Childhood Obesity Leads to Enlarged Heart
Obese children grow up to have bigger left ventricles in their hearts, putting them at risk for heart disease, researchers said on Monday.
Obesity in Women Linked with Brain Tissue Loss
Women who are consistently overweight or obese during adulthood may be at increased risk for a decrease in the volume of certain areas of their brain -- according to a study from Sweden
Study Finds Bleeding Problem with Antidepressants
Some patients who are new users of antidepressants such as Paxil and Prozac and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may run a risk of abnormal bleeding, researchers said on Monday.
Chocolate May Hold Cure for Coughs
An ingredient in chocolate could be used to stop persistent coughs and lead to more effective medicines, researchers said on Monday.
Report: Bayer Delayed Warning on Cholesterol Drug
Bayer AG may have known its withdrawn cholesterol-lowering drug Baycol caused a high rate of a serious muscle condition more than a year before it added a warning to its label, according to a prominent medical journal.
Low-Dose Supplements Ward Off Cancer in Men
Taking "nutritional doses" of antioxidants seems to reduce men's risk of cancer, according to the findings of a French study. This approach doesn't do much for women, however, probably because they eat more healthily than men to begin with.
Medicare Drug Plan to Help Poorest Elderly Most
Medicare's new prescription drug coverage should help most elderly, including some of the poorest beneficiaries, save money, but nearly a quarter will pay more for medicine, according to an analysis released on Monday.
Enjoy Thanksgiving Meals, They Can Be Good for You
Here's another reason to give thanks this holiday season: the succulent turkey, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes included in many Thanksgiving day meals may not only look and taste good, but may also be good for you.
Old Habits Really Do Die Hard, Study Shows
New research may help explain why people find it so easy to fall back into old habits after they've decided to change their ways.
No More Christmas Candles? Church Air Poses Risk
A visit to church may be good for the soul but not so good for the lungs, a new study shows.
Study: Older Americans Not Eating Well
Two-thirds of older Americans take part in leisure-time physical activities, but poor nutrition remains a problem, especially when it comes to fruit and vegetables, according to the latest snapshot of aging.
Malnutrition Rising Among Iraq's Children
Malnutrition among Iraq's youngest children has nearly doubled since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq despite U.N. efforts to deliver food to the war-ravaged country, a Norwegian research group said Monday.
Typhoid in Congo's Capital Kills 16
An outbreak of a severe form of typhoid has killed at least 16 people in Congo's capital, sickening at least 144 more, health officials said Monday.
New ID Tag Could Prevent Surgical Errors
A radio frequency tag that patients can affix like a bandage to ensure doctors perform the right surgery on the right person won government approval Friday.
Nobel Prize Winner Sir John Vane Dies
Sir John Vane, who shared the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1982 for his work in discovering how aspirin works, has died at the age of 77.
Malnutrition Leads to Antisocial Behavior
Children who are malnourished in their first few years of life are more likely to be aggressive and antisocial throughout childhood and into their late teens, says a University of Southern California study.
System That Regulates Blood Pressure May Also Affect Aging
The same system -- the renin-angiotensin system -- that helps the body regulate blood pressure may also play a role in aging, says research by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center scientists.
Chronic Back Pain Shrinks Brain
Chronic back pain can shrink the gray matter in your brain by as much as 11 percent in one year, the same amount of brain density that's lost in 10 to 20 years of normal aging, says a Northwestern University study.
Looking at Blood Pressure Drug Use in Kids
The first study to examine the safety of the blood pressure-lowering drug sodium nitroprusside in children will be led by researchers at Duke University Medical Center.
Risks Outlined for Women With Breast Cancer Gene
There is good research news for women with breast cancer who carry a cancer-causing gene and are treated with breast-conserving therapy: the risk that cancer will recur in that breast is no higher than for women who don't carry the gene.
Health Tip: Turkey Tiredness
Popular thinking says that you feel tired after Thanksgiving dinner because of the turkey -- or, more precisely, because of a substance in the turkey called L-tryptophan.
New Way to Spot Lung Trouble
One in three of 1,500 former or current smokers tested positive for lung abnormalities when they were screened for lung cancer using low-dose spiral computed tomography.
Study: Men Benefit More From Antioxidants
A long-running French study finds that a low-dose cocktail of antioxidants reduces the incidence of cancer in men but not in women.
Monday, November 22, 2004
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Health Headlines - November 21
Merck Steps Up PR Campaign After Recall
Merck & Co.'s campaign to defend itself in the wake of the recall of the pain reliever Vioxx intensified as it placed a package of three full-page ads in seven prominent newspapers beginning last Friday.
Interpreters Lower Risks in Hospitals
Romualdo Rivera arrives at the emergency room with what seems to be a complaint of chest pain. But it's hard to be sure — he doesn't speak English.
At Clemson, Low-Carb Diets Raise Prices
The days of college students slurping down cheap ramen noodles in a cramped dorm room might be a thing of the past at Clemson University.
Tucson May Treat Sewage for Potable Water
Using treated sewage for drinking water could help sustain the supply here, said the director of the city's water company.
Texas Woman's Death Probed for Mad Cow Tie
The family of a Beaumont woman is waiting for test results to find out if she died from a form of an affliction connected to mad cow disease.
Scientist to Testify Vs. Philip Morris
A former Philip Morris USA scientist plans to testify that the tobacco giant failed to tell smokers that a change to Merit cigarettes four years ago caused chunks of burning ash to fall off, presenting a potential safety hazard.
Gorging Your Way Through the Holidays?
A feeling of goodwill isn't the only thing you're likely to carry around with you after the holidays; there's a good chance you'll also be lugging a few extra pounds.
Some Childhood Ills Refuse to Go Away
Like the sequel to a bad movie, some medical conditions can show up years after an initial infection or injury. Many of them are every bit as bad -- or worse -- the second time around.
Merck & Co.'s campaign to defend itself in the wake of the recall of the pain reliever Vioxx intensified as it placed a package of three full-page ads in seven prominent newspapers beginning last Friday.
Interpreters Lower Risks in Hospitals
Romualdo Rivera arrives at the emergency room with what seems to be a complaint of chest pain. But it's hard to be sure — he doesn't speak English.
At Clemson, Low-Carb Diets Raise Prices
The days of college students slurping down cheap ramen noodles in a cramped dorm room might be a thing of the past at Clemson University.
Tucson May Treat Sewage for Potable Water
Using treated sewage for drinking water could help sustain the supply here, said the director of the city's water company.
Texas Woman's Death Probed for Mad Cow Tie
The family of a Beaumont woman is waiting for test results to find out if she died from a form of an affliction connected to mad cow disease.
Scientist to Testify Vs. Philip Morris
A former Philip Morris USA scientist plans to testify that the tobacco giant failed to tell smokers that a change to Merit cigarettes four years ago caused chunks of burning ash to fall off, presenting a potential safety hazard.
Gorging Your Way Through the Holidays?
A feeling of goodwill isn't the only thing you're likely to carry around with you after the holidays; there's a good chance you'll also be lugging a few extra pounds.
Some Childhood Ills Refuse to Go Away
Like the sequel to a bad movie, some medical conditions can show up years after an initial infection or injury. Many of them are every bit as bad -- or worse -- the second time around.
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Health Headlines - November 20
Congress Helps Providers Refuse Abortions
Congress made it a little easier for hospitals, insurers and other to refuse to provide or cover abortions.
Scientists Warn of Toxins in Fish
Each day at 4 p.m., the trawlers come back, alive with giant bass, mackerel and squirming eels, at the end of a food chain that links family dinner tables to poisons in the sea.
Groups Disappointed by Veteran Health Aid
Veterans' health care got a lot of attention in the just-concluded election campaign, but the Republican-led Congress is not devoting as much money to it as veterans groups and even some GOP lawmakers wanted.
Study Suggests Chernobyl Affected Sweden
More than 800 people in northern Sweden may have cancer as a result of the fallout that spewed over the region after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986, according to a new study by Swedish scientists.
Pill Company Thrives Despite Complaints
Just three years since an Ohio salesman started selling penis enlargement pills out of a spare room in his house, his company is raking in more than $200 million a year.
Alternative Medicine Practitioner Charged
A practitioner of alternative medicine who allegedly discouraged a woman with breast cancer from getting chemotherapy has been charged in her death.
Don't Delay When a Stroke Strikes
Quick action is essential when someone is having a stroke.
Joe Montana Leads Fight Against High Blood Pressure
Joe Montana, one of the greatest quarterbacks in football history, was the picture of grace under pressure as he carried the San Francisco 49ers to countless come-from-behind victories.
That's why a diagnosis of high blood pressure two years ago left him stunned. Now, he's on a mission to alert others to the dangers of this life-threatening condition and to describe how it can be controlled.
Congress made it a little easier for hospitals, insurers and other to refuse to provide or cover abortions.
Scientists Warn of Toxins in Fish
Each day at 4 p.m., the trawlers come back, alive with giant bass, mackerel and squirming eels, at the end of a food chain that links family dinner tables to poisons in the sea.
Groups Disappointed by Veteran Health Aid
Veterans' health care got a lot of attention in the just-concluded election campaign, but the Republican-led Congress is not devoting as much money to it as veterans groups and even some GOP lawmakers wanted.
Study Suggests Chernobyl Affected Sweden
More than 800 people in northern Sweden may have cancer as a result of the fallout that spewed over the region after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986, according to a new study by Swedish scientists.
Pill Company Thrives Despite Complaints
Just three years since an Ohio salesman started selling penis enlargement pills out of a spare room in his house, his company is raking in more than $200 million a year.
Alternative Medicine Practitioner Charged
A practitioner of alternative medicine who allegedly discouraged a woman with breast cancer from getting chemotherapy has been charged in her death.
Don't Delay When a Stroke Strikes
Quick action is essential when someone is having a stroke.
Joe Montana Leads Fight Against High Blood Pressure
Joe Montana, one of the greatest quarterbacks in football history, was the picture of grace under pressure as he carried the San Francisco 49ers to countless come-from-behind victories.
That's why a diagnosis of high blood pressure two years ago left him stunned. Now, he's on a mission to alert others to the dangers of this life-threatening condition and to describe how it can be controlled.
Friday, November 19, 2004
Health Headlines - November 19
Enjoy Thanksgiving Meals, They Can Be Good for You
Here's another reason to give thanks this holiday season: the succulent turkey, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes included in many Thanksgiving day meals may not only look and taste good, but may also be good for you.
Wrist Best Spot for Angioplasty in Elderly
The wrist is a better access spot than the groin for performing angioplasty in very elderly patients with heart disease, new research shows.
Acupuncture Aids Pain Relief for Knee Arthritis
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee are eased more when acupuncture is added to treatment with the painkiller diclofenac, Spanish researchers report.
Bottle, Pacifier Can Misalign Baby Teeth
Children who were bottle-fed or used pacifiers as babies are at risk of dental problems in preschool, a new study suggests.
Depression May Raise Risk of Dementia
Depression and manic depression are associated with dementia, and the more often a patient is hospitalized for these mental illnesses the greater their risk, Danish researchers report.
Continuous Passive Motion Helps After Knee Repair
After undergoing knee reconstruction, therapy with a machine that puts the joint through continuous passive motion leads to improved flexion when added to conventional physical therapy, according to a review by Canadian researchers.
Many C-Sections in U.S. Done for No Medical Reason
In the US, many mothers who have "no indicated risk" for a difficult vaginal birth are having caesarean deliveries -- and the rate is rising year by year -- according to a report in the British Medical Journal.
Brain Area Found to Be Smaller in Cocaine Addicts
A part of the brain involved in both drug craving and judgment appears to be smaller in cocaine addicts than in healthy people, researchers have found.
U.S.-Led Push for Broad U.N. Cloning Ban Crumbles
A divided United Nations on Friday rejected a U.S.-led campaign to ban all cloning of human embryos, including for stem-cell research, as a General Assembly committee opted instead for a nonbinding declaration.
Rare Blood Infection Surfaces in Injured U.S. Soldiers
An unexpectedly high number of U.S. soldiers injured in the Middle East and Afghanistan are testing positive for a rare, hard-to-treat blood infection in military hospitals, Army doctors reported on Thursday.
Patients Seek Answers on Popular Drugs
An Oregon man stopped taking the painkiller Vioxx when it was pulled from the market, switching to Bextra. Then questions were raised about Bextra — and four other drugs — and he returned to his doctor with a new set of worries.
FDA Official 'Rejects' Safety Criticisms
A Food and Drug Administration official said Friday "we categorically reject" accusations the agency has failed to protect the public against dangerous drugs.
Transplant Group Discourages Donor Ads
The national organ transplant network is asking hospitals to discourage patients from advertising for donors and, if possible, to refuse to perform transplants that arise from these campaigns.
Changes Aim at Better Mad Cow Testing
As the government awaits definitive results in a possible second case of mad cow disease, federal officials are charting new ground in dealing with a jittery public. Little noticed in the anxiety are some Agriculture Department policy changes the past fo...
New ID Tag Could Prevent Surgical Errors
A radio frequency tag that patients can affix like a bandage to ensure doctors perform the right surgery on the right person won government approval Friday.
Military Amputees to Get New Rehab Center
A state-of-the-art rehabilitation center opening next year at Walter Reed Army Medical Center seeks to return more amputee soldiers to a place once thought impossible: the battlefield.
U.N. Abandons Idea of Anti-Cloning Treaty
U.N. diplomats abandoned contentious efforts to draft a treaty that would outlaw human cloning and will likely settle for a weaker declaration that won't seek a comprehensive ban, officials said.
Indian Firm Pulls 6 HIV Drugs From List
India's Hetero Drugs is withdrawing six of its generic versions of antiretroviral drugs from the World Health Organization's list of approved HIV medicines, saying it is not certain they are biologically the same as the patented drugs.
Military Family Life Comes Under Study
The military, so the saying goes, enlists a soldier but re-enlists a family. Getting families to re-up in time of war, however, is a daunting task the defense department hopes will be made easier with research by Purdue University.
Study: C-Sections Gain Popularity in U.S.
New research bolsters a growing body of evidence that an increasing proportion of women in the industrialized world are choosing to give birth by Caesarean section when there is no clear medical need.
Health Tip: Buying Exercise Equipment
If you're considering buying fitness equipment for home use, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission says you should exercise good judgment when evaluating advertising claims.
Generic NSAID Causes Fewer Complications
The generic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) etodolac caused 60 percent fewer gastrointestinal ulcer complications than the over-the-counter painkiller naproxen.
Still Not Enough Nurses to Go Around
Even though there's a steady increase in the number of new registered nurses in the United States, it's still not enough to prevent a long-term shortage that could cripple the nation's health-care system.
Here's another reason to give thanks this holiday season: the succulent turkey, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes included in many Thanksgiving day meals may not only look and taste good, but may also be good for you.
Wrist Best Spot for Angioplasty in Elderly
The wrist is a better access spot than the groin for performing angioplasty in very elderly patients with heart disease, new research shows.
Acupuncture Aids Pain Relief for Knee Arthritis
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee are eased more when acupuncture is added to treatment with the painkiller diclofenac, Spanish researchers report.
Bottle, Pacifier Can Misalign Baby Teeth
Children who were bottle-fed or used pacifiers as babies are at risk of dental problems in preschool, a new study suggests.
Depression May Raise Risk of Dementia
Depression and manic depression are associated with dementia, and the more often a patient is hospitalized for these mental illnesses the greater their risk, Danish researchers report.
Continuous Passive Motion Helps After Knee Repair
After undergoing knee reconstruction, therapy with a machine that puts the joint through continuous passive motion leads to improved flexion when added to conventional physical therapy, according to a review by Canadian researchers.
Many C-Sections in U.S. Done for No Medical Reason
In the US, many mothers who have "no indicated risk" for a difficult vaginal birth are having caesarean deliveries -- and the rate is rising year by year -- according to a report in the British Medical Journal.
Brain Area Found to Be Smaller in Cocaine Addicts
A part of the brain involved in both drug craving and judgment appears to be smaller in cocaine addicts than in healthy people, researchers have found.
U.S.-Led Push for Broad U.N. Cloning Ban Crumbles
A divided United Nations on Friday rejected a U.S.-led campaign to ban all cloning of human embryos, including for stem-cell research, as a General Assembly committee opted instead for a nonbinding declaration.
Rare Blood Infection Surfaces in Injured U.S. Soldiers
An unexpectedly high number of U.S. soldiers injured in the Middle East and Afghanistan are testing positive for a rare, hard-to-treat blood infection in military hospitals, Army doctors reported on Thursday.
Patients Seek Answers on Popular Drugs
An Oregon man stopped taking the painkiller Vioxx when it was pulled from the market, switching to Bextra. Then questions were raised about Bextra — and four other drugs — and he returned to his doctor with a new set of worries.
