Today's Medical News from WebMD.com

Today's top medical news and analysis from WebMD.com. WebMD is a leading provider of online information, educational services and communities for physicians and consumers.

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Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

Panel: New Tools Help Smokers Quit More people would quit smoking when doctors routinely offer counseling and medication -- and when health plans cover the expense, says a Health and Human Services panel.
Body Contouring Surgery Improves Plastic surgeons say they've refined techniques of body contouring surgery -- procedures that can remove excess fat after major weight loss.
Ginseng May Help Treat Schizophrenia A form of Asian ginseng shows promise for relieving schizophrenia symptoms that are difficult to treat.
Few Aware of Stroke Warning Symptoms A telephone survey of more than 71,000 adults in 13 states and Washington, D.C., has revealed that few people know the warning signs of a stroke.
Gamma Knife Snips OCD in Bud A high-tech procedure that delivers radiation deep within the brain relieved symptoms in half of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder who got no help from medication or talk therapy, a small study shows.
CDC: 52% With Diabetes Have Arthritis More than half of people with diabetes also suffer from arthritis, CDC researchers find
To Avoid Dementia, Watch Your Weight A study published in the May 2008 issue of Obesity Reviews shows that weight matters when it comes to warding off dementia: Obese people have an 80% increased risk for Alzheimer's disease compared to those with normal weight.
Withdrawal Symptoms From Smoking Pot? Heavy pot users who quit cold turkey may find themselves lighting up again to quell withdrawal symptoms, researchers say.
New Guidelines for Osteoporosis in Men The American College of Physicians is out with new guidelines to bring awareness to osteoporosis screening in older men.
Antipsychotics in Kids May Add Weight Children who are taking antipsychotic drugs should be regularly monitored for potentially dangerous changes in body fat and lipids, a researcher says.
Computers May Play Role in Some School Shootings Abrupt restrictions on excessive computer use may have contributed to the 1999 Columbine High School shooting rampage, according to a researcher.
Safest Spot for Baby's Car Seat? The safest spot for a baby's car seat is in the center of the back seat rather than on the sides, according to a new study.
Insulin, Pain Pumps Risky for Teens? The use of insulin pumps and pain medication pumps "may pose special risks for the adolescent," FDA scientists write in the journal Pediatrics.
Pregnancy: High Normal Blood Sugar Risky Babies born to women with even slightly higher-than-normal blood sugar levels are at increased risk for a range of pregnancy and delivery-related complications, findings from an international study confirm.
Speed Bumps in Teen Driver Knowledge? A new survey of more than 5,000 high school students suggests that while teen drivers generally understand common road safety risks, like driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and distractions, few recognize these hazards in real life or how they interact with their own inexperience.
Monthly Shot Treats Schizophrenia A new, once-a-month shot shows promise for the treatment of schizophrenia. The new drug, called paliperidone palmitate, is an injectable form of the second-generation, or “atypical,” antipsychotic medication Invega.
Perk of Good Job: Aging Mind Is Sharp Mentally demanding jobs come with a hidden benefit: less mental decline with age, a Duke study suggests.
1.3 Million Infants Injured Each Year CDC: Every 90 seconds, an injured infant enters a U.S. ER. Falls are the major cause; beds and stairs are the most dangerous places.
Deep Brain Stimulation Helps Depression Researchers are becoming increasingly convinced that tiny electric shocks delivered deep into the brain could mean new hope for patients with severe depression and other mental illnesses.
Men Also Get Postpartum Depression Postpartum depression hits new dads, too, a study shows.
Quit Smoking: Death Risk Drops Fast The risk of dying from smoking-related causes drops significantly within just a few years of giving up cigarettes, even for long-time smokers, new research shows.
Seroquel May Help Depression, Anxiety The antipsychotic drug Seroquel may help battle major depression and generalized anxiety disorder, two new studies suggest.
Adult ADHD Underdiagnosed? The criteria used to diagnose adult ADHD are outdated, and as a result, many cases could be missed or misdiagnosed, researchers say.
