Health Headlines - January 4

Painkillers Damage Intestine, U.S. Expert Says

More than 70 percent of patients who took painkillers such as ibuprofen for more than three months suffered damage to their small intestines, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

Study Shows No One Knows Which Diets Work Best

No one really knows which diets work and which are a waste of time, with the possible exception of Weight Watchers, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

Dual Pacemakers Worth the Cost, U.S. Study Finds

Pricey pacemakers that regulate the heart's upper and lower chambers separately are worth the extra cost because they help keep patients out of the hospital, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

Italian Study: Shy Children Don't Read Emotions Well

Shy children tend to have muted reactions to joy or anger in the facial expressions of others, inhibitions that may lead to the anxieties many experience later in life, Italian researchers said on Monday.

Scientist to Submit Vioxx Study, Attorney Says

The U.S. drug safety officer who warned months ago about risks from Merck & Co. Inc.'s painkiller Vioxx won clearance to publish a study arguing the now-recalled drug may have caused up to 139,000 heart attacks and strokes.

Pleasant Smell May Reduce Apnea in Preemies

Premature newborns have a heightened risk of sleep apnea -- brief periods when they stop breathing -- but pumping a pleasant odor into their incubators seems to reduce the frequency of such spells, a study from France suggests.

Gene Variants Influence Sensitivity to Pain

Researchers have identified three variations of a gene called COMT that influence sensitivity to pain and the risk of developing a chronic pain condition.

Nanoparticles Could Improve Gene Therapy

Tiny particles of silica can act as DNA carriers, providing a non-viral method of gene therapy, new research shows.

Charity: Crush Injuries Pose Post-Tsunami Challenge

Survivors of last week's Indian Ocean tsunami are suffering not only from diarrhea, mental trauma and dehydration but also from horrific crush injuries, one charity said on Monday.

Canada Quarantines One Farm in Mad Cow Search

The Canadian government has quarantined a farm in Alberta in its search for cattle connected to the country's second case of mad cow disease, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Monday.

Study: Diuretics a Net Plus for Elderly

Diuretics, pills used by millions of elderly people to lower high blood pressure, clearly reduce the long-term risk of death from heart attacks and strokes, according to a study that could ease fears that the medication's risks outweigh its benefits.

Polish Conjoined Twins Undergo Separation

Saudi doctors managed to separate Monday the lower organs of two infant Polish girls who were born joined at the spine and intestines, a member of the medical team said.

Aspirin Use Lags Among Diabetic Women

Too few diabetic women use aspirin to reduce their risk of heart disease, claims a study by researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Saliva Holds Clues to Oral Cancer

A major advance in using saliva to detect oral cancer is outlined in a study funded by the U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Dreams Sort Out Problems

Your dreams may offer you solutions for solving personal problems, according to a Canadian study in the December issue of the Journal of Sleep Research.

Simulator Could Make for Smoother Births

Using a birth simulator, researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified what may be the least forceful method of delivering babies whose shoulders are stuck in the birth canal.

Only Moderate Drinking Wards Off Stroke

Moderate drinking has been associated with a lower risk of heart attacks, but the picture has been less clear in the case of stroke.

Self-Hypnosis Calms Kids During Tough Procedures

In an indication that the power of mind over body isn't limited to grownups, researchers report that advanced relaxation techniques help kids endure a grueling medical procedure.

Guilt-ridden tsnunami survivors at risk of suicide, mental disorders

Survivors of last week's deadly tsunamis are at risk of becoming suicidal or developing other serious neuroses as they grapple with the guilt of having lived while others died, mental health experts say.

270,000 people living in Aceh refugee camps

The number of people living in refugee camps in the tsunami-ravaged Indonesian province of Aceh has risen to more than 270,000, the government said.

UN fears new polio outbreak in Sudan

The World Health Organization expressed fear of a fresh outbreak of polio in Sudan, saying 105 cases have already been reported in various parts of the country.

Activists warn of possible rape of tsunami survivors

Women activists urged Sri Lankan authorities to step up protection for tsunami survivors amid unconfirmed reports some had been molested or even gang raped at refugee shelters.

German scientists announce new HIV treatment

German scientists announced that they have developed a new treatment for HIV that was useful in targeted mutated strains of the AIDS virus that have become impervious to drugs.

Andaman's lone psychiatrist braces for post-tsunami nightmare

The lone psychiatrist in India's ravaged Andaman and Nicobar islands said he plans to enlist volunteers ahead of an anticipated deluge of tsunami survivors with post-disaster trauma.

UN receives record 1.5 billion dollars in donations for tsunami relief

The United Nations has received a record 1.5 billion dollars in one week in donations after the devastating tidal waves in the Indian Ocean, a UN official said.