FDA Official 'Rejects' Safety Criticisms
A Food and Drug Administration official said Friday "we categorically reject" accusations the agency has failed to protect the public against dangerous drugs.
Transplant Group Discourages Donor Ads
The national organ transplant network is asking hospitals to discourage patients from advertising for donors and, if possible, to refuse to perform transplants that arise from these campaigns.
Changes Aim at Better Mad Cow Testing
As the government awaits definitive results in a possible second case of mad cow disease, federal officials are charting new ground in dealing with a jittery public. Little noticed in the anxiety are some Agriculture Department policy changes the past fo...
New ID Tag Could Prevent Surgical Errors
A radio frequency tag that patients can affix like a bandage to ensure doctors perform the right surgery on the right person won government approval Friday.
Military Amputees to Get New Rehab Center
A state-of-the-art rehabilitation center opening next year at Walter Reed Army Medical Center seeks to return more amputee soldiers to a place once thought impossible: the battlefield.
U.N. Abandons Idea of Anti-Cloning Treaty
U.N. diplomats abandoned contentious efforts to draft a treaty that would outlaw human cloning and will likely settle for a weaker declaration that won't seek a comprehensive ban, officials said.
Indian Firm Pulls 6 HIV Drugs From List
India's Hetero Drugs is withdrawing six of its generic versions of antiretroviral drugs from the World Health Organization's list of approved HIV medicines, saying it is not certain they are biologically the same as the patented drugs.
Military Family Life Comes Under Study
The military, so the saying goes, enlists a soldier but re-enlists a family. Getting families to re-up in time of war, however, is a daunting task the defense department hopes will be made easier with research by Purdue University.
Study: C-Sections Gain Popularity in U.S.
New research bolsters a growing body of evidence that an increasing proportion of women in the industrialized world are choosing to give birth by Caesarean section when there is no clear medical need.
Health Tip: Buying Exercise Equipment
If you're considering buying fitness equipment for home use, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission says you should exercise good judgment when evaluating advertising claims.
Generic NSAID Causes Fewer Complications
The generic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) etodolac caused 60 percent fewer gastrointestinal ulcer complications than the over-the-counter painkiller naproxen.
Still Not Enough Nurses to Go Around
Even though there's a steady increase in the number of new registered nurses in the United States, it's still not enough to prevent a long-term shortage that could cripple the nation's health-care system.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Health Headlines - November 18
FDA Reviewer Says 5 Drugs Need Closer Scrutiny
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviewer who has accused the agency of being lax in monitoring drug safety on Thursday said five medicines on the market need closer scrutiny. Dr. David Graham, speaking at a Senate hearing, singled out Abbott Laboratories Inc.'s weight-loss drug Meridia, AstraZeneca's cholesterol fighter Crestor, Pfizer Inc.'s arthritis treatment Bextra, Roche's acne drug Accutane and GlaxoSmithKline's asthma drug Serevent.
Rare Blood Infection Surfaces in Injured U.S. Soldiers
An unexpectedly high number of U.S. soldiers injured in the Middle East and Afghanistan are testing positive for a rare, hard-to-treat blood infection in military hospitals, Army doctors reported on Thursday.
Study Suggests How COX Drugs Cause Heart Disease
Painkillers suspected of causing fatal heart disease may act by starting the process of hardening the arteries, researchers proposed on Thursday.
FDA Failed Public on Vioxx
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration failed to protect the public from Merck & Co. Inc.'s now-withdrawn painkiller Vioxx and is incapable of guarding America from dangerous drugs, a veteran FDA researcher told Congress on Thursday.
Rise in First-Time Caesarean Births in U.S.
First-time caesarean section births for women with no identified medical risks or complications have risen sharply in the United States, according to research published on Friday.
Supplements Don't Affect Mental Powers of Elderly
Supplementation with antioxidants, zinc or copper has neither a beneficial nor harmful effect on cognition in elderly people, a new study indicates.
FDA Clears Genentech's Tarceva for Lung Cancer
Biotechnology companies Genentech Inc. and OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Thursday said U.S. regulators have approved their drug Tarceva for treating the most common form of lung cancer.
Stomach Surgery Linked to Throat Cancer Risk
People who have had all or part of their stomach removed appear to have an increased risk of later developing cancer of the larynx, doctors in Italy report.
UN Short-Circuits U.S.-Led Drive to Ban Cloning
U.S. efforts to secure a global treaty banning the cloning of human embryos, including for stem cell research, were dealt a major setback on Thursday when U.N. diplomats agreed to work for a political declaration on the issue instead.
Doctors Call for Antibiotic Drug for HIV Children
A low-cost antibiotic should be given to all children with HIV in developing countries to prevent infections such as pneumonia and reduce deaths, scientists said on Friday.
Possible New Case of Mad Cow Disease Found
The government is checking a possible new case of mad cow disease, officials said Thursday, rattling the nation's cattle industry, food processors and beef-oriented restaurant chains.
FDA Issues Regulations for Tissue Banks
Tissue banks that process donated skin, ligaments and bones for transplant must meet new federal safety standards, aimed at preventing infection and disease, under regulations issued Thursday.
GOP Lawmaker Questions FDA Flu Response
An influential Republican lawmaker joined Democratic critics Thursday in asking whether the Food and Drug Administration reacted slowly to problems with U.S. flu vaccine.
Many Adults Hitting the Barre for Fitness
Bored with the gym and tennis lessons, Marianna Orro was looking for a new exercise. She heard about a tap dance class and signed up with a friend at a studio outside Cleveland.
Arafat's Diagnosis May Soon Be Revealed
Nearly a week after his death, speculation still swirls around what killed Yasser Arafat. Cirrhosis of the liver, AIDS, a blood disorder and poisoning are frequently mentioned in unconfirmed reports.
Mayors Urge Diabetics to Control Disease
An Ohio mayor has a personal message to diabetics across the country: If he can work 15-hour days and still fit in regular exercise and healthy meals to control his disease, they can too.
Great American Smokeout Kicks Off Today
The American Cancer Society is calling on millions of Americans to go cold turkey for the day. It's the 28th annual Great American Smokeout, a day which many hope will be the first of many cigarette-free days.
Problems Linger for Recovering Alcoholics
Even with prolonged sobriety, alcoholics can have problems with visual perception and frontal executive brain function, which can make it hard for them to do things such as read maps or put together puzzles.
Health Tip: Sick Building Syndrome
If you always seem to feel lousy at work, don't automatically blame it on your job -- it might be the building in which you work.
Health Tip: Cold Weather Blues?
If your mood seems to drop with the amount of daylight, you may have a condition called seasonal affective disorder, according to the National Mental Health Association.
Family Dinners Lower Risk For Eating Disorders
Gathering around the family dinner table each evening may help lower risks for eating disorders in girls, suggests a University of Minnesota study.
Study Shows Simple Steps to Painless Dieting
By reducing calorie density by 30 percent and reducing serving sizes by about a quarter, Penn State researchers eliminated 800 calories a day from the diets of young women -- and the women didn't even notice.
Protein Key to Stem Cell-Based Nerve Repair
Research into using stem cells to repair damaged nerves just got a big boost, with scientists pinpointing a protein key to controlling binocular vision -- visual depth perception -- in mammals.
Too Few Elderly in Cancer Clinical Trials
Even though they account for 60 percent of cancer patients in the United States, patients aged 65 and older make up just 36 percent of participants in cancer clinical trials.
A New Target For a Fat-Fighting Drug
A newly discovered enzyme that plays a major role in fat metabolism could be a target for a different kind of weight-loss drug, Austrian researchers report.
Older Americans Can Expect Longer, Healthier Lives
The average 65-year-old American woman can now expect nearly two more decades of life, while men of the same age will live an average of 16 years longer.
Running Revolution Started as Evolution
Millions of years before headphone-wearing joggers clotted the streets of America, the development of the ability to run played a crucial role in the evolution of early humans, according to new research.
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviewer who has accused the agency of being lax in monitoring drug safety on Thursday said five medicines on the market need closer scrutiny. Dr. David Graham, speaking at a Senate hearing, singled out Abbott Laboratories Inc.'s weight-loss drug Meridia, AstraZeneca's cholesterol fighter Crestor, Pfizer Inc.'s arthritis treatment Bextra, Roche's acne drug Accutane and GlaxoSmithKline's asthma drug Serevent.
Rare Blood Infection Surfaces in Injured U.S. Soldiers
An unexpectedly high number of U.S. soldiers injured in the Middle East and Afghanistan are testing positive for a rare, hard-to-treat blood infection in military hospitals, Army doctors reported on Thursday.
Study Suggests How COX Drugs Cause Heart Disease
Painkillers suspected of causing fatal heart disease may act by starting the process of hardening the arteries, researchers proposed on Thursday.
FDA Failed Public on Vioxx
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration failed to protect the public from Merck & Co. Inc.'s now-withdrawn painkiller Vioxx and is incapable of guarding America from dangerous drugs, a veteran FDA researcher told Congress on Thursday.
Rise in First-Time Caesarean Births in U.S.
First-time caesarean section births for women with no identified medical risks or complications have risen sharply in the United States, according to research published on Friday.
Supplements Don't Affect Mental Powers of Elderly
Supplementation with antioxidants, zinc or copper has neither a beneficial nor harmful effect on cognition in elderly people, a new study indicates.
FDA Clears Genentech's Tarceva for Lung Cancer
Biotechnology companies Genentech Inc. and OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Thursday said U.S. regulators have approved their drug Tarceva for treating the most common form of lung cancer.
Stomach Surgery Linked to Throat Cancer Risk
People who have had all or part of their stomach removed appear to have an increased risk of later developing cancer of the larynx, doctors in Italy report.
UN Short-Circuits U.S.-Led Drive to Ban Cloning
U.S. efforts to secure a global treaty banning the cloning of human embryos, including for stem cell research, were dealt a major setback on Thursday when U.N. diplomats agreed to work for a political declaration on the issue instead.
Doctors Call for Antibiotic Drug for HIV Children
A low-cost antibiotic should be given to all children with HIV in developing countries to prevent infections such as pneumonia and reduce deaths, scientists said on Friday.
Possible New Case of Mad Cow Disease Found
The government is checking a possible new case of mad cow disease, officials said Thursday, rattling the nation's cattle industry, food processors and beef-oriented restaurant chains.
FDA Issues Regulations for Tissue Banks
Tissue banks that process donated skin, ligaments and bones for transplant must meet new federal safety standards, aimed at preventing infection and disease, under regulations issued Thursday.
GOP Lawmaker Questions FDA Flu Response
An influential Republican lawmaker joined Democratic critics Thursday in asking whether the Food and Drug Administration reacted slowly to problems with U.S. flu vaccine.
Many Adults Hitting the Barre for Fitness
Bored with the gym and tennis lessons, Marianna Orro was looking for a new exercise. She heard about a tap dance class and signed up with a friend at a studio outside Cleveland.
Arafat's Diagnosis May Soon Be Revealed
Nearly a week after his death, speculation still swirls around what killed Yasser Arafat. Cirrhosis of the liver, AIDS, a blood disorder and poisoning are frequently mentioned in unconfirmed reports.
Mayors Urge Diabetics to Control Disease
An Ohio mayor has a personal message to diabetics across the country: If he can work 15-hour days and still fit in regular exercise and healthy meals to control his disease, they can too.
Great American Smokeout Kicks Off Today
The American Cancer Society is calling on millions of Americans to go cold turkey for the day. It's the 28th annual Great American Smokeout, a day which many hope will be the first of many cigarette-free days.
Problems Linger for Recovering Alcoholics
Even with prolonged sobriety, alcoholics can have problems with visual perception and frontal executive brain function, which can make it hard for them to do things such as read maps or put together puzzles.
Health Tip: Sick Building Syndrome
If you always seem to feel lousy at work, don't automatically blame it on your job -- it might be the building in which you work.
Health Tip: Cold Weather Blues?
If your mood seems to drop with the amount of daylight, you may have a condition called seasonal affective disorder, according to the National Mental Health Association.
Family Dinners Lower Risk For Eating Disorders
Gathering around the family dinner table each evening may help lower risks for eating disorders in girls, suggests a University of Minnesota study.
Study Shows Simple Steps to Painless Dieting
By reducing calorie density by 30 percent and reducing serving sizes by about a quarter, Penn State researchers eliminated 800 calories a day from the diets of young women -- and the women didn't even notice.
Protein Key to Stem Cell-Based Nerve Repair
Research into using stem cells to repair damaged nerves just got a big boost, with scientists pinpointing a protein key to controlling binocular vision -- visual depth perception -- in mammals.
Too Few Elderly in Cancer Clinical Trials
Even though they account for 60 percent of cancer patients in the United States, patients aged 65 and older make up just 36 percent of participants in cancer clinical trials.
A New Target For a Fat-Fighting Drug
A newly discovered enzyme that plays a major role in fat metabolism could be a target for a different kind of weight-loss drug, Austrian researchers report.
Older Americans Can Expect Longer, Healthier Lives
The average 65-year-old American woman can now expect nearly two more decades of life, while men of the same age will live an average of 16 years longer.
Running Revolution Started as Evolution
Millions of years before headphone-wearing joggers clotted the streets of America, the development of the ability to run played a crucial role in the evolution of early humans, according to new research.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Health Headlines - November 17
Nursery Rhymes Have More Violence Than Kids TV
Children's nursery rhymes contain 10 times more violence than British television shows broadcast before the country's 9 p.m. "watershed" after which more adult content can be shown, research published on Thursday said.
Rise in Antidepressants Prescribed for Children
Doctors are prescribing more antidepressants for children and adolescents although there is little evidence about their safety or efficacy in youngsters, researchers said on Thursday.
Pfizer's Contraceptive Can Weaken Bones
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday ordered a strong, new warning for Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE.N) injectable contraceptive called Depo-Provera, saying it could permanently weaken bones.
Ultrasound May Help Dissolve Deadly Blood Clots
Just like a spoon is used to stir sugar into a cup of tea, high-frequency sound waves may help doctors get rid of deadly blood clots in the brain, according to a study released on Wednesday.
Anorexic Girls Bond on Web to Dismay of Doctors
An underground subculture of teenage girls who bond over their eating disorders and glorify bone-thin celebrities has surfaced on the Internet, in a growing trend that experts say frustrates treatment.
Food Allergy Not Tied to Stomach Reflux in Adults
A food allergy is no worse than other allergies at increasing the risk of stomach reflux in adults, according to findings presented here this week at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
Global Health Alert Network Now in Six Languages
A global early warning system for threats to public health is now able to search for risky developments and send out alerts in six languages rather than English alone, its sponsors announced on Wednesday.
Study: an Apple a Day Really Does Keep Doctor Away
An apple a day really does keep the doctor away, thanks to strong antioxidants that fight cell damage, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.
Too Much Belly Fat May Up Later Disability Risk
Too much abdominal fat in middle age may increase the risk of disability in later years, according to new study findings presented Wednesday at the annual meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity in Las Vegas.
U.S. Democrats Criticize FDA on Flu Shot Shortage
Congressional Democrats attacked U.S. drug regulators on Wednesday for failing to recognize that flu vaccine was contaminated with bacteria at Chiron Corp.'s British plant after problems first arose in 2003.
Study: Ultrasound May Help Stroke Victims
The same type of sound waves that pulsate from sonar fish-finders and ultrasound fetal monitors can dramatically boost the power of anti-clotting medicine and help it dissolve brain blockages in stroke patients, a study suggests.
Inquiry: Gulf War Syndrome Does Exist
A report on Gulf War syndrome released Wednesday urges the British government to acknowledge the illness is real and calls for compensation for veterans who became sick following the 1991 conflict.
FDA Saw Problems at Vaccine Plant in 2003
The Food and Drug Administration uncovered contamination and unsanitary conditions at a British flu vaccine manufacturing plant in 2003 but failed to re-inspect it until similar problems caused the loss of half the U.S. vaccine supply in October.
Birth-Control Shot Gets Black Box Warning
Depo-Provera, an injectable contraceptive, will come with a special warning that links prolonged use of the drug with bone density loss, the government said Wednesday.
FDA Defends Its Handling of Vioxx Issues
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday defended its oversight of the Vioxx ahead of a congressional review into whether the agency and the maker of the arthritis drug recently taken off the market put patients' safety first.
GOP Looking to Repeal Food Labeling Law
Telling consumers where their meat, fruit and vegetables came from seemed such a good idea to U.S. ranchers and farmers in competition with imports that Congress two years ago ordered the food industry to do it.
Diabetes More Worrisome on US-Mexico Line
People who live along the U.S.-Mexico border suffer diabetes at a rate somewhat higher than the national averages in either country, according to a study released Wednesday.
WHO Says More Flu Vaccine Research Needed
The world is unprepared for an inevitable flu pandemic that could kill tens of millions of people, but profit-driven pharmaceutical companies are putting too little research into the development of vaccines, the World Health Organization said Thursday.
