Friday, December 10, 2004

Health Headlines - December 10

Study Raises Questions About Folate Supplements

British scientists called on Friday for more research into the possibility that it is harmful for women to take folic acid supplements throughout pregnancy.

FDA Says Heart Warning Added to Pfizer's Bextra

Pfizer Inc.'s painkiller Bextra will come with a new warning about the possibility of heart attacks and blood clots in patients who have just had heart bypass surgery, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday.

New Antibiotic Fights Tuberculosis, Study Shows

A novel antibiotic that is working well in mice may be the first new drug enlisted in the fight against tuberculosis in 40 years, an international team of researchers said on Thursday.

Consumer Reports Adds Drugs to Price Comparison

Consumer Reports magazine, best known for comparing the prices and performance of cars, televisions and washing machines, is adding drugs to its coverage to help Americans save money on their health care.

Exercise Has Many Benefits in Overweight Children

In addition to improved fitness levels, eight weeks of aerobic exercise improves levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and measures of circulatory function, in overweight children and adolescents.

New Zealand Stubs Out Smoking in Bars, Restaurants

New Zealanders breathed a little more easily on Friday, although smokers grumbled, as it became the third country in the world to ban smoking in bars and restaurants.

Stem Cell Transplants Help Mice See

Stem cells transplanted into the eyes of mice with retinal disease restored and improved the animals' vision, a finding that may yield benefits for patients with eye disease, researchers report.

Levodopa's Effect on Parkinson's Disease Unclear

Although symptoms of Parkinson's disease often improve when the drug levodopa is given, brain scan results suggest that the drug hastens progression of the disease, according to a report in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Study Touts Less-Severe Cancer Surgery

Removing just one to three key lymph nodes instead of the usual dozen or more can spare women lifelong arm problems and reliably indicate whether breast cancer has spread and needs aggressive treatment.

Video Games Used to Relax Kids in Hospital

Letting children play video games on a Game Boy in the operating room before undergoing surgery can help relax them better than tranquilizers or holding Mommy's hand, researchers say.

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