Thursday, October 28, 2004

Health Headlines - October 28

Drug May Block Alzheimer's, Scientists Say

It might be possible to make a pill that prevents the brain damage that marks Alzheimer's disease, U.S. researchers said Thursday.

CDC: Rare Infection a Risk to Gay, Bisexual Men in US

A rare sexually transmitted disease that is spreading among gay and bisexual men in Europe could be poised to surface in the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.

Mammograms Not Helpful for Most Women Over 80

Breast cancer screening in the US is common among women 80 years of age or older, but it is of little benefit to the majority of them, according to a new study.

Snoring May Affect Kids' Mental Abilities

Five-year-old children who snore or have sleep apnea -- the more serious disorder in which breathing stops intermittently while they sleep-- score worse on tests of memory and intelligence than unaffected kids, investigators report.

Umbilical Cord Blood May Help Predict Allergy Risk

Blood from a baby's umbilical cord could help doctors predict which children will suffer from allergies and asthma later in their lives, British and American scientists said on Thursday.

MedImmune Says FluMist Recommended for Kids

MedImmune's FluMist nasal vaccine should be included in the U.S. government's Vaccines for Children program, expanding its distribution to children over the age of 5 and teens, federal advisers said on Thursday.

New Drug Helps Control Type 2 Diabetes

Long-term use of exenatide, an experimental diabetes drug derived from lizard saliva, reduces blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes who don't do well with sulfonylurea-type drugs, investigators report.

Researchers: Stress Causes Forgetfulness

How many people have gotten home after a blindingly stressful day and realize they've forgotten some important event or errand? Well, now at least there's a scientific explanation for the oversight. Stress makes you forgetful.

Taste Sensitivity Linked to Lower Weight

Could a sensitive palate be the key to a svelte figure? Maybe, say researchers at Rutgers University and elsewhere who have found people especially sensitive to bitter compounds in broccoli and other foods tend to be thinner than others.

U.S. Works to Import 5 Million Flu Shots

The Bush administration said Thursday it is working to buy another 5 million doses of flu vaccine from manufacturers in Canada and Germany, mixing the ticklish issue of prescription drug imports with the flu shot shortage.

Consumers Save Less Amid High Health Costs

A rising number of Americans say health care is the most critical issue facing America today, and many are having trouble covering the costs.

Mel Gibson Weighs in on Stem Cell Issue

A proposition to fund stem cell research turned into the battle of the Hollywood stars Thursday when actor Mel Gibson spoke out against the $3 billion bond measure and offered his help to an opposition campaign.

Missouri Joins Drug Import Program

Missouri joined Illinois and Wisconsin in a new drug import program to make cheaper prescription drugs available from Canada and Europe despite a federal ban on the imports.

FDA Warns Against Decorative Contacts

Federal health officials are warning people not to use decorative contact lenses as part of Halloween costumes.

New Drug Helps Gout Patients

The investigational drug febuxostat helps lower serum uric acid levels in people with gout, says new research.

Testosterone Tied to Memory

Men who are given testosterone-deprivation treatment for prostate cancer forget things faster than healthy men, says a study by Oregon Health & Science University researchers.

Link Between Migraine, Endometriosis Found

There's evidence of a possible link between endometriosis and migraine, says an Italian study in the latest issue of Human Reproduction.

Obesity Linked to Higher Stroke Risk

Obesity nearly doubles the risk that an otherwise healthy middle-aged man will eventually have a stroke, a long-running Swedish study finds.

Red Wine May Protect Against Lung Cancer

Researchers say they may have found yet another health benefit conferred by red wine -- it seems to reduce the risk of lung cancer, at least in men.

Scientists Find Key to Iron Disorders

For years, experts have known that a hormone called hepcidin regulates the amount of iron circulating in the bloodstream, but the way in which it interacts with cells has remained a mystery.

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