Health Headlines - June 2

Gene May Affect Blood-Clot Drug's Effects

Testing for variations of a gene that helps control blood clotting could one day help doctors write better prescriptions for warfarin, a clot-preventing drug that is taken by millions of Americans and is difficult to manage, researchers report.

Viagra May Raise STD Risks in Gay Men

Researchers have called on the federal government to impose new restrictions on Viagra because studies suggest it makes gay men more likely to use illegal drugs, have unprotected sex and become infected with sexually transmitted diseases.

Obesity, Diabetes Raise Joint Replacement Risks

Diabetes, hypertension and obesity raise risks for complications following major joint replacement surgery, Duke University researchers report.

Asthma, Panic Attacks May Be Linked

Asthma and panic disorder may sometimes work hand-in-hand, according to a new study.

Shingles Vaccine Has Successful Trial

A new vaccine against shingles prevents the disease in about 51 percent of those vaccinated and dramatically reduces the severity of the condition in those who develop it, a new study shows.

Gene Signature Could Revolutionize Cancer Care

Scientists have identified an 11-gene "signature" in cancer tumors that appears to predict prognosis in at least 10 types of malignancies.

Skipping Breakfast Common Among U.S. Girls

As they get older, American adolescent girls start to skip breakfast more often, with black girls more likely to forego the morning meal than their white peers, according to a new study.

Chemotherapy Combo Increases Breast Cancer Survival

A combination of chemotherapy drugs can increase the five-year survival rate of women with metastatic, node-positive breast cancer by about 7 percent, a new Spanish study finds.

Peru's 'Little Mermaid' stable after legs separated

A Peruvian baby girl known as the "Little Mermaid" is able to wriggle her two legs after her fused limbs were surgically separated on Wednesday, in what local doctors said was the second such operation worldwide.

Experimental Vaccine May Prevent Shingles

An experimental vaccine has shown promise at preventing shingles, a painful skin rash that afflicts 1 million Americans every year and causes long-term excruciating nerve pain for some.

Peru Doctors Separate Fused Legs of Baby

Doctors successfully separated the fused legs of a Peruvian baby during a risky, nationally televised operation Wednesday, and said they hoped the vivacious, bright-eyed girl would be walking in two years.

China Doctors Separate Conjoined Twins

Doctors in Shanghai successfully separated two-month-old conjoined twin girls on Wednesday, hospital staff said.

Children Suffer Middle-Age Health Woes

About half a million children in Europe are suffering classic middle-aged health problems because they are too fat, according to new estimates released Wednesday.

Food Fact:
Culture club.

When yogurt's live active cultures colonize your digestive system, they draw a line in the sand against disease. The cultures -- especially acidophilus and bifida - muscle out potentially threatening bacteria. Low-fat or fat-free yogurt has a lot of other things going for it: It's easy to digest, especially for those who are lactose-intolerant and have difficulty digesting milk and many cheeses; it's an excellent source of calcium, protein, riboflavin (a B vitamin), vitamin B-12 (which may be low in vegetarian diets) and vitamin A; and provides selenium, potassium and magnesium.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Getting to know you.

Saying "Hi" to your aerobics instructor may improve your group fitness experience. If you are joining a group exercise class for the first time, let your instructor know. Doing so will help the instructor ensure you get the most out of the class, and help protect you from injuries.

FAQ of the day:
Can certain foods prevent cancer?

No one can say with absolute certainty how powerful is diet in preventing cancer. But at least a third (and possibly more) of all cancers have been linked to diet. People who eat the most fruits and vegetables have been shown to have about half the risk of developing cancer as people who rarely eat them. Your genes and other lifestyle factors, such as smoking, have a strong say in your susceptibility to cancer. But it's likely that improving the typical American diet would make a big dent in new cases of cancer, the nation's second biggest killer after heart disease.