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Sleep apnea treatment reduces hypertension and heart disease riskTwo studies that included adults with obstructive sleep apnea examined the effectiveness of reducing the risk of cardiovascular outcomes, including high blood pressure, by treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
Brain cancer vaccine prepared from brain tumor proves effectiveA new brain cancer vaccine tailored to individual patients by using material from their own tumors has proven effective in a multicenter phase 2 clinical trial at extending their lives by several months or longer. The patients suffered from recurrent glioblastoma multiforme-which kills thousands of Americans every year.
Blood pressure is to be checked in both armsMeasuring blood pressure in both the right and left arm may be an effective way of catching a silent but serious disease of the blood vessels - peripheral artery disease. So, next time you get your blood pressure checked, ask your health provider to take measurements on both arms.
Nicotine patches and nicotine gum not effective in helping smokers quit long termNicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) designed to help people stop smoking, specifically nicotine patches and nicotine gum, do not appear to be effective in helping smokers quit long-term, even when combined with smoking cessation counseling, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and the University of Massachusetts Boston.
New malaria vaccine may make all strains of malaria parasite ineffectiveA new candidate malaria vaccine with the potential to neutralise all strains of the most deadly species of malaria parasite has been developed by a team led by scientists at the University of Oxford, UK.
Low calorie diet improves heart function in diabetic obese patientsA low-calorie diet eliminates insulin dependence and leads to improved heart function in obese patients with type 2 diabetes. It is striking to see how a relatively simple intervention of a very low calorie diet effectively cures type 2 diabetes mellitus. Moreover, these effects are long term.
Avastin bevacizumab approval revoked to treat breast cancer in USUS health agency FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. has revoked the approval of the breast cancer indication for Avastin (bevacizumab) after concluding that the drug has not been shown to be safe and effective for that use.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement TAVR shows superiority in heart patientsA two-year study of patients in the landmark PARTNER trial, which compared transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients who have severe aortic stenosis and are not candidates for open heart surgery, confirm the one-year findings and support the role of TAVR as the standard of care.
35 new drugs approved in 2011 in USOver the past 12 months, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved 35 new medicines for patients, like two new treatments for hepatitis C; a drug for late-stage prostate cancer; the first new drug for Hodgkin's lymphoma in 30 years; and the first new drug for lupus in 50 years.
Healthy diet reduces birth defects risksHealthier dietary choices by pregnant women are associated with reduced risks of birth defects, including neural tube defects and orofacial clefts. Folic acid supplementation and food fortification has been effective in preventing neural tube defects, but folic acid does not prevent all birth defects.
Asthma can be treated with Tocilizumab rheumatoid arthritis drugAsthma sufferers now can be treated with a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, revealed by researchers in a new study.
Stroke clinical trial finds intensive medical treatment better than brain stentPatients at a high risk for a second stroke who received intensive medical treatment had fewer strokes and deaths than patients who received a brain stent in addition to the medical treatment, a large nationwide clinical trial has shown.
Odds for detecting HIV varies by methodThe odds for effectively detecting HIV in African-American men vary by method, researchers have found in a recent study, which appears in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
New blood test can detect fetus gender in early pregnancyA boy or a girl baby. Parents-to-be wishing to know the gender of their unborn baby can usually find out during a routine ultrasound performed around 20 weeks of pregnancy. Now, new technology can tell pregnant women whether they are having a boy or a girl as early as seven weeks into a pregnancy. Scientists have been making rapid progress in identifying foetal DNA in the mother's blood to predict fetus gender.
MS drugs help, but come at high costMultiple sclerosis drugs used to slow down the multiple sclerosis progression may help some patients, but at a very high cost. These disease modifying drugs come at a very high cost when compared to therapies that address the symptoms of MS and treatments for other chronic diseases.
New drug development program for children with HIV AIDSThe Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) announced the launch of a new drug development programme to address critical unmet treatment needs of children with HIV/AIDS. Because HIV transmission in young children has largely been eliminated in high-income countries due to effective prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) interventions, little market incentive exists for pharmaceutical companies to develop antiretroviral (ARV) drugs adapted for children.
Shanghai Breast Health Resource Center ChinaThe prevention, early detection and multidisciplinary treatment of breast cancer are important strategies for promoting health and extending a healthy life span. The Shanghai Breast Health Resource Center is an important step in effectively addressing breast cancer, especially to improving breast cancer screening and early detection, which are considered to be the most effective and affordable ways for a rapid reduction of breast cancer disease burden in developing countries like China.
