Southern Europe Countries Have High Antibiotic Use
Over-prescribing of antibiotics in Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal and France is causing high rates of antibiotic resistance," researchers said on Friday.
Vaccine Advisers Call for Teen Meningitis Jab
Teen-agers and preteens should be routinely immunized against meningitis using Sanofi-Aventis's newly approved Menactra, U.S. vaccine advisers agreed on Thursday.
FDA Says May Study Hyperactivity Drug Risk
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that people with heart problems should not take the hyperactivity drug Adderall, and studies may be done to see if it raises risk in others, a top official at the agency said on Thursday.
Flu Vaccination Rate Up Among High-Risk Children
The number of toddlers vaccinated against influenza in the United States has jumped during the current flu season, but fewer older Americans are lining up for the shots, federal officials said on Thursday.
Britons Underestimate Impact of Heart Disease
Heart disease is Britain' biggest single killer disease but more people are more worried about developing Alzheimer's or cancer, according to a survey released on Friday.
Lawmakers Criticize White House Drug War Budget
The Bush administration on Thursday claimed major successes in reducing illegal drug use among teens, but lawmakers from both parties criticized its proposed budget that would cut several anti-drug programs.
Migraine with Loss-Of-Vision Linked to Stroke Risk
Migraine with visual auras associated with vision loss is a risk factor for stroke in young women. However, not all types of visual auras predict stroke risk, say researchers with the Stroke Prevention in Young Women study.
Mom's Work Schedule Affects Child's Development
Children whose mothers work nights, evenings or rotating shifts are more likely to be behind the curve in mental development at age 2 and in language ability at age 3, new research reports.
Pfizer, Microsoft Sue Web Sites Over Illegal Viagra
Pfizer Inc. and Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday they filed parallel lawsuits against Web site operators and spam advertisers that sell illegal versions of Pfizer's Viagra.
Chiron Making Flu Jab Progress, FDA Says
Chiron Corp. is making progress in fixing the problems at its British vaccine plant that cost the United States half its expected flu shot supply this year, a Food and Drug Administration official said on Thursday.
Doctors Say Kids Should Skip Juices
Soda in a sippy cup? Most parents wouldn't dream of it. But researchers say that when a baby's bottle or cup is filled with juice — even the 100 percent, all-natural, no-sugar-added stuff — parents might as well be pouring Pepsi.
Panel Urges Meningitis Shots for Children
All college freshmen who live in dorms should be vaccinated for meningitis, a government panel recommended Thursday for the first time, reversing policy of the past.
Fast-Food Documentary Heading to Schools
What happens when a man eats nothing but McDonald's food for 30 days? It's a lesson that schoolchildren across the country are about to find out.
Baby With 'Mermaid Syndrome' Faces Surgery
Peruvian surgeons have performed an initial operation to separate the fused legs of a 9-month-old girl with a rare congenital defect known as sirenomelia, or "mermaid syndrome," her doctor said Thursday.
Idaho to Study MS Link, Nuclear Testing
A study is under way to determine whether Idaho has a higher rate of multiple sclerosis than other Western states because of nuclear testing in Nevada decades ago.
Minn. Governor Seeks Candy Cigarette Ban
Cigarettes infused with lime, vanilla, berry and other candy flavors would be pulled off Minnesota store shelves under a proposed ban by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who accused the tobacco industry Thursday of marketing the specialty products to teens.
Experts Urge Routine HIV Tests for All
Urging a major shift in U.S. policy, some health experts are recommending that virtually all Americans be tested routinely for the AIDS virus, much as they are for cancer and other diseases.
CDC Says Some Spots Short on Flu Shots
It's not too late to get a flu shot if you can find one, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.
Mass. Gov. Slammed for Stem Cell Comments
Medical researchers Thursday said Gov. Mitt Romney's opposition to certain stem cell research would hamstring some of their work and slow progress on potential new treatments for a host of illnesses.
Defense Rests in Teen Zoloft Murder Trial
Defense lawyers who say their teenage client killed his grandparents because his mind was clouded by the antidepressant Zoloft rested their case Thursday without calling the youth to testify.
When Your Biological Clock Says Time's Up
More women are waiting longer to have children as they pursue college degrees and careers or simply enjoy young adulthood without kids in tow.
Babies Learn Words Long Before Speaking
Children less than 1 year old are already learning to match up words with common objects, according to a new study.
Rainforest Plant Yields Breast Cancer Fighter
A compound derived from a rare South American plant shows promise as a treatment for breast cancer, according to a University of Virginia Health System study.
Illness, Disability May Not Dampen Spirits
Many people with severe, disabling illnesses are just as happy as healthy, able-bodied people, says a study by University of Michigan Health System researchers.
Mouse Allergen Ups Asthma Risk in Inner-City Homes
Airborne levels of mouse allergen in many inner-city homes may be high enough to trigger asthma attacks in children.
Scientists Find Clue to Brain Development
Abundant but poorly understood brain cells called glia turn out to be essential in the development of synapses -- critical connections that form between neurons in the brain during its development.
Foods Like Fish May Buoy Your Mental Health
In research that literally offers food for thought, scientists have found that omega-3 fatty acids and uridine -- a natural substance found in foods -- work as well as antidepressants.
Scientists Shy Away From Controversial Research
Scientists engage in a sort of self-censorship in response to various social, political and cultural pressures they perceive around them, new research suggests.
Green solution to dengue peril
Dengue fever, a growing threat in poor tropical countries in Asia and Africa, is being gradually rolled back in Vietnam thanks to a low-tech, grassroots and environmentally friendly strategy, a study says.
Australian researchers find antibody that triggers narcolepsy
Australian researchers announced they have discovered an antibody that triggers narcolepsy, opening the way for the development of a test and treatment for the disabling sleep disorder.
Herbal extract as effective as widely-used anti-depressant
An extract of the herb St. John's Wort is at least as effective in treating depression as the commonly-prescribed drug Paxil and has fewer side effects, according to a study published.
Australian researchers create spray that helps women enjoy sex
Australian researchers said they had conducted successful trials of a spray that helps increase women's enjoyment of sex.
Friday, February 11, 2005
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Health Headlines - February 10
Protein from Red Meat, Dairy Tied to Heart Risks
Older women who eat a relatively large amount of protein from red meat or dairy products may have an elevated risk of dying from heart disease, the results of a large study suggest.
Court Rejects $15 Mln Award in Kansas Smoker Case
A federal appeals court on Wednesday threw out a $15 million punitive damages award to a lifelong smoker who sued R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. after losing his legs from a cigarette-related illness.
Medicare Cost Estimates Spark Disputes in Congress
Rising cost projections for the new Medicare drug benefit alarmed U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday and set off renewed calls to restrain spiraling drug prices and allow pharmaceutical imports from Canada.
Pain Disorders Linked to Patient's Perception
Patients with chronic pain disorders, such as fibromyalgia, appear to have abnormalities in the self-monitoring mechanism that allows the discrimination of internally produced versus externally produced stimuli, new research shows.
Spouse Caregivers More Likely to Scream at Patients
Elderly, sick or disabled men and women who rely primarily on their spouse for care are more likely to be to be screamed at, threatened or otherwise subjected to potentially harmful behaviors than those whose care is not provided by a spouse.
High-Protein Infant Diet Could Lead to Wrong Diagnosis
Certain high-protein infant diets may cause elevated levels of the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine, which may in turn produce a positive test result for a metabolic disorder.
Vancouver Clinic to Offer Heroin on Prescription
Vancouver adds prescription heroin for hard-core addicts to its arsenal in the war against drugs this week, despite U.S. criticism that its trial is a sign of Canadian weakness in the battle against illegal drugs.
Rare Muscle-Forming Cells Found in Newborn Hearts
Scientists have discovered very rare cells in newborn hearts which divide and develop into mature heart muscle and could provide a new approach to treating young cardiac patients.
Doctors Begin to Separate 'Mermaid' Baby's Legs
Doctors have successfully taken the first step toward separating the fused legs of Milagros Cerron, a 9-month-old Peruvian baby dubbed the "Little Mermaid" because of her rare birth defect, her parents said on Wednesday.
Many Parents with HIV Avoid Contact with Kids
Nearly 4 out of 10 parents with HIV infection avoid casual contact such as hugging, kissing or sharing utensils with their children out of fear of infection, according to the results of a new study.
Experts Urge Routine HIV Tests for All
Urging a major shift in U.S. policy, some health experts are recommending that virtually all Americans be tested routinely for the AIDS virus, much as they are for cancer and other diseases.
Canada Regulators Order ADD Drug Withdrawn
Canadian regulators ordered a drug for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder off the market late Wednesday because of reports that it has been linked to 20 sudden deaths and a dozen strokes, including some among children.
Senators File Bill for Stem Cell Research
A bill introduced in the legislature Wednesday would remove ambiguities in state law that discourage embryonic stem cell research, backers of the measure said.
Doctors Say Loss Can Cause a Broken Heart
Confirming the wisdom of the poets and philosophers, doctors say the sudden death of a loved one really can cause a broken heart. In fact, they have dubbed the condition "broken heart syndrome."
Medicare Drug Benefit to Cost $724 Billion
President Bush added Medicare to the government's fix-it list Wednesday after new figures showed the first full decade of the program's prescription benefit will cost taxpayers $724 billion.
Gov't Panel to Decide on Meningitis Shots
A government advisory panel will decide whether to recommend for the first time that children be vaccinated for the bacteria responsible for most college outbreaks of meningitis. The idea has long been debated because of the high cost and low risk.
Tenn. Officials Say Flu Cases Climbing
State health officials are reporting that influenza cases have more than doubled within the past week, shutting down schools across Tennessee.
U.S. Won't Take Canada Meat From Old Cows
The Agriculture Department will not allow meat from older cattle when it expands U.S. imports of Canadian beef on March 7, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said Wednesday.
Pope Receives Visit From Boy With Cancer
Pope John Paul II had an unexpected guest Wednesday — a small boy being treated for cancer in a ward next to the pontiff's Rome hospital suite.
Stretching Artery-Opening Stents Deemed Safe
Stretching the diameter of special drug-emitting, artery-opening stents won't weaken the stent or increase risks for artery re-closure, say Italian researchers.
Gene May Spur Childhood Brain Cancer
A gene that's normally switched off after fulfilling its role in brain development appears linked to a common childhood brain cancer, says a study in the Feb. 1 issue of Cancer Research.
Love Beats Depression for Women, Not Men
Love may banish the blues for women more easily than for men, according to a new study.
Meditation Calms Blood Pressure, Too
Transcendental meditation (TM) reduces hypertension and cuts down on the need for blood pressure-lowering medications, according to a study in black Americans.
Little Benefit Adding Breast Exam to Mammography
Women gain only a modest benefit in cancer detection by adding clinical breast examination to mammography screening, according to a new study.
Crunch! Carrots May Cut Cancer Risk
There's more good news from the garden: A compound in carrots may be a potent cancer fighter, reducing malignancies in rats by a third, a European study claims.
Africa's first ladies hold AIDS summit in Burkina Faso
Thirteen African first ladies gathered in Burkina Faso for a summit to coordinate efforts in the continent's fight against HIV/AIDS, which killed some 2.3 million Africans last year.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao spends Lunar New Year with AIDS victims
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao spent the Lunar New Year with AIDS victims in a destitute area that has become a symbol of the nation's struggle with the rapidly spreading disease.
Heating problems cause frozen Bosnian hospital to cancel operations
The main hospital in the Bosnian city of Banja Luka was forced to cancel all surgery after temperatures in the building plunged to minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit).
DR Congo government in bid to end month-long health strike
The government of Democratic Republic of Congo has pledged to find 16 million dollars for almost 12,000 health workers in the capital to end a month-long strike, a union official said.
Sweden and ADB to establish HIV/AIDS Trust Fund
Sweden and the Asian Development Bank are to establish an HIV/AIDS Trust Fund to help raise regional awareness of the disease, the Swedish ambassador to the Philippines Annika Markovic announced.
To fight bird flu go vegetarian, say animal protection activists
An animal rights pressure group is suggesting a simple solution for travellers to Vietnam concerned by avian flu -- go vegetarian.
Older women who eat a relatively large amount of protein from red meat or dairy products may have an elevated risk of dying from heart disease, the results of a large study suggest.
Court Rejects $15 Mln Award in Kansas Smoker Case
A federal appeals court on Wednesday threw out a $15 million punitive damages award to a lifelong smoker who sued R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. after losing his legs from a cigarette-related illness.
Medicare Cost Estimates Spark Disputes in Congress
Rising cost projections for the new Medicare drug benefit alarmed U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday and set off renewed calls to restrain spiraling drug prices and allow pharmaceutical imports from Canada.
Pain Disorders Linked to Patient's Perception
Patients with chronic pain disorders, such as fibromyalgia, appear to have abnormalities in the self-monitoring mechanism that allows the discrimination of internally produced versus externally produced stimuli, new research shows.
Spouse Caregivers More Likely to Scream at Patients
Elderly, sick or disabled men and women who rely primarily on their spouse for care are more likely to be to be screamed at, threatened or otherwise subjected to potentially harmful behaviors than those whose care is not provided by a spouse.
High-Protein Infant Diet Could Lead to Wrong Diagnosis
Certain high-protein infant diets may cause elevated levels of the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine, which may in turn produce a positive test result for a metabolic disorder.
Vancouver Clinic to Offer Heroin on Prescription
Vancouver adds prescription heroin for hard-core addicts to its arsenal in the war against drugs this week, despite U.S. criticism that its trial is a sign of Canadian weakness in the battle against illegal drugs.
Rare Muscle-Forming Cells Found in Newborn Hearts
Scientists have discovered very rare cells in newborn hearts which divide and develop into mature heart muscle and could provide a new approach to treating young cardiac patients.
Doctors Begin to Separate 'Mermaid' Baby's Legs
Doctors have successfully taken the first step toward separating the fused legs of Milagros Cerron, a 9-month-old Peruvian baby dubbed the "Little Mermaid" because of her rare birth defect, her parents said on Wednesday.
Many Parents with HIV Avoid Contact with Kids
Nearly 4 out of 10 parents with HIV infection avoid casual contact such as hugging, kissing or sharing utensils with their children out of fear of infection, according to the results of a new study.
Experts Urge Routine HIV Tests for All
Urging a major shift in U.S. policy, some health experts are recommending that virtually all Americans be tested routinely for the AIDS virus, much as they are for cancer and other diseases.
Canada Regulators Order ADD Drug Withdrawn
Canadian regulators ordered a drug for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder off the market late Wednesday because of reports that it has been linked to 20 sudden deaths and a dozen strokes, including some among children.
Senators File Bill for Stem Cell Research
A bill introduced in the legislature Wednesday would remove ambiguities in state law that discourage embryonic stem cell research, backers of the measure said.
Doctors Say Loss Can Cause a Broken Heart
Confirming the wisdom of the poets and philosophers, doctors say the sudden death of a loved one really can cause a broken heart. In fact, they have dubbed the condition "broken heart syndrome."
Medicare Drug Benefit to Cost $724 Billion
President Bush added Medicare to the government's fix-it list Wednesday after new figures showed the first full decade of the program's prescription benefit will cost taxpayers $724 billion.
Gov't Panel to Decide on Meningitis Shots
A government advisory panel will decide whether to recommend for the first time that children be vaccinated for the bacteria responsible for most college outbreaks of meningitis. The idea has long been debated because of the high cost and low risk.
Tenn. Officials Say Flu Cases Climbing
State health officials are reporting that influenza cases have more than doubled within the past week, shutting down schools across Tennessee.
U.S. Won't Take Canada Meat From Old Cows
The Agriculture Department will not allow meat from older cattle when it expands U.S. imports of Canadian beef on March 7, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said Wednesday.
Pope Receives Visit From Boy With Cancer
Pope John Paul II had an unexpected guest Wednesday — a small boy being treated for cancer in a ward next to the pontiff's Rome hospital suite.
Stretching Artery-Opening Stents Deemed Safe
Stretching the diameter of special drug-emitting, artery-opening stents won't weaken the stent or increase risks for artery re-closure, say Italian researchers.
Gene May Spur Childhood Brain Cancer
A gene that's normally switched off after fulfilling its role in brain development appears linked to a common childhood brain cancer, says a study in the Feb. 1 issue of Cancer Research.
Love Beats Depression for Women, Not Men
Love may banish the blues for women more easily than for men, according to a new study.
Meditation Calms Blood Pressure, Too
Transcendental meditation (TM) reduces hypertension and cuts down on the need for blood pressure-lowering medications, according to a study in black Americans.
Little Benefit Adding Breast Exam to Mammography
Women gain only a modest benefit in cancer detection by adding clinical breast examination to mammography screening, according to a new study.
Crunch! Carrots May Cut Cancer Risk
There's more good news from the garden: A compound in carrots may be a potent cancer fighter, reducing malignancies in rats by a third, a European study claims.
Africa's first ladies hold AIDS summit in Burkina Faso
Thirteen African first ladies gathered in Burkina Faso for a summit to coordinate efforts in the continent's fight against HIV/AIDS, which killed some 2.3 million Africans last year.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao spends Lunar New Year with AIDS victims
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao spent the Lunar New Year with AIDS victims in a destitute area that has become a symbol of the nation's struggle with the rapidly spreading disease.
Heating problems cause frozen Bosnian hospital to cancel operations
The main hospital in the Bosnian city of Banja Luka was forced to cancel all surgery after temperatures in the building plunged to minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit).
DR Congo government in bid to end month-long health strike
The government of Democratic Republic of Congo has pledged to find 16 million dollars for almost 12,000 health workers in the capital to end a month-long strike, a union official said.
Sweden and ADB to establish HIV/AIDS Trust Fund
Sweden and the Asian Development Bank are to establish an HIV/AIDS Trust Fund to help raise regional awareness of the disease, the Swedish ambassador to the Philippines Annika Markovic announced.
To fight bird flu go vegetarian, say animal protection activists
An animal rights pressure group is suggesting a simple solution for travellers to Vietnam concerned by avian flu -- go vegetarian.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Health Headlines - February 9
Dolly's Creator Granted Human Cloning License
The scientist who created Dolly the sheep, the world's first cloned mammal, was granted a license Tuesday to clone human embryos for medical research.
Awareness May Remain After Severe Brain Injury
Patients in a minimally conscious state (MCS) -- those with severe brain damage who demonstrate intermittent awareness of their environment -- may retain some degree of cognitive function, even though they can't follow simple instructions or communicate.
Study Backs Controversial Blood-Thinning Drug
A blood-thinning drug not approved for the U.S. market because of questions about liver damage appears to be as effective as other common therapies for preventing strokes and recurring blood clots, according to studies published on Tuesday.
Pfizer Stomach-Cancer Drug Passes Test
Pfizer Inc. (PFE.N) said on Tuesday its experimental drug for a deadly form of stomach cancer proved safe and effective in a late-stage trial, prompting researchers to halt the study seven months ahead of schedule.
Sweet Drinks Help Some Preschoolers Pack on Pounds
Preschoolers who drink at least one serving of soda, fruit juice or other sweet beverage every day are likely to become overweight, new study findings show.
Cancer Raises Blood Clot Risk by Sevenfold
Cancer greatly increases the risk that the patients will develop a blood clot in a vein (venous thrombosis), especially in recently diagnosed patients and patients with cancer that has spread to distant sites (metastases).
Blood Infection More Likely in Diabetics
Patients with diabetes are at increased risk of blood infections caused by a microbe called enterobacteria, Danish researchers have found. Frequently, these infections start in the urinary tract before spreading to the blood.
Patient Risk Level Affects Heart Procedure Outcome
Patients undergoing treatment to clear blocked arteries in the heart who have a moderate-to-high risk of a recurrence of the blockage appear to have a better outcome if they undergo heart bypass surgery rather than a less invasive procedure.
Patient Factors Predict Asthma Therapy Response
Specific patient characteristics may help guide doctors in selecting the asthma medication most likely to lead to favorable responses in children with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma, a team of U.S. researchers reports.
UK Respiratory Patients Need Better Care: Study
Patients suffering from the serious respiratory disease COPD are not receiving optimum care and more than 1 in 10 who are admitted to hospital die within 90 days, health experts said on Wednesday.
Canadian Clinic to Try Prescribing Heroin
A clinic providing free heroin to Vancouver addicts is to open later this month to see if prescribing the drug can help addicts who have failed in other treatment programs.
Panel Suggests Blood Safeguard for Mad Cow
To help prevent spread of the human form of mad cow disease, individuals who received a blood transfusion in France since 1980 should be barred from donating blood in the United States, a federal advisory panel recommended Tuesday.
Smallest Baby Born Goes Home From Hospital
A baby born weighing less than a soda can and believed to be the smallest ever to survive went home Tuesday after nearly six months in the hospital.
Embryo Ruling Could Have Ripple Effect
All Alison Miller and Todd Parrish wanted was to become parents. But when a fertility clinic didn't preserve a healthy embryo they had hoped would one day become their child, they sued for wrongful death.
Bush Would Double Ex-Nuke Worker Screening
The Bush administration wants to expand a medical screening program to former nuclear weapons workers at 12 additional sites nationwide, nearly doubling the number of workers who would be screened.
Pfizer: Drug Promising, Trial Ends Early
Pfizer Inc. said Tuesday that a study of one of its cancer drugs was ended early and all patients in the trial are being offered the medication because it was found to be safe and effective.
Marketers of Splenda Sue Over Campaign
So much for being sweet — the Splenda war just turned a little more sour. The marketers of the popular sugar substitute filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Delaware on Tuesday.
Palatin Posts Good Female Sex Drug Data
Biopharmaceutical company Palatin Technologies Inc. and King Pharmaceuticals Inc. reported Tuesday that a mid-stage clinical study showed that their female sexual dysfunction treatment candidate PT-141 increased sexual desire and arousal in women.
Report: Mercury Levels in Vaccines Eyed
A memo from the drug maker Merck & Co. shows that its executives were concerned about high levels of mercury in children's vaccinations nearly eight years before health officials disclosed a similar finding, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
Romanian Woman Has Twins, Two Mos. Apart
A 33-year-old Romanian woman who gave birth to a son in December on Monday gave birth to his twin brother almost two months later in what has been called a medical first in Romania.
Fibromylgia Doesn't Mean Inactivity, Study Finds
Many people with fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions can be active without experiencing increased pain, says a study by researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M) Health System.
Gene Variant Ups Osteoporosis Risk
About one in five people carry a variant of a gene that may increase their risk for osteoporosis, researchers report.
Eating Well Staves Off Disability
Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and dairy products appears to help maintain your ability to function normally as you age, a new study reports.
Nicotine Won't Slow Alzheimer's
Although earlier research has suggested nicotine decreases the brain plaque associated with Alzheimer's disease, results of a new mouse study point to the opposite conclusion.
Depressed Moms Raise Risk for Kids' Behavioral Woes
A mother's depression may raise the risk for antisocial behavior in her child, especially when depression occurs early in her child's development, British researchers say.
Researchers Fish for Clues to Cancerous Moles
Research in fish is shedding new light on how human skin moles develop into the deadly skin cancer melanoma.
States Urged to Ensure Health Insurance for All
States should adopt stricter regulations to ensure that individual health insurance is available and affordable for Americans everywhere, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health report.
Regular tooth-brushing benefits heart: study
Regular brushing isn't just good for your teeth, it may help your heart, too, according to a study.
Madrid wants to allow embryo selection to save sick sibling
Spain's Socialist government announced details of a bill that that would allow parents of a child with an incurable disease to conceive another baby to help save the sibling's life.
British goat may also have contracted BSE, scientists say
A goat which died in Britain 15 years ago may have been suffering from so-called "mad cow" disease, scientists said, in the second report of the condition being seen in another species.
Dolly creator wins licence to clone human embryos
Britain granted the scientist who created Dolly the sheep, the world's first cloned mammal, a licence to clone human embryos for medical research, triggering an outcry among opposition groups.
Japan moves closer to lifting ban on US beef
Japan moved a step closer to resuming imports of US beef, but only from young cows believed to be free of mad-cow disease, as it conditionally accepted a US method of verifying the age of the cattle.
Spanish prisoner addicts to receive heroin under medical control
Some prisoners in Spain's northern Basque region will be prescribed heroin under a new medically supervised programme for drug addicts.
Indonesia fears dengue epidemic in Jakarta, five other provinces
Indonesia's capital Jakarta and five provinces have been placed under alert for a possible dengue epidemic following a growing number of fatalities and infections, officials said.
The scientist who created Dolly the sheep, the world's first cloned mammal, was granted a license Tuesday to clone human embryos for medical research.
Awareness May Remain After Severe Brain Injury
Patients in a minimally conscious state (MCS) -- those with severe brain damage who demonstrate intermittent awareness of their environment -- may retain some degree of cognitive function, even though they can't follow simple instructions or communicate.
Study Backs Controversial Blood-Thinning Drug
A blood-thinning drug not approved for the U.S. market because of questions about liver damage appears to be as effective as other common therapies for preventing strokes and recurring blood clots, according to studies published on Tuesday.
Pfizer Stomach-Cancer Drug Passes Test
Pfizer Inc. (PFE.N) said on Tuesday its experimental drug for a deadly form of stomach cancer proved safe and effective in a late-stage trial, prompting researchers to halt the study seven months ahead of schedule.
Sweet Drinks Help Some Preschoolers Pack on Pounds
Preschoolers who drink at least one serving of soda, fruit juice or other sweet beverage every day are likely to become overweight, new study findings show.
Cancer Raises Blood Clot Risk by Sevenfold
Cancer greatly increases the risk that the patients will develop a blood clot in a vein (venous thrombosis), especially in recently diagnosed patients and patients with cancer that has spread to distant sites (metastases).
Blood Infection More Likely in Diabetics
Patients with diabetes are at increased risk of blood infections caused by a microbe called enterobacteria, Danish researchers have found. Frequently, these infections start in the urinary tract before spreading to the blood.
Patient Risk Level Affects Heart Procedure Outcome
Patients undergoing treatment to clear blocked arteries in the heart who have a moderate-to-high risk of a recurrence of the blockage appear to have a better outcome if they undergo heart bypass surgery rather than a less invasive procedure.
Patient Factors Predict Asthma Therapy Response
Specific patient characteristics may help guide doctors in selecting the asthma medication most likely to lead to favorable responses in children with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma, a team of U.S. researchers reports.
UK Respiratory Patients Need Better Care: Study
Patients suffering from the serious respiratory disease COPD are not receiving optimum care and more than 1 in 10 who are admitted to hospital die within 90 days, health experts said on Wednesday.
Canadian Clinic to Try Prescribing Heroin
A clinic providing free heroin to Vancouver addicts is to open later this month to see if prescribing the drug can help addicts who have failed in other treatment programs.
Panel Suggests Blood Safeguard for Mad Cow
To help prevent spread of the human form of mad cow disease, individuals who received a blood transfusion in France since 1980 should be barred from donating blood in the United States, a federal advisory panel recommended Tuesday.
Smallest Baby Born Goes Home From Hospital
A baby born weighing less than a soda can and believed to be the smallest ever to survive went home Tuesday after nearly six months in the hospital.
Embryo Ruling Could Have Ripple Effect
All Alison Miller and Todd Parrish wanted was to become parents. But when a fertility clinic didn't preserve a healthy embryo they had hoped would one day become their child, they sued for wrongful death.
Bush Would Double Ex-Nuke Worker Screening
The Bush administration wants to expand a medical screening program to former nuclear weapons workers at 12 additional sites nationwide, nearly doubling the number of workers who would be screened.
Pfizer: Drug Promising, Trial Ends Early
Pfizer Inc. said Tuesday that a study of one of its cancer drugs was ended early and all patients in the trial are being offered the medication because it was found to be safe and effective.
Marketers of Splenda Sue Over Campaign
So much for being sweet — the Splenda war just turned a little more sour. The marketers of the popular sugar substitute filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Delaware on Tuesday.
Palatin Posts Good Female Sex Drug Data
Biopharmaceutical company Palatin Technologies Inc. and King Pharmaceuticals Inc. reported Tuesday that a mid-stage clinical study showed that their female sexual dysfunction treatment candidate PT-141 increased sexual desire and arousal in women.
Report: Mercury Levels in Vaccines Eyed
A memo from the drug maker Merck & Co. shows that its executives were concerned about high levels of mercury in children's vaccinations nearly eight years before health officials disclosed a similar finding, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
Romanian Woman Has Twins, Two Mos. Apart
A 33-year-old Romanian woman who gave birth to a son in December on Monday gave birth to his twin brother almost two months later in what has been called a medical first in Romania.
Fibromylgia Doesn't Mean Inactivity, Study Finds
Many people with fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions can be active without experiencing increased pain, says a study by researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M) Health System.
Gene Variant Ups Osteoporosis Risk
About one in five people carry a variant of a gene that may increase their risk for osteoporosis, researchers report.
Eating Well Staves Off Disability
Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and dairy products appears to help maintain your ability to function normally as you age, a new study reports.
Nicotine Won't Slow Alzheimer's
Although earlier research has suggested nicotine decreases the brain plaque associated with Alzheimer's disease, results of a new mouse study point to the opposite conclusion.
Depressed Moms Raise Risk for Kids' Behavioral Woes
A mother's depression may raise the risk for antisocial behavior in her child, especially when depression occurs early in her child's development, British researchers say.
Researchers Fish for Clues to Cancerous Moles
Research in fish is shedding new light on how human skin moles develop into the deadly skin cancer melanoma.
States Urged to Ensure Health Insurance for All
States should adopt stricter regulations to ensure that individual health insurance is available and affordable for Americans everywhere, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health report.
Regular tooth-brushing benefits heart: study
Regular brushing isn't just good for your teeth, it may help your heart, too, according to a study.
Madrid wants to allow embryo selection to save sick sibling
Spain's Socialist government announced details of a bill that that would allow parents of a child with an incurable disease to conceive another baby to help save the sibling's life.
British goat may also have contracted BSE, scientists say
A goat which died in Britain 15 years ago may have been suffering from so-called "mad cow" disease, scientists said, in the second report of the condition being seen in another species.
Dolly creator wins licence to clone human embryos
Britain granted the scientist who created Dolly the sheep, the world's first cloned mammal, a licence to clone human embryos for medical research, triggering an outcry among opposition groups.
Japan moves closer to lifting ban on US beef
Japan moved a step closer to resuming imports of US beef, but only from young cows believed to be free of mad-cow disease, as it conditionally accepted a US method of verifying the age of the cattle.
Spanish prisoner addicts to receive heroin under medical control
Some prisoners in Spain's northern Basque region will be prescribed heroin under a new medically supervised programme for drug addicts.
Indonesia fears dengue epidemic in Jakarta, five other provinces
Indonesia's capital Jakarta and five provinces have been placed under alert for a possible dengue epidemic following a growing number of fatalities and infections, officials said.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Health Headlines - February 8
Vector CEO Says Views Changed on Tobacco Effects
The chief executive of tobacco holding company Vector Group Ltd. backed away from past admissions that smoking is a proven cause of disease during testimony on Monday in the government's racketeering trial against the industry.
Sleep Hormone May Affect Sex Organs, Study Finds
Melatonin, a hormone available in over-the-counter supplements and popped freely by many frequent air travelers, may affect the sex glands, U.S. and Japanese researchers reported on Monday.
Study Links Autism and Mother's Illnesses
Expectant mothers suffering from asthma, allergies or a type of skin disease have a higher risk of giving birth to an autistic child, a study said on Monday.
Diet Lowers Cholesterol as Well as Drug
A diet rich in fiber and vegetables lowered cholesterol just as much as taking a statin drug, Canadian researchers reported on Monday.
Sunlight May Have Unexpected Anti-Cancer Effects
Two new studies suggest that exposure to sunlight might not be as risky for cancer as is generally believed.
Study Adds Evidence -- Bad Teeth Equal Bad Heart
People with more bacteria in their mouths also have more evidence of heart disease, researchers said on Monday in a study strengthening the evidence for a link between gum disease and heart disease.
Birth Size Linked to Some Adult Cancers
Bigger babies seem to have a greater risk of developing certain cancers as adults, a new study finds.
Marijuana Affects Brain Long-Term, Study Finds
Marijuana users have faster blood flow in their brains, even after a month of not smoking, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
Hormone May Combat Mid-Life Depression
A nonprescription hormonal supplement sometimes marketed as a "fountain of youth" drug may be effective in combating mid-life depression, doctors said on Monday.
Bush Would Boost Funds for FDA Drug Safety Office
The Bush administration proposed on Monday a 24 percent increase in funding for the Food and Drug Administration office that monitors the safety of drugs after they hit the market.
Doctors Prescribing Exercise to Fight Fat
Take two hikes and call me in the morning. It may sound like an unusual prescription, but it's an increasingly common one at a hospital where physical fitness is part of doctor's orders for patients battling obesity.
Electric Light-Breast Cancer Link Studied
College researchers are studying whether electric light changes hormone levels in women and makes breast cancer more prevalent in developed countries.
Romanian Woman Has Twins, Two Mos. Apart
A 33-year-old Romanian woman who gave birth to a son in December on Monday gave birth to his twin brother almost two months later in what has been called a medical first in Romania.
Group Wants Hospitals to Report Infections
A consumer group has been pushing for hospitals to report rates of patients infected during their hospital stays, although medical officials have been reluctant to do so out of concerns over cost.
FDA Warns Against Home Tests From Canada
The government warned consumers Monday not to use certain home diagnostic tests marketed by a Canadian company because they have not been approved for sale in the United States and could give false results.
Skull Surgery Goes Well for Egyptian Twin
Ahmed Ibrahim, one of the formerly conjoined Egyptian twins, was doing well Monday following a four-hour surgery to reconstruct his skull, surgeons said.
Sweet Drinks Linked to Preschool Obesity
Sweet drinks — whether Kool-Aid with sugar or all-natural apple juice — seem to raise the risk of pudgy preschoolers getting fatter, new research suggests.
Study: Young Cancer Survivors Adjust Well
Cancer doesn't doom youngsters to a miserable childhood, new research suggests, finding that after treatment, many are just as happy and well-adjusted as those who never had the illness — sometimes even more.
India Tests Anti-AIDS Vaccine
Indian scientists on Monday began the country's first human clinical trials of a vaccine designed to prevent AIDS.
Puberty Starts With a 'KiSS'
When it's time for boys and girls to enter that daunting stage of life known as puberty, their reproductive systems are first awakened with a kiss, namely the KiSS-1 gene.
Infant Infection May Impair Adult Memory
Infections in early childhood may affect memory function in later life, suggests a study in rats.
Races Respond Differently to Asthma Drugs
Race may affect a person's response to asthma medications, according to a study in the February issue of the journal Chest.
Some Hospital Transfers in Heart Cases Potentially Harmful
Transferring a heart attack patient to a hospital equipped for advanced artery-opening surgery such as angioplasty, rather than the quick use of clot-dissolving drugs, can cause potentially harmful delays in treatment.
Depo-Provera Bone Loss Reversible
The bone loss experienced by teenagers who use Depo-Provera for birth control appears to be reversible.
3 Risky Diabetes Drugs May Be Safe for Heart Patients
Three drugs that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says should not be prescribed for diabetics who have heart failure may actually help many of those patients, a new study suggests.
Dutch patients prefer cannabis cafes to pharmacies for medical marijuna
With legal cannabis readily available, the Dutch government's program for issuing medical marijuana through pharmacies is losing money as stocks pile up because patients seem to prefer buying at authorized cannabis cafes.
Cuba, land of fabled tobacco, bans indoor smoking
The land of legendary cigars imposed new anti-smoking laws aimed at protecting Cuba's non-smokers in a country where more than half of the adult population lights up.
Bird flu epidemic abating in Vietnam, official says
Vietnam's latest bird flu epidemic is showing signs of abating, an agriculture department official said, and the country hopes to have the current outbreak under control by the end of this month.
Canada clinic to offer heroin, despite US needling
Despite harsh US protests, a Canadian government clinic will doll out free heroin to hard-core addicts after it opens on Wednesday, a stone's throw from the US border.
Cambodia widens net for bird flu testing
Cambodian health officials said they were testing for bird flu in poultry in a province bordering Vietnam as well as in a village where the kingdom's first outbreak since September was reported.
China develops new, longer-lasting bird flu vaccine
Chinese scientists have developed a new vaccine that can protect poultry from bird flu for a longer period of time, the ministry of agriculture said as the country braces for the migratory season.
No cause for "panic" over new cases of mad cow disease
The recent cases of mad cow disease reported in North America, as well as the unique case detected in a goat in France, are "isolated incidents" and no cause for alarm, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said.
The chief executive of tobacco holding company Vector Group Ltd. backed away from past admissions that smoking is a proven cause of disease during testimony on Monday in the government's racketeering trial against the industry.
Sleep Hormone May Affect Sex Organs, Study Finds
Melatonin, a hormone available in over-the-counter supplements and popped freely by many frequent air travelers, may affect the sex glands, U.S. and Japanese researchers reported on Monday.
Study Links Autism and Mother's Illnesses
Expectant mothers suffering from asthma, allergies or a type of skin disease have a higher risk of giving birth to an autistic child, a study said on Monday.
Diet Lowers Cholesterol as Well as Drug
A diet rich in fiber and vegetables lowered cholesterol just as much as taking a statin drug, Canadian researchers reported on Monday.
Sunlight May Have Unexpected Anti-Cancer Effects
Two new studies suggest that exposure to sunlight might not be as risky for cancer as is generally believed.
Study Adds Evidence -- Bad Teeth Equal Bad Heart
People with more bacteria in their mouths also have more evidence of heart disease, researchers said on Monday in a study strengthening the evidence for a link between gum disease and heart disease.
Birth Size Linked to Some Adult Cancers
Bigger babies seem to have a greater risk of developing certain cancers as adults, a new study finds.
Marijuana Affects Brain Long-Term, Study Finds
Marijuana users have faster blood flow in their brains, even after a month of not smoking, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
Hormone May Combat Mid-Life Depression
A nonprescription hormonal supplement sometimes marketed as a "fountain of youth" drug may be effective in combating mid-life depression, doctors said on Monday.
Bush Would Boost Funds for FDA Drug Safety Office
The Bush administration proposed on Monday a 24 percent increase in funding for the Food and Drug Administration office that monitors the safety of drugs after they hit the market.
Doctors Prescribing Exercise to Fight Fat
Take two hikes and call me in the morning. It may sound like an unusual prescription, but it's an increasingly common one at a hospital where physical fitness is part of doctor's orders for patients battling obesity.
Electric Light-Breast Cancer Link Studied
College researchers are studying whether electric light changes hormone levels in women and makes breast cancer more prevalent in developed countries.
Romanian Woman Has Twins, Two Mos. Apart
A 33-year-old Romanian woman who gave birth to a son in December on Monday gave birth to his twin brother almost two months later in what has been called a medical first in Romania.
Group Wants Hospitals to Report Infections
A consumer group has been pushing for hospitals to report rates of patients infected during their hospital stays, although medical officials have been reluctant to do so out of concerns over cost.
FDA Warns Against Home Tests From Canada
The government warned consumers Monday not to use certain home diagnostic tests marketed by a Canadian company because they have not been approved for sale in the United States and could give false results.
Skull Surgery Goes Well for Egyptian Twin
Ahmed Ibrahim, one of the formerly conjoined Egyptian twins, was doing well Monday following a four-hour surgery to reconstruct his skull, surgeons said.
Sweet Drinks Linked to Preschool Obesity
Sweet drinks — whether Kool-Aid with sugar or all-natural apple juice — seem to raise the risk of pudgy preschoolers getting fatter, new research suggests.
Study: Young Cancer Survivors Adjust Well
Cancer doesn't doom youngsters to a miserable childhood, new research suggests, finding that after treatment, many are just as happy and well-adjusted as those who never had the illness — sometimes even more.
India Tests Anti-AIDS Vaccine
Indian scientists on Monday began the country's first human clinical trials of a vaccine designed to prevent AIDS.
Puberty Starts With a 'KiSS'
When it's time for boys and girls to enter that daunting stage of life known as puberty, their reproductive systems are first awakened with a kiss, namely the KiSS-1 gene.
Infant Infection May Impair Adult Memory
Infections in early childhood may affect memory function in later life, suggests a study in rats.
Races Respond Differently to Asthma Drugs
Race may affect a person's response to asthma medications, according to a study in the February issue of the journal Chest.
Some Hospital Transfers in Heart Cases Potentially Harmful
Transferring a heart attack patient to a hospital equipped for advanced artery-opening surgery such as angioplasty, rather than the quick use of clot-dissolving drugs, can cause potentially harmful delays in treatment.
Depo-Provera Bone Loss Reversible
The bone loss experienced by teenagers who use Depo-Provera for birth control appears to be reversible.
3 Risky Diabetes Drugs May Be Safe for Heart Patients
Three drugs that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says should not be prescribed for diabetics who have heart failure may actually help many of those patients, a new study suggests.
Dutch patients prefer cannabis cafes to pharmacies for medical marijuna
With legal cannabis readily available, the Dutch government's program for issuing medical marijuana through pharmacies is losing money as stocks pile up because patients seem to prefer buying at authorized cannabis cafes.
Cuba, land of fabled tobacco, bans indoor smoking
The land of legendary cigars imposed new anti-smoking laws aimed at protecting Cuba's non-smokers in a country where more than half of the adult population lights up.
Bird flu epidemic abating in Vietnam, official says
Vietnam's latest bird flu epidemic is showing signs of abating, an agriculture department official said, and the country hopes to have the current outbreak under control by the end of this month.
Canada clinic to offer heroin, despite US needling
Despite harsh US protests, a Canadian government clinic will doll out free heroin to hard-core addicts after it opens on Wednesday, a stone's throw from the US border.
Cambodia widens net for bird flu testing
Cambodian health officials said they were testing for bird flu in poultry in a province bordering Vietnam as well as in a village where the kingdom's first outbreak since September was reported.
China develops new, longer-lasting bird flu vaccine
Chinese scientists have developed a new vaccine that can protect poultry from bird flu for a longer period of time, the ministry of agriculture said as the country braces for the migratory season.
No cause for "panic" over new cases of mad cow disease
The recent cases of mad cow disease reported in North America, as well as the unique case detected in a goat in France, are "isolated incidents" and no cause for alarm, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said.
Monday, February 07, 2005
Health Headlines - February 7
Cambodia Confirms Bird Flu in Poultry Near Capital
Bird flu has been found in chickens near the Cambodian capital, officials said Sunday, raising fears about the spread of the deadly virus in a country with little to no health system.
Some Calif. MDs Quit Worker Comp System
Francis Pecoraro is trading a San Francisco Bay area medical practice that mainly serves injured workers for one in Wilmington, N.C., that he believes will be more doctor friendly.
Many in Vietnam Carry on Despite Bird Flu
As bird flu rages across the country, killing 12 people here and one in Cambodia in the past six weeks, Vietnamese continue to live among poultry as they have for centuries.
Report: School Steroid Use Silent, Rampant
Texas high school students yearning for athletic fame or a chiseled physique are easily obtaining and using steroids as many coaches look the other way and parents seem unaware, a Dallas Morning News investigation has found.
'Shrimp Dip' Remains in Use Despite Deaths
Shrimpers are still using a preservative known as "shrimp dip" despite reports of deaths and injuries because they lack a cost-effective alternative, a newspaper reported Sunday.
Plastic Surgery Booming on Mexico Border
Thousands of people yearning for a better body are visiting Mexican plastic surgery clinics that offer makeovers at a third of the cost in the United States.
Sex education steers India's truckers away from AIDS highway
Trilok Singh, 24, says he treats sex workers with "love and affection" and uses a condom. If his fellow road warriors did the same, India could drastically cut the spread of AIDS.
Cambodia confirms its first bird flu death, new outbreak
Cambodia's health ministry confirmed that a woman who died last week was the country's first bird flu victim while a new outbreak of the disease was reported in a village outside Phnom Penh, officials said.
Health official says China's meningitis outbreak no cause for alarm
An outbreak of bacterial meningitis in China that has so far claimed 16 lives should not be considered cause for alarm, a senior health official was quoted as saying by state media.
Seasonal viruses and hysteria bug Lunar New Year
Two years ago Lunar New Year celebrations in Hong Kong were muted by the deadly SARS epidemic. Last year the threat of bird flu tainted the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar.
Lovesickness might be just that, experts warn
The concept of lovesickness might be more than just a flighty poetic notion, as it can burden the afflicted with genuine mental trauma, a British psychological study warned.
Bird flu has been found in chickens near the Cambodian capital, officials said Sunday, raising fears about the spread of the deadly virus in a country with little to no health system.
Some Calif. MDs Quit Worker Comp System
Francis Pecoraro is trading a San Francisco Bay area medical practice that mainly serves injured workers for one in Wilmington, N.C., that he believes will be more doctor friendly.
Many in Vietnam Carry on Despite Bird Flu
As bird flu rages across the country, killing 12 people here and one in Cambodia in the past six weeks, Vietnamese continue to live among poultry as they have for centuries.
Report: School Steroid Use Silent, Rampant
Texas high school students yearning for athletic fame or a chiseled physique are easily obtaining and using steroids as many coaches look the other way and parents seem unaware, a Dallas Morning News investigation has found.
'Shrimp Dip' Remains in Use Despite Deaths
Shrimpers are still using a preservative known as "shrimp dip" despite reports of deaths and injuries because they lack a cost-effective alternative, a newspaper reported Sunday.
Plastic Surgery Booming on Mexico Border
Thousands of people yearning for a better body are visiting Mexican plastic surgery clinics that offer makeovers at a third of the cost in the United States.
Sex education steers India's truckers away from AIDS highway
Trilok Singh, 24, says he treats sex workers with "love and affection" and uses a condom. If his fellow road warriors did the same, India could drastically cut the spread of AIDS.
Cambodia confirms its first bird flu death, new outbreak
Cambodia's health ministry confirmed that a woman who died last week was the country's first bird flu victim while a new outbreak of the disease was reported in a village outside Phnom Penh, officials said.
Health official says China's meningitis outbreak no cause for alarm
An outbreak of bacterial meningitis in China that has so far claimed 16 lives should not be considered cause for alarm, a senior health official was quoted as saying by state media.
Seasonal viruses and hysteria bug Lunar New Year
Two years ago Lunar New Year celebrations in Hong Kong were muted by the deadly SARS epidemic. Last year the threat of bird flu tainted the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar.
Lovesickness might be just that, experts warn
The concept of lovesickness might be more than just a flighty poetic notion, as it can burden the afflicted with genuine mental trauma, a British psychological study warned.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Health Headlines - February 6
Meth Addiction Leading to Rotting Teeth
The growing use of highly addictive methamphetamine throughout the country is creating a prominent scar on an increasing number of users - rotting, brittle teeth that seem to crumble from their mouths.
Evidence Shows Sloppy Stroke Care in U.S.
Ten years ago, a crucial study proved that a drug could limit the damage from one of nature's biggest train wrecks: a blood clot stuck inside the head. TPA remains the sole drug approved for strokes. Yet only about 3 percent of victims get it.
Couple May Sue Over Discarded Embryo
A couple whose frozen embryo was accidentally destroyed at a fertility clinic has the right in Illinois to file a wrongful-death lawsuit.
Alcohol Ads in Magazines, Stores Raise Teen Drinking
Magazine and supermarket ads featuring alcohol, as well as beer concession stands at sports and music events, have an especially powerful impact in spurring teens to start drinking.
France, Germany in favour of immunization plan in Africa
France and Germany have decided to adopt a joint initiative to support immunization in Africa that would be financed along the lines of a British development proposal and could include a tax on airline fuel and plane tickets, a French source said here.
The growing use of highly addictive methamphetamine throughout the country is creating a prominent scar on an increasing number of users - rotting, brittle teeth that seem to crumble from their mouths.
Evidence Shows Sloppy Stroke Care in U.S.
Ten years ago, a crucial study proved that a drug could limit the damage from one of nature's biggest train wrecks: a blood clot stuck inside the head. TPA remains the sole drug approved for strokes. Yet only about 3 percent of victims get it.
Couple May Sue Over Discarded Embryo
A couple whose frozen embryo was accidentally destroyed at a fertility clinic has the right in Illinois to file a wrongful-death lawsuit.
Alcohol Ads in Magazines, Stores Raise Teen Drinking
Magazine and supermarket ads featuring alcohol, as well as beer concession stands at sports and music events, have an especially powerful impact in spurring teens to start drinking.
France, Germany in favour of immunization plan in Africa
France and Germany have decided to adopt a joint initiative to support immunization in Africa that would be financed along the lines of a British development proposal and could include a tax on airline fuel and plane tickets, a French source said here.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Health Headlines - February 5
Constant Worry May Increase Alzheimer's Risk
People who have a tendency to worry or feel very stressed out may be more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease later in life, new research reports.
FDA Staff Questions Heart Risks of Merck's Arcoxia
Merck & Co. Inc.'s painkiller Arcoxia offers a "marginal" advantage in gastrointestinal safety but seems "worse than" other pain drugs in terms of deaths and serious cardiovascular problems, U.S. regulatory staff said in documents released on Friday.
Court Blocks Rule Easing Retiree Healthcare Coverage
An advocacy group for U.S. retirees said on Friday that it won a court order barring the government from allowing companies to drop older retirees from health care coverage while retaining coverage for younger retired workers.
UN Treaty Writers Weigh Abortion Ban for Disabled
U.N. diplomats drafting an international treaty on the rights of the disabled debated a possible ban on the abortion of fetuses with disabilities in an emotional negotiating session that ended on Friday.
Bat Saliva Drug May Improve Stroke Outcome
The results of a small study suggest that desmoteplase, an investigational clot-busting drug derived from vampire bat saliva, safely restores blood supply to the brain when administered up to 9 hours after a stroke occurs.
Supplement May Slow Marker of Prostate Cancer
A mix of dietary supplements including antioxidants and plant-based estrogens may slow the rise of a biomarker for prostate cancer progression in some men, preliminary research suggests.
Steroid Therapy Impairs Long-Term Memory
Treatment with high-dose steroids for multiple sclerosis and other disorders may impair long-term memory, according to a report in the medical journal Neurology.
Novartis Drug Risk Seen Similar to Vioxx
A clinical trial for Novartis AG's experimental painkiller Prexige showed the risk of heart attack, stroke and death was "similar" to Merck & Co. Inc.'s now withdrawn Vioxx, U.S. regulatory staff said in documents released on Friday.
Japan Has First Death from Human Mad Cow Disease
Japan confirmed Friday its first case of the human variant of mad cow disease after the death of a man believed to have contracted the fatal brain-wasting illness from eating infected beef in Britain.
Lithium May Curb Gambling in Manic-Depressives
Sustained-release lithium may be an effective treatment for pathological gambling in patients with bipolar spectrum disorder, also referred to as manic depression, the results of a small study suggest.
Doctor Diagnosed With Disease He Fought
The shocking self-diagnosis dawned slowly but inevitably on Dr. Richard Olney, a top neurologist who dedicated his career to helping those afflicted with the fatal "Lou Gehrig's disease."
