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Try Honey For Kids' Coughs, Study Says
2007-12-04 06:27:00
www.cbsnews.comMaybe Grandma Was Right: New Study Says Honey At Bedtime Can Calm A Child's Cough A little bit of honey, taken before bedtime, may ease coughing in children.Pennsylvania State University researchers reported that news based on 130 children with coughs.On average, the kids were 5 years old (age range: 2 to 18) and had had a cough from colds for about four days. When the kids saw a doctor about their cough, the parents rated the severity of the kids' cough symptoms, including frequency of coughing and effects on sleep. Ian Paul, MD, and colleagues sent the parents home with one of three treatments: A dose of dextromethorphan, a drug used in many over-the-counter cough suppressantsA dose of buckwheat honey No treatment The parents gave the children their assigned treatment half an hour before bedtime. The next morning, the parents again rated their children's symptoms.Honey ranked highest, followed by dextromethorphan, and the placebo was in last place in terms of coug...
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No-Carb Diet May Curb Prostate Cancer
2007-11-14 08:53:00
In Lab Tests On Mice, Prostate Tumors Grow Slower With No-Carbohydrate Diet www.cbsnews.comForgoing carbohydrates may slow the growth of prostate cancer, according to preliminary lab tests in mice.The researchers aren't making dietary recommendations for men. But they say the topic deserves further study."This study showed that cutting carbohydrates may slow tumor growth, at least in mice," Duke University urologist Stephen Freedland, MD, says in a news release."If this is ultimately confirmed in human clinical trials, it has huge implications for prostate cancer therapy through something that all of us can control, our diets," says Freedland, who plans to start such trials next year.Freedland's team split 75 mice into three groups:Low-fat diet: 12 percent fat, 16 percent protein, 72 percent carbohydrateWestern diet: 40 percent fat, 16 percent protein, 44 percent carbohydrateNo-carb diet: 84 percent fat, 16 percent protein, 0 percent carbohydrateThe no-carb diet was modeled on a sp...
More About: Cancer , Prostate Cancer , Health food

Anti-Smoking Injection Shows Promise
2007-11-09 07:43:00
blog.wired.comA vaccine designed to keep nicotine from reaching the brain may help people quit smoking.The Associated Press reports that a preliminary study of 301 longtime smokers found that recipients of Nabi Pharmaceutical's NicVAX were more than twice as likely to quit smoking as people who got a placebo.However, "twice as likely" is a loaded number: 15 percent compared to 6 percent. That's good, but not great -- and nearly a third of trial participants dropped out. On the other hand, the production of anti-nicotine antibodies correlated with reduced cigarette use, and even people who didn't quit still smoked less.The WiSci verdict: promising, but there's a long way to go.
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High-Fat, High-Protein Atkins Diet Increase Risk Of Heart Disease
2007-11-09 07:37:00
www.allheadlinenews.comThe high-fat, high-protein and low-carbohydrate Atkins diet of eggs, meat and cheese may put the followers at risk for heart disease in just one month, a new study suggests.Researchers at the University of Maryland say the popular diet raises your "bad" cholesterol and damages the blood vessels thus increasing the risk of heart disease.Dr. Michael Miller, lead author of the study said, "I think the Atkins diet is potentially detrimental for cardiovascular health, if maintained for a long duration and without attempts to lose weight.""A stabilizing Atkins diet is not the way to go," he added.After putting 26 people on three diets, the high-fat Atkins and the low-fat South Beach and Ornish diets, researchers found that the Atkins Diet raised the study subjects' bad cholesterol by an average of 16 points.It also brought on symptoms of hardening of the arteries, a precursor to strokes or heart attacks. However, the subjects had better lab tests on the other two d...
More About: Obesity , Heart , Protein , Disease

Trouble sleeping? Here are some tips
2007-11-09 06:50:00
www.chron.comWe all need sleep, but many of us have difficulty getting it for one reason or another. About one-third of adults suffer from insomnia, according to the National Institutes of Health. So instead of taking that nap, check out some of the sleep tips Dr. Aparajitha Verma, a neurologist at the Methodist Neurological Institute's Sleep Disorders Center, shared with Houston Chronicle reporter Alexis Grant.Q: Some parents give their children warm milk to help them fall asleep. Does that really work?A: There are no documented studies. But the whole philosophy is that having a warm cup of milk or tea raises your body temperature a little bit, enough so it would help you fall asleep.Q: What time should I stop drinking coffee to allow myself to sleep well that night?A: The general rule is (caffeine) stays (in your body) for five to seven hours. If you are taking a cup of coffee around 6 p.m. at work because you're trying to stay until 7, guess what ? you can't fall asleep at 9 o...
