Health News

Health News for 06/07/10

June 07, 2010

Health Tip: Secure a Child's Swingset

A child's swingset must be properly assembled and secured to prevent serious injury.

Health Tip: Packing for a Camping Trip

As you're jotting down what to bring on that upcoming camping trip, don't forget to bring the essentials.

After a Stroke, Light Exercise Gets Hands, Arms Working Again

Low-intensity exercise can reduce depression and improve recovery after a stroke, a new study shows.

Muscle Tone May Play a Role in GERD

Reduced muscle tone in the esophagus may be the cause of acid reflux disease, new research suggests.

'Sleep Sex' Might Be Nightmare for Some

Sexsomnia -- having sex while asleep -- is a common complaint of patients seeking treatment for sleep disorders, new research shows.

Targeted Radiation for Early Breast Cancer a Good Option: Study

Radiation therapy that targets a specific area of the breast is as effective as whole-breast radiation in reducing breast cancer recurrence in some women and is far more convenient, a new study suggests.

Consistent Bedtime May Give Kids Developmental Boost

Sticking to a regular bedtime and getting enough sleep may help young children score higher on tests of development, a new study suggests.

Teen Headaches Tied to Alcohol, Coffee

A new German study links alcohol, smoking and coffee drinking to higher rates of migraine and tension headaches among teens and young adults.

Genetics Linked to Gambling Problems in Both Genders

Genetics play an important role in the development of problem gambling in both women and men, a new study has found.

Poor Asthma Outcomes in Black Kids Despite Access to Care

Even with equal access to health care, black and Hispanic children are more likely than white children to have asthma and their outcomes are often worse, a U.S. study has found.

Newer Drugs Beat Gleevec in Head-to-Head Trials

Two new drugs, dasatinib (Sprycel) and nilotinib (Tasigna), appear better than imatinib (Gleevec) in treating patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia and should be considered as first-line treatments, two new studies show.

Experts Revise Guidelines for Determining Brain Death

Determining brain death is a complex process that requires dozens of tests to make sure doctors come to the correct conclusion.

Military Deployment May Affect Kids' Health Care

The young children of a single parent deployed for military service are less likely to get medical care than the children of married service men and women, a new study has found.

Kids With Lesbian Parents Do Just Fine

When compared to teens of the same age, adolescents raised by lesbian parents are doing just fine socially, psychologically and academically, new research finds.

Post-Combat Stress Disrupting Daily Lives of Returning Vets

Up to 14 percent of soldiers returning from Iraq suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression that is severe enough to disrupt their daily lives, new research shows.

Researchers Report Treatment Headway Against Lung Cancer

Researchers report they prolonged survival for some patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, for whom the median survival is currently only about six months.

Novel Drug Combats Advanced Melanoma

Scientists say that a new drug to treat melanoma, the first in its class, improved survival by 68 percent in patients whose disease had spread from the skin to other parts of the body.

Targeted Therapy Shows Promise Against Deadly Brain Cancer

A preliminary study has found that a targeted treatment for medulloblastoma -- the most common malignant brain cancer in children -- may one day be able to treat drug-resistant forms of the disease.

Studies Suggest New Treatment Paradigms for Ovarian, Prostate Cancers

New research points toward novel ways to treat ovarian and prostate cancer, while producing a disappointment for those with a certain form of colon cancer.

Drug Made From Sea Sponge Fights Advanced Breast Cancer

A new chemotherapy drug made from a sea sponge extended the lives of women with metastatic breast cancer by about 2.5 months, researchers report.

Mouth Cancer Prognosis Improves When Cervical Cancer Virus Involved

For patients battling a type of cancer that affects the back of the mouth, the chances of survival increase if the tumor contains the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, new research shows.

Green Tea Compound Slowed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

A key component of green tea has shown promise as a non-toxic treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

40-Year-Old Gout Drug Shows Promise Against Angina

A new British study suggests that a standard treatment for gout, already in use for four decades, could be an effective and less expensive alternative to conventional drugs targeting chronic stable angina.

Health Highlights: June 7, 2010

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

Secondhand Smoke a Mental Health Hazard?

Long linked to physical ailments such as asthma, heart disease and lung cancer, secondhand smoke may now be tied to an increase in mental woes, new research suggests.

Clinical Trials Update: June 7, 2010

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