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Combined contraceptive pill does not cause weight gain in young women

Many young women do not want to start taking the contraceptive pill because they are worried that they will put on weight, or come off it because they think that they have gained weight because of it. However, a thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, has demonstrated that the combined contraceptive pill does not cause weight increase.

8 Jun 2011

Smoking increases woman's risk for peripheral artery disease 10-fold

A prospective study of initially healthy women aged 45 and over found that smoking is a potent risk factor for symptomatic peripheral artery disease, or PAD. PAD is a serious, often debilitating disorder, caused by narrowing of the arteries in the lower extremities. Symptoms of PAD include pain in the legs with normal activity and a feeling of tiredness in the leg muscles.

7 Jun 2011

Study finds consistent link between Parkinson's disease and melanoma

An analysis of several studies shows that people with Parkinson's disease have a significantly higher risk of melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer and the leading cause of death from skin diseases.

7 Jun 2011

Gay, bisexual teenagers more likely to engage in risky behavior

A new report finds that gay, lesbian and bisexual high school students are more likely than heterosexual students to engage in such risky behavior as smoking, drinking alcohol and carrying guns. The study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveyed 156,000 high school students and was released on Monday. This is the largest of its kind by the federal government.

7 Jun 2011

FDA grants orphan drug designation for Aradigm's ciprofloxacin to manage bronchiectasis

Aradigm Corporation today announced it has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ciprofloxacin for inhalation for the management of bronchiectasis (BE).

6 Jun 2011

WHO warns of tobacco dangers on World No Tobacco Day

"Tobacco will kill nearly six million people this year, including 600,000 non-smokers, because governments are not doing enough to persuade people to quit or protect others from second-hand smoke, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday," which was observed as World No Tobacco Day, Reuters/Toronto Sun reports.

2 Jun 2011

GE Healthcare launches global competition to raise awareness about cancer prevention

Today GE Healthcare launched a global competition on Twitter to raise public awareness about cancer prevention and healthy living.

1 Jun 2011

Ontario's doctors urge people to quit smoking on ‘World No Tobacco Day’

Today is World No Tobacco Day and Ontario's doctors are taking the opportunity to remind people about the dangers of smoking and are urging smokers to talk to their doctor about how they can quit for good.

1 Jun 2011

Cancer Research renews call for EU to adopt plain packaging on all tobacco products

On World No Tobacco Day today Cancer Research UK has renewed its call for the European Union (EU) to adopt standardised, plain packaging with graphic pictures of health warnings on all tobacco products.

1 Jun 2011

Increased stress not linked to multiple sclerosis

According to a new study that refutes earlier evidence, stress does not appear to increase a person's risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). The research is published in the May 31, 2011, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

31 May 2011

Stress does not appear to increase risk of developing multiple sclerosis

Contrary to earlier reports, a new study finds that stress does not appear to increase a person's risk of developing multiple sclerosis. The research is published in the May 31, 2011, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

31 May 2011

Vitamin D levels low in African Americans with multiple sclerosis

In the first major study exploring the connection between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis in African Americans, a team of scientists at the University of California, San Francisco has discovered that vitamin D levels in the blood are lower in African Americans who have the disease, compared to African Americans who do not.

30 May 2011

Brazilian Court denies claims for indemnification for damages attributed to smoking cigarettes

The judge of the 19th Civil Court of Sao Paulo denied the claims for indemnification brought by the Association for the Defence of the Health of Smokers (ADESF) in a class action suit filed against cigarette manufacturers Souza Cruz and Philip Morris Brasil that, according to the plaintiff, was evaluated at more than R$ 30 billion (US$ 18.4 billion).

27 May 2011

Gender, ethnicity, class, age and level of dependency affect success in giving up smoking

Where you live, how old you are and whether you're male or female all affect your chances of giving up smoking. These are the findings of a study which suggests that while NHS stop smoking services are effective in supporting some smokers to quit there are significant differences in the longer term success rates for specific groups who are trying to give up smoking.

27 May 2011

Research provides new understanding of how heroin affects the brain

New research from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health suggests that our understanding of how heroin affects the brain should be changed. A new report shows that heroin is metabolised to 6-MAM which then crosses the blood-brain barrier to cause the intoxicating effects that arise shortly after heroin administration.

27 May 2011

Longer looks: Stem cells, vaccinating against addictive drugs, the GOP's budget hatchet man

Krista and Tatiana are not like most other sets of twins. They are connected at their heads, where their skulls merge under a mass of shaggy brown bangs. The girls run and play and go down their backyard slide, but whatever they do, they do together, their heads forever inclined toward each other's, their neck muscles strong and sinuous from a never-ending workout. Twins joined at the head — the medical term is craniopagus — are extremely rare.

27 May 2011

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis two times more likely to have concurrent COPD

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are two times more likely to have concurrent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than healthy controls -- an association which was sustained even when variables such as age, gender, smoking and obesity were controlled for, according to a study presented today at the EULAR 2011 Annual Congress.

26 May 2011

ASTRO to honor two radiation oncologists with 2011 Gold Medal award

The American Society for Radiation Oncology has selected K. Kian Ang, MD, PhD, FASTRO, and Bernard Cummings, MB, ChB, FASTRO, as the Society's 2011 Gold Medal recipients.

26 May 2011

Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death in U.S. women

It's a silent killer, most women don't even know they have it. It's often thought of as a man's disease and may not receive as much attention as other illnesses, but coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in women in the U.S. It is so common that if you combine the number of women who die from the next five leading causes of death it would equal the number of women who die from CAD.

26 May 2011

FDA warns online retailers for illegal tobacco product marketing

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced it issued 11 warning letters last week to online retailers for illegally marketing tobacco products with misleading or unsubstantiated claims or descriptors indicating that they can be used to reduce harm or the risk of tobacco-related disease.

26 May 2011