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Direct connection between a nation's overall happiness and its citizens' blood pressure problems

Doctors have known for a long time that blood pressure is one measure of an individual's health. This research is the first to demonstrate that there a connection between nations' happiness and blood-pressure levels.

19 Feb 2007

Results of largest ever genome study of autism released

The genomes of the largest collection of families with multiple cases of autism ever assembled have been scanned and the preliminary results published in Nature Genetics. They provide new insights into the genetic basis of autism.

From The University of Manchester 19 Feb 2007

Chocolate can give a short-term boost to memory

Eating chocolate could help to sharpen up the mind and give a short-term boost to cognitive skills, a University of Nottingham expert has found.

19 Feb 2007

Cancer is a stem cell issue

There is an urgent reason to study stem cells: stem cells are at the heart of some, if not all, cancers. Mounting evidence implicates a clutch of rogue stem cells brandishing 'epigenetic' marks as the main culprits in cancer. Wiping out tumours for good, some biologists believe, depends on uprooting these wayward stem cells.

19 Feb 2007

Epigenetics to shape stem cell future

Everyone hopes that one day stem cell-based regenerative medicine will help repair diseased tissue. Before then, it may be necessary to decipher the epigenetic signals that give stem cells their unique ability to self-renew and transform them into different cell types.

19 Feb 2007

Thailand threatens big pharma companies

Thailand's minister for health has reportedly threatened to override international patents on even more drugs if the big pharmaceutical manufacturers do not significantly cut their prices.

19 Feb 2007

FDA warns consumers about buying medications over the Internet

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has again warned consumers about buying medications over the Internet.

19 Feb 2007

Chocolate is brain food!

It's news we love to hear, if the latest research is to be believed, chocolate is brain food!

19 Feb 2007

At last the culprit in Autism is revealed

An international team of scientists have discovered two new genetic links that may predispose children to develop autism.

19 Feb 2007

Global partnership to launch $10 million initiative that aims to bolster HIV/AIDS care in 10 African countries using cell phones

A new public-private partnership on Tuesday at the 2007 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, announced the launch of a new $10 million campaign that will use cell phones to bolster HIV/AIDS care and treatment in 10 African countries, Reuters reports.

19 Feb 2007

U.K. should increase efforts to support health systems in developing countries

The United Kingdom should do more to help train and support health workers in developing countries in an effort to strengthen their health care infrastructures, Lord Nigel Crisp, former chief of the U.K. National Health Service, said in a report released on Tuesday, BBC News reports.

19 Feb 2007

Chinese authorities praise HIV/AIDS advocate Gao after preventing her from coming to U.S.

The Chinese government on Monday praised HIV/AIDS advocate and retired physician Gao Yaojie after placing her under house arrest last week to prevent her from visiting the U.S. to accept an award from the group Vital Voices Global Partnership, the AP/International Herald Tribune reports.

19 Feb 2007

New York City to unveil official condom as part of HIV prevention efforts

New York City health officials on Wednesday are scheduled to unveil the city's official condom as part of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's efforts to curb the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports.

19 Feb 2007

Jesse Jackson urges HIV awareness, testing, more research for a cure

The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Monday in Philadelphia at the 2007 National Conference on African-Americans and AIDS called for increased research funding to find a cure for HIV/AIDS, as well as more awareness about HIV testing, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

19 Feb 2007

Zanzibar officials call for targeted response to combat spread of HIV

A targeted response is needed to combat the spread of HIV in Zanzibar, Chief Minister Shamsi Nahodha said at the recent launch of an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign targeting young people on the island, PlusNews reports.

19 Feb 2007

Faith-based organizations major contributors to fight against HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa

Faith-based organizations are playing a major role in the fight against HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a World Health Organization report released this week, IRIN/AllAfrica.com reports.

19 Feb 2007

Countries should find balance between affordable drugs, development incentives, WHO Director-General says in letter to Thai Health Minister

World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan in a letter to Thai Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla said that although the Thai government was fully within its rights to issue a compulsory license for Abbott Laboratories antiretroviral drug Kaletra, countries should find the "right balance" between providing affordable medicines and incentives for drug companies to develop new treatments.

19 Feb 2007

Scientists discover vulnerable area on HIV that could lead to development of HIV/AIDS vaccine

Scientists on Wednesday announced they had identified a vulnerable area on HIV that might be susceptible to antibodies and could prevent the virus from infecting human cells, Reuters Health reports. The findings are published in the Feb. 15 issue of the journal Nature.

19 Feb 2007

Chinese HIV/AIDS advocate Gao Yaojie remains under house arrest

Chinese HIV/AIDS advocate and retired physician Gao Yaojie on Thursday said she remains under house arrest despite abandoning plans to visit the U.S. to accept an award from the group Vital Voices Global Partnership, the New York Times reports

19 Feb 2007

Bush spending bill allocates $1.3 billion increase to fund international HIV/AIDS, TB programs

President Bush on Thursday signed a $463.5 billion spending resolution (HJ Res 20) for fiscal year 2007 that includes a $1.3 billion increase for international HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis programs.

19 Feb 2007