Sunday, April 10, 2005

Health Headlines - April 10

Attacks Briefly Halt WHO Campaign in Angola

World Health Organization (WHO) teams fighting an outbreak of Marburg virus in Angola were forced to temporarily suspend work in one area after scared residents stoned their vehicles, officials said on Saturday.

High Carb Diets May Raise Breast Cancer Risk

Diets that have a high "glycemic index" -- that is, they produce high blood sugar levels -- may increase the risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women who've used hormone replacement therapy (HRT), study results suggest.

Diabetes Ups Urinary Infection Risk in Older Women

Rates of urinary tract infection (UTI) are higher among postmenopausal women with diabetes than among those without diabetes, researchers report.

Peanut Allergy Linked to Lupin Flour Allergy

People with peanut allergy may also be allergic to lupin flour, which is increasingly being added to human food products, British investigators report in The Lancet medical journal.

Project Shows Indoor Asthma Triggers Can Be Curbed

The Seattle-King County Healthy Homes Project, designed to decrease exposure of children to asthma triggers in the home through in-home visits by healthcare workers, has proven successful.

'Good' Bacteria Help with Eczema in Infants

Mixing a type of beneficial or "probiotic" bacteria, Lactobacillus GG (LGG), into food helps reduce symptoms in allergic infants with the skin condition eczema, according to a report in the medical journal Allergy.

Active Teen Girls Run Risk of Stress Fracture

While physical activity strengthens bones, high-impact activity can markedly increase the risk of stress fracture among adolescent girls, recent findings suggest.

Poor Blood Pressure Control Ups Stroke Risk

About half of all first-time strokes in patients being treated for high blood pressure result from the pressure not being adequately controlled, Swedish researchers report.

N.Korea Seeks International Help to Fight Bird Flu

North Korea has asked the international community for help in combating a strain of the bird flu virus that has recently killed 50 people in Asia, the world animal health body OIE said Friday.

Depression Therapy May Help HIV Treatment

Antidepressants may do more than improve the mental health of people with both HIV and depression. New study findings suggest the treatment may also bolster patients' compliance with their HIV medications.

Scientists to Study Berries, Oral Cancer

University of Kentucky and Ohio State researchers are conducting a test to see if a common fruit is useful in slowing or preventing oral cancer. Scientists believe the black raspberry carries two acids that can inhibit tumor growth.

Scientists Create Remote-Controlled Flies

Yale University researchers say their study that used lasers to create remote-controlled fruit flies could lead to a better understanding of overeating and violence in humans.

Virginia's Flu Activity Decreasing

Flu season isn't over yet in Virginia but it's waning, state health officials said. Virginia's influenza activity has dropped from "widespread" status, which started in February, according to statistics compiled for the week that ended April 2.

U.N.: Angola Virus Epidemic Not Controlled

Medical experts are having some success countering an outbreak of a deadly Ebola-like virus in Angola, but it has yet to be brought fully under control, the U.N. health agency said Friday.

Woman Says ME Took Her Brother's Brain

A North Carolina woman filed a $500,000 claim against King County on Friday, alleging that its medical examiner's office harvested her dead brother's brain for research without permission seven years ago.

Puerto Ricans Top Survey on Satisfaction

Puerto Ricans have ranked highest in the world in one survey of how satisfied people are with their lives, but the result is drawing head-shaking on the Caribbean island, where some say islanders have plenty of personal problems and psychologists...

EPA Cancels Controversial Pesticide Study

The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday canceled a controversial study using children to measure the effect of pesticides after Democrats said they would block Senate confirmation of the agency's new head.

Drug-Resistant Bacteria Persist in Chicken

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria continued to be found in chickens bought at area supermarkets a year after two large poultry producers stopped using an antibiotic blamed for creating the resistant strains, Johns Hopkins researchers report.

Pfizer Halts Bextra Sales at FDA Request

The blockbuster painkiller Bextra was yanked off the market Thursday, and the government ordered that 19 other popular prescription competitors — from Celebrex to Mobic to high-dose naproxen — carry tough new warnings that they, too, may...

Food Banks in Appalachia Try Diet Fare

A surplus of diet food for the overweight has been a boon for the hungry in Appalachia. Once hot and trendy, low-carb Atkins diet foods that never got sold are being shipped to food banks.

Black Women Need to Guard Against Colon Cancer

Black women should consult with their doctors about new colorectal cancer screening guidelines from the American College of Gastroenterology.

Fear stalks Angolan town worst hit by killer Marburg virus

Fear stalked the streets in this squalid northern Angolan town devastated by years of civil war, now the epicentre of an outbreak of the killer Marburg virus which has claimed 180 lives so far.

Japan urges blood donations after mad cow scare

Japanese youths were urged to donate blood as the mad cow scare threatened to cause serious shortages.

Agencies promise to aid NKorea on bird flu outbreak

The world's paramount agencies for food and animal health praised North Korea for its "transparency" in disclosing an outbreak of bird flu and pledged to help its appeal to fight the disease.

Pharma major pledges new treatment in fight against malaria

The pharmaceutical group Sanofi-Aventis has pledged to launch a new combination therapy against malaria that would be patent-free and may cost less than a dollar per person, under a deal announced.

Japan finds 17th case of madcow disease amid US pressure to buy beef

Japan said it has confirmed its 17th case of mad cow disease in an animal, amid pressure from the United States to resume imports of its beef suspended over health fears.

Religion coming between US pharmacists, women seeking birth-control pills

Some US pharmacists with strong religious beliefs are refusing to fill prescriptions for female clients requesting birth-control pills, causing alarm among women's rights organizations.

Abortion trial in Portugal suspended

The trial of three women accused of violating the staunchly Roman Catholic nation's strict rules against abortion was suspended again after a defense lawyer complained the judge was biased.

Canadian obesity a growing problem: health ministry

One-third of Canadians in a 1995-2003 study became overweight, said Canada's health ministry.

Mediterranean diet boosts longevity among elderly: study

A large-scale study published adds statistical evidence to the perceived benefits of the Mediterranean diet, a regimen rich in fish, olive oil, fruits, vegetables and cereals and supplemented by a modest intake of red wine.

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