2 types of botulinum toxin compared for cosmetic useBotulinum toxin, a protein long considered harmful, is now known as a neuromodulator (a chemical that affects nerve impulses) that has cosmetic and medical uses. Not all varieties of botulinum toxin seem to be equally effective in reducing crow's feet wrinkles, according to a report published by Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Antenatal syphilis screening may reduce adverse pregnancy outcomesAbout 2·1 million pregnant women have active syphilis every year. Without screening and treatment, 69% of these women will have an adverse outcome of pregnancy. The objectives of this study were to review the literature systematically to determine the effectiveness of screening interventions to prevent congenital syphilis and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.
HAART found effective for treating HIV infected childrenThis observational cohort study, by Andrew Edmonds and colleagues, reports that treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) markedly improves the survival of HIV-infected children in Kinshasa, DRC, a resource-deprived setting. The findings presented suggest that HAART is as effective for improving the survival of HIV-infected children in a severely resource-deprived country (still recovering from civil war) as in more resource-privileged settings.
Better inform consumers about sunscreen to help reduce skin cancer risk, early agingSunscreen products meeting modern standards for effectiveness may be labeled with new information to help consumers find products that, when used with other sun protection measures, reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging, as well as help prevent sunburn. The final regulation allows sunscreen products that pass the FDA's test for protection against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays to be labeled as "Broad Spectrum."
IUD following abortion likely to prevent unintended pregnancyImmediate use of any contraceptive method after abortion has been linked to a reduced risk of repeat abortion with the immediate use of an IUD being the most effective method for reducing the risk for another unintended pregnancy. IUDs are found safe and highly effective.
Asthma pill more user friendly and effective than inhalersA rarely prescribed asthma drug is easier to use and just as effective as conventional treatment with inhalers, according to a new study led by the University of East Anglia (UEA).
Many new drugs did not have comparative effectiveness informationOnly about half of new drugs approved in the last decade had comparative effectiveness data available at the time of their approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and approximately two-thirds of new drugs had this information available when alternative treatment options existed,.
1 year well baby check up approach - catching signs of autism earlyA novel strategy developed by autism researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, called "The One-Year Well-Baby Check Up Approach," shows promise as a simple way for physicians to detect cases of Autism Syndrome Disorder (ASD), language or developmental delays in babies at an early age.
Bariatric surgery better than dieting for glucose controlResearchers have uncovered a new clue for why bariatric surgery is more effective than dietary remedies alone at controlling glucose levels. The study conducted at Duke University Medical Center and St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University.
Vitamin E or metformin not effective in liver disease in children teensIn contrast to previous preliminary data, use of vitamin E or the diabetes drug metformin was not superior to placebo on a measured outcome for treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children and adolescents.
Anti inflammatory drugs reduce effectiveness of SSRI antidepressantsAnti-inflammatory drugs, which include ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen, reduce the effectiveness of the most widely used class of antidepressant medications, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, taken for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety disorders.
New treatment with omalizumab may desensitize kids with milk allergiesMilk allergy is the most common, affecting 2.5 percent of children under age 3. In a small clinical study, researchers report effectively desensitizing milk-allergic patients by increasing their exposure to milk in tandem with an allergy drug called omalizumab, allowing children to build up resistance quickly with limited allergic reactions.
Fetal surgery better in treating children with spina bifidaThirty years ago, the first human fetal surgery was performed at the University of California, San Francisco. Now, a randomized controlled trial has proven definitively that fetal surgery can help certain patients before birth.
CRT-D more effective in women with heart failureWomen receive a significantly greater benefit a 70 percent reduction in heart failure and a 72 percent reduction in death from cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D) than men, revealed by US researchers.
Age plays too big a role in prostate cancer treatment decisionsOlder men with high-risk prostate cancer frequently are offered fewer and less effective choices of treatment than younger men, potentially resulting in earlier deaths, according to a new UCSF study.
Children with autism lack visual skills required for independenceThe ability to find shoes in the bedroom, apples in a supermarket, or a favourite animal at the zoo is impaired among children with autism, according to new research from the University of Bristol. Contrary to previous studies, which show that children with autism often demonstrate outstanding visual search skills, this new research indicates that children with autism are unable to search effectively for objects in real-life situations a skill that is essential for achieving independence in adulthood.
HIV screening cost effective in reducing spread of AIDSAn expanded U.S. program of HIV screening and treatment could prevent as many as 212,000 new infections over the next 20 years and prove to be very cost-effective, according to a new study by Stanford University School of Medicine researchers.
Mindfulness meditation effective to prevent depression relapseA new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has found that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy--using meditation-provides equivalent protection against depressive relapse as traditional antidepressant medication.
