 Limited adjustments
 CRISSY PASCUAL / Union-Tribune
Chronic conditions cause major limitations in activity for more than one of every 10 Americans. Can someone with a chronic disease still lead a fulfilling life?
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Drug companies: No cold medicines for kids under 4
WASHINGTON, 2:10 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Don't give over-the-counter cold remedies to kids under 4, drug companies said Tuesday. What sniffling little ones need, doctors said, are plenty of fluids and lots of tender, loving care.
“The best thing a parent can do is comfort their children,” said Dr. Laura Herrera, a Baltimore family practitioner and mother of two. “Keeping them as comfortable as possible is certainly better than giving cough and cold medicines.”
More Health News
WASHINGTON, 1:07 p.m. Oct. 7 (REUTERS)No proof circumcision cuts gay male HIV risk, study says: There is not enough evidence to say circumcision protects men from getting the AIDS virus during sex with other men even as studies show it protects them when having sex with women, U.S. researchers said Tuesday.
WASHINGTON, 12:19 p.m. Oct. 7 (AP)
Get moving: Guidelines set healthy activity levels: Get moving: New exercise guidelines released Tuesday set a minimum sweat allotment for good health. For most adults, that's 2½ hours a week.
PHILADELPHIA, 1:08 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
Task force: Colon cancer screenings can stop at 75: Most people over 75 should stop getting routine colon cancer tests, according to a government health task force that also rejected the latest X-ray screening technology.
OMAHA, Neb., 2:17 p.m. Oct. 6 (AP)Latest warning highlights dangers of microwaving: Zapping frozen meals in the microwave may be fast and easy, but it also can make you sick if it's not done properly.
LOS ANGELES, 10:45 a.m. Oct. 6 (AP)
200 USC students sickened by stomach virus: The number of students sickened by a contagious gastrointestinal virus at the University of Southern California has grown to about 200.
ZURICH/LONDON, 2:44 a.m. Oct. 6 (REUTERS)Two drugs don't boost lung cancer survival: Roche Holding AG and Genentech Inc said on Monday a study into the benefits of combining their Tarceva and Avastin drugs for lung cancer patients did not show an increase in overall survival.
CHICAGO, 9:01 p.m. Oct. 5 (AP)
No turtles, chicks or exotic pets for youngsters: Warning: young children should not keep hedgehogs as pets – or hamsters, baby chicks, lizards and turtles, for that matter – because of risks for disease.
CHICAGO, 9:01 p.m. Oct. 5 (AP)
Jump seen in staph-linked flu deaths in kids: More children have died from flu because they also had staph infections, according to a new government report that urges parents to have their kids get the flu shot.
WASHINGTON, 9:56 a.m. Oct. 3 (AP)
FDA: Tiny bit of melamine OK in most food: Eating a tiny bit of a melamine, the chemical responsible for a global food safety scare, is not harmful – except when it's in baby formula, U.S. food safety officials said Friday.
BANGALORE, 7:52 a.m. Oct. 3 (REUTERS)
Obesity drugs gain weight as perception shifts: Obesity's new-found status as a disease is pushing many small drugmakers to develop treatments and grab a slice of a huge untapped market with enough room for several drugs, each of which could bring in annual sales of more than $1 billion.
WASHINGTON, 1:43 a.m. Oct. 3 (AP)Lawmakers make a final push for mental health bill: Talk about going out with a win. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., has spent years fighting for legislation that would require insurance plans to treat mental health patients on par with those who have physical ailments. No more higher copays or deductibles for the mental health treatments. No more limits on visits to the doctor that differ from the caps for other patients.
WASHINGTON, 2:01 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
FDA: No quick decision on cold medicines for kids: A top government health official Thursday rejected pediatricians' calls for an immediate ban on over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for young children, saying it might cause unintended harm.
WASHINGTON, 1:53 p.m. Oct. 2 (AP)Lawmakers make a final push for mental health bill: Solving the nation's economic crisis may also help Americans struggling with getting treatment for mental illness. These patients often face an added burden: limited insurance coverage compared with people whose ills are physical. The massive economic bill coming before the House could also fix that. NEW YORK, 4:37 a.m. Oct. 2 (AP)
Burger King switches to trans fat free oil: Burger King Corp. said Thursday it is now cooking with trans fat free cooking oils at all of its restaurants nationwide.
Oct. 1 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Scientists worldwide teaming up for project: LA JOLLA – A $30 million grant announced yesterday enables The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla to create the world's only center dedicated to the “neutralizing antibody” approach, a promising way to develop an AIDS vaccine.
WASHINGTON, 7:29 p.m. Oct. 1 (AP)
1 more hurdle to clear for mental health bill: People with mental illness would get better health insurance coverage as part of a a giant financial bailout the Senate passed Wednesday, but the legislation's fate remains uncertain.
