Saturday, January 15, 2005

Health Headlines - January 15

FDA Panel Rejects Merck OTC Drug

A U.S. advisory panel on Friday urged regulators to reject over-the-counter sales of Merck & Co. Inc.'s cholesterol-lowering drug Mevacor because of doubts the medicine could be used safely without a doctor's guidance.

Electrical Device Promising for Spinal Cord Injury

Early tests are raising hopes that a new device can help people who've injured their spinal cord.

Amgen Warns About Higher Doses of Anemia Drugs

Amgen Inc. has added a warning to its anemia drug, Aranesp, for kidney dialysis and cancer patients after studies on similar drugs showed higher doses can cause blood clots and death, the company said a letter released on Friday.

Viagra Safe with Blood Pressure Drugs, Study Shows

Men who take multiple blood pressure medications can also take Viagra without risking additional problems, according to a new study.

FDA Seeks More Data on Schering Diagnostic Agent

U.S. regulators have demanded more clinical studies of a new substance designed to produce clearer MRI pictures of clogged arteries, Germany's Schering AG and U.S. partner Epix Pharmaceuticals Inc. said on Friday.

Anxiety May Worsen Disability in Older Women

Symptoms of anxiety may speed the progression of certain physical disabilities in older women, new research suggests.

Genes, Low Iron Tied to Restless Legs in Kids

Family history and iron deficiency appear to play important roles in childhood restless legs syndrome, according to a new study.

Carnitine Compound Eases Diabetic Nerve Pain

People with diabetes-related nerve damage may find pain is relieved by taking a compound related to the popular supplement L-carnitine -- provided the treatment is started early -- according to a re-analysis of data from two large clinical trials.

Inhaled Budesonide Safe for Infants with Asthma

Budesonide inhalation suspension (BIS) is a safe asthma treatment for infants, according to a new study.

Physician-Nurse Team Improves Blood Pressure Control

Success in achieving target blood pressure levels seems to be improved using home blood pressure measurements to guide treatment in a physician-supervised, nurse-managed clinic, a new study suggests.

Food Industry Nudged Toward Changes

Like many Americans at this time of year, the food industry has been talking a lot about healthy eating, improved nutrition and making better choices. Trans fats are out, whole grains are in and so are reminders about balanced lifestyles.

Japanese Baby Has 6-Organ Transplant

An 11-month-old Japanese boy smiled and laughed in his mother's arms Friday as doctors talked of his progress from a six-organ transplant, an operation done here because children's organ donations are banned in Japan.

U.S. Looks to Europe for Low Drug Prices

U.S. states that have looked to Canada to help their residents win steep discounts on prescription drug prices are turning to Europe for the same deals because the Canadian government is considering shutting off the southbound flow.

High Blood Pressure: The New Childhood Scourge

Add high blood pressure -- that's right, high blood pressure -- to the list of childhood ills that have historically included diseases like chicken pox and the mumps.

Health Tip: Polly Want an Illness?

If you got a pet bird as a holiday gift, the Mayo Clinic wants you to be aware of an illness you can get from birds: parrot fever.

Health Tip: Avoid Alcohol, Caffeine While Pregnant

If you're pregnant and want to have a healthy baby, you need to avoid the wine glass and coffee cup, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

Possible Cocaine Addiction Treatment Found

Modafinil -- a wake-promoting drug used to treat narcolepsy -- may be an effective treatment for cocaine dependence, suggests a University of Pennsylvania Medical Center study.

Carefree People May Miss Rectal Cancer

Carefree, optimistic people are more likely to ignore symptoms of rectal cancer for long periods of time and receive treatment at a later stage than people who are more anxious by nature.

Cutting Down on Health-Care Costs

Requiring enrollees to get permission before filling prescriptions for proton pump inhibitor (PPI) anti-ulcer drugs enabled the Georgia Medicaid program to cut its prescription drug costs by $20.6 million.

New Scans Spot More Small Breast Tumors

A new technique that uses a specially designed gamma camera improves detection of small breast tumors, says a study in the January issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Drug Reduces Frequency of MS Relapses

Once-a-month intravenous therapy with the drug Tysabri appears to reduce relapses among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a Rush University Medical Center study.

Vietnam PM calls for drastic action as bird flu hits capital

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has asked authorities to take drastic measures to fight bird flu after the potentially fatal virus killed hundreds of poultry in the capital Hanoi.

Thai tsunami trauma sparks rash of foreign ghost sightings

A second surge of tsunami terror is hitting southern Thailand, but this time it is a wave of foreign ghosts terrifying locals in what health experts described as an outpouring of delayed mass trauma.

Japan to survey all nursing homes after seven die of stomach flu

Japan will survey conditions at all of its 5,000 nursing homes after seven elderly residents at one institution died of stomach flu caused by a highly contagious virus, the health ministry said.

Fear of infection as Sofia's garbage strike leaves city in a mess

Bulgarian authorities fear an outbreak of disease from tons of waste garbage piled up in Sofia after protestors for the seventh day blocked access to the capital's main waste disposal site.

Mozambique to more than double free HIV treatment in 2005

Mozambique plans to increase to 20,000 the number of HIV/AIDS patients whom it provides with free anti-viral treatment in 2005, more than double the 8,000 who received the treatment at no cost last year, a health ministry spokesman has said.

African health ministers agree to massive anti-polio drive: WHO

Eight African states have agreed to a massive series of anti-polio vaccination campaigns aimed at halting transmission of the virus by the end of 2005, the World Health Organisation said.

Doctors urged to carry out hajj travel checkup

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) this week advises doctors to carry out checkups for Muslims heading out on the hajj, warning that the stress of the pilgrimage can be fatal for those who are weak or in ill health.

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