A team led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists has developed a more human-like mouse model of cancer they say will aid the search for cancer-causing genes and improve the predictive value of laboratory drug testing.Ronald A. DePinho, MD, of Dana-Farber has created mice that form tumors that are more genetically complex and unstable — and therefore a better stand-in for human cancers — than those of conventional genetically engineered mouse models of cancer. [click link for full article]

Many patients with chronic hepatitis B are deficient in their understanding of the lifelong disease and often do not comply with the drug regimens necessary to control it, according to a new UCLA survey that suggests improved patient involvement in disease management decisions could be the key to fixing this problem.The national survey - funded by Idenix Pharmaceuticals and Novartis Pharma AG and presented during the annual Digestive Diseases Week conference in Washington, D.C. [click link for full article]

* Alcoholics tend to have poorer neurocognitive functioning, including decision-making capabilities. * A new study has found that binge drinking, common among college students, is associated with impaired decision making. * The long-term neurocognitive effects of binge drinking during young adulthood are unclear. Researchers know that alcoholics tend to have poorer neurocognitive functioning, including decision making, than non-alcoholics do. [click link for full article]

Urticaria, commonly known as hives, is an itchy skin rash that affects 20% of people. Hives are generally not dangerous by themselves, but can be a sign of a serious…

Researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) have found that persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), who also have alcohol problems, were negatively affected by co-infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). These findings appear in the June issue of Alcoholism: Clinical Experimental Research. [click link for full article]

In a six-week study in adolescents (13-17 years old) with schizophrenia, the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) atypical antipsychotic aripiprazole demonstrated significant improvement compared to placebo on the primary efficacy endpoint, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total Score. [click link for full article]

Pope Benedict XVI today received in private audience Ms. Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). “It is a great honour to express in person my gratitude to His Holiness for his invaluable support in favour of the world’s hungry,” said Sheeran, who has been at the helm of the world’s largest humanitarian organisation since April. [click link for full article]

Exams and waiting for exam results can bring on a unique kind of stress - for students and parents or guardians Samaritans is on hand to offer 24 hour completely confidential emotional support. Samaritans volunteers don’t give advice, they listen without judging. To combat exam stress Samaritans has some practical tips on information pages to be found at www.samaritans.org/talk/exams/results.shtm. [click link for full article]

AMA (Australian Medical Association) President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, today announced the winners (and losers) in the 2007 AMA/Australian Council on Smoking and Health (ACOSH) National Tobacco Scoreboard. The Scoreboard allocates points to each State and Territory over a number of categories, including legislation, to track how effective each Government has been in combating smoking over the last 12 months. [click link for full article]

The Joint Commission, in partnership with the American Lung Association, is developing a Disease-Specific Care certification program for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease management in an outpatient setting. Draft requirements for this certification are now available for review. If you are interested, we would appreciate your comments on the draft requirements. [click link for full article]