Health News for May 19, 2008

Oz parents call for regulation of junk food ads
Majority of parents in Australia have urged the government to regulate junk food advertisements, as the commercials are making it harder for them to promote healthy eating habits among their kids, according to a survey. ANI

New data show finasteride helps prevent prostate cancer
Men and their doctors should consider a more aggressive approach that includes finasteride to prevent the development of prostate cancer, according to a comprehensive re-evaluation of the largest prostate cancer prevention study. ANI

Almost two-thirds of Brit women unaware of heart disease risk
A new research has revealed that almost two-thirds of Brit women are not aware that heart disease is the main cause of death among females. ANI

Unprotected sun exposure not the way to reduce breast cancer risk
A recent study linked decreased risk of breast cancer to increased sun exposure but now experts from Yale Cancer Center have warned that unprotected exposure to the sun is not a recommended way to reduce a persons risk of developing the disease. ANI

New drug to kill MRSA superbug on the anvil
British scientists are testing a new drug that they claim would wipe out the most dangerous strains of superbug MRSA. ANI

Simple device may help improve movement of recovering stroke patients
Auckland University researchers say that a new device they have created has shown some promise in improving the movement of patients affected by stroke. ANI

Liver molecule Ashwell receptor reduces mortality during sepsis
In a new study, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have found that the Ashwell receptor, a molecule present in liver of all animals, plays a key role in reducing the coagulation abnormalities during infection and sepsis, significantly improving the probability of survival. ANI

Scientist unravels metabolic properties of two deadly pathogens
A scientist from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia Health System has unravelled the metabolic properties of two deadly pathogens, Leishmania major and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ANI

Most kidney cancers are caught early today
A nationwide study by a UC San Diego Medical Center researcher has found that currently the number of patients likely to be detected with smaller tumors, in the earliest, most treatable stage of kidney cancer is much more than it was a decade ago, thus leading to a higher survival rate. ANI

Lubiprostone drug may improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
A new study from University of Michigan Health System suggests that new drug Lubiprostone can effectively treat irritable bowel syndrome or IBS symptoms in women. ANI

Heres what causes morning sickness
Morning sickness is considered to be a good sign of a healthy pregnancy, and now scientists have provided an insight into why it occurs. ANI

Depression, PTSD common among lung transplant patient caregivers
Researchers at the University of Washington have found that symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among caregivers of deceased lung transplant patients are four-to-five times more prevalent than in the average population. ANI

Neural cell transplants may be potential therapy for Parkinsons disease
Four primate studies have shown the possibility that neural cell transplants may be a potential therapy to treat neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinsons disease. ANI

Five myths about domestic abuse of men debunked
Domestic violence is not just limited to women, it can happen to men as well, according to Group Health research. ANI

Lack of sleep makes you fat, alcoholic, and a smoker
A new survey has revealed that people who sleep are more likely to be fat, smoke cigarettes, drink heavily and do little exercise. ANI

Gene screening may help catch skin cancer early
The results of three studies suggest that gene screening may help detect persons who are most likely to contract skin cancer after sitting in the sun. ANI

Rosehip more effective than painkillers for arthritis
Rosehip powder can be more effective in alleviating arthritis pain than painkillers, say researchers. ANI

Children with sickle cell disease at greater risk of lung diseases
Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at a greater risk of developing lung diseases following a decline in lung function, according to a new study. ANI

Breakthrough may pave way for personalized asthma and COPD therapy
Researchers have defined a new type of immune response in patients with severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder - a finding that could pave way for the development of personalised therapy for the condition. ANI

First transgenic nonhuman primate model of Huntingtons disease developed
Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, have reported the development of the first transgenic nonhuman primate model of Huntingtons disease (HD), a debilitating human neurodegenerative disease. ANI

Faulty gene increases aggressive prostate cancer risk
A mutant gene already known to increase the risk of ovarian and breast cancer also substantially raises the risk of aggressive prostate cancer say researchers in Australia. ANI

Obstructive sleep apnea treatment with CPAP may lower blood pressure
Researchers in Spain have found that hypertensive adults who are treated for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may also lower their blood pressure from the therapy. ANI

Obstructive sleep apnea causes early death in stroke victims
Researchers at the University Hospital in Umea, Sweden, have found that stroke victims who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea die earlier than stroke victims who do not have sleep apnea or who have central sleep apnea. ANI

Men more likely to die from pneumonia than women
A research team led by an Indian scientist has found that men who come to the hospital with pneumonia usually are sicker than women and are more likely to die over the next year, despite aggressive medical care. ANI

Air travel puts people with obstructive sleep apnea at cardiac stress risk
Researchers at the Department of Thoracic Medicine at Concord Repatriation General Hospital in Sydney, Australia, have discovered that people with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at an increased risk of cardiac stress on commercial airline flights. ANI

Stressed-out moms-to-be may predispose babies to asthma, allergy
A new study has found that mothers prenatal stress predisposes their babies to asthma and allergy. ANI