Bhinneka News Online: Reuters Health Report: January 3, 2018

Wednesday, 3 January 2018

Reuters Health Report: January 3, 2018

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Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Drugmakers raise 2018 U.S. prices, stick to self-imposed limits

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Drugmakers opened the new year by raising U.S. prices on dozens of medicines, but early data showed the increases generally remained within a 10 percent self-imposed limit in response to a backlash from consumers and politicians.

Majority of French now favor allowing surrogate motherhood: poll

PARIS (Reuters) - A majority of French people would favor allowing surrogate motherhood, though primarily only for medical reasons, a poll showed on Wednesday, highlighting a shift in attitudes as France prepares to review laws relating to assisted reproduction.

Novartis breast cancer therapy gets FDA breakthrough designation

ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis's Kisqali (ribociclib) has won U.S. Food and Drug Administration breakthrough therapy designation for treating some breast cancer patients, the Swiss drugmaker said on Wednesday.

Atrial fibrillation more deadly in rural U.S. hospitals

(Reuters Health) - - Among U.S. patients hospitalized for the common heart rhythm disorder known as atrial fibrillation, those in rural areas may be more likely to die than their urban counterparts, a new study suggests.

FDA issues recall on J&J heart device

(Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday issued a recall of a heart device made by a unit of Johnson & Johnson due to a faulty valve.

Race may matter in hospital care for preemies

(Reuters Health) - Among the tiniest preemies, black and Hispanic infants are more likely than white babies to be born at hospitals with worse death and complication rates, a study in New York City suggests.

New drug approvals hit 21-year high in 2017

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. drug approvals hit a 21-year high in 2017, with 46 novel medicines winning a green light -- more than double the previous year -- while the figure also rose in the European Union.

Traumatic events increase headaches and migraines

(Reuters Health) - - Teens exposed to traumatic or terror events may have a higher risk for weekly and daily migraines, according to a study of adolescents who survived a terror attack in Norway.

Starting new COPD inhaler tied to heart attack risk

(Reuters Health) - People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who use long-acting inhaled bronchodilators may have an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes right after they start taking these medicines, a Taiwanese study suggests.

Immune cells linked to very early spread of breast cancer

(Reuters Health) - Normal immune cells that live near milk ducts in healthy breast tissue may play a key role in helping early breast cancer cells leave the breast for other parts of the body, researchers say.