Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Health Headlines - January 11

Stay Thin by Sleeping More?

A study published on Monday found that people who sleep less tend to be fat, and experts said it's time find if more sleep will fight obesity.

Sun Protection in a Pill Seen Possible

An extract of a fern plant grown in Central America, taken by mouth, protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation damage that can lead to skin cancer, researchers report.

Study: Weight Loss Precedes Dementia in Elderly

Weight loss in elderly men appears to be a harbinger of dementia and contributes to their increasing frailty, researchers said on Monday.

Colon Cancer Screening Still Underused

Many people with colon cancer may not be diagnosed until after symptoms arise, even though the disease can be caught earlier with routine screening, a study released Monday suggests.

AstraZeneca Reports Death of Crestor Drug Patient

AstraZeneca Plc's cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor has been linked to the death of a patient who developed a suspected case of severe muscle wasting, Europe's third largest drugmaker said on Monday.

Heavy Pesticide Exposure May Up Parkinson's Risk

People who come into regular contact with pesticides at work -- such as farmers and pesticide sprayers -- appear to have a slightly higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to new study findings released Monday.

Anti-Inflammatory Protein Cuts Heart Attack Risk

High circulating levels of a protein called mannan binding lectin (MBL), which prompts scavenger cells to remove various inflammatory agents, appear to reduce the risk of having a heart attack -- especially for people with diabetes.

Scientists Find Clue to AIDS Origins, New Therapy

A single change in a human gene may hold the key to preventing people living with HIV from progressing to full-blown AIDS, researchers said on Monday.

Wyeth Backs Changes to Diet Drug Settlement

Wyeth on Monday said it will support changes in a nationwide legal settlement with users of its "fen-phen" diet drugs, speeding up compensation to as many as 40,000 people who say they were harmed by the recalled medicines.

Feds Tout Medicare's Preventive Benefits

Government and health organization leaders on Monday urged Medicare beneficiaries to take advantage of new preventive benefits, saying the emphasis on prevention will save lives and billions of dollars in health care costs.

Botulism Supplier Ordered to Halt Sales

A federal judge ordered an Arizona company Monday to stop distributing raw botulism bacteria in place of the wrinkle treatment Botox and to recall any of roughly 3,000 vials that may still be in circulation.

Officials Seek End to Flavored Cigarettes

Michigan's top two health officials want tobacco companies to stop making flavored cigarettes, arguing that names such as "Winter Mocha Mint" and "Warm Winter Toffee" target children and adults who aren't smokers.

Md. Governor Vetoes Malpractice Bill

Gov. Robert Ehrlich vetoed a bill to hold down big verdicts in medical malpractice cases Monday, saying it does not go far enough to control the skyrocketing cost of insurance for doctors and includes a tax that will be passed on to consumers.

Feds Failed to Disclose Financial Interest

Government scientists have collected millions of dollars in royalties for experimental treatments without having to tell patients testing the treatments that the researchers' had a financial connection, according to documents and interviews.

Tenn. Drops 323,000 Adults From Medicaid

Gov. Phil Bredesen announced Monday that he will drop 323,000 adults from the state's expanded Medicaid program to save about $1.7 billion a year, but will preserve health coverage for children.

Two Tsunami Survivors Have Measles

The World Health Organization on Monday confirmed two unconnected cases of measles in tsunami survivors on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and health workers quickly vaccinated more than 1,000 people to head off the spread of the virus.

6 Million Sudan Kids to Get Polio Vaccine

Rebels opened sections of Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region on Monday to allow health workers to vaccinate children younger than 5 years old against polio, the paralyzing illness that re-emerged in Africa's largest country last year.

N.D. Bill Would Shield Food Industry

North Dakota should join an increasing number of states that are blocking lawsuits against food makers from people who eat too much of their products, a group of lawmakers say.

Cord Blood Stems Heart Attack Damage

Stem cells taken from human umbilical cord blood reduced heart attack damage in rats, says a University of South Florida study published online this week in Cell Transplantation.

Rats Might Be Multilingual

If you want to be like Dr. Dolittle and talk to the animals, it might help to know that rats can tell the difference between languages.

Delirium Can Be Side Effect of Stem Cell Transplant

Half of cancer patients who have stem cell transplants show signs of delirium after the procedure, says a study to be published in the Feb. 15 issue of Cancer.

Rural Stroke Patients Helped by Phone Support

Telephone support from urban stroke center doctors improves the treatment of stroke patients in rural hospitals, says a study in the Jan. 11 issue of Neurology.

Emotions Color Your Sense of Smell

Your emotions may influence whether you think your boss's perfume -- or any other smell -- is heinous or heavenly.

Elderly Avoiding Colorectal Cancer Screening

Less than half of the Medicare patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer had any screening in the six months before being diagnosed, troubling new research shows.

'Smokebusters' out in force as Italy bans public puffing

Authorities lost no time in snuffing out opposition to a ban on smoking in all bars, restaurants and offices as Italy joined a growing number of European nations taking tough measures against the habit.

Deadly bacterial outbreak sets Philippine resort city on edge

A deadly bacteria that may have killed up to 28 people in recent months has set the picturesque northern Philippines resort city of Baguio on edge, threatening the region's vital tourism industry.

Hong Kong lawmakers draft law to ban smoking

Hong Kong lawmakers were drafting a law to ban smoking in public places, joining New York and countries such as Ireland and Norway in leading the charge against tobacco.

East Asian neighbours readjusting acupuncture points

Japan, China and South Korea plan to standardise "acupuncture points" which have subtly shifted through their separate practices in the 2,000-year old Chinese-born therapy.

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