US President George W. Bush (C) speaks before signing the United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 at the White House in Washington, DC. The legislation triples funds to fight the killer diseases of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in the world's poorest countries, mainly in Africa.(AFP/Jim Watson)
WASHINGTON (AFP) -
US [...]
NEW YORK (Reuters) -
The new chief executive of
GlaxoSmithKline Plc said on Wednesday therapeutic vaccines used
to treat cancer and other diseases could become a major product
line for the world's second-largest drugmaker.
Andrew Witty said therapeutic vaccines, which prod the
immune system to attack specific proteins linked to diseases,
are one of the company's most promising areas of research.
[...]
CHICAGO (Reuters) -
Eli Lilly and Co's antibody drug for
Alzheimer's disease was safe and appeared to be dissolving
sticky brain plaques, but a three-month study was too short to
show any improvement in memory, company researchers said on
Wednesday.
The infused therapy, known by the experimental name
LY2062430, attempts to remove a brain-damaging protein called
beta amyloid via antibodies that attach [...]
NEW YORK - Two huge international studies show that people who lack certain chunks of DNA run a dramatically higher risk of getting schizophrenia, a finding that could help open new doors to understanding and diagnosing the disease.
These deletions are rare, each found in less than 1 percent of schizophrenia patients. But each one boosts [...]
Bananas are readied for sale at a Wal-Mart store in Santa Clarita, California April 1, 2008. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
Research shows that boosting
levels of potassium in the diet may lower a person's risk of
developing high blood pressure and may decrease blood pressure
in people who already have “hypertension.”
High blood pressure remains the chief [...]
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
Gummy bears containing a sugar
substitute called xylitol seem to reduce cavity-causing
bacteria on young children's teeth suggesting, researchers say,
that candy could be turned into a weapon against tooth decay.
Xylitol is a natural sweetener found in various berries,
corn, birch and other plant sources. Research has shown that
the sugar substitute reduces levels of [...]
CHICAGO (Reuters) -
A drug for Alzheimer's disease made by
Medivation Inc kept symptoms at bay for 18 months, U.S.
researchers said on Wednesday, but people who got the drug
after first taking a placebo fared less well, suggesting early
treatment is best.
The latest results, being presented at the Alzheimer's
Association's international meeting in Chicago, found Dimebon
was safe and continued [...]
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
While most people know that
smoking can cause lung cancer, a new study shows that few know
that it is a major risk factor for bladder cancer — even among
people who have the disease.
In a research review published in the Journal of Urology,
investigators found that in one recent study, just over one
third [...]
A large order of McDonald’s french fries is shown May 22, 2008. (Sam Mircovich/Reuters)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -
The Los Angeles City Council
unanimously voted on Tuesday to put a one-year ban on new
fast-food restaurants in one of the city's poorest areas,
marking the latest effort by a municipality to fight rising
obesity rates.
If approved by the mayor, the [...]
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
Garlic supplements may lower
blood pressure just as effectively as some drugs used to treat
hypertension can, according to a new research review.
“Supplementation with garlic preparations may provide an
acceptable alternative or complementary treatment option for
hypertension,” Dr. Karin Ried and colleagues from The
University of Adelaide in South Australia write.
Research to date on [...]