WASHINGTON, (AFP) ― U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday called for the United States to lead the way toward a “new era of medicine” by boosting funds for modern medical research.During his State of the Union speech, Obama said a key area of focus should be a fast-growing field known as precision medicine, which aims to deliver the best treatment for cancer and other illnesses based on an individual’s genetics.“I want the country that eliminated polio and mapped the human genome to lead a new

TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) ― Drugmaker AbbVie Inc. said its new, all-pill hepatitis C combo treatment has been approved for patients in the 28 European Union member countries.The company said the European Commission had granted marketing authorization for the combination of Viekirax and Exviera. Viekirax itself is a combination pill containing antiviral drugs ombitasvir, paritaprevir and ritonavir; Exviera is a single pill containing dasabuvir. It’s already approved in EU nonmembers Switzerland, N

Compared to nonsmokers, most smokers tend to consume more alcohol and high caloric food ― such as fatty foods. They also have lower intake of antioxidant vitamins (vitamins C, E and A) from healthy vegetables and fruits, thereby having a higher risk of atherosclerosis and various cancers. Most smokers tend to consume more coffee (3-10 cups per day) and have irregular dietary habits.Changes in serum lipid levelsNicotine in cigarettes increases the free fatty acid levels in the serum, to raise the

A growing number of Koreans are seeking medical attention for vitamin D deficiency, a common condition among those who do not get enough exposure to sunlight, a government report showed.According to the National Health Insurance Service, the number of Koreans who sought medical help for vitamin D deficiency increased ninefold from 2009-2013 ― from 2,027 to 18,637.“More people are now aware that vitamin D deficiency can affect one’s muscles, bones and immunity and is even associated with cancer,”

South Korea’s elderly poverty rate was close to 50 percent in 2013, which was 3.5 times higher than the national average, a report showed Wednesday.According to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, the poverty rate of Koreans aged 65 or older was 48 percent in 2013, while the average rate for all Koreans was 13.7 percent. Single-person households had the second-highest poverty rate ― 47. 2 percent ― among all groups of people, including children, the employed and single-parent hous

A crane undergoing deconstruction collapsed at a shipyard in Busan on Wednesday killing four workers.At about 9:46 a.m., the crane’s machine room fell about 20 meters to the ground, immediately killing four workers, including one who was crushed by the debris.The authorities believe that the workers, employees of a demolition contractor, were in the process of detaching the machine room from the 40-ton crane. According to reports, three of the workers were cutting through structures holding the

A Korean man was sentenced to a suspended jail term for raping his foreign-born wife. The Jan. 7 ruling marked the first time that a local court has convicted a man for spousal rape that does not involve the use of a deadly weapon.The man married his wife, who is 20 years his junior, in 2012 through an international marriage agency. He was convicted of raping her about 10 times during the first two months of their marriage, as well as physically abusing her. His wife managed to escape from the h

Following a series of child abuse cases at day care centers, the debate is intensifying over whether the government’s recently announced countermeasure ― installing surveillance cameras at all children’s institutions nationwide ― will be an effective deterrent.“Surveillance cameras can’t solve everything,” said scholar Yoon Deok-gyeong from the Korean Women’s Development Institute. “What if abusers take the child to a place where no cameras are installed? To bring about a fundamental change, we

Counselors take phone reports of child abuse cases at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Friday. (Yonhap)Following a controversial child abuse case involving a day care worker in Incheon, the ruling Saenuri Party and the government announced a joint plan to protect children’s rights on Friday.The 33-year-old worker, surnamed Yang, was taken into police custody on Thursday after surveillance video footage was revealed of her harshly beating a 4-year-old for not finishing her food.“This case is t

The number of obstetrics clinics in South Korea has halved since 2004 due to the country’s critically low birth rate, according to government data.According to the data, the number of clinics where women can give birth dropped from 1,311 in 2004 to 641 this year. Fifty-five of 232 municipalities nationwide do not have any clinics for expectant mothers. This means 1 out of 4 municipalities across the country do not have maternity units.One of the main reasons for this is the nation’s low birthrat

