Reuters - Health Report

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Friday, January 26, 2018

Medicaid work rules face tough legal challenges, experts say

(Reuters) - A lawsuit challenging the U.S. federal government's approval of work requirements for Medicaid recipients in Kentucky could rein in the power of the Trump administration to reshape the health insurance program for the poor, legal experts said.

U.S. panel deals blow to Philip Morris tobacco device

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Philip Morris International Inc should not be allowed to claim its iQOS electronic tobacco product is less risky than cigarettes, U.S. health advisers said on Thursday, dealing a blow to the company as it seeks to strengthen its portfolio of alternative nicotine devices.

AstraZeneca's three-in-one inhaler helps COPD patients in trial

(Reuters) - AstraZeneca said an inhaler for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) delivered improved lung function in a late stage trial that could challenge GlaxoSmithKline's new three-in-one inhaler.

Roche chairman sees opportunities for drugmakers under Trump

ZURICH (Reuters) - Fears U.S. President Donald Trump could damage the drugs industry have not been realized and the administration's efforts to accelerate new medicine approvals will bolster the sector, the chairman of Swiss drugmaker Roche said.

Irish poll shows majority support abortion up to 12 weeks

DUBLIN (Reuters) - A majority of Irish voters would support a proposal to allow abortion up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy in a referendum due in the coming months, the first major national poll on the question showed on Friday.

More birth defects in U.S. areas with Zika: U.S. health officials

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The mosquito-born Zika virus may be responsible for an increase in birth defects in U.S. states and territories even in women who had no lab evidence of Zika exposure during pregnancy, U.S. health officials said on Thursday.

Lawmakers in Illinois, New York propose tackle football bans for youth

CHICAGO (Reuters) - An Illinois lawmaker on Thursday proposed a bill that would ban tackle football in youth sports before age 12, one day after a similar bill was reintroduced in New York.

With high genetic obesity risk, healthy diet has biggest effect on weight

(Reuters Health) - People who adopt a healthy diet to lose weight may get better results when they have a greater genetic risk for obesity, a U.S. study suggests.

Iodine deficiency may contribute to women’s fertility problems

(Reuters Health) - Women who are deficient in iodine and trying to get pregnant may have half the chance of conceiving compared to women with healthy iodine levels, according to a recent U.S. study.

Updated stroke guidelines expand window for clot removal, clot-busting drugs

(Reuters Health) - Many people who wake up with stroke symptoms may find doctors reluctant to provide some treatments because guidelines put a time limit on when they can be given effectively, and sleepers don't know when their symptoms appeared.