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High Blood Pressure May Vary By Season
2007-11-06 14:20:00
www.cbsnews.comStudy Shows High er Doses Of Medication May Be Needed In WinterIf you're being treated for hypertension, take note: Your blood pressure is more likely to return to normal levels in summer than in winter, a new study shows.The findings suggest that people with high blood pressure may need higher doses of medication or even different drugs in the winter months, says researcher Ross D. Fletcher, MD, chief of staff at the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C.The researchers analyzed the electronic health records of 443,632 veterans with high blood pressure treated at 15 VA hospitals throughout the U.S. over a five-year period.Blood pressure was nearly 8 percent less likely to return to normal in the winter than in the summer, the study showed."In all cities, there was a seasonal variation that didn't seem to be related to outside temperature," Fletcher says.Whether you're in San Juan, Puerto Rico, or Anchorage, Alaska, "every summer it gets better and every winter it ge...
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Sleepless nights linked to obesity in children
2007-11-06 12:59:00
www.guardian.co.ukBy Alok JhaScientists have found that getting a good night's sleep reduces a child's chances of being obese.Every additional hour of sleep a night a child gets at the age of eight or nine reduces the risk of obesity at the age of 11 or 12 by 40%.Julie Lumeng of the University of Michigan, who led the research, said that getting more than nine hours 45 minutes of sleep lowered the chances of obesity in later life significantly."Many children aren't getting enough sleep, and that lack of sleep may not only be making them moody or preventing them from being alert and ready to learn at school, it may also be leading to a higher risk of being overweight," said Dr Lumeng. The study appears in this month's issue of the journal, Pediatrics.Though scientists are not certain how sleep would directly affect a child's weight, Dr Lumeng said well-rested children may be more energetic and more likely to go out and play, rather than lying around watching TV. Tired children m...
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Cocktails of alcohol and energy drinks a dangerous combo
2007-11-06 12:46:00
www.news-medical.netAccording to new research mixing energy drinks with alcohol is a dangerous combination.A new study, involving more than 4,000 students, has found that drinking cocktails of alcohol and energy drinks doubles the risk of clubbers getting hurt or being taken advantage of sexually.Energy drinks such as Red Bull, Irn-Bru 32 and Lucozade, often contain high levels of caffeine and other ingredients, and mixing them with alcohol has become a popular way of boosting energy levels in order to keep dancing all night.The researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Centre in the United States, questioned 4,271 college students about their drinking habits and the consequences.It was found that of those who had drunk alcohol in the previous 30 days, a quarter (24 per cent) said they had consumed energy cocktails; when their behaviour was compared with students who did not mix alcohol and energy drinks, the group were twice as likely to be hurt or injured after drinkin...
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Adults With Diabetes Doing Better Prevention Job
2007-11-02 08:31:00
health.usnews.comU.S. studies show they're keeping good track of daily blood sugar levels, while avoiding heart diseaseFewer American adults with diabetes are developing cardiovascular disease, and more of them are closely monitoring their blood sugar levels, according to new U.S. government research released Thursday.Two U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies, published in the CDC's weekly journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, delivered the good news on the first day of National Diabetes Awareness Month.One study of diabetes patients aged 35 and older found that the self-reported prevalence of cardiovascular disease decreased by more than 11 percent between 1997 and 2005. Cardiovascular disease among black adults with diabetes, who tend to have higher diabetes rates than whites or Hispanics, decreased by more than 25 percent during the period.The study also found a 14 percent reduction (31.1 percent to 26.7 percent) in self-reported cardiovascular diseas...

Keep slim or risk cancer
2007-11-01 11:43:00
Report ties meat, body fat to cancerwww.guardian.co.ukEven people of a healthy weight should slim if they want to reduce their risk of developing cancer, a landmark study advised today.Everyone should aim to be as slim as possible without being underweight, said the World Cancer Research Fund.Its analysis of 40 years of international research into the links between lifestyle and cancer also advised that people should not eat processed meat, such as ham and bacon, gain no weight after 21 years of age, and avoid drinking alcohol.The researchers found "convincing" evidence that excess body fat can cause six different types of common cancers, including those of the breast, bowel and pancreas. They said that to enjoy maximum protection against cancer everyone should be at the lower end of the healthy weight range. Sir Michael Marmot, who chaired the expert panel, said: "We are recommending that people aim to be as lean as possible within the healthy range, and that they avoid weight gain...