Study Probes Many Uses for Stimulants
About 1.2 million people age 12 and older used the brain-damaging drug methamphetamine or prescription stimulants for non-medical reasons in 2003, unchanged from the year before, the government's substance abuse prevention agency reported Friday.
Pfizer: Celebrex Causes No Increased Risk
Pfizer Inc. said Friday its pain reliever Celebrex showed no increased overall risk of cardiovascular problems in a massive analysis of 41 completed studies involving 44,000 patients.
UC Considers Using Barcodes for Cadavers
Shaken by scandals involving the black-market sale of body parts, University of California officials are considering inserting supermarket-style barcodes or radio frequency devices in cadavers to keep track of them.
Medical Journal Details Rams Infections
Five St. Louis Rams developed infections after sustaining turf burns in 2003, and a few members of the San Francisco 49ers developed infections after playing the Rams early that season, a medical researcher said Friday.
Radiology Society Issues Guidelines
Overseas radiologists should be licensed by states and credentialed by the U.S. hospitals that contract their services, according to new guidelines from the American College of Radiology published Friday.
WHO: Efforts to Eradicate Polio on Track
The number of polio cases reported in Asia fell by almost half last year, meaning that efforts to eradicate the disease on the continent by the end of 2005 are on course, the World Health Organization said Friday. Africa, however, remains a problem.
Experts Give Pope's Parkinson's Grim View
While the Vatican expresses optimism Pope John Paul II will rebound from his latest health crisis, outside medical experts give a grimmer longterm view, saying the pontiff's Parkinson's disease puts him on a deadly path.
Cameroon Suspends Anti-AIDS Drug Tests
Cameroon suspended controversial tests of a U.S.-manufactured anti-AIDS drug Friday amid complaints that prostitutes were encouraged to have unprotected sex under the trials with no guarantee of medical care if they became infected.
Seizures After Epilepsy Surgery Indicate Continuing Risk
Early seizures following epilepsy surgery indicate that a patient is at high risk to continue having seizures, say Australian researchers.
Put Your Heart on That To-Do List
After sending the kids off to school, putting in a full day's work and tending to household chores, most women find there's precious little time to exercise, meditate or prepare luscious, heart-healthy meals.
Genes May Drive Child Obesity
A mother's love may be unconditional, but her genes can be a burden for some children, research suggests.
Japan OKs Enbrel For Rheumatoid Arthritis
The drug Enbrel (etanercept) has been by approved for use in Japan to treat people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who've had an inadequate response to existing therapies.
Menstrual Cycle Affects Depression Symptoms
A new finding that the menstrual cycle can affect depressive symptoms could aid doctors in evaluating and treating women suffering from depression.
Study: Mammograms Painless for Most Women
A new study suggests most women do not experience undue pain or anxiety during mammography screening, challenging a common belief that mammograms are painful.
Migraine With Vision Loss Ups Stroke Risk
Women who have migraines that include a loss of vision have a 70 percent higher risk of a stroke compared with women who don't, government researchers report.
New Scan Spots Drugs' Effects on Fetus
Scientists say they've developed a sophisticated, non-invasive new imaging tool to determine the effects of prenatal drug exposure on a fetus.
Test results on Cambodian bird flu victim expected by Monday
The results of tests carried out on a young Cambodian woman suspected of having died of bird flu are expected to be released sometime before Monday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
Polio cases slashed in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan
The number of cases of polio has dropped by 45 percent in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan, the three countries on the Asian continent that still have the disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said here.
Dengue fever hits record highs in Singapore
Singapore last year experienced its worst outbreak of dengue fever in a decade, with the number of cases in the final three months tripling compared with the same period in 2003.
Vietnam suspends duck and quail breeding to fight bird flu spread
Vietnam said it had suspended the breeding of ducks and quails to combat the deadly bird flu outbreak which has spread to 33 of the country's 64 cities and provinces.
Experimental Portuguese stem cell procedure offers hope to paralyzed
An experimental stem cell treatment, currently only performed at an aging public hospital in Portugal, is raising hopes that thousands left paralyzed by accidents will once again be able to walk.
New case of mad cow disease in Poland
A new case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, has been detected in Poland.
Djibouti conference issues declaration against female circumcision
A conference of about 300 experts mainly from Horn of Africa nations has issued a "Djibouti Declaration" against the practice of female circumcision, considered "a violation of human rights".
EU commissioner backs tougher smoking restrictions across Europe
EU Health Commissioner Marcos Kyprianou said that he would like to see continent-wide introduction of tough restrictions on smoking like those in force in Ireland and Italy but admitted he lacked the powers.
Adolescents smoking less in the Philippines
Smoking among young Filipinos has fallen by about a third in the three years to 2003, the Word Health Organisation said in a report.
Indonesian capital bans smoking in public places
Legislators in the Indonesian capital passed a law banning smoking in public places as part of efforts to combat pollution in one of the world's most polluted cities.
People who have a tendency to worry or feel very stressed out may be more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease later in life, new research reports.
FDA Staff Questions Heart Risks of Merck's Arcoxia
Merck & Co. Inc.'s painkiller Arcoxia offers a "marginal" advantage in gastrointestinal safety but seems "worse than" other pain drugs in terms of deaths and serious cardiovascular problems, U.S. regulatory staff said in documents released on Friday.
Court Blocks Rule Easing Retiree Healthcare Coverage
An advocacy group for U.S. retirees said on Friday that it won a court order barring the government from allowing companies to drop older retirees from health care coverage while retaining coverage for younger retired workers.
UN Treaty Writers Weigh Abortion Ban for Disabled
U.N. diplomats drafting an international treaty on the rights of the disabled debated a possible ban on the abortion of fetuses with disabilities in an emotional negotiating session that ended on Friday.
Bat Saliva Drug May Improve Stroke Outcome
The results of a small study suggest that desmoteplase, an investigational clot-busting drug derived from vampire bat saliva, safely restores blood supply to the brain when administered up to 9 hours after a stroke occurs.
Supplement May Slow Marker of Prostate Cancer
A mix of dietary supplements including antioxidants and plant-based estrogens may slow the rise of a biomarker for prostate cancer progression in some men, preliminary research suggests.
Steroid Therapy Impairs Long-Term Memory
Treatment with high-dose steroids for multiple sclerosis and other disorders may impair long-term memory, according to a report in the medical journal Neurology.
Novartis Drug Risk Seen Similar to Vioxx
A clinical trial for Novartis AG's experimental painkiller Prexige showed the risk of heart attack, stroke and death was "similar" to Merck & Co. Inc.'s now withdrawn Vioxx, U.S. regulatory staff said in documents released on Friday.
Japan Has First Death from Human Mad Cow Disease
Japan confirmed Friday its first case of the human variant of mad cow disease after the death of a man believed to have contracted the fatal brain-wasting illness from eating infected beef in Britain.
Lithium May Curb Gambling in Manic-Depressives
Sustained-release lithium may be an effective treatment for pathological gambling in patients with bipolar spectrum disorder, also referred to as manic depression, the results of a small study suggest.
Doctor Diagnosed With Disease He Fought
The shocking self-diagnosis dawned slowly but inevitably on Dr. Richard Olney, a top neurologist who dedicated his career to helping those afflicted with the fatal "Lou Gehrig's disease."
Study Probes Many Uses for Stimulants
About 1.2 million people age 12 and older used the brain-damaging drug methamphetamine or prescription stimulants for non-medical reasons in 2003, unchanged from the year before, the government's substance abuse prevention agency reported Friday.
Pfizer: Celebrex Causes No Increased Risk
Pfizer Inc. said Friday its pain reliever Celebrex showed no increased overall risk of cardiovascular problems in a massive analysis of 41 completed studies involving 44,000 patients.
UC Considers Using Barcodes for Cadavers
Shaken by scandals involving the black-market sale of body parts, University of California officials are considering inserting supermarket-style barcodes or radio frequency devices in cadavers to keep track of them.
Medical Journal Details Rams Infections
Five St. Louis Rams developed infections after sustaining turf burns in 2003, and a few members of the San Francisco 49ers developed infections after playing the Rams early that season, a medical researcher said Friday.
Radiology Society Issues Guidelines
Overseas radiologists should be licensed by states and credentialed by the U.S. hospitals that contract their services, according to new guidelines from the American College of Radiology published Friday.
WHO: Efforts to Eradicate Polio on Track
The number of polio cases reported in Asia fell by almost half last year, meaning that efforts to eradicate the disease on the continent by the end of 2005 are on course, the World Health Organization said Friday. Africa, however, remains a problem.
Experts Give Pope's Parkinson's Grim View
While the Vatican expresses optimism Pope John Paul II will rebound from his latest health crisis, outside medical experts give a grimmer longterm view, saying the pontiff's Parkinson's disease puts him on a deadly path.
Cameroon Suspends Anti-AIDS Drug Tests
Cameroon suspended controversial tests of a U.S.-manufactured anti-AIDS drug Friday amid complaints that prostitutes were encouraged to have unprotected sex under the trials with no guarantee of medical care if they became infected.
Seizures After Epilepsy Surgery Indicate Continuing Risk
Early seizures following epilepsy surgery indicate that a patient is at high risk to continue having seizures, say Australian researchers.
Put Your Heart on That To-Do List
After sending the kids off to school, putting in a full day's work and tending to household chores, most women find there's precious little time to exercise, meditate or prepare luscious, heart-healthy meals.
Genes May Drive Child Obesity
A mother's love may be unconditional, but her genes can be a burden for some children, research suggests.
Japan OKs Enbrel For Rheumatoid Arthritis
The drug Enbrel (etanercept) has been by approved for use in Japan to treat people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who've had an inadequate response to existing therapies.
Menstrual Cycle Affects Depression Symptoms
A new finding that the menstrual cycle can affect depressive symptoms could aid doctors in evaluating and treating women suffering from depression.
Study: Mammograms Painless for Most Women
A new study suggests most women do not experience undue pain or anxiety during mammography screening, challenging a common belief that mammograms are painful.
Migraine With Vision Loss Ups Stroke Risk
Women who have migraines that include a loss of vision have a 70 percent higher risk of a stroke compared with women who don't, government researchers report.
New Scan Spots Drugs' Effects on Fetus
Scientists say they've developed a sophisticated, non-invasive new imaging tool to determine the effects of prenatal drug exposure on a fetus.
Test results on Cambodian bird flu victim expected by Monday
The results of tests carried out on a young Cambodian woman suspected of having died of bird flu are expected to be released sometime before Monday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
Polio cases slashed in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan
The number of cases of polio has dropped by 45 percent in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan, the three countries on the Asian continent that still have the disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said here.
Dengue fever hits record highs in Singapore
Singapore last year experienced its worst outbreak of dengue fever in a decade, with the number of cases in the final three months tripling compared with the same period in 2003.
Vietnam suspends duck and quail breeding to fight bird flu spread
Vietnam said it had suspended the breeding of ducks and quails to combat the deadly bird flu outbreak which has spread to 33 of the country's 64 cities and provinces.
Experimental Portuguese stem cell procedure offers hope to paralyzed
An experimental stem cell treatment, currently only performed at an aging public hospital in Portugal, is raising hopes that thousands left paralyzed by accidents will once again be able to walk.
New case of mad cow disease in Poland
A new case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, has been detected in Poland.
Djibouti conference issues declaration against female circumcision
A conference of about 300 experts mainly from Horn of Africa nations has issued a "Djibouti Declaration" against the practice of female circumcision, considered "a violation of human rights".
EU commissioner backs tougher smoking restrictions across Europe
EU Health Commissioner Marcos Kyprianou said that he would like to see continent-wide introduction of tough restrictions on smoking like those in force in Ireland and Italy but admitted he lacked the powers.
Adolescents smoking less in the Philippines
Smoking among young Filipinos has fallen by about a third in the three years to 2003, the Word Health Organisation said in a report.
Indonesian capital bans smoking in public places
Legislators in the Indonesian capital passed a law banning smoking in public places as part of efforts to combat pollution in one of the world's most polluted cities.
Friday, February 04, 2005
Health Headlines - February 4
Alcohol, Tobacco Pose Equal Burden on Global Health
When it comes to causing death and disability, alcoholic drinks are as bad as tobacco and high blood pressure.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Raises Heart Death Risk
Rheumatoid arthritis seems to raise the risk of silent heart disease in patients -- even before they know they have the chronic condition, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.
Welders Show Elevated Rate of Parkinson Symptoms
Welders may have a higher-than-average rate of Parkinson's disease symptoms, the results of a new study suggest.
NIH Asks for Internet Access to Studies
The U.S. National Institutes of Health, which spent nearly $20 billion last year funding research, urged scientists on Thursday to let the agency publish their studies on the Internet.
Vaccine Program Reduces Chickenpox Deaths
Since the universal childhood varicella vaccination program was implemented in the United States in 1995, there has been a sharp decline in chickenpox-related deaths, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
FDA Warns Glaxo on Hypertension Drug Marketing
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned GlaxoSmithKline Plc on Thursday over misleading advertisements touting its hypertension drug called Coreg.
Bush Signals Tougher Embryo Research Limits
President Bush plans to press for even stricter limits on human embryo research and has no intention of softening restrictions on stem cell research, a senior administration official said on Thursday.
Kidney Disease Tied to Mental Impairment
Menopausal women with chronic kidney disease have lower scores on tests of mental proficiency (cognitive function) than those without chronic kidney disease, according to a new study.
Diets Rich in Rice Bran Oil May Lower Cholesterol
New research findings pinpoint the specific component of rice bran responsible for its heart-healthy effects. Two small studies show that it is the oil, and not the fiber, that helps lower cholesterol.
Poverty Worsening HIV Among U.S. Black Women
Poverty, unemployment and other socioeconomic factors are helping to fuel a growing HIV problem among black women, a U.S. study released on Thursday suggests.
Migraine Headaches May Have Stroke Risk
Migraines, which are most common in young women, have long been considered a possible indicator of stroke risk. The latest research indicates that those who experience grayed or blacked-out vision are at almost double the risk of stroke.
Docs Try to Treat 'Mermaid Syndrome' Baby
A Peruvian medical team is preparing for pioneering surgery to separate the fused legs of a 9-month-old girl born with a rare condition known as sirenomelia, or "mermaid syndrome."
Chair Yoga Catching on Among Seniors
A more gentle form of yoga is catching on in some retirement communities. The yoga mat is replaced by the chair. Sometimes two.
Study Links Stroke Risk, Southern Blacks
Blacks in the South apparently get a double whammy of stroke risk: They die at much higher rates than either Southern whites or blacks who live elsewhere.
Lawmaker Pushes Umbilical Cord Donation
A state senator is proposing that the state promote stem cell treatment from umbilical cords.
WHO: Tsunami Hasn't Spawned Outbreaks
Precautions at the outset of the tsunami disaster in Indonesia's Aceh province prevented major outbreaks of infectious diseases, even though medical aid distribution was bedeviled by poor coordination, a World Health Organization official said Thursday.
Vietnam Seeks U.N. Help to Fight Bird Flu
Vietnam has appealed to the United Nations to help it fight a raging bird flu outbreak that has killed 12 people in the communist country over the past five weeks, officials said Thursday.
Hydrocortisone Fights Severe Pneumonia
Treatment with infusions of the corticosteroid drug hydrocortisone brings significant improvement to patients with severe pneumonia, according to a study from Italy.
Mini-Strokes Need More Medical Attention
People who suffer a "mini-stroke", or transient ischemic attack (TIA), receive less aggressive medical attention in terms of testing, treatment and education than patients with a full-blown stroke do.
Breast Cancer Prevention From The Sea
More than just a slimy nuisance that wraps itself around your ankles while you walk the beach, seaweed may actually be a powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer.
Friday Means Free Dental Care for Needy Kids
At least half a million children across the United States will receive free dental services Friday, Feb. 4, as part of the American Dental Association's (ADA) nationwide Give Kids a Smile Day.
Injections Best for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
In the first-ever comparison of the two most common treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome, Spanish researchers conclude that simple steroid injections bring most people long-term relief.
China struggles to prevent diseases spreading as millions hit the road
Millions of Chinese were hitting the road for the Lunar New Year, as officials struggled to ensure they did not carry meningitis and other hazardous diseases to the furthest corners of the country.
When it comes to causing death and disability, alcoholic drinks are as bad as tobacco and high blood pressure.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Raises Heart Death Risk
Rheumatoid arthritis seems to raise the risk of silent heart disease in patients -- even before they know they have the chronic condition, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.
Welders Show Elevated Rate of Parkinson Symptoms
Welders may have a higher-than-average rate of Parkinson's disease symptoms, the results of a new study suggest.
NIH Asks for Internet Access to Studies
The U.S. National Institutes of Health, which spent nearly $20 billion last year funding research, urged scientists on Thursday to let the agency publish their studies on the Internet.
Vaccine Program Reduces Chickenpox Deaths
Since the universal childhood varicella vaccination program was implemented in the United States in 1995, there has been a sharp decline in chickenpox-related deaths, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
FDA Warns Glaxo on Hypertension Drug Marketing
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned GlaxoSmithKline Plc on Thursday over misleading advertisements touting its hypertension drug called Coreg.
