Health News for July 15, 2008

Bhutan seeks medical college in collaboration with AIIMS
Bhutan has sought Indias cooperation for setting up a medical college in collaboration with All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). ANI

Even background TV can be detrimental to kids development
Parents have long been advised to cut television exposure in kids under age 2, but a new study has shown that even leaving the television on in background while kids are playing can adversely affect their development. ANI

Long drives, mobile use can cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Researchers at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas have found that hours in the car can cause carpal tunnel syndrome and that the risk increases if the motorist talks on cell phone while driving. ANI

Moon dust may make breathing for astronauts difficult
Researchers from the United States have warned that inhaling fine-grained dust that covers the moon might make it difficult for the astronauts to breathe on its surface. ANI

Obesity is top health concern for US kids in 2008
A new report, released by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital National Poll on Childrens Health, has shown that childhood obesity is now the No. 1 health concern for US kids in 2008. ANI

Plastic surgeons serve safety tips to lessen ATV-related injuries
With an increasing number of ATV-related injuries in children, plastic surgeons have advised people to be more cautious and follow safety tips to help reduce the incidence of devastating injuries. ANI

Living near busy traffic streets ups kids allergy risk
Children living near busy traffic streets are at an increased risk of developing allergic diseases, a new study suggests. ANI

Prehypertension in youth ups atherosclerosis risk in adulthood
Young adults with prehypertension are more likely to have atherosclerosis in adulthood, according to a new research published in Annals of Internal Medicine. ANI

The smoking cessation therapies that are more effective than placebos
A total of six smoking cessation therapies have proved to have an edge over placebos when it comes to kicking the butt, revealed researchers from McGill University and the University of Montreal. ANI

Indoor air quality more harmful than outdoor air
One may crib about the pollution outside and prefer to stay inside the four walls of the home, but even this may not be a good idea, for researchers say that indoor air quality has a greater impact on health than outdoor air quality. ANI

89 percent of food products aimed at kids lack nutrition
A new study has revealed that 89 percent of childrens food products lack proper nutrition, with 62 percent of them still making health claims on the packaging. ANI

Scientists unveil yet another way HIV dismantles the immune system
Scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have unveiled yet another mechanism whereby HIV dismantles the immune system. ANI

Plant sterols may pose health risk
They might be known for lowering bad cholesterol and reducing heart disease risk, but plant sterols have their own health risks, say researchers. ANI

Snapshots of eyes may help catch diabetes early
Snapshots of eyes, used for detecting eye disease, can also serve as an early warning for diabetes, say researchers. ANI

Coronary heart disease patients have poor quality of life
Better treatments boost survival rates of coronary heart disease patients, but the quality of those extra years may be less than ideal, according to a new study. ANI

Diabetes intensifies tuberculosis risk
Individuals with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB), according to research published in the journal PLoS Medicine. ANI

Global warming may raise kidney stone disease risk, warn experts
In a new study, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and UT Dallas, have predicted that Global warming may increase the number of people affected by kidney stones.The researchers predicted that by 2050, higher temperatures will cause an additional 1.6 million to 2.2 million kidney-stone cases, representing up to a 30 percent growth in some areas. ANI

6,000 years old bones may help scientists combat TB
A team of researchers from Israel, Palestine, and Germany says that 6,000 years old bones excavated in Jericho may help combat tuberculosis. ANI

Access to cigarettes is key to kids decision to smoke
A new study has shown that kids who see cigarettes as easily accessible are more likely to end up as regular smokers, particularly if they have friends who smoke. ANI

50,000-year-old tummy bug may protect kids from asthma
A stomach bug may help protect kids from developing asthma, states a new study by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center. ANI

Why some people respond better than others to antidepressant citalopram
Mayo Clinic scientists say that variations in the serotonin transporter gene may help understand why some people respond better than others to treatment with an antidepressant medication called citalopram (Celexa). ANI

Seeing as important as doing for honing your skills
The age-old adage of practice makes you perfect has now been challenged as a new study by Dartmouth researchers has cited that watching, and not just doing, equally benefits people in honing their skills. ANI

Mapping anatomy of membrane proteins may lead to new therapies
By mapping the anatomy of a membrane protein for the first time in Australia, researchers at Sydneys Centenary Institute have taken a major step towards developing new therapies. ANI

Two separate studies link Huntingtons disease to overactive immune response in the brain
Two research teams from the University of Washington in Seattle and University College London have discovered that an over active immune response in the bloodstream and the brain may cause the same kind of damage to brain tissue as is seen in Huntingtons disease. ANI

Visual impairment linked to higher suicide risk
Visual impairment is linked to an increased risk of suicide through its indirect negative effect on health, says a new study. ANI

Drug-carrying nanoparticles may help kill paediatric brain tumours
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis say that they have moved a step closer to delivering cancer-killing medicines to paediatric brain tumours. ANI

Asians who immigrate to America before age 25 have poorer mental health
Heres some news for Asians leaving their countries for US shores: Those who go to the United States before they reached the age of 25 are more likely to have poorer mental health than those who immigrate later. ANI

Staying positive is good for mens hearts
Men really should learn to stay positive, for a new study has found that optimism is good for their hearts. ANI