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Will the NHS continue to function in an influenza pandemic?

A survey of health care workers has revealed that as many as 85% may stay off work if an influenza pandemic did take hold of the country.

13 May 2009

Researchers demonstrate the immunological effects of ginseng

Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access Journal of Translational Medicine have shown that the herb, much used in traditional Chinese and other Asian medicine, does have anti-inflammatory effects.

13 May 2009

Black women develop breast cancer at earlier ages, have higher mortality rates

Although black women are one-third less likely than women of other races to develop cancer, they are 30% more likely than other women to die if they are diagnosed with the disease, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, the Miami Herald reports.

13 May 2009

Two New York State health agencies launch series of projects that seek to reduce racial health disparities

The Perinatal Network of Monroe County and the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency in New York state on Friday will unveil a series of 13 initiatives that aim to reduce racial health disparities, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports.

13 May 2009

Texas Democrats trying to pass Medicaid enrollment extension before June 1 deadline

Democrats in the Texas House on Monday called on lawmakers to prioritize consideration of a Medicaid bill (HB 1541) that would extend the enrollment period for children's coverage through the program, the AP/Dallas Morning News reports. The legislative session ends June 1.

13 May 2009

Nevada Legislative Committee reinstates Governor's proposed Medicaid cuts

A Nevada Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee has voted to reject some of the changes to the $900 million state Medicaid budget proposed by Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) and others, the AP/San Jose Mercury News reports (Gines, AP/San Jose Mercury News, 5/12).

13 May 2009

Independent pharmacists raise concerns over letters from CVS Caremark indicating members must pay higher copayments at non-CVS pharmacies

An unidentified trade group representing independent pharmacies on Wednesday plans to send to Federal Trade Commission Chair Jon Leibowitz a series of letters from pharmacy benefits manager CVS Caremark that indicate the PBM charges higher copayment rates for some of its members who opt to fill their prescriptions at pharmacies other than CVS, the Wall Street Journal reports.

13 May 2009

Senate Finance Committee weighs proposal to tax employer health benefits, other plans to pay for health reform

The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday heard arguments for taxing employer-sponsored health care benefits as a means for funding a comprehensive health care overhaul, the Wall Street Journal reports.

13 May 2009

House Democrats say they will introduce reform legislation August recess; Obama Administration to look into wellness programs

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, (D-Calif.) and other House Democrats met with President Barack Obama on Wednesday, promising a health reform bill by the end of July, the AP/Examiner reports.

13 May 2009

Medicare will not cover virtual colonoscopies, CMS Says

CMS on Tuesday announced a final decision to end Medicare coverage for virtual colonoscopies, also known as CT colonographies, the Wall Street Journal reports (Yoest, Wall Street Journal, 5/13).

13 May 2009

Medicare hospital fund will be insolvent by 2017, two years earlier than expected, trustees say

The trust fund that Medicare uses to pay for beneficiaries' hospital care will be insolvent by 2017, as the program since last year has been paying out more than it collects in taxes and interest, in part due to the worsening economy, according to a Medicare Payment Advisory Commission report issued Tuesday, the Washington Times reports.

13 May 2009

Canada 'leading contributor' to global HIV/AIDS efforts, Canadian official says

A recent column in the Victoria Times on Canada's response to HIV/AIDS, written by Times columnist Kate Heartfield, "overlook[ed] the real story here -- that Canada is dedicated to getting results" in treating and preventing HIV/AIDS in Canada and worldwide, Canadian Minister of International Cooperation Beverley Oda writes in an Ottawa Citizen opinion piece.

13 May 2009

International Nurses Day chance to improve conditions for health workers in developing countries, opinion piece says

International Nurses Day, which took place on Tuesday, was "an appropriate day ... to consider the challenges faced by health care personnel in developing countries," including those related to HIV/AIDS, Gary Cohen, board director of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and the CDC Foundation, writes in a NorthJersey.com opinion piece.

