Healthcare

Sharp rise in intensive flu cases across Britain Sat, 25/12/2010 - 16:53 by Neka Sehgal In a recent upsurge, the number of confirmed cases of flu-like illnesses has more than doubled in the past week in England and Wales with school kids aged five to 14 years bearing the brunt of the infection. Comments Read more	Abbott recalls 359mn diabetic test strips over false readings Thu, 23/12/2010 - 14:05 by Neka Sehgal Health regulators and Abbott Laboratories, the giant health products company, has issued a recall today of nearly 359 million glucose test strips that diabetics use to monitor their blood sugar, following concerns that they may be defective and presenting false readings. Comments Read more	Sharp decline in teenage moms in 2009--CDC Wed, 22/12/2010 - 15:48 by Neka Sehgal Government statisticians tracking teenage childbearing in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, found a widespread and significant decrease in teen births in 2009, perhaps the lowest in seven decades. Comments Read more
Kroger recalls pet food for possible aflatoxin contamination Mon, 20/12/2010 - 13:29 by Neka Sehgal Yet another food recall has been initiated. This time, it is dog, cat and kitten food by Kroger, the largest grocery store chain in the United States. Comments Read more	West Pharmaceutical Services Passes This Key Test Sat, 18/12/2010 - 10:23 by Seth Jayson There's no foolproof way to know the future for West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result. Rest assured: Even if you're not monitoring these metrics, short-sellers are. Comments Read more	Cases of foodborne illnesses in the nation decrease since 1999 Thu, 16/12/2010 - 13:41 by Neha Gupta Cases of foodborne illness in the United States have decreased since the year 1999, a recent report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows. Comments Read more
Here's How Varian Medical Systems Is Making So Much for You Thu, 16/12/2010 - 11:05 by Seth Jayson Margins matter. The more Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) keeps of each buck it earns in revenue, the more money it has to invest in growth, fund new strategic plans, or (gasp!) distribute to shareholders. Healthy margins often separate pretenders from the best stocks in the market. That's why I check on my holdings' margins at least once a quarter. I'm looking for the absolute numbers, comparisons to sector peers and competitors, and any trend that may tell me how strong Varian Medical Systems's competitive position could be. Comments Read more	Taxing sodas promotes modest weight-loss--study Tue, 14/12/2010 - 13:02 by Neka Sehgal Although levying of hefty taxes on regular soda or sugar-sweetened beverages such as sport drinks and fruit drinks would lead to only minimal weight loss, it could generate billions in revenues which could ramp up the public health battle against America’s obesity epidemic, claims a new study. Comments Read more	Zoledronic acid exhibits no benefits in breast cancer therapy--study Mon, 13/12/2010 - 14:19 by Neka Sehgal Contrary to expectations that zoledronic acid, an osteoporosis drug, marketed under the brand name Zometa would improve survival and recurrence rates for women with early stage breast cancer, the results of a recent clinical trial found it exhibited no benefits as an anti-cancer drug. Comments Read more
3 drugs combo shows promise in fighting breast cancer--study Sun, 12/12/2010 - 16:16 by Neka Sehgal A combination of certain drugs against an aggressive type of breast cancer can help eradicate the malignant tumors, claims a new study. Comments Read more	Group urges primary care overhaul Sat, 11/12/2010 - 06:57 by harsheeb Washington -- The United States should have a national strategy on primary care, the care patients receive on first contact with the healthcare system, health advocates say. A report released Friday by the Hope Street Group urges healthcare deliverers to reorient primary care fundamentally toward prevention, wellness and active disease management, a Hope release said. Comments Read more	Haitian cholera strain called deadlier Sat, 11/12/2010 - 06:41 by harsheeb Boston -- The cholera strain devastating Haiti carries a mutation that makes it more intense and could allow it to spread further, U.S. researchers say. Researchers at two Boston hospitals have sequenced the DNA of the cholera bacteria and compared it with strains from Peru, Bangladesh, the Gulf of Mexico region and other areas, NewScientist.com reported Friday. The analysis showed the Haitian bacteria were from a single source and similar to a recent predominant South Asian strain, but a different lineage to cholera in South America or strains occurring naturally in the Gulf of Mexico. Comments Read more