Gene Thwarts Dry Macular Degeneration
A variant of the TLR3 gene may guard against "dry" age-related macular degeneration, a top cause of vision loss, Chinese and U.S. scientists report.

New Obesity Gene Clue Discovered
Glitches in the BDNF gene cut levels of a brain chemical and may make obesity more likely, report scientists at the National Institutes of Health.

Magnesium Sulfate May Cut Cerebral Palsy
Using the drug magnesium sulfate to stop preterm labor may make moderate to severe cerebral palsy less likely, new research shows.

Lessons Learned About Fading Brainpower
When it comes to getting older, is there a point when your mental functions start to wane?

'Sick' Fat Found in Obese People
The finding that fat cells from obese people behave differently from those in normal-weight people could help explain how obesity leads to diseases like diabetes.

Children Learn to Share by Age 7 or 8
Children develop altruism and the desire for things to be fair by the time they are 7 or 8, according to a Swiss study.

Diabetes Drug Byetta: 6 Deaths Reported
Six patients taking the type 2 diabetes drug Byetta (exenatide) are now reported to have died after developing pancreatitis.

45.7 Million in U.S. Lack Health Insurance
45.7 million Americans lacked health insurance in 2007 -- but thanks to Medicaid and SCHIP, 1.3 million fewer were uninsured than in 2006.

Cancer Knowledge Lags in Poor Nations
People in low-income countries may be less informed about cancer risks such as smoking, according to a survey by the International Union Against Cancer.

Online Ayurvedic Medicine May Be Unsafe
About one-fifth of Ayurvedic medicines sold online to Americans contain metals, including lead, according to a new study by Boston University researchers.

Does Skin Cancer Lead to Other Cancers?
If you have skin cancer, are your chances of getting another type of cancer greater?

Nuts Don't Increase Risk of Diverticulitis
Nuts, popcorn, and corn don't increase the risk of diverticulitis, a study shows.

Gout Drug Cuts Teen High Blood Pressure
The drug allopurinol (Zyloprim), often prescribed to lower uric acid levels in adults who suffer the painful arthritic condition known as gout, also appears to help lower high blood pressure in teens, according to a new study.

Cymbalta May Cut Chronic Low Back Pain
Cymbalta, a drug used to treat depression, anxiety, and fibromyalgia, may ease chronic low back pain, according to study funded by Cymbalta's maker.

Amniotic Fungi May Up Preterm Births
Bacteria and fungi in amniotic fluid may contribute to many premature births, a study shows.

State?s Anti-Smoking Plan Makes Cents
A new study shows that California?s state-funded anti-smoking campaign has saved billions of dollars in personal health care costs since its inception in 1989.

Yeast Infection Vaccine in the Works
Researchers report success in early lab tests of a vaccine against Candida albicans, a cause of yeast infections.

Alabama 'Obesity Penalty' Stirs Debate
An Alabama plan that calls for obese state employees to pay more for health insurance if they don't lose weight hasstirred controversy.

Breastfeeding vs. Breast Cancer Risk?
Certain types of breast cancer may be rarer among women who breastfeed their babies for at least six months, Washington study shows.

Incense Linked to Airway Cancers
People who breathe burning incense over long periods have an increased risk of developing mouth, tongue, and certain lung cancers, even if they don?t smoke cigarettes, a new study shows.

Is Vytorin Cancer Risk Real?
Is there really a link between the cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin and cancer? This WebMD FAQ tells you what is and isn't known.

Massage Is Good for Athletes? Muscles
Researchers are confirming what serious athletes have long believed: Swedish massage immediately after intense exercise helps muscles recover.

What Bugs Mosquitoes? Smelling DEET
A new study shows that DEET works as a mosquito repellent because it smells bad to mosquitos.

Hot Pockets Pepperoni Pizza Recalled
Nestle Prepared Foods is recalling certain 54-ounce, 12-pack cartons of its Hot Pockets Pepperoni Pizza stuffed sandwiches, which may contain foreign materials.

Cialis, Viagra Labels to Note Amnesia
The erectile dysfunction drugs Cialis and Viagra are joining a third ED drug, Levitra, in noting rare reports of transient global amnesia.

FDA to Explore Possible Vytorin-Cancer Link
The FDA is investigating a report from the SEAS trial of a possible association between use of the drug Vytorin and increased cancer risk.

Kids With Dogs May Become Snorers
Childhood risk factors, including exposure to dogs and respiratory infections, can boost the chances of snoring later in life, according to a team of researchers.

Face Transplant Patients Make Progress
Studies tracking the progress of two patients who had face transplants show the surgeries had positive results.

Irradiation OK for Spinach, Iceberg Lettuce
Spinach and iceberg lettuce can now be irradiated at a level that will kill bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella.

Flavanols in Cocoa Boost Brain's Blood Flow
Flavanols in some chocolates are showing promise in promoting blood flow to the brain.

Measles Outbreaks Worry CDC
Despite eradication of homegrown measles in 2000, the CDC worries that outbreaks among unvaccinated kids signal resurgence of the serious disease.

The Psychology of the Undecided Voter
Researchers say that people who think they are undecided about who they will vote for often have already made up their minds at an unconscious level.

Rep. Tubbs Jones: Aneurysm Q&A
A burst aneurysm that led to the death of Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones is typically linked to risk factors such as family history and high blood pressure.

Statins: No Cancer Risk
Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs do not increase cancer risk, says Tufts University's Richard Karas, MD, who last year warned of a possible risk.

Experts: HPV Vaccine a Preteen Priority
The vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV), the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, will be most cost-effective in the U.S. with universal vaccination of 12-year-old girls and catch-up efforts to vaccinate girls and women ages 13 to 21, researchers say.

Gene Behind Serious Statin Risk
A variant gene causes more than 60% of cases of a serious side effect of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs -- muscle pain and weakness.

Odor Test Sniffs Out Skin Cancer
Dogs can smell skin cancer, and so might an "electronic nose." Monell Chemical Senses researchers say the device can sniff out skin cancer by its "odor profile."

New Scan Detects Early Arthritis
NYU researchers say their new MRI test can detect arthritis early, when treatments are most helpful. The technique also detects spinal disc degeneration.

Underage, Drunken Fans Buy Stadium Alcohol
Underage or drunken fans are often able to buy alcohol at sports stadiums, especially if it's purchased from a vendor in the stands, according to a study.

Motherhood Not on Everyone?s To-Do List
Today U.S. women are having fewer babies, with more women choosing to be childless.

Christina Applegate's Mastectomy: FAQ
Christina Applegate has gotten a preventive double mastectomy to keep her breast cancer from returning and will get reconstructive surgery.

'Brown' Fat: New Key to Weight Loss?
New discoveries surrounding a type of "good" fat that promotes the burning of calories could one day lead to better treatments for obesity, researchers say.

Weight Loss From Addiction Drug
Vigabatrin, now being tested as a treatment for cocaine addiction, lessens obese rats' craving for food. They lose about 20% of their body weight.

Adults Easily Fooled When Kids Lie
A study shows that adults are easily fooled when a child says a real event did not happen, while adults are better at detecting when a child is creating an event and making up the details.

Alexander Technique Eases Back Pain
The Alexander technique, a little-known type of physical therapy designed to reduce chronic pain, is more effective at reducing back pain than exercise alone or massage therapy, according to a new study.

Americans Fatter in 37 States
The U.S. obesity epidemic is gaining speed, with adult obesity rates up in 37 states and down in none. In 28 states, more than 1 in 4 people are obese.

Impotence Drug Eases Prostate Problems
Study shows that Cialis, a popular drug for erectile dysfunction, helps ease common urinary symptoms associated with enlarged prostate.

B Vitamins Don't Help in Heart Disease
If you have heart disease, don't count on folic acid pills, with or without vitamin B6 and B12 supplements, to help you cut your cardiovascular risk, a study shows.

Arsenic Linked to Diabetes
Inorganic arsenic may be a factor in diabetes, according to a new study. Thirteen million Americans are exposed to unsafe levels of inorganic arsenic through their drinking water.

Study: Medicare Web Site Hard to Use
Medicare's web site isn't easy for many computer-savvy adults to use, University of Miami researchers report.

Democrats ready celebration for Obama
DENVER (Reuters) - Democrats prepared a grand celebration on Thursday for Barack Obama, who will accept a historic presidential nomination with a speech that spells out his vision for change in America.

Strengthening Gustav threatens Jamaica
KINGSTON (Reuters) - Jamaicans deserted the streets and government offices closed as a strengthening Tropical Storm Gustav took aim at the island on Thursday on a path toward the Gulf of Mexico oil fields as a powerful hurricane.

Economy shows vigor, but seen flagging
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Strong exports and consumer spending supported by government stimulus checks pushed the U.S. economy ahead at a solid 3.3 percent annual rate in the second quarter, much stronger than first thought, but growth is expected to flag as those factors fade.

Salmonella outbreak over: CDC
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An outbreak of an unusual strain of Salmonella that put 286 people into the hospital appears to be over in the United States, federal health officials said on Thursday.

Russia faces diplomatic isolation on Georgia
DUSHANBE/PARIS (Reuters) - Russia faced diplomatic isolation over its military action against Georgia on Thursday, with its Asian allies failing to offer support and France saying EU leaders were considering sanctions.

Court upholds dismissal of charges in KPMG case
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court has upheld the dismissal of criminal charges against 13 former executives at accounting firm KPMG, saying prosecutors violated the defendants' constitutional rights.

More than 100 Taliban killed in Afghanistan
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan and U.S.-led coalition forces have killed more than 100 Taliban in the southern Afghan province of Helmand during three days of fighting, the U.S. military said on Thursday.

Russia long-range missile test a success
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia successfully tested a long-range Topol missile designed to avoid detection by anti-missile defence systems from its Plesetsk launch site, a Russian military spokesman said on Thursday.

Thai rail starts partial strike in anti-government rally
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai rail workers began a partial strike on Thursday, joining a protest by thousands of people barricaded inside the prime minister's official compound whose leaders vowed to stay until his government fell.

WHO study backs universal health care
GENEVA (Reuters) - Major inequalities in health and life expectancy persist worldwide, according to an independent World Health Organization commission which on Thursday called for all countries to offer universal health care.