NEW YORK, 2:01 p.m. Oct. 1 (AP)Computers help docs spot breast cancer on X-rays: A computer is as good as a second pair of eyes for helping a radiologist spot breast cancer on a mammogram, one of the largest and most rigorous tests of computer-aided detection found.
NEW YORK, 10:01 a.m. Oct. 1 (AP)
Study traces AIDS virus origin to 100 years ago: The AIDS virus has been circulating among people for about 100 years, decades longer than scientists had thought, a new study suggests.
SACRAMENTO, 8:55 p.m. Sept. 30 (AP)Calif. restaurant chains required to list calories: California is now the first state to require restaurant chains to reveal how many calories are in their standard menu items. LOS ANGELES, 9:58 p.m. Sept. 30 (AP)
Schwarzenegger vetoes health insurance bill: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill Tuesday that would have cracked down on health insurance companies that cancel policies of people who make expensive claims. SAN FRANCISCO, 12:43 a.m. Oct. 1 (AP)
Court upholds legality of SanFran health care plan: San Francisco's landmark universal health care program can continue to operate, after an appeals court ruled that it does not violate federal law. LOS OSOS, 5:24 a.m. Oct. 1 (AP)
Health warnings posted at popular surf beach: Surfers at Montana de Oro State Park are being warned that ocean waters have high bacteria levels that could make them sick.
LOUISVILLE, Ky., 4:37 a.m. Oct. 1 (AP)
Yum Brands to add calorie info to menu boards: Want to know how many calories are packed into that burrito or fried chicken you're ordering? Fast-food company Yum Brands Inc. says it's taking the guesswork out of counting calories.
Sept. 30 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Trio's Grand Canyon tour had its downs and ups: 
Under the heading of “What I Did for My Summer Vacation,” three members of the San Diego Hiking Club, Jane Hardy, Kathy and John Stetson, decided to take a long walk in the park. After months of training locally, these veteran hikers took on the grandest of day hikes: from the north to the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park in a single day in May.
WASHINGTON, 9:01 p.m. Sept. 30 (AP)
Poor ratings cited for 13 booster seats: Several car booster seats do a poor job of positioning children to fit in their seat belts, according to a review by the insurance industry and researchers.
WASHINGTON, 11:34 a.m. Sept. 29 (AP)
More foods getting labeled as U.S. or foreign-grown: No more wondering where your hamburger came from, or where your lettuce and tomatoes were grown: Starting this week, shoppers will see lots more foods labeled with the country of origin.
Sept. 30 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Little-known hiking trails in San Diego: 2. Oakoasis Preserve, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., has no water or restrooms, so be prepared. The trails are rated “E” for easy or “M” for moderate. (Lakeside) 3. Simon Preserve is for experienced hikers, and horse riding is allowed. Closes at dusk. Trails are moderate to difficult. (Ramona)
TRENTON, N.J., 8:17 a.m. Sept. 30 (AP)
Pfizer shifts focus to cancer and biotech drugs: Pfizer Inc. is shifting its research focus to diseases that have high potential for treatment improvements, such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease, and where it can be a market leader.
DAKAR, 5:05 a.m. Sept. 30 (REUTERS)
Baobab: new taste for Europe, trade for Africa: Its fruit has a tart, zesty taste – some say like sherbet. It's highly nutritious, and might be imbued with the souls of dead chieftains. If you live in Europe, it could be headed to a smoothie near you.
DALLAS, 1:23 a.m. Sept. 29 (AP)
Health clubs gear programs for those with ailments: When Patti Kiernan found out she had osteoporosis, she decided it was time to find a more focused workout.
PHILADELPHIA, 8:05 a.m. Sept. 29 (AP)
Cephalon to pay $425M for improper drug marketing: Drug maker Cephalon has completed a previously announced $425 million civil settlement with federal authorities over off-label drug marketing.
LONDON, 7:18 a.m. Sept. 29 (REUTERS)
Horny Goat Weed may offer Viagra alternative, study says: A Chinese herbal remedy called horny goat weed is a promising alternative to Viagra for impotent men, Italian researchers said on Monday.
REYKJAVIK, 12:05 a.m. Sept. 29 (REUTERS)
In Iceland, the brains behind a blade runner: If it sounds far-fetched for a man without lower legs to become one of the fastest runners on the planet, how about typing by just thinking the words or staying sporty well into old age?
Sep. 27 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
For the record:
FRESNO, 12:13 a.m. Sept. 26 (AP)
Report: FDA lax in oversight of produce industry: The Food and Drug Administration's efforts to combat food-borne illness are hampered by staffing shortages, infrequent inspections and lax enforcement at fresh produce processing plants, according to congressional investigators.
Sept. 25
UCSD stroke expert seeks local system for better care: As a major study reaffirms today that a clot-busting drug can help many stroke patients, a nationally known neurologist at UCSD urged local health officials to launch a regional system to provide better stroke care.
