But plenty of investors would probably like to buy, say, a fast-growing pain or vaccine business and skip the less attractive parts of the company.

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And labor, with accompanying pain, fast heartbeat and hormonal changes, "that's the most dangerous and challenging time, " Dr. Franklin says.

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"They may be prepared to act reasonably fast but not to cause too much pain, " says Collins.

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's earnings are still growing fast, but the risk due to pain drugs Celebrex and Bextra is only increasing.

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He announced the creation by April 2002 of a network of 100 fast track clinics for people suffering from chest pain.

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But one bad hit forced Pear to retire, only to discover that after years of playing through pain and injury, his body was deteriorating fast, and his pension evaporating even faster.

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