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Higher generic drug use in 2003 slowed the rising cost per prescription to a 7.9% increase

Generic drug use increased to a record 48% among Express Scripts' 50 million members during 2003, spurred by the use of several prominent new generics, fluoxetine, omeprazole and lisinopril.

9 Jun 2004

Possible new type of zoonose in England

A short item was considered by the UK Zoonoses Group on a nervous condition in a heifer which had suffered partial leg paralysis. It was initially diagnosed as suspected botulism.

9 Jun 2004

Low-fat products can have a higher content of added sugar or other processed carbohydrates

Don’t be worried about putting a bit oil on your salad or veges, but don’t overdo the foods with the reduced fat claims. That is the message from a Deakin University study just published in Public Health Nutrition which shows that many of the foods claiming low fat status are in fact packed with energy.

9 Jun 2004

New statistical techniques for cancer diagnosis

CSIRO statisticians have developed a new way to subtype paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), the most common form of cancer in children under 12.

9 Jun 2004

Preteen girls more likely than boys to retaliate

Girls in middle and elementary schools involved in violent incidents may be more likely than boys of the same age to be retaliating for a previous event, to experience the violence at home, and to have a family member intervene.

9 Jun 2004

Foundation for poor heart health laid early in life

Heart disease - long viewed as a scourge of adulthood - is a growing threat to children because of soaring rates of obesity and related problems, such as diabetes.

9 Jun 2004

Low-carb potato will help win back die-hard carbohydrate counters

Potatoes may be on the no-no list for high-protein diets, but a University of Florida researcher says a new low-carb potato will help win back die-hard carbohydrate counters.

9 Jun 2004

Breakthrough could help protect against the use of smallpox by terrorists

Researchers at the ANU John Curtin School of Medical Research have identified proteins that determine which mice succumb to mousepox and which do not. The new insights into the immune response of mice to the mousepox virus could enable scientists to improve treatment for poxvirus infections, including smallpox.

9 Jun 2004

5 percent of young people consider themselves lesbian, gay or bisexual

Approximately 5 percent of young people consider themselves lesbian, gay or bisexual, and many adolescents know a friend, classmate, neighbor or relative who is nonheterosexual.

9 Jun 2004

FDA warns against use of domperidone to increase milk production

In response to reports that women may be using an unapproved drug, domperidone, to increase milk production (lactation), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning breastfeeding women not to use this product because of safety concerns. Today, FDA also issued six letters to pharmacies that compound products containing domperidone and firms that supply domperidone for use in compounding.

9 Jun 2004

SU11248 proves effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors

A drug originally developed to block the formation of blood vessels in tumors has been shown to overcome resistance to treatment with Gleevec in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

9 Jun 2004

Many epilepsy and multiple sclerosis patients believe marijuana is an effective treatment

Despite limited evidence of effectiveness, many epilepsy and multiple sclerosis patients believe marijuana is an effective treatment and are actively using it, according to two Canadian studies published in the June 8 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

9 Jun 2004

Lovastatin and Simvastatin have a significantly reduced risk of prostate cancer

Men who take even small amounts of common cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Lovastatin and Simvastatin have a significantly reduced risk of prostate cancer, according to a new study by Oregon Health & Science University Cancer Institute researchers.

9 Jun 2004

New Hampshire begins statewide West Nile virus detection activities

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) has begun statewide West Nile virus detection activities in partnership with other state agencies

9 Jun 2004

Untreated prostate cancer can turn to lethal disease over long-term

New findings from a long-term study of men with early-stage, initially untreated prostate cancer suggests that the risk of progression to more aggressive and lethal disease increases significantly in the long-term, according to a study published in the June 9 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

9 Jun 2004

Researchers win Kaye prize for gastro-retentive sustained release drug delivery system

Despite advances made in "sustained delivery" drug delivery technologies in recent years, a problem still persists in trying to obtain controlled release of a wide variety of medications that have only a "narrow absorption window" in the upper part of the intestines. That is, these drugs are absorbed rather quickly after being swallowed, negating the beneficial effects of "once-a-day" medication.

9 Jun 2004

Discovery may help those susceptible to deep-vein thrombosis, strokes and recurrent miscarriages

Australian researchers at University of New South Wales have identified a mechanism than can cause blood clots - a discovery with implications for those susceptible to deep-vein thrombosis, strokes and recurrent miscarriages.

7 Jun 2004

Assessment of spinal cord stimulator in treatment of chronic pain

A neurosurgeon at the University of Illinois at Chicago is assessing how well an implanted electronic device that stimulates nerve fibers in the spinal cord relieves chronic pain.

7 Jun 2004

Junk food manufacturers should be banned from targeting unhealthy products at children

The BMA's Annual Conference of Public Health Medicine called on the government to ban television advertising of junk foods before the watershed, and on all channels aimed at children.

7 Jun 2004

Over one-third of British population cannot name a famous disabled person

Scope, the national disability organisation, has surveyed the British public to test their attitudes towards disabled people. Despite the achievements of Home Secretary David Blunkett, Professor Stephen Hawking and sportsperson Tanni Grey-Thompson, 36 per cent of those questioned in a YouGov survey could not name one single famous disabled person.

7 Jun 2004