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GlaxoSmithKline extends Genelabs acquisition offer

GlaxoSmithKline has announced that it has extended its previously announced tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Genelabs Technologies, Inc., for $1.30 in cash per share without interest and less any required withholding taxes, until 5:00 p.m. New York City time on Monday, December 29, 2008, unless the tender offer is further extended.

17 Dec 2008

Promiscuity fears pose barrier to cervical cancer vaccinations

The public's concerns about costs and increased promiscuity among teenagers appear to be hindering use of a vaccine against the human papilloma virus (HPV) to prevent life-threatening diseases, according to a study by researchers at Yale School of Public Health.

17 Dec 2008

Fast food meals have fewer calories than restaurant meals

A new study in the Review of Agricultural Economics compares fast food and table service meals at restaurants.

17 Dec 2008

Chemical engineer mother works to help kids on feeding tubes

Dr. Stephanie Farrell's daughter Phoebe is barely five and, along with French fries and pizza, she loves sushi, Thai and Indian food, and tacos.

17 Dec 2008

Dieting may help reduce the risk of gum disease, mostly in men

For men, especially older men, dieting may help reduce the risk of gum disease more than for women, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and other institutions.

17 Dec 2008

Cause found for abnormal muscle constrictions in dystonia

Dystonia is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary abnormal muscle constrictions.

17 Dec 2008

Circumcision reduces risk of HIV infection in heterosexual men

A new U.S. study has found that being circumcised significantly reduced the risk of HIV infection in heterosexual African American men known to have been exposed to the virus.

17 Dec 2008

Cardiac stent patients with diabetes may benefit from drug that counteracts the effects of leptin

The naturally high levels of leptin in diabetic patients may reduce the effectiveness of drug-eluting stents used to treat heart blockages, but using a chemical that differs from the one commonly used to coat stents could counteract this effect.

17 Dec 2008

Biopure submits IND for trial in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Biopure Corporation has announced that it has submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) an investigational new drug (IND) application to conduct a pilot phase 2 clinical trial of the company's oxygen therapeutic Hemopure [hemoglobin glutamer - 250 (bovine)].

17 Dec 2008

Schizophrenia and autism may share common origin

Schizophrenia and autism probably share a common origin, hypothesises Dutch researcher Annemie Ploeger following an extensive literature study.

17 Dec 2008

Attitudes towards assisted reproduction and preimplantation genetic diagnosis

According to an international survey by the BBVA Foundation conducted this year, citizens in advanced societies view assisted reproduction techniques in general and in vitro fertilization in particular as firmly acceptable alternatives for people with fertility problems (over 7 points on an acceptance scale from 0 to 10 in twelve of the fifteen survey countries).

17 Dec 2008

Tricyclic antidepressants best for depression in Parkinson's

A new study shows that antidepressant drugs which only affect serotonin, often used as first choice treatments, may not be best for depression in people with Parkinson's disease.

17 Dec 2008

Abbott starts trial of 2.25 mm stent system

Abbott has announced the start of SPIRIT Small Vessel, a clinical trial evaluating a 2.25 mm size of the XIENCE V Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System.

17 Dec 2008

Advice for 5 million Aussies suffering with back pain - what's good for the heart is good for the back!

According to a new study by Australian researchers as many as 5 million Australians have recurring back problems.

17 Dec 2008

Preventing food allergies in children - a change of strategy?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States in 2007 around 3 million children under 18 had food allergies - a rise of 18% since 1997.

17 Dec 2008

Expert says gross over-reaction to peanuts to blame for 'nut hysteria'

A Professor at Harvard Medical School suggests many people today are over-reacting to the threat of peanut allergies in children.

17 Dec 2008

Prison for couple who neglected child's health

A couples' neglect of their child's health which resulted in "dire and tragic consequences" has earned them prison sentences.

17 Dec 2008

Exercise on doctors orders!

Researchers in New Zealand say though exercise is known to be one of the essential components which improve and enhance the quality of life, it is unfortunately underused.

17 Dec 2008

Selling cigarettes to children will cost retailers dearly

A warning has been issued to Tasmanian cigarette retailers that selling cigarettes to minors will cost them dearly.

17 Dec 2008

American surgeons carry out first U.S. face transplant

Surgeons in the United States have carried out America's first face transplant at a clinic in Cleveland, Ohio where a woman has had 80% of her face replaced with that of a deceased female donor.

17 Dec 2008