4/2 Yahoo! News: Health News

Elan, Wyeth abandon top dose of Alzheimer's drug (Reuters) April 2, 2009 at 3:41 am Reuters - Irish drugmaker Elan and its U.S. partner Wyeth have decided to stop testing the highest dose of their experimental Alzheimer's drug bapineuzumab in final-stage Phase III studies, they said Thursday. Gene Mutation Doubles Risk of Aggressive Colon Cancer in Blacks (HealthDay) April 1, 2009 at 11:49 pm HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- A genetic mutation may explain why blacks are more likely than whites to have a more aggressive form of colorectal cancer, U.S. researchers report. Atkins Diet Tougher on Heart After Weight Loss (HealthDay) April 1, 2009 at 11:49 pm HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- In the "maintenance" phase that occurs after initial weight loss, the popular Ornish and South Beach diets seem to be easier on the heart than the high-fat, low-carbohydrate Atkins regimen, a new study finds. Health Tip: Calming Chickenpox (HealthDay) April 1, 2009 at 11:49 pm HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Chickenpox, and its trademark itchy, red spots, is a common disease in children. Clinical Trials Update: April 1, 2009 (HealthDay) April 1, 2009 at 11:49 pm HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com: Voluntary test nipped tainted pistachios in bud (AP) April 1, 2009 at 10:31 pm AP - The reason it didn't take dozens of illnesses for federal regulators to learn about salmonella-tainted pistachios has nothing to do with federal regulations. 9 patients made nearly 2,700 ER visits in Texas (AP) April 1, 2009 at 9:19 pm AP - Just nine people accounted for nearly 2,700 of the emergency room visits in the Austin area during the past six years at a cost of $3 million to taxpayers and others, according to a report. The patients went to hospital emergency rooms 2,678 times from 2003 through 2008, said the report from the nonprofit Integrated Care Collaboration, a group of health care providers who care for low-income and uninsured patients. Study argues benefits of mammograms overstated (Reuters) April 1, 2009 at 8:18 pm Reuters - Women who believe mammograms will save their lives may be overestimating the benefits, two experts said in what is sure to be a controversial report published on Wednesday. Journal retracts diabetes study published in 2000 (AP) April 1, 2009 at 5:15 pm AP - A scientific journal is retracting a research paper published more than eight years ago that reported a gene therapy treatment had led to remission of Type 1 diabetes in rats and mice. Qiagen virus test cuts deaths from cervical cancer (Reuters) April 1, 2009 at 5:11 pm Reuters - A single test that looks for the virus that causes cervical cancer cut the death rate from the tumor in half, researchers in India reported on Wednesday. Protein-Folding Problem May Help Spur Alzheimer's (HealthDay) April 1, 2009 at 5:05 pm HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- A dysfunction in protein folding contributes to nerve cell death in Alzheimer's disease, a finding that could help lead to new treatments, Dutch researchers report. Clinical Trials Update: April 1, 2009 (HealthDay) April 1, 2009 at 5:05 pm HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com: 1 in 5 Medicare patients readmitted within month (AP) April 1, 2009 at 5:03 pm AP - One in five Medicare patients end up back in the hospital within a month of discharge, a large study found, and that practice costs billions of dollars a year. The findings suggest patients aren't told enough about how to take care of themselves and stay healthy before they go home, the researchers said. A few simple things — like making a doctor's appointment for departing patients — can help, they said. 9 patients made nearly 2,700 ER visits in Texas (AP) April 1, 2009 at 4:35 pm AP - Just nine people accounted for nearly 2,700 of the emergency room visits in the Austin area during the past six years at a cost of $3 million to taxpayers and others, according to a report. The patients went to hospital emergency rooms 2,678 times from 2003 through 2008, said the report from the nonprofit Integrated Care Collaboration, a group of health care providers who care for low-income and uninsured patients. Glaxo seeks OK to expand breast cancer drug use (AP) April 1, 2009 at 12:58 pm AP - GlaxoSmithKline PLC is seeking approval in the U.S. and Europe to sell an existing breast-cancer drug as a first-line treatment. Plan seeks to slash industry influence on doctors (AP) April 1, 2009 at 11:33 am AP - In a drastic proposal for limiting drug company influence on doctors and patient care, a group of prominent physicians says medical associations and their leaders should reject almost all industry funding. Gene Mutation Doubles Risk of Aggressive Colon Cancer in Blacks (HealthDay) April 1, 2009 at 9:03 am HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- A genetic mutation may explain why blacks are more likely than whites to have a more aggressive form of colorectal cancer, U.S. researchers report. Health Tip: Calming Chickenpox (HealthDay) April 1, 2009 at 9:03 am HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Chickenpox, and its trademark itchy, red spots, is a common disease in children. Atkins Diet Tougher on Heart After Weight Loss (HealthDay) April 1, 2009 at 9:03 am HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- In the "maintenance" phase that occurs after initial weight loss, the popular Ornish and South Beach diets seem to be easier on the heart than the high-fat, low-carbohydrate Atkins regimen, a new study finds.