International clinical trial tests targeted drug for melanoma skin cancerRush University Medical Center has just enrolled the first U.S. patient in an international clinical trial testing a novel drug to treat certain kinds of melanoma, a deadly skin cancer that in its advanced stages currently has few effective treatments.
Employer health insurance premiums increased 41%Premiums for employer-sponsored family health insurance increased an average of 41 percent across states from 2003 to 2009, more than three times faster than median incomes, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report. Yet, insurance is buying less.
New way to fight antibiotic resistant bacteriaTreating municipal wastewater solids at higher temperatures may be an effective tool in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, says researchers from the University of Minnesota's College of Science and Engineering.
Mandatory curbs on food salt content 20 times effectiveImposing statutory limits on the salt content of processed foods could be 20 times more effective than voluntary curbs by industry, finds research published online in the journal Heart.
High dose aspirin reduces pain for severe headache and migraineAn inexpensive, hundred-year-old therapy for pain aspirin is effective in high doses for the treatment of severe headache and migraine caused by drug withdrawal, according to a new study by researchers with the UCSF Headache Center.
Cannabis may offer relief to patients with chronic painThe medicinal use of cannabis has been debated by clinicians, researchers, legislators and the public at large for many years as an alternative to standard pharmaceutical treatments for pain, which may not always be effective and may have unwanted side effects.
Single radiation to treat breast cancerThe researchers from an international TARGIT research group found a new method of radiotherapy for breast cancer in which the treatment can be reduced to a single radiation exposure.
Deep brain stimulation is an effective treatment for Parkinson's diseaseStudies have shown that a "brain pacemaker" called deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment for Parkinson's disease.
New target for antidepressants for depression and anxietyUniversity of Michigan scientists have provided the most detailed picture yet of a key receptor in the brain that influences the effectiveness of serotonin-related antidepressants, such as Prozac.
Use broad spectrum sunscreen to protect against UV raysSunscreen active ingredients, which are compounds that absorb, scatter or reflect ultraviolet (UV) light, are regulated as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Gene test identifies subtypes of breast cancerA simple genetic test that uses just three genes is among the most effective means of classifying breast cancer into sub-types, US researchers report at the IMPAKT Breast Cancer Conference in Brussels, Belgium.
Clinic based HIV prevention is effective in reducing risk behaviorsDelivering HIV prevention services to people living with HIV in clinical settings can sharply reduce their sexual risk behaviors, revealed by UCSF researchers.
Weight focused counseling with bupropion help women quit smokingFor women smokers worried about their weight, combining cognitive behavioral therapy addressing weight concerns with the medication bupropion appears more effective than counseling alone to help them quit smoking.
Review policies for childhood obesity, USBefore developing specific anti-obesity strategies, lawmakers and advocates should review the evidence on program effectiveness and costs in order to avoid policies that either won't work or will waste money.
Ethosuximide is preferred for childhood epilepsyThe first comprehensive comparative effectiveness clinical trial of three widely used anti-seizure drugs for childhood absence epilepsy the most common form of epilepsy in kids has established an evidence-based approach for initial drug therapy.
Acupuncture lessens depression symptoms during pregnancyAcupuncture appears to be an effective way to reduce depression symptoms during pregnancy, according to a first-of-its-kind study from Stanford University School of Medicine researchers.
Rotarix effective in severe diarrhea in developing worldRotavirus is the leading cause of severe, acute gastroenteritis among infants and young children throughout the world and is responsible for an estimated 527,000 deaths among children under five each year.
Low carb diet effective at lowering blood pressureIn a head-to-head comparison, two popular weight loss methods proved equally effective at helping participants lose significant amounts of weight. But, in a surprising twist, a low-carbohydrate diet proved better at lowering blood pressure than the weight-loss drug orlistat.
Promising candidates for malaria vaccine revealedWalter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers have uncovered a group of proteins that could form the basis of an effective vaccine against malaria.
Testing gene therapy for Alzheimer's diseaseUniversity Hospitals Case Medical Center is one of 12 sites conducting the first Phase 2 clinical trial of a gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study uses a viral-based gene transfer system called CERE-110, which is designed to deliver nerve growth factor (NGF) into the brain.
TENS device for pain not recommended for chronic low back painThe transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS), a widely used pain therapy involving a portable device, is not recommended to treat chronic low-back pain -- pain that has persisted for three months or longer -- because research shows it is not effective.
PRO 2000 anti HIV gel is ineffectivePro 2000, a vaginal microbicide gel designed to reduce women's risk of HIV infection, showed no evidence that it reduces the risk of HIV infection, revealed by researchers at Britain's Medical Research Council (MRC).