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Study: 1 in 10 men had overlapping sex partners, raising HIV risk
2007-10-31 08:35:00
www.wavy.comA University of North Carolina study shows that one in every ten men observed in a 1-year period had overlapping sexual partnerships, which could be a contributing factor in the spread of HIV.The UNC researchers also found that the prevalence of concurrent sexual partnerships was higher among black and Hispanic men than in other groups. Those men also are likely to have had sex with other men, and to have female sexual partners who also have concurrent sexual partnerships.The findings were based on data collected from 4,928 men during a 2002 survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The study is published in the December 2007 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.Photo by ABC News
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Vitamin D Won't Help Prevent Most Cancers
2007-10-31 08:26:00
www.forbes.comHigh blood levels of vitamin D did not lower the overall cancer death rate in a long-term study, researchers report. However, they did note a marked reduction in colorectal cancer deaths linked to the vitamin.The findings, by a team from the U.S. National Cancer Institute, run counter to some earlier data suggesting that vitamin D might help prevent malignancy."Over the past several years, a number of publications have suggested that vitamin D can reduce deaths from various forms of cancer," said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. "This is a further bit of evidence that leads us to call for further investigations before we make recommendations for the general population."Even the finding that the vitamin might lower colon cancer risk merits further study, added Lichtenfeld, who was not involved in the research. "We have called for further research to see if vitamin D does or does not reduce deaths from cancer," he said. "W...
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Report: Heart Disease Patients Getting Younger
2007-10-31 08:03:00
www.thepittsburghchannel.comMedco Health Solutions said more young adults are now using cholesterol drugs and blood pressure drugs than ever.Experts said there are a couple of reasons young people are using these medications, including obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.But doctors are much more aggressive these days in preventing heart attacks and stroke.Not long ago, a heart attack nearly took Laura Younger's life."When I stood up to leave the room, that's when I collapsed, and my heart stopped," she said.Paramedics got her heart beating again, and Younger got smart about diet and exercise.New data show many young adults could benefit from her example.According to Medco, between 2001 and 2006, the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs jumped 68 percent among its 20- to 44-year-old customers. The rates rose from 2.5 percent to more than 4 percent, or roughly 4.2 million Medco customers.Blood pressure drugs increased in that age group from 7 percent to 21 percent in the...
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Israeli leader to have surgery for early-stage prostate cancer
2007-10-30 08:06:00
www.startribune.comJERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert revealed Monday that he had been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer and would undergo surgery, but he said his condition was not life-threatening and he would stay on the job."According to what my doctors have told me, it is a matter of a microscopic growth that hasn't spread and can be removed by a short surgical procedure," Olmert said at a news conference. He said he had been told there would be no need for radiation or chemotherapy.Olmert said the surgery was planned "in the next few months," and an aide said it would not occur before U.S.-sponsored peace talks set to begin in November or December in Annapolis, Md.Olmert, 62, said that while he was not legally obliged to disclose information about his medical condition, he wanted to bring it promptly to the public's attention on his own initiative.Olmert had a biopsy on Oct. 19 and received the results about a week later, said Dr. Shlomo Segev, one of hi...
More About: Cancer , Surgery , Prostate Cancer , Early , Stage

Boiled Nuts Help Protect Against Illness
2007-10-30 07:34:00
www.foxnews.comBy DEANNA BELLANDI, Associated Press WriterFor lovers of boiled peanuts, there's some good news from the health front. A new study by a group of Huntsville researchers found that boiled peanuts bring out up to four times more chemicals that help protect against disease than raw, dry or oil-roasted nuts.Lloyd Walker, chair of Alabama A&M University's Department of Food and Animal Sciences who co-authored the study, said these phytochemicals have antioxidant qualities that protect cells against the risk of degenerative diseases, including cancers, diabetes and heart disease."Boiling is a better method of preparing peanuts in order to preserve these phytochemicals," Walker said.The study will appear in Wednesday's edition of the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The other co-authors in the study are A&M researchers Yvonne Chukwumah and Martha Verghese, as well as University of Alabama in Huntsville researcher Bernhard Vogler.Walk...
