L.A. Times - Health

For Jani Schofield, some progress -- and major setbacks

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 16:56:00 -0700

The 6-year-old, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, doesn't fare well after a change in her environment, and the stress of caring for her takes a severe toll on her family.

On June 29, The Times profiled Jani Schofield, a 6-year-old diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her parents in “Jani’s at the mercy of her mind.” The article examined Jani's bouts of rage, her make-believe world, and Michael and Susan Schofield's efforts to keep their family together while also safely raising Jani and her toddler brother, Bodhi. Here is an update on the Schofield family.

Childhood-onset schizophrenia remains a mystery

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 15:27:00 -0700

A study at the National Institute of Mental Health that has already spanned 18 years may yield crucial answers to the rare disorder.

So rare is the child form of schizophrenia, it has taken researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health 18 years to diagnosis and collect data on 110 children.

Genome project leader is selected to head NIH

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dr. Francis Collins is named to run the vast research agency. He guided the U.S. drive to map the human genetic code and wrote a book linking God and science.

Dr. Francis S. Collins, the geneticist who discovered the causes of half a dozen diseases, oversaw the government's efforts to map the human genome and wrote a now-famous book presenting scientific evidence for a belief in God, will be nominated to head the National Institutes of Health, the White House confirmed Wednesday.

WHO's advice: Just assume it's swine flu

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The World Health Organization will recommend that nations curtail efforts to confirm swine flu cases and assume the H1N1 virus is the culprit. Meanwhile, resistance to antiviral drug Tamiflu is seen.

As the World Health Organization prepares to recommend that most countries assume that their flu cases are the result of the novel H1N1 swine flu virus, officials are seeing the first signs of resistance to the commonly used antiviral drug Tamiflu -- though so far none that are particularly disturbing.

L.A. County to continue search for health chief

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 18:16:00 -0700

Bob Sillen, the sole candidate to head the Department of Health Services, will not be confirmed by county supervisors, aides say.

Los Angeles County has lacked permanent leadership for its extensive network of public hospitals and clinics for more than a year, and that appears unlikely to change any time soon.

Therapeutic cancer vaccines show promise