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Exposure to secondhand smoke can increase your chances of getting heart disease

In a study of women smokers, those whose spouses also smoked had a higher risk of stroke than those married to nonsmokers, according to a study in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

4 Aug 2005

High levels of physical activity can reduce your risk of stroke

High levels of physical activity, such as running, swimming or heavy gardening during leisure time can reduce your risk of stroke, according to a study reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. In addition, walking or biking to and from work for up to 29 minutes a day may also reduce the risk of strokes caused by a blood clot (ischemic stroke).

4 Aug 2005

Discovery may lead to new diagnostic tests for immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency and common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)

Defects in a single gene can result in two immune system disorders that leave affected individuals vulnerable to frequent or unusually severe infections, according to new findings reported in the August issue of Nature Genetics.

4 Aug 2005

New guidance highlights pharmacist's role in protecting vulnerable adults

Two new pieces of guidance, Child Protection and Protection of Vulnerable Adults, published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain this week 6 August 2005 will help pharmacists and registered pharmacy technicians recognise and act on instances where they believe patients may be victims of abuse.

4 Aug 2005

Australian researchers have found a toxin that plays an important role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease

The research, which is led by two University of New South Wales academics, is significant because drugs that are in the advanced developmental phase for other conditions might be able to be used on Alzheimer's patients, to halt the disease progressing.

4 Aug 2005

Table salt fluoridation can reduce the prevalence of dental caries

Table salt fluoridation can reduce the prevalence of dental caries up to 84 percent, according to a new book published by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), "Promoting Oral Health: The Use of Salt Fluoridation to Prevent Dental Caries".

4 Aug 2005

Sources of magnetic fields in the home

The UKCCS published the results of exposure to power frequency magnetic fields in 1999 followed by a paper on residential proximity to power lines in 2000.

4 Aug 2005

Power3 converts provisional patent applications

Power3 Medical Products announced today that it has converted two provisional patent applications by the filing of two utility patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the Company's disease specific biomarker discovery and disease specific immuno- diagnostic test designs.

4 Aug 2005

Australia to fight HIV/AIDS and improve maternal health in the Philippines

Australia will contribute $2.8 million to a United Nations program to improve maternal health and tackle HIV/AIDS in the Philippines, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Bruce Billson, announced today at the Regional Ministerial Meeting on Millennium Development Goals in Jakarta.

4 Aug 2005

Early warning aigns of Alzheimer's show up across cognitive areas years before official diagnosis

By combing through dozens of Alzheimer's disease (AD) studies, psychologists have gained a clear picture of cognitive problems in people who will develop the degenerative brain disease.

4 Aug 2005

Australian doctors are well connected to information technology in their practices

Australian Medical Association (AMA) President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said this week that doctors are well connected to information technology in their practices, with over 90 per cent of GPs using electronic prescribing and communications systems.

4 Aug 2005

Updated consumer guide explains dispute resolution process

The Kaiser Family Foundation and Consumers Union today released an updated guide to help consumers through the process of resolving disputes with their health plans.

4 Aug 2005

Flu medication VIRA 38 inhibits SARS virus

PRB Pharmaceuticals and Lee's Pharmaceuticals have announced that a recent study by Taiwan researchers from the National Health Research Institutes demonstrates TF2b and TF3, two components of v38 AMF-1, inhibit the 3C-like protease encoded by SARS-CoV. v38 AMF-1, a fraction of the flu medication VIRA 38, is best known for its ability to inhibit bird flu virus (H5N1) infections.

4 Aug 2005

FDA approval for Diovan (Valsartan)

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Diovan (valsartan), the most prescribed ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker) in the US and worldwide, for a new indication to reduce cardiovascular death in patients at high risk (with left ventricular failure or left ventricular dysfunction) following a heart attack.

4 Aug 2005

Hot flashes - women experience this symptom differently

Hot flashes are well known to most menopausal women - and to many who are in perimenopause, the transition to menopause.

4 Aug 2005

Genelabs drug discovery team advances compounds against the hepatitis C virus

Genelabs Technologies today announced that a non-nucleoside compound from its internal Hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug discovery program has advanced into preclinical development.

4 Aug 2005

Natural killer cells help understand responses to bone marrow transplants

Scientists have discovered that a group of important immune system cells has a surprising resemblance to cinematic British superspy James Bond: the cells receive a "license" that allows them to unleash their most potent attacks on enemies.

4 Aug 2005

MDMA/Ectasy could lead to new treatments for Parkinson's disease

Researchers at Duke University have revealed new clues about Parkinson's disease which might one day lead to new treatments.

4 Aug 2005

New breast cancer genes detected using cutting edge technology

Scientists in the UK say they have detected four new genes believed to be involved in the development of breast cancer.

4 Aug 2005

Final tests negative for mad cow disease in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, has determined that the non-definitive test result reported on July 27 is negative for BSE. Tests conducted by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge, England, are also negative for BSE.

4 Aug 2005