Women with a slightly underactive thyroid gland appear to be at increased risk for death from heart attacks and other types of heart disease, according to findings from a Norwegian study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Reuters Health - Apr 30, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTON97907320080429?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Scottish scientists have found that binge eating and crash dieting may significantly reduce life expectancy. Researchers from Glasgow University observed that fish given a "binge then diet" food regime had a reduced lifespan of up to 25%.
BBCNews.com - April 30 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7373509.stm
Researchers have identified two common genetic mutations that increase the risk of osteoporosis and related bone fractures, according to a study released Tuesday. These changes were present in 20 percent of the people studied and highlight the potential role of screening for osteoporosis, the bone-thinning disease that mainly affects women after menopause, they said in the journal Lancet
NewYorkTimes.com-April 30, 2008
Scientists from around the world are joining forces to hunt for key genetic mutations involved in cancer.
The International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), launched on Tuesday, will look at up to 50 different types of cancer and researchers hope it will eventually lead to better diagnosis, treatment and prevention....
Reuters - April 29, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSL2985265120080429?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Researchers looking for genes that raise the risk of osteoporosis found seven different sequences associated with the bone-thinning disease, and one team found two that might predict the risk for 20 percent of people.
Reuters - April 29, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSL2986454020080429?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
The osteoporosis drug Fosamax appears to double a woman's odds of developing atrial fibrillation, a chronic irregular heartbeat, a study reported Monday....
USATODAY.com - April 28. 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-28-fosamax_N.htm?csp=34
Diabetes drugs Avandia from GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd's Actos can more than double the risk of bone fractures, Swiss researchers said on Monday....
Reuters - April 28, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSL2821228220080428?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Gene therapy for a rare type of inherited blindness has improved the vision of four patients who tried it, boosting hopes for the troubled field of gene repair technology, scientists said on Sunday....
Reuters - April 28, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN2739550520080428?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
The number of pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes has more than doubled in seven years, a California study found, a troubling trend that means health risks for both mothers and newborns.
And the number of diabetic teenagers giving birth grew fivefold during the same period, according to the study, the largest of its kind....
baltimoresun.com - April 28, 2008
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-te.diabetes28apr28,0,3318336.story?track=rss
A government researcher said Monday that experimental blood substitutes are linked to an increased risk of heart attack and death, and suggested that studies on people should be halted....
CNN.com - April 28, 2008
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/04/28/blood.substitutes/index.html?eref=rss_health
THROUGHOUT the 20th century, it was an American birthright that each generation would live longer than the last. Year after year, almost without exception, the anticipated life span of the average American rose inexorably, to 78 years in 2005 from 61 years in 1933, when comprehensive data first became available.
But new research shows that those reassuring nationwide gains mask a darker and more complex reality. A pair of reports out this month affirm that the rising tide of American health is not lifting all boats, and that there are widening gaps in life expectancy based on the interwoven variables of income, race, sex, education and geography....
The New York Times - April 27, 2008
Patients harmed by Lasik eye surgery alternated between fury and despair Friday as they told federal health officials of suffering years of eye pain, blurred or double vision -- even of people driven to suicide....
USATODAY.com - April 24, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-04-24-lasik-surgery_N.htm?csp=34
Progenics Pharmaceuticals and Wyeth have won federal approval for the first drug to treat constipation caused by powerful opioid painkillers like morphine.
The treatment, marketed as Relistor, was cleared for sale by the Food and Drug Administration, the agency said in a statement on Thursday. Earlier on Thursday, European regulators recommended the drug for approval....
The New York Times - April 25, 2008
People learning through genetic testing that they might be susceptible to devastating diseases wouldn't also have to worry about losing their jobs or their health insurance under anti-discrimination legislation the Senate passed Thursday....
The New York Times - April 24, 2008
Cuddling up against mother's bare skin can help tiny premature babies recover more quickly from the pain of being stuck with needles and other procedures, Canadian researchers reported on Wednesday....