B Vitamins Fail to Lower Heart Risks Daily supplements of folic acid and B vitamins do not appear to lower the risk of heart disease or stroke in women.
FDA Panel Nixes 'Abuse-Proof' OxyContin A panel of expert advisors to the FDA took a dim view of efforts by OxyContin's manufacturer to market a new form of the prescription painkiller designed to cut down on tampering and abuse.
Bipolar Disorder Overdiagnosed? Many people who have been told by their doctors that they have bipolar disorder don't really have it, a study shows.
More Women Drinking More Hard-fought gains in women's rights come with an unwanted gain: rising rates of alcoholism in women born after 1953.
Antidepressants Linked to Preterm Birth Taking antidepressants in pregnancy may raise the risk of giving birth prematurely, researchers report.
Short Arms, Legs: A Risk for Dementia? The length of your arms and legs could help determine your risk for developing Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
Many Depressed Older Adults Lack Vitamin D Researchers have linked low blood levels of vitamin D to depression among older adults.
Ibuprofen May Cut Alzheimer's Risk The long-term use of ibuprofen and possibly other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers may help protect against Alzheimer's disease, but it is still not clear if the risks outweigh the potential benefits.
Does Breastfeeding Boost IQ? Breastfeeding may make your kid more intelligent, according to the latest study on the subject.
'Aspirin Resistance' May Be Common Some people who take aspirin to lower the risk of heart attacks and other clotting problems may have "aspirin resistance," according to new research review.
Shop Around if You Pay for Pills If you pay cash for prescription drugs, you may want to shop around before you buy.
New Baby Leaves Many Parents Clueless About 31% of parents in the United States are stumped when it comes to knowing how their little one should be behaving and developing.
Surgery to Lose Fat, Get Bigger Breasts? A technique known as breast enhancement with fat grafts or lipoaugmentation is showing promise, according to a panel of plastic surgeons at the annual meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in San Diego. Even so, they acknowledge that some concerns and questions remain to be resolved.
Fat Cells Slim Up, But Don’t Ship Out Weight loss will shrink fat cells, but it won't cut your number of fat cells, scientists note in the journal Nature.
Group: Few Reasons to Use Soy Formula The American Academy of Pediatrics is weighing in with a new review of soy formulas in infant feeding.
Parent's Mental Illness and Kid's Autism Children born to a parent with schizophrenia or certain other mental illnesses may have an increased risk for autism, new research suggests.
Preventive Surgery for Breast Cancer Many women who undergo a mastectomy for cancer in one breast and choose to have their other, healthy breast removed as a preventive measure are extremely satisfied with the results, researchers report.
Breast Cancer, Implants: Surgery Options Many women with breast implants who develop breast cancer can be effectively treated with breast-conserving treatment rather than a more disfiguring mastectomy, researchers say.
Younger Women Miss Heart Attack Signs Heart attack symptoms sometimes get missed or dismissed by women aged 55 and younger, a new study shows.
Fewer Breast Cancer Patients Get Chemo Women with breast cancer are increasingly being spared the misery and cost of chemotherapy, thanks to a test that characterizes each tumor by its genetic thumbprint.
Garlic & Vitamin Pill for Heart Disease? A pill containing aged garlic extract, vitamins, and other nutrients may slow the progression of atherosclerosis, UCLA scientists report.
New Clue to Milk and Diabetes Link? A protein found in cow's milk infant formula may up the risk of type 1 diabetes later in life, a study shows.
Less Income, More Pain? A survey shows income, education, and age are factors in how much pain you feel.
Enbrel Gets "Black Box" Warning The arthritis and psoriasis drug Enbrel now has a "black box" warning about the risk of serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death.
Measles Strikes 72 People in 10 States The CDC says measles outbreaks, linked to measles patients from other countries, are ongoing in Wisconsin, Arizona, Michigan, and New York.
More Teen Girls Faint After Vaccination The CDC notes a rise in reports of people ages 5 and older -- mostly teen girls -- who faint soon after vaccination.
Delusions Haunt Kids After Pediatric ICU Nearly one in three children admitted to a hospital's pediatric intensive care will have delusional memories that may raise risk of posttraumatic stress symptoms.