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America Aims Having Smoke-free Workers to Save Medical Bills
2007-10-29 09:50:00
www.newkerala.comSeveral business houses in America are conducting help-programmes to encourage their workers to stop smoking in order to reduce their medical bills.A recent survey indicated that one-third of companies with at least 200 workers offered smoking cessation as part of their employee benefits package. The companies have to spend as much as 900 dollars to give a participant free nicotine patches and drugs to ease withdrawal. Phone sessions with smoking addiction counselors can cost more than the estimated 16,000 dollars including the additional lifetime medical bills that a typical smoker generates, according to federal health data. That federal figure does not count the costs of absenteeism or the drain on productivity when smokers periodically duck outside for a cigarette, New York Times newspaper reported.With business employers accounting for about 650 billion dollars of the nation's 2 trillion dollar annual medical bill, companies have monetary incentive to get work...
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Hypertension Drugs May Prevent and Treat Alzheimer?s, Study Finds
2007-10-29 08:12:00
Drugs commonly used to treat hypertension, may be successful in preventing Alzheimer ?s disease, according to a new study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.In the study, researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine found that geriatric patients who are being treated for high blood pressure with hypertenstion drugs may cut their risks of developing Alzheimer?s disease.The researchers studied more than 1,500 drugs currently available to treat other disorders to determine the effectiveness of the drugs in preventing Alzheimer?s. They found that of the 55 drugs studied, seven drugs used to treat hypertension were the most effective.Researchers found that the drugs prevented beta-amyloid production, a fragment of protein in the brain that is usually eliminated but forms a kind of plaque, or blockage, in the brain of Alzheimer?s patients.The drugs may also prevent further deterioration in those who are already afflicted with Alzheimer's, according to the study. One d...
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Girls to Get Cervical Cancer Jab
2007-10-26 12:07:00
www.midlothianadvertiser.co.ukGirls aged 12 to 13 are to be vaccinated to help protect against cervical cancer, the Scottish Government has said. A "catch-up" immunisation campaign for older teenage girls aged up to 18 is also planned to be launched from next September.A Scottish Government spokesman said the vaccination campaign will extend over several years.By the time it is completed, it is hoped around 120,000 girls in Scotland under 18 will have taken part. Some estimates of the cost of each jab have been put at ?250, resulting in a potential bill of ?30 million for the country.Similar vaccination measures have been announced by the Department of Health in England, with a catch-up campaign starting for girls older than 13 from Autumn 2009. But health chiefs in Scotland are hoping to bring forward vaccinations for girls older than 13 a year in advance.The Scottish Government spokesman said: "We are still looking at how this will work, but we want to move to the catch-up campaig...
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Study: Hypnosis Works to Treat Hospitalized Smokers
2007-10-24 13:45:00
www.foxnews.comPatients who are hospitalized may be more likely to quit smoking with the help of hypnotherapy, according to researchers. A study, conducted by the North Shore Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital in Salem, Mass., found that more patients were likely to quit smoking after six months, compared to patients who used nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or those who wanted to quit on their own, which is known as going "cold turkey." Researhers also found that patients who were admitted to the hospital with cardiac disease were three times more likely to quit smoking than those with pulmonary (lung) problems.Researchers studied 67 patients with cardio and pulmonary diseases who wanted to quit smoking. The patients were divided into four groups, based on their preferred method of treatment, including: 14 using hypnotherapy; 19 using an NRT; 18 using an NRT and hypnotherapy; and 16 who wanted to quit "cold turkey".The control group received brief counseling while ...
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Another Bird Flu Death In Indonesia
2007-10-24 13:12:00
www.news-medical.netBird flu has claimed another victim in Indonesia bringing the country's death toll from the deadly virus to 89.The latest case of the H5N1 strain of bird flu was in a four-year-old girl who died on Monday after being admitted to hospital two days earlier.A health ministry official says the child was from Tangerang, west of the capital Jakarta, and had been suffering from a fever; she died after being transferred to Persahabatan hospital in Jakarta.Health officials are investigating the case, and reports from the health ministry's bird flu centre say four chickens had previously died in the child's neighbourhood.Almost all cases of the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu have been the result of contact with sick fowl and the virus is endemic in the bird populations in most parts of Indonesia.Millions of Indonesians keep chickens in their backyards which live in close proximity with humans.Authorities have struggled to impart the most basic precautionary measures to ...