Bush Signals Tougher Embryo Research Limits
President Bush plans to press for even stricter limits on human embryo research and has no intention of softening restrictions on stem cell research, a senior administration official said on Thursday.
Kidney Disease Tied to Mental Impairment
Menopausal women with chronic kidney disease have lower scores on tests of mental proficiency (cognitive function) than those without chronic kidney disease, according to a new study.
Diets Rich in Rice Bran Oil May Lower Cholesterol
New research findings pinpoint the specific component of rice bran responsible for its heart-healthy effects. Two small studies show that it is the oil, and not the fiber, that helps lower cholesterol.
Poverty Worsening HIV Among U.S. Black Women
Poverty, unemployment and other socioeconomic factors are helping to fuel a growing HIV problem among black women, a U.S. study released on Thursday suggests.
Migraine Headaches May Have Stroke Risk
Migraines, which are most common in young women, have long been considered a possible indicator of stroke risk. The latest research indicates that those who experience grayed or blacked-out vision are at almost double the risk of stroke.
Docs Try to Treat 'Mermaid Syndrome' Baby
A Peruvian medical team is preparing for pioneering surgery to separate the fused legs of a 9-month-old girl born with a rare condition known as sirenomelia, or "mermaid syndrome."
Chair Yoga Catching on Among Seniors
A more gentle form of yoga is catching on in some retirement communities. The yoga mat is replaced by the chair. Sometimes two.
Study Links Stroke Risk, Southern Blacks
Blacks in the South apparently get a double whammy of stroke risk: They die at much higher rates than either Southern whites or blacks who live elsewhere.
Lawmaker Pushes Umbilical Cord Donation
A state senator is proposing that the state promote stem cell treatment from umbilical cords.
WHO: Tsunami Hasn't Spawned Outbreaks
Precautions at the outset of the tsunami disaster in Indonesia's Aceh province prevented major outbreaks of infectious diseases, even though medical aid distribution was bedeviled by poor coordination, a World Health Organization official said Thursday.
Vietnam Seeks U.N. Help to Fight Bird Flu
Vietnam has appealed to the United Nations to help it fight a raging bird flu outbreak that has killed 12 people in the communist country over the past five weeks, officials said Thursday.
Hydrocortisone Fights Severe Pneumonia
Treatment with infusions of the corticosteroid drug hydrocortisone brings significant improvement to patients with severe pneumonia, according to a study from Italy.
Mini-Strokes Need More Medical Attention
People who suffer a "mini-stroke", or transient ischemic attack (TIA), receive less aggressive medical attention in terms of testing, treatment and education than patients with a full-blown stroke do.
Breast Cancer Prevention From The Sea
More than just a slimy nuisance that wraps itself around your ankles while you walk the beach, seaweed may actually be a powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer.
Friday Means Free Dental Care for Needy Kids
At least half a million children across the United States will receive free dental services Friday, Feb. 4, as part of the American Dental Association's (ADA) nationwide Give Kids a Smile Day.
Injections Best for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
In the first-ever comparison of the two most common treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome, Spanish researchers conclude that simple steroid injections bring most people long-term relief.
China struggles to prevent diseases spreading as millions hit the road
Millions of Chinese were hitting the road for the Lunar New Year, as officials struggled to ensure they did not carry meningitis and other hazardous diseases to the furthest corners of the country.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Health Headlines - February 3
Expert Sees Obesity Hitting U.S. Life Expectancy
Life expectancy in the United States is set to drop within the next 50 years due to obesity, one of the world's top experts on the subject said on Wednesday.
Rare Sexually Transmitted Disease Strikes 2 in N.Y.
Two New Yorkers have been diagnosed with a rare sexually transmitted disease that is spreading among gay and bisexual men in Europe, the city health commissioner said on Wednesday.
Jury Orders Brown & Williamson to Pay $22 Mln
A jury in Independence, Missouri on Wednesday ordered Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. to pay $22 million to the family of a 73-year-old woman who died of lung and heart disease after smoking Kools for 58 years.
European Cancer Patients Using Alternative Therapy
Whether it is herbs, homeopathy or vitamin and mineral supplements, more than a third of cancer patients in Europe use alternative medicine.
Highest Number of Road Deaths on 4th July
More people are killed in road accidents in the United States on July 4th, Independence Day, than any other day of the year, researchers said on Thursday.
Moderate Drinking Doesn't Harm Bones in Women
Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol is associated with slightly higher bone mineral density (BMD) in women, according to researchers at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, UK.
'Turf Burns' Seen Linked to NFL Skin Infections
Turf burns, the scrapes caused by playing on artificial turf, probably helped spread a stubborn skin infection among St. Louis Rams football players during the 2003 NFL season, researchers said on Wednesday.
Treat Diabetes Early and Aggressively
Doctors need to check patients for diabetes if they even suspect a patient may have the condition, and start using drugs to treat it right away, according to new guidelines released on Wednesday.
An estimated 90 percent of all patients diagnosed with diabetes are not controlling it enough to prevent heart disease and other complications, the experts at the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists said.
At-risk patients, such as the overweight, should start getting screened at 30. If they show poor control of blood sugar, they should go on drugs right away, the two groups said.
"Numerous studies have shown that significant cardiovascular disease develops years before the onset of diabetes," the groups said in a statement.
A measure of glucose control called A1C should bring back a result of 6.5 percent or lower, the groups said. Fasting glucose should be 110 or below and a two-hour glucose challenge test should come back 140 or below.
"Patients with diabetes are often in denial," said Dr. Jaime Davidson, an endocrinologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and chairman of the guidelines conference.
If a family doctor or primary care doctor suspects a patient may have diabetes, even a young patient, he or she should test immediately, Davidson said.
And a fasting glucose test is no good, he said. The patient should undergo a two-hour glucose challenge to see how well his or her body controls blood sugar.
Insurance companies may balk at paying for the tests, but they shouldn't, Davidson said.
"It is cheaper to pay for that today than to pay for the first heart attack," Davidson said in an interview.
The groups acknowledged that diet and exercise can stop a person from becoming diabetic, but said most patients fail.
"Lifestyle is essential. But in the real world it doesn't really allow us to get a patient to target," said Dr. Harold Lebovitz of the State University of New York, who chaired the writing committee.
"Doctors have big hearts and patients come to them to say 'Give me another chance. Give me a diet. Give me another three months,"' Davidson said.
But he said damage can occur during those three months. "We prefer to get them on target from day one and keep them there," he said.
Diabetics also need to see their doctors often. "If they are diabetic, one time a year is not enough. Because in that time, something is going to happen."
An estimated 20 million Americans have type-2 diabetes and one-third do not know it, the groups said. Another 41 million have what is known as "pre-diabetes," which will develop into diabetes if not controlled.
Diabetes costs the economy $132 billion a year, according to the American Diabetes Association.
"Eighty percent of the money spent is not in treating diabetes. Eighty percent of that money is spent in treating complications," Davidson said.
Drug treatments include metformin, the glitazone or thiazolidinedione class of drugs which includes GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia, and orlistat, sold under the brand name Xenical by Roche. Orlistat is a weight loss drug that also appears to prevent progression to diabetes.
Trigger of Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms Identified
Researchers have identified a protein called GAT-1 that appears to play a key role in the withdrawal symptoms experienced by people who stop using heroin and other "opioid" drugs, such as morphine and codeine.
Red Meat Linked to One Type of Colon Cancer
Women who eat more red meat appear more likely to develop cancer in the lower part of the colon, but not in the upper part of the colon near the small intestine, new research reports.
Study: Lymphoma Treatment Shows Promise
A one-time treatment that uses a homing-device drug to zap cancer cells with radiation made a deadly lymphoma disappear in three out of four patients, many for nearly eight years, researchers report.
While the results were called promising, it's not known yet whether the novel approach will be superior to the standard early treatments normally used for a slow-growing but incurable type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
"The striking thing about it is how such a short treatment can produce such long-lasting remissions," said Dr. Mark S. Kaminski, who developed the new treatment, Bexxar, with a University of Michigan colleague.
The researchers said more studies will be needed to determine whether doctors should use Bexxar as a first treatment to fight the immune-system cancer. Bexxar is only approved for use when other therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation, fail.
Bexxar treatment starts with a test dose followed by a full dose a week later instead of over months, as with chemotherapy. One advantage is fewer side effects, such as hair loss, the researchers said.
The findings reported in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine were partly funded by drug maker Corixa, which recently sold the rights to Bexxar to GlaxoSmithKline. Some of the scientists have received fees from the drug makers; one was a Corixa employee. The university holds patents for Bexxar, and Kaminski and his co-inventor share in royalties.
Dr. Joseph M. Connors, of the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Vancouver, said the results were impressive even though they involved carefully chosen patients and no comparison group.
"This is quite promising and firmly indicates that we need to know what would happen in comparisons to standard treatment" said Connors, who wrote an accompanying editorial.
The Michigan researchers tested Bexxar in 76 patients with advanced follicular lymphoma who had received no other treatment. Follicular lymphoma strikes about 15,000 adults in North America each year. Patients typically survive seven to 10 years.
The approach used in Bexxar, called radioimmunotherapy, delivers lethal radiation directly to cancer cells. The method is being tested in other types of cancers, and Bexxar and another treatment called Zevalin are approved for advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In Bexxar, radioactive iodine-131 is attached to antibodies that target and kill lymphoma cells.
In the study, 72 patients or 95 percent had some shrinkage of their tumors after getting Bexxar. The cancer disappeared in 57 participants (75 percent), and three-quarters of them were still disease-free after five years. Many remained cancer-free until the end of the study, a maximum of about eight years. The researchers are continuing to follow the participants.
The most common side effect was a brief drop in white blood cells. Nine patients died, six from lymphoma.
Study: Southern Blacks Die at Higher Rate
Blacks in the South apparently get a double whammy of stroke risk: They die at much higher rates than either Southern whites or blacks who live elsewhere.
Study: Vaccine Slashes Chickenpox Deaths
U.S. deaths from chickenpox dropped to the lowest level ever after a vaccine to prevent the childhood disease was introduced in 1995, a study shows.
Smoothies Pass the Health Test in Texas
Instead of raiding a vending machine after school or loading up on macaroni and cheese at home, 13-year-old Megan de la Torre picks up a strawberry-and-banana smoothie right on campus.
Ariz. Doctors Arrested Over Bootleg Botox
Two Arizona doctors have been arrested on charges of creating and selling bootleg Botox that left four people paralyzed.
Study Connects Bankruptcies to Illnesses
Costly illnesses trigger about half of all personal bankruptcies, and most of those who go bankrupt because of medical problems have health insurance, according to findings from a Harvard University study to be released Wednesday.
Boy's Surgery to Remove Tumor a Success
A 9-year-old boy successfully underwent surgery Wednesday to remove most of a brain tumor he nicknamed "Frank," and which was the subject of an online auction to help raise money for medical bills.
Dr. Suspended for Signing Prescriptions
A Canadian doctor was suspended for two years because he signed prescriptions for U.S. patients he never saw to give them access to cheaper medicine.
Health Tip: Dizziness Explained
The disorienting phenomenon we call dizziness results when the brain receives mixed signals from systems that help maintain our balance and equilibrium, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery.
Health Tip: Fake Nails Can Lead to Real Infections
Some women think artificial nails do wonders for their appearance. But whether applied at home or by a professional, artificial nails can lead to bacterial and fungal infections, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
Study: Nearly One in Six Mentally Ill Homeless
A full 15 percent of Americans with serious mental illness are currently homeless, a much higher figure than suggested by previous research, a new study finds.
Rat Whiskers Give Clues to Blinking Disorder
A rat's whiskers may hold vital clues to a debilitating human disorder called blepharospasm, an eye condition characterized by uncontrolled blinking.
New Strategy Stops Smallpox in Its Tracks
Researchers report that they've been able to stop a smallpox-like virus in mice in just eight days, a development that could lead to more effective treatments for other kinds of illnesses in humans.
Study: Benefits of Antidepressants Outweigh Risks
Despite recent controversy over the potential effects of antidepressants in young users, the lifesaving benefits of drugs such as Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft far outweigh their risks, a new study suggests.
Up to 90 percent of tsunami survivors suffering trauma: health experts
Up to 90 percent of the millions affected by the Asian quake disaster are suffering mental trauma, conditions which could prompt a "second tsunami" unless support and treatment are given, experts said.
Vietnam reports one more case of bird flu
A 24-year old man admitted in a hospital in Hanoi last week has tested positive to avian flu and is currently in stable condition, doctors said.
February most dangerous month for stroke victims: Swedish research
People suffering from a stroke in February are more likely to die than those who suffer a stroke at any other time of the year, a Swedish researcher said.
Brazil to study use of stem cells in heart treatment
Brazil announced the launch of an ambitious experimental program to use stem cells to treat heart diseases.
Grim figures hide some good news in Africa's AIDS crisis
Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers, meeting in London on Friday to discuss ways of helping Africa, will find plenty of data to support the continent's stereotyped image as an AIDS-ravaged basketcase.
Sunbathing reduces risk of lymph gland cancer: Swedish study
Contrary to previous belief, sunlight reduces the risk of developing tumours in the lymphatic glands, according to a Swedish study.
Viagra knock-offs giving Pfizer headaches in China
The U.S. makers of the male impotency drug Viagra see counterfeits as a growing threat to their business and are urging authorities in major fake drug producer China to rein in the copycats, the company's CEO said.
Genetic breakthrough could make pacemakers obsolete
Australian scientists said pacemakers could be obsolete within a decade after researchers managed to revive heart tissue withered by cardiac arrests.
Life expectancy in the United States is set to drop within the next 50 years due to obesity, one of the world's top experts on the subject said on Wednesday.
Rare Sexually Transmitted Disease Strikes 2 in N.Y.
Two New Yorkers have been diagnosed with a rare sexually transmitted disease that is spreading among gay and bisexual men in Europe, the city health commissioner said on Wednesday.
Jury Orders Brown & Williamson to Pay $22 Mln
A jury in Independence, Missouri on Wednesday ordered Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. to pay $22 million to the family of a 73-year-old woman who died of lung and heart disease after smoking Kools for 58 years.
European Cancer Patients Using Alternative Therapy
Whether it is herbs, homeopathy or vitamin and mineral supplements, more than a third of cancer patients in Europe use alternative medicine.
Highest Number of Road Deaths on 4th July
More people are killed in road accidents in the United States on July 4th, Independence Day, than any other day of the year, researchers said on Thursday.
Moderate Drinking Doesn't Harm Bones in Women
Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol is associated with slightly higher bone mineral density (BMD) in women, according to researchers at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, UK.
'Turf Burns' Seen Linked to NFL Skin Infections
Turf burns, the scrapes caused by playing on artificial turf, probably helped spread a stubborn skin infection among St. Louis Rams football players during the 2003 NFL season, researchers said on Wednesday.
Treat Diabetes Early and Aggressively
Doctors need to check patients for diabetes if they even suspect a patient may have the condition, and start using drugs to treat it right away, according to new guidelines released on Wednesday.
An estimated 90 percent of all patients diagnosed with diabetes are not controlling it enough to prevent heart disease and other complications, the experts at the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists said.
At-risk patients, such as the overweight, should start getting screened at 30. If they show poor control of blood sugar, they should go on drugs right away, the two groups said.
"Numerous studies have shown that significant cardiovascular disease develops years before the onset of diabetes," the groups said in a statement.
A measure of glucose control called A1C should bring back a result of 6.5 percent or lower, the groups said. Fasting glucose should be 110 or below and a two-hour glucose challenge test should come back 140 or below.
"Patients with diabetes are often in denial," said Dr. Jaime Davidson, an endocrinologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and chairman of the guidelines conference.
If a family doctor or primary care doctor suspects a patient may have diabetes, even a young patient, he or she should test immediately, Davidson said.
And a fasting glucose test is no good, he said. The patient should undergo a two-hour glucose challenge to see how well his or her body controls blood sugar.
Insurance companies may balk at paying for the tests, but they shouldn't, Davidson said.
"It is cheaper to pay for that today than to pay for the first heart attack," Davidson said in an interview.
The groups acknowledged that diet and exercise can stop a person from becoming diabetic, but said most patients fail.
"Lifestyle is essential. But in the real world it doesn't really allow us to get a patient to target," said Dr. Harold Lebovitz of the State University of New York, who chaired the writing committee.
"Doctors have big hearts and patients come to them to say 'Give me another chance. Give me a diet. Give me another three months,"' Davidson said.
But he said damage can occur during those three months. "We prefer to get them on target from day one and keep them there," he said.
Diabetics also need to see their doctors often. "If they are diabetic, one time a year is not enough. Because in that time, something is going to happen."
An estimated 20 million Americans have type-2 diabetes and one-third do not know it, the groups said. Another 41 million have what is known as "pre-diabetes," which will develop into diabetes if not controlled.
Diabetes costs the economy $132 billion a year, according to the American Diabetes Association.
"Eighty percent of the money spent is not in treating diabetes. Eighty percent of that money is spent in treating complications," Davidson said.