Reuters - April 24, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN2345707720080424?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Scientists say they have coaxed human embryonic stem cells into becoming three of the major cell types in the human heart, and they improved cardiac function when transplanted into mice.
The findings, published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, showed that scientists can efficiently make different kinds of human heart cells for use in basic and clinical research....
Reuters - April 24, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN2334659820080424?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Two years ago, scientists had high hopes for new pills that would help people quit smoking, lose weight and maybe kick other tough addictions such as alcohol and cocaine.
The so-called "super pills" worked in a novel way, by blocking pleasure centers in the brain that provide the feel-good response from smoking or eating. Now it seems the drugs may block pleasure too well, possibly raising the risk of depression and suicide....
CNN.com - April 23, 2008
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/04/23/super.pills.ap/index.html?eref=rss_health
Life expectancy has long been growing steadily for most Americans. But it has not for a significant minority, according to a new study, which finds a growing disparity in mortality depending on race, income and geography....
April 22, 2008
The New York Times - April 22, 2008
Children should be screened for heart problems with an electrocardiogram before getting drugs like Ritalin to treat hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder, the American Heart Association recommended Monday....
The New York Times - April 21, 2008
Short-term exposure to smog, or ozone, is clearly linked to premature deaths that should be taken into account when measuring the health benefits of reducing air pollution, a National Academy of Sciences review concludes....
CNN.com - April 22, 2008
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/04/22/smog.death.ap/index.html?eref=rss_health
The United States may be facing a shortage of general surgeons, even as a growing and aging population creates a rising need for their broad capabilities, researchers said on Monday....
Reuters - April 21, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN2126693020080421?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, is much deadlier when it appears on the scalp or neck than somewhere else on the body, according to a study published on Monday....
Reuters - April 21, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN2143328920080421?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Heavy smokers and drinkers develop Alzheimer's years before people who don't drink or smoke as much, a new report says.The study, presented Wednesday at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in Chicago, suggests heavy drinking and smoking might be accelerating damage to the brain, which could lead to Alzheimer's. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-16-alzheimers-smoke-drink_N.htm
Roughly one in five U.S. troops is suffering from major depression or post-traumatic stress from serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and an equal number have suffered brain injuries, a new study estimates. Only about half of them have sought treatment, says the study released Thursday by the Rand Corp. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-17-vets-study_N.htm?csp=34
This year's flu season has shaped up to be the worst in three years, partly because the vaccine didn't work well against the viruses that made most people sick, health officials said Thursday. The 2007-08 season started slowly, peaked in mid-February and seems to be declining, although cases are still being reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/04/17/flu.season.ap/index.html
Scientists in Australia have identified a gene that appears to be linked to blood vessel growth in tumors in mice and they hope the discovery can pave the way for improved treatment of cancer in people one day....
Reuters - April 16, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSHKG22177820080416?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Research has suggested certain vitamin supplements do not extend life and could even lead to a premature death.
A review of 67 studies found "no convincing evidence" that antioxidant supplements cut the risk of dying....
BBC News - April 16, 2008
The Canadian government is said to be ready to declare as toxic a chemical widely used in plastics for baby bottles, beverage and food containers as well as linings in food cans....
Also on Tuesday, a draft report from the United States Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program endorsed a scientific panel's finding that there was "some concern" about neural and behavioral changes in humans who consume B.P.A. ...
The New York Times - April 16, 2008
Corporate and government documents from Vioxx lawsuits indicate that the drug's maker, Merck & Co., apparently downplayed evidence showing the painkiller tripled the risk of death in Alzheimer's-prone patients, researchers report Wednesday.
USATODAY.com - April 15, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-15-vioxx-drug-conflicts_N.htm?csp=34
The drug maker Merck drafted dozens of research studies for a best-selling drug, then lined up prestigious doctors to put their names on the reports before publication, according to an article to be published Wednesday in a leading medical journal.
The New York Times - April 15, 2008
A large study offers the strongest evidence yet that a diet the government recommends for lowering blood pressure can save people from heart attack and stroke....
