Health News

Health News for 01/26/12

January 26, 2012

Health Tip: Caring for Minor Burns

Minor burns, although painful, often can be treated at home. Proper care can help them heal faster while reducing the risk of infection.

Health Tip: Create the Right Environment for Sleep

It's important to create the right environment to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

Researchers Spot Potential Bile Duct Cancer Drug Targets

Researchers who identified a new genetic signature associated with bile duct cancer say their discovery could lead to targeted treatment for the deadly cancer.

Working Too Much Can Give You the Blues

People who work overtime are at much greater risk for depression, according to a new study.

Testosterone Exposure May Explain Boys' Language Delay

Infant boys exposed to high levels of the male hormone testosterone before birth have double the risk for language delay as females, according to a new study.

Factors Linked to Age of Onset of Menopause Identified

New genetic factors associated with a woman's age when she begins menopause have been identified by an international team of researchers.

Brain Activity May Help Predict Autism Before Age 1: Study

Infants younger than a year old who are at risk of developing autism may already have telltale brain responses when another person looks at or away from them, the results of a new study indicate.

Mutations in 2 Genes Linked to Rare Autism-Related Disorder

Newly discovered mutations in two adjacent genes cause a rare genetic brain condition called Joubert syndrome, according to a new study.

Too Many Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Inactive, Study Finds

More than 40 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients live a sedentary life, a new study finds.

More U.S. Babies Born at Home: Report

The rate of home births in the United States has made a dramatic upturn since 2004, reversing a trend of decline throughout the 1990s, government health officials said Thursday.

Study Finds No Link Between HPV Vaccine and Autoimmune Disorders

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil does not trigger autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, type 1 diabetes or multiple sclerosis, according to a two-year study that included nearly 190,000 girls and women.

Oral HPV Infection Strikes Men More Than Women: Study

Almost 7 percent of American men and women are infected orally with the human papillomavirus (HPV), new research reveals, with men showing significantly higher infection rates than women.

Test Might Predict Risk of Lung Cancer's Return

A new industry-funded study suggests that a molecular test can provide insight into whether patients are at high risk of a relapse after surgical treatment for a form of lung cancer.

Health Highlights: Jan. 26, 2012

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

Gang Murders Taking Toll on Young Males, CDC Says

The typical victim of gang-related homicide is a young minority male killed with a gun, but most of these murders aren't drug-related, according to a new U.S. government report.

Too Few Americans Getting Screened for Common Cancers: CDC

The number of Americans being screened for colon, breast and cervical cancers still fall below national targets, federal health officials said Thursday.

Statins May Stave Off Liver Cancer in People With Hepatitis B

Popular cholesterol-lowering statins may also lower risk for liver cancer among people with hepatitis B, a new study shows. Hepatitis B, an inflammation of the liver due to the hepatitis B virus, is one of the main causes of liver cancer.

Caffeine May Alter Women's Estrogen Levels

Caffeine changes women's estrogen levels and has different effects in Asian and white women, a new study says.