Health News

Health News for 02/01/10

February 01, 2010

Obama Proposes $911 Billion for Health and Human Services

The health-care portion of President Barack Obama's 2011 budget proposal includes $1.4 billion to overhaul the nation's food-safety program, $1.6 billion to expand child-care programs, and $1.7 billion to fight waste, fraud and abuse, Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of Health and Human Services, said Monday.

Mutating Genes May Lead to Premature Births

Researchers are reporting that a gene mutation in a pregnant mouse leads to changes inside the uterus that cause premature birth and, in some cases, death of the fetus.

Herbal Remedies Can Cause Cardiac Problems

The growing number of Americans who are taking traditional herbal medications for heart problems are unaware of the dangers those treatments pose, a new report says.

Antidepressants After Stroke May Boost Mental Ability

Taking antidepressants after a stroke may help repair the damaged brain and improve mental functioning, a new study suggests.

Abstinence-Only Classes Reduced Sexual Activity, Study Found

Adolescents who took abstinence-only sex education classes were more likely to delay having sex, a new study shows.

Genetic Variants in Depressed People Raise Suicide Risk

Researchers have identified five gene variants that raise the risk for suicide attempts in people suffering from depression.

Experts Issue Warning on Prostate Hormone Therapy

Men with prostate cancer and the physicians who treat them are being warned that the androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) commonly used against the malignancy might increase the risk of heart attack and cardiac death.

Poor Mental Functioning May Predict Stroke

Problems with memory or thinking abilities could signal an increased likelihood for a stroke in the future.

Diabetes Drug Helps Dieting Teens Lose Weight

A medication used to treat type 2 diabetes appears to help overweight teenagers lose weight when combined with a program designed to help them change their lifestyle habits, researchers report.

Preventive Steps Helped Summer Campers Avoid Swine Flu

An Alabama summer camp managed to contain the spread of swine flu by giving preventive Tamiflu to kids at risk and encouraging the use of sanitizers for hands and surfaces, a new report says.

As Kids Age, Secondary Schools Offer Less Support

Fewer than one in four U.S. parents give their local secondary schools an "A" grade for how they deal with students who have behavioral, emotional or family problems, a new survey shows.

Approval Expanded for Breast Cancer Drug Tykerb

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded approval for Tyberb (lapatinib) to include postmenopausal women with hormone- and HER2-positive advanced breast cancer who require hormone therapy.

Clinical Trials Update: Feb. 1, 2010

Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com :

Health Highlights: Feb. 1, 2010

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay :

Fewer Childhood Deaths From Rheumatic Disease

Death rates for U.S. children with rheumatic diseases are much lower than previously reported, a new study has found.

Loving Foster Homes Improve Kids' Attention, Impulsivity

Foster children who are placed in stable, loving homes show noticeable improvement in symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity compared to children who get moved around a lot and live with parents who are often annoyed or angry at them, research finds.

Stem Cell, Bone Marrow Transplants Both Benefit Leukemia Patients

Long-term survival rates are similar for leukemia patients who've had either peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) or bone marrow transplants, a new European study says.

Long Before Symptoms, Blood May Reveal Rheumatoid Arthritis

A blood test can predict rheumatoid arthritis long before a person notices symptoms, say Swedish researchers.

Health Tip: Have Clean Air at Home

Polluted air inside the home can aggravate asthma and allergy symptoms.

Health Tip: Feeding Baby Solid Foods

Babies may be able to try solid foods at age 6 months. But how do you know when they're ready?