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Whole Grain Cereal Reduces Heart Failure Risk
2007-10-23 09:33:00
www.dogflu.caResults of a new study find that eating whole grain cereals can reduce a person's risk of developing heart failure.It has long been known that eating cereal with whole grains could reduce one's blood pressure and risk of having a heart attack, but now according to U.S. researchers they can also reduce the risk of heart failure.For their study, Djousse and colleagues studied the breakfast habits of more than 21,000 male doctors with an average age of 53.7 years for nearly 20 years.They found that men who ate 1 bowl of whole grain cereal per day, had a 28% reduced risk of developing heart failure compared to men who did not."Eating half a cup to a cup of whole grain breakfast cereal may help lower your blood pressure. It may help lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease," said Dr. Luc Djousse of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston."This study adds another piece to the puzzle. It may also lower your risk of heart failure," he added.Acc...
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The Global Problem of Obesity
2007-10-23 08:41:00
www.webmd.comMore Than Half of Those in Worldwide Study Overweight or ObeseBy Salynn Boyles The obesity epidemic is actually a worldwide pandemic that has global implications for health and disease, new research shows.In one of the largest studies ever to examine obesity rates across the globe, researchers found that more than 60% of men and 50% of women were either overweight or obese.They concluded that obesity is a growing problem in all regions of the world, even among traditionally lean Asian populations."The study shows that excess body weight is pandemic, with one-half to two-thirds of the overall study population being overweight or obese," researcher Beverley Balkau, PhD, of the French health service INSERM, says in a news release.Obesity WorldwideThe study involved 69,409 men and 98,750 women from 63 countries across five continents evaluated by their primary care doctors for body weight, height, cardiovascular disease (heart disease or stroke), diabetes, and waist circumf...
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New Blood Test Can Detect Cigarette Smokers Who Lie About Thier Habbit
2007-10-23 08:38:00
www.allheadlinenews.comNidhi SharmaPeople who hide a cigarette habit can easily be caught now. Researchers have found a new blood test that identifies levels of carbon monoxide in a person to determine whether someone is a smoker or not.The device, pulse cooximeters detects levels of carbon monoxide in patients and firefighters, a U.S. study found. It can also be used to detect carbon monoxide levels in people who smoke, thus educating patients about the effects of smoking. Study author Dr. Sridhar P. Reddy of St. Clair Pulmonary and Critical Care, St. Clair, Mich., said, "It starts a conversation to make people more and more aware of what smoking can do to them and to give them more information about why they should quit, instead of a boring sermon every time." If smokers knew their blood carbon monoxide levels, they might be more motivated to quit smoking or never start in the first place. Reddy said.Pulse oximeter is a device that's placed over the fingertip and measures oxygen ...
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Risk factors of breast cancer
2007-10-22 12:38:00
www.jamaica-gleaner.comTHE RISK of developing breast cancer should be of concern to women and men alike. There are several risk factors associated with breast cancer. You may be curious to know what a risk factor is. A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of developing diseases such as arthrosclerosis, diabetes and cancers.Some risk factors, such as age, race and gender, cannot be changed as they are linked to the person. Other risks are linked to cancer-causing factors in the environment. Today, with the increase in lifestyle diseases, several risk factors for cancers are triggered by lifestyle and personal behaviour. These include diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and sedentary lifestyle.AgeThe breast cancer risk factors that you will not be able to change include age, race and gender. As you age, your risk of breast cancer increases. At age 55 and over, two of every three women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.According to the American Cancer Society, ...
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FDA: Sudden Hearing Loss Linked To Erectile Dysfunction Drugs
2007-10-19 12:05:00
money.cnn.comThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it's approved new erectile dysfunction drug labels to more prominently display the potential risk of sudden hearing loss.The labeling change - first reported by CNBC - applies to Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE) Viagra, Eli Lilly & Co.'s (LLY) Cialis, Levitra marketed by GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK), Schering-Plough Corp. (SGP) and Bayer AG (BAY). The agency said the change will also apply to Pfizer's Revatio, a drug with the same active ingredient as Viagra that's used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.The FDA said it found a total of 29 reports of sudden hearing loss among patients taking the erectile dysfunction drugs. The agency said the search of its adverse-events database was prompted by a case report in medical literature of a patient with sudden hearing loss who was taking Viagra. Such adverse-event reports, which are filed to the FDA by drug companies, doctors and patients, does not mean a particular drug has cau...
