Health Headlines - February 16

Air Pollution Damages Babies in Womb

Babies' DNA can be damaged even before they are born if their mothers breathe polluted air, according to a study published on Tuesday.

Researchers See Chance U.S. Might Pull COX-2 Drugs

Doctors who led three studies showing prescription painkillers called COX-2 inhibitors raise the risk of heart attacks and stroke said on Tuesday the whole class of drugs was in danger of being pulled from the market.

U.S. FDA Should Warn About Eczema Drug Risk

Two topical creams used to treat the skin condition eczema need a stronger warning on their labels about the possible risk of cancer, U.S. medical experts said on Tuesday.

Sudden Rises in HIV Levels No Concern, Report Says

Sudden jumps of HIV levels in patients taking drugs for the AIDS-causing infection are harmless blips and do not mean the treatment against the virus is losing its punch, a report said on Tuesday.

New Test Can Detect Bladder Cancer Faster

A urine test that detects proteins given off by malignant growths can identify bladder cancer faster and perhaps reduce the use of more invasive procedures, researchers said on Tuesday.

Study May Mark Advance in Diabetes Transplant Care

Doctors were able to eliminate the need for insulin injections in diabetic women for a year or more by simplifying the technique of transplanting insulin-producing cells, a small study said on Tuesday.

Herbal Supplement Use Leveling Off

The surge in herbal supplement use in the U.S. may have reached a plateau, but the love affair is not over, according to a new study.

U.S. Creates Drug Safety Oversight Board

The government is setting up a special monitoring board to keep checking on medicines once they're on the market, responding to complaints that officials reacted too slowly to reports linking prescription painkillers to heart attack and stroke.

Coffee May Help Prevent Liver Cancer

That hot cup of coffee may do more than just provide a tasty energy boost. It also may help prevent the most common type of liver cancer.

Boy Who Dubbed Tumor 'Frank' Cancer-Free

A 9-year-old boy who nicknamed his brain tumor "Frank" - that's short for Frankenstein - is celebrating the intruder's departure.

Meth-Linked Homes Spur Push for Research

While rural police struggle to contain crystal methamphetamine abuse, health officials are trying to come to terms with the drug's hidden danger: contaminated homes where meth was cooked, leaving toxic rooms for unwitting tenants.

Study: Pollution May Affect Babies' Genes

A study of New York City newborns suggests that prenatal exposure to air pollution may be linked to genetic changes associated with an increased risk of cancer, researchers said Tuesday.

Calif. Patrol Sued for Seizing Medical Pot

Medical marijuana advocates filed a lawsuit Tuesday demanding California Highway Patrol officers stop confiscating pot from authorized users.

Mercury Risk Overstated, House Panel Says

Dangers of toxic mercury pollution in the environment have been overstated, the House Resources Committee says in a report issued in anticipation of new regulatory proposals from the Bush administration.

Problem Drinkers Turning to the Web For Help

The Internet is becoming an increasingly rich source of effective help for problem drinkers trying to stay sober, according to experts.

Compound in Urine May Fight Spinal Cord Injury

Uric acid, a metabolic breakdown product found in urine and blood, may help reduce damage from spinal cord injury, researchers say.

Heredity Plays a Role in Heart Artery Blockages

Some people inherit a tendency for fatty deposits to form in dangerous regions of their heart arteries, a new study shows.

Medical Journal Drug Ads Sometimes Short on Facts

A new study claims that drug advertisements in medical journals often fail miserably at providing enough information for doctors to make informed prescribing decisions.

Quit-Smoking Program Boosts Lifespan

Intensive quit-smoking programs that include behavior changes and use of nicotine gum can add years to former smokers' lifespans, researchers report.

Sweden lays contingency plan in case of flu pandemic

Swedish health authorities presented a contingency plan in case the Scandinavian country is hit with a flu pandemic, suggesting that enough antiviral drugs be stored for at least society's most important groups.

HIV/AIDS rate in South African army between 17 and 23 percent

South African Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said the HIV/AIDS rate in the army was between 17 and 23 percent, according to a sample of blood tests from volunteers and those who had served on missions abroad.

Suspended trial of AIDS drug in Cameroon was safe says U.S. NGO

The controversial trial of an AIDS drug on prostitutes, suspended by the Cameroon government, is not dangerous, a U.S. group conducting the trial said.

I like you -- you look healthy

Women in the latter part of their menstrual cycle have a particular preference for people who look healthy, according to an innovative study in psychology.

Gay concern over hyping AIDS 'superbug'

Gay activists fear the announcement of a rare, highly virulent strain of the AIDS virus being found in a New York man may fuel panic of an HIV "superbug" and further stigmatise their community.

Health organizations denounce dire impact of Israel barrier

Israel's controversial West Bank barrier is blocking some 10,000 chronically ill Palestinians from access to essential healthcare, three leading health organizations charged.

British opposition plans to test immigrants for tuberculosis, HIV

The Conservative party promised to test immigrants from outside the European Union (EU) for HIV, tuberculosis and other diseases if it wins elections expected in May.