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Marine-based active substances show promise against multiple myeloma

There is fierce competition in the ocean habitat. In order to survive there, marine organisms defend themselves against their rivals using an entire arsenal of chemical weapons. With the help of these substances they attack hostile cells, overcome their defence system and thus are interesting active substance candidates for cancer research.

22 Feb 2013

Medicaid expansion divides GOP governors

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is the latest Republican executive to reverse his opposition to the health law's Medicaid expansion. Some other fervent opponents, however -- among them, Rick Perry of Texas and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana -- continue to hold the line.

22 Feb 2013

Physicians afraid to give thrombolytic drugs to pulmonary embolism patients for good reason

When doctors encounter a patient with a massive pulmonary embolism, they face a difficult choice: Is it wise to administer a drug that could save the patient's life, even though many people suffer life-threatening bleeding as a result? Based on new findings published in the American Journal of Medicine, Michigan State University researchers are answering that question in no uncertain terms.

22 Feb 2013

Gov. Scott's Medicaid decision riles conservatives

The Florida governor's move to expand Medicaid under the health law disappoints some of his supporters, but one newspaper praises the decision.

22 Feb 2013

Dako, Panagene sign supply agreement for PNA oligomer component

Panagene announced it has signed a supply agreement with Dako Denmark A/S to supply PNA oligomer key component for incorporation into Dako's diagnostic or research products. Dako, an Agilent Technologies Company since June 2012, is a leading global provider of tissue-based cancer diagnostic solutions.

22 Feb 2013

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia patients often inherit small-effect changes in several genes rather than a large-effect mutation in a single gene

Research published Online First in The Lancet provides new evidence that a substantial proportion of individuals with a clinical diagnosis of Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) inherit a combination of small-effect changes in several genes (polygenic) rather than a large-effect mutation in a single gene (monogenic).

22 Feb 2013

Evolution of PEPFAR necessary for continued success

PEPFAR has "met or even surpassed most" of its "bold goals," including "saving the lives of millions of people; supporting the scale-up of HIV prevention, care, and treatment; and strengthening systems and policies for the HIV response," Robert Black of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health writes in a Lancet opinion piece, noting the release of the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) "Evaluation of PEPFAR" on Wednesday.

22 Feb 2013

Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute, USF partner for novel gene therapy trial

Cardiovascular disease specialists at Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute and Dr. Kiran C. Patel Research Institute affiliated with the University of South Florida announced they have enrolled their first patients into a clinical trial testing a novel gene therapy for the treatment of heart failure after ischemic injury. The therapy may promote the regeneration of heart tissue by encouraging the body to deploy more stem cells to the injury site.

22 Feb 2013

Blog, forthcoming paper examine PEPFAR's 'financial flows'

Noting the release of the Institute of Medicine's PEPFAR evaluation and "our own work-in-progress on PEPFAR's value for money and data management," Victoria Fan, a research fellow at the Center for Global Development (CGD), and Rachel Silverman, a research assistant at CGD, highlight "two focus areas that ... are the subject of a forthcoming CGD policy paper on PEPFAR's financial flows" in a post on CGD's "Global Health Policy" blog.

22 Feb 2013

Small, inexpensive changes to school cafeterias influence choice and consumption of healthier foods

In January 2012, the United States Department of Agriculture passed a series of regulations designed to make school lunches more nutritious, which included requiring schools to increase whole grain offerings and making students select either a fruit or vegetable with their purchased lunch. However, children cannot be forced to eat these healthier lunches.

22 Feb 2013

Unanswered questions about universal health coverage remain

Noting the WHO meeting on universal health coverage held earlier this week, Amanda Glassman, director of global health policy and a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development (CGD), and health economist Ursula Giedion write in the CGD's "Global Health Policy" blog.

22 Feb 2013

Team Danmark, Global Health Partner enter exclusive collaboration agreement

Through its subsidiary Gildhøj Privathospital, Global Health Partner is entering into an exclusive collaboration agreement with Team Danmark to provide Denmark's leading elite athletes with sports medicine and sports surgery.

22 Feb 2013

Looming cuts fuel debate over Medicare and Medicaid spending

As the March 1 deadline for the sequester approaches, news outlets analyze the impact budget cuts might have on the U.S. economy in general and on Medicare specifically.

22 Feb 2013

Cyclists at risk of injury due to lack of infrastructure in large urban centres

Using your bicycle to commute to work has numerous health and environmental benefits. Yet, the largest Canadian study on cycling injuries led by Ryerson University suggests cyclists are at risk of injury due to the lack of cycling infrastructure in large urban centres.

22 Feb 2013

Humanosphere blog examines Kerry's commitment to foreign aid

"John Kerry has only held the office of U.S. Secretary of State for a few weeks but has already made it known that foreign aid is one of his priorities," development blogger Tom Murphy writes in Humanosphere, adding, "Kerry says he will fight to maintain the budget of USAID and make the argument for its benefits."

22 Feb 2013

New molecular compounds can kill the influenza virus

Simon Fraser University virologist Masahiro Niikura and his doctoral student Nicole Bance are among an international group of scientists that has discovered a new class of molecular compounds capable of killing the influenza virus.

22 Feb 2013

With financial commitment, Obama can add 'end of AIDS' to his legacy

"In his State of the Union address, President Obama stated with confidence that the promise of an AIDS-free generation is within our reach," Archbishop Emeritus of Capetown Desmond Tutu writes in a USA Today opinion piece, adding, "We currently possess the power to begin to end a global pandemic that has killed 25 million and infected another 34 million."

22 Feb 2013

Blaze Bioscience completes $8.5 million Series A financing

Blaze Bioscience, Inc., a biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative products to improve the lives of cancer patients, today announced the completion of a Series A financing totaling $8.5 million and bringing the total funds raised since inception to $9.8 million.

22 Feb 2013

Study finds bariatric surgery does not reduce long-term medical costs

Research disputes widely-held beliefs that the weight-loss operations cut the need for treatments and medicine after patients shed pounds.

22 Feb 2013

North Dakota, Kansas join list of states considering further abortion restrictions

An abortion clinic fights to stay open amid new proposed restrictions in North Dakota while Kansas lawmakers spar over new proposed restrictions on using state money for the procedure in that state.

22 Feb 2013