Health Headlines - October 15

No Chance of Chiron Vaccine, U.S. Says

None of Chiron Corp.'s (CHIR.O) flu vaccine made at a British plant is safe, which means the U.S. flu vaccine supply will be half of what was expected, U.S. health officials said on Friday.

Calif. Woman Dies After Wait for Flu Shot

A 79-year-old woman who stood in line outside a supermarket for more than five hours waiting for a flu shot collapsed and later died, the woman's daughter said.

Pfizer Says Bextra, Heart Problems Linked

Pfizer Inc. on Friday said two small clinical trials showed heart bypass surgery patients taking Bextra, an anti-inflammatory in the same class as the recently withdrawn drug Vioxx, had a higher risk of stroke and heart attack.

Support Group May Help Women with 'Cancer Genes'

Professionally led support groups may ease anxiety and depression in women who carry gene mutations linked to breast and ovarian cancers, a new study suggests.

FDA Orders Strong Antidepressant Warnings

All antidepressants must carry a "black box" warning, the government's strongest safety alert, linking the drugs to increased suicidal thoughts and behavior among children and teens taking them, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

Urinary Incontinence Can Run in the Family

The risk of urinary incontinence appears to be one of the things mothers can pass on to their daughters, according to new findings released Friday.

Difficult Asthma Can Often Be Well Controlled

Most people with uncontrolled asthma can achieve good control over their disease using a combination of the inhaled steroid fluticasone and the long-acting beta-2-agonist salmeterol, according to a study supported by GlaxoSmithKline R&D Limited.

Drug Counters Sleepiness from Antidepressants

Some people taking the newer class of antidepressants experience excessive sleepiness and fatigue, but this can be prevented with a drug that's used to treat narcolepsy, according to a new report.

Prostate Drug Might Cut Cancer Risk

Men who take Avodart (dutasteride) to treat an enlarged prostate apparently have a reduced risk for developing prostate cancer, a new study indicates.

Arthritis Drug Lumiracoxib Has Low Ulcer Risk

Compared with ibuprofen, the use of the lumiracoxib by patients with osteoarthritis is associated with a lower risk of gastric ulcers. The risk is similar to that seen with celecoxib (Celebrex), another COX-2 inhibitor.

Singapore Hit by Rare Cholera Outbreak

Singapore was investigating on Friday a rare cluster of cholera cases after eight people contracted the illness in the eastern part of the city-state.

Memo Warned About Medicare Cards

A day before the first presidential debate, the government's health policy watchdog raised concerns that early mailings to seniors about the new Medicare prescription discount cards championed by President Bush were confusing or inadequate.

Ovarian Transplant Recipient Pregnant

Stephanie Yarber had her first bout of morning sickness Friday, but she's not complaining. The nausea only confirmed what she had dreamed would happen some day. The Alabama woman, who came to St. Louis in April to have the first known ovary transplant in this country, is pregnant. Five weeks and four days to be precise.

Herbal Cholesterol Drug Bad Mix for Many Prescription Meds

The cholesterol-lowering herbal drug gugulipid breaks down about 60 percent of prescription drugs, including some used to fight AIDS and cancer, says a University of Kansas study.

Laser Zaps Sun Damage

A new laser treatment that can be used to treat the wrinkles and discoloration of sun-damaged skin has been developed by researchers at the Wellman Laboratories of Massachusetts General Hospital.