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British Medical Association calls on Health Secretary to deliver tough action to protect the nation's health

The British Medical Association today (4 November 2004) calls on Health Secretary John Reid to deliver tough action to protect the nation's health, as he finalises the White Paper on Public Health for England.

4 Nov 2004

Prolonged breastfeeding helps prevent rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory disease of the immune system, is between two and four times more likely to strike women than men.

4 Nov 2004

Study reveals anti-arthritic effects of bee venom

Since ancient times, healers have practiced apitherapy, the use of honeybee products for curative purposes.

4 Nov 2004

Study indicates potential of alendronate and estrogen progression of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, a chronic inflammatory disease marked by cartilage degradation and bone abnormalities, is a leading cause of disability among elderly people in the United States.

4 Nov 2004

Amputations due to diabetes can be prevented

Taking a minute or two every day to inspect your feet and observing a few simple rules can make the difference in sparing diabetes patients from a preventable outcome of the disease a foot amputation.

4 Nov 2004

European approval for Taxotere (docetaxel) in prostate cancer

Aventis, part of the sanofi-aventis Group announced today that the European Commission has approved Taxotere (docetaxel) Injection Concentrate for use in combination with prednisone as a treatment for men with androgen-independent (hormone- refractory) metastatic prostate cancer.

4 Nov 2004

Cholesterol-lowering drugs can interact with grapefruit juice and increase the risk of the drugs' potential side-effects

Britain's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency recently issued prescribing advice reminding healthcare professionals that certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, namely Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin), can interact with grapefruit juice and increase the risk of the drugs' potential side-effects.

4 Nov 2004

Generic drugs are still a good buy

A new AARP study found that manufacturers' prices for some generic drugs experienced a rapid rise over the past three years. However, these increases would have added only a few dollars per year to consumers' costs for any one of these products.

4 Nov 2004

NHS chooses Microsoft over Open Source

The NHS has reached a landmark agreement with Microsoft on the renewal of the licensing of its desktop products in line with the OGC's framework agreement with Microsoft.

4 Nov 2004

Californians say yes on 71

With a clear mandate, the voters of California yesterday overwhelmingly approved Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative.

4 Nov 2004

FDA warns against use of Actra-Rx and Yilishen

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers not to purchase or to consume Actra-Rx or Yilishen, two products promoted and offered for sale on Web sites as "dietary supplements" for treating erectile dysfunction and enhancing sexual performance for men.

4 Nov 2004

Guidance for generic drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that a Guidance for Industry entitled "Listed Drugs, 30-Month Stays, and Approval of ANDAs and 505(b)(2) Applications Under Hatch-Waxman, as Amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003

4 Nov 2004

Benefits to human health associated with the use of antibiotics in chicken may outweigh the potential risks

The potential benefits to human health associated with the use of antibiotics in chicken may outweigh the potential risks, according to a risk-benefit analysis conducted by a team of researchers led by Randall S. Singer, D.V.M., Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.

4 Nov 2004

Patent litigation the most commonly used generic defense strategy among pharmaceutical companies

Patent litigation remains the most commonly used generic defense strategy among pharmaceutical companies. 71% of drug companies have used legal battles to defend their patents in the past three years, according to research from pharmaceutical business intelligence firm Cutting Edge Information.

4 Nov 2004

Medmira ships 100,000 rapid HIV tests to China

MedMira has announced that it has shipped 100,000 Rapid HIV Tests to one of its distributors in the People's Republic of China.

4 Nov 2004

Wyeth shows new Phase III data about its investigational antibiotic, tigecycline

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals recently presented exciting new Phase III data about its investigational antibiotic, tigecycline, based on a clinical trial in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI).

4 Nov 2004

Blood flow monitoring system to reduce risks during heart surgery

A unique haemodynamic (blood flow) monitoring system which will help to minimise the risk of complications during cardiovascular surgery is being developed by Leeds-based medical devices company, Medics Research Ltd.

4 Nov 2004

New non-invasive diagnostic test for early-stage lung cancer

A non-invasive diagnostic test for early-stage bronchial carcinoma (lung cancer) was presented at White Rose Bioscience Forum in York yesterday (03 November).

4 Nov 2004

A British first, patient receives heart pump through groin, avoiding the need for surgery

A patient at Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust has become the first in the UK to receive an artificial heart pump inserted without the need for surgery.

4 Nov 2004

Study shows possible solution to the current flu vaccine shortage

A new study led by the Saint Louis University’s Center for Vaccine Development may provide a solution to the current flu vaccine shortage in the U.S. The team found a possible way to double the available supply of influenza vaccine for adults between the ages of 18 and 60.

4 Nov 2004