LSU to Study Oral Health of Babies
When mothers kiss their babies or taste food to make sure it's cool enough for toothless gums and tender mouths, they may pass on germs that will decay teeth when they sprout, researchers say.
WHO Official Urges Better Health Records
Numerous countries can't say how many of their citizens die every year or what kills them, a situation that undermines efforts to combat disease in the poorest corners of the globe.
Health Tip: Home Water Filters
Most American homes don't need a water filter to make their drinking water safe, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Cell's 'Pain Switch' a Target for New Drugs
Drugs that target a cellular 'pain switch' might someday ease the suffering of patients with chronic, inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, according to a study in mice.
Brain's Judgment Center Smaller in Coke Addicts
Cocaine addicts have a smaller amygdala -- a brain structure that helps people judge the consequences of their actions -- than non-addicted people, claims research in the current issue of Neuron.
Birth Control Pills May Cut Risk of Knee Injuries
Taking birth control pills may stabilize knee joints and reduce the risk of injuries, suggests a McGill University study.
Researchers Closing In On 'Death Clock' Gene
British researchers say they've narrowed the search for the 'death clock' gene thought to be key to cancer, aging and age-related diseases.
Children's nursery rhymes contain 10 times more violence than British television shows broadcast before the country's 9 p.m. "watershed" after which more adult content can be shown, research published on Thursday said.
Rise in Antidepressants Prescribed for Children
Doctors are prescribing more antidepressants for children and adolescents although there is little evidence about their safety or efficacy in youngsters, researchers said on Thursday.
Pfizer's Contraceptive Can Weaken Bones
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday ordered a strong, new warning for Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE.N) injectable contraceptive called Depo-Provera, saying it could permanently weaken bones.
Ultrasound May Help Dissolve Deadly Blood Clots
Just like a spoon is used to stir sugar into a cup of tea, high-frequency sound waves may help doctors get rid of deadly blood clots in the brain, according to a study released on Wednesday.
Anorexic Girls Bond on Web to Dismay of Doctors
An underground subculture of teenage girls who bond over their eating disorders and glorify bone-thin celebrities has surfaced on the Internet, in a growing trend that experts say frustrates treatment.
Food Allergy Not Tied to Stomach Reflux in Adults
A food allergy is no worse than other allergies at increasing the risk of stomach reflux in adults, according to findings presented here this week at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
Global Health Alert Network Now in Six Languages
A global early warning system for threats to public health is now able to search for risky developments and send out alerts in six languages rather than English alone, its sponsors announced on Wednesday.
Study: an Apple a Day Really Does Keep Doctor Away
An apple a day really does keep the doctor away, thanks to strong antioxidants that fight cell damage, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.
Too Much Belly Fat May Up Later Disability Risk
Too much abdominal fat in middle age may increase the risk of disability in later years, according to new study findings presented Wednesday at the annual meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity in Las Vegas.
U.S. Democrats Criticize FDA on Flu Shot Shortage
Congressional Democrats attacked U.S. drug regulators on Wednesday for failing to recognize that flu vaccine was contaminated with bacteria at Chiron Corp.'s British plant after problems first arose in 2003.
Study: Ultrasound May Help Stroke Victims
The same type of sound waves that pulsate from sonar fish-finders and ultrasound fetal monitors can dramatically boost the power of anti-clotting medicine and help it dissolve brain blockages in stroke patients, a study suggests.
Inquiry: Gulf War Syndrome Does Exist
A report on Gulf War syndrome released Wednesday urges the British government to acknowledge the illness is real and calls for compensation for veterans who became sick following the 1991 conflict.
FDA Saw Problems at Vaccine Plant in 2003
The Food and Drug Administration uncovered contamination and unsanitary conditions at a British flu vaccine manufacturing plant in 2003 but failed to re-inspect it until similar problems caused the loss of half the U.S. vaccine supply in October.
Birth-Control Shot Gets Black Box Warning
Depo-Provera, an injectable contraceptive, will come with a special warning that links prolonged use of the drug with bone density loss, the government said Wednesday.
FDA Defends Its Handling of Vioxx Issues
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday defended its oversight of the Vioxx ahead of a congressional review into whether the agency and the maker of the arthritis drug recently taken off the market put patients' safety first.
GOP Looking to Repeal Food Labeling Law
Telling consumers where their meat, fruit and vegetables came from seemed such a good idea to U.S. ranchers and farmers in competition with imports that Congress two years ago ordered the food industry to do it.
Diabetes More Worrisome on US-Mexico Line
People who live along the U.S.-Mexico border suffer diabetes at a rate somewhat higher than the national averages in either country, according to a study released Wednesday.
WHO Says More Flu Vaccine Research Needed
The world is unprepared for an inevitable flu pandemic that could kill tens of millions of people, but profit-driven pharmaceutical companies are putting too little research into the development of vaccines, the World Health Organization said Thursday.
LSU to Study Oral Health of Babies
When mothers kiss their babies or taste food to make sure it's cool enough for toothless gums and tender mouths, they may pass on germs that will decay teeth when they sprout, researchers say.
WHO Official Urges Better Health Records
Numerous countries can't say how many of their citizens die every year or what kills them, a situation that undermines efforts to combat disease in the poorest corners of the globe.
Health Tip: Home Water Filters
Most American homes don't need a water filter to make their drinking water safe, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Cell's 'Pain Switch' a Target for New Drugs
Drugs that target a cellular 'pain switch' might someday ease the suffering of patients with chronic, inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, according to a study in mice.
Brain's Judgment Center Smaller in Coke Addicts
Cocaine addicts have a smaller amygdala -- a brain structure that helps people judge the consequences of their actions -- than non-addicted people, claims research in the current issue of Neuron.
Birth Control Pills May Cut Risk of Knee Injuries
Taking birth control pills may stabilize knee joints and reduce the risk of injuries, suggests a McGill University study.
Researchers Closing In On 'Death Clock' Gene
British researchers say they've narrowed the search for the 'death clock' gene thought to be key to cancer, aging and age-related diseases.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Health Headlines - November 16
Infections Big Risk for Premature Babies
The smallest premature babies, already at high risk of brain damage, are likely to develop even more mental disorders if they get any infection in the first weeks of life, researchers said on Tuesday.
Study Links Smog Increases to Urban U.S. Deaths
Increases in air pollution caused by cars, power plants and industry can be directly linked to higher death rates in U.S. cities, a study said on Tuesday.
Teens with Same-Sex Parents as Normal as Peers
Teenagers raised by two women appear to be as well adjusted as those who are raised by male-female couples, a new report indicates.
Short-Term Ozone Pollution Raises Mortality Risk
When ozone goes up in cities, even for short periods at levels below current regulatory standards, so does the death rate, according to an article in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.
New Drug May Be Better Than Aspirin for Diabetics
A drug called picotamide appears to be a more effective blood-thinner than aspirin for people with diabetes, according to an Italian study.
Estrogen Helps with Endometriosis Pain
The benefits of the standard drugs used to treat pain caused by endometriosis are improved when the woman is also treated with estrogen and progestin hormone therapy, Italian researchers report.
White Kids More Likely to Be Allergic to Peanuts
Perhaps because of differences in feeding habits, white children appear to be at increased risk for peanut allergy compared with their non-white peers, new research suggests.
Outpatient Tonsillectomy Safe for Most Children
Kids who need their tonsils removed can be in and out of the hospital on the same day, in many cases, Spanish doctors report.
Laser Therapy Improves Rosacea Skin Sensitivity
Laser treatment that destroys small blood vessels relieves the facial skin sensitivity that often accompanies rosacea, doctors in Sweden report.
Study Links Sleep Deprivation, Obesity
Weight-loss experts have a novel prescription for people who want to shed pounds: Get some sleep. A very large study has found a surprisingly strong link between the amount of shut-eye people get and their risk of becoming obese.
Britain Plans Sweeping Smoking Ban
Four hundred years after King James I denounced tobacco as "loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs," the British government is taking heed. It announced plans Tuesday to ban smoking in most public places.
Activists Seek Funds for World Health
Health activists on Tuesday demanded more money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria ahead of the group's board meeting where U.S. representatives are expected to push for a suspension of new projects.
FDA Criticized on Abortion Pill Safety
The government on Tuesday said a controversial abortion pill is safe enough to remain on the market, despite a third death and a grieving father's plea.
Health Researcher Martin Kaplan Dies
Martin M. Kaplan, a health researcher and former secretary-general of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Pugwash conferences on disarmament, has died. He was 89.
FDA Orders Viagra to Pull 'Wild Thing' Ad
The government ordered Pfizer Inc. to yank cheeky television ads that promised better sex for men taking Viagra because they failed to disclose known risks associated with the drug, according to a letter released on Monday.
Study: Low-Fat Diets Better Long-Term
Regardless of how they shed pounds in the first place, big losers stayed that way by limiting fat rather than carbohydrates, according to new research that could add fuel to the backlash against low-carb diets.
Health Tip: Cold or Allergy?
Millions of Americans with year-round allergies may confuse their symptoms with frequent colds, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology says.
Extending Immune Cell Life Fights HIV
Boosting a cellular protein called telomerase may help ward off HIV, say UCLA scientists.
Drugs May Not Protect Against Cat Allergies
People allergic to cats may not be getting adequate relief from their prescription drugs even though more of the medications contain ingredients aimed at attacking these irritants, a new study finds.
New Clue to Prostate Cancer May Improve Treatment
New information about the activity of a hormone-sensitive cell receptor could improve the treatment of prostate cancer, according to a study in the November issue of Cancer Cell.
CT Scan Spots Operable Pancreatic Cancers
High-quality computed tomography (CT) scans are as effective as more invasive endoscopic ultrasound in assessing whether pancreatic cancer can be treated surgically.
Aromatase Inhibitors Recommended for Breast Cancer
A group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors should be used after surgery to treat postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, new guidelines recommend.
Health Tip: Boxers or Briefs?
So much for the "old wive's" tale that couples who want to get pregnant should eschew briefs for boxers.
The reasoning went that tight briefs would elevate testicular temperature, thus hampering sperm production.
But fertility experts say it simply isn't so.
Researchers at the State University of New York at Stony Brook say they've found that briefs produced no significant differences in a man's scrotal temperature or in his sperm count, concentration or movement.
The findings applied even when men switched from one type of underwear to the other, the scientists say.
The smallest premature babies, already at high risk of brain damage, are likely to develop even more mental disorders if they get any infection in the first weeks of life, researchers said on Tuesday.
Study Links Smog Increases to Urban U.S. Deaths
Increases in air pollution caused by cars, power plants and industry can be directly linked to higher death rates in U.S. cities, a study said on Tuesday.
Teens with Same-Sex Parents as Normal as Peers
Teenagers raised by two women appear to be as well adjusted as those who are raised by male-female couples, a new report indicates.
Short-Term Ozone Pollution Raises Mortality Risk
When ozone goes up in cities, even for short periods at levels below current regulatory standards, so does the death rate, according to an article in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.
New Drug May Be Better Than Aspirin for Diabetics
A drug called picotamide appears to be a more effective blood-thinner than aspirin for people with diabetes, according to an Italian study.
Estrogen Helps with Endometriosis Pain
The benefits of the standard drugs used to treat pain caused by endometriosis are improved when the woman is also treated with estrogen and progestin hormone therapy, Italian researchers report.
White Kids More Likely to Be Allergic to Peanuts
Perhaps because of differences in feeding habits, white children appear to be at increased risk for peanut allergy compared with their non-white peers, new research suggests.
Outpatient Tonsillectomy Safe for Most Children
Kids who need their tonsils removed can be in and out of the hospital on the same day, in many cases, Spanish doctors report.
Laser Therapy Improves Rosacea Skin Sensitivity
Laser treatment that destroys small blood vessels relieves the facial skin sensitivity that often accompanies rosacea, doctors in Sweden report.
Study Links Sleep Deprivation, Obesity
Weight-loss experts have a novel prescription for people who want to shed pounds: Get some sleep. A very large study has found a surprisingly strong link between the amount of shut-eye people get and their risk of becoming obese.
Britain Plans Sweeping Smoking Ban
Four hundred years after King James I denounced tobacco as "loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs," the British government is taking heed. It announced plans Tuesday to ban smoking in most public places.
Activists Seek Funds for World Health
Health activists on Tuesday demanded more money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria ahead of the group's board meeting where U.S. representatives are expected to push for a suspension of new projects.
FDA Criticized on Abortion Pill Safety
The government on Tuesday said a controversial abortion pill is safe enough to remain on the market, despite a third death and a grieving father's plea.
Health Researcher Martin Kaplan Dies
Martin M. Kaplan, a health researcher and former secretary-general of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Pugwash conferences on disarmament, has died. He was 89.
FDA Orders Viagra to Pull 'Wild Thing' Ad
The government ordered Pfizer Inc. to yank cheeky television ads that promised better sex for men taking Viagra because they failed to disclose known risks associated with the drug, according to a letter released on Monday.
Study: Low-Fat Diets Better Long-Term
Regardless of how they shed pounds in the first place, big losers stayed that way by limiting fat rather than carbohydrates, according to new research that could add fuel to the backlash against low-carb diets.
Health Tip: Cold or Allergy?
Millions of Americans with year-round allergies may confuse their symptoms with frequent colds, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology says.
Extending Immune Cell Life Fights HIV
Boosting a cellular protein called telomerase may help ward off HIV, say UCLA scientists.
Drugs May Not Protect Against Cat Allergies
People allergic to cats may not be getting adequate relief from their prescription drugs even though more of the medications contain ingredients aimed at attacking these irritants, a new study finds.
New Clue to Prostate Cancer May Improve Treatment
New information about the activity of a hormone-sensitive cell receptor could improve the treatment of prostate cancer, according to a study in the November issue of Cancer Cell.
CT Scan Spots Operable Pancreatic Cancers
High-quality computed tomography (CT) scans are as effective as more invasive endoscopic ultrasound in assessing whether pancreatic cancer can be treated surgically.
Aromatase Inhibitors Recommended for Breast Cancer
A group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors should be used after surgery to treat postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, new guidelines recommend.
Health Tip: Boxers or Briefs?
So much for the "old wive's" tale that couples who want to get pregnant should eschew briefs for boxers.
The reasoning went that tight briefs would elevate testicular temperature, thus hampering sperm production.
But fertility experts say it simply isn't so.
Researchers at the State University of New York at Stony Brook say they've found that briefs produced no significant differences in a man's scrotal temperature or in his sperm count, concentration or movement.
The findings applied even when men switched from one type of underwear to the other, the scientists say.
Monday, November 15, 2004
Health Headlines - November 15
Long Computer Use May Be Linked to Eye Disease
Hours in front of a computer screen may increase the risk of glaucoma in people who are myopic or short-sighted, Japanese scientists said on Tuesday.
UK Wants Partial Smoking Ban, Limit on Junk Food Ads
Britain will announce plans on Tuesday for a ban on smoking in many public places and a crackdown on television advertising of "junk food" aimed at children.
Birth Rate for Young Teens Lowest Since 1946
The birth rate among adolescent and young teen girls in the United States fell sharply in the 1990s, hitting a 58-year-low in 2002, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Monday.
Having a Confidant May Ward Off Kids' Depression
Among abused and neglected children who are genetically prone to develop depression, the risk of doing so may be reduced if they have someone to talk to, share good news with and get advice from, new study findings show.
Allergy Sufferers Keen to Try Alternative Therapy
In a survey of allergy and asthma patients seen at a private allergy practice in the US, 62 percent expressed an interest in also being treated with complementary and alternative medicine, such as acupuncture or vitamin therapy.
Brain Inflammation Found in Autism
Children with autism have inflammation in their brains, although it is not yet clear whether the inflammation actually causes the condition, researchers said on Monday.
New U.S. Trial Starts of Tailored Cancer Treatment
Researchers who found a genetic pattern that predicts who will be helped by a revolutionary new lung cancer drug said on Monday they were looking for patients to help them confirm their findings.
Nebulizers Improve Asthma Outcomes in Kids
Following an asthma flare-up, children who are given inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with a nebulizer are less likely to be re-hospitalized or need to go the ER than are their peers using steroids delivered by a non-nebulizer device, a new study shows.
High-Dose Steroids Up Heart Disease Risk Greatly
Treatment with high doses of medicinal steroids (aka, glucocorticoids) more than doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease, new research suggests.
FDA Encourages Radio Tags on Drug Bottles
Viagra, Oxycontin and some AIDS drugs will be among the first to carry radio chip tracking devices under a new Food and Drug Administration initiative to prevent theft and counterfeiting announced on Monday.
Study: Low-Fat Diets Better Long-Term
Regardless of how they shed pounds in the first place, big losers stayed that way by limiting fat rather than carbohydrates, according to new research that could add fuel to the backlash against low-carb diets.
