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Kids around smokers lose more school days than peers

A new study says that children whose parents smoke tend to miss more school than their classmates with non-smoking parents — possibly because of a higher rate of respiratory infections.

6 Sep 2011

New head louse treatment shows promise

The common head louse has been seen to be resistant to time-tested treatments. However a new Food and Drug Administration-approved hair rinse, Natroba, could put an end to that.

6 Sep 2011

Diabetes prevention in five steps: Study

According to a new study meeting just one of five key health goals reduces the odds of developing diabetes in middle age by roughly one-third. The report adds that the more goals are met the lower the risk falls, even if there is a family history of diabetes.

6 Sep 2011

U.S. smoking rates on slow decline: CDC report

Roughly 45 million adult Americans smoke and this is much lesser than the figures a few years back. Even those who still smoke have cut back on the number of cigarettes they smoke, but the rate of decline has begun to slow, U.S. health experts said on Tuesday. Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States, killing an estimated 443,000 Americans each year.

6 Sep 2011

FDA stalls the blood-thinner Xarelto’s approval citing inadequate evidence

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a staff report released today that “there is insufficient information about the drug to determine whether it is safe for use with its proposed labeling.” Their report questions its safety and effectiveness, saying a new study is needed.

6 Sep 2011

Discovery of a key protein’s role in cell clearance could impact future treatments of autoimmune diseases, obesity and atherosclerosis

The healthy human body is extremely efficient at cleaning house. Every day, we purge 100 to 200 billion dead or dying cells – a process called cell clearance, which is fundamental in our ability to maintain a healthy physiological balance and prevent a number of chronic diseases. Professional cleaning cells, called phagocytes, are responsible for ridding the body of dead, or ‘apoptotic,’ cells.

6 Sep 2011

Robert Gordon University scientists to develop new treatment for cystinosis

A team of researchers at Robert Gordon University has secured a six figure sum from Sparks, a leading children’s medical research charity, to develop a revolutionary treatment for a rare genetic disorder.

6 Sep 2011

Month of birth may determine career

Being born in a certain month appears to indicate the statistical likelihood of what job a person will end up with, the study by the UK’s Office for National Statistics has found.

6 Sep 2011

Brown fat may help curb obesity: Study

Australian scientists have pioneered a way to grow in the laboratory “brown fat” - a wondrous tissue that burns energy to generate heat - a breakthrough which they claim could be the latest weapon in the battle against obesity.

6 Sep 2011

Chocolate protects heart but stirs debate on intake

A new study shows that chocolates are beneficial for heart health. The study published in the British Medical Journal and presented at the European Cardiology Society's annual congress in Paris analyzed data from seven studies involving 114,009 adults, ages 25 to 93, and including information on their diets and occurrences of cardiovascular disease over periods from eight to 16 years.

6 Sep 2011

Walnuts may prevent breast cancer

A new study has found that eating a handful of walnuts on a regular basis may reduce women’s risk of developing breast cancer. Researchers from the Marshall University observed in mice that consuming 2 ounces of walnuts each day reduced the growth of breast cancer tumors.

6 Sep 2011

Tick-borne disease in US blood supply

A tick-borne infection known as Babesiosis, which can cause severe disease and even death, is becoming a growing threat to the U.S. blood supply, government researchers said on Monday.

6 Sep 2011

Youth immunization rates encouraging: CDC report

According to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) out Monday, more and more American adolescents are receiving recommended vaccines.

6 Sep 2011

Sperm donors may father over 150 children

Most sperm donors assume that they would father a few children. But with the news that some donors have fathered over 100 kids there have been calls for tighter regulation. It has been discovered that some sperm banks allow donors to father lots and lots of kids — one has over 150. And with these very large groups of half-siblings come risks: rare genetic conditions could be spread more widely through the gene pool, and children of the same donor could meet and, unbeknownst to them, commit incest.

6 Sep 2011

Mental health problems ail nearly half of all Americans: Report

According to a new government report about half of Americans will experience some form of mental health problem at some point in their life. The report stresses that more must be done to help the population with mental health problems.

6 Sep 2011

Positive results from BDSI's BEMA Buprenorphine/Naloxone formulation Phase 1 study on opioid dependence

BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. announced positive preliminary results from its Phase 1 study assessing the pharmacokinetics of a BEMA Buprenorphine/Naloxone formulation.

6 Sep 2011

Golden Meditech launches Taiwan representative office

Golden Meditech Holdings Limited, which embodies a leading medical devices enterprise, a major brand name in haematology hospital and the largest stem cell cord blood banking operator in China, is pleased to announce the launch of its Taiwan representative office today.

6 Sep 2011

Discovery Labs files Complete Response to FDA for SURFAXIN to treat RDS in premature infants

Discovery Labs, Inc. today announced that, on September 2, 2011, it submitted its Complete Response to the 2009 Complete Response Letter issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for SURFAXIN(lucinactant) for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants.

6 Sep 2011

Enrollment complete in DURECT's POSIDUR Phase III study for post-surgical pain

DURECT Corporation announced today the dosing of the last patient in the U.S. pivotal Phase III clinical study for POSIDUR known as BESST.

6 Sep 2011

NINDS awards NeuroSigma STTR Phase I grant to support development of eTNS therapy for epilepsy

NeuroSigma, Inc., a Los Angeles-based medical device company, today announced it has received a notice of award for an NIH Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

6 Sep 2011