US picks GE to develop medical isotopes

January 25, 2010 — CHICAGO (Reuters) - The US Department of Energy has selected a unit of General Electric Co <GE.N> to begin research on a domestic supply of medical isotopes, which are used in millions of diagnostic scans to test for cancer, thyroid or heart disease.

Fake forms of Glaxo diet drug can be dangerous: FDA

January 25, 2010 — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fake versions of GlaxoSmithKline's over-the-counter diet pill were contaminated with dangerously high levels of a prescription weight loss ingredient, U.S. officials warned on Saturday.

Huge variation in salt content of processed food

January 25, 2010 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many processed foods contain too much salt, and sauces, spreads, and processed meats are the top offenders, new research shows.

Malaria drugs may help patients with lupus

January 22, 2010 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Drugs used to treat malaria may be useful for patients with lupus, a chronic debilitating "autoimmune" disease, according to according to a new report.

EU agency urges ban on diet drug

January 21, 2010 — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - European authorities urged a halt to sales of an Abbott Laboratories Inc diet pill on Thursday after concluding risks were too high, while U.S. regulators said they had asked for a stronger warning.

One-fifth of US teens have unhealthy cholesterol

January 21, 2010 — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One in five American teens has unhealthy cholesterol levels, a major risk factor for heart disease in adults, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.

Strength training aids stroke-weakened hands, arms

January 21, 2010 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Strength training improves hand grip and arm function in people who have suffered a stroke without causing increased muscle spasticity or pain, according to combined data from multiple studies.

Salt reduction could save 92,000 U.S. lives a year

January 21, 2010 — BOSTON (Reuters Life!) - Shaving 3 grams off the daily salt intake of Americans could prevent up to 66,000 strokes, 99,000 heart attacks and 92,000 deaths in the United States, while saving $24 billion in health costs per year, researchers reported on Wednesday.

"Silent pandemic" will force drug price rethink

January 20, 2010 — LONDON (Reuters) - A "silent pandemic" of chronic disease is creeping up on poor countries and will force pharmaceutical firms to take a more tiered approach to pricing some of their most lucrative medicines.

Country star Charlie Daniels recovering after stroke

January 20, 2010 — LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - American country music performer Charlie Daniel, whose hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" won him a Grammy in 1979, is recovering at home after suffering a mild stroke, his agent said on Tuesday.

Fish oil protects against cellular aging

January 19, 2010 — CHICAGO (Reuters) - A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps keep the DNA of heart patients from unraveling, which may help explain why fish oil is so beneficial after a heart attack, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

Severe form of psoriasis ups heart disease risk

January 18, 2010 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People with severe forms of the inflammatory skin disease psoriasis are more likely to die of heart-related causes and stroke than those without the condition, new research shows.

Child fitness: Sneaky strategies aim to get kids moving

January 18, 2010 — NEW YORK, Jan 18 (Reuters Life!) Is your rug rat becoming a sofa spud?

Exercise protects and improves the aging brain

January 15, 2010 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Two new studies provide more evidence that regular aerobic exercise not only staves off the problems with thinking and memory that often come with age, but it can actually help turn back the clock on brain aging.

U.S. regulators pressed to speed up BPA decision

January 15, 2010 — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should immediately ban the use of the chemical bisphenol A in food and beverage containers, a U.S. environmental health advocacy group urged on Thursday.