More Safety Warnings for Abortion Pill
An abortion pill implicated in the death of an 18-year-old California woman last fall will add new warnings linking RU-486 to the risk of serious bacterial infection.
New Drug May Help Heart As Well As Obesity
Not content with having a drug that might merely fight obesity and smoking, the company developing this eagerly anticipated pill will soon launch studies to see if it can treat and prevent clogged arteries and heart disease.
Scotland Readies Tough Smoking Ban
Retired nurse Carolyn Rowe carries vivid memories of cancer patients she treated and says their suffering drives her strong support for Scotland's plan to ban smoking in all enclosed public places.
Chiron Asks Regulators to Inspect Facility
Chiron Corp. has asked British regulators to inspect its facility producing an experimental bird flu vaccine to make sure it doesn't run into the same contamination problems that forced the closing of another plant and a flu shot crisis in the United States.
Genes May Give Some a Taste for Alcohol
Genetically influenced variations in the way that people taste alcohol could interact with other factors to determine a person's risk of developing a drinking problem.
Gastric Bypass Surgery Eases GERD in the Obese
Gastric bypass surgery controls symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in morbidly obese people who've had previous anti-reflux surgery, says a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center study.
Triplets Strain Parental Bond
The stress of parenting has a negative impact on the development of the mother-infant relationship in triplets, says a study by the Society for Research in Child Development.
New Gene Link to 'Bubble Boy' Disease Found
A newly identified gene mutation that causes severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), also known as "bubble boy" disease, is described in a French study.
Drinking During Pregnancy Can Lower Baby's IQ
Women who drink while pregnant not only run the risk of having a child with fetal alcohol syndrome, but of having a baby with alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder, a new study finds.
Faster Allergy Immunotherapy Proves Effective
A new, more intensive way of delivering allergy shots can dramatically and safely shorten the time it takes for young patients to find relief from their condition, a new study contends.
Teens With Same-Sex Parents Well-Adjusted
Adolescents who have two moms as parents are no different from teens growing up with a mother and a father, a new study finds.
Hours in front of a computer screen may increase the risk of glaucoma in people who are myopic or short-sighted, Japanese scientists said on Tuesday.
UK Wants Partial Smoking Ban, Limit on Junk Food Ads
Britain will announce plans on Tuesday for a ban on smoking in many public places and a crackdown on television advertising of "junk food" aimed at children.
Birth Rate for Young Teens Lowest Since 1946
The birth rate among adolescent and young teen girls in the United States fell sharply in the 1990s, hitting a 58-year-low in 2002, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Monday.
Having a Confidant May Ward Off Kids' Depression
Among abused and neglected children who are genetically prone to develop depression, the risk of doing so may be reduced if they have someone to talk to, share good news with and get advice from, new study findings show.
Allergy Sufferers Keen to Try Alternative Therapy
In a survey of allergy and asthma patients seen at a private allergy practice in the US, 62 percent expressed an interest in also being treated with complementary and alternative medicine, such as acupuncture or vitamin therapy.
Brain Inflammation Found in Autism
Children with autism have inflammation in their brains, although it is not yet clear whether the inflammation actually causes the condition, researchers said on Monday.
New U.S. Trial Starts of Tailored Cancer Treatment
Researchers who found a genetic pattern that predicts who will be helped by a revolutionary new lung cancer drug said on Monday they were looking for patients to help them confirm their findings.
Nebulizers Improve Asthma Outcomes in Kids
Following an asthma flare-up, children who are given inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with a nebulizer are less likely to be re-hospitalized or need to go the ER than are their peers using steroids delivered by a non-nebulizer device, a new study shows.
High-Dose Steroids Up Heart Disease Risk Greatly
Treatment with high doses of medicinal steroids (aka, glucocorticoids) more than doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease, new research suggests.
FDA Encourages Radio Tags on Drug Bottles
Viagra, Oxycontin and some AIDS drugs will be among the first to carry radio chip tracking devices under a new Food and Drug Administration initiative to prevent theft and counterfeiting announced on Monday.
Study: Low-Fat Diets Better Long-Term
Regardless of how they shed pounds in the first place, big losers stayed that way by limiting fat rather than carbohydrates, according to new research that could add fuel to the backlash against low-carb diets.
More Safety Warnings for Abortion Pill
An abortion pill implicated in the death of an 18-year-old California woman last fall will add new warnings linking RU-486 to the risk of serious bacterial infection.
New Drug May Help Heart As Well As Obesity
Not content with having a drug that might merely fight obesity and smoking, the company developing this eagerly anticipated pill will soon launch studies to see if it can treat and prevent clogged arteries and heart disease.
Scotland Readies Tough Smoking Ban
Retired nurse Carolyn Rowe carries vivid memories of cancer patients she treated and says their suffering drives her strong support for Scotland's plan to ban smoking in all enclosed public places.
Chiron Asks Regulators to Inspect Facility
Chiron Corp. has asked British regulators to inspect its facility producing an experimental bird flu vaccine to make sure it doesn't run into the same contamination problems that forced the closing of another plant and a flu shot crisis in the United States.
Genes May Give Some a Taste for Alcohol
Genetically influenced variations in the way that people taste alcohol could interact with other factors to determine a person's risk of developing a drinking problem.
Gastric Bypass Surgery Eases GERD in the Obese
Gastric bypass surgery controls symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in morbidly obese people who've had previous anti-reflux surgery, says a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center study.
Triplets Strain Parental Bond
The stress of parenting has a negative impact on the development of the mother-infant relationship in triplets, says a study by the Society for Research in Child Development.
New Gene Link to 'Bubble Boy' Disease Found
A newly identified gene mutation that causes severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), also known as "bubble boy" disease, is described in a French study.
Drinking During Pregnancy Can Lower Baby's IQ
Women who drink while pregnant not only run the risk of having a child with fetal alcohol syndrome, but of having a baby with alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder, a new study finds.
Faster Allergy Immunotherapy Proves Effective
A new, more intensive way of delivering allergy shots can dramatically and safely shorten the time it takes for young patients to find relief from their condition, a new study contends.
Teens With Same-Sex Parents Well-Adjusted
Adolescents who have two moms as parents are no different from teens growing up with a mother and a father, a new study finds.
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Health Headlines - November 14
Anti-Obesity Pill Might Fight Drug Abuse
A pill that helps you lose weight and quit smoking? That was amazing enough to capture headlines last week. But scientists say the experimental drug might be even more versatile, providing a new tool to help people stop abusing drugs and alcohol, too.
Secondhand Smoke Key Issue in Trial
Secondhand smoke can cause cancer. It's what the surgeon general says. So too the Environmental Protection Agency. And the World Health Organization. To the tobacco industry, however, the link is not clear.
Seat Tests Find Poor Whiplash Prevention
More than half of car seats do a poor job of preventing whiplash injury because of the way they are built, according to tests by the insurance industry.
India Aims to Prevent Farmers' Starvation
India's government launched an ambitious food-for-work program Sunday aimed at moving millions of poor farmers back from the brink of starvation by helping them feed themselves.
A pill that helps you lose weight and quit smoking? That was amazing enough to capture headlines last week. But scientists say the experimental drug might be even more versatile, providing a new tool to help people stop abusing drugs and alcohol, too.
Secondhand Smoke Key Issue in Trial
Secondhand smoke can cause cancer. It's what the surgeon general says. So too the Environmental Protection Agency. And the World Health Organization. To the tobacco industry, however, the link is not clear.
Seat Tests Find Poor Whiplash Prevention
More than half of car seats do a poor job of preventing whiplash injury because of the way they are built, according to tests by the insurance industry.
India Aims to Prevent Farmers' Starvation
India's government launched an ambitious food-for-work program Sunday aimed at moving millions of poor farmers back from the brink of starvation by helping them feed themselves.
Saturday, November 13, 2004
Health Headlines - November 13
Merck Decided Against 2000 Vioxx Study
Top executives at pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. Inc. decided in May 2000 against developing a study to test directly whether its Vioxx painkiller drug might pose a heart risk, The New York Times reported on Saturday.
West Braces for Elderly Population Boom
The Census Bureau says the population of those 65 and older will increase more rapidly in the West than in any other area of the country. While retirees settle in, states are figuring out how to keep up with an aging population.
Lung Recipient, Donor's Dad Run Marathon
Two years ago, Len Geiger was near death, suffering from a severe case of genetic emphysema. On Saturday, Geiger participated in his first marathon, accompanied by the father of the 14-year-old girl whose lungs were used in a double-lung transplant.
Activists: Chernobyl Radiation Lingers
The signs say "KEEP OUT" and warn of radiation contamination, but the mushroom-pickers trudge right past them carrying their pails. Eighteen years after the reactor at Chernobyl in neighboring Ukraine exploded.
Diabetics Should Plan Travel Carefully
If you have diabetes, you should do some careful planning before you take any trips this holiday season, says Cecilia Sauter, program coordinator of the University of Michigan Diabetes Education Program.
Top executives at pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. Inc. decided in May 2000 against developing a study to test directly whether its Vioxx painkiller drug might pose a heart risk, The New York Times reported on Saturday.
West Braces for Elderly Population Boom
The Census Bureau says the population of those 65 and older will increase more rapidly in the West than in any other area of the country. While retirees settle in, states are figuring out how to keep up with an aging population.
Lung Recipient, Donor's Dad Run Marathon
Two years ago, Len Geiger was near death, suffering from a severe case of genetic emphysema. On Saturday, Geiger participated in his first marathon, accompanied by the father of the 14-year-old girl whose lungs were used in a double-lung transplant.
Activists: Chernobyl Radiation Lingers
The signs say "KEEP OUT" and warn of radiation contamination, but the mushroom-pickers trudge right past them carrying their pails. Eighteen years after the reactor at Chernobyl in neighboring Ukraine exploded.
Diabetics Should Plan Travel Carefully
If you have diabetes, you should do some careful planning before you take any trips this holiday season, says Cecilia Sauter, program coordinator of the University of Michigan Diabetes Education Program.
Friday, November 12, 2004
Health Headlines - November 12
Smoking and Salt Bad for Stomach Reflux
People who smoke or use high amounts of table salt on their food appear to be at increased risk for gastroesophageal reflux, a disease in which stomach juices flow back into the esophagus, European researchers report.
Blood Transfusions at Birth Often Unneeded
A significant proportion of blood transfusions given to mothers around the time of birth may be unnecessary, Canadian researchers report in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Paxil Appears to Be Effective for OCD in Kids
Paxil is a safe and effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents.
'Kangaroo Care' Good for Premature Infants
Continuous skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her premature infant appears to help them to thrive just as well as traditional care in incubators, according to a new report.
Plaques Cut Survival in Young Heart Attack Patients
Blood vessel plaques and the heart's pumping ability influence survival in people under 40 who've suffered a heart attack, new research shows.
Cholesterol Drugs May Not Reduce Risk of Dementia
New study findings suggest that the cholesterol-lowering drugs know as "statins" do not appear to lower the risk of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, except possibly in cases of early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Sara Lee Unit Voluntarily Recalls Corn Dogs
Bryan Foods, a unit of Sara Lee Corp., is voluntarily recalling about 81,500 pounds of corn dogs because the packaging did not declare the products contained dried egg yolks, which can cause an allergic reaction.
Glaxo Vaccine Stops Virus Linked to Cancer
It's one of the most common cancers in women and kills about a quarter of a million patients each year but scientists said on Friday that a new vaccine could prevent most cases of cervical cancer.
WHO Urges More Flu Vaccine Efforts Before Pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday urged governments to provide funds to drug makers developing vaccines against a feared influenza pandemic, which could kill millions of people.
Canada Not Trying to Kill Web Drugstores, PM Says
Prime Minister Paul Martin denied on Friday that Canada was trying to drive Internet pharmacies out of business, despite Ottawa's recent complaints over drug sales to the United States.
WHO: Flu Vaccine Available Within Year
With the right coordination, international commitment and about $13 million, scientists could deliver within a year a candidate vaccine to combat global flu outbreaks, the World Health Organization said Friday.
Drug Safety Adviser Booted From Meeting
A federal drug safety adviser said Friday the government rescinded his invitation to participate in a February meeting on the risk of Vioxx and other arthritis drugs because he had already publicly expressed doubts about the medications.
VA Changes Approach to Gulf War Illness
The Veterans Affairs Department said Friday that it no longer will pay for studies that seek to show stress is the primary cause of mysterious ailments afflicting thousands of veterans of the 1991 Gulf War.
CDC Expects Mild Season for West Nile
After two record-breaking years of West Nile virus illnesses and deaths, the nation is experiencing a relatively mild season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Master Gene Guards Lungs Against Cigarette Smoke
A gene in mice that defends the lungs against environmental pollutants such as cigarette smoke has been identified by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Health Tip: Weight Training
Weight training is a good way to improve your strength, increase muscle tone, help you lose fat and gain muscle mass, and improve bone density.
Artificial Kidney Helps Those With Renal Failure
A bioartificial kidney may help save the lives of people with acute renal failure, according to results of the first test of the device in humans.
Surgery for GERD in Kids Doesn't Work
A surgical procedure called fundoplication is not an effective treatment for children with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), says a study by researchers at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.
Exercise Cuts Death Risk Later in Life
People in their 50s and 60s who get regular exercise are about 35 percent less likely to die within eight years than inactive people in the same age group, says a University of Michigan Health System study.
Epileptic Seizures Not as Dangerous as Thought
There's only a low risk of major injury from epileptic seizures, so most people with epilepsy don't need to restrict their daily activities to avoid injury, says a Mayo Clinic study.
Respiratory Problems Plague Kids With Asthma
Respiratory infections, not air pollution, cause a significant worsening of health problems in winter for children with asthma, according to researchers at National Jewish Medical and Research Center.
People who smoke or use high amounts of table salt on their food appear to be at increased risk for gastroesophageal reflux, a disease in which stomach juices flow back into the esophagus, European researchers report.
Blood Transfusions at Birth Often Unneeded
A significant proportion of blood transfusions given to mothers around the time of birth may be unnecessary, Canadian researchers report in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Paxil Appears to Be Effective for OCD in Kids
Paxil is a safe and effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents.
'Kangaroo Care' Good for Premature Infants
Continuous skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her premature infant appears to help them to thrive just as well as traditional care in incubators, according to a new report.
Plaques Cut Survival in Young Heart Attack Patients
Blood vessel plaques and the heart's pumping ability influence survival in people under 40 who've suffered a heart attack, new research shows.
Cholesterol Drugs May Not Reduce Risk of Dementia
New study findings suggest that the cholesterol-lowering drugs know as "statins" do not appear to lower the risk of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, except possibly in cases of early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Sara Lee Unit Voluntarily Recalls Corn Dogs
Bryan Foods, a unit of Sara Lee Corp., is voluntarily recalling about 81,500 pounds of corn dogs because the packaging did not declare the products contained dried egg yolks, which can cause an allergic reaction.
Glaxo Vaccine Stops Virus Linked to Cancer
It's one of the most common cancers in women and kills about a quarter of a million patients each year but scientists said on Friday that a new vaccine could prevent most cases of cervical cancer.
WHO Urges More Flu Vaccine Efforts Before Pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday urged governments to provide funds to drug makers developing vaccines against a feared influenza pandemic, which could kill millions of people.
Canada Not Trying to Kill Web Drugstores, PM Says
Prime Minister Paul Martin denied on Friday that Canada was trying to drive Internet pharmacies out of business, despite Ottawa's recent complaints over drug sales to the United States.
WHO: Flu Vaccine Available Within Year
With the right coordination, international commitment and about $13 million, scientists could deliver within a year a candidate vaccine to combat global flu outbreaks, the World Health Organization said Friday.
Drug Safety Adviser Booted From Meeting
A federal drug safety adviser said Friday the government rescinded his invitation to participate in a February meeting on the risk of Vioxx and other arthritis drugs because he had already publicly expressed doubts about the medications.
VA Changes Approach to Gulf War Illness
The Veterans Affairs Department said Friday that it no longer will pay for studies that seek to show stress is the primary cause of mysterious ailments afflicting thousands of veterans of the 1991 Gulf War.
CDC Expects Mild Season for West Nile
After two record-breaking years of West Nile virus illnesses and deaths, the nation is experiencing a relatively mild season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Master Gene Guards Lungs Against Cigarette Smoke
A gene in mice that defends the lungs against environmental pollutants such as cigarette smoke has been identified by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Health Tip: Weight Training
Weight training is a good way to improve your strength, increase muscle tone, help you lose fat and gain muscle mass, and improve bone density.
Artificial Kidney Helps Those With Renal Failure
A bioartificial kidney may help save the lives of people with acute renal failure, according to results of the first test of the device in humans.
Surgery for GERD in Kids Doesn't Work
A surgical procedure called fundoplication is not an effective treatment for children with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), says a study by researchers at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.
