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THE WALL STREET JOURNAL Health Edition

December 21, 2010 -- 3:00 p.m. EST

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A growing number of therapists are using "canine assistants" in their practices. Dogs are a nonjudgmental presence when patients get emotional or need the calming effect of petting an animal.
 


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703886904576031521407391768.html

 
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After months of playing hardball with Sanofi-Aventis, Genzyme is displaying a new willingness to talk about price and other issues that have held up a deal.
 


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704259704576033612492539654.html

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Health insurers will have to justify rate increases at or above 10% starting next year under a new proposed rule from the Department of Health and Human Services.
 


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703581204576033640288222736.html

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Some researchers are seeking to identify drugs that specifically target cancer stem cells, which appear to resist conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.
 


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704610904576031623211887018.html

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Boston Scientific said the IRS is seeking $525.1 million, plus interest, for taxes linked to the company's Guidant business, and also said it disagrees with the IRS view.
 


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703581204576033462582281634.html

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Pfizer plans to recall about 19,000 bottles of its cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor in the U.S., marking the fourth such recall since August due to odor complaints.
 


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703886904576032091385880956.html

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A Wall Street Journal investigation tracks heavy use of spine-fusion surgery at U.S. hospitals, some of which have surgeons who receive large royalty payments from medical-device giant Medtronic.
 


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703395204576024023361023138.html

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Medtronic said its chairman and chief executive, William A. Hawkins, will retire in April, the end of the company's current fiscal year.
 


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703886904576031452434514290.html

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Drugstores, supermarkets and some doctors' offices are slashing prices on flu vaccine this year amid weaker-than-expected demand.
 


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703395904576025531651670112.html

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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan asked a federal court to dismiss a Justice Department lawsuit alleging that the insurer struck anticompetitive agreements with hospitals.
 


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703395904576025833366992622.html

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Tenet Healthcare has strongly resisted a bid by Community Health Systems CEO Wayne T. Smith, arguing that his $3.3 billion offer, which also includes the assumption of $4 billion in debt, undervalues the company.
 


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704073804576023610394737284.html

 
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From the Health Blog


Insurers Likely to Face New Reviews

Rate review could get tougher for health insurers. Premium increases of more than 10% will be automatically reviewed by states starting in July, according to new preliminary guidelines from the Obama administration




See Full Post: http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/12/21/insurers-likely-to-face-new-reviews/?mod=djemHL

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Health Blog Q&A: Richard Restak, Author of ‘The Playful Brain’

Puzzles can sharpen the ability to do certain things -- to concentrate, pay attention, improve your working memory.




See Full Post: http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/12/21/health-blog-qa-richard-restak-author-of-the-playful-brain/?mod=djemHL

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A.M. Vitals: Therapists Using Dogs With Patients

Dogs play a role in therapy, the WSJ reports. Therapists are using canines to cheer up patients or calm them down, the WSJ says. Some patients talk to the dog instead of the doctor, and patients can hug the dog, while they cannot embrace the therapist. The article says that therapy dogs are part of a small but growing trend and some universities now offer courses in animal-assisted therapy...




See Full Post: http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/12/21/am-vitals-therapists-using-dogs-with-patients/?mod=djemHL

##START_HEADLINE##The Doctor's Dog Will See You Now##END_HEADLINE##
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