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Cervical cancer vaccines offer broader cancer protection

Researchers now believe the first ever cervical cancer vaccine may provide even more protection against the killer disease than first thought.

4 Sep 2006

Nature to change study reporting method of creating stem cells without destroying embryos

Officials from the journal Nature have said they plan to change a paper published in the journal's Aug. 24 edition describing a technique that could derive human embryonic stem cells without destroying the embryo to further clarify that none of the embryos used in this particular study survived the experiment, the Chicago Tribune reports.

4 Sep 2006

Colombian cardinal threatens physicians who perform abortions with excommunication

A Colombian news report on Tuesday "sparked controversy" after reporting that a Vatican official threatened to excommunicate physicians who perform abortions in the country, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 8/30).

4 Sep 2006

STIs cause infertility, social stigma in sub-Saharan Africa

Sexually transmitted infections are the main cause of infertility in sub-Saharan Africa, where the condition often brings stigma and social consequences to women who do not have children, according to Helen Pilcher, author of a article published in the Aug. 31 issue of the journal Nature, PRI's "The World" -- a production of BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH Boston -- reports.

4 Sep 2006

Massachusetts Gov. Romney reiterates support for state's new embryonic stem cell research regulations

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) on Thursday said the state's newly adopted restrictions on human embryonic stem cell research are intended to prevent an "Orwellian" future, Reuters reports (Reuters, 8/31).

4 Sep 2006

Ho Chi Minh City to convert detoxification center into hospital that will provide no-cost HIV/AIDS care

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, beginning Sept. 1 will convert a detoxification center administered by the Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Department into a hospital that provides HIV/AIDS treatment and care at no cost, the Vietnam News Brief Service reports.

4 Sep 2006

South Africa to distribute 3 million female condoms

South Africa's Department of Health last Thursday announced that it has allocated about $5 million this year to help achieve the goal of distributing three million female condoms in 2006, the SAPA/iafrica.com reports.

4 Sep 2006

Kaiser highlights recently published Journal of Infectious Diseases studies

Summaries of studies recently published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

4 Sep 2006

Georgia Medicaid, PeachCare beneficiaries enroll HMOs despite concerns over partial rollout

Georgia's Medicaid and PeachCare programs has enrolled hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries in HMOs "despite complaints that the program has become an administrative and medical nightmare in areas where it has been tried so far," the Florida Times-Union reports.

4 Sep 2006

Debate over specialty hospitals will continue

"The battle over so-called specialty hospitals is set to make headlines again" because of a recent CMS decision, a Washington Times editorial states (Washington Times, 8/31).

4 Sep 2006

Pennsylvania starts the Pace Plus Medicare program

Pennsylvania on Friday began the Pace Plus Medicare program, under which the Medicare prescription drug benefit will provide primary coverage for low-income residents and the state PACE and PACENET programs will fill any gaps in coverage, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

4 Sep 2006

U.S. Magistrate recommends end of oversight of Hawaii adult mental health division by Federal Court

U.S. Magistrate Kevin Chang last week recommended in his 12th and final report to U.S. District Judge David Ezra that the court end oversight of the Adult Mental Health Division of the Hawaii Department of Health because of significant improvements in mental health services provided by the division.

4 Sep 2006