Exercise Cuts Death Risk Later in Life
People in their 50s and 60s who get regular exercise are about 35 percent less likely to die within eight years than inactive people in the same age group, says a University of Michigan Health System study.
Epileptic Seizures Not as Dangerous as Thought
There's only a low risk of major injury from epileptic seizures, so most people with epilepsy don't need to restrict their daily activities to avoid injury, says a Mayo Clinic study.
Respiratory Problems Plague Kids With Asthma
Respiratory infections, not air pollution, cause a significant worsening of health problems in winter for children with asthma, according to researchers at National Jewish Medical and Research Center.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Health Headlines - November 11
Glaxo Vaccine Stops Virus Linked to Cancer
It's one of the most common cancers in women and kills about a quarter of a million patients each year but scientists said on Friday that a new vaccine could prevent most cases of cervical cancer.
Obesity Linked to Leukemia in Older Women
Being obese more than doubles the risk of a type of leukemia -- acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) -- in older women, according to a new report. The risk is only slightly diminished in women who are overweight.
Patch Plus Pill Ups Chances of Quitting Smoking
Smokers can double the likelihood of kicking the habit by using the antidepressant drug nortriptyline along with a nicotine patch, new research indicates.
WHO Urges More Flu Vaccine Efforts Before Pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday pressed drug makers to accelerate work on a vaccine against a dreaded influenza pandemic which could kill millions of people.
Breastfeeding May Lower Childhood Leukemia Risk
Breastfeeding for even a few months may lower the odds that a child will develop leukemia, a new research review suggests.
UN Nears Showdown on Pact to Ban Stem Cell Study
Talks at the United Nations appear to have failed to avert a new U.N. confrontation over a U.S.-led drive to ban all cloning of human embryos including for stem cell research, diplomats said on Thursday.
Mad Cow Disease May Look Different in People
The human version of mad cow disease may look different in different people, depending on their genetic make-up, experts reported on Thursday, raising the possibility the disease could be circulating undetected.
Philip Morris Hid Link to Research Facility
Philip Morris, one of the world's leading tobacco manufacturers, was involved in research into the health effects of smoking 30 years ago but did not reveal data on the dangers of passive smoking, scientists said on Thursday.
Advisers Urge WHO to Allow Gene-Modified Smallpox
Advisers to the World Health Organization have pressed the body to allow a few scientists to genetically modify the smallpox virus to make it easier to study, a WHO spokesman said on Thursday.
Mass. Firm Recalls Malfunctioning Defibrillators
A Massachusetts company that made equipment to shock a stopped heart back to life is recalling 10,000 of its external defibrillators after they failed to work, Access CardioSystems Inc. said.
Shot Shows Promise As Male Contraceptive
The world of male contraception has been limited to condoms and vasectomies. But researchers now point to a new method that shows promise — a shot that prompts an immune reaction to a protein produced in the male reproductive system.
'Sorry' Seen As Magic Word to Avoid Suits
It's a lesson children learn even before their ABCs — say you're sorry when you hurt someone. But it's now being taught in the grown-up world of medicine as a surprisingly powerful way to soothe patients and head off malpractice lawsuits.
Experts to Discuss Arthritis Drug Risks
Government experts asked to discuss the safety of arthritis drugs in the same class as Vioxx will get an avalanche of paper, including confidential unpublished trials and their first glimpse at long-term safety studies.
59-Year-Old Set to Give Birth to Twins
A 59-year-old great-grandmother is pregnant with twins and will deliver next month, three decades after she had her tubes tied. "They came untied," Frances Harris said Thursday.
WHO Using Internet to Help Prostitutes
The U.N. health agency Thursday said it plans to use the Internet to help prostitutes in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
Fed Panel Presses Gulf War Illness Aid
A federal panel that has spent two years reviewing studies of Gulf War illnesses recommends focusing future research on the effects of the toxic substances that veterans encountered during the 1991 conflict.
New Worries Tarnishing Arthritis Drugs
One by one, arthritis drugs that promised to ease pain without causing ulcers are losing their luster.
Official: Oral Cancer Can Strike Anyone
About 30,000 Americans each year contract oral cancer, and 8,000 of them will die, but people remain ignorant of a disease that can be cured if caught in the early stages, a University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey official said Wednesday.
Pre-diabetes: Ignore It at Your Own Peril
Doctors call it pre-diabetes, the period when people at high risk of full-blown diabetes exhibit elevated blood-sugar levels. But they're still capable of processing that sugar, called glucose.
Tackling Anemia in Diabetics
A clinical trial to evaluate the impact of treating anemia on cardiovascular risks in people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease is being conducted by the biotechnology company Amgen Inc.
New Weapon Against Arrhythmias
Women, as well as men, may benefit from implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), says a study by researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Brain Wave Activity Seems Slower in Schizophrenics
New research suggests that schizophrenics process information at a lower frequency than healthy people, almost as if their minds were filled with bad connections.
Hypertension Control Can Save a Diabetic's Sight
Close control of blood pressure helps reduce eye problems in people with type 2 diabetes, says a British study in the November issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
Estrogen in Contraceptives Threatens Fish Populations
Long-term exposure to the synthetic estrogen ethynylestradiol can shrink fish populations, says a study in the December issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.
It's one of the most common cancers in women and kills about a quarter of a million patients each year but scientists said on Friday that a new vaccine could prevent most cases of cervical cancer.
Obesity Linked to Leukemia in Older Women
Being obese more than doubles the risk of a type of leukemia -- acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) -- in older women, according to a new report. The risk is only slightly diminished in women who are overweight.
Patch Plus Pill Ups Chances of Quitting Smoking
Smokers can double the likelihood of kicking the habit by using the antidepressant drug nortriptyline along with a nicotine patch, new research indicates.
WHO Urges More Flu Vaccine Efforts Before Pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday pressed drug makers to accelerate work on a vaccine against a dreaded influenza pandemic which could kill millions of people.
Breastfeeding May Lower Childhood Leukemia Risk
Breastfeeding for even a few months may lower the odds that a child will develop leukemia, a new research review suggests.
UN Nears Showdown on Pact to Ban Stem Cell Study
Talks at the United Nations appear to have failed to avert a new U.N. confrontation over a U.S.-led drive to ban all cloning of human embryos including for stem cell research, diplomats said on Thursday.
Mad Cow Disease May Look Different in People
The human version of mad cow disease may look different in different people, depending on their genetic make-up, experts reported on Thursday, raising the possibility the disease could be circulating undetected.
Philip Morris Hid Link to Research Facility
Philip Morris, one of the world's leading tobacco manufacturers, was involved in research into the health effects of smoking 30 years ago but did not reveal data on the dangers of passive smoking, scientists said on Thursday.
Advisers Urge WHO to Allow Gene-Modified Smallpox
Advisers to the World Health Organization have pressed the body to allow a few scientists to genetically modify the smallpox virus to make it easier to study, a WHO spokesman said on Thursday.
Mass. Firm Recalls Malfunctioning Defibrillators
A Massachusetts company that made equipment to shock a stopped heart back to life is recalling 10,000 of its external defibrillators after they failed to work, Access CardioSystems Inc. said.
Shot Shows Promise As Male Contraceptive
The world of male contraception has been limited to condoms and vasectomies. But researchers now point to a new method that shows promise — a shot that prompts an immune reaction to a protein produced in the male reproductive system.
'Sorry' Seen As Magic Word to Avoid Suits
It's a lesson children learn even before their ABCs — say you're sorry when you hurt someone. But it's now being taught in the grown-up world of medicine as a surprisingly powerful way to soothe patients and head off malpractice lawsuits.
Experts to Discuss Arthritis Drug Risks
Government experts asked to discuss the safety of arthritis drugs in the same class as Vioxx will get an avalanche of paper, including confidential unpublished trials and their first glimpse at long-term safety studies.
59-Year-Old Set to Give Birth to Twins
A 59-year-old great-grandmother is pregnant with twins and will deliver next month, three decades after she had her tubes tied. "They came untied," Frances Harris said Thursday.
WHO Using Internet to Help Prostitutes
The U.N. health agency Thursday said it plans to use the Internet to help prostitutes in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
Fed Panel Presses Gulf War Illness Aid
A federal panel that has spent two years reviewing studies of Gulf War illnesses recommends focusing future research on the effects of the toxic substances that veterans encountered during the 1991 conflict.
New Worries Tarnishing Arthritis Drugs
One by one, arthritis drugs that promised to ease pain without causing ulcers are losing their luster.
Official: Oral Cancer Can Strike Anyone
About 30,000 Americans each year contract oral cancer, and 8,000 of them will die, but people remain ignorant of a disease that can be cured if caught in the early stages, a University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey official said Wednesday.
Pre-diabetes: Ignore It at Your Own Peril
Doctors call it pre-diabetes, the period when people at high risk of full-blown diabetes exhibit elevated blood-sugar levels. But they're still capable of processing that sugar, called glucose.
Tackling Anemia in Diabetics
A clinical trial to evaluate the impact of treating anemia on cardiovascular risks in people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease is being conducted by the biotechnology company Amgen Inc.
New Weapon Against Arrhythmias
Women, as well as men, may benefit from implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), says a study by researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Brain Wave Activity Seems Slower in Schizophrenics
New research suggests that schizophrenics process information at a lower frequency than healthy people, almost as if their minds were filled with bad connections.
Hypertension Control Can Save a Diabetic's Sight
Close control of blood pressure helps reduce eye problems in people with type 2 diabetes, says a British study in the November issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
Estrogen in Contraceptives Threatens Fish Populations
Long-term exposure to the synthetic estrogen ethynylestradiol can shrink fish populations, says a study in the December issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Health Headlines - November 10
States Urged to Spend More to Cut Smoking Rate
The U.S. government's effort to cut the adult smoking rate to 12 percent or less by 2010 will fail unless most states increase funding for anti-tobacco programs, federal health officials said on Wednesday.
Vitamin E May Do More Harm Than Good, Study Finds
Vitamin E supplements, which millions take in the hope of longer, healthier lives, may do more harm than good, researchers reported on Wednesday.
Singapore Facing AIDS Epidemic
Singapore faces an AIDS epidemic, with the number of new infections diagnosed expected to hit a rate of 1,000 a year by 2010, a health official said.
'Statin' Drugs Lower Blood Pressure Somewhat
Cholesterol-lowering 'statin' drugs -- such as Lipitor or Zocor, for example -- also lower blood pressure to a modest extent, according to a report at the American Heart Association annual meeting.
New York City Joins Illinois in Seeking Flu Vaccine
New York City joined Illinois' effort on Wednesday to acquire hundreds of thousands of doses of scarce flu vaccine from Europe, though U.S. regulatory approval of the transaction was still up in the air.
Study: Simple Life-Saving Shock Device Worth Cost
Less-costly versions of implanted heart devices represent a good value for most patients who need them, according to a cost analysis study presented on Wednesday.
Canada Warns It Cannot Be the Drugstore to U.S.
Canada warned the United States on Wednesday that it would not be able to meet its prescription drug needs.
Anemia Common Among Older People in US
In the US, at least one in five people age 85 or older are anemic, according to a new report. Although the anemia is rarely severe, further studies are needed to determine the impact on quality of life and functional abilities.
Report: Tobacco Industry Hid Smoking Dangers
The tobacco industry for many years claimed that it was unaware of biological evidence that smoking is harmful to health, but that was untrue according to a medical journal report.
Ovary Transfer to Arm Preserves Hormone Balance
A woman undergoing treatment for cervical cancer had one of her healthy ovaries successfully transplanted into her upper arm, in order to maintain hormonal function, a Dutch team reports.
Study: Cholesterol Drug Combo Effective
Taking one drug to boost "good" cholesterol and another to lower its evil twin can slow the progression of heart disease more effectively than one medicine alone, the first study to test this dual approach has found.
Drug May Relieve Crohn's, Other Disorders
An experimental drug that selectively tamps down part of the immune system can offer dramatic relief to many victims of the painful bowel disorder Crohn's disease, and might also work against illnesses such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Pesticide Study Using Children Postponed
A planned government study into how children's bodies absorb pesticides and other chemicals has been temporarily suspended due to ethical concerns.
CDC: Smoking Declines in the U.S.
Heavily Mormon Utah has become the first and only state to meet the government's goal of reducing the smoking rate to about one in eight adults, federal health officials said Wednesday.
Scientist's Bextra Claim Spurs Controversy
A scientist's claim of evidence that Pfizer Inc.'s Bextra might be even riskier for people with heart disease than rival arthritis drug Vioxx sparked controversy Wednesday at a medical meeting and sent the company's stock lower.
Program Gets Kids to Be More Active
Exercise-intervention programs can help boost physical activity in children, says a study by researchers at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing.
Clot-Busting Drugs Don't Lead to Rare Heart-Bleeding Problem
Rates of cardiac tamponade -- a potentially fatal heart problem that can follow a heart attack -- have not increased with widespread use of clot-busting drugs to treat heart attack patients.
Antidepressant Seems to Help Smokers Quit
The antidepressant drug nortriptyline, when used with a nicotine patch, may help smokers kick the habit.
Morphine Increases Death Risk for Heart Patients
Using morphine to reduce chest pain in heart attack patients may increase the risk of death by nearly 50 percent, says a Duke University study.
Unsound Bodies Lead to Unsound Minds
If you needed another reason to get up off the couch and start exercising, a new study provides one: Along with lowering your risk of heart disease, keeping fit and eating healthy foods may also help prevent dementia.
Gender, Ethnic Gaps Found in Heart Care
Disparities exist between the sexes and ethnic groups both in controlling risk factors for heart disease and in outcomes of major problems such as heart attacks.
The U.S. government's effort to cut the adult smoking rate to 12 percent or less by 2010 will fail unless most states increase funding for anti-tobacco programs, federal health officials said on Wednesday.
Vitamin E May Do More Harm Than Good, Study Finds
Vitamin E supplements, which millions take in the hope of longer, healthier lives, may do more harm than good, researchers reported on Wednesday.
Singapore Facing AIDS Epidemic
Singapore faces an AIDS epidemic, with the number of new infections diagnosed expected to hit a rate of 1,000 a year by 2010, a health official said.
'Statin' Drugs Lower Blood Pressure Somewhat
Cholesterol-lowering 'statin' drugs -- such as Lipitor or Zocor, for example -- also lower blood pressure to a modest extent, according to a report at the American Heart Association annual meeting.
New York City Joins Illinois in Seeking Flu Vaccine
New York City joined Illinois' effort on Wednesday to acquire hundreds of thousands of doses of scarce flu vaccine from Europe, though U.S. regulatory approval of the transaction was still up in the air.
Study: Simple Life-Saving Shock Device Worth Cost
Less-costly versions of implanted heart devices represent a good value for most patients who need them, according to a cost analysis study presented on Wednesday.
Canada Warns It Cannot Be the Drugstore to U.S.
Canada warned the United States on Wednesday that it would not be able to meet its prescription drug needs.
Anemia Common Among Older People in US
In the US, at least one in five people age 85 or older are anemic, according to a new report. Although the anemia is rarely severe, further studies are needed to determine the impact on quality of life and functional abilities.
Report: Tobacco Industry Hid Smoking Dangers
The tobacco industry for many years claimed that it was unaware of biological evidence that smoking is harmful to health, but that was untrue according to a medical journal report.
Ovary Transfer to Arm Preserves Hormone Balance
A woman undergoing treatment for cervical cancer had one of her healthy ovaries successfully transplanted into her upper arm, in order to maintain hormonal function, a Dutch team reports.
Study: Cholesterol Drug Combo Effective
Taking one drug to boost "good" cholesterol and another to lower its evil twin can slow the progression of heart disease more effectively than one medicine alone, the first study to test this dual approach has found.
Drug May Relieve Crohn's, Other Disorders
An experimental drug that selectively tamps down part of the immune system can offer dramatic relief to many victims of the painful bowel disorder Crohn's disease, and might also work against illnesses such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Pesticide Study Using Children Postponed
A planned government study into how children's bodies absorb pesticides and other chemicals has been temporarily suspended due to ethical concerns.
CDC: Smoking Declines in the U.S.
Heavily Mormon Utah has become the first and only state to meet the government's goal of reducing the smoking rate to about one in eight adults, federal health officials said Wednesday.
Scientist's Bextra Claim Spurs Controversy
A scientist's claim of evidence that Pfizer Inc.'s Bextra might be even riskier for people with heart disease than rival arthritis drug Vioxx sparked controversy Wednesday at a medical meeting and sent the company's stock lower.
Program Gets Kids to Be More Active
Exercise-intervention programs can help boost physical activity in children, says a study by researchers at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing.
Clot-Busting Drugs Don't Lead to Rare Heart-Bleeding Problem
Rates of cardiac tamponade -- a potentially fatal heart problem that can follow a heart attack -- have not increased with widespread use of clot-busting drugs to treat heart attack patients.