Drug treatments include metformin, the glitazone or thiazolidinedione class of drugs which includes GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia, and orlistat, sold under the brand name Xenical by Roche. Orlistat is a weight loss drug that also appears to prevent progression to diabetes.
Trigger of Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms Identified
Researchers have identified a protein called GAT-1 that appears to play a key role in the withdrawal symptoms experienced by people who stop using heroin and other "opioid" drugs, such as morphine and codeine.
Red Meat Linked to One Type of Colon Cancer
Women who eat more red meat appear more likely to develop cancer in the lower part of the colon, but not in the upper part of the colon near the small intestine, new research reports.
Study: Lymphoma Treatment Shows Promise
A one-time treatment that uses a homing-device drug to zap cancer cells with radiation made a deadly lymphoma disappear in three out of four patients, many for nearly eight years, researchers report.
While the results were called promising, it's not known yet whether the novel approach will be superior to the standard early treatments normally used for a slow-growing but incurable type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
"The striking thing about it is how such a short treatment can produce such long-lasting remissions," said Dr. Mark S. Kaminski, who developed the new treatment, Bexxar, with a University of Michigan colleague.
The researchers said more studies will be needed to determine whether doctors should use Bexxar as a first treatment to fight the immune-system cancer. Bexxar is only approved for use when other therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation, fail.
Bexxar treatment starts with a test dose followed by a full dose a week later instead of over months, as with chemotherapy. One advantage is fewer side effects, such as hair loss, the researchers said.
The findings reported in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine were partly funded by drug maker Corixa, which recently sold the rights to Bexxar to GlaxoSmithKline. Some of the scientists have received fees from the drug makers; one was a Corixa employee. The university holds patents for Bexxar, and Kaminski and his co-inventor share in royalties.
Dr. Joseph M. Connors, of the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Vancouver, said the results were impressive even though they involved carefully chosen patients and no comparison group.
"This is quite promising and firmly indicates that we need to know what would happen in comparisons to standard treatment" said Connors, who wrote an accompanying editorial.
The Michigan researchers tested Bexxar in 76 patients with advanced follicular lymphoma who had received no other treatment. Follicular lymphoma strikes about 15,000 adults in North America each year. Patients typically survive seven to 10 years.
The approach used in Bexxar, called radioimmunotherapy, delivers lethal radiation directly to cancer cells. The method is being tested in other types of cancers, and Bexxar and another treatment called Zevalin are approved for advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In Bexxar, radioactive iodine-131 is attached to antibodies that target and kill lymphoma cells.
In the study, 72 patients or 95 percent had some shrinkage of their tumors after getting Bexxar. The cancer disappeared in 57 participants (75 percent), and three-quarters of them were still disease-free after five years. Many remained cancer-free until the end of the study, a maximum of about eight years. The researchers are continuing to follow the participants.
The most common side effect was a brief drop in white blood cells. Nine patients died, six from lymphoma.
Study: Southern Blacks Die at Higher Rate
Blacks in the South apparently get a double whammy of stroke risk: They die at much higher rates than either Southern whites or blacks who live elsewhere.
Study: Vaccine Slashes Chickenpox Deaths
U.S. deaths from chickenpox dropped to the lowest level ever after a vaccine to prevent the childhood disease was introduced in 1995, a study shows.
Smoothies Pass the Health Test in Texas
Instead of raiding a vending machine after school or loading up on macaroni and cheese at home, 13-year-old Megan de la Torre picks up a strawberry-and-banana smoothie right on campus.
Ariz. Doctors Arrested Over Bootleg Botox
Two Arizona doctors have been arrested on charges of creating and selling bootleg Botox that left four people paralyzed.
Study Connects Bankruptcies to Illnesses
Costly illnesses trigger about half of all personal bankruptcies, and most of those who go bankrupt because of medical problems have health insurance, according to findings from a Harvard University study to be released Wednesday.
Boy's Surgery to Remove Tumor a Success
A 9-year-old boy successfully underwent surgery Wednesday to remove most of a brain tumor he nicknamed "Frank," and which was the subject of an online auction to help raise money for medical bills.
Dr. Suspended for Signing Prescriptions
A Canadian doctor was suspended for two years because he signed prescriptions for U.S. patients he never saw to give them access to cheaper medicine.
Health Tip: Dizziness Explained
The disorienting phenomenon we call dizziness results when the brain receives mixed signals from systems that help maintain our balance and equilibrium, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery.
Health Tip: Fake Nails Can Lead to Real Infections
Some women think artificial nails do wonders for their appearance. But whether applied at home or by a professional, artificial nails can lead to bacterial and fungal infections, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
Study: Nearly One in Six Mentally Ill Homeless
A full 15 percent of Americans with serious mental illness are currently homeless, a much higher figure than suggested by previous research, a new study finds.
Rat Whiskers Give Clues to Blinking Disorder
A rat's whiskers may hold vital clues to a debilitating human disorder called blepharospasm, an eye condition characterized by uncontrolled blinking.
New Strategy Stops Smallpox in Its Tracks
Researchers report that they've been able to stop a smallpox-like virus in mice in just eight days, a development that could lead to more effective treatments for other kinds of illnesses in humans.
Study: Benefits of Antidepressants Outweigh Risks
Despite recent controversy over the potential effects of antidepressants in young users, the lifesaving benefits of drugs such as Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft far outweigh their risks, a new study suggests.
Up to 90 percent of tsunami survivors suffering trauma: health experts
Up to 90 percent of the millions affected by the Asian quake disaster are suffering mental trauma, conditions which could prompt a "second tsunami" unless support and treatment are given, experts said.
Vietnam reports one more case of bird flu
A 24-year old man admitted in a hospital in Hanoi last week has tested positive to avian flu and is currently in stable condition, doctors said.
February most dangerous month for stroke victims: Swedish research
People suffering from a stroke in February are more likely to die than those who suffer a stroke at any other time of the year, a Swedish researcher said.
Brazil to study use of stem cells in heart treatment
Brazil announced the launch of an ambitious experimental program to use stem cells to treat heart diseases.
Grim figures hide some good news in Africa's AIDS crisis
Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers, meeting in London on Friday to discuss ways of helping Africa, will find plenty of data to support the continent's stereotyped image as an AIDS-ravaged basketcase.
Sunbathing reduces risk of lymph gland cancer: Swedish study
Contrary to previous belief, sunlight reduces the risk of developing tumours in the lymphatic glands, according to a Swedish study.
Viagra knock-offs giving Pfizer headaches in China
The U.S. makers of the male impotency drug Viagra see counterfeits as a growing threat to their business and are urging authorities in major fake drug producer China to rein in the copycats, the company's CEO said.
Genetic breakthrough could make pacemakers obsolete
Australian scientists said pacemakers could be obsolete within a decade after researchers managed to revive heart tissue withered by cardiac arrests.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Health Headlines - February 2
Cardiovascular Screening Advised for Young Athletes
Young athletes in Europe should be screened before competing in events to detect heart problems and reduce sport-related deaths, health experts said on Wednesday.
U.S. Doctors Ignore Women's Heart Issues
Even though heart disease is the top killer of U.S. women and men, doctors are giving women short shrift when it come to preventive care, according to studies published on Tuesday.
Music, Pets Recommended to Soothe Dementia Patients
Music, pets and aromatherapy should be used to calm agitated or delusional patients before turning to drugs that often prove ineffective or have unhealthy side effects, researchers said on Tuesday.
Cervical Cancer Vaccine Expected in a Few Years
A vaccine that could prevent young women from developing most cases of cervical cancer could be on the market within a few years.
U.S. Youth Antidepressant Use Drops in 2004
Antidepressant use among children declined 10 percent in 2004, after U.S. regulators warned the drugs may be linked with increased suicide risk, pharmacy benefits firm Medco Health Solutions said on Tuesday.
Patient Records Often Missing, U.S. Study Finds
Medical records are frequently incomplete or missing during patient visits to the doctor, posing potential danger and wasting time, a survey of physicians said on Tuesday.
High-Risk Women Not Lowering Cholesterol Enough
New research indicates that few high-risk women are achieving the optimal cholesterol levels set forth in recent guidelines by the American Heart Association (AHA).
Study Finds Brain Tumor Treatment Inconsistent
Patients who develop the most common kind of primary malignant brain tumor are sometimes given drugs they may not need and deprived of others that might help, medical researchers said on Tuesday.
Phobias Linked to Fatal Heart Attacks in Women
New research indicates that women with phobias, such as a fear of open spaces or heights, may be at increased risk for fatal heart disease, especially sudden cardiac death.
Boy to Have Biopsy on 'Frank' the Tumor
A 9-year-old boy who nicknamed his brain tumor "Frank" after Frankenstein's monster and whose mother launched an online auction to help pay medical bills will have an operation Wednesday to see if the tumor is still malignant.
Medicare to Cover Sex Performance Drugs
Sexual performance drugs such as Viagra will be covered in Medicare's new prescription drug program, a lifestyle rather than lifesaving benefit that conservatives and watchdog groups say the government shouldn't provide.
Popular Diets Tout 'Good Carb' Advice
Interested in following the government's new advice on what to eat? Advocates of the South Beach and Atkins diets want you to give their approaches a try, saying they're not all that different from the official recommendations.
Study Says Brain Cancer Treatments Vary
Brain cancer in adults is a dreaded diagnosis with few established treatment guidelines, resulting in wide variations in care that can make things even worse for some patients, a study suggests.
Sunlight May Help Cancer Victims Survive
Sunlight exposure, a major risk factor for the potentially deadly skin cancer melanoma, may also help victims survive that disease, new research indicates.
Ultrasound Urged for Older Male Smokers
Men ages 65 to 75 who have been smokers should get a one-time ultrasound to reduce their chances of dying from a ruptured artery, an influential federal health task force recommends.
Tighter Ethics Rules Announced at NIH
The National Institutes of Health banned its scientists from working as consultants for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and similar businesses, a step officials hope will end controversy over paid consulting arrangements by some of its doctors.
Scientists Uncover New Designer Steroid
Canadian scientists uncovered a new steroid designed to avoid detection in standard drug tests, but say they found no evidence it was used by athletes.
Consumer Group Renews Celebrex Ban Call
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. has acknowledged that a 1999 study found Alzheimer's patients taking the pain killer Celebrex were up to four times more likely to have cardiovascular risk factors than those taking a placebo.
Health Tip: No Site for Sore Eyes
While computer-related eye strain probably won't permanently affect your vision, it can be disruptive and quite unpleasant.
Viagra Protects Against Pulmonary Problems
Viagra, commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, may also protect men against altitude-induced pulmonary problems, according to a French study.
New Tool Gauges Heart Failure Death Risk
Researchers say they've developed a new bedside evaluation tool to better predict death risk in hospitalized heart failure patients.
Tailor Asthma Treatment for Kids
Specific asthma characteristics in children may help doctors determine the most effective treatment for each child.
Smoggy Air May Harden Arteries
Breathing in smoggy, polluted air could result in atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) over the long term, according to a study in the February issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.
First known Cambodian bird flu victim dies in Vietnam
A Cambodian woman who died in southern Vietnam has tested positive for bird flu, becoming the first Cambodian known to have died from the virus.
Bird flu 'impossible to eradicate soon,' say UN agencies
Asian countries affected by the new wave of bird flu outbreaks need to do more to keep it under control, two United Nations agencies warned, saying it may be impossible to eradicate the killer virus soon.
Djibouti to sign women's rights accord on female circumcision
Representatives from four African nations and Yemen are to meet here this week for a conference to promote the war against female circumcision at which Djibouti is expected to sign an accord calling for an end to the practice.
UN health agency to push polio eradication in three Asian countries
Ministers from three Asian countries still affected by polio will meet international health officials in Geneva to discuss a final drive to eradicate the virus, the World Health Organisation said.
At least 16 dead, 258 infected in Chinese meningitis outbreak
China issued emergency regulations to counter an outbreak of the deadly spinal disease meningitis that has killed at least 16 people among 258 cases this month.
Spanish region to allow marijuana for pain relief
Four hospitals and about 60 Catalan chemists are to start offering marijuana for medicinal purposes, in what would be a first for Spain, a regional health official said.
Six people receive vital organs from Italian woman killed in avalanche
Six people received vital organs from a 42-year-old-woman killed in an avalanche while skiing in the Italian Alps, the Turin hospital said.
Young athletes in Europe should be screened before competing in events to detect heart problems and reduce sport-related deaths, health experts said on Wednesday.
U.S. Doctors Ignore Women's Heart Issues
Even though heart disease is the top killer of U.S. women and men, doctors are giving women short shrift when it come to preventive care, according to studies published on Tuesday.
Music, Pets Recommended to Soothe Dementia Patients
Music, pets and aromatherapy should be used to calm agitated or delusional patients before turning to drugs that often prove ineffective or have unhealthy side effects, researchers said on Tuesday.
Cervical Cancer Vaccine Expected in a Few Years
A vaccine that could prevent young women from developing most cases of cervical cancer could be on the market within a few years.
U.S. Youth Antidepressant Use Drops in 2004
Antidepressant use among children declined 10 percent in 2004, after U.S. regulators warned the drugs may be linked with increased suicide risk, pharmacy benefits firm Medco Health Solutions said on Tuesday.
Patient Records Often Missing, U.S. Study Finds
Medical records are frequently incomplete or missing during patient visits to the doctor, posing potential danger and wasting time, a survey of physicians said on Tuesday.
High-Risk Women Not Lowering Cholesterol Enough
New research indicates that few high-risk women are achieving the optimal cholesterol levels set forth in recent guidelines by the American Heart Association (AHA).
Study Finds Brain Tumor Treatment Inconsistent
Patients who develop the most common kind of primary malignant brain tumor are sometimes given drugs they may not need and deprived of others that might help, medical researchers said on Tuesday.
Phobias Linked to Fatal Heart Attacks in Women
New research indicates that women with phobias, such as a fear of open spaces or heights, may be at increased risk for fatal heart disease, especially sudden cardiac death.
Boy to Have Biopsy on 'Frank' the Tumor
A 9-year-old boy who nicknamed his brain tumor "Frank" after Frankenstein's monster and whose mother launched an online auction to help pay medical bills will have an operation Wednesday to see if the tumor is still malignant.
Medicare to Cover Sex Performance Drugs
Sexual performance drugs such as Viagra will be covered in Medicare's new prescription drug program, a lifestyle rather than lifesaving benefit that conservatives and watchdog groups say the government shouldn't provide.
Popular Diets Tout 'Good Carb' Advice
Interested in following the government's new advice on what to eat? Advocates of the South Beach and Atkins diets want you to give their approaches a try, saying they're not all that different from the official recommendations.
Study Says Brain Cancer Treatments Vary
Brain cancer in adults is a dreaded diagnosis with few established treatment guidelines, resulting in wide variations in care that can make things even worse for some patients, a study suggests.
Sunlight May Help Cancer Victims Survive
Sunlight exposure, a major risk factor for the potentially deadly skin cancer melanoma, may also help victims survive that disease, new research indicates.
Ultrasound Urged for Older Male Smokers
Men ages 65 to 75 who have been smokers should get a one-time ultrasound to reduce their chances of dying from a ruptured artery, an influential federal health task force recommends.
Tighter Ethics Rules Announced at NIH
The National Institutes of Health banned its scientists from working as consultants for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and similar businesses, a step officials hope will end controversy over paid consulting arrangements by some of its doctors.
Scientists Uncover New Designer Steroid
Canadian scientists uncovered a new steroid designed to avoid detection in standard drug tests, but say they found no evidence it was used by athletes.
Consumer Group Renews Celebrex Ban Call
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. has acknowledged that a 1999 study found Alzheimer's patients taking the pain killer Celebrex were up to four times more likely to have cardiovascular risk factors than those taking a placebo.
Health Tip: No Site for Sore Eyes
While computer-related eye strain probably won't permanently affect your vision, it can be disruptive and quite unpleasant.
Viagra Protects Against Pulmonary Problems
Viagra, commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, may also protect men against altitude-induced pulmonary problems, according to a French study.
New Tool Gauges Heart Failure Death Risk
Researchers say they've developed a new bedside evaluation tool to better predict death risk in hospitalized heart failure patients.
Tailor Asthma Treatment for Kids
Specific asthma characteristics in children may help doctors determine the most effective treatment for each child.
Smoggy Air May Harden Arteries
Breathing in smoggy, polluted air could result in atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) over the long term, according to a study in the February issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.
First known Cambodian bird flu victim dies in Vietnam
A Cambodian woman who died in southern Vietnam has tested positive for bird flu, becoming the first Cambodian known to have died from the virus.
Bird flu 'impossible to eradicate soon,' say UN agencies
Asian countries affected by the new wave of bird flu outbreaks need to do more to keep it under control, two United Nations agencies warned, saying it may be impossible to eradicate the killer virus soon.
Djibouti to sign women's rights accord on female circumcision
Representatives from four African nations and Yemen are to meet here this week for a conference to promote the war against female circumcision at which Djibouti is expected to sign an accord calling for an end to the practice.
UN health agency to push polio eradication in three Asian countries
Ministers from three Asian countries still affected by polio will meet international health officials in Geneva to discuss a final drive to eradicate the virus, the World Health Organisation said.
