Health News for December 1, 2008

Breast cancer treatment effective in women with implants
Women with early-stage breast cancer who have had breast implants can be effectively treated with a partial-breast radiation treatment, say researchers. ANI

World AIDS Day celebrated in Tripura
Thousands of people in Tripura pledged Monday to step up the fight against HIV by spreading awareness about the dreaded virus. School children, health workers, different non-government organizations, people from different walk of life, including sex workers marched through the streets in Agartala - to mark World AIDS Day and educate the public about prevention and treatment for the HIV-positive. Students from different schools, collages and educational institutes, different non-government organizations, people from different walk of life including sex workers participated in the main rally that stated from the Stable ground here. ANI

Routine HIV screening can save lives
Experts suggest that routine HIV screening of people older than 13 years can help reduce transmission risk and save numerous lives. ANI

Prenatal smoking exposure disrupts sleep patterns in preemies
In a first of its kind study, scientists have shown that high levels of prenatal smoking exposure strongly modify sleep patterns in premature babies, which may have serious consequences for the development of the infants brainAccording to the results, preterm neonates born to heavy-smoking mothers who smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day lead to disrupted sleep structure and sleep continuity-from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. they slept almost two hours less than controls who were born to non-smoking mothers, and their sleep was more fragmented. ANI

New treatment eases heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis
A new study has found that combining an ultrasound-guided technique with steroid injection is 95 percent effective at relieving plantar fasciitis, a common and painful foot problem. ANI

Exercise may reduce age-related brain changes in older adults
Exercise can help prevent age-related brain changes in older adults, suggests a new study. ANI

Lower childhood IQ linked to increased risk of adult mental disorders
In a new, long-term study, researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) found that children with lower IQs showed an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders as adults, including schizophrenia, depression and generalized anxiety disorder. ANI

Chemical in paint may play role in promoting obesity
A new study has found that tributyltin, a ubiquitous pollutant that has a potent effect on gene activity, could be promoting obesity. ANI

Using cosmetics during pregnancy increase birth defect risk
Pregnant woman have been warned against the use of cosmetics, for they could lead to birth defects. ANI

Patna students call for more awareness on World AIDS Day
Students in Bihar capital Patna city on Monday took out rally to mark World AIDS Day, and called for generating more awareness to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. ANI

Some good cholesterol isnt actually good enough
Those who think that their levels of good cholesterol is up to the mark, then they might just need a reality check, for researchers have now found that the some good cholesterol isnt really good enough. ANI

MRI machines may be dangerous for cochlear implants
People with cochlear implants should avoid undergoing scans via magnetic imaging devices, such as 3T MRI machines, because scientists have now found that the machines can demagnetise the patients implant. ANI

Antibiotics make up single largest class of drugs causing liver injury
Scientists have named antibiotics as the single largest class of agents that cause idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI), says a new study. ANI

Drug combo may help treat previously resistant tumours
A team of scientists has discovered a potential treatment for a group of tumours that have resisted previous targeted therapy approaches. ANI

Treatment for food allergy on the anvil
Scientists across Europe are working towards developing a treatment for one of the most common and dangerous conditions for humans- food allergy. ANI

Novel statistical model may help reduce breast-lesion biopsies
Using MRI exams, scientists have developed a new method of characterizing breast lesions, which could in turn help in reducing biopsies of benign tumours with the benefits of reduced pain and expense for patients and providers, according to a new study. ANI

Group-based cognitive therapy as good as anti-depressant drug
A new study has found that group-based psychological treatment can offer an effective alternative treatment for people suffering from long-term depression. ANI