Antidepressant Seems to Help Smokers Quit
The antidepressant drug nortriptyline, when used with a nicotine patch, may help smokers kick the habit.
Morphine Increases Death Risk for Heart Patients
Using morphine to reduce chest pain in heart attack patients may increase the risk of death by nearly 50 percent, says a Duke University study.
Unsound Bodies Lead to Unsound Minds
If you needed another reason to get up off the couch and start exercising, a new study provides one: Along with lowering your risk of heart disease, keeping fit and eating healthy foods may also help prevent dementia.
Gender, Ethnic Gaps Found in Heart Care
Disparities exist between the sexes and ethnic groups both in controlling risk factors for heart disease and in outcomes of major problems such as heart attacks.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Health Headlines - November 9
Sanofi Diet Drug Gets Raves, Caution from Doctors
At a time when the drug industry is being pounded with recalls and government investigations while turning out few major new drugs, French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis appears to have a big winner on its hands.
Waist Size Linked to Future Heart Trouble
The best tool for predicting the risk of heart disease may be a tape measure, researchers said on Tuesday.
Study: Special Diets Don't Mean More Weight Loss
Dieters looking for tricks to lose weight got more bad news on Tuesday with the publication of a study showing diets that restrict certain food groups do not take any extra weight off.
Sanofi Wins Govt Contract for Eggs for Flu Shot
The U.S. government on Tuesday awarded Sanofi-Aventis a contract worth up to $41 million through 2008 to maintain a supply of eggs year-round that could be used in flu vaccine production.
Sanofi Diet Drug Impressive in 2-Year Study
An experimental diet drug helped people lose nearly four times as much weight as a placebo in an eagerly anticipated two-year trial, researchers said on Tuesday.
Blood Pressure Drugs Can Slow Heart Disease
Some drugs that drop blood pressure can help prevent heart disease from getting worse in patients with lower blood pressure who would not routinely be given such medicine, researchers reported on Tuesday.
Study Shows More Powerful Heart Drug Helps Blacks
An unusual study enrolling only black Americans showed a more powerful statin drug worked better to lower cholesterol than a rival brand, researchers said on Tuesday.
Breastfeeding Linked to Lower Arthritis Risk
Women who breastfeed are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than women who don't, according to a new report.
Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Dementia in Study
A spectrum of heart-stressing symptoms called metabolic syndrome raises the risk of dementia, researchers said on Tuesday.
US FTC Sues Firms for False Weight-Loss Claims
As part of a renewed effort to curb false weight-loss claims, the Federal Trade Commission said on Tuesday it has sued six companies that sold products ranging from cellulite cream to diet teas and patches.
Diet Drug Helps People Keep Weight Off
An experimental pill that offers the fairy-tale promise of helping people lose weight and quit smoking has gathered even more stardust.
Women Wrongly Warned Cancer, Abortion Tied
In several states, women considering abortion are given government-issued brochures warning that the procedure could increase their chance of developing breast cancer, despite scientific findings to the contrary.
Blood Test May Tell Risk of Stillbirth
A blood test early in pregnancy might help determine whether a woman runs an increased risk of having a stillborn baby, a preliminary study found.
Airlines Agree to Drinking Water Tests
The government and a dozen airlines struck a deal Tuesday requiring sanitation improvements and increased testing of drinking water aboard aircraft after officials found evidence of harmful bacteria in the water of one in every eight planes tested.
Calif. Cell Research Interests Scientists
A 21st-century gold rush is on in California after the voters approved $3 billion for human embryonic stem cell research.
Officials Eye Drivers With Medical Problems
States must do a better job identifying and removing from roadways drivers with medical conditions like epilepsy and dementia that make them dangerous to other motorists, federal safety officials said Tuesday.
Combo Surgery Combats Cardiovascular Disease
A combination of robotically assisted keyhole bypass surgery and stented angioplasty is safe and appears effective in treating patients with extensive cardiovascular disease, says a Belgian study.
Health Tip: Buy Safe Toys
Before you buy those toy fire engines or dress-up dolls this year, make sure the products are safe for children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises.
Health Tip: Throw a Safe Holiday Party
If you're planning to host a holiday party soon, the National Commission Against Drunk Driving suggests these tips: Encourage your guests ahead of time to designate a driver. Collect guests' keys upon arrival, and make sure they are sober before permitting them to drive home.
Smoking Increases Risk of COPD Death
Past or present smoking increases the risk of death among people with severe early-onset chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new study says.
Even Placebo Pills Can Help Heart-Failure Patients
Heart-failure patients have a better chance of survival if they're conscientious about taking their pills, even if those pills are placebos, says a Duke University Medical Center study.
Hypertension Drugs Serve Another Role
Giving a hypertension drug to people with heart disease saves lives even if they have normal blood pressure, and a calcium channel blocker drug is more effective than an ACE inhibitor, a new study finds.
Stem Cells Reverse Damage of Heart Attacks
Stem cells can be used to treat heart attacks in pigs, says a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.
Eating Peanuts May Stop Peanut Allergy Return
If your child outgrows a peanut allergy, he or she should have foods containing peanuts at least once a month to prevent the allergy from returning, a new study suggests.
Lipitor May Aid Memory in Alzheimer's
A widely used cholesterol-lowering drug improved memory and cognition as well as depressive symptoms in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, according to results of a small study.
Heart Health Tough to Buy With Food Stamps
A small study conducted in a Boston neighborhood highlights the difficulty of affording heart-healthy food when you're a beneficiary of food stamps.
At a time when the drug industry is being pounded with recalls and government investigations while turning out few major new drugs, French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis appears to have a big winner on its hands.
Waist Size Linked to Future Heart Trouble
The best tool for predicting the risk of heart disease may be a tape measure, researchers said on Tuesday.
Study: Special Diets Don't Mean More Weight Loss
Dieters looking for tricks to lose weight got more bad news on Tuesday with the publication of a study showing diets that restrict certain food groups do not take any extra weight off.
Sanofi Wins Govt Contract for Eggs for Flu Shot
The U.S. government on Tuesday awarded Sanofi-Aventis a contract worth up to $41 million through 2008 to maintain a supply of eggs year-round that could be used in flu vaccine production.
Sanofi Diet Drug Impressive in 2-Year Study
An experimental diet drug helped people lose nearly four times as much weight as a placebo in an eagerly anticipated two-year trial, researchers said on Tuesday.
Blood Pressure Drugs Can Slow Heart Disease
Some drugs that drop blood pressure can help prevent heart disease from getting worse in patients with lower blood pressure who would not routinely be given such medicine, researchers reported on Tuesday.
Study Shows More Powerful Heart Drug Helps Blacks
An unusual study enrolling only black Americans showed a more powerful statin drug worked better to lower cholesterol than a rival brand, researchers said on Tuesday.
Breastfeeding Linked to Lower Arthritis Risk
Women who breastfeed are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than women who don't, according to a new report.
Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Dementia in Study
A spectrum of heart-stressing symptoms called metabolic syndrome raises the risk of dementia, researchers said on Tuesday.
US FTC Sues Firms for False Weight-Loss Claims
As part of a renewed effort to curb false weight-loss claims, the Federal Trade Commission said on Tuesday it has sued six companies that sold products ranging from cellulite cream to diet teas and patches.
Diet Drug Helps People Keep Weight Off
An experimental pill that offers the fairy-tale promise of helping people lose weight and quit smoking has gathered even more stardust.
Women Wrongly Warned Cancer, Abortion Tied
In several states, women considering abortion are given government-issued brochures warning that the procedure could increase their chance of developing breast cancer, despite scientific findings to the contrary.
Blood Test May Tell Risk of Stillbirth
A blood test early in pregnancy might help determine whether a woman runs an increased risk of having a stillborn baby, a preliminary study found.
Airlines Agree to Drinking Water Tests
The government and a dozen airlines struck a deal Tuesday requiring sanitation improvements and increased testing of drinking water aboard aircraft after officials found evidence of harmful bacteria in the water of one in every eight planes tested.
Calif. Cell Research Interests Scientists
A 21st-century gold rush is on in California after the voters approved $3 billion for human embryonic stem cell research.
Officials Eye Drivers With Medical Problems
States must do a better job identifying and removing from roadways drivers with medical conditions like epilepsy and dementia that make them dangerous to other motorists, federal safety officials said Tuesday.
Combo Surgery Combats Cardiovascular Disease
A combination of robotically assisted keyhole bypass surgery and stented angioplasty is safe and appears effective in treating patients with extensive cardiovascular disease, says a Belgian study.
Health Tip: Buy Safe Toys
Before you buy those toy fire engines or dress-up dolls this year, make sure the products are safe for children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises.
Health Tip: Throw a Safe Holiday Party
If you're planning to host a holiday party soon, the National Commission Against Drunk Driving suggests these tips: Encourage your guests ahead of time to designate a driver. Collect guests' keys upon arrival, and make sure they are sober before permitting them to drive home.
Smoking Increases Risk of COPD Death
Past or present smoking increases the risk of death among people with severe early-onset chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new study says.
Even Placebo Pills Can Help Heart-Failure Patients
Heart-failure patients have a better chance of survival if they're conscientious about taking their pills, even if those pills are placebos, says a Duke University Medical Center study.
Hypertension Drugs Serve Another Role
Giving a hypertension drug to people with heart disease saves lives even if they have normal blood pressure, and a calcium channel blocker drug is more effective than an ACE inhibitor, a new study finds.
Stem Cells Reverse Damage of Heart Attacks
Stem cells can be used to treat heart attacks in pigs, says a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.
Eating Peanuts May Stop Peanut Allergy Return
If your child outgrows a peanut allergy, he or she should have foods containing peanuts at least once a month to prevent the allergy from returning, a new study suggests.
Lipitor May Aid Memory in Alzheimer's
A widely used cholesterol-lowering drug improved memory and cognition as well as depressive symptoms in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, according to results of a small study.
Heart Health Tough to Buy With Food Stamps
A small study conducted in a Boston neighborhood highlights the difficulty of affording heart-healthy food when you're a beneficiary of food stamps.
Monday, November 08, 2004
Health Headlines - November 8
Red, Processed Meats Up Diabetes Risk
Red meats and processed meats such as hot dogs appear to increase the risk of diabetes, as does a heavily "Western" diet, according to new research released Monday.
Surgeon General Urges Families to Track History
Despite advances in genetic testing, the U.S. surgeon general on Monday urged Americans to track down and record cases of cancer, heart disease and other diseases prevalent in their families.
Vegetable Oils Reduce Heart Risk
Vegetable oils found in leafy green vegetables, nuts and flaxseed reduce a woman's risk of dying from heart disease, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
Abbott Adds Warnings to Arthritis Drug Label
Abbott Laboratories Inc. added several new warnings to the label for its rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira, according to a company letter released on Monday.
Obesity, Child Mortality Slowing U.S. Health Gains
Rising obesity rates and the number of people without health insurance are placing a drag on health gains for the American population, according to the results of a survey released Monday.
Counseling Can Prevent Depression Recurrence
After being treated with standard medications, patients who undergo a type of counseling called cognitive behavior therapy have a much lower rate of relapse compared with those who receive standard follow-up care, new research shows.
Glucosamine No Benefit for Knee Arthritis
Evidence continues to mount that glucosamine, while generally safe, is not effective in treating osteoarthritis of the knee.
Syndrome Predicts Heart Disease in Healthy Adults
Middle-aged adults who do not yet have heart disease but have a spectrum of symptoms called metabolic syndrome are very likely to also have clogged arteries, researchers said on Monday.
Alzheimer's Drug Helpful for People with MS
Donepezil, a drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease, seems to improve the memory of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a report in the journal Neurology.
NitroMed Heart Failure Drug Helps Blacks
In the first major trial to test a drug only in blacks, an experimental drug developed by NitroMed Inc. added to standard therapy helped heart failure patients live significantly longer, researchers on Monday said.
Drug Could Become First for Specific Race
A two-drug combination pill dramatically reduced deaths among blacks with heart failure, a landmark finding that is expected to lead to government approval of the first medication marketed for a specific race.
Company Again Touting Weird Soda Flavors
Jones Soda Co. takes the idea of a liquid diet to a new low. How does Green Bean Casserole Soda strike you? And how about an aggressively buttery-smelling Mashed Potato Soda?
Company Offering Drug Discounts to Poor
St. Louis-based Express Scripts Inc., facing scrutiny of its generic drug prices, is offering discounts on dozens of generic medicines to low-income Americans.
Families Urged to Discuss Medical History
Medical officials are urging families to talk not just turkey this Thanksgiving but also medical history — generations of it — to help identify breast, heart and other problems early enough to prevent them.
Stocking Helps Weak Hearts Pump Blood
A simple fabric device that looks like fishnet hose but acts like support stockings helped weak hearts pump more efficiently and even shrink back to a more normal size, researchers reported at an American Heart Association conference.
Report: Minnesota Is Healthiest State
Minnesota is the nation's healthiest state, while Louisiana is the least healthy, a ranking it has held for 14 of the last 15 years of a national survey, officials said.
Doctors Eye Apologies for Medical Mistakes
It's a basic lesson children learn even before their ABCs — say you're sorry when you hurt someone. But it's now being taught in the grown-up world of medicine as a surprisingly powerful way to soothe patients.
Researchers: Sprawl Related to Health Woes
North Carolina researchers are heading a national study to find the best ways to redesign communities so that Americans get out of their cars and travel by foot or bicycle.
CDC: Flu Season Starting Out Slowly
This year's flu season appears to be starting slowly, according to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, despite a shortage of flu vaccines in the United States.
Health Clubs Now Offering Belly Dancing
A woman in her late 40s glides through a studio with tiny finger cymbals clinging out the rhythm to her workout. She swivels her hips with the charisma of a teen pop star, raises her arms, and twirls.
Health Tip: Recognizing Macular Pucker
If straight lines seem wavy, or if your vision is distorted and blurry, you may have a condition called macular pucker.
Magnetic System Navigates Difficult Blood Vessels
A new magnetic system that's able to navigate difficult blood vessels shows promise for use during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) such as angioplasty in patients with cardiovascular disease.
Health Tip: Coping With Anxiety
If you suffer from anxiety, relief may stem from the support of family and friends, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Heart Health Tied to Social, Psychological Factors
A host of new studies finds various social and psychological factors can have a significant impact on heart health.
Smoking, Heredity Pose Pancreatic Cancer Risk
Smoking may be an environmental trigger that activates pancreatic cancer in people with a family history of this usually fatal disease, a new study suggests.
Not All Heart Patients Treated Same
Patients who have coronary artery bypass surgery receive less aggressive drug care when they're discharged from hospital than patients who've had less invasive angioplasty procedures, says a Duke University study.
Weight Gain a Heart Risk for Diabetics
The more weight that diabetics gain, the greater their risk of cardiovascular disease, says a Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center study.
Foods Rich in Alpha-Linolenic Acid May Protect the Heart
Women who eat foods high in oils containing alpha-linolenic acid appear to have a lower risk of dying from heart disease and of sudden cardiac death than women whose diets are low in the substance.
Red meats and processed meats such as hot dogs appear to increase the risk of diabetes, as does a heavily "Western" diet, according to new research released Monday.
Surgeon General Urges Families to Track History
Despite advances in genetic testing, the U.S. surgeon general on Monday urged Americans to track down and record cases of cancer, heart disease and other diseases prevalent in their families.
Vegetable Oils Reduce Heart Risk
Vegetable oils found in leafy green vegetables, nuts and flaxseed reduce a woman's risk of dying from heart disease, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
Abbott Adds Warnings to Arthritis Drug Label
Abbott Laboratories Inc. added several new warnings to the label for its rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira, according to a company letter released on Monday.
Obesity, Child Mortality Slowing U.S. Health Gains
Rising obesity rates and the number of people without health insurance are placing a drag on health gains for the American population, according to the results of a survey released Monday.
Counseling Can Prevent Depression Recurrence
After being treated with standard medications, patients who undergo a type of counseling called cognitive behavior therapy have a much lower rate of relapse compared with those who receive standard follow-up care, new research shows.
Glucosamine No Benefit for Knee Arthritis
Evidence continues to mount that glucosamine, while generally safe, is not effective in treating osteoarthritis of the knee.
Syndrome Predicts Heart Disease in Healthy Adults
Middle-aged adults who do not yet have heart disease but have a spectrum of symptoms called metabolic syndrome are very likely to also have clogged arteries, researchers said on Monday.
Alzheimer's Drug Helpful for People with MS
Donepezil, a drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease, seems to improve the memory of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a report in the journal Neurology.
NitroMed Heart Failure Drug Helps Blacks
In the first major trial to test a drug only in blacks, an experimental drug developed by NitroMed Inc. added to standard therapy helped heart failure patients live significantly longer, researchers on Monday said.
