Reuters - Health Report

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Friday, June 16, 2017

U.S. youth tobacco use in 2016 fell by largest amount in 6 years

(Reuters) - Youth tobacco use in the United States fell to historic lows in 2016, leading public health experts to speculate that a smoke-free generation may be within reach.

State attorneys general probe opioid drug companies

(Reuters) - A bipartisan group of state attorneys general announced on Thursday that they are jointly investigating the marketing and sales practices of drug companies that manufacture opioid painkillers at the center of a national addiction epidemic.

Long-term stroke survivors believe they do better with horse, music therapy

(Reuters Health) - A small Swedish study of stroke patients finds that activities such as horseback riding and rhythm-and-music therapy can help them feel like they're recovering faster, even if their stroke occurred years earlier.

Footage shows Oakland police less respectful to blacks than whites

(Reuters Health) - Body-camera footage from Oakland, California police officers shows the officers spoke more respectfully to white drivers than black drivers during routine traffic stops, researchers say.

One third of U.S. adults don’t know e-cigarette vapor may harm kids

(Reuters Health) - Even though the U.S. Surgeon General has concluded e-cigarette vapor may expose children to nicotine and other harmful chemicals, a new study finds that one in three adults aren’t sure if the devices are dangerous to use around kids.

Adamis wins U.S. approval to sell EpiPen rival, shares soar

(Reuters) - Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corp said on Thursday it received U.S. approval for its emergency epinephrine syringes to treat severe allergic reactions that it intends to be a lower cost rival to Mylan NV's widely used EpiPen, sending its shares up more than 50 percent.

Senate may keep some Obamacare taxes in U.S. healthcare overhaul

Washington (Reuters) - Republican senators trying to repeal Obamacare are forming consensus to keep some of the U.S. healthcare law's taxes they long criticized, in hopes of delaying more drastic funding cuts, particularly to the Medicaid program for the poor and disabled.

UK will pay for Roche breast cancer drug at center of price row

LONDON (Reuters) - A Roche breast cancer drug at the center of a prolonged pricing row in Britain will now be paid for routinely, following a discount deal between the company and the National Health Service (NHS).

Pharmacy exec seeks new trial over role in deadly U.S. meningitis outbreak

BOSTON (Reuters) - Lawyers for a Massachusetts pharmacy executive convicted of fraud for his role in a 2012 U.S. meningitis outbreak that killed 64 people asked a judge to order a new trial, charging that prosecutors misbehaved in providing evidence to the jury.

Three mutations could make bird flu a potential pandemic: study

LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - Scientists have identified three mutations that, if they occurred at the same time in nature, could turn a strain of bird flu now circulating in China into a potential pandemic virus that could spread among people.