Silver Spring, Maryland–(ENEWSPF)–April 8, 2011.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today cleared a test called the Cepheid Xpert C. difficile/Epi assay that is designed to rapidly detect the toxin B gene associated with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), a cause of diarrhea that can lead to colitis, other serious intestinal[Read More…]

Toronto, Ontario–(ENEWSPF)–April 8, 2011.  Schizophrenic patients with a history of cannabis use demonstrate “superior neurocognitive performance” compared to non-users, according to the findings of a meta-analysis to be published in the journal Schizophrenia Research. Investigators at the University of Toronto, Institute of Medical Sciences, performed a meta-analysis to determine the[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–April 7, 2011.  As part of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers from bogus health claims, the Federal Trade Commission has reached a settlement requiring Oreck Corporation to stop making allegedly false and unproven claims that two of its appliances can reduce the risk of flu and other illnesses, and[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–April 7, 2011.  The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, Anthony D. Romero, will join members of Congress, civil rights leaders and celebrities today in addressing the Stand Up for Women’s Health rally at the U.S. Capitol. Romero will also be honored this evening with Planned Parenthood Federation[Read More…]

Atlanta, GA–(ENEWSPF)–April 7, 2011.  Millions of Americans take antimicrobial drugs each year to fight illness, trusting they will work. However, the bacteria, viruses and other pathogens are fighting back. Within the past couple of years alone, new drug-resistant patterns have emerged and resistance has increased – a trend that demands[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–April 7, 2011.  Today U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the release of $311 million to states to help low-income homeowners and renters meet home energy costs under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The continuing resolution currently in place directs HHS to[Read More…]

Silver Spring, Maryland–(ENEWSPF)–April 7, 2011.  On April 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Horizant Extended Release Tablets (gabapentin enacarbil), a once-daily treatment for moderate-to-severe restless legs syndrome (RLS). RLS is a disorder that causes a strong urge to move the legs. This urge often occurs with unpleasant feelings in[Read More…]

Silver Spring, Maryland–(ENEWSPF)–April 6, 2011.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved vandetanib to treat adult patients with late-stage (metastatic) medullary thyroid cancer who are ineligible for surgery and who have disease that is growing or causing symptoms. Thyroid cancer is a cancerous growth of the thyroid gland, which[Read More…]

  Silver Spring, Maryland—(ENEWSPF)—April 6, 2011.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new device that provides neurointerventional surgeons with another tool to treat brain aneurysms without performing open surgery. An aneurysm is a weak, enlarged area in an artery (blood vessel). Over time, the force of normal[Read More…]

Bethesda, Maryland–(ENEWSPF)–April 6, 2011.  An analysis of national prescribing patterns shows that more than half of patients who received an opioid prescription in 2009 had filled another opioid prescription within the previous 30 days. This report also suggested potential opportunities for intervention aimed at reducing abuse of prescription opioids. Researchers[Read More…]