Health News

Health News for 07/19/10

July 19, 2010

Parents Can Help Limit Kids' Exposure to Medical Imaging

Outdoor summer fun can sometimes lead to falls and injuries in children, so parents would be wise to get informed about the use of medical imaging tests before an emergency occurs that requires X-rays or CT scans, an expert says.

Major Leaguers Seem Prone to Injuries in First Half of Season

Now that the Major League Baseball All-Star break has passed, the number of player injuries should slow down for the remainder of the season, new research suggests.

Health Tip: Drive Safely in the Dark

Driving at night can be more challenging and more dangerous, especially if you have impaired vision.

Health Tip: Why Are My Eyes Red?

The sclera, or white area of the eye, appears red when blood vessels swell.

Cigarette Smoke May Up Cancer Risk By Interfering With Genes

Exposure to cigarette smoke can undermine the immune system and raise the risk for cancer, cell death and metabolic problems by harming gene expression, new research reveals.

Aggressive Drug Therapy May Help Slow Spread of AIDS

SUNDAY, July 18 (HealthDay News) - Effective and widespread treatment of HIV disease may also help cut the rate of new infections, researchers report.

New Guidelines Urge Earlier Therapy for HIV Patients

Starting antiretroviral treatment (ART) when an HIV patient has no symptoms can prevent the progressive immune system destruction that leads to AIDS, according to new treatment guidelines released by the International AIDS Society-USA Panel.

Flu Vaccine Via Skin Patch Shows Promise in Mice

Wouldn't it be nice if you could get the flu vaccine through a stick-on skin patch instead of a shot?

Ban Point-of-Sale Tobacco Ads in Retail Outlets, Researchers Urge

Point-of-sale tobacco advertising is a major cause of teen smoking in the United States and should be banned, Stanford University Medical School researchers say.

Obesity as Young Adult May Boost Psoriatic Arthritis Risk

People who are obese at age 18 are at increased risk of developing psoriatic arthritis, a new study suggests.

Researchers Use Ecstasy to Treat PTSD

A small study suggests that the illicit "club drug" Ecstasy may have one positive use: making psychotherapy more effective for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Many False-Positive HIV Test Results for Those in AIDS Vaccine Trials

Almost half of HIV-negative people who participate in clinical trials for HIV vaccines end up testing positive on routine HIV tests -- even though they're not actually infected, a new study shows.

Study Suggests Higher Cancer Rate Among IVF Babies

Children conceived using in vitro fertilization have a higher risk of developing cancer than do children who were conceived naturally, new research shows.

Voice Recorders Seem to Help Detect Autism

An analysis of soundtracks from a recording system worn by young children might detect differences in vocalization and help researchers identify those children who may have autism or language delays, a new study suggests.

Better Way to Predict Success of Second IVF Attempt?

A new technique could give women a better idea of whether they're likely to become pregnant in a second attempt at in-vitro fertilization (IVF) after failing a first time.

Could PCBs Help Boost Blood Pressure?

People in an Alabama city who had higher levels of the chemicals known as PCBs in their bodies were much more likely to have high blood pressure, a recent study found, but it's not clear if the PCBs actually caused their hypertension.

Health Highlights: July 19, 2010

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

Clinical Trials Update: July 19, 2010

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

Patient's 'Lost' Blood Can Be Reused in Trauma Surgery

Reusing an injured patients' own blood during emergency surgery costs less and avoids the risks associated with using donated blood for transfusions, new research suggests.

Cholesterol Screening Rates Too Low in Young U.S. Adults: CDC

Only about half of young adults in the United States undergo cholesterol screening, even though up to one-quarter of them have elevated levels of "bad" cholesterol, a new study has found.

Can Cell Phones Cause Another Kind of Ringing?

Regular cell phone use may increase the risk of developing persistent ringing in the ear -- a condition known as tinnitus, a small Austrian study suggests.

Poverty Driving HIV's Spread Among Urban Heterosexuals: Report

In the poorer neighborhoods of America's cities, about 1 in every 50 heterosexual adults are now infected with HIV -- a much higher rate than is seen in the general population, U.S. health officials report.

Vaginal Gel Cuts Risk of HIV Infection, Study Shows

A vaginal gel applied consistently before and after sex reduced the risk of HIV infection by more than half, according to a study presented Monday at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna.