1 in 4 US teen girls got cervical cancer shot   
Friday, October 10, 2008
One in four teen girls have rolled up their sleeves for the relatively new vaccine against cervical cancer, federal health officials said Thursday.

WHO probing deaths from mystery disease   
Friday, October 10, 2008
The U.N. health agency says it is investigating a mystery disease that killed three people in the South African city of Johannesburg.

German doing well after 1st double arm transplant   
Thursday, October 09, 2008
A German farmer who received the world's first complete double arm transplant said Wednesday that incredulity gave way to joy when he woke from surgery to discover he had arms again.

Stem cells from testicles an option to embryos   
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Cells taken from men's testicles seem as versatile as the stem cells derived from embryos, researchers reported Wednesday in what may be yet another new approach in a burgeoning scientific field.

University: Stem-cell study used falsified data   
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
The University of Minnesota has concluded that falsified data were used in a 2001 article published by one of its researchers on adult stem cells.

German doing well after double arm transplant   
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
A German farmer who received the world's first complete double arm transplant is recovering well and able to perform some basic tasks, though doctors said Wednesday it still could take up to two years before he relearns how to use his hands.

Task force: Colon cancer screenings can stop at 75   
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Most people over 75 should stop getting routine colon cancer tests, according to a government health task force that also rejected the latest X-ray screening technology.

Fan use linked to lower risk of sudden baby death   
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Using a fan to circulate air seemed to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in a study of nearly 500 babies, researchers reported Monday.

Doctors: No hamsters or exotic pets for young kids   
Monday, October 06, 2008
Warning: young children should not keep hedgehogs as pets - or hamsters, baby chicks, lizards and turtles, for that matter - because of risks for disease. 

Jump seen in staph-linked flu deaths in kids   
Monday, October 06, 2008
More children have died from flu because they also had staph infections, according to a new government report that urges parents to have their kids get the flu shot.

A dozen more Chinese dairy companies accused   
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Fifteen more Chinese dairy companies were identified Wednesday as producing milk products contaminated with an industrial chemical, further broadening a scandal affecting products ranging from baby formula to chocolate, authorities said.

Faster genetic test for flu virus approved   
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
The government approved a new genetic test for the flu virus Tuesday that will allow labs across the country to identify flu strains within four hours instead of four days.

West Nile season appears to be mildest in 7 years   
Monday, September 29, 2008
The West Nile virus season is on track to be the mildest in seven years, with less than a third the number of serious cases as last year's total, U.S. health officials said.

Mexico pushes national campaign to lose weight   
Monday, September 29, 2008
Abraham Leon was getting a checkup when he found out he had high blood pressure and was at risk of developing diabetes.

Calif. warns people not to flush pharmaceuticals   
Friday, September 26, 2008
The state of California has a warning for its 36 million residents: Do not flush pharmaceuticals down the toilet or drain, or they may end up in a river near you.

Medicare officials advise seniors to shop around   
Friday, September 26, 2008
Federal health officials encouraged Medicare participants on Thursday to shop around for their prescription drug coverage next year because it could include significant price increases or changes regarding which drugs the plans will cover.

Study: Extending time of stroke drug treatment OK   
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Stroke sufferers can still benefit from clot-busting medicine even if they receive it an hour or so beyond the current three-hour window after symptoms start, an important new study suggests.

Study: Seniors not quite embracing generic drugs   
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Seniors who switch between low-cost generic drugs and the original products based on who's footing the bill are likely driving up the cost of the government's Medicare drug plan, according to a new study.

Inhaler lung drugs tied to heart problems, deaths   
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Inhaler drugs used by millions of people with emphysema and bronchitis may slightly raise the risk for heart attacks and even death, a study suggests.

Regulator says hospitals need strict heparin rules   
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
A regulatory group told hospitals Wednesday to adopt strict measures to prevent errors involving blood thinners including heparin - mistakes that have been made nearly 60,000 times and led to dozens of deaths in recent years.