Medicare drug plans hike costs; Free prescription drug samples miss getting into the hands of lower-income Americans

Two different stories originating from two very different media sources highlight the ever spiraling cost of prescription drugs. The first story from the American Journal of Public Health demonstrates that free prescription drug samples end up in the hands of wealthy, insured patients rather than the poor and underinsured. The second story from Consumer's Union reports that 75 percent of Medicare drug plans hiked the cost of 5 commonly prescribed drugs between $350-$1000 in the 31 days between December and January of this year. more  

Study of sugars on cell surface identifies key factor in flu infection

Scientists have identified a key factor that determines the ability of influenza viruses to infect cells of the human upper respiratory tract — a necessary step for sustaining spread between people. The research, described in the January 6 online edition of Nature Biotechnology and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), offers new insights into how the H5N1 avian flu virus currently circulating in birds would have to change in order to gain a foothold in human populations. more

Researchers discover new biomarker for predicting liver cancer spread and survival

New research has shown that a unique pattern of microRNAs, small RNA molecules that regulate gene activity, can accurately predict whether liver cancer will spread and whether liver cancer patients will have shorter or longer survival, even patients with early stage disease. The study, which appeared online January 7, 2008 in Hepatology, was conducted by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and colleagues at Ohio State University, Columbus, and the Liver Cancer Institute in Shanghai, China. more  

Top malaria experts publish groundbreaking research to aid malaria eradication efforts

Leading research scientists, physicians, and public health specialists from around the world have published new insights into the international burden of malaria and how the global community can best combat the disease, it was announced today by malaria experts at the Fogarty International Center, part of the National Institutes of Health. more

Researchers uncover an error in immature brain cells in lab and animal studies that may promote the growth of some brain tumors  

In experiments done in lab and animal studies, a breakdown in proper cell development has been shown to cause brain-specific stem cells to become starter seeds for aggressive brain tumors called glioblastoma multiforme, according to research from a team of researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke (NINDS), parts of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). more

Scientists can predict psychotic illness in up to 80 percent of high-risk youth  

Youth who are going to develop psychosis can be identified before their illness becomes full-blown 35 percent of the time if they meet widely accepted criteria for risk, but that figure rises to 65 to 80 percent if they have certain combinations of risk factors, the largest study of its kind has shown. Knowing what these combinations are can help scientists predict who is likely to develop the illnesses within two to three years with the same accuracy that other kinds of risk factors can predict major medical diseases, such as diabetes. more

Strategies to improve communication between pharmacy staff and patients : Training program for pharmacy staff - a curriculum guide

This training program is designed to introduce pharmacists to the problem of low health literacy in patient populations and to identify the implications of this problem for the delivery of health care services. The program also explains techniques that pharmacy staff members can use to improve communication with patients who may have limited health literacy skills. more

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