Survival rates among American women after heart attack improvesOctober 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The number of younger women dying in the hospital after heart attack has significantly improved in recent years, say researchers from Emory University. Over the last decade several studies showed that younger women, but not older ones, are more likely to die in the hospital after myocardial infarction (MI) than age-matched men.
Vitamin pills can cause cancer, says expertOctober 19th, 2009 LONDON - Vitamin supplements do nothing to stave off illness and could even lead to cancer, a leading expert has warned. Professor Martin Wiseman, medical and scientific adviser for the World Cancer Research Fund, has pointed out that people who regularly take vitamin and mineral supplements instead of eating a balanced diet are at greater risk.
Red meat, fortified milk can stop anaemia in toddlersOctober 15th, 2009 SYDNEY - Increasing red meat or fortified milk intake can combat falling iron levels in toddlers, a common problem experienced by one in three babies. Increased amount of iron is needed by toddlers in their second year as a deficit can cause anaemia.
Drugs that block folic acid in pregnancy double birth defects riskOctober 14th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study, conducted by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, has warned that taking medications that reduce or block the actions of folic acid during the first trimester of pregnancy increase the risk that the growing baby will develop abnormalities. For the study, the researchers obtained medication data from pregnant mothers registered at Clalit HMO, Southern District, and drew information from 84,832 babies born at Soroka University Medical Center in Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Researchers identify gene that causes severe anaemiaOctober 13th, 2009 SYDNEY - Researchers have identified a gene variant linked to a severe form of anaemia which may improve our understanding of iron metabolism, says a new study. A new variant of the gene TMPRSS6 was identified by studying the genome of 4,800 healthy individuals from Australia and the Netherlands.
B-vitamin pills don't reduce risk of death from heart diseaseOctober 7th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A Cochrane Systematic Review suggests that B-vitamin supplements should not be recommended for prevention of heart disease because they do not reduce the risk of developing or dying from the disease. "There is no evidence to support the use of B-vitamins as supplements for reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke or death associated with cardiovascular disease," says Arturo MartÃ-Carvajal, of the Iberoamerican Cochrane Network in Valencia, Venezuela.
Vitamin B pills don't cut down risk of heart diseaseOctober 7th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Vitamin B pills don't cut down the risk of heart disease, says a new study. "There is no evidence to support the use of Vitamin B as supplements for reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke or death associated with cardiovascular disease," says lead researcher Arturo Mart-Carvajal of the Iberoamerican Cochrane Network in Valencia, Venezuela.
Antidepressant use during pregnancy puts newborns at increased health riskOctober 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Use of antidepressants during pregnancy might put the newborn child at increased health risk, according to researchers. The study led by Dr Najaaraq Lund showed that exposure to certain class of antidepressants can increase the risk of preterm birth, and can affect the overall health of the newborn.
India's neighbours debunk myths on reducing child mortalityOctober 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Poverty is the biggest threat to children's lives and the main reason why babies are dying at an alarming rate everyday, most of the respondents of a global survey contend. However, poor countries such as Bangladesh and Nepal have debunked this as myth by drastically reducing their child mortality rate over the last few years.
Smoking during pregnancy is risky for kidsOctober 1st, 2009 LONDON - Mothers who smoke during pregnancy put their kids at greater risk of developing psychotic symptoms in their teens. Researchers observed a 'dose-response effect', meaning that the risk of psychotic symptoms was highest in children whose mothers smoked the most heavily during pregnancy.
Pregnant mothers, quit smoking for kid's futureSeptember 22nd, 2009 SYDNEY - Women who quit smoking during the initial months of pregnancy are likely to ensure long-term benefits for their unborn children, says a new study, underscoring the benefits of giving up nicotine. "Even if a woman was smoking in initial months of pregnancy, it was not too late to quit to improve the outcomes for her child.
Amnesty urges Dominican Republic not to ban abortionSeptember 15th, 2009 LONDON - Amnesty International (AI) has warned that the proposed changes to the Dominican Republic's constitution could lead to a ban on abortions that would put "the lives of women and girls at risk". The text of Article 30 would establish the inviolability of life from conception to death, wording that would almost certainly lead to a total prohibition on abortion, AI said in a statement.
Iron accumulation in a cell can cause diseaseSeptember 10th, 2009 SYDNEY - The build-up of iron in a cell centre may lead to debilitating diseases which can cause brain and cardiac disorders, a study has revealed. The accumulation of iron in mitochondria, which is the centre for cell respiration and energy production, is toxic.
Build-up of iron in cells causes debilitating diseaseSeptember 10th, 2009 SYDNEY - The build-up of iron in cellular mitochondria, the centre for cell respiration and energy production, can bring on a debilitating hereditary disease like Friedreich's Ataxia (FA). The disease causes brain and cardiac disorders, ending in early death.
Oral contraceptive pills don't affect fertility in womenSeptember 7th, 2009 WELLINGTON - Taking oral contraceptive does not affect a woman's ability to conceive after she stops it, reveals a study. The study led by German researchers showed that neither the length of time the pill was taken nor the type of hormones used had an affect on pregnancy rates.
