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Don't let the bed bugs bite

A robust new breed of blood-sucking bed bugs are on the rise in Britain, and experts fear the “super” pests cannot be killed.

14 Apr 2004

Fertility specialists find multiple birth rate declining

During the past decade in the United States, increasing attention has been paid to lowering the incidence of multiple gestations resulting from the use of assisted reproductive technology. To determine whether such efforts have been successful, we assessed national trends in embryo-transfer practice patterns and in outcomes after the use of assisted reproductive technology.

14 Apr 2004

A case of paralytic poliomyelitis (Polio) has been reported in Botswana

A case of paralytic poliomyelitis due to an imported type 1 poliovirus has been reported in Botswana, a country which had been polio-free since 1991. The virus has been closely linked genetically to poliovirus endemic to northern Nigeria. The case - a seven year old boy from the Ngami district of north-western Botswana - had onset of paralysis on 8 February 2004.

14 Apr 2004

Genetic mutation raises interesting questions about the evolution of the Y chromosome

The names and dates comprising a family tree contain branches that can extend backward centuries in time. People use these diagrams to discover their ancestral origin. Scientists use them to study the genealogical origins of entire species, tracing evolutionary history down to changes in a single gene.

14 Apr 2004

New and Generic Drug Approvals from FDA

Colgate Total Toothpaste, Heparin Sodium in 5% Dextrose Injection, Heparin Sodium in 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection and others

14 Apr 2004

Ethnocultural beliefs vary widely on organ donation

Although a high number of Chinese- and Indo-Canadians and Aboriginal people are awaiting organ transplants, there is little knowledge about organ donation and registration processes for organ donation among these ethnocultural communities, according to a recent UVic study.

14 Apr 2004

Cinnamon's role as an insulin substitute in type II diabetes

Cinnamon may be more than a spice – it may have a medical application in preventing and combating diabetes. Cinnamon may help by playing the role of an insulin substitute in type II diabetes, according to cellular and molecular studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Iowa State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

14 Apr 2004

Obese mothers increase likelihood of pre-eclampsia

A research team from the University of Glasgow has been awarded nearly £129, 000 by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to investigate the cause of pre-eclampsia (PE), a condition that kills nearly 600 babies in the UK each year.

14 Apr 2004

Survey finds most Americans are not getting enough sleep

A recent survey by the makers of TYLENOL® PM revealed America's sleep habits. It uncovered that most Americans are not getting enough sleep and how that deprivation impacts various aspects of life.

14 Apr 2004

Nurses to be given more prescribing powers

Patients needing medicines in an emergency will be treated more quickly under plans to expand nurse prescribing announced Health Minister, John Hutton, today.

14 Apr 2004

Protecting against West Nile virus

What's that buzzing noise? Believe it or not, mosquito season is already here again. Why do we even need mosquitoes? What purpose do these pesky insects serve? In the grand scheme of biology, mosquitoes are an important food source for other insects and birds, and fish eat their larvae.

14 Apr 2004

CT colonography not presently a viable option for colorectal cancer screening

Findings of a new multicenter study by Cotton et al. published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association comparing standard colonoscopy with CT colonography for the detection of colorectal cancer reveal that this technology, in the form used most often in the United States, while of significant interest, is not presently a viable option for routine colorectal cancer screening.

14 Apr 2004

Vast majority of college smokers don't quit

Almost 90 percent of college students who were daily smokers and 50 percent of occasional smokers were still smoking four years later, according to a study conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and just published in the current issue of Health Psychology.

14 Apr 2004

Ultrasound therapy does nothing to help an injured skeletal muscle heal any faster

Although ultrasound is one of the most frequently prescribed treatments for one of the most common sport and athletic injuries – skeletal muscle contusions – there's really no good scientific evidence showing that it treats injured muscles effectively, said Steven Devor, the study's lead author and an assistant professor of sport and exercise sciences at Ohio State University.

14 Apr 2004

Extra funding aids brain research

A healthy arrival of funds over the past couple of years has produced "endorphins" in McMaster’s "brain" that has psychology researchers very excited.

14 Apr 2004

Biotech production of Sucanon Diabetes drug commences

Robert Rieveley, President of Biotech Holdings has announced that installation of pharmaceutic processing equipment required for Sucanon production is currently being completed. "Sucanon production is scheduled to begin within the week; our first production run is for 1.2 million Sucanon tablets, sufficient for 20,000 one-month Sucanon treatment packages.

14 Apr 2004

'Medicare-Approved' cards available soon

Beginning in June 2004, the Medicare discount card program will provide America's seniors and disabled Medicare beneficiaries with much-needed discounts and information on their prescription drugs. The purchasing power behind the Medicare population is expected to save beneficiaries an average of 10 to 25 percent off the retail price of most drugs.

14 Apr 2004

Canadian health groups urge ban on exportation of pharmaceutical drugs from Canada to the U.S.

Canadian health groups today called on the Government of Canada to ban the exportation of pharmaceutical drugs from Canada to the U.S. The groups, who represent the interests of millions of Canadian patients, were in Washington to highlight their concerns with Internet pharmacies.

14 Apr 2004

Autism Associations shows CDC and FDA to be negligent

National Autism Association announced Tuesday that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and some pharmaceutical companies have become a target for investigation.

14 Apr 2004

Australian health heavyweight moves into China

Global health and security assistance provider MedAire, Inc. has signed a letter of intent with the Beijing International Heart Hospital (BIHH) to develop an integrated outpatient medical clinic and response center in Beijing.

14 Apr 2004