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New gold standard of care for overactive bladder

A major clinical trial finds that a combination of two common medications -- tolterodine (Detrol LA) and tamsulosin (Flomax) -- works better than either drug alone for men struggling with lower urinary tract symptoms, including tough-to-treat overactive bladder (OAB).

14 Nov 2006

DNA analysis could boost accuracy of thyroid tests

By fine-tuning "fine-needle aspiration" biopsies with a super-fast genetic microarray technology, a team of surgeons from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City says they can greatly enhance the accuracy of these tests.

14 Nov 2006

Novel drug boosts platelets in ITP

Attacking a platelet-depleting autoimmune disease in a whole new way, an experimental drug is helping patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) once again produce healthy amounts of platelets -- with no major side effects.

14 Nov 2006

Approval for face transplants from Royal College along with stern warning

Britain's Royal College of Surgeons has given their approval, albeit with some reservations, for face transplants to go ahead.

14 Nov 2006

Tamiflu to carry warning about abnormal behaviour

The Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. (FDA) is recommending that patients who take Tamiflu be closely monitored for signs of abnormal behaviour.

14 Nov 2006

Safety gear for young athletes offers little protection from sudden death

New research has shown that the sports safety gear worn by young athletes may not give them protection from sudden death caused by a blow to the chest.

14 Nov 2006

Speeding up initial treatment means more victims survive heart attacks

According to a newly published study, far more heart attack victims would survive if hospitals applied some simple, timesaving strategies.

14 Nov 2006

More U.S residents trust TV for health info

Increasing numbers of U.S. residents gather and trust health information, including HIV/AIDS information, seen on fictional prime-time television shows, the Los Angeles Times reports.

13 Nov 2006

Starvation, malnutrition threatening fight against HIV/AIDS pandemic

Starvation and malnutrition are "fast becoming the twin perils" in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and the need for food soon might surpass the need for antiretroviral drugs among many HIV-positive people in the developing world, the AP/ABC2 News reports.

13 Nov 2006

FDA to impose stricter medical device safety standards

FDA on Thursday released recommendations for improving post-market surveillance of medical devices, the AP/Los Angeles Times reports.

13 Nov 2006

Bush Administration says it opposes Democrats' plan to allow Government to negotiate Medicare drug prices

The Bush administration will oppose any attempts by congressional Democrats to pass legislation that would authorize the government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, according to HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, the New York Times reports.

13 Nov 2006

FDA should return to 'science-based' agency

Congress this month likely will consider a bill to reform FDA, "but the legislation lacks the vision and depth needed for a real return to a science-based FDA," Susan Wood, a research professor for the Project on Scientific Knowledge and Public Policy at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services and former assistant commissioner for women's health at FDA, writes in a Boston Globe opinion piece.

13 Nov 2006