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CIGNA Health Awareness Tour team to help raise money and awareness for cancer prevention

Nearly 100 members of the CIGNA Health Awareness Tour team will walk, bike and run into Blue Bell Sunday to help raise money and awareness for cancer prevention.

24 Aug 2009

Increased BAT function could prevent obesity

Exciting research into Brown adipose tissue (BAT) — brown fat, which is found in abundance in hibernating animals and newborn babies — could lead to new ways of preventing obesity.

24 Aug 2009

Gene discovery unveils a new protein that protects against hearing loss

Discovery of a deafness-causing gene defect in mice has helped identify a new protein that protects sensory cells in the ear, according to a study by University of Iowa and Kansas State University researchers. The findings appear in the August 21 issue of the open-access journal PLoS Genetics.

24 Aug 2009

Lundbeck to launch Sabril in the US following FDA's NDA approval

Lundbeck Inc. (“Lundbeck”), a wholly owned subsidiary of H. Lundbeck A/S in Denmark (Copenhagen: LUN), announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted two New Drug Application (NDA) approvals for Sabril® (vigabatrin) Tablets and Oral Solution. Lundbeck plans to launch Sabril in the United States in the third quarter.

24 Aug 2009

Discovery of mutation in AIP gene associated with acromegaly

An indigenous family living in a mountainous area of Malaysian Borneo helped Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) researchers to discover information about genetic mutations associated with acromegaly, a form of gigantism that often results in enlarged hands, feet, and facial features.

24 Aug 2009

Lancet examines dengue fever in Mexico

Lancet World Report examines the factors contributing to a steady uptick in the number of dengue fever cases in Mexico over the past decade. Compared to the year 2000, when "there were 1,781 reported cases … Last year, the number totalled 33,000, according to Mexico's Public Health Department. And confirmed cases this year have already surpassed 2008 figures by 15%," according to the journal.

24 Aug 2009

Biovail's patent infringement lawsuit against Cary Pharma may affect IntelGenx revenues

IntelGenx Corp. (TSX VENTURE:IGX)(OTCBB:IGXT) ("IntelGenx") previously announced that the New Drug Application (NDA) filing for the antidepressant CPI-300, which it developed with Cary Pharmaceuticals ("Cary Pharma") had been accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for standard review. CPI-300 is a novel, high strength of Bupropion HCl, the active ingredient in Wellbutrin XL®.

24 Aug 2009

ERF Wireless reports Q2 2009 financials

ERF Wireless (OTCBB:ERFW) has announced that the company has filed its Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission reporting results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009.

23 Aug 2009

Estimating the number of uninsured

NPR reports that 46 million represents "roughly 15 percent of the U.S. population," and the number comes from 2007 Census Bureau estimates. "Although the number of uninsured has grown slowly in the past several years, it's speeding up, mainly because employment has declined drastically since the Census report. And most of us get our insurance through our jobs."

23 Aug 2009

WHO recommends against using homeopathic treatments for HIV, TB, malaria, influenza, infant diarrhea

The WHO has warned that people with conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria should not rely on homeopathic treatments, the BBC reports. The agency was responding to a June letter (full text available here), in which researchers from the Voice of Young Science Network called on the agency "to condemn the promotion of homeopathy for treating TB, infant diarrhoea, influenza, malaria and HIV."

23 Aug 2009

FDA issues complete response letter regarding the NDA for carisbamate

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a complete response letter regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for carisbamate, an anti-epileptic drug in development, announced Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

23 Aug 2009

'Explosion' of H1N1 cases likely, WHO Says

In the coming months, countries should prepare for an "explosion" in new cases of H1N1 (swine) flu until peak transmission of the virus is reached, WHO Western Pacific Director Shin Young-soo told a symposium of health officials gathered in Beijing Friday, the Associated Press reports.

23 Aug 2009

Doctors' strange economic role

Doctors play an unusual role in the economy. "When asked what profession, economically speaking, the doctor resembles most, many economists say auto mechanic — because of… the information problem," NPR reports.

23 Aug 2009

Democrats consider endgame strategies as bipartisan reform hopes fade

The Associated Press reports that as hopes for a bipartisan agreement on health care reform fade, Democrats are considering many ways to pass reform unilaterally and all of them come with problems.

23 Aug 2009

Daschle advising Obama, health industry on reform

The Washington Post: "Former Senate majority leader Thomas A. Daschle's visit to the Oval Office on Friday, at the invitation of President Obama, was more than just a meeting between two loyal friends and political allies. It also served as a reminder of what might have been."

23 Aug 2009

Brits defend National Health Service against U.S. criticism

The United Kingdom's National Health System enters into the health care debate amid comparisons of the British and American health care systems. Meanwhile, British politicians defend NHS against critics.

23 Aug 2009

Dems in conflict on health reform options, Mccain defends GOP 'end of life' claims

The Associated Press: "Some lawmakers have suggested that a separate bill with changes that are supported by Republicans and Democrats would be one route toward progress on the health care overhaul. But a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, says he doesn't see how lawmakers could get two health care bills through Congress and coordinate them well." Conrad spoke on CBS' "Face The Nation" (8/23).

23 Aug 2009

House Liberals: Bill must include public option

"With the battle over health care reform heating up over the issue of a public insurance option, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that the House must pass an overhaul that includes a public option," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The comments came at a San Francisco news conference.

23 Aug 2009

HHS Secretary to address National Association of Community Health Centers

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will deliver remarks at the National Association of Community Health Centers' 2009 Community Health Institute and Expo in Chicago.

23 Aug 2009

Agreement between Kodak and MyMedicalRecords to provide enhanced electronic patient information online to doctors

A new independent software vendor (ISV) agreement between Kodak and MyMedicalRecords, Inc. (MMR), a subsidiary of MMR Information Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: MMRF), will enhance how doctors provide electronic patient information online.

22 Aug 2009