Healthcare :: New Medicare rebates available – Australia
As of 1 November 2006, new Medicare rebates became available for chronic disease prevention and mental health care.
Assessment
Breast Cancer :: Mayo Clinic Study Observes Normal Aging Process Lowers Breast Cancer Risk
Normal aging of breast tissue lessens breast cancer risk, reports a new study by Mayo Clinic Cancer Center researchers published in the Nov. 15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Asthma :: New Studies Reveal What Caregivers See As Key Issues To Facilitate Better Asthma Treatment
In two studies presented during the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), held in Philadelphia November 9-15, caregivers considered the ?seal of approval? from the FDA to be the most important factor when looking for an effective asthma treatment for their child. Caregivers and physicians also expressed in the study the need for a standardized assessment tool that could help diagnose and monitor asthma.
Drug treats ‘water intoxication’ faster, more effectively
Results of the two largest studies on hyponatremia, SALT-1 and SALT-2, presented Nov. 14 at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Chicago, found that the investigational drug tolvaptan treated hyponatremia ? water intoxication — faster and more effectively than available treatments.
Ankylosing Spondylitis :: Enbrel provides sustained clinical improvements for ankylosing spondylitis for up to 3 years
Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) announced patients with ankylosing spondylitis who received treatment with Enbrel (R) (etanercept) experienced sustained improvement in signs and symptoms, spinal mobility and physical function over 148 to 160 weeks of therapy, according to data from an ongoing open-label, multinational, phase 4 extension study presented at the American College of Rheumatology scientific meeting. These results are consistent with an ENBREL phase 3 clinical trial at 24 weeks.
Rheumatoid Arthritis :: Enbrel first biologic with up to 9 years rheumatoid arthritis safety
Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) announced Enbrel (R) (etanercept) is the first biologic with published data to show sustained improvements in multiple efficacy measures in rheumatoid arthritis patients completing up to nine years of therapy. Current data suggest Enbrel is both effective and safe in long-term RA use, and the new data, presented at the American College of Rheumatology scientific meeting, provide a degree of reassurance that unexpected safety concerns do not appear to develop after nine years of use.
The striking deep current reversal in the tropical Pacific Ocean
In two oceanographic surveys conducted in the south-west Pacific Ocean, in October 1999 and April 2000, scientists from this IRD observed a sharp change in direction of equatorial intermediate current between these two dates. Such temporal variability is not new, but in this case its amplitude is strikingly strong. This effect will have to be taken into account if better understanding of ocean/atmosphere exchanges and climate variations is to be achieved.
MRI :: Effectiveness of noninvasive whole-heart MRI
Researchers have long sought to find a reliable way to see inside the human heart without having to insert tubes, inject dyes or expose patients to potentially dangerous radiation. One possible solution is the whole-heart MRI, which provides 3-D images of the heart and its blood vessels without the risk of an invasive procedure.
Ecology :: Experts advance new way to size up global forest resources
An increasing number of countries and regions are transitioning from deforestation to afforestation, raising hopes for a turning point for the world as a whole, according to researchers advancing a more sophisticated approach to measuring forest cover. The novel approach looks beyond simply how much of a nation’s area is covered by trees and considers the volume of timber, biomass and captured carbon within the area.
Research Findings on Anaphylaxis and Food, Insect Allergy Unveiled
Investigators are presenting more than 380 abstracts on preliminary findings in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases at the ACAAI Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Nov. 9-15. Following are highlights of some key investigations on anaphylaxis, food allergy and insect allergy.