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Brits battling to cope with 'killer' Australian flu strain

As doctors and hospitals in the UK struggle to deal with a flu epidemic, Brits are being warned that the current outbreak is expected to intensify in the new year as the potentially fatal Australian strain of influenza spreads across the country.

30 Dec 2008

More private patients in public Australian hospital beds

According to a new report more Australian privately insured patients used the public hospital system last year than previously and there are concerns that encouraging people to take out private health insurance is doing little to reduce the burden on the public health system.

30 Dec 2008

Risk takers do so because their brains are less able to process dopamine

According to scientists risk takers and drug abusers behave the way they do because their brains are less able to process dopamine.

30 Dec 2008

Man dies after waiting hours to be treated in hospital

The death of a British man waiting to be seen in a public hospital accident and emergency department has sparked an inquiry into the way he was treated.

30 Dec 2008

Drink sensibly tonight and remember - there's no such thing as a hangover cure!

Across the world New Year's Eve revellers are being urged to drink responsibly in bringing in 2009.

30 Dec 2008

Drug warnings for New Year's Eve

While the emphasis right now is on urging New Year revellers to drink responsibly, many teenagers could be more likely to try drugs on New Year's Eve than any other night.

30 Dec 2008

What are protective effects of anti-ricin A-chain aptamer?

Ricin, a lectin from the castor bean plant Ricinus communis is considered one of the most potent plant toxins.

30 Dec 2008

Watson Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval for generic Mircette

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has received final approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration on its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol and ethinyl estradiol tablets USP, 0.15 mg / 0.02 mg.

30 Dec 2008

Researchers identify clockwork that drives a powerful virus nanomotor

Peering at structures only atoms across, researchers have identified the clockwork that drives a powerful virus nanomotor.

30 Dec 2008

Researchers identify common gene variant linked to high blood pressure

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have identified a common gene variant that appears to influence people's risk of developing high blood pressure, according to the results of a study being published online Dec. 29, 2008 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

30 Dec 2008

Discovery of molecule that targets brain tumors

UC Davis Cancer Center researchers report today the discovery of a molecule that targets glioblastoma, a highly deadly form of cancer.

30 Dec 2008

Transcendental meditation reduces ADHD symptoms among students

The Transcendental Meditation technique may be an effective and safe non-pharmaceutical aid for treating ADHD, according to a promising new study published this month in the peer-reviewed online journal Current Issues in Education.

30 Dec 2008

Need another reason to add "Quit Smoking" to your New Year's resolutions list?

How about the fact that even if you choose to smoke outside of your home or only smoke in your home when your children are not there - thinking that you're keeping them away from second-hand smoke - you're still exposing them to toxins?

30 Dec 2008

New technique for creating authentic embryonic stem cells from rats

Stem Cell Sciences plc has announced that pioneering research describing a technique for creating authentic embryonic stem (ES) cells from rats has been published in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal, Cell.

30 Dec 2008

Cost effectiveness of spinal surgery examined

Back pain affects more than 80 percent of people and costs more than $100 billion annually in the U.S. But is the surgery cost effective?

30 Dec 2008

Study examines impact of managed care on stroke prevention surgery

Policymakers and economists often promote managed-care plans based on the assumption that they prevent the overuse of unnecessary surgical procedures or help steer patients to high-quality providers, compared to traditional fee-for-service insurance plans.

30 Dec 2008

Scientists isolate genes that made 1918 flu lethal

By mixing and matching a contemporary flu virus with the "Spanish flu" - a virus that killed between 20 and 50 million people 90 years ago in history's most devastating outbreak of infectious disease - researchers have identified a set of three genes that helped underpin the extraordinary virulence of the 1918 virus.

30 Dec 2008

Salix Pharmaceuticals receives FDA response for Balsalazide tablet

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. has announced that the Company has received a complete response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its New Drug Application (NDA) for balsalazide tablet studied as a treatment of mild-to-moderate active ulcerative colitis in patients 18 years and older.

30 Dec 2008

Pegloticase BLA filing accepted for priority review by FDA

Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the Company's Biologics License Application (BLA) for pegloticase, a novel biological drug for treatment-failure gout (TFG) patients.

30 Dec 2008

Human hair waste may be a viable option as fertilizer for edible crops

Agricultural crop production relies on composted waste materials and byproducts, such as animal manure, municipal solid waste composts, and sewage sludge, as a necessary nutrient source.

30 Dec 2008