Merck Agrees To Pay 58M To Settle Multistate Lawsuit That Claimed Advertisements For Vioxx Played Down Health Risks
Merck on Tuesday agreed to a $58 million settlement with 29 states and the District of Columbia to end investigations over allegations that it downplayed cardiovascular risks caused by the COX-2 inhibitor Vioxx in direct-to-consumer advertisements dating back to 1999, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports (Raffaele, AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/21).
Ugandan Group Launches No-Cost HIV Testing Campaign Aimed At Children, Urges Parents To Test Children
The Joint Clinical Research Centre in Kampala, Uganda, recently launched a no-cost HIV testing campaign aimed at children born to parents living with HIV/AIDS and those orphaned by the disease, the New Vision/AllAfrica.com reports. The campaign has tested at least 1, 500 children in the Ugandan divisions of Central, Kawempe, Makindye, Nakawa and Rubaga, according to the New Vision/AllAfrica.
Alcohol Admissions Doubled In England's Hospitals Since Mid 90s
A new report from the NHS shows that alcohol-related admissions to hospitals in England have more than doubled since the mid 1990s from 93, 500 in 1995/6 to 207, 800 in 2006/7. The report, titled "Statistics on Alcohol: England 2008", produced by the NHS Information Centre, also shows that GP prescriptions for alcohol dependency have gone up by 20 per cent in the last four years.
ASHP And APhA Working Together On Medication Reconciliation Issues
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) have been working together to help pharmacists improve the medication reconciliation process. Medication reconciliation is a key interest of both organizations and their members.
The Features Of Chinese Patients With Reflux Esophagitis
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is described as the chronic symptoms and/or tissue damage caused by the reflux of abnormal gastric contents to the esophagus. GERD is a common disease, with associated typical symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation.
A Promising Tumor Gene Therapeutic Target: TMK
This study, performed by a team led by Professor Ya-Yi Hou, is described in a research article published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.Midkine (MK), a heparin-binding growth factor, and its truncated form (tMK) are expressed at higher levels in various malignant tumors.
Attorney General Martha Coakley Files Judgment Against Merck Pharmaceutical For The Company's Deceptive Marketing Of Vioxx
Attorney General Coakley's Office filed a settlement with New Jersey-based drug manufacturer Merck and Company, Inc.(Merck) resolving concerns about the company's deceptive advertising and promotion of the "Cox-2" inhibitor drug Vioxx which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat arthritis.
New Blood Test Reveals Risk For Metabolic Syndrome
University of Minnesota researchers have discovered that people with high oxidation levels of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle that carries cholesterol throughout the blood are much more likely to develop metabolic syndrome - which can lead to a considerably increased risk of developing heart disease.
Salix Presents New Rifaximin Phase IIb Data Demonstrating Significant And Sustained Improvement In Diarrhea-Associated Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SLXP) announced findings from two analyses of the Phase IIb clinical trial of rifaximin, its non-absorbed, gut-selective antibiotic for the treatment of patients with diarrhea-associated irritable bowel syndrome (d-IBS).
A New Change In The Chromosome Of Patients With Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis provides comprehensive information about relative chromosomal losses and gains in malignant tumors in vitro. Using the CGH technique, chromosomal aberrations in both the primary tumor and its metastatic lymph nodes was detected in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).