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AIDS science at 30: 'Cure' now part of lexicon

Big names in medicine are set to give an upbeat assessment of the war on AIDS on Tuesday, 30 years after French researchers identified the virus that causes the disease. Scientists will pay tribute to the astonishing success of AIDS drugs and highlight steps being taken towards a cure -- a goal once deemed all but out of reach. Entitled "Imagine the Future," the three-day conference builds on the 30th anniversary on Monday of the isolation of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

UCLA program trains LatAm doctors to serve Hispanics

Los Angeles, May 20 (EFE).- A dozen doctors who graduated in Latin America now serve their residencies in American hospitals thanks to UCLA's International Medical Graduate program. "The IMG has given me one of the greatest opportunities of my life. Without this program I would never have been able to graduate from a medical school in the United States," Marcos Uribe, who in 2007 graduated from Mexico's Autonomous University of Guadalajara School of Medicine, told Efe.

Pfizer halts study of lymphoma drug unlikely to help survival

(Reuters) - Pfizer Inc, which has been on a hot streak with three recent approvals of cancer drugs, stumbled on Monday, saying it was halting a late-stage trial of a drug for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma after independent monitors found it was not likely to improve survival. Pfizer said it would continue to study the experimental drug, inotuzumab ozogamicin, in other hematologic cancers.

Health sites too complex, full of cliches: study

By Ivan Oransky NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The importance of health literacy hit home for Lisa Gualtieri when a Cambodian refugee diagnosed with cancer asked her to act as a patient advocate.

Pricey radiation no better post prostatectomy: study

By Andrew M. Seaman NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men who get an older and less costly form of radiation after their cancerous prostates are removed fare just as well as men who get a new and expensive type of radiation, according to a new study. "What we demonstrate is that both (therapies) are very safe and effective after prostatectomy, and patients should feel very confident receiving either technology," said Dr. Ronald Chen, the study's senior author from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Special K churning out new products as part of shift into a weight management tool

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Special K was once just a line of cereals. Today, it's a diet food empire. The brand first hit shelves in 1955 as a no-frills breakfast alternative but now caters to dieters who see its airy chips and pastries as a way to beat cravings and lose weight. And this summer, Kellogg Co. is building on its biggest moneymaker with a "hot cereal" called Special K Nourish that's made with quinoa and other grains.

UK tries out new model for gene testing in cancer patients

By Kate Kelland LONDON (Reuters) - Britain launched a research program on Monday that should eventually allow all cancer patients to have access to the kind of genetic analysis that led Hollywood star Angelina Jolie to decide to undergo a double mastectomy. The project, involving the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London, the U.S. gene sequencing firm Illumina, geneticists and cancer doctors, aims to find a way to allow more cancer genes be tested in more people.

Athetics: Pistorius rules out running this year

Murder-accused South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius will not race this season, his agent said Monday, weeks before the Paralympian's return to court. The decision means Pistorius will miss out on the August 10-18 World Athletics Championships in Moscow. "He's decided he's not going onto the track again and have a go at any competitions or anything for the rest of this year," Peet van Zyl told AFP. Pistorius had to focus on the upcoming court case and was not physically and mentally ready to compete at top level, the agent said.

FDA staff says Merck's sleep drug effective, questions dosage

By Toni Clarke WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Merck & Co's experimental insomnia drug suvorexant appears generally effective, according to reviewers at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but they questioned the company's proposed dosing levels. The reviewers posted their comments on the FDA's website on Monday, two days ahead of a meeting of outside medical experts which will advise the agency on whether or not it should approve the drug. Merck's shares fell 1.1 percent to $45.49 in midday trading.

Peregrine Pharma agrees with FDA on lung cancer trial design

(Reuters) - Peregrine Pharmaceuticals said it reached an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the design of a late-stage trial for its experimental lung cancer drug. The late-stage trial will compare a combination of chemotherapy and the drug, bavituximab, with chemotherapy alone. The main goal of the trial would be to show an improvement in overall survival of patients. Peregrine shares were up 19 percent at $1.83 in early trade on Monday on the Nasdaq.
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