TRENTON, N.J., 2:28 p.m. Sept. 25 (AP)Wyeth: Menopause drug reduces multiple symptoms: An experimental menopause treatment drugmaker Wyeth is developing reduced hot flashes, trouble sleeping and other symptoms and did not increase breast tenderness, a problem that bothers many women taking menopause drugs, according to data from two studies released Thursday. 2:49 p.m. Sept. 25 (AP)
Government probes chelation-heart disease study: The largest alternative medicine study the government has ever launched has stopped enrolling people while officials investigate whether participants were fully informed of the risks and are being adequately protected, The Associated Press has learned.
WASHINGTON, 12:21 p.m. Sept. 25 (AP)
Medicare officials advise seniors to shop around: Federal health officials encouraged Medicare participants on Thursday to shop around for their prescription drug coverage next year because it could include significant price increases or changes regarding which drugs the plans will cover.
SAN FRANCISCO, 5:11 a.m. Sept. 25 (AP)
Philip Morris challenges San Francisco tobacco ban: The nation's largest tobacco company is suing the city of San Francisco over a law that would ban the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products at pharmacies in the city.
CHICAGO, 7:18 p.m. Sept. 24 (REUTERS)
Angioplasty for chest pain is no bargain-U.S. study: People who get surgery to ease chest pain from a blocked heart artery pay $10,000 more for about the same level of relief they can get from taking a combination of pills, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON, 11:01 a.m. Sept. 24 (AP)
Flu shot season begins with ample supply coming: Just about everybody needs a flu vaccine – unless you're an infant or a healthy adult hermit – but far too few of the Americans who need protection the most get it.
LOS ANGELES, 2:02 p.m. Sept. 24 (AP)Study: Extending time of stroke drug treatment OK: Stroke sufferers can still benefit from clot-busting medicine even if they receive it an hour or so beyond the current three-hour window after symptoms start, an important new study suggests.
Sept. 23 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Is all fat evil?: Fat. It's a subject plump with confusion. Which fats are good for us? Which ones aren't? What foods contain which fats? How much of each should we consume?
CHICAGO, 2:05 p.m. Sept. 23 (AP)Inhaler lung drugs tied to heart problems, deaths: Inhaler drugs used by millions of people with emphysema and bronchitis may slightly raise the risk for heart attacks and even death, a study suggests.
WASHINGTON, 9:49 a.m. Sept. 23 (REUTERS)
U.S. FDA expands checks for Chinese milk products: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded its checks for possible melamine-contaminated food products from China to include candy and other items, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.
Sep. 23 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Get the most from the least fat: To help you make healthy food choices, nutrition experts and the American Heart Association offer some fat tips.
Sep. 23 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Not all fat is alike:
Sep. 23 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Here, they smile when they say therapy, pardner: This week, San Diego Alive gets on a horse in Lakeside with the all-volunteer, nonprofit organization Partners Therapeutic Horsemanship (PTH), which offers people with physical and mental disabilities an opportunity to learn to ride horses.
Sept. 23 (UNION-TRIBUNE)Health calendar:
WASHINGTON, 7:30 a.m. Sept. 22 (REUTERS)
Acupuncture beats drug to treat hot flashes, study says: Acupuncture works as well as a drug commonly used to combat hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms that can accompany breast cancer treatment, and its benefits last longer, without bad side effects, researchers said Monday.
Sept. 21 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Weighing the risks: Driven by diet fatigue, bullying and anxious parents, hundreds of obese children in the United States are going under the knife each year in a last-ditch attempt to shed excess pounds.
Sep. 21 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
No end in sight for the obesity epidemic:It's been a decade since the U.S. surgeon general declared that childhood obesity has become an epidemic.
WASHINGTON, 1:03 p.m. Sept. 18 (AP)
For dinner: Genetically altered 'super chicken': Super Chicken strutted a step closer to the dinner table Thursday. The government said it will start considering proposals to sell genetically engineered animals as food, a move that could lead to faster-growing fish, cattle that can resist mad cow disease or perhaps heart-healthier eggs laid by a new breed of chickens.
GENEVA, 10:01 p.m. Sept. 19 (REUTERS)Reuters Health News Summary: More than half a million women still die each year in pregnancy and childbirth, often bleeding to death because no emergency obstetrical care is available, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.
WASHINGTON, 7:04 a.m. Sept. 19 (AP)
No rise in monthly Medicare premiums for 2009: The government says monthly Medicare premiums will hold steady at $96.40 next year. It's the first time since 2000 that the charge for health coverage is not increasing.
Sept. 18 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Study commends new scan to cut colon cancer risk: A noninvasive scan can find the most dangerous, precancerous polyps with about the same accuracy as the dreaded colonoscopy – and without the risk of bowel perforation, according to an influential study at UCSD and 14 other research centers.
