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Health News for 01/18/12

January 18, 2012

Health Tip: Limit Drug-Food Interactions

Sometimes the foods you eat and the meds you take don't mix.

Health Tip: Avoid Sugary Foods for Healthier Teeth

Eating lots of sugary foods and snacks can lead to tooth decay.

Vaccine Against Bacterial Meningitis Shows Promise

A new vaccine to protect against meningococcus B, a common cause of bacterial meningitis, shows promise in clinical trials, researchers in Chile report.

Genes May Give Clues to Severe Form of Lupus

Researchers have identified a DNA sequence that appears to speed up the progression of lupus, an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks healthy tissues.

'The Pill' Can Help Ease Period Pain, Study Finds

There's more evidence that use of the oral contraceptive pill can help ease the cramps, bloating and other pain some women experience during their period.

Sleep Might Help Deepen Traumatic Memories

Your emotional response to a disturbing image or traumatic event is weaker if you remain awake afterward, while sleep reinforces unpleasant emotional memories, according to new research.

Study Maps Path From Smoking to Emphysema in Mice

Smoking activates certain genes and portions of the immune system, which in turn causes inflammation that leads to emphysema.

Flu Season Off to Slow Start, So Far

Could this be the flu season that wasn't?

Antidepressants Might Raise Fall Risk in Nursing Homes

Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are associated with an increased risk of falls in nursing home residents with dementia, a new study finds.

Gossiping Might Be Good for You

Many people regard gossip as idle chatter that can harm people's reputations, but it may have some benefits, such as reducing stress, discouraging bad behavior and preventing exploitation.

Genes May Guide Intelligence Throughout Life

Most people have met some 65-year-olds who aren't as "with it" as they once were, and some 90-year-olds who are still sharp as a whip.

Experimental Drug Might Help Some a Bit With Colon Cancer

The experimental cancer drug regorafenib appears to extend survival slightly in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, a new trial indicates.

Blood Test Shows Promise in Spotting Pancreatic Cancers Early

A new blood test may hold promise as a means of early detection and diagnosis for often deadly pancreatic cancers.

U.S. Wants to Buttress Alzheimer's Arsenal by 2025

With the Alzheimer's epidemic predicted to reach crisis proportions as the U.S. population ages, a panel of experts is meeting for two days to draft a plan to combat a disease that is fast emerging as one of the nation's biggest -- and costliest -- health threats.

Health Highlights: Jan. 18, 2012

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

New Drug Combo for Hepatitis C Shows Promise

A new cocktail of two investigational drugs appears to have successfully cleared the hepatitis C virus in people who don't respond to standard treatment.

Melanoma Drug's Link to Other Skin Cancers Identified

The recently approved drug vemurafenib (Zelboraf) has been hailed as a breakthrough in the treatment of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. But roughly one-quarter of patients who take the medication develop a troublesome side effect: secondary skin cancers called squamous cell carcinomas.

Some Women Can Go Longer Between Bone Checks: Study

New research suggests that older women who've had a normal result on a bone density scan -- a test that helps measure the strength of their bones -- may be able to wait as long as 15 years before getting another scan.

Voraxaze Approved to Treat High Levels of Chemo Drug

Voraxaze (glucarpidase) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat high blood levels of methotrexate, a common chemotherapy drug.