Monday, October 25, 2004

Health Headlines - October 25

Illinois Gov. Wants to Import European Flu Vaccine

Illinois authorities asked on Monday for federal approval to import from Europe thousands of doses of flu vaccine that the state located through its controversial program to buy cheaper medicines for older Americans.

Professor Says Pressured to Be Tobacco Advocate

A pharmacology professor testifying in the U.S. government's $280 billion suit against the cigarette industry said on Monday he quit working as an expert witness for a tobacco trade group after it pressured him to be more of an advocate.

Chief Justice's Cancer Raises New Election Issue

U.S. Chief Justice William Rehnquist, the leader of the Supreme Court's conservative majority, has undergone surgery for thyroid cancer, suddenly throwing a political spotlight on the highest court in the land just eight days before the presidential election.

New TB Vaccine Promising in Early Clinical Trials

The results of the first early test of a new type of tuberculosis vaccine show that it elicits strong immune responses in adults with or without a previous bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination.

Britons Want National Smoking Ban

Nearly seven out of 10 Britons want to see smoking banned in restaurants, pubs and offices, according to a poll published on Tuesday.

Repeat Concussions May Have Lingering Symptoms

Athletes with a history of concussion are at risk of suffering lasting symptoms the next time they take a blow to the head, according to a study published Monday.

Breast Cancer Chemo May Increase Stroke Risk

In general, chemotherapy appears to increase the risk of stroke in patients with breast cancer.

Teens, Parents Alerted to Possibility of Pertussis

The Society for Adolescent Medicine is urging parents to be aware that their teen's runny nose, watery eyes, and nagging cough may signal whooping cough, or pertussis.

Physical Fitness Helps Kids' Minds, Too

The most physically fit group of third-, fourth- and fifth-graders tend to score highest on an academic test known as the Illinois Standard Achievement Test, a group of researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reports.

Childhood Cancer Ups Later Breast Cancer Risk

Women who survived childhood cancer have an increased risk of developing breast cancer compared with other women their age, the results of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study reveal.

Officials Say Most Can Skip Flu Shot

Public health officials say Americans should roll up their sleeves for a dose of reality: For most of us, getting a flu shot is not a life-or-death matter.

Puberty Gene May Be Linked to Obesity

A gene that delays female puberty and may be linked to obesity has been identified by Oregon Health & Science University researchers.

Girl, 14, Dies of Bird Flu in Thailand

A 14-year-old girl in northern Thailand has died of bird flu, a health ministry official said Monday, raising the number of human fatalities in Southeast Asia this year to 32.

Group B Strep and Pregnant Women

If you are pregnant, you need to be aware of group B strep, a common bacterial infection that can be deadly to your newborn if passed on during labor.

Health Tip: Genital Warts

Some 8 million Americans each year acquire genital warts, transmitted by sexual contact. They're caused by the human papilloma virus, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Exercise Might Protect Against Parkinson's Disease

In research with rats, University of Pittsburgh scientists found that exercising limbs helps protect brain cells that are normally damaged or destroyed by Parkinson's disease.

Stress a Double-Edged Sword

While stress may help your ability to recall, it also makes it more difficult for you to solve complex problems, according to Ohio State University researchers.

New Guidelines for Kawaski Disease Issued

The American Heart Association has issued revised guidelines to help doctors and nurses diagnose, treat, and manage care for children with Kawasaki disease.

Restless Leg Syndrome Explained

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is probably caused by iron-deficient brain cells that trigger the central nervous system to send confusing signals to the arms and legs.

Hispanics, Women Less Likely to Be Tested for Colon Cancer

Colorectal cancer is curable if detected early, but many Americans -- particularly Hispanics and women -- don't get the screening tests.

Key Protein in Breast, Ovarian Cancer Found

Researchers have identified a protein which, when present in large amounts, might indicate that a cancer is particularly aggressive.

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