Reuters: Health News

Obama looks for Republican healthcare backing

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:33:10 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama sought on Thursday to persuade Republicans to support overhaul of the U.S. healthcare industry, his signature domestic policy goal, as the measures moved on a fast-track through congressional committees with only Democratic support.

H1N1 pandemic spreading too fast to count: WHO

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:32:47 -0400

GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that the H1N1 flu pandemic was the fastest-moving pandemic ever and that it was now pointless to count every case.

Treatment neutralizes muscular dystrophy in mice

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:34:12 -0400

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. researchers have found a way to block the genetic flaw that causes a common form of muscular dystrophy, the team reported on Thursday.

Dem Senator Baucus hopeful on bipartisan health bill

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:46:35 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus said on Thursday he is hopeful the panel can reach bipartisan agreement on a healthcare overhaul, and said Republicans as well as Democrats are working toward that goal.

Australia's "worst case scenario" 6,000 H1N1 deaths

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:47:02 -0400

SYDNEY (Reuters) - As many as 6,000 people could die from H1N1 in Australia this season in a "worst case scenario" if no preventive measures or vaccines are found, Australian Health Minister Nicola Roxon said on Thursday.

Alzheimer's gene speeds memory declines before 60

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:40:49 -0400

CHICAGO (Reuters) - People with the "Alzheimer's gene" begin to have memory declines tied to aging before they reach 60, even if they have no clinical symptoms of dementia, a U.S. research team reported on Wednesday.

Advances seen in treatment of knee ligament injury

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:03:37 -0400

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - New surgical techniques are helping to improve treatment of a lesser-known type of knee ligament injury, according to a research review.

Study will delve into oral health, memory link

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:44:38 -0400

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The National Institutes of Health has awarded $1.3 million to an interdisciplinary team that will investigate how people's oral health might affect their memory, and vice versa.

Weight gain during menopause tied to brain changes

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:02:58 -0400

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Healthy women who put on weight between the premenopausal and postmenopausal years risk losing nerve cells in the brain, research suggests.

Kids up to age 12 at risk of car-crash spine injury

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:54:12 -0400

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children younger than 12 are at heightened risk of suffering a spinal injury during a car accident -- possibly because standard seat belts often do not fit them properly, researchers report.