An idea to build an “underground city” that connects City Hall, the Gwangwhamun and Jonggak subway stations, and a soon-to-be established public park near the Seoul Metropolitan Council building is being considered by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, according to its Public Development Center.The Seoul Institute, a think tank working closely with the city government, is researching ways to connect the two major subway stations in central Seoul and the City Hall building, said Lee Seong-chang,

President Park Geun-hye on Monday insisted on proceeding with the controversial public pension reform during a New Year’s press conference, despite a fierce backlash from the nation’s public sector.“Last year, 2.5 trillion won ($2.2 billion) in taxpayers’ money was needed to cover the shortfalls in the public pension fund. (If we don’t proceed with the reform), the current system would require 10 trillion won in government subsidies over 10 years,” Park said, calling on the parties to draw up re

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday that it would offer 8.5 billion won ($7.8 million) in support for building a hospital specializing in rehabilitation treatment for children with disabilities, the first of its kind in the capital city.The 8.5 billion won would be used to build the hospital ― which is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in 2016 ― and purchase necessary medical equipment, the SMG said.According to the city government, there were about 13,272 children

Korean-Chinese with forged passports will be allowed to re-enter South Korea with legal passports a year after deportation as long as they turn themselves in starting Jan. 19, the Korea Immigration Service said Thursday.Those who fail to report themselves, however, will be banned from entering the country for 10 years on being caught and deported, the KIS said. Ethnic Koreans of other nationalities are also encouraged to report themselves if they are residing in South Korea with forged passports

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday said it would consider giving out a monthly allowance for children of undocumented immigrants, after being advised by human rights experts.Yeom Gyu-hong, one of the three independent human rights officers hired by the city government, said excluding illegal immigrant’s children from the city’s monthly childcare allowance program violated the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which South Korea signed in 1991.Currently, all Seoul ci

A state-run health research institute said it has found that Korean men in their 60s and women in their 40s were most vulnerable to alcohol-induced mental conditions including dementia and alcoholic hallucinosis among all Koreans.The number of Koreans who sought medical help for the condition has increased from 2008 to 2012, from 63,821 to 75,925. The total cost spent to treat the condition increased from 136.3 billion won ($124.5 million) in 2008 to 217.5 billion won in 2012.According to Dr. Le

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― Brazil has unveiled new rules aimed at stemming the South American nation’s “epidemic of cesareans” and promoting natural births among private health care providers.Health Minister Arthur Chioro called Brazil’s obsession with cesareans, which account for more than eight out of 10 births handled by private health providers, a “public health problem.”Under the requirements announced on Tuesday, health insurance companies will have to provide users with information about the p

SANTA ANA, California (AP) ― Nine Americans have confirmed cases of measles likely contracted on trips last month to Disney theme parks in California, state officials said Wednesday.Three more California residents are suspected of having measles. All patients with confirmed or suspected cases of the illness visited Disneyland or Disney California Adventure between Dec. 15 and Dec. 20, according to the state’s Department of Public Health.They likely got the airborne illness at one of the parks th

Heart attack has been the No. 1 killer in the world for the last decade and deaths from the disease are still on the rise. As the human heart works continuously during one’s lifetime, a healthy coronary artery, which supplies it with blood, is vital for a healthy heart. As people age, the arterial wall gradually thickens and hardens, which is called atherosclerosis. Enlarged atherosclerotic plaque can become unstable and rupture suddenly. A blood clot is formed in ruptured plaque within minutes

Korean-American author Shin Eun-mi, who has been accused of violating the National Security Act for allegedly promoting pro-North Korean ideals, may be deported to the U.S. as early as Friday, prosecutors said.Under the current law, Shin cannot enter South Korea for five years after being deported.“I have no reason to be deported and I consider myself a victim,” Shin said Wednesday as she appeared at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office for questioning. “I can guarantee that I have done nothing that