Drug Could Become First for Specific Race
A two-drug combination pill dramatically reduced deaths among blacks with heart failure, a landmark finding that is expected to lead to government approval of the first medication marketed for a specific race.
Company Again Touting Weird Soda Flavors
Jones Soda Co. takes the idea of a liquid diet to a new low. How does Green Bean Casserole Soda strike you? And how about an aggressively buttery-smelling Mashed Potato Soda?
Company Offering Drug Discounts to Poor
St. Louis-based Express Scripts Inc., facing scrutiny of its generic drug prices, is offering discounts on dozens of generic medicines to low-income Americans.
Families Urged to Discuss Medical History
Medical officials are urging families to talk not just turkey this Thanksgiving but also medical history — generations of it — to help identify breast, heart and other problems early enough to prevent them.
Stocking Helps Weak Hearts Pump Blood
A simple fabric device that looks like fishnet hose but acts like support stockings helped weak hearts pump more efficiently and even shrink back to a more normal size, researchers reported at an American Heart Association conference.
Report: Minnesota Is Healthiest State
Minnesota is the nation's healthiest state, while Louisiana is the least healthy, a ranking it has held for 14 of the last 15 years of a national survey, officials said.
Doctors Eye Apologies for Medical Mistakes
It's a basic lesson children learn even before their ABCs — say you're sorry when you hurt someone. But it's now being taught in the grown-up world of medicine as a surprisingly powerful way to soothe patients.
Researchers: Sprawl Related to Health Woes
North Carolina researchers are heading a national study to find the best ways to redesign communities so that Americans get out of their cars and travel by foot or bicycle.
CDC: Flu Season Starting Out Slowly
This year's flu season appears to be starting slowly, according to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, despite a shortage of flu vaccines in the United States.
Health Clubs Now Offering Belly Dancing
A woman in her late 40s glides through a studio with tiny finger cymbals clinging out the rhythm to her workout. She swivels her hips with the charisma of a teen pop star, raises her arms, and twirls.
Health Tip: Recognizing Macular Pucker
If straight lines seem wavy, or if your vision is distorted and blurry, you may have a condition called macular pucker.
Magnetic System Navigates Difficult Blood Vessels
A new magnetic system that's able to navigate difficult blood vessels shows promise for use during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) such as angioplasty in patients with cardiovascular disease.
Health Tip: Coping With Anxiety
If you suffer from anxiety, relief may stem from the support of family and friends, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Heart Health Tied to Social, Psychological Factors
A host of new studies finds various social and psychological factors can have a significant impact on heart health.
Smoking, Heredity Pose Pancreatic Cancer Risk
Smoking may be an environmental trigger that activates pancreatic cancer in people with a family history of this usually fatal disease, a new study suggests.
Not All Heart Patients Treated Same
Patients who have coronary artery bypass surgery receive less aggressive drug care when they're discharged from hospital than patients who've had less invasive angioplasty procedures, says a Duke University study.
Weight Gain a Heart Risk for Diabetics
The more weight that diabetics gain, the greater their risk of cardiovascular disease, says a Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center study.
Foods Rich in Alpha-Linolenic Acid May Protect the Heart
Women who eat foods high in oils containing alpha-linolenic acid appear to have a lower risk of dying from heart disease and of sudden cardiac death than women whose diets are low in the substance.
Sunday, November 07, 2004
Health Headlines - November 7
Obesity as Unhealthy as Heart Failure
Very obese people are as unhealthy, and probably as likely to die, as patients with heart failure, U.S. researchers reported on Sunday.
Different Exercise Makes for Different Effects
People too fat or too weak to start normal exercise may get surprising benefits from a downhill stroll, Austrian researchers reported on Sunday.
Novel Heart Support Device Shows Promise in Study
A novel fabric mesh sleeve that works like a girdle to reshape enlarged hearts showed promise in treating patients with heart failure and will be submitted for U.S. regulatory approval this year, according to researchers and the company that makes the device.
Flu Season Slow So Far, Official Says
The U.S. influenza season is starting slowly but it is still too early to tell how severe the outbreak will be as the nation faces a vaccine shortage, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Sunday.
Pollution, Cold Snaps Linked with Heart Death
Cold snaps and air pollution can trigger heart deaths, and breathing dirty air day in and day out may help heart disease develop in the first place, researchers said on Sunday.
Very obese people are as unhealthy, and probably as likely to die, as patients with heart failure, U.S. researchers reported on Sunday.
Different Exercise Makes for Different Effects
People too fat or too weak to start normal exercise may get surprising benefits from a downhill stroll, Austrian researchers reported on Sunday.
Novel Heart Support Device Shows Promise in Study
A novel fabric mesh sleeve that works like a girdle to reshape enlarged hearts showed promise in treating patients with heart failure and will be submitted for U.S. regulatory approval this year, according to researchers and the company that makes the device.
Flu Season Slow So Far, Official Says
The U.S. influenza season is starting slowly but it is still too early to tell how severe the outbreak will be as the nation faces a vaccine shortage, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Sunday.
Pollution, Cold Snaps Linked with Heart Death
Cold snaps and air pollution can trigger heart deaths, and breathing dirty air day in and day out may help heart disease develop in the first place, researchers said on Sunday.
Saturday, November 06, 2004
Health Headlines - November 6
Doctor Accused of Using Old Flu Vaccine
The state's medical quality board has accused a physician of giving outdated flu vaccine to 55 patients.
Nurse Seeks Order for Patient's HIV Test
A nurse has asked a judge to order a man to take an HIV test because she was accidentally stuck with a needle she used to give him insulin.
N.C. E. Coli Outbreak May Be Larger
An outbreak of E. coli infections linked to last month's state fair may be larger than previously thought, with more than 100 additional cases under review, health officials said Saturday.
Low-Carb Diets May Hurt Heart Health
Millions of Americans who are faithful to low-carbohydrate regimens to lose weight are missing out on fiber-rich foods essential to healthy hearts, experts warn.
Safe Treatment for Liver Tumors Tested
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe and effective treatment for liver tumors pushing on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, says a South Korean study in the November issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Wrestling With Restless Legs Syndrome
Creepy-crawly sensations, tingling, burning, aching and jittering are among the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.
Health Tip: Declaring War on Warts
Warts are noncancerous skin growths caused by an infection in the top layer of the skin.
Health Tip: The Dangers of Bitter Cold
As the days become colder, the Mayo Clinic warns people to take precautions against hypothermia.
Tobacco Use Causes Oral Health Decay
Tobacco use can cause serious oral health problems, including gum disease and oral cancer, says the Academy of General Dentistry.
The state's medical quality board has accused a physician of giving outdated flu vaccine to 55 patients.
Nurse Seeks Order for Patient's HIV Test
A nurse has asked a judge to order a man to take an HIV test because she was accidentally stuck with a needle she used to give him insulin.
N.C. E. Coli Outbreak May Be Larger
An outbreak of E. coli infections linked to last month's state fair may be larger than previously thought, with more than 100 additional cases under review, health officials said Saturday.
Low-Carb Diets May Hurt Heart Health
Millions of Americans who are faithful to low-carbohydrate regimens to lose weight are missing out on fiber-rich foods essential to healthy hearts, experts warn.
Safe Treatment for Liver Tumors Tested
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe and effective treatment for liver tumors pushing on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, says a South Korean study in the November issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Wrestling With Restless Legs Syndrome
Creepy-crawly sensations, tingling, burning, aching and jittering are among the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.
Health Tip: Declaring War on Warts
Warts are noncancerous skin growths caused by an infection in the top layer of the skin.
Health Tip: The Dangers of Bitter Cold
As the days become colder, the Mayo Clinic warns people to take precautions against hypothermia.
Tobacco Use Causes Oral Health Decay
Tobacco use can cause serious oral health problems, including gum disease and oral cancer, says the Academy of General Dentistry.
Friday, November 05, 2004
Health Headlines - November 5
Pre-Pregnancy Multivitamins Prevent Prematurity
Women who take multivitamins before becoming pregnant are less likely to give birth to premature babies, new study findings suggest.
U.S. Food Labels Need Calorie Clarity
How much did that afternoon snack cut into your daily allowance of calories?
Diabetic Moms Can Have Normal-Weight Babies
Pregnant women with diabetes tend to have overly large babies, which isn't good for either party. An Israeli team has now shown that the problem can be avoided if mothers strictly control their blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
Preschool Exercise Varies, Influences Kids' Habits
Some preschools encourage more physical activity than others, and all have a strong influence on how active students are in their daily lives, new research reports.
FDA to Review Post-Market Safety Checks
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday asked an outside group to review the way it monitors safety risks associated with medicines already on the market, such as Merck & Co. Inc.'s withdrawn painkiller Vioxx.
Texas Sex-Ed Texts Barely Mention Contraceptives
Texas education officials on Friday approved health textbooks for high school students that extol the virtues of sexual abstinence but only make passing mention of contraceptives, which critics say violates state regulations and endangers the health of teens.
Overweight Women May Have Longer Labor
Women who are overweight or obese before becoming pregnant generally spend a longer time in labor than thinner women do, a new study suggests.
Dopamine Limits Learning in Parkinson's Patients
Dopamine is the mainstay of treatment for people with Parkinson's disease, but it comes with a down side. Dopamine-based therapy impairs the brain's ability to respond quickly to learning challenges, investigators report.
New Measures Aim to Improve Drug Safety
Buffeted by criticism, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday that it would appoint a director of drug safety and take other actions to assure the safety of medications it approves.
Feds: Obesity Raising Airline Fuel Costs
Heavy suitcases aren't the only things weighing down airplanes and requiring them to burn more fuel, pushing up the cost of flights. A new government study reveals that airlines increasingly have to worry more about the weight of their passengers.
Nasal Spray Users Sue Over Side Effect
Nine people have sued the manufacturer of a nasal spray, alleging that the product caused them to permanently lose their sense of smell.
U.S. to Buy 75 Million Anthrax Shot Doses
The government said Thursday it is purchasing 75 million doses of a new generation anthrax vaccine under an $877.5 million contract — the first awarded through a federal program to develop and stockpile antidotes to biological and chemical weapons.
Web Kidney Donor Offers to Take Lie Test
A man who donated his kidney to a dialysis patient he met through the Internet has accepted a television show's offer to take a lie detector test aimed at rebutting claims he was paid.
Kentucky Man With Artificial Heart Dies
A man who lived more than five months with an artificial heart has died of multiple organ failure, the heart manufacturer said Friday.
Study Targets Key to Nicotine Addiction
A single molecule may be partly to blame for nicotine's addictive allure, a finding that researchers say could lead to potential therapies to help millions of smokers quit a life-threatening habit.
Al Roker to Report on Gastric Bypass
NBC's Al Roker reports on his health since his gastric bypass surgery, and the potential dangers and benefits involved in the procedure, in an hour-long special to air Friday night on "Dateline NBC."
Azithromycin Zaps Respiratory Infections
A single dose of the oral antibiotic azithromycin is as effective as multiple doses of other frequently prescribed treatments for respiratory tract infections in adults.
Study Faults Popular Hypertension Drug
Atenolol, a drug commonly prescribed to treat hypertension, doesn't prevent heart attacks or cardiovascular death any better than dummy drugs and is less effective than a wide variety of other blood pressure medications.
Blood Substitute Tested in Trauma Patients
A number of U.S. trauma centers are taking part in a study of an oxygen-carrying blood substitute designed to be used at the scene of accidents or disasters to increase survival of critically injured and bleeding trauma.
Women who take multivitamins before becoming pregnant are less likely to give birth to premature babies, new study findings suggest.
U.S. Food Labels Need Calorie Clarity
How much did that afternoon snack cut into your daily allowance of calories?
Diabetic Moms Can Have Normal-Weight Babies
Pregnant women with diabetes tend to have overly large babies, which isn't good for either party. An Israeli team has now shown that the problem can be avoided if mothers strictly control their blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
Preschool Exercise Varies, Influences Kids' Habits
Some preschools encourage more physical activity than others, and all have a strong influence on how active students are in their daily lives, new research reports.
FDA to Review Post-Market Safety Checks
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday asked an outside group to review the way it monitors safety risks associated with medicines already on the market, such as Merck & Co. Inc.'s withdrawn painkiller Vioxx.
Texas Sex-Ed Texts Barely Mention Contraceptives
Texas education officials on Friday approved health textbooks for high school students that extol the virtues of sexual abstinence but only make passing mention of contraceptives, which critics say violates state regulations and endangers the health of teens.
Overweight Women May Have Longer Labor
Women who are overweight or obese before becoming pregnant generally spend a longer time in labor than thinner women do, a new study suggests.
Dopamine Limits Learning in Parkinson's Patients
Dopamine is the mainstay of treatment for people with Parkinson's disease, but it comes with a down side. Dopamine-based therapy impairs the brain's ability to respond quickly to learning challenges, investigators report.
New Measures Aim to Improve Drug Safety
Buffeted by criticism, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday that it would appoint a director of drug safety and take other actions to assure the safety of medications it approves.
Feds: Obesity Raising Airline Fuel Costs
Heavy suitcases aren't the only things weighing down airplanes and requiring them to burn more fuel, pushing up the cost of flights. A new government study reveals that airlines increasingly have to worry more about the weight of their passengers.
Nasal Spray Users Sue Over Side Effect
Nine people have sued the manufacturer of a nasal spray, alleging that the product caused them to permanently lose their sense of smell.
U.S. to Buy 75 Million Anthrax Shot Doses
The government said Thursday it is purchasing 75 million doses of a new generation anthrax vaccine under an $877.5 million contract — the first awarded through a federal program to develop and stockpile antidotes to biological and chemical weapons.
Web Kidney Donor Offers to Take Lie Test
A man who donated his kidney to a dialysis patient he met through the Internet has accepted a television show's offer to take a lie detector test aimed at rebutting claims he was paid.
Kentucky Man With Artificial Heart Dies
A man who lived more than five months with an artificial heart has died of multiple organ failure, the heart manufacturer said Friday.
Study Targets Key to Nicotine Addiction
A single molecule may be partly to blame for nicotine's addictive allure, a finding that researchers say could lead to potential therapies to help millions of smokers quit a life-threatening habit.
Al Roker to Report on Gastric Bypass
NBC's Al Roker reports on his health since his gastric bypass surgery, and the potential dangers and benefits involved in the procedure, in an hour-long special to air Friday night on "Dateline NBC."
Azithromycin Zaps Respiratory Infections
A single dose of the oral antibiotic azithromycin is as effective as multiple doses of other frequently prescribed treatments for respiratory tract infections in adults.
Study Faults Popular Hypertension Drug
Atenolol, a drug commonly prescribed to treat hypertension, doesn't prevent heart attacks or cardiovascular death any better than dummy drugs and is less effective than a wide variety of other blood pressure medications.
Blood Substitute Tested in Trauma Patients
A number of U.S. trauma centers are taking part in a study of an oxygen-carrying blood substitute designed to be used at the scene of accidents or disasters to increase survival of critically injured and bleeding trauma.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Health Headlines - November 4
Merck Should Have Pulled Vioxx in 2000
U.S. drugs giant Merck & Co Inc. should have pulled its Vioxx painkiller from the market four years ago because data showing it raised the risk of heart attacks has existed since 2000, Swiss scientists said on Friday.
Mutant Mice Help Shed Light on Tobacco Addiction
Genetically altered mice that are unusually sensitive to nicotine may help scientists nail down exactly how people become addicted to smoking, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.
Drug for Osteoporosis Curtails Knee Arthritis
Treatment with a drug used to combat the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis appears to reduce the occurrence of osteoarthritis-related damage in the knee, according to a new report.
Better Than Botox? New York Women Try Acupuncture
Sticking needles in your ankles might not seem like an obvious way to rid your face of wrinkles, but for Barbara Leivent, it's better than plastic surgery or cosmetic injections.
Doctors Urged to Push Flu Vaccine for Seniors
The number of seniors vaccinated for flu and pneumococcal infections rose in most of the United States last year, but remained below the government's target for this high-risk group, federal officials said on Thursday.
Obesity Surgery Data on Elderly Scarce, Panel Says
Obesity surgery has helped many patients lose weight and improve their health, a panel of experts told U.S. regulators on Thursday, but they added there was insufficient data on how well the procedure worked for elderly patients covered by Medicare,
White Bread, Starch Increases Diabetes Risk
Fans of white bread, hear this: it increases your risk of type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the illness, new research shows.
Dietary Fatty Acids May Help Prevent Asthma
Increased dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent allergies and asthma in children, researchers have shown. Avoiding exposure to dust mites in the house also helps.
Pfizer: Celebrex Safe After News Report
Pfizer Inc. (PFE.N) said on Thursday its arthritis drug Celebrex was safe after a report in a Canadian newspaper linked it to 14 deaths.
