Other News

South Korean Parliament Passes Law Banning Type Of Cloning, Broadening Embryonic Stem Cell Research Reported May 20, 2008 South Korea's Parliament on Friday passed a law that bans inserting human somatic cells -- or cells that can form tissues and organs -- into animal eggs and allows researchers to use human embryonic stem cells to treat "general" … [Read more...]

Mothers try tricks to make kids drink milkReported July 26, 2008 DUBAI - Ten-year-old Ali raced out of the house and headed for the play area with his mother following him with the unfinished glass of milk, but to no avail. The youngster had already reached out of bounds on his bicycle. Mothers all over the GCC struggle with the same problem almost everyday, a new survey … [Read more...]

New study suggests military members don't get help for mental problemsReported February 13, 2008 MONTREAL - A new survey of active and reserve members of the Canadian Forces suggests many soldiers don't seek help for mental disorders and such problems as alcoholism. The study of 8,441 soldiers was carried out during the last year by McGill University, the … [Read more...]

Being kind to someone can give you faith in humanity, improve your mental healthReported December 26, 2007 TORONTO - A random act of kindness, such as smiling at someone or shovelling snow or cutting the grass for an elderly neighbour, "gives you faith in humanity," says the organizer of a kindness campaign. It's also good for your mental health when you're kind to … [Read more...]

Residents Say "Stop the Spraying!"July 13, 2007 BUENOS AIRES - Cultivation of genetically modified soybeans is expanding in Argentina, and with it, the use of herbicides. The "Paren de fumigar" (Stop the Fumigation) campaign warns against agro-chemical spraying in urban areas, as activists collect information about its impacts … [Read more...]

Mixing alcohol with energy drinks is a popular but dangerous habit Reported November 05, 2007 Mixing alcohol with energy drinks is a popular but dangerous habit among college students, according to new research that found those who combine the two tend to drink more, take more risks and are more likely to get hurt while drinking. The research, by investigators at Wake … [Read more...]

Blade-free Lasik comes to IndiaJuly 4, 2007 For some people who are seeking an alternative to the traditional LASIK incision (with blades) or who may be afraid to have a blade cut their cornea, there is good news. In the first of its kind in South Asia, state of the art LASIK machine, Intralase, is now available for the laser vision correction … [Read more...]

Japan's Hepatitis Victims Prepare Compensation Claims Reported January 16, 2008 Jan. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Only 10 percent of hepatitis C sufferers in Japan who caught the cancer-causing virus from contaminated blood products might be eligible for compensation because the source of infection for the others hasn't been … [Read more...]

Wine for children signals troubleReported December 26, 2007 I have seen the mother give her girls sips of her wine -- even hard liquor -- when she is drinking. We don't allow our children to do this. We have discussed drinking in moderation with them, but only when they are of legal age. This friend and her family will soon be coming to visit. She told me that she'll be … [Read more...]

Simple behaviors boost longevity Reported January 14, 2008 FOUR simple behaviors -- being physically active, not smoking, drinking moderately and consuming fruits and vegetables -- can increase longevity as much as 14 years, researchers have found. The study, published recently in the online journal PLoS Medicine, surveyed 20,244 men and women (ages 45 to 79) in the United … [Read more...]

Americanization Is Linked to DepressionReported August 12, 2008 A study of 439 U.S. and Mexican-born Latinas seeking pregnancy and postpartum services at public health clinics in San Antonio uncovered elevated levels of depression among the more "Americanized" women, report researchers from The University of Texas School of Public Health and The University of Texas Health … [Read more...]

Great Potential For Swedish Medical Technology   Reported December 30, 2007 Medical technology is an industry for the future in Sweden. However, to exploit the potential that exists, the industrial, academic and healthcare sectors will have to collaborate more closely on areas such as education and clinical research. … [Read more...]

Cellphones may spread superbugs in hospitals-Turkish researchersReported April 04, 2009 Cell phones belonging to hospital staff were found to be tainted with bacteria, including the drug-resistant MRSA superbug, and may be a source of hospital-acquired infections, according to study released Friday. Researchers from the Ondokuz Mayis University in Turkey led by Fatma … [Read more...]

Patients to be given 'personal health budgets' Reported January 13, 2009 Patients with conditions like diabetes and Parkinson's are to be given personal "health budgets" from the NHS to buy their own treatments, under Government measures. The direct payments are part of a pilot scheme designed to give patients more control over their care. … [Read more...]

Children should be among first to get swine flu vaccine: study Reported September 10, 2009 CHICAGO — Children should be among the first people to be vaccinated against swine flu if health officials hope to temper the severity of the epidemic, a study published Thursday has found. That's because -- as every parent knows -- schools are prime breeding grounds for spreading … [Read more...]

