UK Seeks Cannabis Health Checks
The British government said on Saturday it had asked for an assessment of its decision to ease the rules on cannabis after studies showed the drug's use may be linked to mental health problems.
Caffeine Impairs Sugar Metabolism
Caffeine intake makes insulin more resistant to changes in blood sugar levels, Canadian researchers report. This effect was observed both in patients with and those without diabetes and could not be reversed with regular exercise or weight.
Hostility More Common in Young Heart Patients
People under age 50 with heart disease are significantly more hostile than older patients, which perhaps places an extra burden on their heart, according to new study findings.
Overdoses Kill 70,000 Russians Every Year
Some 70,000 Russians -- close to 200 people a day -- die from drug overdoses, a top official said on Friday.
Folate Does Not Appear to Increase Chance of Twins
Despite some evidence to the contrary, the folate supplements women are advised to take before getting pregnant do not appear to significantly boost the odds of having twins, according to the results of a large study.
Florida Woman's Feeding Tube Removed
Doctors removed the feeding tube that has kept a brain-damaged Florida woman alive for 15 years Friday after U.S. lawmakers tried to prolong her life by subpoenaing her to appear before Congress.
Roche, Glaxo Await OK for Easier Osteoporosis Drug
A new once-monthly osteoporosis pill could be good news for sufferers of the brittle bone disease and a profitable new opening for Roche Holding AG and GlaxoSmithKline Plc, analysts believe.
Newly Identified Gene Mutation Raises Alzheimer Risk
Mutations in a region of the gene that codes for VEGF, a protein that stimulates blood vessel growth, are associated with to a heightened risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, Italian researchers report.
Alfuzosin Improves Sexual Function in Men
The drug alfuzosin relieves the symptoms of sexual dysfunction, which are common in men with lower urinary tract symptoms, a multinational team reports in the medical journal BJU International.
Measles Kills Hundreds of Nigerian Children
Hundreds of children have died from an upsurge in measles cases in Nigeria, despite a series of local vaccination campaigns aimed at combating the disease, health authorities said Friday.
Study: Abstinence Pledgers May Risk STDs
Teens who pledge to remain virgins until marriage are more likely to take chances with other kinds of sex that increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, a study of 12,000 adolescents suggests.
German Measles No Longer Threat in U.S.
German measles, one of the greatest fears of expectant mothers just a few decades ago, is no longer a health threat in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Minnesota to Tap Britain for Cheaper Drugs
Minnesota, the first state to operate a Web site that helps residents import cheaper medications from Canada, plans to expand the program to include British mail-order pharmacies, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Friday.
Decision to End Life Support a Common One
Hospitals and nursing homes don't track how many Americans die each year after some level of life support is withdrawn, but the number is likely to be at least in the tens of thousands, doctors said Friday.
Conjoined Chinese Twins Die Before Surgery
A pair of 3-month-old conjoined twin boys who shared a heart and other organs died before a planned surgery to separate them, one of their doctors said Friday.
Exercise May Help in Treating Depression
Though there's no definitive research showing exercise by itself can cure depression, many mental health experts agree that it has positive mental benefits and can be a useful tool in overall therapy.
Officials Boosting Mad Cow Research
The government will spend an additional $2 million on research into mad cow disease, the Agriculture Department said Friday.
Pre-Trial Hearing Begins for Vioxx Case
Lawyers filed into a federal courtroom Friday for the first pre-trial hearing in the federal Vioxx liability case, the start of a legal process expected to be complex, years-long and potentially very costly for the painkiller's maker, Merck & Co.
FDA Approves New Diabetes Drug Symlin
A new drug for diabetics who can't adequately control their blood sugar with insulin was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday.
Sleep Apnea Differs in Men, Women
Researchers say they've found clinical differences between men and women with obstructive sleep apnea, a serious condition in which breathing is frequently impeded during sleep.
Household Mold Doubles Child's Asthma Risk
Mold and dampness in the family home doubles the risk a child will develop asthma, British researchers report.
Gene May Be New Cancer Treatment Target
Canadian scientists have honed in on a gene that may provide a whole new target for cancer therapies.
Health Tip: Keep a First Aid Kit Handy
In case of emergency, a well-stocked first aid kit could be a lifesaver. Keep one in your home, in your car, and even at work. And keep one handy if you are hiking, biking, camping or boating.
Health Tip: Steady as She Goes
Infections, head injury, disorders of blood circulation affecting the inner ear or brain, certain medications and aging all may contribute to dizziness or balance problems.
Few Extra Pounds Put Kids at Risk for Adult Obesity
Just a few extra pounds can put children at greater risk of being overweight or obese and having high blood pressure when they're adults, researchers report.
Veterans Heavier Than Rest of U.S. Population
Veterans are more likely to be overweight than the general population, a new study finds.
To Stay Mobile, Keep Moving
Get moving, Boomers: a new study finds physical activity in middle age helps keep the body spry for years to come.
China urges business sector to help China fight AIDS
Vice Premier and Minister of Health Wu Yi urged domestic and international businesses to help China battle AIDS amid warnings that the number of sufferers was rising fast.
Mysterious haemorrhagic fever kills 87 in Angola
An outbreak of an unidentified haemorrhagic fever has claimed the lives of 87 people in northern Angola over the past four months.
Cambodia and WHO plan education strategy to fight bird flu
Cambodia and the UN's World Health Organisation (WHO) are devising a public education campaign to fight bird flu which will be funded by 40,000 dollars from the agency, an official said.
Production halted at three of nine Spanish nuclear plants
Three of Spain's nine nuclear power plants have seen production come to a halt owing to various faults, the country's nuclear watchdog CSN warned.
Zimbabwe opposition warns of major starvation
Zimbabwe's main opposition party warned that the country was headed for a "starvation of major proportions" due to President Robert Mugabe's failure to attract international aid.
African AIDS sufferers plea for India to drop patents bill
A group representing African victims of HIV/AIDS appealed to the Indian government to withdraw a controversial patents bill introduced in parliament that will bar firms in India from producing cheap copies of brand name pharmeceuticals.
Five-year-old becomes latest bird flu victim in Vietnam
A five-year-old boy in central Vietnam has tested positive for bird flu, which has already killed 34 people in the country, health authorities said.
No comments:
Post a Comment