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Aetna raises earnings outlook

In other market news, coverage continues of the cost and effectiveness of Sovaldi, a new drug to treat hepatitis C, and the related earnings gained by Gilead Sciences, its manufacturer.

25 Apr 2014

New ultrasound device could help identify arterial plaque that cause heart attack, stroke

Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have developed a new ultrasound device that could help identify arterial plaque that is at high risk of breaking off and causing heart attack or stroke.

25 Apr 2014

Better educated people appear to recover from traumatic brain injury

Better-educated people appear to be significantly more likely to recover from a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), suggesting that a brain's "cognitive reserve" may play a role in helping people get back to their previous lives, new Johns Hopkins research shows.

25 Apr 2014

Fibroblasts could offer alternative to heart transplants for patients with heart disease

Fibroblasts, cells long thought to be boring and irrelevant, could offer an alternative to heart transplants for patients with heart disease.

25 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 24, 2014

Today's headlines include a number of reports about how the health law is playing in midterm election campaigns.

25 Apr 2014

Youth who work with horses experience substantial reduction in stress

New research from Washington State University reveals how youth who work with horses experience a substantial reduction in stress - and the evidence lies in kids' saliva.

25 Apr 2014

Study explores how food portrayed in children's TV programmes

Fruits and vegetables are often displayed in the popular Swedish children's TV show Bolibompa, but there are also plenty of high-sugar foods. A new study from the University of Gothenburg explores how food is portrayed in children's TV programmes as well as the link between young children's TV viewing, dietary habits and weight status.

25 Apr 2014

Community-based structured weight loss program improves diabetes symptoms

Weight loss and control of blood sugar can reduce the risk of complications in patients with diabetes but this is difficult for many to achieve. A University of California, San Diego School of Medicine randomized controlled trial of obese adults with type 2 diabetes suggests that participants enrolled in a community-based structured weight loss program are able to shed more pounds, improve blood sugar control and reduce or eliminate insulin use and other medications compared to a control group.

25 Apr 2014

Sales of hepatitis drug shatter records

Record sales of the pricey new drug, Sovaldi, pushed first-quarter earnings of Gilead Sciences beyond expectations. Meanwhile, Novartis' recently announced deals with GlaxoSmithKline and Eli Lilly show manufacturers' swing towards specialization, reports The Wall Street Journal.

25 Apr 2014

Zenalux, RPCI collaborate to enhance Zenascope system to detect oral cancers at an early stage

Zenalux Biomedical, Inc., a leader in biophotonic diagnostics, is working with Roswell Park Cancer Institute to further enhance its flagship Zenascope™ product by adding a high-resolution camera to the system.

25 Apr 2014

Reduced exposure to microbes triggers chronic inflammation

The greater prevalence of asthma, allergies and other chronic inflammatory disorders among people of lower socioeconomic status might be due in part to their reduced exposure to the microbes that thrive in rural environments, according to a new scientific paper.

25 Apr 2014

Regulators vote against approving new painkiller

A key government panel Tuesday voted unanimously against approval of a powerful opioid prescription painkiller intended to provide faster relief with fewer side effects. At the conclusion of a hearing, the Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted 14-0 against recommending that the agency approve Moxduo, the first drug to combine morphine and oxycodone into one capsule (Stein, 4/22).

25 Apr 2014

Study finds correlations between seasonal ambient air pollutants and pregnancy loss in Mongolia

Burning coal for domestic heating may contribute to early fetal death according to a new study by experts from The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - the coldest capital city in the world.

25 Apr 2014

Lawsuit challenging health law subsidies gains backing of 38 GOP lawmakers

The challenge, brought by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., targets the rule allowing the federal government to pay part of the health insurance premiums for lawmakers and some staffers.

25 Apr 2014

Scientists find new insight into interaction between proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease

Getting to the bottom of Alzheimer's disease has been a rapidly evolving pursuit with many twists, turns and controversies. In the latest crook in the research road, scientists have found a new insight into the interaction between proteins associated with the disease. The report, which appears in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience, could have important implications for developing novel treatments.

25 Apr 2014

LA BioMed researcher wins Ray E. Helfer Award for contributions to detection, prevention of child abuse

Carol D. Berkowitz, MD, a Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute lead researcher, was recently honored for her distinguished contributions to the detection and prevention of child abuse and neglect by the Ray E. Helfer Society, a national organization of physicians devoted to the problem of maltreated children.

25 Apr 2014

Four insurers enroll nearly 95% of California sign-ups

Nonetheless, experts say California's online marketplace increased competition in the state's individual market. Meanwhile, lower-than-expected enrollment in Oregon creates budget issues, and a Democratic congresswoman from Arizona calls on the administration to extend the enrollment deadline past April 15.

25 Apr 2014

Methylphenidate may prevent depletion of self-control

Methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin, may prevent the depletion of self-control, according to research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

25 Apr 2014

Study shows effect of whooping cough vaccination on Bordetella pertussis bacteria

The most comprehensive study to date of the family of bacteria that causes whooping cough points to more effective vaccine strategies and reveals surprising findings about the bacteria's origin and evolution. The new results could alter public health strategies to control this respiratory disease, which kills 195,000 children worldwide each year.

25 Apr 2014

Democrats in tough La., Pa., and Fla. races embrace health law

Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Rep. Allyson Schwartz, who is running for governor of Pennsylvania, and Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist tout the improvements from the law.

25 Apr 2014