Healthworks

Komen breast cancer charity names new CEO

Komen breast cancer charity names new CEO
In this undated photo provided by Susan G. Komen for the Cure, new President and CEO Judith A. Salerno, left, is shown with Komen Founder and now Chair of Global Strategy Nancy G. Brinker. (AP Photo/Susan G. Koman for the Cure)

The breast cancer charity named Judith A. Salerno to replace founder Nancy Brinker, whose promise to her dying sister begat a fundraising powerhouse that invested hundreds of millions of dollars in cancer research

To ease shortage of organs, grow them in a lab?

To ease shortage of organs, grow them in a lab?
The "scaffolding" for replacement ears, noses and other body parts sit on a bench in a laboratory at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Allen Breed)
Growing lungs and other organs for transplant is still in the future, but scientists are working toward that goal. In several labs, scientists study how to build on the internal scaffolding of hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys of people and pigs to make custom-made implants.

Local researchers celebrate high court's ruling against gene patents

Local researchers celebrate high court's ruling against gene patents
Dr. Gail Jarvik believes the Supreme Court's decision will make genetic research easier and less expensive. Courtesy Gail Jarvik.

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday companies can no longer patent human genes, reversing decades of patent awards and potentially paving the way for better, more personal health care.

Supreme Court says human genes cannot be patented

Supreme Court says human genes cannot be patented
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that companies cannot patent parts of naturally-occurring human genes, a decision with the potential to profoundly affect the emerging and lucrative medical and biotechnology industries.

3 ways to get more facetime with your doctor

3 ways to get more facetime with your doctor
Dr. Leland Teng meeting with a patient in the Lewis and John Dare Center.

While healthcare costs are causing many doctors to spend less time with their patients, some local physicians offer treatment models that allow them to know their patrons better without breaking the bank.

10-year-old girl who took on donor rules gets adult lungs

10-year-old girl who took on donor rules gets adult lungs
Sarah Murnaghan, center, celebrates the 100th day of her stay in Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with her father, Fran, left, and mother, Janet.
A 10-year-old girl whose efforts to qualify for an organ donation drew public debate over how organs are allocated was getting a double-lung transplant Wednesday after a match with an adult donor was made.

Morning-after pill sales coming, but not yet

Morning-after pill sales coming, but not yet
FILE - In this May 2, 2013 photo, pharmacist Simon Gorelikov holds a generic emergency contraceptive, also called the morning-after pill, at the Health First Pharmacy in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

The Obama administration has agreed to let the Plan B One-Step brand of emergency contraception sell over the counter to anyone of any age.

Hepatitis A linked to Costco frozen berries sickens 87

Hepatitis A linked to Costco frozen berries sickens 87
This handout image provided by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows the label of Townsend Farms of Fairview, Ore., Organic Antioxidant Blend, packaged under the Townsend Farms label at Costco and under the Harris Teeter brand at those stores. The Oregon company is recalling a frozen berry mix sold to Costco and Harris Teeter stores after the product was linked to at least 34 hepatitis A illnesses in five states. (AP/FDA)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an outbreak of hepatitis A linked to a frozen berry mix sold at Costco has grown to 87 people with illnesses in eight states, including Washington.

Judge's ruling challenges U.S. organ transplant system

Judge's ruling challenges U.S. organ transplant system
In this May 30, 2013 file photo provided by the Murnaghan family, Sarah Murnaghan, left, lies in her hospital bed next to adopted sister Ella on the 100th day of her stay in Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Murnaghan Family)
It's a life or death matter: Who gets the next scarce donated organ? In an unprecedented challenge to the nation's transplant system, a federal judge has allowed one dying child - and a day later another - to essentially jump the line in rulings that could have ramifications for thousands of people awaiting new organs.

Weight loss drug Belviq gets overdue US launch

Arena Pharmaceuticals says its weight loss drug Belviq will be available to U.S. patients beginning next week, nearly a year after the drug was officially approved by federal regulators.

Transplant vote seeks medical and legal balance

Transplant vote seeks medical and legal balance
Sarah Murnaghan, center, celebrates the 100th day of her stay in Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with her father, Fran, left, and mother, Janet.
Faced with a federal judge's order in the heart-wrenching cases of two terminally ill children seeking lung transplants, a national review board sought a balance that will keep such decisions in the hands of doctors, not lawyers or judges.