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Study: Drug research often suppressed

Drug research, even from clinical trials sponsored by the federal government, routinely is suppressed, harming patients and increasing health care costs, according to new data highlighting an ethical controversy that continues to plague the field of medicine.

5 Jan 2012

Article focuses on new optical tools that use laser beams to peer painlessly below the skin

A hand-held scanner, reminiscent of the fictional Star Trek medical Tricorder, images blood vessels through the skin and projects a map onto the skin showing nurses exactly where to insert a needle.

5 Jan 2012

U.S. addressing short-, long-term needs in Horn of Africa

"As the United States entered the traditional season of giving and renewal last month, President Barack Obama announced that the United States was increasing its emergency aid to the Horn of Africa region by $113 million," a VOA editorial states adding, "The new monies will be used for food, health, shelter, water and other needs."

5 Jan 2012

Driving in the mid-lane helps pensioners stay safe

It's official: older adults are naturally inclined to drive in the middle of the road, leaving the younger generation to cut corners. This tendency to sit mid-lane is an in-built safety mechanism that helps pensioners stay safe behind the wheel, according to researchers at the University of Leeds, UK.

5 Jan 2012

Romney wins GOP Iowa caucus by eight votes

GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney edged out rival Rick Santorum by a margin so slim it is viewed by many as a tie. News outlets review the political dynamics behind the vote tally, and highlight how the outcome reflects the ongoing GOP ideological divide as well as what might happen next.

5 Jan 2012

Doctors may need to adjust seizure drug doses for people with HIV/AIDS: New AAN guideline

A new guideline issued by the American Academy of Neurology recommends doctors use caution when choosing seizure drugs for people with HIV/AIDS to avoid potential drug interactions.

5 Jan 2012

Industry report finds nursing homes losing money as states cut Medicaid

Also, California officials prepare to appeal federal court decision striking down cuts to some providers, and Wisconsin announces that its shortfall is less than expected.

5 Jan 2012

Probiodrug secures EUR 15M for clinical development of PQ912

Probiodrug AG today announced it has secured EUR 15 million additional financing for the ongoing development of its glutaminyl cyclase (QC) inhibitor program. The lead compound, PQ912, its first QC inhibitor, is in clinical development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

5 Jan 2012

Congress returns to 'same old health fights' in 2012

Congress starts 2012 facing the same old health policy fights, including the GOP push to pay for a more permanent Medicare "doc fix" with cuts to health law programs or Medicare. Meanwhile, Politico Pro reports on how House Ways and Means Committee Chair Dave Camp, R-Mich., has been pivotal in Republican efforts to undermine the health overhaul law.

5 Jan 2012

Working Group recommends use of biomarkers in AD clinical trials

A group of thought leaders in Alzheimer's disease says the science is solid and the time has come for more widespread use of biomarkers in Alzheimer disease (AD) clinical trials, to speed the identification of effective disease-modifying treatments for this incurable disorder.

5 Jan 2012

Sri Lankan Presidential Task Force against dengue seeing success

"Sri Lanka is making progress in the battle against mosquito-borne dengue fever, say health officials," IRIN reports.

5 Jan 2012

Daily doses of S-equol reduce hot flashes in postmenopausal women

Daily doses of a soy germ-based nutritional supplement containing S-equol significantly improved menopausal symptoms, including significantly reducing hot flash frequency after 12 weeks according to a placebo-controlled study in postmenopausal Japanese women published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Women's Health.

5 Jan 2012

Increased number of Somali women reporting being raped, sexually abused

In the wake of "decades of conflict" and famine, Somalia "faces yet another widespread terror: an alarming increase in rapes and sexual abuse of women and girls," the New York Times reports.

5 Jan 2012

New center for advanced emergency response to inaugurate on Jan. 6 at RUMC

The doors to the new, state-of-the-art emergency center at 1653 W. Congress Parkway will be the first to "open in the new hospital building at Rush University Medical Center at 6 a.m. CT on Friday, Jan. 6. Rush's current emergency department will close early Friday morning when the department goes on bypass during the move to the new facility.

5 Jan 2012

Hospital stocks fall after analyst prediction of tough times

A new report from Citigroup Global Markets forecasts difficult times ahead for hospitals and other related businesses that rely on government spending.

5 Jan 2012

Re-introduction of rotavirus vaccine does not increase intussusception rates in the U.S.

The rotovirus vaccine was pulled from the marketplace in 1999 after being associated with painful gastrointestinal complications, however, the updated rotavirus vaccines do not appear to increase the occurrence of these potentially fatal side effects, according to a new study by child health experts at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

5 Jan 2012

School nurses are among the casualties of tough fiscal times

In a pair of stories, NPR reports on how tight budgets are playing out with staff reductions for full-time school nurses and how hospitals and medical schools are marketing themselves.

5 Jan 2012

Study assesses reasons for continued lack of success in prevention, control of Lyme disease

Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States, with the majority of cases occurring in the Northeast. It has been three decades since the agent of the disease, the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, and the ticks that vector it were identified. However, the number of Lyme disease cases have steadily increased.

5 Jan 2012

BBC examines eastern DRC's battle with malaria

A BBC News article and related video examine the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's battle with malaria. "'Malaria is the main killer here in Congo, especially for pregnant women and children,' says Dr. Vincker Lushombo, from Save the Children," BBC writes.

5 Jan 2012

BMI method can determine expected body weight for adolescents with eating disorders

An exact determination of expected body weight for adolescents based on age, height and gender is critical for diagnosis and management of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. However, there are no clear guidelines regarding the appropriate method for calculating this weight in children with such disorders.

5 Jan 2012