Saturday, February 12, 2005

Health Headlines - February 12

McDonald's to Pay $8.5 Million in Trans Fat Lawsuit

McDonald's has agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle a lawsuit over artery-clogging trans fats in its cooking oils, the company said on Friday.

People Can Change Some Stroke Risk Factors

High blood pressure is a big risk factor for stroke, but people with normal blood pressure can have a stroke. In a new study, researchers have identified other key determinants of this debilitating neurologic problem.

Patients with Serious Illness Appear to Adapt Well

Most people who live with serious disability or illness, such as kidney failure, appear to adapt well and maintain a healthy outlook on life, new research reports.

Vitamin D, Calcium OK for Crohn's-Related Bone Loss

Adding etidronate to calcium and vitamin D therapy is not necessary in the treatment of bone loss in patients with Crohn's disease, results of a new study indicate.

Medtronic Issues Heart Device Warning

Medical device maker Medtronic Inc. said on Friday it has begun warning doctors about some faulty batteries installed in a line of its implantable heart defibrillators.

Survey Finds Pain Common in Children and Teenagers

Most children and adolescents commonly experience pain, such as headache or gastric discomfort, which often restricts activities of daily living, according to a study conducted in Germany.

BP Drugs Reduce Pneumonia Risk in Stroke Patients

Treatment with an ACE inhibitor, a type of blood pressure drug that includes Zestril and Accupril among others, appears to reduce the risk of pneumonia in patients who've suffered a stroke, new research suggests.

Mortality Not Higher for Most with Prostate Cancer

The mortality rates for most men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States are no higher than those in the general population, a new analysis shows.

Herbal Remedy as Good as Drug for Depression

An extract of the herbal remedy St. John's wort is as effective as a commonly prescribed drug for people with moderate-to-severe depression, researchers reported this week Friday.

Breast Exam Adds Little to Mammography

Having a doctor examine the breasts for potential signs of cancer may add little to the benefits of mammography screening, a large study suggests.

Rare Drug-Resistant HIV Found in N.Y.

New York's first diagnosed case of highly drug-resistant HIV in a person never before treated for the virus is "a wake up call" to anyone who has unprotected sex, the city's health commissioner said Friday.

Campuses May Face Meningitis Drug Shortage

Health officials are bracing for the possibility of shortages of a new shot that prevents the type of meningitis that often spreads on college campuses.

Kan. Woman Resumes Talking After 20 Years

A woman unable to talk since she was hit by a drunken driver 20 years ago has begun to regain her memory and form words, sending her father "from despair to joy."

Navajo Nation Votes to Make Meth Illegal

The Navajo Nation's governing council voted Friday to outlaw methamphetamine, an addictive stimulant that has become a scourge for tribal police and health officials on the sprawling reservation.

Study: PMS May Cost Employers Millions

Lost productivity and missed work time mean premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can greatly increase costs for employers, a new study finds.

Flu Shots for Kids Would Protect Many Adults

U.S. flu rates would drop dramatically if the majority of schoolchildren, as well as members of high-risk groups, were vaccinated every fall, a new study suggests.

Bioartificial Kidney Promising in Early Trials

A number of intensive care units across the United States are taking part in a study to determine if a bioartificial kidney that contains billions of donor kidney cells can help kidney failure patients survive.

Timely Tips for Teens and Their Teeth

Teens may pay close attention to fashion and music, but many don't seem to devote much effort into looking after their oral health, says the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Many Overrate Pre-Surgery Back Pain

While many patients believe spinal surgeries do wonders in relieving their back pain, a new study suggests many may also overrate just how bad their pre-surgery pain was.

Induced Labor at 32 Weeks Deemed Safe

Inducing labor 32 weeks into a pregnancy is viable for women who experience premature rupture of the uterine membrane, says a Mayo Clinic study.

Toxoplasmosis Tests Urged for All Pregnant Women, Newborns

All pregnant women and newborn babies should be screened for toxoplasmosis infection, say the authors of a study in the February issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Counsellors try to wean French teenagers off cannabis

Some French teenagers who are heavy smokers of cannabis are being offered a stark choice in a campaign to get them off drugs -- counselling, or expulsion from school.

Polio cases in Saudi Arabia show risk of spread with pilgrims

At least three cases of polio have been imported into Saudi Arabia since September, the UN's health agency said, highlighting the risk of the disease spreading from West Africa with pilgrims to Mecca.

200 Indonesian tsunami survivors hit by suspected food poisoning

Some 200 people in a camp for tsunami homeless in Indonesia's Aceh province have been hospitalized for what was believed to be food poisoning from eating tainted noodles, officials said.

Japanese chain revives famous dish to show demand for banned US beef

There were long queues at outlets of a Japanese food chain as it put a beef and rice dish it is famous for back on the menu for one day to illustrate popular demand for the resumption of US beef imports.

AWOL doctor snarls plan for tackling Samoan diabetes problem

Plans to open a new dialysis center to treat Samoa's growing number of diabetes sufferers hit a snag when the doctor sent to New Zealand at government expense to learn how to run the unit decided not to return home, officials said.

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