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Health News

Drugs, disease, healthcare, government and lifestyle: health news beyond the plate.

Disease

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: What you need to know

The 1994 case definition requires severe chronic fatigue of six months or longer with other conditions excluded, plus four or more symptoms: impaired memory or concentration, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, muscle and joint pain, new headaches, unrefreshing sleep and post-exertional malaise.

Disease

Getting infected with flu may be a blessing (Press release)

UC Davis researchers identified more than a dozen epitopes on the 2009 H1N1 virus that also appear in seasonal flu strains. They suggest this may explain why many people over 60 carry some immunity and why symptoms have been generally mild, pointing to cell-mediated immunity.

Oct 14, 2009

Lifestyle

Cell phones raise brain cancer risk*

A meta-analysis in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found no link between cell phone use and tumours across all 23 studies, but a 10 to 30 percent higher cancer risk among users when only the eight studies the authors rated high quality were counted.

Oct 14, 2009

Miscellaneous

How to Use Proxy to Change Your Country and Bypass Internet Restrictions

A guide to getting around geographic restrictions on web services, covering open proxy servers, the FoxyProxy Firefox plugin, and VPN options including FreeVPN, Feeedur, HotSpotShield and UltraVPN.

Oct 14, 2009

Miscellaneous

Children Exposed to Dogfighting at Chicago Day Care Center

Three men were arrested when deputies raided a dogfighting operation run at a day care center in suburban Maywood; one charge was upgraded to felony dogfighting after video of an animal being burned to death turned up on a phone. Neighbors heard the fights.

Oct 14, 2009

Miscellaneous

Anti-GMO organization needs your help

A fundraising appeal from an anti-GMO institute, announcing a donor's offer to match $10,000 in contributions processed by October 31 and quoting messages left by recent donors.

Oct 14, 2009

Lifestyle

Giving birth early cuts breast cancer risk

Analysing 17,035 women in the Malmo Diet and Cancer Study, Butt and colleagues found women who never gave birth were 39 percent more likely to develop breast cancer and far more likely to have large or grade III tumors. A late first birth carried a 39 percent higher risk.

Oct 13, 2009

Government

FDA Admits to Massive Conflict of Interest

The FDA acknowledged that four New Jersey congressmen and its own former commissioner unduly influenced approval of ReGen Biologics' Menaflex knee patch, which its scientific reviewers had repeatedly judged unsafe. All four lawmakers had recently received campaign contributions from ReGen.

Oct 13, 2009

Miscellaneous

How can I protect my computer from online threats?

A consumer guide to online threats for home broadband users, defining spyware, viruses, Trojans and worms and pointing to OnGuardOnline.gov for protection tips, plus US-CERT instructions for scanning and removing the Conficker/Downadup worm.

Oct 13, 2009

Miscellaneous

The Dr. Oz Bait for Vaccines: Why Did He Do It?

Dr. Mehmet Oz took a flu shot on his show along with his studio audience, but told Fox News and CNN that his wife and four children will not get the swine flu vaccine. Mercola uses the contrast to argue against annual flu shots.

Oct 13, 2009

Disease

Healthy people not immune from H1N1 swine flu

CDC's Anne Schuchat said 45 percent of adults hospitalized with H1N1 had no known preexisting condition and 6 percent were pregnant, though more than half had asthma, lung or heart disease or immune disorders. The figures come from about 1,400 adult and 500 child records.

Oct 13, 2009

Environment

VA Extends Agent Orange Benefits to Vets

The VA added B-cell leukemia, Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease to the illnesses presumed connected to Agent Orange, a change it estimates could reach 250,000 veterans. Secretary Eric Shinseki said the agency would review such illnesses faster.

Oct 13, 2009

Healthcare

Premium Changes in Medicare Part B and D

Because Social Security has no cost of living increase for 2010, most Medicare Part B premiums stay flat, but the quarter of beneficiaries on Medicaid, in higher income brackets or newly enrolled will pay more. Part D premiums rise from $28 to $30.

Oct 13, 2009

Environment

Good Neighborhoods Provide Support of Health Seekers

Data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis show people in neighborhoods that encourage walking and cycling are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and easy access to fresh produce cut risk 38%. A Temple study found corner-store snacks can undo school efforts.

Oct 13, 2009

Drug

Hormone therapy raises breast cancer risk with a sign

In Women's Health Initiative data on more than 16,000 women, those who developed new breast tenderness a year after starting estrogen-plus-progestin therapy were significantly more likely to develop breast cancer than others on the same therapy. Researchers say they do not know why.

Oct 12, 2009

Drug

Some H1N1 Strains Showing Tamiflu Resistance

WHO reports 31 strains of H1N1 resistant to Tamiflu, though they still respond to Relenza. Pharmacies are also running short, partly because patients with flu-like symptoms are routinely given Tamiflu without confirmation that they have influenza.

Oct 12, 2009

Drug

Relenza use cautions by GlaxoSmithKline and FDA

After a pregnant woman died when Relenza powder was dissolved and nebulized through a ventilator, GlaxoSmithKline and the FDA warned clinicians the inhalation powder must not be reconstituted or nebulized. The FDA approved the drug in 1999 despite its advisory committee's 13-4 vote to reject it.

Oct 11, 2009

Disease

Swine flu deaths: What you need to know

CDC figures put the overall H1N1 death risk well below hazards such as traffic accidents, but children face higher risk than adults. As of September 2009, 76 U.S. children under 18 had died, 19 of them in the preceding week, seven in Texas alone.

Oct 11, 2009

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