Health and Medical News Headlines for March 5, 2010

Sexual health 'milestone'

Young people think frank conversations about sex infections signal that a relationship will last.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 5 Mar 2010 | 1:26 am

'Ajami' casts harsh light on Israel's other Arab conflict

In the mixed neighbourhood of the Israeli film "Ajami," Jews and Arabs rub shoulders on the same quiet, leafy streets, never knowing when someone is going to draw a knife. The film, the...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 4 Mar 2010 | 11:31 pm

Possible Vaccine For Mesothelioma Proven Safe

Researchers have demonstrated the safety of a potential vaccine against mesothelioma, a rare cancer associated primarily with asbestos exposure. The vaccine, which infuses uses a patient's own dendritic cells (DC) with antigen from the patient's tumor, was able to induce a T-cell response against mesothelioma tumors. "[This] is the first human study on DC-based immunotherapy in patients with mesothelioma," wrote Joachim G Aerts M.D., Ph.D., a pulmonary physician at Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 4 Mar 2010 | 11:00 pm

Indian leather hub targeted in Ganges clean-up

On the banks of the Ganges in northern India, tanneries that have poured effluent into the holy river for decades are closing. For environmentalists, it's a victory over filthy companies
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 4 Mar 2010 | 10:44 pm

Three Harvard School Of Public Health Alumni Named To New FDA Tobacco Advisory Committee

The recently formed Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s Center for Tobacco Products has just created a new Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee to review and evaluate safety, dependence, and health issues relating to tobacco products and provide appropriate advice, information, and recommendations to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 4 Mar 2010 | 10:00 pm

Whole Grains Take a Bite Out of Type 2 Diabetes Risk (HealthDay)

HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, March 3 (HealthDay News) -- Brown rice is better than white rice at reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, but whole grains are the most effective at lowering the risk, study findings show.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 4 Mar 2010 | 9:49 pm

Clinical Trials Update: March 4, 2010 (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 4 Mar 2010 | 9:48 pm

Vaccine for Asbestos-Related Cancer Looks Safe (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, March 4 (HealthDay News) -- An investigational vaccine for the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma is safe, according to a new study.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 4 Mar 2010 | 9:48 pm

Gut Bacteria May Spur Obesity, Research Suggests (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, March 4 (HealthDay News) -- Intestinal bacteria may contribute to obesity and metabolic syndrome, a new study in mice suggests.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 4 Mar 2010 | 9:48 pm

Pre-Diagnosis Diet Linked to Ovarian Cancer Survival (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, March 4 (HealthDay News) -- Healthy eating habits lead to longer survival for ovarian cancer patients, U.S. researchers say.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 4 Mar 2010 | 9:48 pm

NICE Set To Recommend Rituximab For Relapsed Or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has today (4 March) issued final draft guidance recommending the drug rituximab(MabThera) as a treatment for certain patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. This draft is now with consultees who have the opportunity to appeal against the proposed recommendations before final guidance is published later this year. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is a cancer of the white blood cells and is the most common form of leukaemia in the UK...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 4 Mar 2010 | 9:00 pm

NICE Asks For More Data On New Drug For Rheumatoid Arthritis

NICE's independent appraisal committee has asked Roche, the manufacturer of tocilizumab (RoActemra), a new treatment for moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis, for further additional information on its product. The committee is minded not to recommend the use of the drug but the additional information it has asked for today (4 March) could result in the final guidance being positive at specific stages of the treatment pathway. This draft guidance has been issued for consultation: NICE has not yet issued final guidance to the NHS...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 4 Mar 2010 | 8:00 pm

Bidirectional Link Between Depression and Obesity Confirmed

A meta-analysis confirming a bidirectional link between obesity and depression should spur more collaboration among specialists.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 4 Mar 2010 | 7:44 pm

NICE Appraisal Of Azacitidine For Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently appraising the use of azacitidine (Vidaza, Celgene) for myelodysplastic syndromes...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 4 Mar 2010 | 7:00 pm

Manila's Petron Corp to expand refinery

MANILA, March 5 (Reuters) - Top Philippine oil refiner Petron Corp plans to expand its refinery in the next four to five years, and will raise funding for the $600-$700 million project, the company president...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 4 Mar 2010 | 6:35 pm

NICE Recommends Infliximab And Adalimumab For The Treatment Of Severe, Active Crohn's Disease

In final draft guidance published today (4 March) NICE has recommended infliximab and adalimumab as treatment options for people with severe, active Crohn's disease whose condition has not responded to conventional therapy, or who are intolerant of or have contraindications to conventional therapy. Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of unknown cause affecting the gastrointestinal tract (gut). It is estimated that around 60,000 people in the UK have the disease, with approximately 3,000 (5%) having the most severe forms of the condition...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 4 Mar 2010 | 6:00 pm

DNA test 'may predict best diet'

A simple DNA test may predict whether someone is most likely to lose weight on a specific diet, say US researchers.
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 4 Mar 2010 | 5:59 pm

Food Products Recalled for Salmonella

Thousands of processed food products contain an ingredient that federal regulators say was contaminated with salmonella, although so far only a few dozen have been recalled.

Source: NYT > Health | 4 Mar 2010 | 5:43 pm

PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - March 5

Following are the main stories in Malaysian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 4 Mar 2010 | 5:35 pm

Possible hospital changes could lead to reduced services, longer travel: critics

TORONTO - A plan that may force patients to travel farther for some operations to save taxpayers money could result in reduced services and endanger the health of people in rural or...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 4 Mar 2010 | 5:12 pm

Urologist Dr. J. Francois Eid, MD Warns Against The Dangers Of Online Herbal Remedies For Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

News reports coming out of the UK and Australia show evidence of prescription ingredients in many "natural" herb remedies sold on the Internet to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). These popular online supplements, which claim to consist only of homeopathic ingredients, are often improperly labeled and may actually contain dangerous ingredients. Dr. J...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 4 Mar 2010 | 5:00 pm

America's Most Obese Metropolitan Areas

Montgomery, Ala., and Stockton, Calif., share the 'honor' of most obese metro area.
WebMD Health News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 4 Mar 2010 | 4:11 pm

Cholesterol Drugs May Fight Asthma, Too

A study shows a link between statins and improved lung function in asthma patients.
WebMD Health News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 4 Mar 2010 | 4:11 pm

Food Poisoning Costs U.S. $152 Billion a Year

The cost of food-borne illness is vastly higher than previous estimates.
WebMD Health News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 4 Mar 2010 | 4:11 pm

FDA: Labels Misleading on Major Food Brands

Nestle, POM, and other firms were cited for misleading food labels.
WebMD Health News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 4 Mar 2010 | 4:11 pm

GE plans new American export: outdoor smoking ban

BOSTON (Reuters) - General Electric Co is known for exporting American products like washing machines and jet engines, and the biggest U.S. conglomerate is getting ready to ship out another
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 4 Mar 2010 | 4:09 pm

APTA Joins With Patient And Health Care Groups On Capitol Hill In Calling For Long-Term Solution To Therapy Cap

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) joined with more than forty patient advocacy groups and health care organizations today to thank Congress for temporarily reinstating the therapy cap exceptions process and urge for a long-term solution to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries can continue receiving necessary rehabilitative services...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 4 Mar 2010 | 4:00 pm

Four Clinical Factors Linked to Low Risk for Bacterial Conjunctivitis

A study shows that a combination of 4 clinical factors predicts low risk for bacterial conjunctivitis and may reduce routine antibiotic drug administration.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 4 Mar 2010 | 3:58 pm

Canada regulator OKs TransCanada shale gas plan

CALGARY, Alberta, March 4 (Reuters) - Regulators on Thursday conditionally approved TransCanada Corp's plan for a C$200 million ($194 million) pipeline, the first federally regulated shale gas transport...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 4 Mar 2010 | 3:54 pm

FDA warning for hand sanitizer in Puerto Rico (AP)

AP - Puerto Rico's government sent inspectors across the island Thursday to stop stores from selling locally produced hand sanitizers tainted with a dangerous bacteria.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 4 Mar 2010 | 3:53 pm

Three people face charges in connection with B.C.'s e-health project

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Three people connected to British Columbia's multimillion-dollar electronic health records project are facing various charges including influence peddling, breach of...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 4 Mar 2010 | 3:44 pm

UPDATE 1-Depomed posts narrower-than-expected Q4 loss

March 4 (Reuters) - Depomed Inc posted a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss, helped by a nearly four-fold increase in license revenue, sending its shares up as much as 5 percent in after-market trade...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 4 Mar 2010 | 3:39 pm

UPDATE 1-Rambus says two patents affirmed in Nvidia fight

SAN FRANCISCO, March 4 (Reuters) - Memory chip designer Rambus Inc said the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office had affirmed two of three patents at the center of a legal dispute over whether graphics chip...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 4 Mar 2010 | 3:37 pm

Gene test claims to show what diet works best (AP)

AP - Diet not working? Blame your genes. That's the pitch behind a new test that claims to show whether people will do better on a low-fat or a low-carb weight loss plan.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 4 Mar 2010 | 3:22 pm

Medtronic Named Among World's Most Innovative Companies By MIT Technology Review

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) announced that it has been selected as one of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Technology Review's 50 most innovative companies. Known as TR50, the first annual list includes companies that Technology Review believes have demonstrated superiority in inventing technology and in using it both to grow their own business and transform how we live...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 4 Mar 2010 | 3:00 pm

Women With Stroke Derive Greater Absolute Benefit From Thrombolysis Than Men

Women With Stroke Derive Greater Absolute Benefit from Thrombolysis Than Men
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 4 Mar 2010 | 2:53 pm

Could germs be making you fat? (Reuters)

Reuters - Germs that make their home in the gut may help cause obesity and a range of health-threatening symptoms that go along with it, researchers reported on Thursday.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 4 Mar 2010 | 2:22 pm

Bladder tumor risk higher after childhood cancer (Reuters)

Reuters - Childhood cancer survivors are at a four-fold increased risk of developing new cancers of the bladder later in life, new research shows.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 4 Mar 2010 | 2:13 pm

Strategic Research Program Needed To Determine Whether, HowPast Climate Influenced Human Evolution

Understanding how past climate may have influenced human evolution could be dramatically enhanced by an international cross-disciplinary research program to improve the sparse human fossil and incomplete climate records and examine the link between the two, says a new report from the National Research Council. Climate and fossil records suggest that some events in human evolution -- such as the evolution of new species or movements out of Africa -- coincided with substantial changes in African and Eurasian climate...