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The end of the line for existing stem cell research?

Time is short for scientists to respond to the call for comments on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) proposed guidelines for the use of human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines and their eligibility for federal funds. On May 26, the window to provide feedback will close, and the drafted rules leave the possibility that funding for almost all existing cell lines will disappear.

15 May 2009

Stress may indeed be a direct contributor to childhood obesity.

That's according to a new Iowa State University study finding that increased levels of stress in adolescents are associated with a greater likelihood of them being overweight or obese.

15 May 2009

Old diabetes drug Metformin teaches experts new tricks

Research from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center reveals that the drug most commonly used in type 2 diabetics who don't need insulin works on a much more basic level than once thought, treating persistently elevated blood sugar - the hallmark of type 2 diabetes - by regulating the genes that control its production.

15 May 2009

Vitamin D may play a role in bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in US women of childbearing age, and is common in pregnant women. BV occurs when the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina is disrupted and replaced by an overgrowth of certain bacteria.

15 May 2009

Researchers show the effectiveness of folic acid in preventing congenital heart defects

The Canadian policy of fortifying grain products with folic acid has already proved to be effective in preventing neural tube defects.

15 May 2009

Teens risky sexual behaviour makes dads up the care level

American researchers say when it comes to a teenager's risky sexual behaviour mothers deal with it differently to fathers and a father's usual response is to up the level of supervision and monitoring of their children.

15 May 2009

Obese, older and poorer Australians get more chronic diseases

According to researchers at the University of Adelaide, in the past 15 years chronic diseases among older, lower income and obese Australians have increased significantly.

15 May 2009

Family-based prevention program helps teens override a gene linked to risky behavior

A family-based prevention program designed to help adolescents avoid substance use and other risky behavior proved especially effective for a group of young teens with a genetic risk factor contributing toward such behavior, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Georgia.

15 May 2009

Australian scientist suggests Swine flu an accident in the lab

The suggestion by an Australian virologist that the new flu virus, H1N1 or swine flu, could have been the result of a laboratory accident has been dismissed by Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the deputy director general of the World Health Organization (WHO).

14 May 2009

Swine flu preoccupies world health leaders

It is expected that the upcoming World Health Organisation's (WHO) annual assembly will be dominated this year by the emergence and spread of the new influenza virus H1N1 (swine flu).

14 May 2009

Too much fluoride in drinking water will mean little public confidence

The revelation that some Brisbane residents were inadvertently exposed to excessive levels of fluoride in their drinking water earlier this month will do little to enhance the case for adding fluoride to public water systems.

14 May 2009

Don't punish people for just staying alive!

Among all the mixed messages on retirement flowing from the budget, the biggest policy development is the decision to extend the working age for Australians to 67. Without doubt, this change will be the enduring legacy of this budget, certainly for future retirees, and for the country as a whole.

14 May 2009

Urgent Care Centers: Between the ER and the family doctor

Urgent care centers (UCCs) are providing an alternative to emergency room treatment. A study published in the open access journal BMC Health Services Research has shown that UCCs tend to be open well outside of office hours and offer a wider range of services than primary care offices.

14 May 2009

California ballot measures would have negative effect on health care access for children, immigrants, minority advocacy groups say

A coalition of ethnic minority advocacy groups has raised concerns that two of six budget-related propositions on the May 19 special election ballot would negatively affect minorities' health, New America Media reports.

14 May 2009

Editorial says, Obama is “right to push for health care reform”

President Obama is "right to push for [health care] reform now, despite calls to postpone efforts solely on the economic recovery," a Philadelphia Inquirer editorial states.

14 May 2009

Missouri Legislature passes bills that impose levies on health care providers to generate additional Federal Medicaid funding

Missouri lawmakers have approved two bills (HB 740 and SB 307) that extend or create health care provider taxes or certification fees as part of an effort to draw in more federal Medicaid matching dollars, the AP/Ann Arbor News reports.

14 May 2009

Prescription drug use dropped in 2008, though spending increased, Medco Research indicates

Use of prescription drugs in the U.S. declined in 2008 -- the first such decrease in a decade -- but total spending on such treatments increased by 3.3%, according to a report released on Wednesday by Medco Health Solutions, the AP/Washington Post reports.

14 May 2009

Senate Finance Committee to discuss public plan options; House Energy and Commerce Committee discusses state, regional plans

The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday will meet to discuss the inclusion of a public insurance plan in its health care reform legislation, the Des Moines Register reports (Beaumont, Des Moines Register, 5/14). Supporters of the public plan say it would allow middle-income workers a choice between their employer coverage and coverage offered by the government. The insurance industry and Republican lawmakers oppose such a plan.

14 May 2009

Senate Democrats meet with White House adviser to craft response to Republican criticism on health reform

Senate Democrats on Wednesday worked with senior White House adviser David Axelrod to craft a health care message focused on affordability and choice, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports (Werner, AP/Contra Costa Times, 5/13).

14 May 2009

Health Subcommittee considers bill to eliminate pre-emption for medical devices

The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on Tuesday heard testimony on the Medical Device Safety Act of 2009 (HR 1346), which would allow consumers to sue medical device manufacturers in state courts, CQ HealthBeat reports.

14 May 2009

Medical News

The end of the line for existing stem cell research?

Stress may indeed be a direct contributor to childhood obesity.

Old diabetes drug Metformin teaches experts new tricks

Vitamin D may play a role in bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women

Researchers show the effectiveness of folic acid in preventing congenital heart defects

Teens risky sexual behaviour makes dads up the care level

Obese, older and poorer Australians get more chronic diseases

Family-based prevention program helps teens override a gene linked to risky behavior

Australian scientist suggests Swine flu an accident in the lab

Swine flu preoccupies world health leaders

Too much fluoride in drinking water will mean little public confidence

Don't punish people for just staying alive!

Urgent Care Centers: Between the ER and the family doctor

California ballot measures would have negative effect on health care access for children, immigrants, minority advocacy groups say

Editorial says, Obama is “right to push for health care reform”

Missouri Legislature passes bills that impose levies on health care providers to generate additional Federal Medicaid funding

Prescription drug use dropped in 2008, though spending increased, Medco Research indicates

Senate Finance Committee to discuss public plan options; House Energy and Commerce Committee discusses state, regional plans

Senate Democrats meet with White House adviser to craft response to Republican criticism on health reform

Health Subcommittee considers bill to eliminate pre-emption for medical devices

Edoardo Fabini

Reducing polypharmacy through innovative drug formulation technologies

How innovation in dried blood spot testing is transforming neurological disease monitoring

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