Health News for July 23, 2008

Family history cannot predict breast cancer risk in women
Refuting claims of previous studies, researchers from Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands have revealed that family history cannot be taken as a strong predictor of breast cancer risk in women. ANI

Minimally invasive treatment gives male fertility a boost
Researchers at the University of Bonn in Germany have found that a minimally invasive treatment for a common cause of male infertility can significantly improve a couples chances of conceiving. ANI

Now, novel vaccine to protect against all four strains of dengue virus
In a breakthrough study, scientists at Maryland and South Carolina have come up with a novel four-component vaccine that has shown success against all four strains of the dengue virus in monkeys. ANI

Protein that may stimulate production of T-cells identified
A protein called Wnt4, which can stimulate the production of T-cells, the white blood cells that recognise and kill infectious agents, has been identified by Canadian and Finnish researchers ANI

New mouse model will help study olfactory loss in sinusitis
Scientists at a Johns Hopkins laboratory have genetically engineered mice to produce live models that may enable them to better understand olfactory loss often seen among sinusitis patients. ANI

Parasitic worm infections up AIDS risk
A new study has found that people with schistosomes, and possibly other parasitic worm infections, may be more likely to become infected with HIV than persons without worm infections. ANI

TB posing major challenges to HIV treatment
Health experts are urging the inclusion of tuberculosis prevention programs in HIV treatment and care, as TB is a major cause of death among HIV patients. ANI

Heath Ledger was probably a drug addict, says expert
Heath Ledgers consumption of drugs before his death indicates that he was probably an addict, according to Americas best-known addiction expert. ANI

Does too much sun exposure cause melanoma?
Too much sun exposure has always been linked with the increased risk of melanoma - the less common and deadliest form of skin cancer - but it is still unclear clear if this association is real or not. ANI

Serious school failure is depressing for girls, but not boys
Adolescent girls who are expelled, suspended or drop out of high school before they graduate are more likely to have a serious bout of depression by age 21 than boys with similar experiences, according to a new study. ANI

Iced tea ups kidney stones risk
Binging on iced tea may raise the risk of developing painful kidney stones, say experts. ANI

Coronary heart disease linked to dementia
People with coronary heart disease might be at an increased risk of developing dementia, according to a study led by an Indian-origin scientist ANI

Viagra boosts libido in women with antidepressant-related sexual dysfunction
Apart from its much-publicised role in boosting libido, Viagra or sildenafil is also found to improve sexual dysfunction caused due to antidepressants in women, says a new study. ANI

Being fit boosts womens chances of having orgasms
Fit ladies dont just have a healthy lifestyle, but as it turns out, they have a greater number of orgasms, claims a new study. ANI

Autistic children interact more easily with robots than humans
Experts at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering are studying interactions of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) with bubble-blowing robots, after finding that such kids interact more easily with mechanical devices than with humans. ANI