More About: Drugs , Men , Loss , Erectile Dysfunction , Hearing

Bicycle-Related Injuries a Big Concern for Kids
2007-10-19 09:43:00
www.ivanhoe.comNew research reveals bicycle injuries are more common in children and adolescents than previously believed. Researchers from Columbus Children?s Hospital in Ohio analyzed data from the 2003 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project?s Kids ? Inpatient Database. They looked at hospitalization for bicycle-related injuries according to patient demographics, type of injury, total hospital charges, and length of hospital stay.Results show bicycle-related injuries lead to nearly $200 million a year in hospital inpatient costs. Gray Smith, M.D., Dr.PH., from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, was quoted as saying, ?Bicycle s are associated with more childhood injuries than any other consumer product except the automobile. The high rate of hospitalization and use of healthcare resources identified in our study supports the need for increased attention to bicycle-related injuries.?Researchers report motor vehicles were involved in about 30 percent of bike-related hospit...
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Amoeba Warning Signs To Be Posted
2007-10-19 09:40:00
www.azcentral.comSigns warning of the dangers of a rare amoeba will be posted at Lake Havasu, suggesting swimmers take precautions such as plugging their noses when they dive.The City Council decided to take the action after last month's death of Aaron Evans, 14, who doctors believe was infected with the microscopic amoeba, Naegleria fowleri (nuh-GLEER-ee-uh FOWL'-erh-eye), while swimming at the lake."I'm happy with it," said Keith Evans, Aaron's grandfather. "It shows they're stepping up."The city will post the signs 1 mile from the lakefront. Arizona and California share jurisdiction on the remaining lake frontage, along with county and state agencies and Indian tribes. Mohave County also is considering posting signs and the Board of Health will take up the matter next month. The signs the city plans to post will warn against dangers including "drowning, physical injuries and illnesses caused by amoebas and bacteria, which exist naturally," according to city staff.The signs d...
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Parental Heart History Critical For Both Genders
2007-10-19 09:36:00
www.chicagotribune.comBy Melissa HealyWhen a man suffers a heart attack at a young age, klaxons sound and red flags flutter for his son. Pointing to a son's inherited risk of going down the same road, physicians probably will urge him to stay away from cigarettes, watch his weight and exercise regularly. And there's growing evidence that that advice prompts many men to take heed - especially the recommendation to exercise.But do alarm bells sound for the female child of a premature heart attack victim - and does she hear them? A study in the September issue of the American Heart Journal suggests the answers are no and no. The study establishes that although the daughters of families with premature heart disease are at higher risk of developing heart disease themselves, they either are failing to get that message or not bothering to heed it.Between ages 30 and 50, these women are more likely to be overweight and to smoke than are their female peers without a family history of heart...
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Obesity linked to colon cancer in women
2007-10-17 11:32:00
abclocal.go.comObesity causes a number of health problems. But now, researchers say, it's the biggest risk for a certain kind of cancer in women. Researchers led by doctors at Stony Brook University in New York say obesity is the single biggest risk factor for colon cancer in women. They found that women with precancerous polyps in the colon were more likely to be obese than women without polyps. And obesity was better at predicting who would have these growths than smoking or having a family history of colon cancer. Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. It will affect 153,000 Americans this year. This study was presented to a meeting in Philadelphia of the American College of Gastroenterology.
More About: Women , Cancer , Colon Cancer , Colon

Amylin drug suspected in pancreatitis cases: FDA
2007-10-17 11:22:00
in.reuters.comWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc's and Eli Lilly and Co's diabetes drug Byetta may be linked to cases of acute pancreatitis in some patients, U.S. health officials said in an alert issued on Tuesday.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it has reviewed 30 reports of pancreatitis in patients taking Byetta, known generically as exenatide."An association between Byetta and acute pancreatitis is suspected in some of these cases," an FDA alert said.Amylin has agreed to add information about acute pancreatitis to the precautions section of Byetta's label, the FDA said.Shares of Eli Lilly and Amylin were off 1.3 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively, in afternoon trading after the FDA alert. Shares of Alkermes Inc, the drug-delivery technology of which is being used to develop a long-acting version of Byetta, were down about 5 percent.Officials at Amylin were not immediately available for comment. A Lilly spokeswoman had no immediate comment.The FDA s...
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