Health News for August 22, 2008

Indian penal code impeding AIDs control interventions
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Anubmani Ramadoss today said that the Health Ministry is lobbying with concerned agencies for removal of Section 377 of Indian Penal Code as it is impeding the Governments AIDS control measures. ANI

New discovery may lead to improved drugs for Alzheimers
Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers have identified the structures of a protein key to Alzheimers disease that may lead to development of new drugs. ANI

Some prostate cancer drugs actually help spread the disease
Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Centre have found that certain prostate cancer drugs can spur some cancer cells to grow. ANI

Tobacco marketing, movies promote youth smoking
Tobacco marketing and depictions of smoking in movies promote youth smoking, according to a new study. ANI

Body puts cells under arrest to protect against liver disease
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have found that a stable form of cell-cycle arrest, known to offer potent protection against cancer, also limits liver fibrosis - a condition characterized by an excess of fibrous tissue. ANI

Drugs to inhibit blood vessel growth may help cut brain tumour size
In a mice study, researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee have found that the drugs used to inhibit a specific fatty acid in brains with glioblastoma-like tumours not only reduced new blood vessel growth and tumour size dramatically, but also prolonged survival. ANI

Controversial pill helping smokers kick the butt
A controversial pill has caused a surge in the number of smokers quitting, official figures suggest. ANI

Damage to appetite control cells over time behind overeating as we age
A scientist at Monash University has found that appetite control cells in the human brain degenerate over time, which leads to increased hunger and potentially weight-gain as we grow older. ANI

Good bedtime habits can help relieve insomnia
Forget sleeping pills, the best long-term solution to insomnia is good bedtime habits, says a new study. ANI

Pain perception lies in the genes
A new study on women suggests that the perception of pain lies in ones genes, say researchers. ANI

Hormone replacement therapy can improve quality of life after menopause
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can significantly improve well being in women with menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats, according to researchers. ANI

How cocaine addiction develops
An international team of researchers has shed light on how cocaine addiction develops. ANI

Water mafias force poor to pay more for public water supply
A new report has indicated that worldwide corruption driven by mafia-like organizations throughout water industries is forcing the poor to pay more for basic drinking water and sanitation services. ANI

First trial to test new vaccine against multiple influenza strains successful
A new vaccine that could help fight several strains of influenza has passed its first phase of testing, according to researchers at the University of Texas at Galveston. ANI

Virus that can help incapacitate malaria-causing mosquito found
A team of scientists at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Healths Malaria Research Institute has identified a previously unknown virus that can help incapacitate malaria-causing mosquito - Anopheles gambiae. ANI

Kids with pet dogs risk being snorers later in life
Growing up with a pet dog increases the babys chances of being a heavy snorer in later life, claims a Swedish study. ANI

Happiness can cut breast cancer risk
A happy and optimistic outlook can cut a womans risk of developing breast cancer, says a new study. ANI