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Reuters - New screening tests and effective vaccines from Merck & Co and GlaxoSmithKline make tackling cervical cancer in poor countries a real possibility for the first time, researchers said on Thursday.

Organizers of the 2008 breast cancer Symposium announced the winners of the Symposium Merit Awards. Fourteen physicians-in-training will receive funding to assist with their travel to attend the Symposium, to be held September 5-7 in Washington, DC.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis, or LAM, is a rare but serious lung disease that may cause severe respiratory symptoms in patients. The often-fatal disease has no cure.

Latest research into dual-purpose contraceptives and non-hormonal contraception was presented at a major scientific conference in Melbourne. Laureate Professor John Aitken* from the University of Newcastle and Dr Eva Dimitriadis from Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research addressed the annual scientific conference of the Society for Reproductive Biology (SRB).

Although many women quit smoking during pregnancy to protect their unborn children from the effects of cigarettes, half of them resume the habit within a few months of giving birth. By shedding light on the factors that enable the other half to put down that cigarette for good, a study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill could lead to programs designed to help women quit and stay quit.

A Canadian-led international research group has developed a simple rule that may allow hundreds of thousands of women to stop taking blood thinning pills such as warfarin. The group, led by Ottawa researcher Dr. Marc Rodger, examined 646 people with unexplained blood clots in the legs, arms and lungs (called unprovoked venous thromboembolism). These clots affect up to 2.5 per cent of people in their lifetime and are a major cause of death. Once the initial blood clot is treated, warfarin is prescribed to reduce the risk of further clotting. read more

The clinical laboratory company LabCorp is offering a new blood test aimed at detecting ovarian cancer at an early and still treatable stage, but the test is being met with concern among many physicians and medical organizations, the new york Times reports.

Title: Low Levels of Brain Chemical May Control AppetiteCategory: health newscreated: 8/28/2008 2:00:00 amlast Editorial review: 8/28/2008

Title: Magnesium Sulfate Reduces Threat of Cerebral PalsyCategory: health newscreated: 8/28/2008 2:00:00 amlast Editorial review: 8/28/2008

Reuters - Young women who experience more than one stressful life event are at greater risk of developing breast cancer, but a general feeling of happiness and optimism may help guard against the disease, Israeli researchers report.