USATODAY.com - April 15, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-15-heart-diet_N.htm?csp=34
A large U.S. study has linked alcohol consumption to an increased risk of the most common type of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
Reuters - April 14, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN1331146720080414?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Millions of baby boomers are about to enter a health care system for seniors that not only isn't ready for them, but may even discourage them from getting quality care....
USATODAY.com - April 14, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-14-boomers-healthcare_N.htm?csp=34
Health insurance companies are rapidly adopting a new pricing system for very expensive drugs, asking patients to pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars for prescriptions for medications that may save their lives or slow the progress of serious diseases....
The New York Times - April 14, 2008
The government began an unprecedented effort Friday to give vaccine critics a say in shaping how the nation researches immunization safety questions....
The New York Times - April 13, 2008
Trans-fats, which are being phased out of food because they clog arteries, may raise the risk of getting breast cancer, European researchers reported on Friday.
They found that women with the highest blood levels of trans-fats had about twice the risk of breast cancer compared to women with the lowest levels....
Reuters - April 11, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN1122758320080411?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
A hospital group says more needs to be done to prevent medication errors in children. A safety alert issued Friday by the group comes days after the release of a study finding that drug mix-ups and overdoses harm roughly one out of 15 hospitalized children, a number far higher than earlier estimates....
USATODAY.com - April 11, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-11-children-rx_N.htm?csp=34
Scientists mimicked one of cancer's sneaky tricks to create a drug that promises to prevent a serious side effect of cancer treatment -- radiation damage -- or offer an antidote during a nuclear emergency.
A single dose of the experimental drug protected both mice and monkeys from what should have been lethal doses of radiation, researchers report in Friday's edition of the journal Science. A study to see if the compound is safe in people could begin as early as this summer....
USATODAY.com - April 10, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-10-radiation-drug_N.htm?csp=34
Americans didn't suffer more food poisoning last year over the previous year despite high-profile outbreaks involving peanut butter, pot pies and other foods....
baltimoresun.com - April 10, 2008
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-salmonella0410,0,3743615.story
From 1995 to 2004, deaths related to infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) rose by 123 percent in the US, according to a new report....
Reuters - April 10, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSCOL05914820080410?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Mumps made an alarming comeback in the United States in 2006 and may take years to completely eradicate, federal health experts reported on Wednesday.
The outbreak of the viral disease came despite the widespread use of a second dose of a mumps vaccine, produced by Merck, beginning in 1990....
Reuters - April 10, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN0946228920080410?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
A top government health official said Wednesday that climate change is expected to have a significant impact on health in the next few decades, with certain regions of the country -- and the elderly and children -- most vulnerable to increased health problems....
CNN.com - April 10, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/2008-04-09-climate-change-health_N.htm?csp=34
Pfizer Inc and Nektar Therapeutics said on Wednesday clinical trials of the inhaled insulin Exubera found increased cases of lung cancer, leading Nektar to end talks with potential partners to market the product....
Reuters - April 9, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSWNAS722620080409?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Women who took a commonly prescribed hormone replacement therapy pill had double the risk of developing benign proliferative breast disease, which may raise the risk of breast cancer, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday....
Reuters - April 8, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN0837348320080408?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Sixty-two deaths now are associated with contaminated batches of the blood thinner heparin, triple the previous estimate, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday....
USATODAY.com - April 8, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-08-heparin-fda_N.htm?csp=34
Dyslexia affects different parts of children's brains depending on whether they are raised reading English or Chinese.
That finding, reported in Monday's online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, means that therapists may need to seek different methods of helping dyslexic children from different cultures....
CNN.com - April 7, 2008
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/04/07/dyslexia.study.ap/index.html?eref=rss_health
Anti-psychotic drugs frequently used in nursing homes to treat aggression in Alzheimer's patients don't provide any benefit and seem to lead to a marked decline in verbal ability, a report says....
USATODAY.com - April 8, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-07-alzheimers-antipsychotics_N.htm?csp=34
Getting too little sleep doubles a young child's risk of being overweight and raises the chances of later anxiety and depression, researchers said on Monday....
