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Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women

What women don’t know about heart disease can have life-threatening consequences. Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women. The May issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource tracks trends in women’s heart disease.

12 May 2004

Women are three times more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel syndrome

It occurs when a large nerve in the palm of your hand becomes compressed. Though doctors aren’t sure why, women are three times more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Early diagnosis and treatment can relieve the pain and numbness and usually prevent permanent damage.

12 May 2004

Images of violence alter children's attitudes toward aggression

A Johns Hopkins team that included a trauma surgeon renowned for his treatment of gunshot victims has found that exposing at-risk children and teenagers to grizzly videos and photos of these patients' wounds can significantly change the youths' beliefs about the value and consequences of aggression.

12 May 2004

Suprachiasmatic nucleus brain tissue sheds light on jet lag

New research led by a University of Washington biologist demonstrates that there are at least two circadian clocks in the mammal brain, one that sticks strictly to an internal schedule and another that can be altered by external influences such as light and dark.

12 May 2004

Heart drug simvastatin will be available without a prescription

People will be able to get a drug that can reduce the risk of heart attacks without a prescription from this summer, the government announced today.

12 May 2004

Ford Motors partners with Patti LaBelle to increase breast-cancer awareness

Ford Motor Company continues to support the fight against breast cancer with several new initiatives. Ford announced a new partnership with music icon Patti LaBelle, a summer contest that will have people seeking to “Go the Extra Mile,” and a new 2004 breast cancer awareness bandana designed by Lilly Pulitzer.

12 May 2004

100,000 fewer New Yorkers smoking

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) today announced an 11% decline in the number of smokers in New York City from 2002 to 2003.

12 May 2004

Phase 3 trial of Ceplene in acute myeloid leukemia meets primary trial endpoint

Maxim Pharmaceuticals has announced the results of an international Phase 3 clinical trial testing the combination of Ceplene (TM) plus interleukin-2 (IL-2) in 320 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in complete remission.

12 May 2004

Cardiovascular marketing budgets hit $200 Million

Pharmaceutical companies spend more to support a cardiovascular compound's development and commercialization than other therapeutic products

12 May 2004

Restrictions by health insurers and government to control expenses may hurt the malignant melanoma drug market

Decision Resources, Inc., a research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and health care issues, finds that restrictions by health insurers and government health authorities to control expenses may hurt the malignant melanoma drug market.

12 May 2004

Viragen and University of Miami to advance anti-cancer study

Viragen, Inc. today announced that the Company extended its agreement with the University of Miami and UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center to develop a novel form of an immune enhancing drug (IEP 11) that has shown promise in animal studies by inhibiting tumor growth in a broad range of cancers.

12 May 2004

Bentley Pharmaceuticals lists on NYSE

The Company anticipates that its common stock will begin trading on the NYSE on Wednesday, May 12, 2004, under its current ticker symbol, “BNT.” Bentley’s common stock will continue to trade on the American Stock Exchange until that date

12 May 2004

Nanobodies herald a new era in cancer therapy

Cancer, along with heart and vascular disease, is the major cause of death in the Western world. The first generation of anti-cancer drugs has already saved many lives, but because these medicines are non-specific they also often have severe side effects.

12 May 2004

Thoratec gets FDA approval for increased enrollment and Medicare expansion for heart pump

Thoratec Corporation, a manufacturer of products to treat cardiovascular disease, has announced the expansion of its Phase I feasibility trial for the HeartMate(R) II left ventricular assist system (LVAS).

12 May 2004

WHO reports on dengue haemorrhagic fever in Indonesia

From January 1 to April 30 2004, a total of 58,301 cases of dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and 658 deaths have been registered with the Indonesian Ministry of Health (see previous report ). The case-fatality rate of 1.1% is lower this year than in previous years.

12 May 2004

WHO reports on treating tuberculosis in Ukraine

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is the disease caused by TB bacilli that are resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin – the two most powerful anti-TB drugs. It results from inconsistent or partial treatment of TB, and develops when public health programmes fail to deliver regular and reliable treatment to TB patients.

12 May 2004

People infected with chlamydia is at an all-time high

The number of people in Washington infected with chlamydia is at an all-time high. According to the Washington State Department of Health 16,796 people were diagnosed with chlamydial infection in 2003. The Department of Health is advising all sexually active women age 25 and younger to be tested at least once a year for chlamydia.

12 May 2004

Fewer pregnant women in Washington are smoking

Fewer pregnant women in Washington are smoking. The percentage of women in our state who smoke during the last three months of pregnancy has dropped to 10 percent, according to new survey data released today by the Washington State Department of Health. That is the lowest rate since the department began surveying in 1998. At that time, 13 percent of pregnant women were smoking, but since then the number has steadily dropped.

12 May 2004

Health care and cultural differences at centre of Australian study

Ever wondered how difficult it must be for patients from different cultural backgrounds to be hospitalised in Australia? RMIT researchers will investigate whether these patients are at risk in a predominantly white Anglo health system.

12 May 2004

Australian researchers are working on a vaccine to prevent rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease

The Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) Australia, is working on a vaccine to prevent rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease are a secondary complication of a bacterial infection.

12 May 2004