Oxygen appears effective in treating cluster headachePatients with a cluster headache, which is characterized by bouts of excruciating pain usually near the eye or temple, were more likely to report being pain-free within 15 minutes of treatment with high-flow oxygen than patients who received a placebo treatment.
New 3 drug combination for multiple myeloma patientsA new three-drug combination has shown in a phase 1/2 clinical trial that it is a "highly effective regimen" in the treatment of patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of white blood cells in bone marrow, say researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Cooling may benefit children after cardiac arrestWhen the heart is stopped and restarted, the patient's life may be saved but their brain is often permanently damaged. Therapeutic hypothermia, a treatment in which the patient's body temperature is lowered and maintained several degrees below normal for a period of time, has been shown to mitigate these harmful effects and improve survival in adults.
Pine bark improves visual acuity in diabetic retinopathyPycnogenol (pic-noj-en-all), an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, can improve microcirculation, retinal edema and visual acuity in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy.
Breast ultrasound can reduce breast biopsies in young womenTargeted breast ultrasound of suspicious areas of the breast, including lumps, is a safe, reliable and cost-effective alternative to invasive biopsies for women under age 40.
Nicotine Patch, Lozenge - best for smoking cessationIn a comparison of five different smoking cessation medications, a nicotine patch plus a nicotine lozenge appears most effective at helping smokers quit.
New HIV vaccine safe and effective in preventing HIV infectionIn an encouraging development, an investigational vaccine regimen has been shown to be well-tolerated and to have a modest effect in preventing HIV infection in a clinical trial involving more than 16,000 adult participants in Thailand.
New blood test promise diagnosis of colon cancerPromising results from a new blood test that can aid in the early identification of patients with colon cancer will be presented at Europe's largest cancer congress, in Berlin today.
Anticoagulant Dabigatran effective in atrial fibrillation patientsThe anticoagulant dabigatran is more effective than warfarin in the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, revealed by researchers in a study RE-LY (Randomized Evaluation of Long-term anticoagulant therapY).
Gene variant linked to effectiveness of plavixPatients with a certain genetic variation and who received the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel -- Plavix -- had a decreased platelet response to treatment, revealed by researchers.
Radiation from medical imaging increasingResearchers are evaluating the risks and benefits of medical imaging in patients. They revealed that the average effective dose of radiation nearly double the amount they would otherwise be exposed to from natural sources.
Cetuximab for colorectal cancer with KRAS geneFrom a health-care system perspective, it may be more efficient to use the drug cetuximab only in colorectal cancer patients whose tumors have a wild-type KRAS gene, according to a study published online August 7 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Prostatectomy effective in men with aggressive prostate cancerProstate surgery prostatectomy is found very effective in preventing death in men with aggressive prostate cancers, revealed by researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), Cleveland Clinic and the University of Michigan.
Designing an effective test to detect ovarian cancerCurrent diagnostic tests for ovarian cancer are woefully ineffective for early detection of the disease, say researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Typhoid vaccine effective in young childrenA new study has found that a currently available yet underused vaccine against typhoid fever is highly effective in young children and protects unvaccinated neighbors of vaccinees.
Aloe vera tooth gel is effective for teeth and gumsHealing power of aloe vera proves beneficial for teeth and gums, too. Researchers revealed that the aloe vera tooth gel was just as effective, and in some cases more effective, than the commercial brands at controlling cavity-causing organisms.
Lupus drug Benlysta effective for SLE patientsHuman Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) and GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK) announced that BENLYSTA (belimumab, formerly LymphoStat-BŪ) met the primary endpoint in BLISS-52, the first of two pivotal Phase 3 trials in patients with serologically active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Prostate cancer risk from heavy drinkingIn a new study, researchers examined the associations of total alcohol, type of alcoholic beverage, and drinking pattern with risks of total, low- and high-grade prostate cancer.
Rheumatoid arthritis drug masitinib found effectiveA clinical trial of masitinib, a drug in development for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, has shown it to be well tolerated and effective, revealed by researchers in BioMed Central's journal Arthritis Research and Therapy.
Total knee replacement is cost effectiveTotal knee replacement (arthroplasty) appears to be a cost-effective procedure for older adults with advanced osteoarthritis in the US Medicare, revealed by researchers.
Meditation Kriya Yoga an effective treatment for insomniaMeditation may be an effective behavioral intervention in the treatment of insomnia, according to a research presented at SLEEP 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.
