Reuters - Health Report

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Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Massive California verdict expands J&J's talc battlefield

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A massive California verdict in a lawsuit alleging Johnson & Johnson's talc-based products cause cancer has opened a new front in the litigation, upending the company's hopes that the cases were only gaining traction in Missouri, legal experts said.

After solar eclipse, Americans' eyes seem mostly none the worse

(Reuters) - Eye doctors who had braced themselves for at least a few patients after a dazzling solar eclipse swept the United States cautiously exhaled on Tuesday, with some hospitals reporting zero cases of damaged vision so far.

Coca-Cola, PespiCo and others agree to cap sugar in drinks in Singapore

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Seven major drinks companies including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo will limit the sugar content of drinks they sell in Singapore, as part of the city-state's campaign to fight diabetes.

Philip Morris International CEO cheers U.S. FDA tobacco proposal

(Reuters) - The chief executive of Philip Morris International said he was "extremely encouraged" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent proposal to lower nicotine levels in cigarettes and nudge smokers toward less harmful alternatives such as e-cigarettes.

India grants Pfizer patent on pneumonia vaccine in blow to aid group

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India has granted Pfizer Inc a patent for its powerful pneumonia vaccine Prevenar 13, in a blow to some health groups that said this would put the treatment out of reach of thousands in poorer nations.

Using unproven methods to tackle cancer could be deadly

(Reuters Health) - People who decide to tackle their cancer using only unconventional methods are likely to die sooner than patients who opt for conventional treatments, according to a new study.

Changing childcare settings can affect sleep

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - - Inconsistent childcare arrangements can affect toddlers’ sleep at night, a new study suggests.

Life expectancy tied to voting choices in last U.S. presidential election

(Reuters Health) - Voters in counties where life expectancy has stagnated and declined in recent years were more likely to abandon the Democratic Party to help elect U.S. President Donald Trump, a new study suggests.

Mindful coffee consumption may help reduce sugar intake

(Reuters Health) - People who’d like to reduce their daily calories without restrictive dieting should consider taking their coffee with little or no sugar - and savoring the beverage might help in that regard, researchers suggest.

AstraZeneca ups investment in messenger RNA drugs with Ethris deal

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - AstraZeneca has stepped up its investment in messenger RNA drugs, a promising approach in genetic therapy, by spending more than 25 million euros ($29 million) on a research alliance with German biotech start-up Ethris.