Reg Gale

Feces Contaminates More Than Half of U.S. Public Pools

bloomberg.com — Human feces taints more than half of public swimming pools, a finding U.S. health officials are using to urge better personal hygiene as the summer months approach. E. coli, which indicates the presence of fecal matter, was detected in 58 percent of samples taken from pool filters by the U.S.

AstraZeneca Advances Three Cancer Drugs Into Late-Stage Trials

bloomberg.com — AstraZeneca Plc (AZN) will move three experimental cancer treatments into late-stage development as generic competition for its best-selling drugs intensifies. The U.K.'s second-biggest drugmaker is advancing development of moxetumomab pasudotox for hairy cell leukemia, olaparib for platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer and selumetinib for non-small cell lung cancer patients with the KRAS genetic mutation, the London-based company said today in a statement.

Staying Fit Cuts Cancer Death Risk in Middle Age in Study

bloomberg.com — Middle-aged men who stayed fit were less likely to die from three common cancers after being diagnosed than those who were out of shape, research found. In a study of 17,049 men, those with good respiratory and cardiovascular fitness were more likely to survive prostate, lung or colorectal cancer, and avoid developing lung or colorectal cancers.

UnitedHealth, Humana May See Surge in Medicare Advantage

bloomberg.com — Enrollment in the U.S.-funded Medicare plans run by UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH), Humana Inc. and other insurers may rise 50 percent in the next decade rather than declining as predicted earlier, U.S. budget analysts said.

Cloning With Caffeine Produces Patient-Matched Stem Cells

bloomberg.com — Scientists have created embryonic stem cells that are a near identical genetic match to patients, an advance that could enable transplants and treatments based on an individual's own tissues. The researchers, at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, made embryonic stem cells through a procedure known as somatic cell nuclear transfer, which involved taking DNA from skin cells and inserting it into donated human egg cells.

Bristol-Myers Drug Cocktail Stymies Melanoma Tumors

bloomberg.com — Two drugs from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) shrank tumors in as many as half of patients with advanced melanoma, according to early research that may pave the way for cocktails that trigger the immune system to destroy cancer.

Cancer Treatment’s Brutal Side Effects May Be Minimized

bloomberg.com — Chemotherapy, radiation and the use of radioactive follow-up tests aren't needed for some cancers, according to two studies that add to a growing debate on ways to lessen side effects and lower patient costs. One study, in 1,800 men, found that chemo or radiation immediately following surgery in testicular cancer made no difference in long-term survival.

Obama Sees Health Care as Legacy Too Worthy to Resist

bloomberg.com — Just weeks after his re-election, President Barack Obama summoned about 20 senior administration officials to the White House's Roosevelt Room for an hour-long meeting on the implementation of his health-care law. Obama began by reminding his staff that the Affordable Care Act would be one of his major legacies and its execution among the highest priorities of his second term, according to a Democrat familiar with the gathering.