Medical News Today: Health News for Friday 1 February 2008

Medical News Today provides hourly health news sourced and written by our own dedicated team.

Health News Headlines

Friday 1 February 2008

Written by Catharine Paddock

It would seem that the old wives' tale "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" has borne fruit again in that a new study suggests that apples, bananas and oranges protect against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's...
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How Scratching An Itch Affects The Brain

Written by Catharine Paddock

Using imaging technology for the first time to investigate the phenomenon, US researchers have revealed what goes on in the brain when we scratch, giving new clues about why the behaviour brings relief and is hard to stop...
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FDA Alerts Doctors About Suicide Risk Of Antiepileptic Drugs

Written by Catharine Paddock

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new information, yesterday, 31st January, to alert doctors and other health professionals about the increased risk of patients having suicidal thoughts and behaviours as a...
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Wild-type KRAS Colorectal Tumours Respond To Panitumumab

Samples Used To Study Medicare Coverage Differ Significantly From Actual Medicare Population

Other Medical and Health News for 1 February*

Pollutant Fear For Heated Baby Bottles

Positron Emission Tomography Superior To Standard Evaluation Tools In Measuring Response To Treatment

USA: New Study Shows Tobacco Control Programs Cut Adult Smoking Rates

Two Proteins Linked To Nicotine Addiction

Large Business Association Releases Plan To Overhaul U.S. Health Care System

Labor Unions 'Vociferous Opponents' Of Health Insurance Mandates, Opinion Piece Says

Philippines Congress Allocates $18M To Fight HIV/AIDS, TB

More Than Three-Fourths Of Voters Believe Next President Can Have Influence On Health Care Costs, Poll Finds

Reports Examine Economy's Effect On Health Care, State Trends In Family Planning Funding

Jamaican Government Launches Initiative To Support HIV-Positive People, Substance Users, Assault Survivors

President Bush To Call For Large Cuts In Medicare Spending Growth, Major Medicaid Savings

New York Gov. Spitzer Seeks To Expand SCHIP, Create Health Care Program Hotline

HIV-Positive Teachers In Kenya's Central Province Develop Program To Fight Virus Among Teachers, Students

Blacks Twice As Susceptible And More Likely To Die Of Severe Sepsis Than Whites

Efforts To Eliminate Tuberculosis In U.S. By 2010 Fall Far Short Of Benchmarks; Greater Outreach To Immigrants, Global Efforts Needed

Women Petition Law Banning Contraceptive In Clinics In Manila, Philippines

Robert Ball, Architect Of Medicare, Dies In Maryland

HIV/AIDS Advocates Calling For Increased Funding For PEPFAR, Investment In New Initiatives

Actions Taken On Women's Health-Related Legislation, Proposals In Colo., Mich., N.J., N.M.

Senate Committee Passes Economic Stimulus Bill Without Medicaid Funding Increase

Needle-Exchange Pilot Program Launches In Camden, N.J.

Ind., S.D., Pa. Take Actions On Physician, Pharmacy Regulation Bills For Contraception, Abortion

Senate Finance Committee Seeks To Reduce Payments, Impose Restrictions On Some MA Plans

About 600,000 Adults Ages 18-49 Living With HIV In U.S., National Center For Health Statistics Data Say

Republican Presidential Candidates Discuss Appointment Of Former Supreme Court Justice O'Connor In Debate

Washington Post Examines Implications Of California Health Care Reform Bill Failure

HIV/AIDS Advocacy Groups, Scientists React To Swiss Claim About Antiretrovirals, HIV Transmission

Two-Thirds Of Illinois Public Schools Provide Comprehensive Sex Education According To Survey:

Increase In Survival Rates Of Extremely Premature Infants At London Hospital

Chinese Supplier Of Mifepristone To U.S. Linked To Tainted Drug Case

Employer Coalition Launching Initiative To Provide Physicians Bonuses For Improving Patient Care

Health IT Will Lead To Safer, More Efficient Care, Leavitt Writes

Disputed Total Synthesis Of Quinine By Woodward And Doering Confirmed

The 'Silent Killer' Severe Hypertension Is Still On The Loose

Cause Of A Rare Developmental Disorder Clarified By Researchers At The Institute Of Molecular Pathology In Vienna

