Year: 2014

Spoiler Alert: “House of Cards” character Peter Russo may have kicked the bucket, but his campaign slogan hasn’t. Real-life gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf – who, like Russo, is a Democrat vying for the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion – recently touted himself as “a fresh start” for…        

There may be a link between weather and the risk of suffering a stroke, say researchers who analyzed climate trends and hospital records on millions of Americans.

(Reuters) – Ventrus Biosciences Inc said its lead experimental drug to treat anal fissures failed to reduce pain more than a placebo in a late-stage trial, sending its shares plunging 67 percent in premarket trading. Ventrus said on Wednesday that gastrointestinal disorders were the most common adverse events reported by the 434 patients in the study, which aimed to reduce anal pain associated with or following defecation. An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the anal canal characterized by severe pain associated with or after bowel movements. Ventrus acquired the North American rights to VEN 307, also known as Diltiazem Hydrochloride 2% Cream, for the treatment of anal fissures from S.L.A. Pharma AG.

Israel has denied entry permits to some 50 Palestinian medical patients from the Gaza Strip because the words “State of Palestine” appears on the letterhead of their application, officials said on Wednesday. Israel does not recognize a Palestinian state, whose creation it says should stem from peace negotiations. It voted against a U.N. General Assembly resolution in 2012 that gave de facto recognition to a sovereign Palestinian state. “On Sunday (the Palestinians) filed a range of requests … on a document that said ‘State of Palestine’.

China said on Wednesday it would set up a 10 billion yuan ($1.65 billion) fund to fight air pollution, offering rewards for companies that clean up operations. Pollution increasingly worries China's stability-obsessed leaders, anxious to douse potential unrest as more affluent city dwellers turn against a growth-at-all-costs economic model that has poisoned much of the country's air, water and soil. Authorities have issued innumerable orders and policies to try and clean up China, investing in projects to fight pollution and empowering courts to hand down the death penalty in serious cases. Premier Li Keqiang told a cabinet meeting the central government would set up the 10 billion yuan fund to "use rewards to replace subsidies to fight air pollution in key areas", the government said in a statement.