WASHINGTON, 9:11 a.m. Sept. 18 (AP)
FTC warns of bogus cancer cures: The Federal Trade Commission charged five companies with making false and misleading claims for cancer cures and said Thursday that it has reached settlements with six others.
WASHINGTON, 7:31 a.m. Sept. 18 (AP)
Aspirin: Some plants like it, too: Aspirin is among the most popular remedies used by people. Turns out some plants like it, too.
6:50 a.m. Sept. 18 (AP)
Psychologists vote against role in interrogation: The nation's leading psychologist's association has voted to ban its members from taking part in interrogations at the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and other military detention sites.
6:00 a.m. Sept. 18 (REUTERS)
Officials call off controversial autism study: WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Health officials have called off plans for a study examining a controversial type of treatment that some autism activists have touted as alternative medical therapy for children with the condition.
NEW YORK, 5:56 a.m. Sept. 18 (REUTERS)
J&J psoriasis drug beats top-seller Enbrel in trial: Johnson & Johnson said Thursday its experimental psoriasis drug proved more effective than top-selling treatment Enbrel in a late-stage trial, was just as safe and required far fewer injections.
MILWAUKEE, 11:20 a.m. Sept. 17 (AP)
States ask MillerCoors to pull energy drink: Twenty-five states asked beverage maker MillerCoors LLC on Wednesday to abandon plans for a new caffeine-infused alcoholic energy drink.
CHICAGO, 3:24 p.m. Sept. 17 (AP)U.S. researchers call off controversial autism study: A government agency has dropped plans for a study of a controversial treatment for autism that critics had called an unethical experiment on children.
MILWAUKEE, 3:33 a.m. Sept. 17 (AP)
Sleep-related crash prompts fed call for research: Trucking companies should work harder to enforce that their drivers get rest, and the government should move toward mandating the use of alarm systems to alert exhausted truckers, a federal board recommended.
WASHINGTON, 8:04 a.m. Sept. 16 (AP)
FDA defends plastic linked with health risks: Federal regulators on Tuesday defended their assessment that a chemical widely used in plastic baby bottles and in food packaging is safe, even as the first major study of health effects in people linked it with possible risks for heart disease and diabetes.
WASHINGTON, 3:11 p.m. Sept. 16 (AP)FDA blocks imports from India's generic drug giant: The government closed U.S. borders Tuesday to more than 30 generic drugs – including popular antibiotics and cholesterol medicines – made by India's biggest pharmaceutical company, citing poor quality in two of its factories.
WASHINGTON, 12:58 p.m. Sept. 15 (AP)
Doctors say leg pain can signal deadly blood clot: Far too many Americans are dying of dangerous blood clots that can masquerade as simple leg pain, says a major new government effort to get both patients and their doctors to recognize the emergency in time.
NEW YORK, 2:15 p.m. Sept. 15 (AP)Kid gyms send children out to play on treadmills: Like many parents, Diana Ennen had trouble getting her daughter Amber to exercise. So two years ago, Ennen decided that Amber was coming to the health club. Now age 10, Amber is using the stair stepper, lifting hand weights and doing situps on a stability ball. WASHINGTON, 12:57 p.m. Sept. 15 (AP)
FDA approves anti-nausea patch for chemo patients: Cancer patients will soon be able to use a medication patch to ease the debilitating nausea that often accompanies chemotherapy. WASHINGTON, 12:31 p.m. Sept. 15 (AP)
Hope, confusion in hunt for ovarian cancer tests: Does a test that promises to find ovarian cancer sooner really do so? Could other tests nearing the market prolong survival by getting patients the right care faster? WASHINGTON, 12:47 p.m. Sept. 15 (AP)
Rangel returns to DC amid more questions: Rep. Charles Rangel is set to return to Capitol Hill for private meetings with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and members of his powerful tax-writing committee as he tries to deal with ethics questions surrounding his finances. BEIJING, 6:00 a.m. Sept. 15 (AP)
Victim numbers double in China milk taint scandal: The number of infants Chinese health officials say were sickened by tainted milk powder doubled Monday to more than 1,200 as police announce the first arrests in the spreading scandal.
WASHINGTON, 6:57 a.m. Sept. 15 (REUTERS)
Deep blood clots may affect 600,000 a year, U.S. says: Blood clots called deep vein thromboses may affect up to 600,000 Americans a year but they can be easily prevented and treated, the U.S. Surgeon General's office said Monday.
Sept. 13 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Inspectors give Sharp Grossmont the all-clear: Sharp Grossmont Hospital learned yesterday it is no longer threatened with loss of government money because it has fixed its quality-of-care problems, some of which caused the deaths of three patients this spring.
BEIJING, 12:13 p.m. Sept. 13 (AP)China says company knew of tainted milk for weeks: China's health minister blamed a dairy Saturday for the delay in warning the public about tainted milk powder linked to kidney stones in infants and at least one death, as authorities increased the number of known sick babies to 432. LONDON, 6:00 a.m. Sept. 13 (REUTERS)
Reuters Health News Summary: Sticking strictly to a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits and vegetables offers substantial protection against cancer, heart disease and other major chronic illnesses, Italian researchers said on Friday.
WASHINGTON, 9:40 a.m. Sept. 11 (AP)
FDA hires 1,300 new doctors and scientists: The Food and Drug Administration has recently hired more than 1,300 professional staffers in a move that officials hope will help it better protect the public health amid rapid technological and scientific change.
WASHINGTON, 2:29 p.m. Sept. 11 (AP)FDA: Infant formula from China tainted by chemical: Tainted infant formula from China may be on sale at ethnic groceries in this country, even though it is not approved for importation, federal officials warned on Thursday.
ST. LOUIS, 2:35 p.m. Sept. 10 (AP)
Group steps up campaign favoring corn syrup: A mother pours a child a flavored drink, a younger woman offers her boyfriend a Popsicle – then both are confronted about the health effects of high-fructose corn syrup.
12:33 p.m. Sept. 10 (AP)
Study says too many arthroscopic knee surgeries: Two studies call into question whether many people with arthritis are needlessly undergoing one of the most common operations in America: arthroscopic knee surgery.
WASHINGTON, 1:12 p.m. Sept. 10 (AP)Report: Schools are offering fewer soft drinks: Sugary soft drinks accounted for less than a quarter of the beverages sold in schools last year, demonstrating that a voluntary transition toward healthier drinks is working, the beverage industry said Wednesday. NEW YORK, 1:20 p.m. Sept. 10 (AP)
Analysts say UnitedHealth may raise prices: Humana Inc. said Wednesday it expects to lose 308,000 Medicare and Medicaid prescription drug members after raising its price, and Wall Street applauded the move – and said another health insurer could follow suit. WASHINGTON, 11:13 a.m. Sept. 10 (AP)
States lobbying Congress for Medicaid relief: It's a one-two punch for many states. First, comes the expense of adding thousands of unemployed to its Medicaid rolls. Then comes the decline in revenue that stems from a struggling economy. Together, the combination has dozens of states looking for some relief, preferably from the federal government. WASHINGTON, 9:54 a.m. Sept. 10 (REUTERS)
Insurers recoup obesity surgery cost in 2-4 years: Insurers recoup the costs of weight-loss surgery within two to four years as obese patients become healthier and have fewer medical problems, researchers said Wednesday.
12:01 a.m. Sept. 10 (AP)
Study sees longterm benefit of blood-sugar control: Diabetics who tightly control their blood sugar – even if only for the first decade after they are diagnosed – have lower risks of heart attack, death and other complications 10 or more years later, a large follow-up study has found.
CHICAGO, 1:45 p.m. Sept. 9 (AP)Fewer U.S. med students choosing primary care: Only 2 percent of graduating medical students say they plan to work in primary care internal medicine, raising worries about a looming shortage of the first-stop doctors who used to be the backbone of the American medical system.
WASHINGTON, 1:00 p.m. Sept. 9 (AP)
Few hospitals meet colon cancer care standard: Nearly two-thirds of hospitals fail to check colon cancer patients well enough for signs that their tumor is spreading, says a study that advises patients to ask about this mark of quality care before surgery.
WASHINGTON, 1:01 p.m. Sept. 9 (AP)Tobacco bill unlikely to pass this year: Landmark legislation that would give federal health authorities the power to regulate the tobacco industry is unlikely to pass this year.
LISBON, 11:12 a.m. Sept. 9 (REUTERS)
U.S. vision researchers share major Portugal award: Two U.S. researchers whose work could boost efforts to eradicate blindness have won a 1 million euro ($1.41 million) prize, Portugal's Champalimaud Foundation said on Tuesday.
JAKARTA, Indonesia, 3:44 a.m. Sept. 9 (AP)
Amphetamine use on the rise in Asia, Mideast: Demand for amphetamines, Ecstasy and other synthetic drugs appears to have stabilized in the West, but the problem is worsening in Asia and spreading to new markets in the Middle East, a U.N. report said Tuesday.
Sept. 8 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Elder Law answers seniors' questions: In makeshift offices at hospitals, community centers and apartment buildings across the county, lawyers are working to bring peace of mind to the area's senior population.
WASHINGTON, 9:25 a.m. Sept. 8 (REUTERS)
Vitamin B12 may protect against brain shrinkage: Having higher vitamin B12 levels may protect against brain shrinkage in elderly people, according to a study published Monday.
