Health care

The prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical and allied health professions.

Suicidal thoughts and behaviours from epilepsy drugs, alerts Medsafe

Medsafe, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health’s medicines regulatory arm, is alerting health care professionals in New Zealand about a small increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours in patients taking anti-epileptic medicines. – Medsafe, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health’s medicines regulatory arm, is alerting health care professionals in New Zealand about a small increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours in patients taking anti-epileptic medicines.

Epilepsy drugs may raise suicide risk, warns FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued new information to health care professionals to alert them about an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (suicidality) in patients who take drugs called antiepileptics to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, migraine headaches, and other conditions. – An increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (suicidality) in patients who take drugs called antiepileptics to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, migraine headaches, and other conditions, reported by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Defeat of California health care legislation highlights difficulties states face

Defeat of California health care legislation highlights difficulties states face in establishing universal coverage – The defeat of a $14.9 billion proposal to overhaul California’s health care system “underscores a difficulty states face in achieving universal insurance coverage” and “their inability to slow the upward trajectory of health care costs”.

Prenatal starvation may lead to addiction later in life

Babies conceived during a period of famine are at risk of developing addictions later in life, according to new research published in the international journal Addiction. – Babies conceived during a period of famine are at risk of developing addictions later in life, and a range of chronic disorders including physical conditions such as coronary heart disease, and psychiatric ones such as schizophrenia and clinical depression.

Ongoing review of cholesterol drug Vytorin

FDA issues early communication about an ongoing review of vytorin, and advises patients to talk with their health care providers if they have questions about the ENHANCE study. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing the public that the agency will conduct a review of Merck and Schering Plough’s recent trial once the FDA receives the final study results.

Melanomas may appear different than other moles

In the present study, melanomas were generally apparent as Ugly Ducklings. The potential of the Ugly Duckling UD sign for melanoma screening should be further assessed. – A preliminary study suggests that melanomas have a different appearance than other irregular skin moles (i.e., are “ugly ducklings”), according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Surgical site infections common after breast surgery

Surgical site infection after breast cancer surgical procedures was more common than expected for clean surgery and more common than SSI after non?cancer-related breast surgical procedures. – Infections at the incision site occurred in more than 5 percent of patients following breast surgery and cost them more than $4,000 each in hospital-related expenses, revealed in a US study.

Integrated health strategies can save children’s lives, says UNICEF

The State of the World?s Children 2008: Child Survival – The report provides information on a strategic framework developed by UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank ? at the invitation of the African Union ? to help African countries and others reduce the toll of maternal and child deaths.
– Strategies that can help reduce the number of children who die before their fifth birthday were highlighted today, at the launch of UNICEF’s flagship report – The State of the World’s Children 2008: Child Survival ? in Geneva.

Australian health budget for a responsible long term health plan

Australian Medical Association (AMA) Federal Budget Submission 2008-09 provides the Government with suggested health spending priorities to build a sustainable and equitable health system to serve Australians for the long term. – The Australian Medical Association (AMA) Federal Budget Submission 2008-09 provides the Government with suggested health spending priorities to build a sustainable and equitable health system to serve Australians for the long term. The Submission was lodged with Treasury on 18 January in keeping with the Treasurer’s deadline.

Intelence, etravirine HIV Drug approved in US

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved etravirine tablets for the treatment of HIV infection in adults who have failed treatment with other antiretrovirals. Etravirine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) that helps to block an enzyme which HIV needs to multiply. – US FDA approved Tibotec Therapeutics’ Intelence, etravirine tablets for the treatment of HIV infection, to be used in combination with other anti-HIV medications, in adults who have failed treatment with other antiretrovirals.

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