Health News for December 21, 2007

Cardiovascular disease remains top cause of deaths in the US
Latest data from the American Heart Associations Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics shows that though death rates due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are declining, it is still the biggest cause of deaths in the US. ANI

Evidence for new malaria vaccines efficacy
A new study conducted by researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicines Center for Global Health and Diseases has new evidence that a Duffy binding protein-based vaccine provides protection against malaria, reducing infection and disease rates. ANI

Health benefits of dark chocolate can be deceptive
Think twice before indulging into dark chocolate the next time, for claims that the sweet is good for your health might have been misleading, according to health experts. ANI

Sea cucumber protein may impair development of malaria parasites
A new study has suggested that a sea cucumber protein, CEL-III, could be used as an effective tool to inhibit the development of the malaria parasite. ANI

Researchers modify good guide pyramid for older adults
Researchers at Tufts University have come up with a modified food guide pyramid for the older adults to guide them about the forms of foods that could best meet their distinctive needs. ANI

7 common medical myths busted
A recent study has shown common medical beliefs such as drinking eight glasses of water a day is essential or reading in dim light can damage eyesight are unproven and false. ANI

Active computer games are no alternative for real sports: Study
New generation active computer games may be a great alternative to sedentary games, but they still cannot suffice as a substitute for real sports, cites a new study. ANI

Artificial skin with hair cells hastens wound healing
A new Artificial Organs study has revealed that artificial skin with living hair cells used for dressing wounds can speed up the time it takes for an injury to heal. ANI

Can too much dark chocolate be a bad thing?
Too much of chocolate can be bad for health. However, for one greedy parrot, it turned out to be positively fatal. ANI

Study shows how to prevent muscle weakness caused by myasthenia gravis
Researchers at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine have found that severe muscle weakness caused by myasthenia gravis, a debilitating autoimmune disorder, can be stopped or reversed by blocking a key step in the immune response that triggers the disease. ANI

American Heart Association reveals top 10 medical advances in 2007
The top research advances in heart disease and stroke for 2007 include several new studies on genetics and stem cell research, along with studies that continue to debate the use of stents to clear coronary artery blockages. ANI

New technique paves way for cheaper, quicker stem cell therapies
Scientists at the University Of California, Irvine, have found a novel way to sort stem cells which can prove to be quicker, easier and more cost-effective than current methods and may also speed up the production of future stem cell therapies. ANI

Computational tools may speed up drug development by years
A Virginia Tech chemist is working on computational tools that may one day speed up the drug development process by years. ANI

Acupuncture helps relieve crippling fatigue caused by chemotherapy
Researchers at the University of Manchester have revealed that acupuncture can alleviate the crippling fatigue related to chemotherapy. ANI