Military experiment seeks clues to predict which troops might suffer post-traumatic stress

Military experiment seeks to predict PTSD

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Two days before shipping off to war, Marine Pfc. Jesse Sheets sat inside a trailer in the Mojave Desert, his gaze fixed on a computer that flashed a rhythmic pulse of contrasting images.

Vivus shares rise as erectable dysfunction drug avanafil meets late-stage study goal

Vivus shares rise on positive avanafil study data

Merck: FDA won’t accept its application for combo cholesterol pill including Pfizer’s Lipitor

FDA won’t accept Merck’s application for new drug

Controversy over flu vaccine as Dutch scientists say kids should skip it, but others disagree

Dutch scientists: Kids should skip flu vaccine

Health experts reject Dutch scientists’ suggestion that kids should skip seasonal flu shot

Health experts: Kids should get seasonal flu shot

Florida senator demands that insurance companies not cancel cancer patients in clinical trials

Fla. sen.: Cancer patients in trials need coverage

NFL’s Roger Goodell denies link between head injuries and brain diseases before Congress

Goodell denies head injury-brain disease link

Before Congress, NFL’s Goodell won’t acknowledge link between head injuries, brain diseases

Goodell defends NFL’s handling of head injuries

Medicare reverses decision that pushed doctors to use more expensive eye drug

Medicare reverses billing change on Genentech drug

Health experts say Russia’s abstinence approach no match for fast-growing AIDS epidemic

AIDS experts say Russia needs new HIV strategy

Conyers seeks independent review of football head injuries, calls it ‘life and death’ issue

Conyers wants review of football head injury data

NFL commissioner: League to offer medical follow-up to ex-players who reported mental problems

NFL to aid ex-players who reported mental problems

Goodell: NFL will offer free follow-up medical work to players who self-reported dementia

Goodell: NFL to offer free medical follow-up work

As Mexico secures this season’s swine flu shots, scientists search for a homegrown vaccine

MEXICO CITY — Grappling with low supplies of swine flu vaccines, President Felipe Calderon persuaded drug makers this week to sell him 30 million doses, while 1,000 Mexicans lined up for an experimental vaccine they hope can speed up supplies.

6 months after swine flu virus identified: No doomsday, but this story isn’t over yet

ATLANTA — It was six months ago that scientists discovered an ominous new flu virus, touching off fears of a catastrophic global outbreak that could cause people to drop dead in the streets. Doomsday, of course, never came to pass.

Many elderly with dementia and kidney failure in nursing homes get futile care, studies show

LOS ANGELES — A surprising number of frail, elderly Americans in nursing homes are suffering from futile care at the end of their lives, two new federally funded studies reveal.

Senator says Medicare payment switch will push doctors to more expensive Genentech eye drug

WASHINGTON — A Democratic senator says a shift in Medicare policy would encourage doctors to use an eye drug that costs thousands of dollars, over a similar treatment that costs just $50.

Study: Less-invasive prostate surgery may mean higher risk of incontinence, sexual problems

CHICAGO — A new study suggests less-invasive keyhole surgery for prostate cancer may mean a higher risk for lasting incontinence and impotence when compared with traditional surgery.

Former Marine becomes face of new battle over toxins on Puerto Rico’s Vieques island

ISABELA, Puerto Rico — The headaches began just after Hermogenes Marrero arrived on Vieques, the small Puerto Rican island where the young U.S. Marine guarded stores of Cold War-era chemical weapons.

Nations no longer counting pandemic flu cases; last US estimate in July, stuck at 1 million

ATLANTA — U.S. health officials have lost track of how many illnesses and deaths have been caused by the first global flu epidemic in 40 years.

Fighting cocaine addiction with vaccine-like shots shows promise in government-funded research

CHICAGO — Vaccine-like shots to keep cocaine abusers from getting high also helped them fight their addiction in the first successful rigorous study of this approach to treating illicit drug use.

1 in 100 US children has Autism : Government Study

Government finds higher autism figure: 1 in 100

Allergan suing US regulators, saying off-label marketing policy violates free-speech rights

NEW YORK — Allergan Inc., the maker of the Botox wrinkle treatment, challenged the government’s ban on off-label drug marketing to doctors, saying it violates the company’s right to freedom of speech.

Catalyst says it sees evidence its drug vigabatrin is effective despite failures; study surges

NEW YORK — Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners Inc. says it will continue developing an anti-addiction drug that has failed in two clinical trials, as it believes the treatment is safe and effective.

CDC study: Drug deaths surpass traffic fatalities in 16 states

ATLANTA — In 16 states and counting, drugs now kill more people than auto accidents do, the government said Wednesday.

Panel: Overzealous lab rules may stifle research efforts to protect against biological threats

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — A panel of university and private-sector scientists urged Congress on Wednesday not to overregulate laboratories that handle the world’s deadliest pathogens, saying it could have a chilling effect on research of biological threats.

CDC: Drug deaths surpassing traffic fatalities in more states; states affected double to 16

ATLANTA — Drug-related deaths outnumber those from motor vehicle accidents in a growing number of states, according to new government data that highlight a shift in the top cause of deaths after disease and illness.

Obama says $5B in stimulus grants from NIH will help research cures for cancer, diseases

BETHESDA, Md. — Calling scientific research a job-creating engine, President Barack Obama heralded $5 billion in new government grants Wednesday to fight cancer, autism and heart disease while boosting the economy.

Study says China earthquake a once in 4,000 years event that ruptured multiple faults

BEIJING — China’s devastating earthquake last year that left some 90,000 people dead or missing was caused by a geological event that occurs about once every 4,000 years, a study led by Chinese researchers said Sunday.