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VIDEO: Rare cancer linked to breast implant in thousands of women

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The French company PIP is accused of using industrial grade silicone, rather than medical grade material, in its breast implants, and now the implants have been linked to a rare form of cancer.
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Government urges caution as scientists release study on gene mutations in bird flu virus

Scientists in Wisconsin and the Netherlands have successfully mutated the bird flu virus so that it can more easily spread among humans. The idea isn't bioterror, but rather to give us more information to use in the event of a natural or inflicted pandemic flu....
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VIDEO: Canadian scientists get go-ahead for HIV vaccine testing

Canadian scientists are beaming as the country's first attempt at an HIV vaccine moves out of the lab and into early clinical trials. But it will be years before they know if the vaccine will be effective....
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Mysterious kidney disease killing thousands of laborers in Central America

In Central America's sugarcane field, more and more workers are coming down with a disease that shuts down their kidneys. Researchers are struggling for a cause. Chemicals on the fields? Heat? Overwork? No one knows, but it's a leading cause of death for men in El Salvador and Nicaragua....
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FDA, at the behest of HHS, denies permission to sell Plan B in front of the counter

The FDA had been making plans to allow TEVA Pharmaceuticals to sell its Plan B contraceptive in front of the pharmacy counter to women of any age. But Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius intervened at the last minute to prevent it....
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Research discovers link between industrial cleaning chemicals, Parkinson's

New research out of California indicates there may be a link between two powerful chemicals, trichloroethylene, or TCE, and PERC, or perchloroethylene. The research came from looking at 99 sets of twins, one with Parkinson's and one without....
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50 years later, remembering the horrors brought on by thalidomide

Drug makers 50 years ago finally removed the drug thalidomide from the market as evidence mounted that it caused terrible birth defects, especially in Europe. But for an alert, determined FDA employee, it could have been as bad or worse in the United States....
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Governors ask feds to reclassify marijuana as medicine; government balks

Two governors want the federal government to "down-schedule" marijuana as a drug with approved medical uses. But the Health and Human Services administration is resisting. Opponents of down-scheduling say there are marijuana-based medications already on the market that are safe and effective....
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Patent expires on blockbuster Lipitor drug; generics on the way

After 20 years being the only game in town, Pfizer, the manufacturer of Lipitor, is about to get some competition in the space for treating those with chronic high cholesterol. The patent expired Wednesday and one generic drug is ready to hit the market. Others should arrive in six months....
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Public gets mixed messages regarding efficacy of Avastin for treating breast cancer

Late last week, the FDA ruled that Avastin could no longer be marketed as treatment for breast cancer. But Medicare and virtually all private insurance providers will continue to pay for just that use of the drug. It's a mixed message that has raised some eyebrows....
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