Health Headlines - April 16

Breast Cancer Study Boosts Avastin

Biotech company Genentech Inc. and Swiss drug maker Roche Holding AG said Friday that an interim analysis of clinical trial data showed that cancer treatment Avastin met its primary endpoint of increasing survival rates in breast cancer patients.

WHO: Virus Sent to Mexico, Lebanon Missing

Shipments of a killer influenza virus destined for testing in Mexico and Lebanon remain unaccounted for, but the U.N. health organization said 15 other countries that received the samples were expected to have destroyed them by Saturday.

Once Half-Ton Man Now Weighs 530 Pounds

Patrick Deuel used to be called the half-ton man. But on Friday, three months after leaving the hospital, Deuel weighed in at 530 pounds — a quarter-of-a-ton.

Health Tip: Curb Your Child's Weight

New research shows that children between 8 and 15 years old who are in the upper half of their normal weight range are more likely than their leaner peers to become obese or overweight as young adults.

Health Tip: If You Grind Your Teeth

As many as 40 million Americans suffer from bruxism, better known as teeth grinding. Five percent to 10 percent of them grind their teeth so severely that they fracture dental fillings or cause other types of tooth damage.

Botox May Quiet Chronic Daily Headache

Botox injections may be an effective treatment for sufferers of chronic daily headache, according to a new study.

Two-Drug Combo May Best Replace Bextra, Vioxx

In the post-Bextra, post-Vioxx age, how can arthritis patients get effective pain relief while protecting their hearts and stomachs from dangerous side effects?

College Students Underestimate Their Drinking

At parties and in alcohol-related research studies, U.S. college students often underestimate the amount of alcohol they drink, researchers report.

Weight-Loss Drug Shows Further Promise in European Trial

A major European trial of a drug that helps people lose weight, slim their waistline and reduce risk factors for heart disease has achieved the same promising results as a similar North American trial, researchers report.

Have a Drink -- and a Smoke, Too

For many, liquor and cigarettes go literally hand-in-hand. Now scientists believe they have figured out why.

'Slow' Physical Therapy Fights Tough Back Pain

Moving beyond fine wine and creamy cheese, France may have given the world a whole new way to make life better: a specific form of physical therapy that promises relief for millions of people now suffering the crippling effects of severe back pain.

Researchers Focus On Deep-Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's

A treatment called deep brain stimulation has proven effective in controlling Parkinson's disease symptoms, but doctors have long debated which areas of the brain should be stimulated to produce the best results.

Tissue Scan May Improve Prostate Cancer Treatment

An imaging technology called magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy may be better than standard lab biopsy tests in determining the prognosis for prostate cancer patients, a new study suggests.

Food Fact:
A touch of cinnamon.

For diabetes control, a dash of cinnamon may have a surprisingly sweet payoff.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Knock down cholesterol.

It's not just about diet -- physical activity makes a huge difference, too.

FAQ of the day:
Is tofu a good source of calcium?

Many kinds of tofu are excellent sources of calcium, but not all. If tofu is processed with calcium sulfate -- as most are -- it will have about 260 mg of calcium per cup. This calcium is as absorbable by the body as the calcium in milk. But tofu processed with nigiri will have little calcium. Similarly, calcium-fortified soy milk contains 300 mg of calcium, the same as a cup of milk, but not all soy milks are fortified. Read the label to be sure.