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Vitamin D protects women from breast cancer

The connection between vitamin D levels and certain forms of cancer has been suspected for some time but now German researchers have come up with clear proof of the link.

21 Apr 2008

Life expectancy of a significant segment of the U.S. population is declining or at best stagnating

One of the major aims of the U.S. health system is improving the health of all people, particularly those segments of the population at greater risk of health disparities. In fact, overall life expectancy in the U.S. increased more than seven years for men and more than six years for women between 1960 and 2000.

21 Apr 2008

Stroke pilot study results to be announced at University of Leicester

Preliminary results from a major multi-centre UK pilot trial into Stroke are to be announced at the University of Leicester on 22 April.

21 Apr 2008

New York Times examines opposition to proposed off-label promotion guidelines amid allegations of ghostwriting

The New York Times on Saturday examined how a recent report indicating that Merck used "ghostwriters" to produce medical journal articles in support of the COX-2 inhibitor Vioxx "has galvanized opponents to a federal proposal that would relax some restrictions on drug promotion" in the U.S.

21 Apr 2008

Bush Administration directive to enroll low-income children in SCHIP before expanding coverage is unenforceable because it violates Federal law, according to GAO

The Bush administration violated federal law last year when it issued a policy directive that restricts states' ability to expand their SCHIP programs, according to a Government Accountability Office legal opinion released Friday, the New York Times reports (Pear, New York Times, 4/19).

21 Apr 2008

Health care debate to produce sharp differences between parties in Presidential election

The Wall Street Journal on Saturday examined how health care will produce "some of the sharpest differences" between Democrats and Republicans in the presidential election as the candidates "respond to increasing economic anxiety about many issues."

21 Apr 2008

Health insurers experience effects of recent economic downturn despite history of resisting recession

The Wall Street Journal on Monday examined "what is shaping up to be a shaky earnings season" for health insurers in the face of the current economic recession.

21 Apr 2008

Several states consider tobacco tax increases to fund health care programs, address budget deficits

Several states have sought to increase their tobacco taxes to fund health care programs and address budget deficits, but efforts to increase tobacco taxes in some cases have prevented the passage of health care proposals, the New York Times reports.

21 Apr 2008

HHS appeals decision that requires release of Medicare physician claims data

HHS last week in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia filed an appeal of an August 2007 court decision that requires the department to release Medicare claims data on more than 40 million beneficiaries and 700,000 physicians, the Los Angeles Times reports (Alonso-Zaldivar, Los Angeles Times, 4/19).

21 Apr 2008

New York Times examines increasing prices of specialty drugs distributed exclusively by pharmacy benefit managers

The New York Times on Saturday examined how pharmacy benefit managers in recent years "have built lucrative side businesses ... acting as exclusive or semi-exclusive distributors of expensive specialty drugs."

21 Apr 2008

Maine Gov. Baldacci signs legislation that will increase taxes to fund health program

Maine Gov. John Baldacci (D) on Wednesday signed into law a bill that increases taxes and fees on beer, wine and soda manufacturers to fund the Dirigo Health program, the Blethen Maine News Service/Portland Press Herald reports.

21 Apr 2008

South Carolina House to consider bill that would eliminate requirement to inform school officials of students' HIV-positive status

The South Carolina House this week is scheduled to consider a bill (SB 970) that would eliminate a state law that requires the Department of Health and Environmental Control to notify school district superintendents and nurses if students test HIV-positive, the Columbia State reports.

21 Apr 2008

Daily Star examines antiretroviral access in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's Daily Star on Friday examined how most people living with HIV/AIDS in the country do not have access to antiretroviral drugs. According to the Star, the country's Essential Drugs Company does not manufacture or provide antiretrovirals to Bangladesh's only infectious diseases hospital because of the drugs' high cost.

21 Apr 2008

Commitment to conducting more basic research in search for HIV/AIDS vaccine 'prudent,' editorial says

The cancellation last fall of a Merck HIV/AIDS vaccine trial was "branded as a 'catastrophe' by one scientist and as setting the race for a cure 'back to square one' by others," a Washington Post editorial says, adding, "The hyperbole is understandable, but some perspective is in order."

21 Apr 2008

HHS Secretary Leavitt meets with health officials in Vietnam to discuss health issues, including HIV/AIDS

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt on Thursday met with health officials in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to discuss health issues, including HIV/AIDS, Thanhnien News reports.

21 Apr 2008

Disabled people in Botswana largely neglected in HIV/AIDS efforts

Disabled people in Botswana have been largely excluded from the country's HIV/AIDS efforts, disability advocates said at a recent two-day workshop, Botswana's Mmegi reports.

21 Apr 2008

Cancer could return unless stored ovarian tissue undergoes adequate testing before re-implantation

Cancer patients who have been successfully treated for their disease face the prospect of its return if stored ovarian (or testicular) tissue is transplanted back into their bodies without adequate checks, according to researchers at two university hospitals in Israel.

21 Apr 2008

Chemotherapy causes delayed severe neural damage

Cancer treatment with chemotherapeutic agents is often associated with delayed adverse neurological consequences - an occurrence often referred to as "chemobrain" - that may compromise the quality of life of a proportion of cancer survivors.

21 Apr 2008

Managing the care of breast cancer in patients 80 years of age and older

According to researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, mammography, the gold-standard for breast cancer screening and early detection, has shown to significantly reduce the risk of being diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer in women over the age of 80, an age group currently without clear guidelines recommending regular screenings.

21 Apr 2008

Rates of death following coronary artery bypass graft surgery decline since 1997

Rates of death following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery have declined since 1997 while the number of procedures performed has decreased, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Surgery.

21 Apr 2008

Medical News

Vitamin D protects women from breast cancer

Life expectancy of a significant segment of the U.S. population is declining or at best stagnating

Stroke pilot study results to be announced at University of Leicester

New York Times examines opposition to proposed off-label promotion guidelines amid allegations of ghostwriting

Bush Administration directive to enroll low-income children in SCHIP before expanding coverage is unenforceable because it violates Federal law, according to GAO

Health care debate to produce sharp differences between parties in Presidential election

Health insurers experience effects of recent economic downturn despite history of resisting recession

Several states consider tobacco tax increases to fund health care programs, address budget deficits

HHS appeals decision that requires release of Medicare physician claims data

New York Times examines increasing prices of specialty drugs distributed exclusively by pharmacy benefit managers

Maine Gov. Baldacci signs legislation that will increase taxes to fund health program

South Carolina House to consider bill that would eliminate requirement to inform school officials of students' HIV-positive status

Daily Star examines antiretroviral access in Bangladesh

Commitment to conducting more basic research in search for HIV/AIDS vaccine 'prudent,' editorial says

HHS Secretary Leavitt meets with health officials in Vietnam to discuss health issues, including HIV/AIDS

Disabled people in Botswana largely neglected in HIV/AIDS efforts

Cancer could return unless stored ovarian tissue undergoes adequate testing before re-implantation

Chemotherapy causes delayed severe neural damage

Managing the care of breast cancer in patients 80 years of age and older

Rates of death following coronary artery bypass graft surgery decline since 1997

How microRNA is transforming science: From discovery to diagnostics

Advancing benzodiazepine detection

The Surgeon-Scientist Pioneering Regenerative Engineering

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