U.S. court rejects Pfizer’s appeal on drug test in Nigeria

AN appeal by Pfizer at the United States (U.S.) Supreme Court challenging the decision of a U.S. Court of Appeal that it can be sued for illegally testing an antibiotic drug, Trovan, in Nigeria in 1996 failed yesterday.

New Malaria Infection Discovery Boosts Vaccine Hope

Discovery of a key red cell molecule used by the malaria parasite gives renewed hope for an effective vaccine in the future, according to an international team of researchers.

Cervical Pap Smear Tests Should Start at Age 21

Young women should have their first Pap test no sooner than age 21, regardless of when they become sexually active, say new guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Earlier screening for cervical cancer may lead to unnecessary and possibly harmful treatments for an increasingly rare cancer, according to ACOG, the leading U.S. professional organization for obstetricians and gynecologists.

Soccer Practice May Significantly Reduce Blood Pressure in Inactive People

New research on inactive people with high blood pressure shows that just three months of soccer practice twice a week causes a significant fall in blood pressure, resting pulse rate and percentage of body fat, and is more effective than the doctor's usual advice on healthy diet and exercise.

Tiny chip could diagnose disease

Researchers have demonstrated a tiny chip based on silicon that could be used to diagnose dozens of diseases.

Q&A: Obstructive Speep Apnea

Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder in which pauses in breathing or periods of shallow breathing during sleep occur more often than normal. Each pause can last for a few seconds to a few minutes and they happen many times a night.

Drug for Sexual Desire Disorder Opposed by Panel

A federal advisory panel on Friday unanimously voted against recommending approving a drug to treat female sexual desire disorder, but it encouraged the company to continue its research.

Q&A: Analysis of Pleural Effusion

A pleural effusion is excess fluid that accumulates in the pleural cavity, the fluid-filled space that surrounds the lungs. This excess fluid can impair breathing by limiting the expansion of the lungs.

Vaccines: Benefits and Risks of Childhood Vaccination

Children generally do not have their immunity developed to its full potential, so vaccines are a safe and effective way to ensure their immunity against a number of potentially serious diseases.

Male Menopause: How to Recognise it

Decreased Sex Drive and Fatigue Are Among Symptoms of Late-Onset Hypogonadism.
European researchers have identified physical and psychological symptoms that along with a decreased testosterone level can help diagnose “male menopause.” The article below brings up salient issues from that article.

FDA Considers Approval for Controversial 'Female Viagra'

June 17, 2010—A German drug company is ready to market a pill for premenopausal women who are distressed by low sexual desire, and is prepared to fight for Food and Drug Administration approval at a hearing Friday.

Q&A: Cytotoxic Medications and Cancer

Cytogenetics is the study of the structure and function of chromosomes in relation to phenotypic expression. Chromosomal abnormalities underlie the development of a wide variety of diseases and disorders ranging from Down syndrome to cancer, and are of widespread interest in both basic and clinical research.

Q&A: Intracranial Haematomas

An intracranial hematoma is a collection of blood within the skull. It's most commonly caused by the rupture of a blood vessel within the brain or from trauma such as a car accident or fall. The blood collection can be within the brain tissue or underneath the skull, pressing on the brain.

Fingolimod, First Pill for Multiple Sclerosis Wins Advisory Panel Approval

First Oral Pill to be Approved for Multiple Sclerosis Soon.
This is nothing short of great news within the medical community as the first oral pill designed to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) is on its way to final approval by the United States FDA.

Bronchial Asthma and Cardiac Asthma

The asthma referred to in bronchial asthma and in cardiac asthma are completely different conditions and present quite differently; but however confuse a lot of folks.

Q&A: Mechanism of Action of Tetracycline

Effective antimicrobials are required for preventive and curative measures, protecting patients from potentially fatal diseases, and ensuring that complex procedures can be provided at low risk of infection.

Q&A: Relative Risk and Relative Risk Reduction

In epidemiology, the relative risk reduction (RRR) or efficacy is the relative decrease in the risk of an adverse event in the exposed group compared to an unexposed group.

Q&A: Carotid Sinus Massage

Carotid sinus massage, or simply carotid massage, is a simple bedside manoeuvre that helps to clarify the type and sometimes also the mechanism of different heart rhythm disturbances. Only a competent doctor should do this as there are inherent risks which need to be borne in mind.

Q&A: Q Fever Infections in Humans

Q fever, also called rickettsial pneumonia or Balkan grippe, is an acute, self-limited, systemic disease caused by the rickettsia Coxiella burnetii. Q fever causes illness and sometimes abortion in animals, and it can lead to a pneumonia-like illness in humans. It spreads rapidly in cows, sheep, and goats, and in humans it tends to occur in localized outbreaks.

Q&A: Hospital-acquired Pneumonia (Nosocomial Pneumonia)

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) or nosocomial pneumonia refers to any pneumonia contracted by a patient in a hospital at least 48–72 hours after being admitted. It is thus distinguished from community-acquired pneumonia. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection, rather than a virus.