Saturday, December 18, 2004

Health Headlines - December 18

U.S. Expands Group Recommended for Flu Vaccine

U.S. officials who just weeks ago worried that the nation's flu shot supply would run short said on Friday they are expanding the group of people who should get the vaccine so that doses do not go to waste.

Pfizer's Celebrex Lifts Heart Attack Risk in Trial

Pfizer Inc. on Friday said its popular Celebrex arthritis drug more than doubled the risk of heart attack in a large cancer-prevention trial, a setback that comes just weeks after Merck & Co. recalled its similar Vioxx drug due to heart safety risks.

Doctors Say Avoid Pfizer's Bextra

Doctors writing in a prominent medical journal on Friday recommended that physicians stop prescribing Pfizer Inc.'s Bextra painkiller, just as a large study found the drug maker's sister drug, Celebrex, doubled risk of heart attacks.

Depression Ups Diabetes Risk in Middle-Aged Women

Results of a new study provide more evidence that being depressed increases the likelihood of developing diabetes.

OTC Acne Products as Good as Prescription Meds

Over-the-counter (OTC) benzoyl peroxide cream clears up acne as well as prescription antibiotics -- and at a fraction of the cost, according to new study findings released Friday.

False-Positive Cancer Screening Results Costly

Screening for cancer quite often produces a false-positive result, and this can lead to costly -- and ultimately unnecessary -- follow-up testing, according to a new report.

42 Million Americans Not Screened for Colon Cancer

About 60 percent of Americans aged 50 or older who are at average risk for colorectal cancer -- some 42 million people -- have not yet been screened, researchers report.

Iressa Drug Failure Deals AstraZeneca Fresh Blow

AstraZeneca Plc suffered its third setback in two months on Friday as lung cancer drug Iressa failed to help patients live longer in a major clinical trial, sending its shares down more than 8 percent.

Psoriasis My Yield to Modified Anti-Anxiety Drug

A new benzodiazepine derivative, called Bz-423, holds promise for treating psoriasis without being toxic to normal cells, a research team at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor reports.

Magnetic Bracelets Cut Osteoarthritis Pain

Magnetic bracelets can help to ease the pain of osteoarthritis of the hip and knee, British researchers said on Friday.

U.S. Accused of Using Africans for Tests

President Thabo Mbeki's ruling party published a stinging attack Friday on top U.S. health officials, accusing them of treating Africans like "guinea pigs" and lying to promote a key AIDS drug.

Danger of Liver Problems Seen in ADD Drug

Strattera, used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is getting an updated label to highlight the risk the drug might contribute to severe liver problems in some patients.

FDA Approves Drug to Treat Eye Disease

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a new drug designed to treat the leading cause of blindness in older Americans: age-related macular degeneration.

Stem Cells From Fat Used to Repair Skull

Surgeons in Germany say they used stem cells from a 7-year-old girl's fat to help repair severe damage to her skull. It's apparently the first time that researchers have generated bone in a person by using the fat-derived cells.

Vatican Sets Up AIDS Foundation

The Vatican established a foundation Friday to fund Catholic organizations assisting AIDS victims, urging people to contribute even if they object to the Church's opposition to the use of condoms to fight the spread of the disease.

Smoking Slows Healing

A new study outlines the way that cigarette smoke may delay the formation of healing tissue on wounds.

Dry Hands Could Mean Eczema

If your hands remain dry, cracked, red, and itchy no matter how much lotion you slather on them, you may have hand eczema, a common inflammation of the skin.

Gene Family May Be to Blame for Lupus

Scientists have identified a family of genes that plays a role in determining the potential for developing lupus.

Vitamin C May Be Cancer Fighter

The way vitamin C functions in the body may help explain its possible role in prevention of heart disease and cancer, according to an Oregon State University study.

Gene Therapy Beats 'Bubble Boy' Disease

Researchers report that gene therapy has successfully treated four children with severe combined immunodeficiency disorder, more popularly known as the "bubble boy" disease.

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