LAS VEGAS, 8:33 a.m. Sept. 8 (AP)Las Vegas liver doctors see increase in patients: Liver specialists in Las Vegas say they are seeing an increase in patients since an outbreak of hepatitis C cases linked to an endoscopy clinic was announced by state health officials in February. 6:01 a.m. Sept. 8 (REUTERS)
Breast MRIs delay cancer treatment by weeks: study: CHICAGO (Reuters) – Women with newly diagnosed breast cancer who get an MRI scan wait about three weeks longer before their surgery and are far more likely to get a mastectomy than women who have only a mammogram, U.S. researchers said on Saturday. “MRI may not be as good as we think it is,” said Dr. WASHINGTON, 6:01 a.m. Sept. 6 (REUTERS)
Reuters Health News Summary: Although researchers have discovered ways to make powerful stem cells without the use of human embryos, the controversial use of embryonic stem cells is still necessary, a panel of experts said on Friday.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., 8:46 a.m. Sept. 5 (AP)
Review panel criticizes Great Lakes health study: An independent review panel says a seven-year effort to document possible links between industrial pollution and health problems in the Great Lakes region has been hurt by substandard science.
WASHINGTON, 1:56 p.m. Sept. 4 (AP)FDA wary of deaths with Pfizer osteoporosis drug: Federal regulators say a drug from Pfizer and Ligand Pharmaceuticals effectively treats osteoporosis, though they are concerned about deaths, blood clots and other problems seen in company studies.
WASHINGTON, 8:40 a.m. Sept. 4 (AP)
FDA orders stronger warnings for 4 arthritis drugs: The Food and Drug Administration is ordering stronger warnings on four medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
3:01 p.m. Sept. 3 (AP)
Study: New way to spot breast cancer shows promise: A radioactive tracer that “lights up” cancer hiding inside dense breasts showed promise in its first big test against mammograms, revealing more tumors and giving fewer false alarms, doctors reported Wednesday.
NEW YORK, 2:03 p.m. Sept. 3 (AP)Heart defibrillator shock can signal more trouble: A lifesaving shock from an implanted heart defibrillator provides relief that a crisis was avoided, but new research suggests it can also be a sign that more trouble is ahead. WASHINGTON, 6:00 a.m. Sept. 3 (REUTERS)
Reuters Health News Summary: Men with elevated levels of calcium in their blood may have a much higher risk of getting fatal prostate cancer, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday. The findings indicate that a simple blood test may identify men at high risk for the most dangerous prostate tumors, and there already are drugs available that cut calcium levels in the bloodstream, the researchers said.
MUNICH, Germany, 6:12 a.m. Sept. 2 (AP)
Study: No proof of Vytorin link to cancer: New research into a possible link between a cholesterol-reducing drug and cancer concluded there was no proof to establish a connection, but other doctors warned that it should be used more carefully.
CHICAGO, 1:45 p.m. Sept. 2 (AP)Teen suicides dip, experts worry rate remains high: The number of teen suicides has fallen slightly but the rate remains disturbingly high, researchers said, possibly fueled by drug warnings that have scared many from using antidepressants. NEW YORK, 1:37 p.m. Sept. 2 (AP)
Study: Pfizer, Bristol-Myers drug boosts bleeding: Pfizer Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. said Tuesday a midstage safety study showed their experimental blood thinner apixaban did increase patients' risk of bleeding, but may also reduce patients' risk of a second heart attack, stroke or death. CHICAGO, 1:01 p.m. Sept. 2 (AP)
Modest brain test benefit seen with brisk walking: Brisk walking led to slight improvements on mental tests for older people with memory problems in what is billed as the first rigorous test of exercise on the aging brain. Sept. 2 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Expert advice on how to rehabilitate the knee: Tiger Woods' torn ACL made the knee the most talked-about beleaguered body part of the summer. Sept. 2 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Health Calendar: Sharp Grossmont Hospital will hold a blood drive from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the hospital's main auditorium, 5555 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa. Walk-ins are welcome. For an appointment and more information: (619) 740-4059.
CHICAGO, 11:10 a.m. Sept. 1 (AP)
Study links bipolar disorder with older fathers: Children born to older fathers face a greater chance of developing bipolar disorder, according to one of the largest studies linking mental illness with advanced paternal age.
MUNICH, Germany, 9:30 a.m. Sept. 1 (AP)Study: Bypass better than stents in long term: For heart patients with clogged arteries, the choice between bypass surgery or an angioplasty may come down to one question: How many procedures would you like to have? GENEVA, 8:27 a.m. Sept. 1 (REUTERS)
Circumcision problems impair HIV prevention, study says: African health workers need more training and better tools to circumcise men and boys safely for HIV prevention, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) study chronicling 'shocking' rates of complications. HONG KONG, 6:00 a.m. Aug. 30 (REUTERS)
Reuters Health News Summary: High child mortality rates in conservative Afghanistan are linked not just to war but to mothers being uneducated and having little or no say when their children need medical help, a study has found. 6:00 a.m. Aug. 29 (REUTERS)
Sleep quality drops with age, but effects diminish: NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Men and women in their 80s and 90s sleep less and have poorer quality sleep than young individuals, but they are also less likely to report feeling unrested or overly sleepy the next day, investigators report in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
WASHINGTON, 9:00 a.m. Aug. 28 (AP)
Study: 12 percent of Indian deaths due to alcohol: Almost 12 percent of the deaths among American Indians and Alaska Natives are alcohol-related – more than three times the percentage in the general population, a new federal report says.
