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KHN column: The health care debate has just begun

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, Philip Klein writes: "For liberals, the legislation doesn't go far enough. And in the coming years, they will continue to push for tighter regulations on insurance companies, higher subsidies for purchasing coverage and for the inclusion of a government-run plan in the exchanges.

24 Mar 2010

Lifelong learning and community action may help older people to lead independent lives

The UN has said that population aging is "transforming the world." Now that a large portion of the world population is joining the ranks of the "baby boomers," the phenomenon is permeating many areas of life, including the economic, medical, moral, political, and social. In the U.S., as of 2008 (the last time data was collected), the number of persons 65 or older came to 38.9 million.

24 Mar 2010

Research shows single women still face social stigma

In 2009, approximately 40 percent of adults were single, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In a new study, "I'm a Loser, I'm Not Married, Let's Just All Look at Me," a University of Missouri researcher examined the familial and societal messages given to women who are not married by their mid-30's.

24 Mar 2010

Healing Choices study for cancer treatment choice

Recognizing the critically important lapse between the diagnosis and treatment, The Cancer Information Service Research Consortium is conducting a Healing Choices study that will try to determine if receiving a multimedia presentation of medical options helps patients make informed treatment decisions.

24 Mar 2010

Republicans rally around repeal effort

The Christian Science Monitor: "Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina is already set to introduce legislation repealing the legislation that President Obama will sign on Tuesday. Sen. John McCain (R) of Arizona, caught in a tough GOP primary battle for reelection, is arguing in a fundraising appeal that he should stay in the Senate to lead the fight for repeal."

24 Mar 2010

Johns Hopkins Hospital completes 100th kidney transplant

Surgeons at The Johns Hopkins Hospital have successfully completed their 100th kidney swap — a procedure popularized here to enlarge the pool of kidneys available for donation and provide organs to patients who might have died waiting for them.

24 Mar 2010

14 Attorney Generals challenge healthcare reform law

In a new development against the healthcare reform law that was signed by the President Barack Obama, 14 state Attorney Generals have filed lawsuits challenging it.

24 Mar 2010

Many factors are involved when making medical decisions for hospitalized patients

Living wills and surrogate decision makers account for only a portion of the many factors weighed by physicians when making medical decisions for hospitalized patients lacking the capability to make their own decisions, according to a recently published study.

24 Mar 2010

FDA recommends clinicians temporarily suspend use of Rotarix vaccine

The agency recently became aware that an independent U.S. academic research team, using a novel technique, has found DNA from porcine circovirus 1 (PCV1) in Rotarix, which is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. PCV1 is not known to cause illness in humans or other animals. In addition, Rotarix has been studied extensively, before and after approval, and found to have an excellent safety record.

24 Mar 2010

Washington State mercury-limit suspension for swine flu vaccine ends

When it comes to some diseases prevention still is better than cure and swine flu is one such disease. The sheer global panic that gripped nations last year is hard to forget. The PanvaxH1N1 vaccine is specifically manufactured to target the influenza (A) H1N1 strain known more popularly as swine flu. Getting the flu shots may be crucial in prevention of spread of the highly contagious disease. Health officials say that the H1N1 strain of flu is still circulating but at low levels.

24 Mar 2010

Obama celebrates health overhaul win

President Barack Obama is scheduled to sign health overhaul legislation into law Tuesday morning, marking an accomplishment that has left the White House euphoric after the president staked his political fortunes on the measure, Reuters reports.

24 Mar 2010

Analgesics can decrease risk of breast or ovarian cancer

Postmenopausal women who regularly use aspirin and other analgesics (known as painkillers) have lower estrogen levels, which could contribute to a decreased risk of breast or ovarian cancer.

24 Mar 2010

Obama prepares to sell health care plan; Dems, GOP strategize on next steps

President Barack Obama is moving quickly to explain and sell his health reform package to the American public, hoping he can move public opinion.

24 Mar 2010

Leichhardt goes smoke free

It has been only a few days since the Waverly council responsible for Sydney’s popular Bondi Beach voted for a ban on smoking in restaurants and cafes starting this July. It is now Leichhardt Council that is responsible for the inner western Sydney suburbs that has come up with a similar ban.

24 Mar 2010

Deficit forecast -questioned by some - buttressed support for health overhaul

The Congressional Budget Office report that found the health legislation would cut the deficit by $140 billion over 10 years boosted Democratic momentum and pulled fiscally conservative moderates behind the bill, the Financial Times reports.

24 Mar 2010

Ambry Genetics introduces a suite of genetic tests to pinpoint the cause of mental retardation

Ambry Genetics today introduced The Ambry X-Linked Mental Retardation SuperPANEL™, a suite of genetic tests expected to pinpoint the cause of intellectual disability and X-linked mental retardation (XLMR).

24 Mar 2010

Live-At-Home.com updates Web site with additional resources and content

Live-At-Home.com, a free Web site designed to assist seniors with aging at home, announced this week a recent expansion of its site's resources and content.

24 Mar 2010

Complete structure of Insulin receptor discovered - may assist in drug development for diabetes

Insulin is one of the most commonly used therapeutic agents used in diabetes. While the structure of this complex protein has been studied in detail there were parts of the receptor for insulin that were not clearly defined till now. This receptor is a protein that exists on the surfaces of cells and binds to the insulin molecule. These receptors are responsible for the action of insulin on the cells.

24 Mar 2010

GSK joins GAVI Alliance in the Pneumococcal disease vaccine drive

GSK has become one of the first manufacturers to sign a unique agreement with the GAVI Alliance that has the potential to save millions of children from dying in the world's poorest countries. GSK will supply up to 300 million doses of its vaccine Synflorix, for invasive pneumococcal disease, to GAVI over a ten year period. Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of death in children under the age of five in developing countries.

24 Mar 2010

GENETICS 2010 meeting highlights latest research on human genetic disorders

The Genetics Society of America (GSA) biennial meeting, "GENETICS 2010: Model Organisms to Human Biology," June 12-15, 2010, at the Sheraton Boston, Massachusetts, will bring together investigators who study genetic models in organisms such as flies, yeast, fungi, mice and other non-human organisms, with researchers in human genetics

24 Mar 2010