At least 16 dead, 258 infected in Chinese meningitis outbreak
China issued emergency regulations to counter an outbreak of the deadly spinal disease meningitis that has killed at least 16 people among 258 cases this month.
Spanish region to allow marijuana for pain relief
Four hospitals and about 60 Catalan chemists are to start offering marijuana for medicinal purposes, in what would be a first for Spain, a regional health official said.
Six people receive vital organs from Italian woman killed in avalanche
Six people received vital organs from a 42-year-old-woman killed in an avalanche while skiing in the Italian Alps, the Turin hospital said.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Health Headlines - February 1
Viruses Added to List of Cancer Causes
WASHINGTON - The government is adding viruses for the first time to its list of known or suspected causes of cancer, including hepatitis B and C and a third virus that causes sexually transmitted diseases. Lead, X-rays and compounds in grilled meats also are joining the list.
It has been known that the hepatitis viruses can cause liver cancer and that some forms of the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus can cause cervical cancer.
But they were added to the list Monday only after officials decided to go beyond the report's historical focus on the occupational and environmental causes of cancer, said Dr. Christopher Portier, associate director of the National Toxicology Program, which prepared the latest update.
"We felt (the report) needed to be expanded to include other things in our general environment that can cause cancer," Portier said.
Dr. Michael Thun, who runs the American Cancer Society's epidemiological program, said adding the viruses was important. "These are human carcinogens and very important carcinogens," he said.
The list, which now identifies 246 known or suspected cancer-causing agents, is intended to give people who may or may not be exposed to any of the substances something to think about, he said.
Take X-rays, added to the "known" category. "This is simply to remind them that when they are making a decision about an X-ray to think about it and talk it over with your physician," Portier said.
But the American College of Radiology faulted the addition of X-rays and gamma rays, saying it was misleading and could prompt patients to avoid getting needed care.
"X-rays and gamma rays are not substances that the general public has access or exposure to and do not belong on a list of substances that pose a risk to people in the course of their normal, daily lives," Dr. James Borgstede, chairman of the radiology college's board of chancellors, said in a statement.
New to the suspected category are substances that form when meats are cooked or grilled at high temperatures. Studies suggest an increased cancer risk when foods containing them are eaten.
But "does that mean you have to throw out your barbecue grill?" asked Dr. Elizabeth Whelan, a critic of the list from the American Council on Science and Health, a consumer education group.
She said the "not consumer friendly" list should include information on the types of exposures and dosages that cause cancer, as well as on the health benefits of some of the substances identified, such as tamoxifen, the breast cancer treatment pill.
Lead, used to make lead-acid storage batteries, ammunition and cable coverings, and lead compounds, used in paint, glass and ceramics, in some cosmetics and as a fuel additive also joined the suspect list.
Portier said other agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration, are responsible for determining exposure levels, dosages and other issues.
"We think everything on this list is, in fact, relevant to people's daily lives and the public health of the country," he said.
The Report on Carcinogens — which federal law requires the health and human services secretary to update every two years — lists 58 "known" and 188 "reasonably anticipated" cancer-causing substances.
It was prepared by the National Toxicology Program of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, and was last updated in December 2002.
Texas Teens Increased Sex After Abstinence Program
Abstinence-only sex education programs, a major plank in President Bush's education plan, have had no impact on teenagers' behavior in his home state of Texas, according to a new study.
Childhood Abuse Common Among Manic Depressives
Nearly half of patients suffering from manic depression, or bipolar disorder, may have been abused as children, scientists say in a new report.
Weight Gain Linked to Breast Cancer Death
Women who are overweight when diagnosed with breast cancer or who become overweight after learning of their condition are more likely to die or have the disease come back, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
Scan Older Smokers for Aneurysms, U.S. Group Advises
Older male smokers and ex-smokers should get at least one ultrasound scan to make sure they do not have a developing aneurysm near the heart, a team of U.S. experts advised on Monday.
Obesity Gene Identified in Mice
A gene that encodes a protein called lipin seems to promote obesity in mice, even when food intake remains stable, according to researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Hazard Posed by Infant Bath Seats and Rings
Parents should not use bath seats and bath rings to bathe their infants, according to a Canadian child health organization. Their survey findings show that the risk of injury and drowning associated with these products is too great.
Vioxx Increases Heart Attack Risk in Elderly
A new study adds to the evidence that cardiac risk is increased in Vioxx (rofecoxib) users, even in those without a history of heart attack. The results also show that at lower doses of Vioxx, concurrent aspirin use can reduce the risk.
Consumer Group Says Pfizer Hid Celebrex Study
A U.S. consumer group on Monday accused Pfizer Inc. of burying a study suggesting its painkiller Celebrex boosts the risk of heart attack and stroke, a claim the No. 1 drug maker has denied.
Quality of Life Okay After Repaired Heart Defect
Adults who have undergone surgery during childhood to repair a congenital heart defect called tetralogy of Fallot have a satisfactory quality of life, although psychosocial problems and impaired thinking are often present.
Test May Help Detect Alzheimer's Earlier
A highly sensitive new test could lead to a different way to diagnose people with Alzheimer's disease, possibly helping find the illness in its early stages when there might be time for treatment.
Deal Could Lead to Male Birth Control Pill
A Norwegian company seeking to develop a male birth control pill has signed a licensing agreement with the University of Massachusetts Medical School covering research that could lead to a drug to block sperm's ability to swim and fertilize an egg.
Bread Industry Hopes for 2005 Comeback
Low-carb bread? That's so 2004. The bread industry, hoping for a comeback after last year's low-carb fad, is trying to get people to eat bread because it's good for them — especially when it's made with whole grains.
Doctors: Recovery Chances Good for Marine
A Marine who returned from Iraq with a mysterious near-fatal infection requiring a liver transplant was expected to make a full recovery, doctors said Monday.
Group Renews Call for Ban on Celebrex
More evidence has linked painkiller Celebrex to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, consumer group Public Citizen said on Monday as it renewed calls for the government to ban Pfizer Inc. from selling Celebrex and arthritis drug Bextra.
FDA Approves Generic Version of Pain Patch
The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved the first generic version of a patch used to treat severe chronic pain.
FDA Issues Alert for Preloaded Syringes
The Food and Drug Administration issued a nationwide alert Monday against the use of all IV Flush brand preloaded syringes containing either heparin or sodium chloride because the products have not received proper clearance and may be contaminated.
Health Tip: Build Strong Bones
Here's yet another benefit of regular exercise -- it will help keep your bones strong and fit, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Good Nutrition vs. Need: A Closer Look
Few people picking up groceries at a New Mexico food pantry recently were focusing on the right amount of vegetables and whole-grain products that are now recommended for the daily American diet.
Surgery Helps Those With Vision Loss
A surgical procedure called MT360 improves quality of life for people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), say researchers at the Duke University Eye Center.
New Advance in Gene Therapy for Cancer
A technique that uses a specially designed virus may help overcome a major stumbling block in using gene therapy to treat cancer, say Columbia University Medical Center researchers.
Genetics May Drive MS Gender Gap
A genetic variant may explain why women develop multiple sclerosis (MS) nearly twice as often as men, says an international research team led by the Mayo Clinic.
Gene Defect Linked to Familial Nerve Disorder
A defect in a gene called dynamin 2 causes one form of the inherited nerve disorder Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, according to a new study.
'Birdbrain' Gets Some Smart Backers
It took 29 internationally renowned scientists to get the ball rolling, but the term "birdbrain" could be on its way out, at least in its pejorative sense.
Vietnam to host bird flu summit in February, reports 12th victim
Countries battling bird flu will meet UN agencies and donors in Vietnam in late February to discuss the fight against the deadly virus, officials said as the latest outbreak claimed its 12th victim.
WASHINGTON - The government is adding viruses for the first time to its list of known or suspected causes of cancer, including hepatitis B and C and a third virus that causes sexually transmitted diseases. Lead, X-rays and compounds in grilled meats also are joining the list.
It has been known that the hepatitis viruses can cause liver cancer and that some forms of the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus can cause cervical cancer.
But they were added to the list Monday only after officials decided to go beyond the report's historical focus on the occupational and environmental causes of cancer, said Dr. Christopher Portier, associate director of the National Toxicology Program, which prepared the latest update.
"We felt (the report) needed to be expanded to include other things in our general environment that can cause cancer," Portier said.
Dr. Michael Thun, who runs the American Cancer Society's epidemiological program, said adding the viruses was important. "These are human carcinogens and very important carcinogens," he said.
The list, which now identifies 246 known or suspected cancer-causing agents, is intended to give people who may or may not be exposed to any of the substances something to think about, he said.
Take X-rays, added to the "known" category. "This is simply to remind them that when they are making a decision about an X-ray to think about it and talk it over with your physician," Portier said.
But the American College of Radiology faulted the addition of X-rays and gamma rays, saying it was misleading and could prompt patients to avoid getting needed care.
"X-rays and gamma rays are not substances that the general public has access or exposure to and do not belong on a list of substances that pose a risk to people in the course of their normal, daily lives," Dr. James Borgstede, chairman of the radiology college's board of chancellors, said in a statement.
New to the suspected category are substances that form when meats are cooked or grilled at high temperatures. Studies suggest an increased cancer risk when foods containing them are eaten.
But "does that mean you have to throw out your barbecue grill?" asked Dr. Elizabeth Whelan, a critic of the list from the American Council on Science and Health, a consumer education group.
She said the "not consumer friendly" list should include information on the types of exposures and dosages that cause cancer, as well as on the health benefits of some of the substances identified, such as tamoxifen, the breast cancer treatment pill.
Lead, used to make lead-acid storage batteries, ammunition and cable coverings, and lead compounds, used in paint, glass and ceramics, in some cosmetics and as a fuel additive also joined the suspect list.
Portier said other agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration, are responsible for determining exposure levels, dosages and other issues.
"We think everything on this list is, in fact, relevant to people's daily lives and the public health of the country," he said.
The Report on Carcinogens — which federal law requires the health and human services secretary to update every two years — lists 58 "known" and 188 "reasonably anticipated" cancer-causing substances.
It was prepared by the National Toxicology Program of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, and was last updated in December 2002.
Texas Teens Increased Sex After Abstinence Program
Abstinence-only sex education programs, a major plank in President Bush's education plan, have had no impact on teenagers' behavior in his home state of Texas, according to a new study.
Childhood Abuse Common Among Manic Depressives
Nearly half of patients suffering from manic depression, or bipolar disorder, may have been abused as children, scientists say in a new report.
Weight Gain Linked to Breast Cancer Death
Women who are overweight when diagnosed with breast cancer or who become overweight after learning of their condition are more likely to die or have the disease come back, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
Scan Older Smokers for Aneurysms, U.S. Group Advises
Older male smokers and ex-smokers should get at least one ultrasound scan to make sure they do not have a developing aneurysm near the heart, a team of U.S. experts advised on Monday.
Obesity Gene Identified in Mice
A gene that encodes a protein called lipin seems to promote obesity in mice, even when food intake remains stable, according to researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Hazard Posed by Infant Bath Seats and Rings
Parents should not use bath seats and bath rings to bathe their infants, according to a Canadian child health organization. Their survey findings show that the risk of injury and drowning associated with these products is too great.
Vioxx Increases Heart Attack Risk in Elderly
A new study adds to the evidence that cardiac risk is increased in Vioxx (rofecoxib) users, even in those without a history of heart attack. The results also show that at lower doses of Vioxx, concurrent aspirin use can reduce the risk.
Consumer Group Says Pfizer Hid Celebrex Study
A U.S. consumer group on Monday accused Pfizer Inc. of burying a study suggesting its painkiller Celebrex boosts the risk of heart attack and stroke, a claim the No. 1 drug maker has denied.
Quality of Life Okay After Repaired Heart Defect
Adults who have undergone surgery during childhood to repair a congenital heart defect called tetralogy of Fallot have a satisfactory quality of life, although psychosocial problems and impaired thinking are often present.
Test May Help Detect Alzheimer's Earlier
A highly sensitive new test could lead to a different way to diagnose people with Alzheimer's disease, possibly helping find the illness in its early stages when there might be time for treatment.
Deal Could Lead to Male Birth Control Pill
A Norwegian company seeking to develop a male birth control pill has signed a licensing agreement with the University of Massachusetts Medical School covering research that could lead to a drug to block sperm's ability to swim and fertilize an egg.
Bread Industry Hopes for 2005 Comeback
Low-carb bread? That's so 2004. The bread industry, hoping for a comeback after last year's low-carb fad, is trying to get people to eat bread because it's good for them — especially when it's made with whole grains.
Doctors: Recovery Chances Good for Marine
A Marine who returned from Iraq with a mysterious near-fatal infection requiring a liver transplant was expected to make a full recovery, doctors said Monday.
Group Renews Call for Ban on Celebrex
More evidence has linked painkiller Celebrex to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, consumer group Public Citizen said on Monday as it renewed calls for the government to ban Pfizer Inc. from selling Celebrex and arthritis drug Bextra.
FDA Approves Generic Version of Pain Patch
The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved the first generic version of a patch used to treat severe chronic pain.
FDA Issues Alert for Preloaded Syringes
The Food and Drug Administration issued a nationwide alert Monday against the use of all IV Flush brand preloaded syringes containing either heparin or sodium chloride because the products have not received proper clearance and may be contaminated.
Health Tip: Build Strong Bones
Here's yet another benefit of regular exercise -- it will help keep your bones strong and fit, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Good Nutrition vs. Need: A Closer Look
Few people picking up groceries at a New Mexico food pantry recently were focusing on the right amount of vegetables and whole-grain products that are now recommended for the daily American diet.
Surgery Helps Those With Vision Loss
A surgical procedure called MT360 improves quality of life for people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), say researchers at the Duke University Eye Center.
New Advance in Gene Therapy for Cancer
A technique that uses a specially designed virus may help overcome a major stumbling block in using gene therapy to treat cancer, say Columbia University Medical Center researchers.
Genetics May Drive MS Gender Gap
A genetic variant may explain why women develop multiple sclerosis (MS) nearly twice as often as men, says an international research team led by the Mayo Clinic.
Gene Defect Linked to Familial Nerve Disorder
A defect in a gene called dynamin 2 causes one form of the inherited nerve disorder Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, according to a new study.
'Birdbrain' Gets Some Smart Backers
It took 29 internationally renowned scientists to get the ball rolling, but the term "birdbrain" could be on its way out, at least in its pejorative sense.
Vietnam to host bird flu summit in February, reports 12th victim
Countries battling bird flu will meet UN agencies and donors in Vietnam in late February to discuss the fight against the deadly virus, officials said as the latest outbreak claimed its 12th victim.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Health Headlines - January 31
Additive May Help Chips Lower Cholesterol
Tortilla chips might not be health food anytime soon, but science may have found a way to make them lower your cholesterol. Researchers are frying chips in oil spiked with an ingredient from plants called phytosterol, which can soak up cholesterol without harming the taste.
Scientists Turn Stem Cells Into Neurons
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, Madison reported Sunday that they've whipped up an exciting — but intricate — new recipe that could someday treat spinal cord injuries or provide a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Kaiser Halts Prescriptions of Bextra
Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest not-for-profit managed-care provider, has stopped prescribing Bextra until tests show whether the painkiller is safe.
Bone Marrow Matches Hard for Multiracial
Luke Do was a lively 18-month-old awaiting the birth of his first sibling when he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. The hopes of his parents, both doctors in San Jose, Calif., immediately turned to a bone marrow transplant, but they soon learned some distressing news — Luke's ethnic heritage made him a tough match.
Sarah Gaskins, Luke's mother, has Japanese and European ancestors and his father, Lam Do, is Vietnamese-American. Because bone marrow matches usually are made with a relative or someone with the same racial or ethnic background as the patient, multiracial people rarely have success.
Marine, Iraq Veteran, Receives New Liver
With little time left before his organs would likely fail, a U.S. Marine received a new liver Sunday for a mysterious ailment doctors said would kill him if he didn't get a transplant.
Bird Flu Kills 12th Vietnamese in a Month
A 10-year-old girl from southern Vietnam has died of bird flu, the 12th human victim from the virus in a month, a health official said Monday.
Blacks More Prone to Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a silent epidemic striking black Americans, who seem more susceptible to the brain-wasting condition than any other group of Americans, new research finds.
Exercise Can Ease Depression
Aerobic exercise alone can have a significant impact on mild to moderate depression, says a study by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Obesity posing heavyweight problem for health, food sectors
Concern over growing levels of obesity has sparked a lively debate among food sector professionals and health experts about how to halt a trend that is medically and economically harmful.
Leprosy blights lives even in the 21st century
Leprosy, which has blighted mankind for thousands of years, is still far from being eradicated, afflicting half a million people every year even though the disease is completely curable.
Tortilla chips might not be health food anytime soon, but science may have found a way to make them lower your cholesterol. Researchers are frying chips in oil spiked with an ingredient from plants called phytosterol, which can soak up cholesterol without harming the taste.
Scientists Turn Stem Cells Into Neurons
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, Madison reported Sunday that they've whipped up an exciting — but intricate — new recipe that could someday treat spinal cord injuries or provide a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Kaiser Halts Prescriptions of Bextra
Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest not-for-profit managed-care provider, has stopped prescribing Bextra until tests show whether the painkiller is safe.
