An appeals court in the United States suspended a ban imposed last month on federally-funded research involving embryonic stem cells. The court in Washington placed a temporary stay on an earlier decision by US District Judge Royce Lamberth. Judge Lamberth had ruled that the research violated US law because it involved destroying human embryos.

President Obama lifted a ban on federal funding for stem cell research in March. Critics say the ban, which was kept in place by Mr Obama's predecessor, George W Bush, impeded the fight to find treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a statement saying it was resuming its stem cell research program, which includes evaluating applications from external scientists wishing to receive public funding for their research.

Two of the world's richest men and the Spanish government have pledged $150m (£101.7m) to battle disease and improve health in Central America and Mexico. Carlos Slim and Bill Gates are to fund a project jointly with Spain aimed at improving nutrition and maternal health and fighting dengue fever and malaria. The two men and Spain's Princess Cristina announced the project in the Mexican capital, Mexico City. The project also aims to reduce infant mortality and boost vaccination rates.

The swine flu vaccine is limited in supplies and H1N1 is spreading like  wildfire. This combination should send us all running for the hills,  right? No, not at all actually. According to BrowardPalmBeach,  when in doubt, do nothing. The media has publicised H1N1, the  government has aided in public panic and the health care industry has  nothing to lose by the hysteria. That is a combination most American's  are not going to trust.

Last Sunday (August 5) I went with my Dad, Mom and sister to see a late afternoon showing of Ratatouille in Columbus. My Mom and I like to sit near the back, but most of the seats were already taken, so we settled into the third row from the front. Several times while I was enjoying the movie, I noticed my sister turn and whisper in excited tones to my Mom. I was too engrossed in the film to pay much attention.

Doctors look high and low and very wide for the answer to the mystery of the dying, suffering Americans. We suggest that that the solution is very, very close.

A study paper in the current Journal of the American Medical Association concludes very little. The major finding is that Americans pay twice as much a year for medical care than Brits do. Yet we get shorter, sicker lives.

You can read the abstract of Disease and Disadvantage in the United States and in England (you need a sub or to wait six months for the whole thing). Popular coverage is ubiquitous, including this overview in the International Herald Tribune.