Saturday, March 12, 2005

Health Headlines - March 12

Canada 'Nowhere Near' Internet Pharmacy Clampdown

Canada said on Friday it was "nowhere near" deciding how to clamp down on Internet pharmacies that send cheap medicine to the United States, often without Canadian doctors having seen the patients.

Won't Ban Junk-Food Ads for Kids, Official Says

The U.S. government will not ban or limit junk-food advertising to children, but wants the industry to set new guidelines to promote healthy eating and minimize obesity, a top regulator said on Friday.

Baby's Size Linked to Birth Size of Both Parents

Having a father who was a small infant more than triples the chances that a baby will also be born small. Furthermore, if this is the case for the mother as well, the likelihood is over 16 times greater, according to study finding.

Some 'Senior Moments' Are Signs of Epilepsy

Memory blanks, losing train of thought, temporary confusion -- all are often chalked up to "senioritis" once people reach a certain age. But these symptoms can also be a warning sign of the seizure disorder epilepsy, experts said Friday.

Older Siblings Smarter, Norwegian Study Shows

First born children in Norway get better education and as adults are more successful in the job market than younger siblings, a Norwegian-U.S. study showed.

Blacks Get Less Aggressive Heart Attack Treatment

The gap is narrowing, but African Americans who suffer a heart attack are still getting less aggressive treatment compared with whites, according to a new study.

Even a Late Exercise Start Cuts Heart Risks

Adopting a regular exercise routine for the first time late in life reduces the development of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, Canadian researchers found in a clinical study of older people.

FDA Panel Backs Bristol-Myers Hepatitis Drug

U.S. health experts on Friday praised the effectiveness of Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s experimental hepatitis B drug and recommended the Food and Drug Administration approve it to treat the liver disease in adults.

Heavy Drinking Tied to Hardening of Heart Arteries

In contrast to the beneficial effects of moderate alcohol intake on the heart, higher levels of alcohol consumption are linked to calcification of the coronary arteries, researchers report.

Remicade Eases Treatment-Resistant Kids' Arthritis

Children with arthritis -- a condition known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) -- who aren't helped by conventional treatments may benefit from one of the newer anti-arthritis drugs, Remicade.

FDA Warns AstraZeneca on Crestor Again

AstraZeneca PLC has received its second warning in four months from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over what the agency says are misleading claims in its ads for cholesterol-lowering medicine Crestor.

Report Links Second-Hand Smoke, Cancer

Scientists at an influential state agency have completed a draft report linking second-hand smoke to breast cancer, a finding that could lead air quality regulators to strengthen the state's indoor smoking laws.

Study: Hand Washing the Best Germ-Fighter

Mom was right. A new study by infection control specialists at UNC Hospitals confirms that the best way to get germs off your hands is with plain old soap and water.

Wrong Penicillin Given to 650 Patients

More than 650 people inadvertently received the wrong kind of penicillin after contracting syphilis or being in contact with someone who may have the disease, the Centers For Disease Control reported.

Panel Recommends FDA OK Hepatitis Drug

A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on Friday urged approval of a new drug for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, the drug manufacturer said.

Pioneering Geriatrics Specialist Dies

Victor Kassel, a pioneering geriatrics specialist, died at the age of 84. Kassel, who died Wednesday, lobbied for Medicare reform throughout his career, and during the 1960s was a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging.

Doctors Need Better Training in Geriatric Care

As America's population ages, medical schools are falling short in training specialists in aspects of geriatric care, a new study warns.

Poverty May Raise Mental Illness Risk

The stresses of poverty may increase a person's risk for mental illness, according to a new U.S. study.

Health Tip: Prevent Latex Reactions

Now that spring is almost here, talk of allergies is in the air. Pollen first comes to mind, but an allergy to natural rubber latex can also cause sneezing and wheezing and, in rare cases, serious and even fatal reactions.

Specialist Therapy Most Effective for Panic Disorder

Individuals with panic disorders may benefit more from professional cognitive behavioral therapy plus medication than simply being given drugs and counseling by their primary care doctor, researchers report.

Smokers At Higher Suicide Risk

People who smoke every day may be at increased risk for suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts, researchers report.

Panoramic Dental X-Rays Seldom Necessary

Routine dental panoramic X-rays, which provide a wide view of the teeth, jaws and surrounding structures and tissues, are not necessary in all patients.

Melanoma in Children Appears Different Than Adult Disease

A small study of 33 Italian children with melanoma found those children who were under 10 at the time of diagnosis had higher survival rates than those who were older when they were diagnosed.

Milk Study Leaves a Sour Taste

Earlier this week, a leading medical journal ran an article that found little evidence that children need a milk-heavy diet to build strong bones. Now, the dairy industry is on the defensive, trying to poke holes in the research.

Age No Barrier for Kidney Transplant

Age alone shouldn't prevent older adults from donating kidneys or from receiving kidney transplants, researchers conclude.

Experts denounce continuing effects of Agent Orange in Vietnam

Agent Orange and other toxic chemicals sprayed by the US army during the Vietnam war three decades ago still pollute the soil and damage people's health, experts said.

Husband rejects million-dollar offer to keep brain-damaged wife alive

The husband of a brain-damaged woman rejected a one-million-dollar offer for him to reverse his decision to remove the feeding tube that has kept his wife alive for the past 15 years, his lawyer said.

Gabon sets up central Africa's first factory for generic medicines

Within months, a revolutionary kind of factory being erected in Gabon will start producing generic medicines to treat Africa's two great plagues, malaria and HIV/AIDS, industry and government sources said.

Irish PM says 7,000 have kicked the habit following radical smoking ban

About 7,000 Irish people have stopped smoking since a draconian ban on lighting up in public places was introduced a year ago, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said.

Philippine investigators probe mass poisoning

Philippine authorities launched a criminal investigation after at least 27 schoolchildren died in a mass food-poisoning in the central island of Bohol.

No comments: