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Risk of Alzheimer's 80% genetic

In the largest twin study to date, researchers in the U.S. looked at the Swedish Twin Registry to see which factors lead to Alzheimer's disease (AD).

14 Feb 2006

Asthmatics more likely to have heart disease and cancer

According to new research adults with asthma are twice as likely to have heart disease and older asthmatics have an increased risk of cancer.

14 Feb 2006

Hormone replacement therapy protects against heart disease in younger women

According to a new study hormone replacement therapy using estrogen does not appear to protect postmenopausal women from heart disease.

14 Feb 2006

Almost half of heart attacks are not recognised

According to Dutch researchers almost fifty percent of heart attacks are not recognised as such.

14 Feb 2006

Low fat diets - are they of benefit? who knows!

A new study appears to raise questions about the value of low-fat diets and comes as rather a blow after years of diet and health advice on the benefits of eating less fat and eating more fruits and veggies.

14 Feb 2006

Thieves target expensive hospital equipment

Hospitals in Britain are falling victim to criminal gangs who are stealing expensive medical equipment from hospitals to sell on the black market to eastern Europe and Africa.

14 Feb 2006

Even asymptomatic former smokers should consider CT screening

Smokers and former smokers should be screened for lung cancer even if they don't have symptoms, according to a new study led by physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

14 Feb 2006

Americans prefer to leave child's sex to chance

Most people would not choose the sex of their child if given the option, according to a new nationwide survey. The study is the first to examine the demand and preferences for sex selection among the U.S. general population.

14 Feb 2006

Skin cancer prevention needs to be tackled young

Individuals receive 50% of their total lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18, according to a review article published in Pediatric Dermatology. Therefore, researchers are urging pediatricians to educate children and their families about skin cancer.

14 Feb 2006

Nigeria struggling to cope with bird flu and more scares in Europe

The lethal strain of H5N1 bird flu has now reached Nigeria and there is concern as officials there in their efforts to prevent any human infections are having difficulty convincing many poor people not to eat dead poultry.

14 Feb 2006

Gene therapy cures depressed mice

Researchers in the U.S. say that deleting a specific gene in the brain of mice that have been conditioned to be depressed, has the same effect as antidepressants.

13 Feb 2006

So much for openness and enhanced oversight at FDA drug safety board!

The Drug Safety Oversight Board, created in February 2005, was originally introduced as a measure to speed up and help regulators respond to signs of unexpected side effects following a new drug hitting the market.

13 Feb 2006

Fighting in front of the kids causes them distress about marriage and family life

Researchers in the U.S. say that couples who fight in front of their children or even those who ignore each other, encourage negative thoughts and distress about marriage and family life which is sometimes evident up to a year later.

13 Feb 2006

Acne drug which causes birth defects too hard to monitor

According to the birth watchdog group the March of Dimes, preventing birth defects from a widely used acne drug is too heavy a burden on doctors, patients and pharmacists.

13 Feb 2006

That morning cup of coffee may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes

According to a new study, by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, drinking coffee lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes.

13 Feb 2006

Control interventions crucial for stopping the spread of bird flu in Africa

The outbreak of the deadly Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus (H5N1) in Nigeria confirms the fears expressed by FAO for quite some time that African countries are facing a high risk of becoming infected by the virus.

13 Feb 2006

Saw Palmetto not effective at relieving prostate problems

The herbal remedy saw palmetto is no more effective than a placebo at treating symptoms related to enlargement of the prostate gland, according to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

13 Feb 2006

Drop in total number of cancer deaths

The American Cancer Society's annual estimate of cancer deaths says 2006 will see a slight decline in the projected number of cancer deaths compared to estimates made for 2005.

13 Feb 2006

Genzyme launches test to monitor Gleevec resistance

Genzyme Corporation has announced the availability of an important new test to monitor drug resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients who are treated with Gleevec (imatinib mesylate).

13 Feb 2006

Girls are catching up with boys in use of illicit substances

Despite commonly held beliefs that boys are at higher risk for using illegal substances, data indicate that girls have caught up with boys in illicit drug and alcohol use and have actually surpassed boys in cigarette and prescription drug use. There are also more girls who are new users of substances than boys.

13 Feb 2006