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Gene variant that may increase the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease

Researchers from the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders (MIND) have identified a gene variant that may increase the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

2 Mar 2005

Natural mentoring relationships positively impact teens

Natural mentoring relationships positively impact teens, but these relationships do not meet all the needs of at-risk youth, according to a study by University of Illinois at Chicago researchers. The study appears in the March issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

2 Mar 2005

An apple a day keeps breast cancer away

An apple a day can help keep breast cancer away, according to a study in rats by food scientists at Cornell University.

1 Mar 2005

African-Americans receive less aggressive treatment for heart attack than whites

According to a study at the Maya Angelou Research Center on Minority Health at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, African-Americans continue to receive less aggressive treatment for heart attack than whites.

1 Mar 2005

Helping parents quit smoking should be considered in future public-health interventions that target youth smoking

A new study by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center suggests that parents who quit smoking when their children are young may have a big influence on whether their offspring will quit smoking as young adults.

1 Mar 2005

Youth smoking prevention campaign associated with substantial decrease in youth smoking

The American Legacy Foundation’s national truth youth smoking prevention campaign; accelerated the decline in youth smoking rates between 2000 and 2002.

1 Mar 2005

Diesel engines are posing a serious threat to public health

Air particles emitted mainly by diesel engines are posing a serious threat to public health, warn respiratory physiotherapists in a new report published by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

1 Mar 2005

Beautiful with HIV

HIV-positive women wearing evening gowns and sparkling jewels entered a beauty pageant in Botswana in an attempt to dispel the stigma that surrounds the deadly virus in this AIDS-ravaged southern African country with one of the world's highest rates of HIV infection. 37 percent of its 1.7 million population has tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS.

1 Mar 2005

Two FSA's, one mad one happy with Premier Foods

Two weeks after the worst food scare since BSE, it appears Premier Foods will not be penalized by the the Food Standards Agency (FSA). However Britain's other FSA might not agree.

1 Mar 2005

Nordic nations demand tighter limits on sun beds

Nordic nations are demanding the European Union impose tighter limits on sun beds, and are warning their sun-starved citizens they are at risk of contracting skin cancer from them.

1 Mar 2005

Aggressive industry promotion of prescription drugs may be a danger to patients and doctors

Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra hit the market in the late 1990s & 2001, as a breakthrough class of drugs for arthritis that would help avoid ulcers and other digestive ailments linked to medicines such as aspirin.

28 Feb 2005

Middle-aged women who take an active role in their health care may be less likely to develop cardiovascular disease

The results, presented today at the American Psychosomatic Society Annual Meeting, suggest women who believe they should take charge of their health, rather than rely solely on treatment by doctors, have fewer signs of pre-clinical atherosclerosis.

28 Feb 2005

First study to show cost-effectiveness of pre-diabetes intervention

More than 40 million Americans face a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and it would cost a lot to give all of them intensive help with diet and exercise, or medication, to keep them from developing diabetes.

28 Feb 2005

Project targeting the increasing resistance of some viruses to drugs

A new project targeting the increasing resistance of some viruses to drugs is being funded with the help of nine million euros under the Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health area of the EU’s Framework Programme.

28 Feb 2005

Fear of botulism as a bioterrorist weapon is to be reduced by British vaccine technology

Fear of botulism as a bioterrorist weapon is to be reduced, as the US government announces its support for a new British vaccine technology, which promises for the first time to provide an effective defence against botulism – the most deadly naturally occurring substance.

28 Feb 2005

San Francisco top city for health

The degree to which city people walk or ride bicycles for their daily transportation needs depends largely on how much green space there is, says a new study that examines the role of urban design in physical fitness.

28 Feb 2005

Methamphetamine, biggest illegal drug menace in America

Ten Attorneys General and officials from 13 other states came together today to attack what they called the biggest illegal drug menace in America: the use and production of methamphetamine.

28 Feb 2005

Promising new strategy for Swedish medical research

Research scientists at Karolinska Institutet are planning an international initiative to map out the relationships between health, genes and lifestyle. Discussion partners include world-leading researchers from the USA, Britain, Singapore and Norway.

27 Feb 2005

European approval of Pegasys for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B

The approval is granted for both types of the disease – HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B. Pegasys offers the hope of a treatment-free life for thousands of people with chronic hepatitis B as this innovative drug has been shown to achieve lasting remission for a significant proportion of patients.

27 Feb 2005

28 percent of injecting drug users acquired their needles from safe sources

Nearly half of injection drug users disposed of their used syringes safely, yet only 28 percent acquired their needles from safe sources, according to a study of injection drug users in Baltimore, Md., conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

27 Feb 2005