Obesity, Inactivity Raise Uterine Cancer Risk
Obesity and low physical activity are strong risk factors for endometrial cancer, a disease involving the lining of the uterus, according to a Dutch study.
U.S. drugs giant Merck & Co Inc. should have pulled its Vioxx painkiller from the market four years ago because data showing it raised the risk of heart attacks has existed since 2000, Swiss scientists said on Friday.
Mutant Mice Help Shed Light on Tobacco Addiction
Genetically altered mice that are unusually sensitive to nicotine may help scientists nail down exactly how people become addicted to smoking, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.
Drug for Osteoporosis Curtails Knee Arthritis
Treatment with a drug used to combat the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis appears to reduce the occurrence of osteoarthritis-related damage in the knee, according to a new report.
Better Than Botox? New York Women Try Acupuncture
Sticking needles in your ankles might not seem like an obvious way to rid your face of wrinkles, but for Barbara Leivent, it's better than plastic surgery or cosmetic injections.
Doctors Urged to Push Flu Vaccine for Seniors
The number of seniors vaccinated for flu and pneumococcal infections rose in most of the United States last year, but remained below the government's target for this high-risk group, federal officials said on Thursday.
Obesity Surgery Data on Elderly Scarce, Panel Says
Obesity surgery has helped many patients lose weight and improve their health, a panel of experts told U.S. regulators on Thursday, but they added there was insufficient data on how well the procedure worked for elderly patients covered by Medicare,
White Bread, Starch Increases Diabetes Risk
Fans of white bread, hear this: it increases your risk of type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the illness, new research shows.
Dietary Fatty Acids May Help Prevent Asthma
Increased dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent allergies and asthma in children, researchers have shown. Avoiding exposure to dust mites in the house also helps.
Pfizer: Celebrex Safe After News Report
Pfizer Inc. (PFE.N) said on Thursday its arthritis drug Celebrex was safe after a report in a Canadian newspaper linked it to 14 deaths.
Obesity, Inactivity Raise Uterine Cancer Risk
Obesity and low physical activity are strong risk factors for endometrial cancer, a disease involving the lining of the uterus, according to a Dutch study.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Health Headlines - November 3
Experiment Stretches Flu Vaccine for Healthy
It might be possible to stretch out the scarce U.S. supply of flu vaccine by diluting it and injecting it differently, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.
Many Older Adults Drink Too Much
Between one-quarter and one-half of adults in their 50s and 60s drink more than the recommended amount of alcohol, putting them at risk of problems related to their drinking, according to new research.
Mass Antibiotic Treatment May Wipe Out Trachoma
A single population-wide dose of antibiotic can virtually eliminate the blinding disease trachoma, a study said on Wednesday, although other researchers warned high levels of infection could hinder the drugs' success.
Checking Foot Temperature May Curb Diabetic Sores
Patients with diabetes who are high risk for developing leg and foot ulcers -- and the infection and amputation that can result -- may be able to ward off these complications by monitoring their foot skin temperatures at home, a new study suggests.
One-Sided Brain Stimulation Improves Parkinson's
For people with advanced Parkinson's disease, electrical stimulation through an electrode implanted in one side of the brain produces long-lasting improvements in movement difficulties on both sides of the body, a new study shows.
Reading Lessons May Change Adult Dyslexics' Brains
Remedial reading lessons can not only help adults with dyslexia build their reading skills, but may also spur changes in brain activity associated with the condition, according to a small study.
'Gene Gun' Vaccine Prevents Allergy in Mice
Vaccination with the DNA of substances that trigger allergies, using a "gene gun," can prevent the over-production of the type of antibodies that cause allergic symptoms, experiments in mice show.
Arthritic Joints Stand Up to Intensive Exercise
Long-term high-intensity exercise does not accelerate the progression of joint damage in the hands and feet of people with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a Dutch report.
Teens Exercise Less as They Become Adults
Many teens do not get enough exercise and spend too much time in front of a television or computer screen. Yet, the few who are physically active do not often stay that way as they enter adulthood, according to a team of North Carolina researchers.
Shock Therapy Eases Depression Symptoms
People with major depression experience improved mood, quality of life and daily living activities when treated with electroconvulsive therapy, or so-called shock therapy, a new study finds.
It might be possible to stretch out the scarce U.S. supply of flu vaccine by diluting it and injecting it differently, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.
Many Older Adults Drink Too Much
Between one-quarter and one-half of adults in their 50s and 60s drink more than the recommended amount of alcohol, putting them at risk of problems related to their drinking, according to new research.
Mass Antibiotic Treatment May Wipe Out Trachoma
A single population-wide dose of antibiotic can virtually eliminate the blinding disease trachoma, a study said on Wednesday, although other researchers warned high levels of infection could hinder the drugs' success.
Checking Foot Temperature May Curb Diabetic Sores
Patients with diabetes who are high risk for developing leg and foot ulcers -- and the infection and amputation that can result -- may be able to ward off these complications by monitoring their foot skin temperatures at home, a new study suggests.
One-Sided Brain Stimulation Improves Parkinson's
For people with advanced Parkinson's disease, electrical stimulation through an electrode implanted in one side of the brain produces long-lasting improvements in movement difficulties on both sides of the body, a new study shows.
Reading Lessons May Change Adult Dyslexics' Brains
Remedial reading lessons can not only help adults with dyslexia build their reading skills, but may also spur changes in brain activity associated with the condition, according to a small study.
'Gene Gun' Vaccine Prevents Allergy in Mice
Vaccination with the DNA of substances that trigger allergies, using a "gene gun," can prevent the over-production of the type of antibodies that cause allergic symptoms, experiments in mice show.
Arthritic Joints Stand Up to Intensive Exercise
Long-term high-intensity exercise does not accelerate the progression of joint damage in the hands and feet of people with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a Dutch report.
Teens Exercise Less as They Become Adults
Many teens do not get enough exercise and spend too much time in front of a television or computer screen. Yet, the few who are physically active do not often stay that way as they enter adulthood, according to a team of North Carolina researchers.
Shock Therapy Eases Depression Symptoms
People with major depression experience improved mood, quality of life and daily living activities when treated with electroconvulsive therapy, or so-called shock therapy, a new study finds.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Health Headlines - November 2
Fruits and Veggies No Help Against Cancer
Consuming a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables seems to reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes, but not cancer, according to a report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Annual Flu Shot Cuts All-Cause Deaths in Elderly
Compared with a first vaccination, yearly re-vaccination against influenza is associated with a reduction in the annual risk of dying from any cause among individuals 70 years of age or older, Dutch investigators report.
Cholesterol Pills and Grapefruit Don't Mix
Taking certain cholesterol-lowering drugs at the same time as grapefruit juice can increase the risk of potentially life-threatening muscle toxicity, British regulators warned on Tuesday.
Coffee, Cigarette Combo Is Extra Hard on Arteries
People who like to start the day with coffee and a cigarette may be doing particular damage to their arteries, new research suggests.
Shortage of 200,000 Doctors Predicted in US
Over the next two decades, the US could find itself short of 200,000 doctors unless steps are taken to curb current trends, according to a new report.
U.S. Warns About Impotence Product Sold on Web
Consumers should not take Actra-Rx, a product advertised as a natural impotence treatment that actually contains the ingredient in Pfizer Inc.'s prescription pill Viagra, U.S. regulators warned on Tuesday.
Some Reused Medical Devices No Longer Legal
Eleven types of recycled medical devices can no longer be sold in the United States because their producers failed to prove they were equivalent to the original products, U.S. regulators said on Tuesday.
Two Abbott HIV Drug Ads Misleading, U.S. FDA Says
Two Abbott Laboratories Inc. promotions for HIV-fighting drug Kaletra exaggerated benefits and left out information about life-threatening safety risks, U.S. regulators charged in a letter made public on Tuesday.
Bayer Cancer Drug Can Be Combined with Other Drugs
Bayer AG's key experimental anti-cancer drug BAY 43-9006 can be combined with other anti-cancer agents, according to results from a Phase I trial, the German drugs and chemicals group said on Tuesday.
Scientists Tout Method of Attacking Tumors
Texas researchers say they have perfected a method to deliver cancer treatment directly into tumors, bypassing healthy tissue.
Ford Hospital Telecasts Surgery to India
Fifteen-hundred doctors at a conference in Bombay, India, watch a three-dimensional broadcast of a two-hour prostate surgery at a Michigan hospital. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station consult with a doctor about an on-board experiment.
Group: Kids HIV, AIDS Dying Needlessly
Children with HIV and AIDS are dying needlessly because of ignorance and a lack of suitable medicines, and the U.N. must increase efforts to change the situation, the international medical relief group Medecins Sans Frontieres said Tuesday.
Age-Appropriate Kidney Transplants Urged
Kidneys from young donors should be matched to young recipients to extend the life of kidney transplants, says a study presented Oct. 31 at the the American Society of Nephrology annual meeting in St. Louis.
Melatonin Helps Asthmatics Sleep More Soundly
Treatment with melatonin -- a hormone believed to play an important role in the sleep cycle -- improves slumber for people with asthma, says a Brazilian study.
Consuming a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables seems to reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes, but not cancer, according to a report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Annual Flu Shot Cuts All-Cause Deaths in Elderly
Compared with a first vaccination, yearly re-vaccination against influenza is associated with a reduction in the annual risk of dying from any cause among individuals 70 years of age or older, Dutch investigators report.
Cholesterol Pills and Grapefruit Don't Mix
Taking certain cholesterol-lowering drugs at the same time as grapefruit juice can increase the risk of potentially life-threatening muscle toxicity, British regulators warned on Tuesday.
Coffee, Cigarette Combo Is Extra Hard on Arteries
People who like to start the day with coffee and a cigarette may be doing particular damage to their arteries, new research suggests.
Shortage of 200,000 Doctors Predicted in US
Over the next two decades, the US could find itself short of 200,000 doctors unless steps are taken to curb current trends, according to a new report.
U.S. Warns About Impotence Product Sold on Web
Consumers should not take Actra-Rx, a product advertised as a natural impotence treatment that actually contains the ingredient in Pfizer Inc.'s prescription pill Viagra, U.S. regulators warned on Tuesday.
Some Reused Medical Devices No Longer Legal
Eleven types of recycled medical devices can no longer be sold in the United States because their producers failed to prove they were equivalent to the original products, U.S. regulators said on Tuesday.
Two Abbott HIV Drug Ads Misleading, U.S. FDA Says
Two Abbott Laboratories Inc. promotions for HIV-fighting drug Kaletra exaggerated benefits and left out information about life-threatening safety risks, U.S. regulators charged in a letter made public on Tuesday.
Bayer Cancer Drug Can Be Combined with Other Drugs
Bayer AG's key experimental anti-cancer drug BAY 43-9006 can be combined with other anti-cancer agents, according to results from a Phase I trial, the German drugs and chemicals group said on Tuesday.
Scientists Tout Method of Attacking Tumors
Texas researchers say they have perfected a method to deliver cancer treatment directly into tumors, bypassing healthy tissue.
Ford Hospital Telecasts Surgery to India
Fifteen-hundred doctors at a conference in Bombay, India, watch a three-dimensional broadcast of a two-hour prostate surgery at a Michigan hospital. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station consult with a doctor about an on-board experiment.
Group: Kids HIV, AIDS Dying Needlessly
Children with HIV and AIDS are dying needlessly because of ignorance and a lack of suitable medicines, and the U.N. must increase efforts to change the situation, the international medical relief group Medecins Sans Frontieres said Tuesday.
Age-Appropriate Kidney Transplants Urged
Kidneys from young donors should be matched to young recipients to extend the life of kidney transplants, says a study presented Oct. 31 at the the American Society of Nephrology annual meeting in St. Louis.
Melatonin Helps Asthmatics Sleep More Soundly
Treatment with melatonin -- a hormone believed to play an important role in the sleep cycle -- improves slumber for people with asthma, says a Brazilian study.
Monday, November 01, 2004
Health Headlines - November 1
Obesity Itself Seems to Impair Heart Function
Even in the absence of apparent heart disease, obesity appears to prevent the heart from functioning normally, according to a new report.
Cervical Cancer Vaccine Shows Early Promise
A vaccine may work to protect women against a virus that causes most cases of cervical cancer, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
New Methods Control Bugs Without Drugs
Pitting one germ against the other, researchers said on Monday they had developed at least two new methods of fighting infection without the use of antibiotics.
China Bans Cooking of Civet Cat to Prevent SARS
China has banned the cooking and selling of civet cat to prevent a return of SARS, state media said on Tuesday, quoting the health ministry.
Lipitor Little Help to Diabetics on Dialysis
People with type 2 diabetes who have progressed to kidney failure don't gain much benefit from treatment with a statin drug like Lipitor, German researchers have found.
Liver Cancer Fastest Growing Cancer in U.S.
A preliminary report from the Liver Cancer Network shows that liver cancer is increasing at the fastest rate of any other cancer in the US.
Colon Cancer Risk Fourfold Higher in Obese Women
Obese women are four times more likely to develop colorectal cancer than normal-weight women, according to new study findings reported here at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology.
'High Levels' of Bacteria Found in Bottled Water
Bottled mineral water, generally considered purer than tap water, is often contaminated with bacteria and fungi, a Dutch researcher warned Monday.
Babies' Excessive Crying May Signal Later Problems
Healthy infants older than three months who cry incessantly for no apparent reason may be at risk for lower IQ and behavior problems in their childhood years, new study findings suggest.
FDA: Olive Oil May Boost Heart Health
Food containing olive oil can carry labels saying it may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, the government says, citing limited evidence from a dozen scientific studies about the benefits of monounsaturated fats.
Justice's Cancer Treatment May Be Critical
The combination of radiation and chemotherapy being given to Chief Justice William Rehnquist may be an indication that his thyroid cancer is an aggressive type, according to cancer experts.
Election-Eve Plan Would Expand Cancer Care
The Bush administration announced an election-eve proposal Monday to expand Medicare coverage for certain clinical trials for cancer drugs and pay cancer doctors to measure patient reaction to potent medication.
Health Tip: Bikers, Wear a Helmet
Experts say a bike helmet must be mandatory equipment for anyone who rides.
Swallowed Camera Finds Small Bowel Tumors
Capsule endoscopies can detect tumors in the small bowel that previously went undetected by other diagnostic technology, says a new study.
Optimism Protects Against Death
Being an optimist may help reduce your risk of dying from heart disease and other causes.
Even in the absence of apparent heart disease, obesity appears to prevent the heart from functioning normally, according to a new report.
Cervical Cancer Vaccine Shows Early Promise
A vaccine may work to protect women against a virus that causes most cases of cervical cancer, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
New Methods Control Bugs Without Drugs
Pitting one germ against the other, researchers said on Monday they had developed at least two new methods of fighting infection without the use of antibiotics.
China Bans Cooking of Civet Cat to Prevent SARS
China has banned the cooking and selling of civet cat to prevent a return of SARS, state media said on Tuesday, quoting the health ministry.
Lipitor Little Help to Diabetics on Dialysis
People with type 2 diabetes who have progressed to kidney failure don't gain much benefit from treatment with a statin drug like Lipitor, German researchers have found.
Liver Cancer Fastest Growing Cancer in U.S.
A preliminary report from the Liver Cancer Network shows that liver cancer is increasing at the fastest rate of any other cancer in the US.
Colon Cancer Risk Fourfold Higher in Obese Women
Obese women are four times more likely to develop colorectal cancer than normal-weight women, according to new study findings reported here at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology.
'High Levels' of Bacteria Found in Bottled Water
Bottled mineral water, generally considered purer than tap water, is often contaminated with bacteria and fungi, a Dutch researcher warned Monday.
Babies' Excessive Crying May Signal Later Problems
Healthy infants older than three months who cry incessantly for no apparent reason may be at risk for lower IQ and behavior problems in their childhood years, new study findings suggest.
FDA: Olive Oil May Boost Heart Health
Food containing olive oil can carry labels saying it may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, the government says, citing limited evidence from a dozen scientific studies about the benefits of monounsaturated fats.
Justice's Cancer Treatment May Be Critical
The combination of radiation and chemotherapy being given to Chief Justice William Rehnquist may be an indication that his thyroid cancer is an aggressive type, according to cancer experts.
Election-Eve Plan Would Expand Cancer Care
The Bush administration announced an election-eve proposal Monday to expand Medicare coverage for certain clinical trials for cancer drugs and pay cancer doctors to measure patient reaction to potent medication.
Health Tip: Bikers, Wear a Helmet
Experts say a bike helmet must be mandatory equipment for anyone who rides.
Swallowed Camera Finds Small Bowel Tumors
Capsule endoscopies can detect tumors in the small bowel that previously went undetected by other diagnostic technology, says a new study.
Optimism Protects Against Death
Being an optimist may help reduce your risk of dying from heart disease and other causes.
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