Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Health Headlines - April 19

La. Psychologists Begin Prescribing Drugs

The fight over whether psychologists should be allowed to prescribe medication, though they lack medical degrees, sparked a fierce debate about patient safety and a high-powered push to get the new law passed last year.

Target to Clamp Down on Cold Medicines

Discount retailer Target Corp. will no longer allow unfettered access to cold medicines that are used to make the illegal stimulant methamphetamine.

Doctors Warn Against Obesity in Toddlers

Warning that the path to obesity can start during toddler-hood, pediatric experts say parents should make sure 3- and 4-year-olds get an hour of active play each day along with five fruits and vegetables.

Substandard Drugs Threat to Heart Patients - Study

Substandard generic drugs are putting the lives and health of heart patients at risk, researchers said Tuesday.

Pancreatic Cell Transplant Done with Living Donor

Japanese scientists said on Tuesday they have reversed a patient's diabetes by conducting the world's first transplant of pancreatic cells from a living donor.

Health Tip: Multi-infarct Dementia

Multi-infarct dementia is the second most common cause of dementia in older people.

Health Tip: Managing Menopause

While menopause was once dreaded by many women, today's women are leading happy, healthy and productive lives. The key to staying youthful and active is good nutrition and regular physical exercise.

Web Site Checks Up On Hospital Quality

Not every hospital in the United States provides superior care: An institution esteemed for its cardiac program, for example, may be not as good in managing pneumonia. Or maybe the facility closest to your home has a poor record of treating heart attack and you'd fare better at a rival institution across town.

Antibody Promising Against Variety of Cancers

An antibody called Sphingomab shows promise in treating some of the most deadly kinds of tumors, according to studies presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Anaheim, Calif.

Brain Injections Lower Alzheimer's Plaques in Mice

Injections of antibodies greatly reduced levels of beta-amyloid plaque -- considered a key factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease -- in the brains of mice, according to a new study.

Weight, Smoking Affect Back Pain Surgery Success

Weight, smoking history, injury-related litigation and other patient-specific characteristics have a big impact on the success or failure of spinal surgery for back pain, researchers report.

Daily Aspirin, Ibuprofen Cut Smokers' Oral Cancer Risk

Smokers who've tried but failed to kick their habit may want to pop a daily aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen (Aleve) to help cut their risk of mouth cancer, new research suggests.

Painkillers May Protect Against Colon Cancer

Ever since Vioxx and its sister drugs hit the headlines, attention has been focused on the unintended cardiovascular risks of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

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