Reuters - Health Report

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Friday, April 7, 2017

Exclusive: Yum's KFC to curb antibiotic use in the chickens it buys

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Yum Brands Inc's U.S. KFC chain plans to curb the use of antibiotics in its chicken supply, making it the last of the big three chicken restaurants to join the fight against the rise of dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as superbugs.

House panel to consider tweaks to healthcare bill before recess

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. House of Representatives panel will meet on Thursday to consider a change to the stalled Republican healthcare bill before lawmakers leave for a two-week recess, a spokeswoman for the House Rules Committee said.

West Virginia lawmakers send medical marijuana bill to governor

(Reuters) - Lawmakers in West Virginia on Thursday passed a bill that would allow patients to use some forms of cannabis for medical needs, state records show.

Medtronic recalls devices used to manage fluid build-up in the brain

(Reuters) - Medtronic Plc said on Thursday it was recalling devices used to manage build-up of the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain due to increased complaints.

Uruguay gives pharmacies green light to start selling marijuana

MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) - Uruguay's three-year process of legalizing recreational cannabis consumption reached its final stage on Thursday, when the government said it would authorize pharmacies to begin selling the substance as of July.

Brazil finds problems in samples from meat plants being investigated

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's Agriculture Ministry said on Thursday it had found salmonella and staphylococci in eight of the 302 samples of meat-based products collected from the 21 meat processing plants being investigated in a corruption probe.

Cigna reports 12 percent cut in opioid use among U.S. customers

(Reuters) - As the epidemic of opioid abuse continues to take its toll on the U.S. healthcare system, health insurer Cigna Corp on Thursday reported a nearly 12 percent drop prescription opioid use among its customers in the past twelve months.

Movie villains and their scars may haunt those with skin conditions

(Reuters Health) - - The scars and facial features of some of cinema's most terrifying villains may end up haunting people who share those traits, suggests a new study.

Federal appeals court rules Mylan can proceed with generic Angiomax

(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court ruled that Mylan Inc's proposed generic version of the blood thinner Angiomax would not infringe on patents held by The Medicines Company.

Parental smoking linked to genetic changes in kids with cancer

(Reuters Health) - - Parents who smoke may contribute to genetic changes in their kids that are associated with the most common type of childhood cancer, a recent study suggests.