain in the world, will soon open its first club in the Middle East. The first of several Anytime Fitness clubs in the State of Qatar opened on January 1, 2012.

2 Jan 2012

January 2nd marked as National Weigh-In Day

A recent survey by the Special K® brand indicates that weight loss is often top-of-mind at the beginning of the New Year, with 67 percent of women saying it is the ideal time to begin a weight-loss plan. Now, in an effort to change the way women think and talk about weight loss, the Special K brand has marked Jan. 2 as National Weigh-In Day and is inviting women to "weigh in" on the topic of weight management.

2 Jan 2012

Major European medical center includes Critical Diagnostics' Presage ST2 Assay for cardiac care

Critical Diagnostics, a U.S.-based biomarker company focused on cardiovascular diseases, announced today that a major European medical center, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol in Barcelona Spain, is now using the company's Presage ST2 Assay for routine care and management of their heart failure patients.

2 Jan 2012

AddisonsDisease.Net celebrates ten years of service

Teleplexus, Inc. is pleased to announce the ten-year anniversary of AddisonsDisease.Net, its premier Addison's disease support resource. Born by design on New Year's Day in 2002, AddisonsDisease.Net began service on this day which is seen around the world as a time of renewal and optimism.

2 Jan 2012

The Scientist selects Aspect Imaging's M2 imaging platform as one of Top 10 Innovations of 2011

The Scientist today unveiled the Top 10 Innovations of 2011 and selected Aspect Imaging's M2™ compact high-performance MRI imaging system as one the winners of this award. The Scientist invited members of the life science community to submit descriptions of exciting tools that made an impact in research this year and asked a panel of expert judges to evaluate the technologies.

2 Jan 2012

Geisinger system: We won't hire smokers

News outlets reported that the big Pennsylvania health care company announced the decision, though the policy won't affect current employees.

2 Jan 2012

Sleep apnea may impact health of young diabetics

A new study suggests that young diabetics may be struggling to get a good night's sleep, resulting in worse control of their blood sugar, poorer school performance and misbehavior.

2 Jan 2012

Study finds risk factors associated with exfoliation syndrome

When it comes to whether or not you will develop exfoliation syndrome (ES) -- an eye condition that is a leading cause of secondary open-angle glaucoma and increased risk of cataract as well as cataract surgery complications -- age, gender and where you live does matter.

2 Jan 2012

Issue of NCDs in post-conflict countries must be addressed, say experts

Countries recovering from war are at risk of being left to their own devices in tackling non communicable diseases, leaving an "open door" for exploitation by alcohol, tobacco and food companies, health experts warn.

2 Jan 2012

2012 & health care: Medicare faces big changes, new state laws include abortion issues

News outlets began 2012 by looking ahead at what is promising to be a busy health care year, especially because of the 2010 federal health law.

2 Jan 2012

Hospitals may be treating patients as part of “production line” with early discharges requiring readmissions: Report

After figures revealed that hundreds of thousands of people every year are being sent home before they are well enough, hospitals have been accused by ministers of treating patients “like parts on a production line.”

1 Jan 2012

Four or more coffees reduce risk of womb cancer

According to a new study drinking four or more cups of coffee a day may reduce risk of developing endometrial cancer or womb cancer by almost 25 per cent.

1 Jan 2012

Soon therapies may be guided by genetic blueprints

In a futuristic bid the doctors have drawn up plans to sequence the full genetic code of thousands of people in a landmark project to personalize their medical care. Each person will have all 6 billion letters of their genome read, stored and linked to their medical records to help doctors prescribe more effective drugs and other therapies.

1 Jan 2012

Britain mulling on cigarette plain packaging to discourage smoking

Britain wishes to follow Australia’s footsteps in banning all eye-catching designs and branding from cigarette packs to stop young people being lured into smoking. Australia meanwhile is poised to become the first nation to introduce so-called “plain” packaging on tobacco products by the end of 2012. The packs will show graphic health warnings about smoking but banish attractive colors and logos. The proposed law was cleared by parliament in November and is being closely watched by governments considering similar moves in Europe, Canada and New Zealand.

1 Jan 2012

Mosquito borne Murray Valley Encephalitis warnings for NSW and North Victoria

The NSW Health authorities are warning residents and visitors in southern and western NSW to take extra precautions and protect themselves against mosquitoes following the detection of the Murray Valley Encephalitis (or MVE) virus in NSW. Residents and visitors to North Victoria are also similarly warned.

1 Jan 2012

Columbus’s crew may have brought back syphilis: Study

New research shows that syphilis – a sexually transmitted disease was carried to Europe aboard Christopher Columbus' ships as they sailed home from the New World. The disease was not spread through sexual contact at the time, but adapted to survive once it got to Europe, Emory University researchers say.

1 Jan 2012

Similar sounding drug names should come with warnings

There have been mix ups and medication errors with similar sounding names of drugs - eye drops called Durezol and salicylic acid-containing wart remedy Duresal for example.

1 Jan 2012