Health Highlights: Sept. 6, 2008

FDA Approvals

New Test Identifies Heart Transplant Rejection
Monitors gene activity in white blood cells

Bone Marrow Treatment Approved for Rare Bleeding Disorder
Stimulates marrow to compensate for low platelet count

First Treatment Sanctioned for Chorea in Huntington's Patients
The involuntary jerky movements that accompany the disease

Viread Approved for Hepatitis B
Already sanctioned to treat HIV

Injected Drug Approved for High Blood Pressure
When oral therapy isn't feasible

New Test IDs Cancer Cells in Tumors
Helps pinpoint which type of cancer is present

FYI

Health Tip: Controlling Asthma
Suggestions to prevent attacks

Health Tip: Avoid Yeast Infections
Things you can do

MRIs Don't Improve Breast Cancer Care, Outcome Study finds getting one delays treatment, raises odds of mastectomy. >> complete story

2 Techniques Found Effective in Carotid Artery Narrowing Angioplasty with stenting and endarterectomy successful in preventing ipsilateral stroke. >> complete story

For Even Healthy Men, Alcohol Seems to Lower Heart Attack Risk
Moderate drinking appears to be beneficial, but doctors are cautious

Scientists ID 2 New Genes for Bowel Disease in Kids
Findings could lead to tailored treatments for IBD, study suggests

Artery Plaque Rupture Can Occur Without Symptoms
But this makes build-up more vulnerable to future bursts, researchers find

Free Drug Samples May End Up Costing More
Uninsured patients tend to stay on these more expensive brand name drugs, study found

FDA to List Drugs Under Review for Safety Issues
But officials say patients taking meds on Web site shouldn't overreact or stop taking them

Obesity Worsens Asthma
Sufferers more likely to be hospitalized, have lower quality of life, study finds

Think You Are Lead-Free? Check Your Soil
Yards, parks in older U.S. cities retain high amounts of the toxin, research shows

No Place Safe From Allergies
Most can be controlled, but you need to know what triggers them, experts say

Chinese Work Sees Through Invisibility Quest
Researchers explain how theoretical 'anti-cloak' could bring objects out of hiding

Drug Re-Sensitizes Breast Tumors to Treatment
Phase II study finds sorafenib helps reverse disease resistance to anti-hormonal therapy

Almost Half of Adults Will Develop Knee Osteoarthritis by 85
Study finds risk is greatest for those overweight or obese at age 45

Last of Woolly Mammoths Had North American Roots
Beasts established themselves earlier than presumed

Blacks With Lung Disease Face Increased Cancer Risk
Men with prior history of COPD 6 times more likely to develop malignancy, study suggests

2 Million Cancer Cases Tied to Tobacco Use
The U.S. review covered the period from 1999 to 2004

Most U.S. Kids Getting Recommended Vaccinations
More than 77% are fully inoculated, federal officials say