Medical News

RSS

New drug a breakthrough in the treatment of AMD

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a common cause of vision loss and often affects older people.

5 Oct 2006

Six shot course gives two year protection from hay fever

An experimental vaccine is promising to prevent hay fever symptoms for at least two years, and this is after just six injections.

5 Oct 2006

FBI and FDA investigate spinach packing companies in California

As a result of the nationwide outbreak of E. coli the FBI and agents from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have searched two spinach packaging companies in order to ascertain that food safety procedures were properly followed.

5 Oct 2006

Health drugs recommended for depression lack sound scientific backing

According to a new study the majority of drugs recommended by health shops to treat depression have no sound scientific backing.

5 Oct 2006

Elderly patients in the UK demeaned by hospital staff

Hospital staff in the UK have been accused of demeaning patients by their use of language and choice of words.

5 Oct 2006

Now OK to get prescription drugs from Canada, but is it really?

According to the consumer group that sponsored "Rx Express" trains to Canada, the U.S. Customs announcement that it will no longer seize prescription drugs being shipped to the U.S. is not the solution that patients need.

5 Oct 2006

Breast feeding confers many benefits but making a child smarter is not one of them

New research by Scottish scientists has found that whether a child is breastfed or not has no bearing on their intelligence.

4 Oct 2006

Laser technique shows women's skin ages faster than men's

According to German researchers women's skin ages faster than men's - so men become distinguished women just look older!

4 Oct 2006

Heart screening for athletes reduces sudden deaths

A study by Italian cardiology researchers has shown that a pre-participation cardiovascular screening program that spots hidden heart trouble can significantly reduce the rate of sudden death in athletes.

4 Oct 2006

Taking sildenafil will worsen sleep apnea

According to Brazilian researchers, taking Viagra (sildenafil) at bedtime may aggravate breathing problems in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea.

4 Oct 2006

Carrot juice with botulism latest food scare from California

A Floridian woman, the fourth victim of botulism poisoning contracted from drinking spoiled carrot juice, is suffering from paralysis.

4 Oct 2006

New bird flu vaccine promises to offer cross-protection

Early clinical trials of a new bird flu vaccine have produced promising results and a phase 3 trial of the cell-based H5N1 flu vaccine is expected to take place early next year.

4 Oct 2006

Another bird flu outbreak in China

China's Ministry of Agriculture says scientists have confirmed an outbreak of bird flu has killed 1,000 domestic poultry in a village in China's northwest.

4 Oct 2006

FDA more cautious in approving new drugs after Vioxx

Many pharmaceutical companies and industry observers say that FDA is "quietly becoming more assertive about keeping new drugs off the market or refusing to approve new uses for existing medications" in response to criticism since the 2004 Vioxx recall, the New York Times reports.

3 Oct 2006

2007 Medicare prescription drug plans

Private health insurers that market Medicare prescription drug plans in 2007 will offer more plans, several of which will have lower premiums and more of which will provide coverage during the so-called "doughnut hole," Bush administration officials said on Friday, the New York Times reports.

3 Oct 2006

88% of uninsured children live in households with a working parent

A majority of the nine million uninsured children in the U.S. live in households where at least one parent works full-time, year-round, according to a report released by the advocacy group Families USA, the AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.

3 Oct 2006

Federal response to Hurricane Katrina examined

"Federal Health Policy Response to Hurricane Katrina: What it Was and What it Could Have Been," Journal of the American Medical Association.

3 Oct 2006

CQ's Carey addresses health IT legislation, House approval of HSA expansion, Medicare payment cuts, Ryan White CARE Act reauthorization

Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, discusses House and Senate negotiations on legislation that would expand health care information technology, House approval of a measure to expand health savings accounts, Congress' inaction on scheduled Medicare physician payment cuts and Senate Democrats' attempt to block reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act in this week's "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ."

3 Oct 2006

Advanced Neuromodulation Systems receives Australian approval for rechargeable chronic pain system

Advanced Neuromodulation Systems (ANS), the neuromodulation business of St. Jude Medical, Inc, today announced Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulatory approval for its Eon Rechargeable Neurostimulation System.

3 Oct 2006

Massachusetts announces universal health care coverage premium rates that are expected to cost the state 10% less than previous estimates

Massachusetts health insurance premium rates for low-income residents are in line with officials' predictions, and the state should have adequate funding to implement its new health insurance law next year, the Boston Globe reports.

3 Oct 2006