First Symptomatic Human WNV Case Confirmed In LA County Reported August 10, 2009 The Los Angeles County Health Officer has confirmed the first symptomatic human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in Los Angeles County for the 2009 season. The case is a teenager, with pre-existing medical conditions, from the Antelope Valley who became symptomatic in mid-July. The … [Read more...]

Urgent need to assess and treat babies suffering from chronic painReported June 30, 2009 TORONTO - Signs that an infant is experiencing chronic pain may be going unrecognized by doctors and other caregivers in hospitals due to a lack of consensus on what constitutes chronic pain in babies, according to a study led by a researcher at York University with collaborators … [Read more...]

Residents Say "Stop the Spraying!"July 13, 2007 BUENOS AIRES - Cultivation of genetically modified soybeans is expanding in Argentina, and with it, the use of herbicides. The "Paren de fumigar" (Stop the Fumigation) campaign warns against agro-chemical spraying in urban areas, as activists collect information about its impacts … [Read more...]

Adults, kids sought for H1N1 vaccine trials at IWKReported September 15, 2009 The IWK Health Centre in Halifax is seeking healthy adults and children for H1N1 vaccine trials. The IWK is one of several hospitals across Canada where the vaccine will be tested, likely in late September. The trials will be part of the process in getting the vaccine approved, an IWK spokesman … [Read more...]

Elderly not more anxious than young people, studies showReported August 11, 2008 The common notion that elderly people are more anxious than young ones is not supported by research, according to psychologists from the Berlin-based German Centre of Gerontology (DZA). Writing in the 4/2008 issue of the DZA periodical Informationsdienst … [Read more...]

Indian women live longer than menReported May 30, 2009 NEW DELHI: Women in India live longer than their male counterparts. But around 55 of 1,000 girls born every year don't live beyond their first birthday and 77 per 1,000 births don't live beyond the age of five. While a girl born in India today is expected to live for 65 years, the average life expectancy of a male child … [Read more...]

Plastic surgery clinics under scrutiny in DubaiReported July 22, 2008 DUBAI: Health inspectors have closed several plastic surgery clinics and revoked doctors’ licences as part of an aggressive effort to impose tougher regulations on the rapidly growing industry. The Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), a branch of the new Dubai Health Authority (DHA), is … [Read more...]

Quebecer offers bargain on diseased pancreas, raises ethical concerns Reported February 12, 2008 MONTREAL - A Quebec man trying to hawk his diseased pancreas over the Internet has found it is a buyer's market for hypoglycemic organs. Mario Meunier, of Riviere-du-Loup, Que., is hoping to raise awareness about a glucose deficiency known as nesidioblastosis, and cash … [Read more...]

Kidney stones may become more common with climate change: studyReported July 14, 2008 TORONTO - Some say passing a kidney stone is the closest men will ever come to experiencing the pain of childbirth, and a study released Monday suggests the excruciating experience may become more common with climate change. Researchers at the University of Texas believe cases of kidney … [Read more...]

Brazil to distribute 19.5 million condoms during carnival Reported January 30, 2008 Health officials in Brazil on Sunday began distributing millions of condoms ahead of the country's five-day Carnival in an effort to reduce the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The Ministry of … [Read more...]

More Canadians admit to drinking and driving: study Reported December 24, 2007 An increasing number of Canadians say they have driven their vehicles while they thought their blood alcohol level was over the legal limit and many did so multiple times, said the latest annual survey from the Traffic Injury Research Foundation. The percentage of respondents who reported … [Read more...]

Grassroots Efforts In India Fight Spread of HIV Reported June 19, 2008 After a prolonged back-and-forth between diverse agencies over actual HIV/AIDS statistics in India, the figure that India's National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) has settled on is an estimated 2.5 million people who are living with the virus in the country, accounting for … [Read more...]

Menopause More Kind To Japanese Women 3 November, 2007 Japanese women experience far fewer difficulties with menopause than their North American counterparts, reports the Center for the Advancement of Health. Most notably, reports of symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats are significantly lower among a … [Read more...]

Concept 1010 for daily fitnessReported June 13, 2008 A new fitness facility, Concept 1010, has no entertainment system or mirrors. Yet it promises results by eliminating distractions and maximising intensity. Stephen Snowball reports. "Cardio is a waste of time at best, and fitness clubs are more club than fitness. If you want strength and fitness, but don't have the time … [Read more...]

Sleep Apnea Patients May Suffer Memory Loss Reported June 12, 2008 People with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer brain injury and disrupted memory and thinking, new research by the University of California, Los Angeles reveals. Sleep apnea is caused by a blockage of the airways, usually when the tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. … [Read more...]