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May 18 | News
The
U.S. government has been pushing doctors to e-prescribe, in part
because it can be safer for patients. Now, more than a third of the
nation's prescriptions now are electronic, and starting this year,
holdouts will start to see cuts in their Medicare payments.
May 11 | News
Advisers
to government health regulators late Thursday recommended that they
approve sales of what would be the first new prescription weight-loss
drug in the U.S. in more than a decade, despite concerns over cardiac
risks.
May 9 | News
A
pill that has long been used to treat HIV has moved one step closer to
becoming the first drug approved to prevent healthy people from becoming
infected with the virus that causes AIDS. The Food and Drug
Administration said Tuesday that Gilead Sciences' Truvada appears to be
safe and effective for HIV prevention.
May 3 | News
Four
months ago the U.S. government sought to block publication of two
studies about how scientists created an easily spread form of bird flu.
Now a revised version of one paper is seeing the light of day with the
government's blessing. The second paper, which is more controversial
because it involves what appears to be a more dangerous virus, is
expected to be published later.
Apr 30 | News
Engineers
are developing new and innovative ways of coating medical materials
with nano-sized particles of silver, an element that has long been known
for its antimicrobial properties. However, a recent paper from the
University of Notre Dame highlights the fact that a vast majority of
bacteria are actually neutral, or even beneficial. Overuse of nanosilver
might harm their useful functions in daily life, the paper reports.
Apr 22 | News
The
U.S. government has issued its initial draft guidelines on the use of
nanotechnology, particularly nanoparticles, in food and cosmetic
products. These recommendations, intended to help guarantee consumer
safety within these two industries, do not extend to the other products
that fall under Food and Drug Administration oversights, such as drugs
and medical devices.
Apr 11 | News
Antibiotics
are mixed with animal feed to help livestock, pigs and chickens put on
weight and stay healthy in crowded barns. Scientists have warned that
this routine use leads to the growth of antibiotic-resistant germs that
can be passed to humans. Now the Food and Drug Administration is
weighing in on the matter, calling on drug companies to help limit the
use antibiotics.
Apr 3 | News
Despite
concern from some scientists who believe exposure to BPA can harm the
reproductive and nervous systems of humans, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration has turned down a petition from environmentalists that
would have banned the plastic-hardening chemical bisphenol-A from all
food and drink packaging, including plastic bottles and canned food.
Apr 2 | News
Today,
scientists map entire genomes mostly for research, but as genome
mapping gets faster and cheaper, scientists and consumers have wondered
about possible broader use: Would finding all the glitches hidden in
your DNA predict which diseases you'll face decades later?
Unfortunately, it’s not that simple, say experts.
Apr 2 | News
On
Friday, the U.S. government's biosecurity advisers said they support
publishing research studies showing how scientists made new
easy-to-spread forms of bird flu because the studies, now revised, don't
reveal details bioterrorists could use. The announcement could end
debate sparked by the government’s request last December that scientists
refrain from publishing all the details of their work.
