Health Headlines - January 25

Scientists Give More Evidence of Vioxx Heart Risks

Vioxx, the painkiller recalled last September because of safety concerns, may have caused up to 140,000 cases of serious heart disease in the United States, researchers said on Tuesday.

Aastrom Biosciences Says It Uses Adult Stem Cells

Aastrom Biosciences Inc. on Monday said it uses adult, not embryonic, stem cells to produce cells that are being tested to see if they can repair severe bone fractures.

EU Needs New Chemical Rules to Halt Toxic Fish

An environmental action group urged the European Union on Tuesday to boost testing on chemicals and halt pollution in the Baltic Sea because the fish there are so toxic.

Risk Factors for Alzheimer's, Heart Disease Similar

People who have high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes or who smoke in midlife have a much higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later on, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

Sex Map Shows Chain of Almost 300 High School Lovers

The first "map" of teen sexual behavior gives new meaning to the old warning that you don't just have sex with a person, but with everyone that person ever had sex with, researchers said on Monday.

Low Birth Weights Fuel Infant Mortality Rise

A jump in the number of babies born at abnormally low birth weights was the main reason why the U.S. infant mortality rate rose in 2002 for the first time in 44 years, according to a federal study released on Monday.

No Evidence of 'Cancer Personality'

Being open and easy-going can win you friends, and it probably won't raise your cancer risk either, according to a study published Monday.

Obesity May Affect Prostate Screening, Study Finds

Obese men may get falsely reassuring results on prostate cancer screening tests, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

Heart Patients Urged to Get Into Rehab

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends in a statement issued Monday that doctors strongly encourage their cardiac patients to participate in rehabilitation programs aimed at preventing a recurrence of heart problems.

Potential HIV/AIDS Vaccine Gets More Tests

A potential HIV/AIDS vaccine developed by Merck & Co. that uses synthetic genes to prepare cells to fight the deadly virus is moving into the second stage of testing.

Studies Put Arthritis Drugs on Hot Seat

Merck & Co. forced one of its researchers to remove her name from a study linking Vioxx to heart attacks, then criticized the findings before ultimately pulling the arthritis drug from the market last fall, two of the scientist's colleagues said.

Fla. Loses Appeal in Terri Schiavo Case

The Supreme Court refused on Monday to step in and keep a severely brain-damaged woman hooked to a feeding tube, all but ending a long-running right-to-die battle pitting her husband against her parents.

Consumer Group Urges Ban of Celebrex

A consumer group urged the Food and Drug Administration on Monday to order the pain killers Celebrex and Bextra off the market.

Researcher Thinks She Has Cancer Vaccine

A researcher at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center believes she has found a vaccine that protects against most kinds of cervical cancer.

Iowa Doctors Say No to Drug Companies

A group of doctors say they'll no longer accept free coffee mugs, pens or other trinkets and free lunches from pharmaceutical representatives in an effort to keep their brand names in view, along with hopes the doctors will prescribe the drugs.

WHO Members Argue Over Bird Flu Approaches

World Health Organization members struggled Monday to find common ground on how countries should tackle any future global influenza outbreak, especially a potential human variant of deadly bird flu.

Health Tip: Considering Botox?

Botox injections, which smooth frown lines by prohibiting the facial muscles' ability to contract, are the fastest-growing cosmetic procedure in the industry, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Vaginal Hysterectomy Is Preferred Method

Women who have vaginal hysterectomies experience fewer post-surgical infections and high temperatures, have shorter hospital stays, and return to normal activities more quickly than women who have abdominal hysterectomies.

Nose-Stomach Tube Slows Recovery From Surgery

The routine use of nasogastric (nose-to-stomach) tubes in patients after they have abdominal surgery slows recovery and may increase the risk of some postoperative complications.

Self-Extinguishing Cigarettes Lower Fire Danger

Fires caused by smoldering cigarettes kill more than 800 people each year in the United States, and are the leading cause of fire deaths in the country.

Ethiopia to provide free anti-retroviral drugs in major anti-AIDS drive

The east African state of Ethiopia, one of the poorest countries in the world, launched a plan to fight AIDS which will for the first time include the distribution of free anti-retroviral drugs.

Doctors airlifted to help sick Afghan children

A group of Afghan and UN doctors flew into central Afghanistan to offer help after 25 children died of whooping cough, government and US military officials said.

World health body warns disease outbreaks still a threat in Aceh

The World Health Organization warned a major outbreak of diseases remained a threat in tsunami-ravaged Aceh province, saying that clean water is key to preventing the menace.

Thailand, Vietnam brace for bird flu outbreaks as more deaths recorded

Bangkok warned that bird flu could kill up to two million Thais as it announced an emergency plan to combat the disease, while Vietnam also ordered hospitals to prepare for a larger epidemic after recording its ninth bird flu death this year.

Cameroonian doctors tasked with testing AIDS treatment on prostitutes

A team of Cameroonian doctors has been tasked with looking into prospects for testing a controversial antiretroviral HIV/AIDS drug on prostitutes in Douala, the west African country's economic capital, authorities said.

Almost 63 percent of Indian injections unsafe

Almost 63 percent of the six billion injections administered annually in India are unsafe, a doctor who conducted a country-wide study said.

Major British pub chain to stub out smoking ahead of gov't ban

J.D. Wetherspoon, one of Britain's largest pub chains, said it would ban smoking at its 650 pubs around the country by May next year, a move that further ostracizes smokers around the world.

Swedish clean teeth campaigners to host Valentine's Day smoochathon

Sweden's state-run pharmacy chain said it would host an attempt to break the world record for the longest kiss as part of a campaign to improve dental hygiene.