New accurate diagnostic test for swine H1N1 influenzaA new, easy-to-perform method for detecting both seasonal influenza A virus and the emerging H1N1 swine-derived influenza A virus in human clinical samples offers a fast, sensitive, and cost-effective diagnostic test that runs on standard laboratory equipment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy effective for chronic insomniaA majority of people experiencing chronic insomnia can experience a normalization of sleep parameters through the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), according to a research abstract presented on Tuesday, June 9, at SLEEP 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.
Lyme disease is spreading in CanadaLyme disease is emerging in Canada, and is expected to increase with climate change, but effective, enhanced surveillance and clinician awareness will be key to minimizing the impact of the disease, write researchers in a review in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Certain drug coated stents may be safe, effectiveStents coated with the drug paclitaxel may be a safe, effective treatment option for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients age 70 and older and shouldn't be withheld due to advanced patient age, according to a study reported in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.
Diabetes drug metformin enhances cancer vaccine efficacyUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researchers have found that a common anti-diabetic drug might enhance the effectiveness of vaccines. The findings are described this week in an advanced online publication of Nature.
Caffeine reduces exercise induced asthma symptomsAn Indiana University study found that the ingestion of caffeine within an hour of exercise can reduce the symptoms of exercise induced asthma (EIA).
Online cognitive behavioral therapy effective for chronic insomniaA study in the June 1 issue of the journal SLEEP demonstrates that online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic insomnia significantly improves insomnia severity, daytime fatigue, and sleep quality. Online treatment also reduces erroneous beliefs about sleep and pre-sleep mental arousal.
Citalopram ineffective for children with autismCitalopram, a medication commonly prescribed to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), was no more effective than a placebo at reducing repetitive behaviors, according to researchers.
Tobacco packages must use pictorial warnings, says WHOWarnings on tobacco product packaging increase public awareness of the serious health risks of tobacco use. Images are a particularly powerful and cost-effective vehicle for communicating the risks.
Stroke treatment can benefit patients up to 4.5 hoursOnce symptoms start, there's only a tiny window of time for stroke victims to get life-saving treatment. Now, research from the Stanford University School of Medicine has cracked that window open a bit wider.
HIV vaccine by using gene transfer technologyA research team may have broken the stubborn impasse that has frustrated the invention of an effective HIV vaccine, by using an approach that bypasses the usual path followed by vaccine developers.
Folic acid prevents congenital heart defects by 6%The Canadian policy of fortifying grain products with folic acid has already proved to be effective in preventing neural tube defects. And the latest study shows that folic acid also decreases the incidence of congenital heart defects by more than 6%.
Chemotherapy improves survival among older breast cancer patientsThe average age of a woman diagnosed with breast cancer is 63, so it is critical to have effective proven, therapies for an older patient population.
Medicare serves elderly more effectivelyElderly Medicare beneficiaries are more satisfied with their health care, and experience fewer problems accessing and paying for care, than Americans with employer-sponsored insurance (ESI), according to a study by Commonwealth Fund researchers published today on the Health Affairs Web site.
Acupuncture eases chronic low back pain in SPINE trialAcupuncture can help people with chronic low back pain feel less bothered by their symptoms and function better in their daily activities, according to the largest randomized trial of its kind, published in the May 11, 2009 Archives of Internal Medicine.
Herpes medication does not reduce HIV transmission riskA recently completed international multi-center clinical trial has found that acyclovir, a drug widely used as a safe and effective treatment to suppress herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), which is the most common cause of genital herpes, does not reduce the risk of HIV transmission when taken by people infected with both HIV and HSV-2.
Drug eluting stents prove more effectiveThe Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) announced that its landmark study comparing the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents and bare-metal stents was published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Social separation stops flu spreadA disease spread simulation has emphasized that flu interventions must be imposed quickly, if they are to be effective. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Public Health have shown that staying at home, closing schools and isolating infected people within the home should reduce infection, but only if they are used in combination, activated without delay and maintained for a relatively long period.
Bleach bath a surprising new treatment for kids' eczemaIt's best known for whitening a load of laundry. But now simple household bleach has a surprising new role: an effective treatment for kids' chronic eczema.
Vitamin B1 may treat uveitis, a cause of blindnessUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers have discovered that a form of vitamin B1 could become a new and effective treatment for one of the world's leading causes of blindness.
Acupuncture ineffective in hot flushes during menopauseAcupuncture cannot be shown to have any positive effect on hot flushes during the menopause.
US AIDS Relief program PEPFAR saved a million livesPEPFAR, which the Bush administration initially established as a five-year, $15 billion plan, has kept people alive by effectively providing funds for AIDS treatment and care, according to a study from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
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