Bone Marrow Matches Hard for Multiracial
Luke Do was a lively 18-month-old awaiting the birth of his first sibling when he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. The hopes of his parents, both doctors in San Jose, Calif., immediately turned to a bone marrow transplant, but they soon learned some distressing news — Luke's ethnic heritage made him a tough match.
Sarah Gaskins, Luke's mother, has Japanese and European ancestors and his father, Lam Do, is Vietnamese-American. Because bone marrow matches usually are made with a relative or someone with the same racial or ethnic background as the patient, multiracial people rarely have success.
Marine, Iraq Veteran, Receives New Liver
With little time left before his organs would likely fail, a U.S. Marine received a new liver Sunday for a mysterious ailment doctors said would kill him if he didn't get a transplant.
Bird Flu Kills 12th Vietnamese in a Month
A 10-year-old girl from southern Vietnam has died of bird flu, the 12th human victim from the virus in a month, a health official said Monday.
Blacks More Prone to Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a silent epidemic striking black Americans, who seem more susceptible to the brain-wasting condition than any other group of Americans, new research finds.
Exercise Can Ease Depression
Aerobic exercise alone can have a significant impact on mild to moderate depression, says a study by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Obesity posing heavyweight problem for health, food sectors
Concern over growing levels of obesity has sparked a lively debate among food sector professionals and health experts about how to halt a trend that is medically and economically harmful.
Leprosy blights lives even in the 21st century
Leprosy, which has blighted mankind for thousands of years, is still far from being eradicated, afflicting half a million people every year even though the disease is completely curable.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Health Headlines - January 30
Mental Health Charity Calls for Cannabis Probe
A British health charity called on Saturday for an investigation into evidence that smoking cannabis may cause psychosis in people at risk of mental illness.
Bill Aims to Curb Out-of-State Abortions
The abortion bill most likely to become federal law this year would affect a relatively small number of pregnant teens, yet its impact on them could be dramatic — sharply reducing the options for girls in many states.
Exotic Trips May Increase Exotic Diseases
American travelers made more than 56 million foreign trips in 2003, up from more than 44 million a decade earlier. They often bring back germs that can take weeks or months to cause symptoms and diseases, which American doctors may be slow to recognize.
Group Fights to Deliver Water to the Poor
Gary White remembers landing in a grassy field in Ecuador, canoeing two hours to a remote village and finding a gas-powered pump that was supposed to help the impoverished residents get water.
Tsunami Children Suffer From Malnutrition
In a ramshackle refugee camp of destitute farmers and fishermen on Indonesia's Sumatra island, hunger is rare these days. But so are protein, vegetables and vitamins.
New Drug Targets Pancreatic Cancer Two Ways
A new drug that targets pancreatic cancer in two ways is being tested by oncologists at the University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Scientists Explore Risks Posed by Steroids
While Major League Baseball owners and the players' union have agreed on a stricter policy to combat the use of performance-enhancing steroids, scientists are exploring the potential dangers posed by these drugs.
Doctors Debate Value of Vitamin E
Doctors and other health professionals defended on Thursday the safety of vitamin E, and reported on continuing studies that they said show its potential benefits in treating a variety of health problems.
New push for public health, AIDS spending at African Union summit
Activists hope this weekend's African Union summit will net commitments to boost government spending on public health, helping to curb the spread of AIDS which killed 2.3 million Africans in 2004.
Health experts carefully watching bird flu evolution
Bird flu cases in Vietnam have grown since December at around the same rate as last year but scientists are carefully watching for any change in the way the virus is spreading.
Zimbabwe fights to revive key hospital in 'intensive care'
Zimbabwe has given 100 billion dollars (18 million US/13.5 million euros), while well-wishers chipped in another 230 million to rescue the country's second hospital, a daily said.
Cancer-stricken BBC journalist ends 'tumor diary'
Ivan Noble posted the last entry in his "tumor journal", an online record of the two-year long battle the BBC journalist has waged, ultimately without success, against brain cancer.
Meningitis kills eight in eastern China
An outbreak of meningitis across 11 cities in eastern China has claimed eight lives and left seven people hospitalised, state media reported.
A British health charity called on Saturday for an investigation into evidence that smoking cannabis may cause psychosis in people at risk of mental illness.
Bill Aims to Curb Out-of-State Abortions
The abortion bill most likely to become federal law this year would affect a relatively small number of pregnant teens, yet its impact on them could be dramatic — sharply reducing the options for girls in many states.
Exotic Trips May Increase Exotic Diseases
American travelers made more than 56 million foreign trips in 2003, up from more than 44 million a decade earlier. They often bring back germs that can take weeks or months to cause symptoms and diseases, which American doctors may be slow to recognize.
Group Fights to Deliver Water to the Poor
Gary White remembers landing in a grassy field in Ecuador, canoeing two hours to a remote village and finding a gas-powered pump that was supposed to help the impoverished residents get water.
Tsunami Children Suffer From Malnutrition
In a ramshackle refugee camp of destitute farmers and fishermen on Indonesia's Sumatra island, hunger is rare these days. But so are protein, vegetables and vitamins.
New Drug Targets Pancreatic Cancer Two Ways
A new drug that targets pancreatic cancer in two ways is being tested by oncologists at the University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Scientists Explore Risks Posed by Steroids
While Major League Baseball owners and the players' union have agreed on a stricter policy to combat the use of performance-enhancing steroids, scientists are exploring the potential dangers posed by these drugs.
Doctors Debate Value of Vitamin E
Doctors and other health professionals defended on Thursday the safety of vitamin E, and reported on continuing studies that they said show its potential benefits in treating a variety of health problems.
New push for public health, AIDS spending at African Union summit
Activists hope this weekend's African Union summit will net commitments to boost government spending on public health, helping to curb the spread of AIDS which killed 2.3 million Africans in 2004.
Health experts carefully watching bird flu evolution
Bird flu cases in Vietnam have grown since December at around the same rate as last year but scientists are carefully watching for any change in the way the virus is spreading.
Zimbabwe fights to revive key hospital in 'intensive care'
Zimbabwe has given 100 billion dollars (18 million US/13.5 million euros), while well-wishers chipped in another 230 million to rescue the country's second hospital, a daily said.
Cancer-stricken BBC journalist ends 'tumor diary'
Ivan Noble posted the last entry in his "tumor journal", an online record of the two-year long battle the BBC journalist has waged, ultimately without success, against brain cancer.
Meningitis kills eight in eastern China
An outbreak of meningitis across 11 cities in eastern China has claimed eight lives and left seven people hospitalised, state media reported.
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Health Headlines - January 29
Erectile Dysfunction May Signal Heart Problems
Erectile dysfunction is sometimes more than just an issue that negatively impacts a man's quality of life -- it can also be an early sign of heart or blood vessel problems, according to experts.
U.S. Clears Mylan's Generic Rival to J&J Pain Patch
U.S. regulators approved the first generic rival to Johnson & Johnson's Duragesic pain relief skin patch, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday.
Botox May Soothe 'Musician's Cramp'
Injections of the wrinkle-banisher Botox may help soothe the involuntary muscle contractions that plague some professional musicians, according to a new study.
Age a Factor in Cervical Cancer Treatment
Elderly women with invasive cervical carcinoma are less likely to receive aggressive treatment than younger patients, and are more likely to die from the disease, a new study shows.
Head Cooling May Reduce Brain Damage in Infants
Cooling the head with a special cap may help reduce brain damage in infants with neonatal encephalopathy, a serious neurologic condition that occurs in the first days of life, new research shows.
Heart Attack Diagnosis Less Likely in Women
Even with new, more objective criteria, women are still less likely than men to have their heart condition accurately diagnosed as a heart attack, researchers report.
Steroid Puffs Do Not Up Nonvertebral Fracture Risk
In the short term, the risk of nonvertebral fracture is not increased in older adults with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who use inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), a study shows.
Britain Clamps Down on Facelift 'Cowboys'
Britain moved on Friday to impose tougher regulations on the booming cosmetic surgery industry as concerns grow that people seeking beauty can end up disfigured by rogue practitioners.
Merck Hit with SEC Probe, Patent Ruling
Merck and Co. (MRK.N) suffered a double blow on Friday when a court ruled that the patent on its second-biggest drug, Fosamax, will lapse a decade earlier than expected and U.S. regulators elevated their probe of its withdrawn Vioxx arthritis drug.
Vietnam Tests Sick Cambodian Woman for Bird Flu
A 25-year-old Cambodian woman suspected of having bird flu is seriously ill in a hospital in southern Vietnam and tests are under way to check for the virus that has killed 10 Vietnamese recently, doctors said on Saturday.
Illinois Lifts Restrictions on Flu Shots
Officials lifted all restrictions Friday on the flu vaccination program in Illinois — a day after conceding the state has been unable to resell 700,000 doses purchased in Europe.
Acne Drug Memos Kept Secret Despite Suits
Lawyers suing the makers of Accutane over allegations the acne drug increases the risk of suicide cannot share the company's internal memos and other documents with the public or federal regulators, a judge ruled Friday.
Medicare Expands Defibrillator Coverage
About 500,000 Medicare beneficiaries can now receive coverage for expensive defibrillators — if they agree to release details about their cases to a database shared by hospitals, Medicare officials said.
Everyday Activity Said Key to Weight Loss
It turns out some couch potatoes spend more time on the couch than others. And that could be a key to obesity.
With Age Comes Pain Tolerance
Older adults seem better able to cope with chronic pain than younger adults, say researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of South Florida.
HIV Risk High in Poor Neighborhoods
Stress experienced by males who live in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods may put them at increased risk for HIV infection, says a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Anti-Tobacco Programs Cut Teen Smoking Rates
Teen smoking rates could be cut by up to 14 percent if states followed federal recommendations for funding anti-smoking programs, a new study finds.
Seatbelts Save Police Officers' Lives, Too
Police officers who don't wear their seatbelts are 2.6 times more likely to die in patrol crashes than officers who wear seatbelts, says a University at Buffalo study in the January issue of the Journal of Trauma.
Smallpox Vaccine Risky for Some
People who have certain skin disorders or weakened immune systems, or are taking high-dose corticosteroids may face increased risk if they get the live-virus smallpox vaccine.
Campaign Touts Folic Acid for Moms-to-Be
A new public education campaign to raise awareness about the important role that the B vitamin folic acid plays in preventing serious birth defects was announced this week by the March of Dimes.
Parents' Smoking Can Kill Children Years Later
Here's one more study that shows smoking is bad not only for the health of people who light up but also for those around them -- specifically, for children who breathe in their parents' secondhand smoke.
EU confirms BSE has spread beyond cattle
European scientists have confirmed the first case of "mad cow" disease in another species, officials said, while playing down the risk from a condition linked to a horrific brain disease in humans.
Vietnam reports 11th death from bird flu in past month
A 13-year-old girl has died from bird flu in Vietnam, becoming the country's 11th victim of the disease in the past month, a doctor said.
British couple fail to change ruling that premature baby be allowed to die
The parents of a critically ill premature baby failed to overturn a landmark British court ruling that doctors be allowed to let her die, despite arguing her condition had significantly improved.
India declares 'last mile' fight against leprosy
International health organisations have declared a "last mile" assault on leprosy in India, aiming to eradicate the disease by the end of 2005, a campaigner said.
Two million Ethiopians in acute hunger crisis despite harvest
More than two million acutely-hungry Ethiopians will need emergency food aid to survive the next year despite a bumper cereal harvest, according to a joint UN food agency report.
United States to assist Nigerian AIDS sufferers with drugs, care
The United States has set up an emergency plan to assist Nigerian AIDS sufferers with life-prolonging anti-retroviral treatment (ART), care and prevention programmes, a senior US official said.
At least three dead as cholera outbreak hits western Kenya
A cholera outbreak in several villages in western Kenya has killed at least three people since water supplies were cut for non-payment of bills two weeks ago, the country's chief physician said.
Erectile dysfunction is sometimes more than just an issue that negatively impacts a man's quality of life -- it can also be an early sign of heart or blood vessel problems, according to experts.
U.S. Clears Mylan's Generic Rival to J&J Pain Patch
U.S. regulators approved the first generic rival to Johnson & Johnson's Duragesic pain relief skin patch, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday.
Botox May Soothe 'Musician's Cramp'
Injections of the wrinkle-banisher Botox may help soothe the involuntary muscle contractions that plague some professional musicians, according to a new study.
Age a Factor in Cervical Cancer Treatment
Elderly women with invasive cervical carcinoma are less likely to receive aggressive treatment than younger patients, and are more likely to die from the disease, a new study shows.
Head Cooling May Reduce Brain Damage in Infants
Cooling the head with a special cap may help reduce brain damage in infants with neonatal encephalopathy, a serious neurologic condition that occurs in the first days of life, new research shows.
Heart Attack Diagnosis Less Likely in Women
Even with new, more objective criteria, women are still less likely than men to have their heart condition accurately diagnosed as a heart attack, researchers report.
Steroid Puffs Do Not Up Nonvertebral Fracture Risk
In the short term, the risk of nonvertebral fracture is not increased in older adults with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who use inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), a study shows.
Britain Clamps Down on Facelift 'Cowboys'
Britain moved on Friday to impose tougher regulations on the booming cosmetic surgery industry as concerns grow that people seeking beauty can end up disfigured by rogue practitioners.
Merck Hit with SEC Probe, Patent Ruling
Merck and Co. (MRK.N) suffered a double blow on Friday when a court ruled that the patent on its second-biggest drug, Fosamax, will lapse a decade earlier than expected and U.S. regulators elevated their probe of its withdrawn Vioxx arthritis drug.
Vietnam Tests Sick Cambodian Woman for Bird Flu
A 25-year-old Cambodian woman suspected of having bird flu is seriously ill in a hospital in southern Vietnam and tests are under way to check for the virus that has killed 10 Vietnamese recently, doctors said on Saturday.
Illinois Lifts Restrictions on Flu Shots
Officials lifted all restrictions Friday on the flu vaccination program in Illinois — a day after conceding the state has been unable to resell 700,000 doses purchased in Europe.
Acne Drug Memos Kept Secret Despite Suits
Lawyers suing the makers of Accutane over allegations the acne drug increases the risk of suicide cannot share the company's internal memos and other documents with the public or federal regulators, a judge ruled Friday.
Medicare Expands Defibrillator Coverage
About 500,000 Medicare beneficiaries can now receive coverage for expensive defibrillators — if they agree to release details about their cases to a database shared by hospitals, Medicare officials said.
Everyday Activity Said Key to Weight Loss
It turns out some couch potatoes spend more time on the couch than others. And that could be a key to obesity.
With Age Comes Pain Tolerance
Older adults seem better able to cope with chronic pain than younger adults, say researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of South Florida.
HIV Risk High in Poor Neighborhoods
Stress experienced by males who live in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods may put them at increased risk for HIV infection, says a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Anti-Tobacco Programs Cut Teen Smoking Rates
Teen smoking rates could be cut by up to 14 percent if states followed federal recommendations for funding anti-smoking programs, a new study finds.
Seatbelts Save Police Officers' Lives, Too
Police officers who don't wear their seatbelts are 2.6 times more likely to die in patrol crashes than officers who wear seatbelts, says a University at Buffalo study in the January issue of the Journal of Trauma.
Smallpox Vaccine Risky for Some
People who have certain skin disorders or weakened immune systems, or are taking high-dose corticosteroids may face increased risk if they get the live-virus smallpox vaccine.
Campaign Touts Folic Acid for Moms-to-Be
A new public education campaign to raise awareness about the important role that the B vitamin folic acid plays in preventing serious birth defects was announced this week by the March of Dimes.
Parents' Smoking Can Kill Children Years Later
Here's one more study that shows smoking is bad not only for the health of people who light up but also for those around them -- specifically, for children who breathe in their parents' secondhand smoke.
EU confirms BSE has spread beyond cattle
European scientists have confirmed the first case of "mad cow" disease in another species, officials said, while playing down the risk from a condition linked to a horrific brain disease in humans.
Vietnam reports 11th death from bird flu in past month
A 13-year-old girl has died from bird flu in Vietnam, becoming the country's 11th victim of the disease in the past month, a doctor said.
British couple fail to change ruling that premature baby be allowed to die
The parents of a critically ill premature baby failed to overturn a landmark British court ruling that doctors be allowed to let her die, despite arguing her condition had significantly improved.
India declares 'last mile' fight against leprosy
International health organisations have declared a "last mile" assault on leprosy in India, aiming to eradicate the disease by the end of 2005, a campaigner said.
Two million Ethiopians in acute hunger crisis despite harvest
More than two million acutely-hungry Ethiopians will need emergency food aid to survive the next year despite a bumper cereal harvest, according to a joint UN food agency report.
United States to assist Nigerian AIDS sufferers with drugs, care
The United States has set up an emergency plan to assist Nigerian AIDS sufferers with life-prolonging anti-retroviral treatment (ART), care and prevention programmes, a senior US official said.
At least three dead as cholera outbreak hits western Kenya
A cholera outbreak in several villages in western Kenya has killed at least three people since water supplies were cut for non-payment of bills two weeks ago, the country's chief physician said.
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