GENEVA, 6:51 a.m. Aug. 28 (REUTERS)
Independent WHO study backs universal health care: Major inequalities in health and life expectancy persist worldwide, according to an independent World Health Organisation commission which on Thursday called for all countries to offer universal health care.
6:00 a.m. Aug. 28 (REUTERS)Researchers turn living cells into insulin-makers: WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Researchers have transformed ordinary cells into insulin-producing cells in a living mouse, improving symptoms of diabetes in a major step towards regenerative medicine.
WASHINGTON, 2:19 p.m. Aug. 26 (AP)
Number of uninsured drops: The number of people without health insurance fell by more than 1 million in 2007, the first annual decline since the Bush administration took office, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday. Incomes edged up for the middle class while poverty held steady.
Aug. 26 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Chronology of organ transplantation: 1962 The first cadaver donor was used for a transplant of a kidney, which kept the recipient alive for 21 months. 1966 A simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant was achieved.
Aug. 26 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Acupressure can boost the body's defenses: San Diego Alive this week moves from the Olympics in Beijing to the traditional Chinese medicine technique of acupressure, where pressure is applied to acupuncture points.
TRENTON, N.J., 3:04 p.m. Aug. 26 (AP)
New type of anti-clotting drug misses testing goal: A new type of blood thinner being developed by two top pharmaceutical companies didn't meet its goal in a late-stage test of its ability to prevent certain dangerous blood clots, but research for other uses will continue, the companies said late Tuesday.
CHICAGO, 2:27 p.m. Aug. 26 (REUTERS)
Aggressive diabetes control in very ill questioned: An analysis of recent diabetes studies debunks the notion that aggressive blood sugar control of critically ill hospital patients with diabetes can help save lives, U.S. researchers said Tuesday.
CHICAGO, 2:11 p.m. Aug. 26 (AP)
New attack ad on TV, but this one targets hot dogs: A new TV commercial shows kids eating hot dogs in a school cafeteria and one little boy's haunting lament: “I was dumbfounded when the doctor told me I have late-stage colon cancer.”
CHICAGO, 2:01 p.m. Aug. 26 (REUTERS)
Reuters Health News Summary: People who have had a normally non-fatal form of skin cancer have double the risk of developing other types of cancers, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. They said the increased risk is especially pronounced in younger people and suggests people who get these less serious forms of skin cancer may be more cancer-prone in general.
CHICAGO, 10:50 a.m. Aug. 26 (REUTERS)
Benign skin cancers may be 'warning sign' , study says: People who have had a normally non-fatal form of skin cancer have double the risk of developing other types of cancers, U.S. researchers said Tuesday.
9:17 a.m. Aug. 26 (AP)
Blending race, biology balancing act for parents: Brad and Angelina, meet the Remillards and the Sears. They don't have your millions, or your chateau in France, but their families represent a delicious palette, just like yours. They're among the parents who are mixing “born-to” children with transracial adoption, changing the face of the American family.
CHICAGO, 8:31 a.m. Aug. 26 (REUTERS)
Nuts, corn not source of colon ills, study says: Contrary to popular belief and common medical advice, eating seeds, nuts, corn and popcorn does not cause the bowel disease diverticulosis or its painful complications, researchers said Tuesday.
GENEVA, 8:08 a.m. Aug. 26 (REUTERS)
Survey finds causes of cancer little understood: People in rich and poor countries alike have faulty understanding of what causes cancer and need better education on how to ward off the disease, according to an authoritative report issued on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON, 7:53 a.m. Aug. 25 (REUTERS)
U.S. uninsured pay $30 billion for health care, study says: Americans who go without health insurance for any part of 2008 will spend $30 billion out of pocket for health care and they will get $56 billion worth of free care, according to a report released Monday.
NIAMEY, 6:29 a.m. Aug. 22 (REUTERS)
Niger offers reward to help stamp out Guinea worm: Niger is to offer a reward of just over $10 to anyone who reports a case of Guinea worm to authorities as part of a global effort to eradicate the painful waterborne parasite, the health ministry said on Friday.
MOSCOW, Idaho, 12:55 a.m. Aug. 22 (AP)Study: A bad joke might endanger the teller: There's a reason comedians call it “dying on stage.” Research by a Washington State University linguist found that people who tell bad jokes often endure an astonishing outpouring of hostility from the listeners.
