Health News

Health News for 09/23/10

September 23, 2010

Health Tip: Help Prevent Bed Wetting

Many children wet the bed until age 5, and an occasional lapse among even older children is common, experts say.

Health Tip: Raising the Risk of Overbite

An overbite, which doctors call malocclusion, occurs when the top teeth extend too far over the bottom teeth.

Experimental Leukemia Drug Proves a Slam Dunk

It was August 2004, and 24-year-old Ray Johnston was living his boyhood dream.

Animal Studies Offer Insights Into MS

Direct interaction between immune cells and nerve cells (neurons) appears to play a major role in neuronal damage associated with multiple sclerosis, says a new European study.

New Test for Heart, Kidney Transplant Rejection

A new blood test may offer a quicker, noninvasive way to detect organ rejection in heart and kidney transplant patients before the new organs are damaged, say researchers from the Stanford School of Medicine in California.

Booze Tax Hikes May Reduce Alcohol-Related Problems

Boosting taxes on alcohol leads to lower rates of alcohol-related disease, injury, death and crime, researchers say.

Gene Variations May Predict Severe Osteoarthritis

Genetic factors that may predict severe osteoarthritis have been identified by U.S. scientists.

Recent Stress May Reduce Cancer Therapy Effectiveness

Physical or mental stress one or two days before cancer treatment may reduce the effectiveness of the therapy, researchers have found.

Quality of Care at U.S. Hospitals Shows Improvement

There have been major improvements in the quality of care provided by U.S. hospitals, according to an annual report released this week by the national organization that accredits hospitals and other health-care organizations and programs.

Sexual Problems May Arise After Breast Cancer

Sexual problems are common among breast cancer survivors, according to new research.

Breast Cancer Cases in Canada Drop With Decrease in HRT Use

A decline in breast cancer rates among postmenopausal women in Canada earlier this decade coincided with a decrease in the use of hormone replacement therapy, a new study shows.

Texting Taking a Deadly Toll on Roads

Distracted driving fatalities caused by cell phone use and texting soared in the space of three years, according to new U.S. government research released Thursday.

Heart Defects Affect Racial Differences in Newborn Deaths: CDC

Congenital heart defects -- abnormalities present at birth -- contribute to racial differences in rates of newborn deaths in the United States, according to a study released Thursday.

Clinical Trials Update: Sept. 23, 2010

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

FDA Restricts Access to Avandia

In response to major concerns about heart risks, U.S. health officials on Thursday severely restricted use of the diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia) to patients with type 2 diabetes who cannot control their disease on other medications.

New Health Reforms Take Effect

Thursday marks the six-month anniversary of enactment of the sweeping U.S. health reform legislation, and the day that a number of key provisions of the law begin to take effect.

Surgery to Widen Neck Arteries Cuts 10-Year Stroke Risk: Study

For people whose carotid arteries have become narrowed, restricting blood flow to the brain, having a surgical procedure to widen them reduces the risk of stroke over a 10-year period, British researchers report.

Health Highlights: Sept. 23, 2010

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