Caffeine Impairs Sugar Metabolism
Mar 20, 2005
Caffeine intake makes insulin more resistant to changes in blood sugar levels, Canadian researchers report. This effect was observed both in patients with and those without diabetes and could not be reversed with regular exercise or weight.

Basic Services Need to be Improved in Latin America to Fight Inequality
Mar 19, 2005
service coverage, particularly in education and health," said Guillermo ... countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras

Folate Does Not Appear to Increase Chance of Twins
Mar 18, 2005
Despite some evidence to the contrary, the folate supplements women are advised to take before getting pregnant do not appear to significantly boost the odds of having twins, according to the results of a large study.

Xolair 'Add-On' Useful in Uncontrolled Asthma
Mar 17, 2005
Individuals with severe persistent asthma who fail to gain adequate control despite standard treatment with multiple anti-asthma drugs, may benefit from the addition of Xolair (omalizumab), a study suggests.

Mercury Pollution, Autism Link Found - U.S. Study
Mar 16, 2005
Mercury released primarily from coal-fired power plants may be contributing to an increase in the number of cases of autism, a Texas researcher said on Wednesday.

FDA Panel Backs 2 New Whooping Cough Vaccines
Mar 15, 2005
A U.S. advisory panel on Tuesday urged approval for two new vaccines designed to elevate immunity against whooping cough, a disease that is making a comeback despite widespread immunization of children.

China Launches First Human Trials of AIDS Vaccine
Mar 13, 2005
China, criticized for a slow initial response to its AIDS/HIV crisis, has begun its first human trials of a new AIDS vaccine, Xinhua news agency said.

Canada 'Nowhere Near' Internet Pharmacy Clampdown
Mar 12, 2005
Canada said on Friday it was "nowhere near" deciding how to clamp down on Internet pharmacies that send cheap medicine to the United States, often without Canadian doctors having seen the patients.

Baby's Size Linked to Birth Size of Both Parents
Mar 11, 2005
Having a father who was a small infant more than triples the chances that a baby will also be born small. Furthermore, if this is the case for the mother as well, the likelihood is over 16 times greater, according to study findings reported by French and US researchers.

Hepatitis Outbreaks Tied to Use of Test Devices
Mar 10, 2005
Improper use of blood sugar testing devices likely fueled a string of hepatitis B outbreaks in U.S. nursing homes that killed two diabetics and sent a number of others to hospital, federal and state health officials said on Thursday.