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Aspirin can reduce acute migraine attacks

A single dose of 900-1000 mg aspirin can substantially reduce migraine headache pain within two hours, for more than half of people who take it. It also reduces any associated nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound (photophobia or phonophobia).

15 Apr 2010

Comparative effectiveness funds spur changes, but not without critics

The new health law will infuse $3 billion into health research that compares treatments to gauge which are most effective, building on an earlier federal investment of $1.1 billion from the stimulus package, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reports.

15 Apr 2010

Drug company payments to doctors: Continuing controversy

The New York Times has two stories on pharmaceutical industry payments to physicians and experts.

15 Apr 2010

Happiness, well-being tied to the lives of others

Professor Jacqueline Scott led the study which compiled the views of more than 10,000 people over a time frame of five years at Cambridge University. The study which appears in a new book, Gender Inequalities in the 21st Century found that most people were linking their happiness with that of people close to them.

15 Apr 2010

Risks and benefits of anti-aging hormones

In an editorial appearing in the Future Medicine journal Aging Health, Dr. Perls applauds the courage and example displayed by the AMA in its recently published assessment of the risks and benefits of growth hormone, testosterone, estrogen and DHEA for anti-aging.

15 Apr 2010

Australian scientists sequence genome of pancreatic cancer

The International Cancer Genome Consortium which includes researchers from 22 countries is mapping the genomes of different types of cancers. A genome is essentially a blueprint of a human’s DNA. The genetic data of each individual is different and so is the genetic data of the cancer in the individual. The Australian scientists are sequencing the genomes of people suffering from pancreatic cancer.

15 Apr 2010

First lady Obama visits Haiti

First lady Michelle Obama, along with Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, "paid a surprise visit to Haiti Tuesday, witnessing the 'powerful' devastation left in the wake of a massive earthquake three months ago," Agence-France Presse reports.

15 Apr 2010

New BD LSRFortessa Cell Analyzer delivers maximal sensitivity and resolution for multicolor applications

Building upon its powerful BD™ LSR cell analyzer platform, BD Biosciences launched today a new off-the-shelf BD LSRFortessa™ System, which uses up to four lasers -- blue, red, violet and UV -- that enable the detection of up to 18 colors simultaneously.

15 Apr 2010

Investment group acquires Arbor Pharmaceuticals

Arbor Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on pediatric medicine, announced today that an investment group led by Jason Wild of JW Asset Management, LLC and Edward Schutter has acquired the company.

15 Apr 2010

One in five Idaho physicians are not accepting new Medicare patients

Already fighting one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in the nation (ranking 49th), Idaho's problems are growing worse. According to a new AARP survey released today, doctors in the state are increasingly closing their doors to new patients, especially those using Medicare and Medicaid

15 Apr 2010

Second stage of pool laws will cost a precious buck to 70% pool owners

The Bligh Government yesterday released further changes in the pool safety laws and nearly 70% of all Gold Coast and Queensland homes with pools, including portable and inflatable ones will need to spend extra on upgrades.

14 Apr 2010

Hospital acquired infections on the increase

Despite being reported over a decade ago, little has been done in America to reduce hospital born infections as per a Health and Human Services department quality report for 2009 to Congress. Hospital acquired infections seem to be on the increase according to the report when compared with statistics available for 2007. The situation is being seen as critical by many health care experts.

14 Apr 2010

Men who live further from cities more likely to have chronic health problems and higher death rates, says report

According to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, rural men are more prone to succumb to diseases like diabetes, some cancers like of head, neck and lip, poisonings and chronic health problems compared to those living in major cities.

14 Apr 2010

Ban on Gay men from donating blood to be reviewed in light of new evidence

Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) has recently announced plans for a review of Australia's ban on sexually-active gay men donating blood. Canada, Scotland, Sweden and New Zealand have already conducted such reviews and the US is soon to follow suit.

14 Apr 2010

Insurance status and heart attack, many patients not seeking needed help

The signs of a cardiac arrest may exist but if you are under insured or not insured there is good chance that you may not undertake the recommended life saving actions of getting professional help as soon as you can.

14 Apr 2010

Anticonvulsants increase suicide risk

Dr. Elisabetta Patorno, a research fellow at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston has published a study this week in the Journal of American Medical Association which found that taking anticonvulsant drugs raise thoughts of suicide and risks of actually trying to commit suicide by two times the norm. The study was sponsored by the Harvard School of Public Health and HealthCore, a research subsidiary of WellPoint. WellPoint is a health benefits company that serves the Blue Cross Blue Shield network.

14 Apr 2010

Dual evacuation following noxious gas leak

According to the Public Services Association there has been a constant leak of noxious fumes from a Newcastle office building for years and the source needs to be identified. The building has RTA call centre staff and Commonwealth Bank customer service representatives as its tenants.

14 Apr 2010

Healthcare reform debate at its peak before the COAG meeting on Monday

Following the fall out between Premiers on Prime Minister Rudd’s health care reforms more debates have come up. South Australian Premier Mike Rann also urged Victorian Premier John Brumby to come to an agreement with the Prime Minister’s plans. Earlier Mr. Brumby had suggested a 50-50 sharing model in healthcare compared to the model suggested by the PM. He has said that that the federal government's grab for 30 per cent of the states' GST would damage co-operative federalism. Mr. Brumby is expected to outline his reasons at a National Press Club address on Wednesday, April 14th 2010.

14 Apr 2010

Liverpool to ban the word “obese” - offensive to fat kids!

Liverpool City Council is seriuously considering a ban on the word “obese” because it is offensive to overweight and fat children. They plan to replace it with 'unhealthy weight'. Many parents and health authorities cosider this too much and condemn it as 'preposterous'. This idea originated at a mock parliament held in a Liverpool school manned by around 90 students.

13 Apr 2010

Spare the rod – kids spanked more likely to be aggressive

As the saying goes, “spare the rod and spoil the child”. Many organizations including American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association have found that this is a wrong statement and spanking a child may do more harm than good.

13 Apr 2010