Health Headlines - January 27

Survey Finds 80 Pct of U.S. Doctors Witness Mistakes

Eighty percent of U.S. doctors and half of nurses surveyed said they had seen colleagues make mistakes, but only 10 percent ever spoke up, according to a study released on Wednesday.

Avastin Plus Erbitux More Effective

Adding the drug Avastin to a regimen of targeted therapy Erbitux and chemotherapy in patients with advanced colon cancer is more effective than the two drugs alone, a leading cancer researcher said on Wednesday.

U.S. Women at Greatest Risk of Sexual Disease

Americans, and especially women, are three times more likely to suffer premature death and adverse health due to sexual activity than people in other rich nations, scientists said on Thursday.

Go Ahead and Widen Flu Shots, CDC Tells States

Fearing that a flu vaccine shortage may turn into a glut, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday more people should get shots so the vaccines don't go to waste.

Bill Would Restrict Cold Pills to Fight 'Meth'

Americans wanting to buy many common cold medicines would have to go to a drug store and ask the pharmacist under legislation introduced on Wednesday aimed at fighting the spread of the illegal stimulant methamphetamine.

Quit Smoking or Quit Your Job, U.S. Company Says

The owner of a Michigan company who forced his employees to either quit smoking or quit their jobs said on Wednesday he also wants to tell fat workers to lose weight or else.

Novartis Says Breast-Cancer Drug Beats Tamoxifen

Novartis AG said on Wednesday that its breast cancer pill Femara is more effective than the current standard treatment tamoxifen in reducing the risk that the cancer will return to older women after surgery.

Secret Ingredient for Elderly Romance

A mystery chemical isolated from the sweat of young women seems to act as a romance booster for their older counterparts.

Thinning Bones Linked to Alzheimer's Risk

People with low bone mineral density (BMD) are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, researchers report. Low BMD is also associated with all-cause dementia in women, but not men.

Response Prevented Tsunami Deaths from Disease - UN

The swift response to the Asian tsunami prevented a second wave of deaths from disease and malnutrition but the task of rebuilding is far from complete, a top U.N. official said exactly one month after the cataclysm.

Rise and Fall of Syphilis Said Normal

A recent rise in syphilis rates in the United States is probably due to natural cycles rather than an increase in unsafe sex or other behaviors, according to a new study.

Report: Rich Countries Poach Doctors

Rich countries poach doctors and nurses that poor nations spend millions to train, taxing already underfunded, over-stretched hospitals in Africa and elsewhere, according to a report released Wednesday.

Turns Out You Do Watch Your Step

A powerful visual system that can make rapid adjustments to your legs to help prevent falls in tricky footing situations has been identified by researchers at University College London, England.

Scientists ID New Form of Muscular Dystrophy

A new form of muscular dystrophy that develops after age 40 and causes limb weakness along with nerve and heart muscle damage has been identified by Mayo Clinic scientists.

Compound Might Aid Leukemia Patients Resistant to Gleevec

Scientists have developed a compound that may be able to treat cases of chronic myelogenous leukemia that are resistant to the so-called miracle drug Gleevec.

Drug Fails Against Autoimmune Disease

The drug etanercept shows no benefit against the autoimmune disorder Wegener's granulomatosis, according to results of a clinical trial led by Johns Hopkins researchers.

Heart Threats May Lead to Nerve Damage in Diabetics

The same factors that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke -- obesity, smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol -- also are associated with diabetic neuropathy.

Chirac proposes international tax to fight AIDS

French President Jacques Chirac called for an "experimental" international tax to help fund the war against AIDS, suggesting it could be raised via a levy on airline tickets, some fuels or financial transactions.

AIDS: "Three by Five" goal shadowed by funding shortfall, says WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that access to AIDS therapy was spreading fast in many poor countries but warned its vision of reaching three million infected people by year's end needed further efforts and more cash.

Small study has reassuring news on mad-cow disease

A small-scale lab study by French scientists suggests that slaughterhouse standards for preventing mad-cow disease are sound and that humans have quite a good natural shield against the dangerous bovine prion protein.

Bird flu hits Vietnam's poultry industry for a second year

Bird flu has dealt Vietnam's poultry industry a severe blow for the second successive year, with prices plummeting ahead of the key Lunar New Year holiday after nine deaths were reported in recent weeks.

British finance chief pledges two billion pounds to wipe out poverty

British finance minister Gordon Brown pledged over 2.0 billion pounds (2.9 million euros, 3.7 million dollars) to help eradicate poverty in the developing world and give a brighter future for millions of children.