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Maryland's poor, African-American communities suffer disproportionate cancer risk from air pollution

Maryland communities that are poor and predominantly African-American incur a disproportionate cancer risk from ambient exposure to airborne toxins, according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

15 Jun 2005

Survey reflects need for continued focus on patient safety

A survey of Calgary Health Region employees and physicians indicates the Region continues to make progress in improving patient safety, but further action is required to address specific areas of concern such as the reporting of hazards.

15 Jun 2005

Walking more slowly, obese individuals can burn more calories per mile and may reduce the risk of arthritis or joint injury

Leisurely walking for distance combined with low-impact cardiovascular activity appears to be the best formula for obese people seeking to get into shape and stay healthy, according to a University of Colorado at Boulder study.

15 Jun 2005

New Zealand moves to routinely offering antenatal HIV screening

New Zealand will progressively move to a policy of routinely offering antenatal HIV screening as part of antenatal care, Ministry of Health spokesman Dr Pat Tuohy said this week.

15 Jun 2005

Promising new tuberculosis drug enters clinical trial

A promising new drug candidate that may be effective against both actively dividing and slow-growing Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) has begun testing in humans, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, announced this week.

15 Jun 2005

Report on Hispanics and genes, culture, and medicines highlights the rise of individualized medicine

"The FDA's review today of BiDil could make it the first drug approved specifically for African Americans and marks the end of 'one-size-fits-all' medicine," said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance), the nation's leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

15 Jun 2005

Acute coronary syndrome patients at increased risk of stroke

Patients hospitalized with chest pain or heart attack symptoms are at an increased risk of stroke even after being discharged, according to a study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

15 Jun 2005

Abstinence education programs increased youth's support for abstinence

The initial findings from a one-year followup of 2,310 students participating in an evaluation of four abstinence-only education programs show that the programs increased support for abstinence.

15 Jun 2005

Classic movies could bring back lost memories for dementia sufferers

Based on an interactive multimedia computer system and a clearer understanding of how dementia sufferers respond to social situations, the aid aims to stimulate more enjoyable, rewarding conversation between sufferers and those who care for them.

15 Jun 2005

Key milestone in study of the antifungal treatment of asthma

University of Manchester researchers announced today that they have reached a key milestone in their study of the antifungal treatment of asthma.

From The University of Manchester 15 Jun 2005

Spinal arthritis often overlooked in children

When kids or teens experience aching joints and stiffness it may be more than growing pains. It may be arthritis of the spine and other joints (ankylosing spondylitis), which researchers report can often go undiagnosed for years and years, leading to serious problems in adulthood.

15 Jun 2005

Brain surgery for epilepsy means patients still free of fits 30 years later

A study has shown that thirty years after undergoing temporal lobectomy for epilepsy, half of patients are still free from seizures.

15 Jun 2005

Special stockings reduce DVT risk on long flights

According to new research, passengers on long flights can lessen the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) by wearing special stockings.

15 Jun 2005

Too much red meat could lead to bowel cancer

The World Health Organisation's (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is recommending that everybody should eat more fish and less meat.

15 Jun 2005

Heavy drinkers at risk of lasting brain damage sooner rather than later

Researchers at Saint Louis University have shown, in a new animal study, that chronic alcohol consumption produces memory loss and learning problems in very heavy drinkers much sooner than previously thought.

15 Jun 2005

SARS vaccine produced from plants

According to new research, a vaccine has been produced in genetically engineered tomato and tobacco plants, which triggers anti-SARS antibodies in mice.

15 Jun 2005

Fish oil not a good idea for heart defibrillator patients

For heart patients who have surgically implanted defibrillators to shock their weakened hearts back into rhythm, fish oil supplements are not a good idea and in fact appear to do more harm than good.

15 Jun 2005