[Health] Study: Solo stars at higher death risk than bands

Study: Solo stars at higher death risk than bands
http://www.news.com.au/news/solo-stars-more-likely-to-die-young/story-fnejlvvj-1226541514078
A new study confirms that rock and pop musicians die prematurely more often than the general population, and an early death is twice as likely for solo musicians as for members of bands.

Vivus's obesity pill to be covered by Express Scripts
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/20/us-vivus-obesitydrug-coverage-idUSBRE8BJ0KW20121220
Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:35am EST. (Reuters) - Vivus Inc said its obesity drug Qsymia will now be covered by the largest U.S. pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts Holding Co, giving more people access to the drug.

EU Proposes Tougher Tobacco Rules - WSJ.com
http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/europe/newsid_9779000/9779875.stm
The European Commission Wednesday proposed bigger health warnings on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco and a total ban on strong flavorings in a move that could force tobacco companies to rethink how they market their products in the 27-member bloc ...

Western plot to sterilize Muslims? Pakistan polio vaccination workers slain amid ...
http://dawn.com/2012/12/20/underpaid-overworked-and-imperilled-the-plight-of-lady-health-workers/
After receiving threatening telephone calls warning they would regret helping the "infidel" campaign against polio, a group of woman, working on a UN-backed polio vaccination campaign, were shot and killed by gunmen a day after a similar slaying in Karachi ...

CDC: Number of new HIV infections stable
http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/12/20/hiv-cases-decline-for-black-women-increase-for-gay-men-cdc/
A woman uses an oral test for HIV. New HIV infections have remained at a stable level, according to CDC data. (Photo: Jacquelyn Martin, AP).

Medicines Co skin infection antibiotic meets trial goal
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/20/us-medicinesco-trial-antibiotic-idUSBRE8BJ0N920121220
Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:14am EST. (Reuters) - Medicines Co said a late-stage trial of its experimental drug for bacterial skin infections met the main study goal of stopping the infection from spreading and the absence of fever.

Survey: 1 in 15 high school seniors smoking pot
http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/12/20/teen-use-of-marijuana-ticks-upward-cause-for-concern/49465.html
EST December 20, 2012. CommentsShare. Fewer teens see occasional marijuana use as harmful, annual survey of youth finds. pot youth survey.

Report: States losing ground in emergency preparedness
http://health.heraldtribune.com/2012/12/19/assessing-floridas-public-health-readiness/
Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Vermont and Wisconsin have the best preparedness plans, scoring 8 out of a possible 10. States received a score based on 10 indicators.

CPRIT halts grant awards to deal with recent conflicts - San Antonio Business ...
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Troubled-Texas-Cancer-Agency-Goes-Before-Key-Panel-184251221.html
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) is suspending grants until it deals with probes into conflicts over some of its awards and changes in its governing structure.

27% Medicare Pay Cut For Doctors Real Danger In Fiscal Cliff
http://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2012/12/20/27-medicare-pay-cut-for-doctors-real-danger-in-fiscal-cliff/
Doctors face a 27 percent cut in payments from Medicare on Jan. 1. with Congress and the White House unable to come up with an agreement to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff -- or any other budgetary issues for that matter.