Immune Surveillance Similarities In Animals And Plants

Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer Comes Late For Women In Gentrifying Neighborhoods

Potential Range Of Drugs That Are Cheaper And More Available Following Pharmaceutical Breakthrough

Man's Memory Returns

Gene Linked To Increased Risk Of Developing Inflammatory Arthritis May Also Increase Patients' Risk Of Dying From Cardiovascular Disease

Researchers Seek To Deny HIV Its Safe Havens In The Human Body

Oseltamivir Resistance In European Influenza Viruses - Update

ACP Calls On Candidates To Create Improved US Health-Care System

Protein From Herpes Virus Serves As Potent Vaccine Enhancer

Biomarkers Discovered That Predict Lung Cancer Patient Response To Therapy

Lux Granted Fast Track Designation For LX201 For Corneal Transplant Rejection

Nature Publishing Group Launches Nature India

Archemix Earns Milestone Payment From Initiation Of Phase 1 Clinical Trial By Nuvelo

Argos Therapeutics Publishes Novel Approach To Amplifying HIV Genes For Personalized Immunotherapy Treatments For HIV

Distributing The Work Of Evolution Between Men And Women With The Help Of Gene Variants

M's Science Corporation Initiated European Phase 2 Study In Stroke Recovery

Genomatix Takes A Lead In Next Generation Sequencing

Why Is Scratching So Relieving?

Akorn, Inc. Announces FDA Approval Of Calcitriol Injection, 1 Mcg/mL And 2 Mcg/mL

A Pathway Discovered To Turn Off Immune System Cells

Signs Of Resistance Seen In The Onchocerciasis Parasite

Trigger Gene For Muscle Development Discovered By Oregon Researchers

Protecting Against And Stopping The Spread Of Noroviruses In 6 Simple Steps

Infant Deaths Probe Points To Smoking During Pregnancy

Supporting Brain Imaging Studies Of Children With Autism And Dyslexia

NIDA Research Reveals Subconscious Signals Can Trigger Drug Craving

Global Suicide Risk Factors Appear Consistent

Romiplostim Trials For Treatment Of Dangerous Blood Disorder

Risk Of Congenital Heart Defects Higher Among IVF Twins

How Federal Government Evaluates Efficiency Of Research At EPA, Other Agencies: Changes Needed

Ipsen: FDA Accepts For Filing A Biologics License Application (BLA) For Dyspor(R) In Cervical Dystonia

BRCA1 Mutation Linked To Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Axiom Worldwide To Present Prospective And Retrospective Clinical Data On Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression At Las Vegas Seminar

AMAG Pharmaceuticals Provides Clinical Information On Ferumoxytol As An Intravenous Iron Replacement Therapeutic In Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

NeoMedix Offers Innovative Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery

CIS-US Announces Approval Of Generic Version Of Choletec(R) Kit For The Preparation Of Technetium Tc-99m Mebrofenin

Smiths Medical Receives 510(k) Clearance On Saf-T Closed Blood Collection System(R) Devices

First Patients Treated In Cytori's Stem & Regenerative Cell Heart Attack Study

AVEO Initiates Phase 1b Combination Clinical Trial Of Novel Triple VEGF Receptor Inhibitor AV-951 In Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Proposed Medicare Cuts Will Harm Hospitals While Helping Insurance Industry, USA

One-A-Day Eye Vitamin For Age Related Macular Degeneration

Top Hospitals Have 27% Lower Mortality, Annual Study Finds

Africa Action Releases New Report On International Failure To Protect Darfur

Vision Researchers Query FDA About Updating Requirements For Drug Approval

Gene Guards Grain-producing Grasses So People And Animals Can Eat

Bone Medical Positive New Data From Oral Osteoporosis Drug Trial

Obstetrics, Gynecology & Infertility BlackBerry Edition

Major Genetics Breakthrough Achieved By Scientists

EPIX Pharmaceuticals Reaches Agreement With FDA On Protocol, Initiates Re-Read Of Vasovist(TM) Phase 3 Images

Calling For Medical Device Information To Better Serve Patients And Doctors

How To Really Talk To Your Therapist: Four Collaborative Steps

Cook Medical Launches Online Destination To Educate Physicians And Patients On A Leading Form Of Erectile Dysfunction

Promising Results For Treating Anorexia Nervosa With Deep Brain Stimulation - International Neuromodulation Society

Assisted Living Federation Of America Challenges Presidential Candidates

Trials Begin For Malaria Vaccine Using 'Chimpanzee Virus'

Why Don't Chimpanzees Like To Barter Commodities?