13 May 2009

Obama administration 'wants to go slow' on HIV/AIDS efforts, editorial says

"The road to ending AIDS comes with warning sign: Caution -- Politics Ahead. Just ask President Obama, who's getting a crash-course introduction," a San Francisco Chronicle editorial says.

13 May 2009

"Grandmothers 4 Grandmothers" network strong force in HIV/AIDS efforts, HIV advocate Lewis says

The network "Grandmothers 4 Grandmothers" in Regina, Canada -- the local effort of the Stephen Lewis Foundation's network of grandmother organizations called Grandmothers to Grandmothers -- has "emerged as a force to be reckoned with" among the 70,000 Canadians supporting the foundation, the Regina Leader-Post reports.

13 May 2009

South African President Zuma appoints new health minister to replace Hogan

South African President Jacob Zuma on Sunday appointed physician Aaron Motsoaledi as health minister, replacing Health Minister Barbara Hogan, who was appointed to a public enterprises position, London's Guardian reports. Motsoaledi previously served as a provincial education minister. Hogan had been appointed to the post last year to replace former Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang (Smith, Guardian, 5/10).

13 May 2009

New York Times examines campaign that promotes HIV awareness, prevention through media

The New York Times recently examined a campaign that aims to promote HIV awareness and prevention through several media outlets.

13 May 2009

Research shows how cocaine regulates gene expression in a crucial reward region

The study, published by Cell Press in the May 14th issue of the journal Neuron, provides exciting insight into the molecular pathways regulated by cocaine and may lead to new strategies for battling drug addiction.

13 May 2009

Previous experiences invaluable for complex decision making, according to new brain research

Researchers funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) have shown that past experience really does help when we have to make complex decisions based on uncertain or confusing information.

13 May 2009

Scientists develop tool to study a deadly parasite’s histone code

In the Japanese art of paper folding, a series of folds can make the same sheet of paper into a ballerina or baby elephant. But try unfolding the baby elephant and making it into a ballerina. It's like trying to make a neuron from a kidney cell. Epigenetics, it turns out, isn't much different from this old Japanese art: Each fold, or epigenetic crease, both limits and permits further potential folds in a way that mirrors how epigenetic changes seal a cell's fate.

13 May 2009

Medical News

Will the NHS continue to function in an influenza pandemic?

Researchers demonstrate the immunological effects of ginseng

Black women develop breast cancer at earlier ages, have higher mortality rates

Two New York State health agencies launch series of projects that seek to reduce racial health disparities

Texas Democrats trying to pass Medicaid enrollment extension before June 1 deadline

Nevada Legislative Committee reinstates Governor's proposed Medicaid cuts

Independent pharmacists raise concerns over letters from CVS Caremark indicating members must pay higher copayments at non-CVS pharmacies

Senate Finance Committee weighs proposal to tax employer health benefits, other plans to pay for health reform

House Democrats say they will introduce reform legislation August recess; Obama Administration to look into wellness programs

Medicare will not cover virtual colonoscopies, CMS Says

Medicare hospital fund will be insolvent by 2017, two years earlier than expected, trustees say

Canada 'leading contributor' to global HIV/AIDS efforts, Canadian official says

International Nurses Day chance to improve conditions for health workers in developing countries, opinion piece says

Obama administration 'wants to go slow' on HIV/AIDS efforts, editorial says

"Grandmothers 4 Grandmothers" network strong force in HIV/AIDS efforts, HIV advocate Lewis says

South African President Zuma appoints new health minister to replace Hogan

New York Times examines campaign that promotes HIV awareness, prevention through media

Research shows how cocaine regulates gene expression in a crucial reward region

Previous experiences invaluable for complex decision making, according to new brain research

Scientists develop tool to study a deadly parasite’s histone code

Bioprocess Efficiency with Cell Density Monitoring

Exploring electron microscopy for plant and microbial imaging at the John Innes Centre

Extending the reach of Amperia™

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