Health News Briefs http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4683897&ft=1&f=4683897 Read a summary of the latest health news stories from NPR staff. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 10 Aug 2006 11:08:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Health News Briefs http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4683897&ft=1&f=4683897 Statins Lower Risk of Second Stroke High doses of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins after suffering a stroke may prevent a second stroke. Thu, 10 Aug 2006 11:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5626549&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5626549&ft=1&f=4683897 High doses of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins after suffering a stroke may prevent a second stroke.

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]]> FDA Nominee Stalled Over Contraception Controversy Senators say they won't vote on the nomination of a new FDA chief until the agency makes a decision on the morning-after pill. Wed, 02 Aug 2006 13:43:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5601362&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5601362&ft=1&f=4683897 Senators say they won't vote on the nomination of a new FDA chief until the agency makes a decision on the morning-after pill.

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]]> Test Finds Easily Transmitted Bird Flu Hard to Create CDC researchers swapping genes in the H5N1 bird flu virus say it won't be simple for that strain to mutate into a pandemic form. Mon, 31 Jul 2006 18:02:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5596077&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5596077&ft=1&f=4683897 CDC researchers swapping genes in the H5N1 bird flu virus say it won't be simple for that strain to mutate into a pandemic form.

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]]> Small-Dose Bird Flu Vaccine Proves Effective in Trials GlaxoSmithKline says its new vaccine against bird flu protects humans better -- and with far lower doses -- than competing vaccines. Thu, 27 Jul 2006 12:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5594697&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5594697&ft=1&f=4683897 GlaxoSmithKline says its new vaccine against bird flu protects humans better -- and with far lower doses -- than competing vaccines.

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]]> Docs Taking Medicare Patients, Despite Lower Pay Despite a flawed formula that's given physicians small or no increases in pay in recent years, Medicare patients aren't having trouble finding doctors, a GAO study finds. Fri, 21 Jul 2006 09:50:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5567552&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5567552&ft=1&f=4683897 Despite a flawed formula that's given physicians small or no increases in pay in recent years, Medicare patients aren't having trouble finding doctors, a GAO study finds.

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]]> Screening Newborns for Genetic Diseases States are doing a better job of screening newborns for treatable genetic disorders. Tue, 11 Jul 2006 12:46:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5548861&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5548861&ft=1&f=4683897 States are doing a better job of screening newborns for treatable genetic disorders.

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]]> Study Pronounces Face Transplant a Success Doctors say the French woman has regained her ability to chew food and her speech is almost back to normal. Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5536113&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5536113&ft=1&f=4683897 Doctors say the French woman has regained her ability to chew food and her speech is almost back to normal.

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]]> New Warning on Antibiotic The FDA says that Ketek, a popular antibiotic, can cause acute liver failure and is advising physicians to monitor patients on the drug closely. Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:54:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5515317&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5515317&ft=1&f=4683897 The FDA says that Ketek, a popular antibiotic, can cause acute liver failure and is advising physicians to monitor patients on the drug closely.

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]]> Ineffective Vaccine Tied to Boston Measles Outbreak Most cases involve people in their thirties and forties who were vaccinated in the 1960s with an ineffective vaccine. Wed, 21 Jun 2006 11:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5497945&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5497945&ft=1&f=4683897 Most cases involve people in their thirties and forties who were vaccinated in the 1960s with an ineffective vaccine.

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]]> Report Card on Flu Last winter's flu season was milder and less lethal than usual, but it lasted longer. Tue, 13 Jun 2006 13:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5482308&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5482308&ft=1&f=4683897 Last winter's flu season was milder and less lethal than usual, but it lasted longer.

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]]> FDA Cracks Down on Counterfeit Prescriptions By December, all prescription drugs will need a tag so they can be traced from manufacturer to wholesaler to the public. Fri, 09 Jun 2006 10:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5453949&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5453949&ft=1&f=4683897 By December, all prescription drugs will need a tag so they can be traced from manufacturer to wholesaler to the public.

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]]> Government Posts Medical Procedure Price List The federal government is posting what it pays for certain medical procedures on the Internet in an attempt to help consumers. Fri, 02 Jun 2006 12:24:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5427939&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5427939&ft=1&f=4683897 The federal government is posting what it pays for certain medical procedures on the Internet in an attempt to help consumers.

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]]> Group Files Petition to Overturn S.D. Abortion Law Opponents of South Dakota's new law banning nearly all abortions say they've collected more than enough signatures to force the issue to the November ballot. Tue, 30 May 2006 17:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5440531&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5440531&ft=1&f=4683897 Opponents of South Dakota's new law banning nearly all abortions say they've collected more than enough signatures to force the issue to the November ballot.

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]]> Short-Term Use of Vioxx May Increase Heart Risk New data on the painkiller Vioxx shows that all patients who took the drug were at increased risk for cardiovascular events. Thu, 18 May 2006 14:19:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5405944&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5405944&ft=1&f=4683897 New data on the painkiller Vioxx shows that all patients who took the drug were at increased risk for cardiovascular events.

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]]> Bush Rallying Florida Seniors President Bush is in Florida for a last push to get seniors to sign up for Medicare prescription drug coverage. Tue, 09 May 2006 12:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5393459&ft=1&f=4683897 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5393459&ft=1&f=4683897 President Bush is in Florida for a last push to get seniors to sign up for Medicare prescription drug coverage.

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