Health Headlines - February 1

U.S. Appeals Courts Rule Against Partial Abortion Ban

The Partial Birth Abortion Act passed by the U.S. Congress in 2003 is unconstitutional because the ban doesn't include an exception when the health of a pregnant woman is at risk, two federal appeals courts ruled Tuesday.

The rulings by the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in New York, and the Ninth Circuit, in San Francisco, follow similar ruling in July by the appeals court for the Eighth Circuit in St. Louis, The New York Times reported.

The two latest rulings were largely based on a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2000 that any abortion ban must include an exception allowing partial birth abortion when alternative methods could endanger a woman's health.

While the Second Circuit's ruling upheld a challenge by the National Abortion Federation against the Partial Birth Abortion Act, the court did not strike down the act. Instead, it gave 30 days for both sides to offer suggestions on how to fix problems in the act, the Times reported.

Widely Used Drugs Can Cause Mental Impairment in Seniors

Anticholinergic drugs, commonly used to treat various problems in elderly people, can cause mild mental impairment, says a study in the British Medical Journal.

These kinds of drugs include antidepressants and treatments for irritable bowel syndrome, urinary incontinence, Parkinson's disease, asthma, rheumatism and heart disease.

About 10 percent of the 372 people in this study took anticholinergic drugs for an extended period and had worse cognitive performance than non-users, Bloomberg news reported.

The mental impairment linked to the drugs may affect elderly people's reaction time, ability to remember faces and conversations, language, and visual perception of space, the study said.

However, the researchers concluded that people who took anticholinergic drugs did not have an increased risk of developing dementia, Bloomberg news reported.

About 30 percent of elderly residents in U.S. nursing homes take at least two anticholinergic drugs, the study authors noted.

Healthcare Corruption a Global Problem: Report

Corruption in healthcare is a worldwide problem that affects both poor and rich countries and more needs to be done to stop it, says a report by the anti-corruption body Transparency International.

The report said that corruption -- embezzlement, theft, and bribes, as examples -- is siphoning off at least 5 percent of the more than $3 trillion spent on health services around the world each year, BBC News reported.

Health systems are a tempting target due to the large amounts of money involved and the complex structure of many healthcare systems, the report said, adding that strengthened codes of conduct and more transparency can be preventives.

The effects of corruption in healthcare systems can range from patients having to overpay for services to people dying because of counterfeit drugs, BBC News reported.

Drug Shows Promise Against Huntington's Disease

The drug Tacrolimus, used to treat chronic eczema and prevent rejection of liver transplants, shows promise against Huntington's disease, says a French study in the Journal of Neuroscience.

In tests on brain cells in laboratory dishes and in lab animals, scientist found that the drug seemed effective against the molecular pathway that causes the brain disorder, Agence France Presse reported.

The researchers said they're hopeful that Tacrolimus will also have the same affect on humans. More research is required in order to determine whether that's the case.

Huntington's disease usually appears between the ages of 35 and 50. Initial symptoms included uncontrolled, jerky movements, followed by personality change and dementia. Death usually occurs 10 to 20 years after the first signs of the disease, which affects about 1 in 10,000, AFP reported.

Red Meat Associated with DNA Damage in Bowel

Consuming lots of red meat is associated with DNA damage that may increase bowel cancer risk, says a U.K. study in the journal Cancer Research.

Researchers examined cells taken from the lining of the colon of healthy people who ate either red meat or vegetarian diets. Those who ate red meat had higher levels of DNA damage in their cells, BBC News reported.

This DNA damage could be due to the presence of N-nitrosocompounds, which form in the large bowel after a person eats red meat. The researchers said their findings suggest that N-nitrosocompounds alter the DNA in a way that makes it more likely to undergo harmful mutations that increase the risk of cancer.

Last year, a study by the same team of scientists found that people who regularly ate more than two portions of cooked red meat a day had a one-third greater risk of bowel cancer than people who ate less than one portion of cooked red meat per week, BBC News reported.

"These combined discoveries have allowed us to link red meat consumption to an increased risk of bowel cancer and may give us some clues about developing a screening test for very early changes related to the disease," said Prof. David Shuker, who headed the Open University team of scientists.

Food Fact:
Fennel club.

Seeds of this parsley kin can be a life saver if you have stomach pain. Fennel has long been part of folk remedies for indigestion, colic, bloating and heartburn, and modern research has shown that fennel seeds are rich in anethole, a compound that relaxes the smooth muscles of the stomach and acts as an anti-spasmodic. When shopping for fennel bulbs, avoid any that have droopy tops, are brownish or look dry. At home, store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, and sprinkle lemon juice on sliced fennel to prevent browning. Fennel has an affinity for fish. It's particularly good with grilled mackerel and sardines.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Don't be a night owl.

Exercising just before bedtime may be asking for trouble. Aerobic exercise -- and exercise in general -- helps you fall asleep more quickly and sleep longer, but generally not if you if you work out just before turning in. Don't be tempted by your gym's late hours if you have to get up early the next morning; most of us need a few hours to relax and decompress after a workout before going to sleep, so you might pay a price the next day.

FAQ of the day:
What are the fattiest foods?

The worst offenders are stick margarine, solid vegetable shortening and commercially baked products, including donuts, cookies, cakes, pies and pastries. Foods that seem a little more wholesome, such as toaster waffles and wheat crackers, can also contain significant amounts of trans fats. A general rule of thumb: The higher the total fat in a product, and the higher hydrogenated oils appear in the ingredient list, the more trans fat it contains.