News on Medicine

2009 Rita Hayworth Alzheimer's Gala

2009-10-28T10:33:46Z

2009 Rita Hayworth Alzheimer's Gala Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York City 10-27-2009 Photo By Judie Burstein-Globe Photos, Inc. 2009

Can Hyberbaric Oxygen Ease Pressures of War?

2009-03-24T22:07:45Z

<div><p><p>PALM HARBOR, Fla. - Adam Ankarlo fought for 10 months with his Marine battalion in Iraq during Operation Phantom Fury, the largest offensive battle since Vietnam, also known as the 2004 Battle for Fallujah. </p> <p>And for ...

UNAIDS deplores Senegal's jailing of gay men

2009-03-19T20:26:15Z

<div><p>UNAIDS on Thursday criticised Senegal for jailing nine gay men, saying that homophobic acts would not help efforts to prevent HIV infection in the west African country.</p><p>"There is no place for homophobia. Universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support must be accessible to all people in Senegal who are in need -- including men who have sex with men," ...

UN reports 2,201 cholera deaths in Zimbabwe

2009-03-24T22:09:04Z

<div id="subtitle">UN reports 2,201 deaths from Zimbabwe cholera outbreak, nearly 42,000 people affected</div><div><p>The United Nations says the death toll from Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak has risen to 2,201 and the epidemic is still not under control.</p><p>The U.N. humanitarian office says 1,550 new cases are being reported every day. It says 41,986 p...

Nepal confirms first outbreak of bird flu

2009-03-24T22:09:34Z

<div><p>Nepal on Friday reported its first outbreak of bird flu in poultry, confirming a case of the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus in the eastern part of the Himalayan country.</p><p>"Laboratory tests confirmed that chickens in one of the livestock farms died of the bird flu virus," health official Udaya Pratap Singh told AFP from Kakarbhitta, near the Indian bo...

High risk medical devices escaped close review

2009-03-24T22:11:37Z

<div id="subtitle">FDA faulted for clearing some high risk medical devices without rigorous review</div><div><p>Some medical devices for sensitive uses, from certain hip joints to a type of defibrillator, have won government approval without a close scientific review, congressional investigators said Thursday.</p><p>Although Congress ordered the Food and Drug Administration...

Children's health debate moves to Senate

2009-03-24T22:12:12Z

<div id="subtitle">Senate committee votes for children's health bill after overwhelming win in House</div><div><p>A key Senate committee voted Thursday to expand a children's health insurance program to cover an additional 4 million uninsured children. The vote comes one day after the House passed a similar measure.</p><p>The legislation to increase spending on the State Children's Health Insurance Program passed easily, 12-7, despite losing support from some ...

7 states sue over Bush rule on health workers

2009-03-24T22:12:39Z

<div><p>Seven states sued the federal government Thursday over a new rule that expands protections for doctors and other health care workers who refuse to participate in abortions and other medical procedures because of religious or moral objections.</p><p>Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal filed the lawsuit in federal court in Hartford on behal...

Howie Mandel back at work, says his health is fine

2009-03-24T22:13:34Z

<div id="subtitle">Howie Mandel back at work on his new TV show, says his heart and health are fine</div><div><p>Howie Mandel is back at work and says his heart and health are fine.</p><p>The 53-year-old comedian was hospitalized in Toronto earlier this week following an outpatient procedure for an irregular heartbeat. Mandel said he returned to work Wednesday...

Sleepwalker who froze to death had Ambien bottle

2009-03-24T22:13:59Z

<div id="subtitle">Sleepwalker who froze to death had bottle of Ambien, may have been drinking</div><div><p>A man who froze to death in Wisconsin while sleepwalking outdoors in bare feet sometimes took a sleeping pill, and authorities suspect he had also been drinking before he died.</p><p>Investigators found a bottle of Ambien in World Health Organization said on its website Thursday.</p><p>Most of the victims have been young girls or women, who are generally charged with looking after poultry in the countryside, and 23 have died of the disease.</p><p>The Novartis AG said Thursday it has secured a $486 million contract to build a new flu vaccine plant in the United States.</p><p>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services granted the eight-year contract to...

Child Health Care Bills Hits Cigar Industry

2009-03-24T22:14:39Z

<div><p><p>WASHINGTON - The U.S. House on Wednesday approved a major expansion of federally funded health coverage for children - a measure that would slam cigar manufacturers in Tampa and across the country with a big tax increase. </p> <p>The bill -- which passed on a mostly party-line 289-139 vote -- would authorize about $33 billion...

Walk Away from Colds

2009-03-24T22:15:22Z

<div><p> <span>A simple 15-minute walk can help prevent a cold this winter. A 2006 study of 115 women found that those who completed a daily 45-minute fitness routine got half the number of colds compared to those who were inactive. Moderate-intensity exercise may increase the immune-boosting cells that fight infection. But don’t overdo it: More than 90 minutes of exercise can stress your body and deplete immune function in the short term. </span><br /><br /&g...

Drinking coffee reduces risk of Alzheimer's: study

2009-03-24T22:15:54Z

<div><p>Middle-aged people who drink moderate amounts of coffee significantly reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, a study by Finnish and Swedish researchers showed Thursday.</p><p>"Middle-aged people who drank between three and five cups of coffee a day lowered their risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease by between 60 and 65 percent later in life," said lead researcher on the project, M...

UN: Bangladesh launches new children's vaccine

2009-03-24T22:16:25Z

<div><p>Bangladesh began immunizing children with a new combination vaccine Thursday that will protect against some severe forms of pneumonia, meningitis and four other deadly diseases, the United Nations said.</p><p>The vaccine is being provided under the South Asian country's routine immunization campaign for the nearly four million children born every year, t...

UNICEF: Teen births 5 times deadlier than in 20s

2009-03-24T22:16:49Z

<div id="subtitle">UNICEF: Teenage pregnancies 5 times deadlier than for women in 20s</div><div><p>Girls who give birth before the age of 15 are five times more likely to die in childbirth than women in their 20s, the U.N. said Thursday, focusing its annual children's survey on the health of their mothers.</p><p>Every year, 70,000 women between the ages of 1...

UNICEF: Teen pregnancies put moms' health at risk

2009-03-24T22:16:52Z

<div id="subtitle">Teenage pregnancies put mother and child at risk of death, says new UNICEF report</div><div><p>Girls who give birth before the age of 15 are five times more likely to die in childbirth than women in their 20s, the U.N. said Thursday, focusing its annual children's survey on the health of their mothers.</p><p>Every year, 70,000 women betwee...

Emergency medical helicopter crashes

2009-03-24T22:17:22Z

<div><p>From December 2007 through October 2008, there were nine emergency medical helicopter crashes resulting in 35 deaths. The nine crashes:</p><p>_ Dec. 3, 2007: A helicopter operated under contract for Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, crashed into the ocean three miles east of