Reuters: Health News

Obama looks for Republican healthcare backing

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:33:10 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama sought on Thursday to persuade Republicans to support overhaul of the U.S. healthcare industry, his signature domestic policy goal, as the measures moved on a fast-track through congressional committees with only Democratic support.

H1N1 pandemic spreading too fast to count: WHO

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:32:47 +0100

GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that the H1N1 flu pandemic was the fastest-moving pandemic ever and that it was now pointless to count every case.

U.S. reviewing possible heart risks with asthma drug

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:41:05 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators are reviewing if Roche and Novartis AG's asthma drug Xolair may be linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, health officials said on Thursday.

Treatment neutralizes muscular dystrophy in mice

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:34:12 +0100

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. researchers have found a way to block the genetic flaw that causes a common form of muscular dystrophy, the team reported on Thursday.

Gilead, J&J to develop once-daily HIV pill

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:47:37 +0100

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Drug makers Gilead Sciences Inc and Johnson & Johnson on Thursday said they plan to develop a new once-daily pill for treating HIV, the virus that causes AIDs.

Dem Senator Baucus hopeful on bipartisan health bill

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:46:35 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus said on Thursday he is hopeful the panel can reach bipartisan agreement on a healthcare overhaul, and said Republicans as well as Democrats are working toward that goal.

Australia's "worst case scenario" 6,000 H1N1 deaths

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:47:02 +0100

SYDNEY (Reuters) - As many as 6,000 people could die from H1N1 in Australia this season in a "worst case scenario" if no preventive measures or vaccines are found, Australian Health Minister Nicola Roxon said on Thursday.

Alzheimer's gene speeds memory declines before 60

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:40:49 +0100

CHICAGO (Reuters) - People with the "Alzheimer's gene" begin to have memory declines tied to aging before they reach 60, even if they have no clinical symptoms of dementia, a U.S. research team reported on Wednesday.

Advances seen in treatment of knee ligament injury

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:03:37 +0100

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - New surgical techniques are helping to improve treatment of a lesser-known type of knee ligament injury, according to a research review.

Study will delve into oral health, memory link

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:44:38 +0100

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The National Institutes of Health has awarded $1.3 million to an interdisciplinary team that will investigate how people's oral health might affect their memory, and vice versa.