Health Archives

Religious devotion does not impact abortion decisions

Sociologist finds that factors such as grades and parents’ education are more influential than religious involvement for pregnant teens and young adults who face abortion decision. – Unwed pregnant teens and twenty-somethings who attend or have graduated from private religious schools are more likely to obtain abortions than their peers from public schools, according to sociological research published in the June issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

Health Net offers tips to let the sun shine in, safely

Health Net Offers Tips to Let the Sun Shine in, Safely – Health Net Inc. (NYSE:HNT) reminds everyone that it’s important to remember that this standout star (SUN) also is responsible for thousands of deaths annually due to skin cancer and heat-related illnesses.

$1 M grants to enhance food and feed safety, US

FDA Awards $1 Million in Grants to Three States to Enhance Food and Feed Safety – Arkansas, Nebraska, and Wisconsin funded for Food Safety and Security Monitoring. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently enhanced its food and feed protection initiatives with the award of three one-year Food Safety and Security Monitoring grants totaling $1 million to the states of Arkansas, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. The funds support cooperative agreements designed to create a national integrated food safety system through enhanced federal and state collaboration in food emergency response activities.

Palladia approved to treat cancer in dogs

FDA: First Drug to Treat Cancer in Dogs Approved – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the approval of Palladia (toceranib phosphate), the first drug developed specifically for the treatment of cancer in dogs.

Online cognitive behavioral therapy effective for chronic insomnia

Online cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in treating chronic insomnia – A study in the June 1 issue of the journal SLEEP demonstrates that online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic insomnia significantly improves insomnia severity, daytime fatigue, and sleep quality. Online treatment also reduces erroneous beliefs about sleep and pre-sleep mental arousal.

TV noise leads to delayed language development in infants

Audible television is associated with decreased exposure to discernible human adult speech and decreased child vocalizations. These results may explain the association between infant television exposure and delayed language development. – For every hour they spend in the presence of an audible television, parents speak fewer words and infants are less likely to make vocalizations in response, according to a report in the June issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Moderate alcohol intake reduces gallstone risk

Moderate alcohol intake reduces gallstone risk – two units of alcohol per day reduces the risk of developing gallstones by a third. – Health researchers at the University of East Anglia have found that drinking two units of alcohol per day reduces the risk of developing gallstones by a third.

Genes responsible for testicular cancer risk in men

Penn researchers discover genetic risk factor for testicular cancer. Gene is associated with a three-fold increase in risk. – Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have uncovered variation around two genes that are associated with an increased risk of testicular cancer.

Besivance eye drop approved to treat bacterial conjunctivitis

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Approves Besivance to Treat Bacterial Conjunctivitis – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Besivance (besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension 0.6 percent) for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis (non-viral), a contagious condition marked by irritation of the eyes and a discharge from the mucous membranes.

Healthy lifestyle is on decline in US

Following a healthy lifestyle is on the decline in the US – Researchers urge individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles, particularly in middle age. – Despite the well-known benefits of having a lifestyle that includes physical activity, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, moderate alcohol use and not smoking, only a small proportion of adults follow this healthy lifestyle pattern, and in fact, the numbers are declining, according to an article published in the June 2009 issue of The American Journal of Medicine.

How superbugs control their lethal weapons

How superbugs control their lethal weapons – It appears that some superbugs have evolved to develop the ability to manipulate the immune system to everyone’s advantage.

Oldest evidence of leprosy found in India

The Indian skeleton represents both the earliest archaeological evidence for human infection with Mycobacterium leprae in the world and the first evidence for the disease in prehistoric India. – A biological anthropologist from Appalachian State University working with an undergraduate student from Appalachian, an evolutionary biologist from UNC Greensboro, and a team of archaeologists from Deccan College (Pune, India) recently reported analysis of a 4000-year-old skeleton from India bearing evidence of leprosy.