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Proposed changes to Ryan White CARE Act would harm treatment efforts among HIV-positive Latinos

Proposed changes to the Ryan White CARE Act, which provides funding for HIV/AIDS programs in the U.S., would result in inadequate funding for treatment efforts among HIV-positive Latinos, members of a panel held by the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Federation said on Wednesday.

5 Oct 2006

California agency releases 10-year plan for spending $3B on embryonic stem cell research

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine -- which is in charge of implementing the 10-year, $2.95 billion state human embryonic stem cell research program approved under Proposition 71 -- on Wednesday released a draft spending plan that "sets a strikingly modest tone" for outcomes of the research.

5 Oct 2006

California women exposed to rocket fuel chemical perchlorate

Many California women who have been exposed to the chemical perchlorate -- a rocket fuel component that has contaminated 450 wells and other water sources in the state -- have suppressed thyroid function.

5 Oct 2006

Female circumcision banned in Indonesia at physician level

Doctors and nurses in Indonesia have been barred from performing female genital cutting -- a practice sometimes referred to as female circumcision or female genital mutilation.

5 Oct 2006

Zimbabwe launches HIV toolkit

Zimbabwe on Tuesday launched the world's first official HIV prevention, treatment and support toolkit, Xinhuanet reports.

5 Oct 2006

Window of opportunity to control the spread of HIV in Angola

Health officials are taking advantage of the "window of opportunity" to control the spread of HIV in Angola since the civil war ended in 2002, Reuters reports.

5 Oct 2006

Schwarzenegger's veto of prison condom distribution bill politically motivated

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) veto last week of a bill (AB 1677) that would have allowed not-for-profit organizations to distribute condoms in prisons is "another cynical political maneuver" and a "fundamentally irresponsible choice to make the world more dangerous for inmates and civilians alike," a Los Angeles Times editorial says (Los Angeles Times, 10/5).

5 Oct 2006

Nursing schools reject increased number of applicants over lack of faculty members

Nursing schools nationwide rejected more than 41,000 qualified applicants in 2005, compared with 33,000 in 2004 and 18,000 in 2003, and three out of four schools attributed the increased rejections in large part to an insufficient number of faculty members, according to an annual survey conducted by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, USA Today reports.

5 Oct 2006

Rhode Island plan to collect prescription drug copayments from some Medicaid beneficiaries requires change to State Law

Superior Court Judge Stephen Fortunato on Tuesday ruled that Rhode Island's plan to begin collecting prescription drug copayments from about 14,000 Medicaid beneficiaries requires a revision of state law, the Providence Journal reports (Freyer, Providence Journal, 10/4).

5 Oct 2006

FDA approves FluLaval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved FluLaval, an influenza vaccine to immunize people 18 years of age and older against the disease caused by strains of influenza virus judged likely to cause seasonal flu in the Northern Hemisphere in 2006-2007.

5 Oct 2006

FDA approves test to help diagnose HIV

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the APTIMA HIV-1 RNA Qualitative Assay, manufactured by Gen-Probe Incorporated (San Diego, Calif.).

5 Oct 2006

World challenge to improve air quality

The World Health Organization (WHO) is today challenging governments around the world to improve air quality in their cities in order to protect people's health.

5 Oct 2006

Feeling stressed? have a cuppa...then have another!

According to the latest research regular cups of tea can help speed recovery from stress.

5 Oct 2006

New drug a breakthrough in the treatment of AMD

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a common cause of vision loss and often affects older people.

5 Oct 2006

Six shot course gives two year protection from hay fever

An experimental vaccine is promising to prevent hay fever symptoms for at least two years, and this is after just six injections.

5 Oct 2006

FBI and FDA investigate spinach packing companies in California

As a result of the nationwide outbreak of E. coli the FBI and agents from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have searched two spinach packaging companies in order to ascertain that food safety procedures were properly followed.

5 Oct 2006

Health drugs recommended for depression lack sound scientific backing

According to a new study the majority of drugs recommended by health shops to treat depression have no sound scientific backing.

5 Oct 2006

Elderly patients in the UK demeaned by hospital staff

Hospital staff in the UK have been accused of demeaning patients by their use of language and choice of words.

5 Oct 2006

Now OK to get prescription drugs from Canada, but is it really?

According to the consumer group that sponsored "Rx Express" trains to Canada, the U.S. Customs announcement that it will no longer seize prescription drugs being shipped to the U.S. is not the solution that patients need.

5 Oct 2006