Health News

Health News for 02/18/10

February 18, 2010

Scientists Spot Genetic 'Fingerprints' of Individual Cancers

Researchers have found a way to analyze the "fingerprint" of a cancer, and then use that fingerprint to track the trajectory of that particular tumor in that particular person.

New Technology Could Widen Reach of Vaccines

Researchers report that they've developed an inexpensive way to keep vaccines stable without the use of refrigerators or freezers, even in the high temperatures of the tropics.

Long-Distance Runners May Have Endurance in Their Genes

Variations in one gene are associated with athletic endurance and may make a difference in a runner's performance, a new study has found.

FDA Issues Warning on Key Asthma Drugs

THURSDAY, Feb. 18 (HealthDay News) - A new label warning will caution users of four widely used asthma drugs to avoid using these medicines as a sole or long-term means of symptom control, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday.

High Rates of Childhood Leukemia Seen in Iraq Province

Childhood leukemia rates more than doubled in a southern Iraq province over a 15-year period, although the exact cause for the increase is unclear, researchers say.

Device Helps Kids With Single-Sided Deafness

Bone-anchored hearing aids provide noticeable hearing improvement for children and teens with single-sided deafness, a new study finds.

Oxycontin Abusers Often Rely on 'Leftover' Meds From Friends

Almost all people who illegally use or abuse opioid painkillers such as Oxycontin or Vicodin get the drugs from a friend or relative who had a prescription, a new report shows.

Screens, Vaccine for HPV Less Beneficial in Older Women

As women age, they receive fewer benefits from frequent screening for human papillomavirus (HPV) and vaccinations to prevent the virus, new research shows.

FDA Approved Diabetes Drug Despite Hints at Cancer Risk

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is defending its decision in late January to approve a new diabetes drug, Victoza (liraglutide), even though animal studies suggest it might increase the risk for a rare thyroid cancer.

Clinical Trials Update: Feb. 18, 2010

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

Health Highlights: Feb. 18, 2010

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

Kidneys From Older Donors Suitable for Seniors

Too many American seniors who need a new kidney have to wait longer than necessary for a transplant, researchers say.

New Weight Loss Aid?

An amino acid called isoleucine may play an important role in weight loss, a new study suggests.

Early On, Hormone Therapy May Raise Women's Heart Risks

Hormone replacement therapy does not lower the odds of heart trouble in women who take the regimen to ease hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, a new study reports.

Chronic Migraines Take a Greater Toll

New research suggests that there's a difference between people who have migraines a lot and those who have them less often: The most frequent sufferers are in worse health overall, poorer and more depressed.

Tired Teens Prone to Car Crashes

Young drivers who are overtired from lack of sleep or poor quality sleep are twice as likely to have a car crash, Italian researchers report.

Anxiety Disorder Patients Process Emotions Differently

For those with the common mental illness known as generalized anxiety disorder, a new study has found that the brain processes emotions in abnormal ways.

Health Tip: Looking for Early Signs of Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a reading disability that can affect people of any age. But the initial signs often appear in early childhood, the Nemours Foundation says.

Health Tip: When Baby is Born With a Heart Murmur

Some babies are born with a heart murmur, which is a noise that blood makes as it flows through the heart. Most often, heart murmurs are considered harmless, says the American Academy of Family Physicians.