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Once-daily treatment with Alvesco (ciclesonide) in asthma patients has no effect on normal adrenal function

New data presented at the American Thoracic Society’s 2004 International Conference show that once-daily treatment with the investigational therapy Alvesco (ciclesonide) in mild-to-moderate asthma patients has no effect on normal adrenal function, as demonstrated by measurements of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis.

24 May 2004

Study finds breast cancer in men is increasing though the disease remains rare

The largest study to date of male breast cancer finds, contrary to previous reports, breast cancer rates in men are increasing though the disease remains rare.

23 May 2004

Biologists have discovered a new genus of bacteria

University of Missouri-Rolla biologists studying the mineral-rich waters of Soap Lake in Washington state recently discovered a new genus of bacteria in the lake. Their findings will be presented at the General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology to be held May 23-27 in New Orleans.

23 May 2004

UnitedHealth Group announces formation of new European health care company

UnitedHealth Group have announced that it has established a new European company, led by a British management team, to serve European public health systems.

23 May 2004

Arrow LionHeart heart-assist device patient receives heart transplant

Gayle Snider, the first U.S. patient to go home from the hospital with an Arrow LionHeart heart-assist device, received a heart transplant Saturday, May 22, at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

23 May 2004

Canadian healthcare policy under the microscope

Healthcare policies and programs come and go. Yet the professionals who design the medical services we use are rarely mentioned in the general healthcare debates. That's about to change.

23 May 2004

Data from Indiana youth health survey released

Indiana State health officials today released data from a 2003 health survey of Indiana youth in grades 9 through 12 that assess whether teens are engaging in certain risk behaviors.

23 May 2004

Writers, scientists, ethicists and medical practitioners explore our obsession with physical perfection

In the fourth edition of Griffith REVIEW: Making Perfect Bodies some of Australia’s leading writers, scientists, ethicists and medical practitioners explore our relentless obsession with physical perfection.

23 May 2004

Researchers have identified the first gene linked to the productivity of the stem cells that produce sperm in mammals

Researchers have identified the first gene linked to the productivity of the stem cells that produce sperm in mammals. The discovery was made by applying the latest laboratory methods to a strain of mice restored from embryos frozen since the early 70s.

23 May 2004

An antibiotic, Tigecycline produces 74 percent cure rate in cSSSI patients

An antibiotic, currently being tested in clinical trials, produced a 74 percent cure rate for hospitalized patients with possibly life-threatening, complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI).

23 May 2004

Researchers have developed technology to precisely measure the sensitivity of nerve fibers that wire up the brain during development

Through use of this technology, they discovered that these fibers, or axons, possess an incredible sensitivity to molecular guidance cues that direct the axon's route to its desired destination in the brain. Their findings are described in the June issue of Nature Neuroscience.

23 May 2004

China commences first clinical test of SARS vaccine

The Xinhuanet Chinese news agency reports that four volunteers are in good health following injections of the world's first clinical test of a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) vaccine.

23 May 2004

Combination therapy may be useful in humans with spinal cord injury

A combination therapy using transplanted cells plus two experimental drugs significantly improves function in paralyzed rats, a new study shows. The results suggest that a similar therapy may be useful in humans with spinal cord injury.

23 May 2004

Cochlear implant early in life helps children with hearing loss to acquire language and communication skills

Receiving a cochlear implant early in life helps children with profound hearing loss to acquire language and communication skills similar to their hearing peers, according to an article in the May issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, a theme issue on pediatric cochlear implants and one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

22 May 2004

Increases in co-payments may reduce the use of medications

Significant increases in co-payments may reduce the use of medications and raise concern about adverse health consequences, according to a study published in the May 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

22 May 2004

Suspension of the initial dose of hepatitis B vaccine appears to have contributed to fewer newborns being vaccinated in 2000

A temporary suspension of the initial dose of hepatitis B vaccine appears to have contributed to fewer newborns being vaccinated for hepatitis B in 2000 than in 1998, according to a study published in the May 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

22 May 2004

WHO to tackle heart disease, diabetes, cancers, road safety as well as diseases

The World Health Assembly, the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organization, has raised global public health to a new level, by resolving to take more action to prevent death and illness resulting from heart disease, diabetes, cancers, road safety, and lack of access to health services as well as from diseases spread by viruses, bacteria and other dangerous microbes.

22 May 2004

Folic acid important before pregnancy

Only about 25 per cent of women in many countries voluntarily take folic acid tablets before conception, says a U of T researcher.

22 May 2004

World health officials adopt global health strategy

The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health was today endorsed by Member States at their annual Health Assembly in Geneva. The strategy addresses two of the major risk factors responsible for the heavy and growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which now account for some 60% of global deaths and almost half (47%) of the global burden of disease. NCDs include cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancers and obesity-related conditions.

22 May 2004

Scottish hospitalisation for angina and chest pain has risen dramatically in the last decade

A new paper, led by Dr Niamh Murphy at the Department of Cardiology at the University of Glasgow, reveals how hospitalisation for angina and chest pain has risen dramatically in the last decade. The paper, launched today on the British Medical Journal website, explores the enormous financial and service implications of this rise.

21 May 2004