Reuters - April 7, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN0748266420080407?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Medicine mix-ups, accidental overdoses and bad drug reactions harm roughly one out of 15 hospitalized children, according to the first scientific test of a new detection method....
USATODAY.com - April 7, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-07-chidlren-medicine_N.htm?csp=34
Persistent insomnia may perpetuate depression in elderly patients receiving standard care by primary care providers, according to study findings reported in the journal Sleep....
Reuters Health - Apr 4, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSLAU48382720080404?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Birth control options are growing for women 40 and older -- a group that once viewed its choices as pretty much limited to tube-tying surgery and condoms. For them, the pill is back. So is the IUD. The reason is that both are safer. There's even a nonsurgical method of tube-tying....
BaltimoreSun.com - April 4, 2008
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-bc0404,0,1590944.story?track=rss
The rising incidence of throat cancer, also referred to as cancer of the esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma, may be related to Americans' increasing intake of total and refined carbohydrates and subsequent rise in obesity rates.
"The similarity in these trends gives further evidence for the association of carbohydrate intake, obesity, and related measures with cancer," Dr. Cheryl L. Thompson told Reuters Health....
Reuters Health.com - Thu Apr 3, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSCOL36818320080403?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Binge drinking teenagers are still at risk of absent-mindedness and forgetfulness days later, a study says. A team from Northumbria and Keele universities compared 26 binge drinkers with 34 non-bingers in memory tests, and found the drinkers fared worse. They told the British Psychological Society conference that binge drinking could be harming developing brains....
BBCNews.com - 3 April 2008
About 1 in 50 infants in the U.S. are victims of nonfatal child neglect or abuse, according to the first national study of the problem in that age group.The study focused on children younger than 1, and found nearly a third were one week old or younger when the abuse or neglect occurred....
BaltimoreSun.com - April 3, 2008
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-infants0403,0,1363582.story?track=rss
People with health insurance are having more trouble paying for prescription drugs as higher out-of-pocket costs for medications and a slowing economy strain family budgets, according to surveys and health care analysts....
USATODAY - April 2, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/drugs/2008-04-02-drugs_N.htm?csp=34
The House of Representatives yesterday passed a five-year reauthorization of the Bush administration's global AIDS program, adding $20 billion to the $30 billion the president requested....
washingtonpost.com - April 3, 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/02/AR2008040202497.html?nav=rss_health
Dr. Stanley Goldfarb and Dr. Dan Negoianu of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia reviewed the scientific literature on the health effects of drinking lots of water....
Their scientific review, published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, is the latest to undercut the recommendations advanced by some experts to drink eight glasses of 8 ounces (225 ml) of water a day....
Reuters - April 2, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN0236679720080402?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Scientists have identified genetic variations that raise the risk of lung cancer for smokers and former smokers....
BBC News - April 2, 2008
A commonly used AIDS drug appears to nearly double the risk of a heart attack, researchers said Tuesday. In a study published online by the medical journal Lancet, the researchers also said another less frequently used AIDS drug increased the chances of a heart attack by 50 percent. Experts said doctors should be aware of the increased risks, but they did not recommend that patients abandon the two drugs, Ziagen and Videx....
The New York Times - April 1, 2008
A small study of toddlers finds that about one-quarter of babies born very prematurely had signs of autism on an early screening test....
USATODAY.com - April 2, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-02-autism-premature_N.htm?csp=34
A few days of fasting might help protect patients from some of the unpleasant and dangerous side-effects of cancer chemotherapy, researchers reported on Tuesday....
Reuters - April 1, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN0122068920080401?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Corneas taken from donors up to age 75 work as well in transplants as those from younger donors, meaning the pool of donors should be expanded, U.S. scientists said on Tuesday....
Reuters - April 1, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN0119290020080401?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews
Researchers had bad news Tuesday for makers and buyers of portable devices that deliver electrical shocks meant to revive victims of sudden heart seizures. In the first major study of their use in household settings, the researchers found no evidence that the devices produced significant life-saving benefits....
The New York Times - April 1, 2008
