Health News

Walking 2,000 more steps each day reduces cardiovascular risk

Date: Dec-20-2013
People with impaired glucose tolerance can reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease by 8% simply by walking an additional 2,000 steps a day, a large international study says.Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), a precursor to type 2 diabetes, affects 79 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Worldwide, the figures are even more staggering - with researchers saying 344 million people are currently affected, and this number is set to rise to 472 million by 2030.Led by Dr.

IVF success could double with new way of detecting faulty egg cells

Date: Dec-20-2013
In a study that could change the prospects for the 1 in 15 infertile couples worldwide, researchers in China and the US show how their way of finding genetic defects in egg cells could double the success rate of the reproductive treatment in vitro fertilization.The new method, based on whole-genome sequencing of individual egg cells, could lead to an accurate, safe and cheap way to select genetically normal embryos for in vitro fertilization (IVF), thus increasing the chances of producing a healthy baby.

Congress introduces new telehealth legislation

Date: Dec-20-2013
Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Bill Johnson (R-OH), members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee which has jurisdiction over health care and technology issues, introduced bipartisan legislation to create a federal definition of telehealth. The Telehealth Modernization Act of 2013 would provide principles that states can look to for guidance when developing new policies that govern telehealth."With technology rapidly changing and reaching every aspect of our daily lives we must ensure the regulatory environment keeps pace," said Congresswoman Matsui.

Redirecting the rules of attraction in fruit flies

Date: Dec-20-2013
Researchers at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology have discovered a biological switch that determines which part of the fruit fly's brain responds to pheromones, depending on whether the fruit fly is male or female. Many previous studies have identified differences in brain structure between the sexes. However this study, published in Cell, is the first description in any animal of a specific change in nerve cell wiring that reroutes information between male and female brains.

Nearly 8% of hip implants not backed by safety evidence

Date: Dec-20-2013
Almost 8% of all implants used in hip replacement surgery have no readily available evidence relating to their safety or effectiveness, finds a study published on bmj.com today.The researchers say the current regulation process "seems to be entirely inadequate" and they call for a revised system for introducing new orthopaedic devices.The high failure rate of some metal-on-metal hip replacements has highlighted the need for an adequate evidence base for orthopaedic implants.

Government's voluntary approach to improving hospital food is not working, argues expert

Date: Dec-20-2013
As the government announces a review of hospital food, Katharine Jenner, Chair of the Campaign for Better Hospital Food, argues that only by setting legally binding standards for hospital food can it ensure that inpatients get served high quality, nourishing meals.In an article published on bmj.com today, she says the government has wasted more than £54 million of taxpayers' money on twenty one failed voluntary initiatives to improve hospital food since 1992 - enough to pay for thirty four new hospital kitchens.

First treatment for infants with CAPS licensed in UK

Date: Dec-20-2013
Anakinra (Kineret®), an interleukin-1 (IL-1) inhibitor, has been granted a licence for treatment of CAPS in children and adults by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Anakinra is the first CAPS treatment licensed for use in children as young as eight months. CAPS is an umbrella term for a number of ultra-rare, life-long, severely debilitating autoinflammatory diseases which cause rash, headache, fever, joint pain and other inflammatory symptoms. CAPS affects approximately 1 in 1,000,000 people in the UK.

FDA and European Medicines Agency launch generic drug application inspections initiative

Date: Dec-20-2013
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have announced the launch of a joint initiative to share information on inspections of bioequivalence studies submitted in support of generic drug approvals. This collaborative effort provides a mechanism to conduct joint facility inspections for generic drug applications submitted to both agencies.Studies submitted for generic drug applications must demonstrate scientifically that a generic drug is "bioequivalent.

FDA approves Anoro Ellipta to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Date: Dec-20-2013
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Anoro Ellipta (umeclidinium and vilanterol inhalation powder) for the once-daily, long-term maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).COPD is a serious lung disease that makes breathing difficult and worsens over time. Symptoms can include chest tightness, chronic cough and excessive phlegm. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States.

Pharmacists can help prevent medicine-related problems in older Australians

Date: Dec-20-2013
NPS MedicineWise has launched a new educational activity for pharmacists to help older Australians manage their medicines safely and avoid medicines-related adverse events and hospital admissions. Medicines in older people: preventing medicines-related problems is the latest Pharmacy Practice Review from NPS MedicineWise, released this week as part of a suite of professional education programs to address the complex medicines safety issues affecting older Australians.