Rheumatic Complaints Not Just A Problem For The Western World

Obesity Prescription Numbers Pass One Million After Eightfold Increase In Eight Years, UK

Graham Norton Stamps Out Stress: Samaritans Stress Down Day Campaign, UK

Workplace Health Low Priority For Businesses Despite Value Of Employee Wellbeing, Says New Report, UK

Election 2008: Sleep Deprivation A Tough Opponent For Presidential Candidates

Knowing Your Rights In Respect Of Local Authority Care Services And Support, When Entering A Care Home, UK

Laser Surgery Damage Is More Than Skin Deep, UK

YDH Leads Country's Training For Bowel Cancer Surgeons, UK

CCA Calls For Wide Ranging Measures In Pharmacy White Paper, UK

Ottawa Team Identifies Genes That Increase Heart Disease Risk, Canada

Lautenberg Bill To Cap Tricare Health Care Costs For Military, Guard, Reserves, Retirees And Families Signed Into Law, USA

New Patent Awarded For Vaccine Adjuvant Technology That Elicits Robust Immunity

Global Initiative To Protect Children From Secondhand Smoke

BMA Response To Government Plans Aimed At Reducing Prisoner Re-offending, UK

"Lose Weight Gain Life": New Website For Patients Seeking Information On Obesity Surgery, UK

Genetic Mutations May Contribute To Preterm Birth Risk - Previously Undiscovered Mutations Linked To Blood Clots And Inflammation

Conspicuous Social Signaling Drives The Evolution Of Chameleon Color Change

Biologists Create Wiring Diagram Of Cell Division

Drugs Or Slimming Groups? Solving The Prescription Dilemma, UK

Environmental Epigenetics Has Potential For Preventing And Treating Disease

Stentys Bifurcated Stent Is Successfully Implanted For The First Time At The Rotterdam ThoraxCenter

TargeGen Announces Initiation Of Clinical Trial Of JAK2 Inhibitor TG101348 In Myeloproliferative Disease Patients

Research Using Thermo Fisher Scientific RNA Interference Technology Unveils Potential New Targets For HIV Drugs

FDA Grants Priority Review For Schering-Plough's Peginterferon Alfa 2b For The Adjuvant Treatment Of Patients With Stage III Melanoma

ADVENTRX To Present ANX-201 Preclinical Data At Keystone Symposia HIV Pathogenesis Conference

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Submission Of Complete Response To FDA Approvable Letter For LUVOX(R) CR

New IDSA Clinical Practice Guidelines Recommend NOXAFIL(R) (Posaconazole) For Antifungal Prophylaxis In Certain High Risk Patients

MIGENIX To Add 600mg Daily Celgosivir Dose To Phase II Viral Kinetics Study

Kiadis Pharma Announces Successful Completion Of Rhitol(TM) Phase II Clinical Study

African Americans Less Likely To Choose Epidurals For Post Operative Pain Relief

Tackling Triglycerides: 8 Ways To Solve A Big Fat Problem

Keep Father Time From Marching On: New Laser Treatments Offer Gentle And Effective Skin Resurfacing In A Flash

Frequent Hand Washing Puts Health Care Workers At Increased Risk For Irritant Contact Dermatitis

Research Confirms Genetic Skin Barrier Defect Linked To Eczema

Don't Let Hair Loss Tangle You Up: Dermatologists Can Identify Common Hair Disorders And Offer Solutions

Most Organ Transplant Patients Are Unaware Of Their Increased Risk For Skin Cancer

New Technology And Improved Techniques Arm Dermatologists With Tools To Minimize Facial Scars From Skin Cancer Surgery

Acne And Rosacea Getting You Down? Laser, Light And Cosmetic Treatments Give Patients A Much Needed Boost

Dermatologists Can Offer Top Tips To Help Keep Lips In Tip Top Shape

Teams Uncover More About How Poxviruses Evade The Immune System

* Updated hourly, headlines marked as POPULAR are based upon the number of times they are viewed. Those marked as TOP RATED are based upon visitor ratings. Finally, those shown as NEW were published in the last hour.

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