TRENTON, N.J., 2:20 p.m. Aug. 21 (AP)
Lawmakers demand study data on Vytorin cancer risk: A congressional committee is demanding that the makers of controversial cholesterol drug Vytorin, Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough Corp., produce extensive data related to a clinical study indicating the drug might increase the risk of cancer.
LONDON, 4:01 p.m. Aug. 21 (AP)Face transplant patient can smile, blink again: Transplanting faces may seem like science fiction, but doctors say the experimental surgeries could one day become routine.
ATLANTA, 9:19 a.m. Aug. 21 (AP)
Jump in measles outbreaks worries health officials: The number of measles cases in the U.S. is at its highest level since 1997, and nearly half of those involve children whose parents rejected vaccination, government health officials reported Thursday.
WASHINGTON, 7:00 a.m. Aug. 21 (AP)
Insurance gap leads some elderly to forgo medicine: Many people in Medicare with diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic conditions stop taking their medicine when faced with picking up the entire cost of their prescriptions, researchers say.
BOSTON, 5:26 a.m. Aug. 21 (REUTERS)Celgene wins U.S. approval to expand Vidaza label: Celgene Corp said on Thursday that U.S. regulators have given it the green light to add information to the label of its drug Vidaza showing it prolonged life in some patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS, a group of blood disorders that can lead to leukemia. 6:00 a.m. Aug. 21 (REUTERS)
Preeclampsia raises kidney failure risk: BOSTON (Reuters) – Preeclampsia, which produces high blood pressure and other problems in 5 percent of pregnancies, can significantly increase the risk of kidney failure decades later, Norwegian researchers reported on Wednesday. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, verifies something that doctors have suspected for years.
WASHINGTON, 8:29 a.m. Aug. 21 (AP)
FDA: Irradiated spinach, lettuce OK to kill germs: The government will allow food producers to start zapping fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce with just enough radiation to kill E. coli and other dangerous germs, a key safety move amid increasing outbreaks from raw produce.
ATLANTA, 2:02 p.m. Aug. 20 (AP)
Cervical cancer shots less cost-effective with age: An expensive vaccine aimed at preventing cervical cancer makes sense for young teens when it comes to cost-effectiveness, but not for women in their 20s, contends a new report.
NEWARK, N.J., 2:59 p.m. Aug. 20 (AP)Judge: Company must give experimental drug to teen: A federal judge on Wednesday ordered a research company to supply an experimental drug to a 16-year-old Minnesota boy who is terminally ill with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. HARTFORD, Conn., 9:28 a.m. Aug. 20 (AP)
States push laws to require paid sick days: For school bus driver Jamille Aine, a cold is more than an inconvenience. His employer does not offer paid sick days, so if he can't shake the bug, he may not be able to pay his bills.
BALTIMORE, 9:28 a.m. Aug. 20 (REUTERS)
Imaging industry seeks broader U.S. PET coverage: The medical imaging industry called for the Medicare government health plan to broaden its coverage of PET scans to additional cancer types, asking an advisory panel Wednesday to recommend wider payments.
WASHINGTON, 5:10 a.m. Aug. 20 (REUTERS)
Addiction drug reverses obesity in rats: An epilepsy drug being tested for use in treating addiction can help obese rats shed weight, U.S. government researchers said Wednesday.
WASHINGTON, 8:09 p.m. Aug. 18 (AP)
More women are having fewer children, if at all: More women in their early 40s are childless, and those who are having children are having fewer than ever before, the Census Bureau said Monday.
WASHINGTON, 2:27 p.m. Aug. 18 (AP)Angioplasty through the wrist backed by new study: The best path to a clogged heart may be through the wrist. About a million artery-clearing angioplasties are performed in the United States each year, and the usual route is to thread a tube to the heart through an artery in the groin.
WASHINGTON, 1:56 p.m. Aug. 18 (AP)
FDA reports deaths with diabetes drug Byetta: Federal regulators are working on a stronger label for a widely used diabetes drug marketed by Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Eli Lilly & Co. after deaths were reported with the medication despite earlier government warnings.
Aug. 16 (UNION-TRIBUNE)4 hospitals penalized for serious mistakes: Four area hospitals received the maximum fine yesterday for preventable mistakes that killed one patient, injured others or created the potential for serious harm, state officials said. WASHINGTON, 1:03 p.m. Aug. 18 (AP)
Vitamin D's wild days: Who to test, what to take?: Don't be surprised if your doctor orders a vitamin D test during your next physical. Blood tests to check levels of the so-called sunshine vitamin are on the rise as doctors and patients react to headline-grabbing research that suggests having too little may not only hurt your bones – it might increase your risk of certain cancers or heart disease.
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