If you are in a close relationship which has negative aspects, such as conflict, you may well have a raised risk of heart disease, compared to somebody whose close relationship has more positive aspects, says an article in Archives of Internal Medicine (JAMA/Archives), October 8th issue. The authors explain “An extensive body of research shows that social relations are associated with better health and reduced risks of cardiovascular disease. [click link for full article]

Summaries of several recent editorials and opinion pieces that address the recent presidential veto of legislation to reauthorize and expand SCHIP, as well as related issues, appear below. Editorials [click link for full article]

“The Faces of Medicaid II: Recognizing the Care Needs of People With Multiple Chronic Conditions” Center for Health Care Strategies: The study examines the patterns and prevalence of multiple chronic diseases among Medicaid beneficiaries. [click link for full article]

CMS officials on Thursday announced plans to advance a “means testing” proposal that would require higher-income Medicare beneficiaries to pay higher premiums and deductibles under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, the Washington Post reports. [click link for full article]

Gross human rights violations, including forced displacement, forced labor, attacks by soldiers on civilians, injury from landmines and destruction or theft of food supplies, have been widespread in eastern Burma (also known as Myanmar), with over half of households in displaced areas reporting incidents in the 12 months prior to a 2004 survey. [click link for full article]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday said congressional Democratic leaders will not compromise with President Bush on SCHIP, after Bush on Wednesday vetoed legislation that would have reauthorized and expanded the program, the AP/St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. [click link for full article]

X Factor’s Simon Cowell, shows his soft side this month by encouraging family, friends and colleagues of breast cancer sufferers to support the charity Against Breast Cancer, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. Simon is backing Against Breast Cancer whose ‘1 in 9′ Campaign encourages people to do away with traditional greeting cards and replace them with Charity Greetings that help raise money to fight breast cancer. [click link for full article]

Peter Cummings, John R. Hall Professor of Chemical Engineering at Vanderbilt, will receive the 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Nanoscale Science and Engineering Forum Award at the institute’s annual meeting in November.The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the advancement of nanoscale science and engineering in the field of chemical engineering through scholarship, education or service. [click link for full article]

The bacteria that cause ulcers and stomach cancer also appear to protect children from asthma, suggests research being presented at the 45th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Helicobacter pylori (H. [click link for full article]

For the more than 50 million Americans who experience the phantom sounds of tinnitus — ringing in the ears that can range from annoying to debilitating — certain well-trained rats may be their best hope for finding relief.Researchers at the University at Buffalo have studied the condition for more than 10 years and have developed these animal models, which can “tell” the researchers if they are experiencing tinnitus.These scientists now have received a $2. [click link for full article]