Cervarix(R), the cervical cancer vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline, continues to show high levels of protection for up to 6.4 years, the latest data shows.1 This period is the longest duration of protection reported so far for a cervical cancer vaccine. The vaccine protects against strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) - 16 and 18 - which between them account for 70% of cervical cancer.

Don’t smoke around your kids, it damages their health - That’s the message that is buzzing around the media since Dr Steve Ryan, medical director of the UK’s Royal Liverpool Alder Hey Hospital for Children said that one third of the children treated at the hospital for respiratory problems such as chest infections and asthma got ill because their parents smoked when they were around.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday by voice vote approved a bill (S 2304) that would reauthorize through 2013 the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction, a grant program established in 2004 to improve mental health care for prison inmates, CQ Today reports.

A study led by a team of scientists in Scotland suggests that genes may play a part in increasing one’s risk of developing gout, a painful condition that affects the joints.The study is published in the 9 March online issue of Nature Genetics and is the work of researchers based at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, and colleagues from other research centres in the UK and also in Croatia and Germany.

Several newspapers recently published articles examining how proposed Medicaid rule changes announced by the Bush administration could affect states. Summaries of the articles appear below:Colorado: Patricia Gabow, CEO of the safety-net hospital

Democratic and Republican Senate Finance Committee members who also serve as conferees on the farm bill have agreed on a $12 billion package of offsets to offer House conferees and the Bush administration that does not include a provision to reduce Medicare coverage for certain medical equipment, according to an individual familiar with the situation, CongressDaily reports.

Biocompatibles is pleased to announce approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of a Phase II trial for the evaluation of the Drug-Eluting Bead delivering irinotecan - (DEBIRI), in patients with hepatic colo-rectal metastases.

The World Heart Federation has chosen International Women’s Day on March 8th to launch the first international heart health advocacy drive for women as part of its Go Red for Women campaign.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA), a world-recognized nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy, has reached an agreement with Conference Archives, Inc. (CAI) to deliver the ADA’s event knowledge to a global audience through Ekatius”.

The decision to work with a therapist is never straightforward, but there are times in life when we just need that extra emotional support. While we may have loved ones who will help us through rough times, it is often a good idea to seek the less biased support of a professional when dealing with life’s difficult emotional challenges. Many people who go into therapy have good experiences.