Health Headlines - May 18

Three Drugs Show Promise Against Bowel Disease

The estimated 1 million Americans plagued by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may have three promising new treatment options on the way, according to research presented May at the Digestive Disease Week 2005 conference in Chicago.

Colonoscopy Can Miss Some Cancers

Colonoscopy may be the best way to detect colon cancer and remove suspicious growths, but the procedure can still miss some cancers, Canadian researchers report.

Non-Stick Teflon Stents Saving Lives

Frying pans, spatulas and artery-opening devices called stents may soon have something in common: Teflon.

Breast Shield Cuts CT Scan Radiation

It may sound like something designed for the U.S. Space Shuttle, but researchers say a new radiation-absorbing shield lowers potentially harmful rays to the breast during chest CT scans by 43 percent to 73 percent -- without affecting the quality of the diagnostic image.

Fancy Blood Tests Won't Predict Lung Clot Risk

Elaborate blood tests that look for genetic and biochemical abnormalities do nothing to predict whether someone who has had a life-threatening blood clot of the lung will have another, Dutch physicians report.

Chemotherapy Combo Poses Grave Risks

A study involving two chemotherapy drugs used in combination to treat breast cancer was halted after two patients died and one suffered a serious complication, French investigators report.

Psoriatic Arthritis Added for Remicade Treatment

Add psoriatic arthritis to the diseases and conditions the drug Remicade (infliximab) is approved to treat.

Science Moving Closer to Plague Vaccine

American scientists say they've taken a step toward developing a vaccine against the plague, an ancient disease that could pose a new threat in the age of bioterrorism.

Vitamin D May Help in Prostate Cancer

Men dying from prostate cancer may be able to extend their lives, thanks to a potent form of vitamin D developed at Oregon Health & Science University.

Breast Cancer Study Halted After Deaths

A study in which women with breast cancer were given two chemotherapy drugs simultaneously was cut short after the combination contributed to the deaths of two patients and caused life-threatening complications in an alarming number of others.

Antidepressants Can Affect Newborns

Women who take Prozac or certain other antidepressants late in pregnancy raise the risk that their babies will suffer jitteriness, irritability and serious respiratory problems during their first couple of weeks, researchers say.

Experts Debate Study on Fat, Breast Cancer

Low-fat diets modestly helped women cut their chances of a recurrence of breast cancer, the first experiment to put this to the test concludes.

Study: Herb Helps Curb Binge Drinking

A group of 20-something drinkers seemed to lose the urge to binge-drink when they took pills made from kudzu, that ubiquitous vine that blankets the South, researchers reported.

Food Fact:
Tea for tumors.

Research shows one kind of tea can be up to 100 times more potent at blocking growth of cancer cells than another. While all tea (green, oolong or black) contains antioxidant compounds called catechins that protect against cancer (especially of the lung, breast, colon, stomach and skin) by neutralizing free radicals, green tea contains about 7 times more catechins than black tea. Green tea also has unique catechins that block an enzyme involved in breast, prostate and colon cancers. Green tea is 10 to 100 times stronger than black tea in blocking the growth of cancer cells. Catechins also prevent heart disease and stroke, primarily by defending against the harmful effects of artery-clogging LDL cholesterol.

Fitness Tip of the day:
If the shoe fits...

Choosing the right type of shoe for your activity is only a start to avoid foot pain. A good fit is essential to providing comfort and preventing injury. When buying shoes, look for knowledgeable salespeople and be sure to have your feet measured -- size and width can change over time. For the best fit, try on shoes after you've exercised and your feet are at their largest, and be sure to put on the socks you normally wear.

FAQ of the day:
What is a "serving?"

All the nutrition information on a food label is based on one serving, the amount most typically eaten of that food. For example, a serving of salad dressing is 2 tablespoons. These serving sizes are not necessarily the amount you eat at a typical meal. Take breakfast cereal. The box may define a serving as one cup, but if you typically pour twice as much into your bowl; that's two servings, which means you'll be taking in twice the calories listed. Always consider the portion size when you read the nutrition information on the label.