FDA relents from midodrine withdrawal plan (AP)

AP - Federal regulators have backed off a plan to remove a Shire PLC low blood-pressure treatment from the market after warning in August that the drug has not been proven effective.

Keep Health in Mind When Planning School Day Menus (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- As parents prepare for their children's return to school, they need to remember that healthy meals and snacks are essential for learning.

Picking right blood pressure medicine challenging (AP)

AP - It's hard to predict which pills will best lower which patient's high blood pressure, but researchers are hunting ways to better personalize therapy — perhaps even using a blood test.

Cholera outbreak in Cameroon 'worst in 20 years' (AP)

AP - UNICEF says more than 300 people have died in the West African nation of Cameroon from the country's worst cholera outbreak in 20 years.

WHO wants faster, more flu vaccine production (AP)

AP - The vaccine used to contain the recent swine flu pandemic was effective, but health authorities will need to ramp up the speed and volume of production during the next global outbreak, a World Health Organization official said Monday.

UK wants GSK's Avandia pulled as EU reviews safety (Reuters)

Reuters - GlaxoSmithKline's diabetes drug Avandia should be pulled from sale because of concerns about heart risks, British drug regulators said on Monday ahead of a special European meeting on the drug's safety.

More parents 'redshirting' kindergartners (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - As schools start back into session around the country, some parents of young children face a difficult question: Send their little ones to kindergarten as soon as they become age-eligible, or hold them back in hopes that an additional year of maturity will give them an academic boost?

Expert warns of complacency after swine flu fizzle (AP)

AP - A leading virus expert urged health authorities around the world Sunday to stay vigilant even though the recent swine flu pandemic was less deadly than expected, warning that bird flu could spark the next global outbreak.

Cholera kills 41 in Central African nation of Chad (AP)

AP - Health officials in Chad say an outbreak of cholera in the Central African nation has killed at least 41 people.

Long-Term Use of Bone Drugs May Be Linked to Esophageal Cancer (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- People with osteoporosis who take drugs such as Boniva (ibandronate), Fosamax (alendronate) or Actonel (risedronate) to strengthen their bones may be at an increased risk of esophageal cancer, British researchers report.

Clinical Trials Update: Sept. 3, 2010 (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:

Exposure to Violence May Aggravate Asthma, Study Finds (HealthDay)

HealthDay - FRIDAY, Sept. 3 (HealthDay News) -- People with asthma who witness violence in their neighborhoods are at increased risk for asthma-related hospitalization and emergency department visits for asthma or any cause, finds a new study.

Antidepressant patch doesn't help smokers quit (Reuters)

Reuters - An antidepressant drug delivered through a patch on the skin is no better than placebo for helping smokers kick the habit, new research shows.

Israeli researchers develop promising new HIV treatment (AFP)

AFP - Israeli researchers have developed a new treatment for HIV that kills human cells infected with the virus and could lead to a breakthrough in treating AIDS, the Haaretz newspaper said on Friday.

Seniors Get Boost From Bad News About the Young (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Older people prefer to read negative news stories about the young, possibly because it makes them feel better about themselves, a new study suggests.

Seniors Get Boost From Bad News About the Young (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Older people prefer to read negative news stories about the young, possibly because it makes them feel better about themselves, a new study suggests.

Common bone drugs linked to esophageal cancer risk (Reuters)

Reuters - People who take a commonly used class of osteoporosis drugs called bisphosphonates for more than five years may be doubling their risk of developing cancer of the gullet or esophagus, a British study found on Friday.

Bone drugs may raise risk of throat cancer (AP)

AP - People who take bone-strengthening drugs for several years may have a slightly higher risk of esophageal cancer, a new study suggests.

Bone drugs may raise risk of throat cancer (AP)

AP - People who take bone-strengthening drugs for several years may have a slightly higher risk of esophageal cancer, a new study suggests.

Study: Diet Drug Meridia May Boost Heart Risks (Time.com)

Time.com - A new study finds that some users of the weight-loss pill Meridia may have an increased risk of heart attack or stroke

Abbott diet drug study renews calls for U.S. ban (Reuters)

Reuters - A study funded by Abbott Laboratories offered more detailed evidence that its weight-loss drug Meridia increases heart risks, prompting renewed calls by consumer advocates and others to pull the drug from the market.

Starting periods early tied to greater asthma risk (Reuters)

Reuters - Women who start menstruating early may be at increased risk of asthma and poor lung function, new research shows.

Mental "exercise" linked to faster dementia progression (Reuters)

Reuters - While staying mentally active in old age has been linked to a delayed onset of dementia, seniors who engage in such brain "exercise" may actually have a faster rate of decline once Alzheimer's is diagnosed, researchers reported Wednesday.

Global cash support to fight AIDS is falling: UN (AFP)

AFP - The chief of the UNAIDS agency said Thursday that global contributions to fighting the disease are dropping off for the first time in 15 years amid tough economic times.

Diabetes Drug Metformin Linked to Lower Lung Cancer Rate in Mice (HealthDay)

HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- A drug widely used to treat high blood sugar in type 2 diabetics may hold some promise in the prevention of tobacco-induced lung cancer, according to extremely preliminary findings in a mouse study.

Even After Leaving Abuser, Moms' Mental Health Declines (HealthDay)

HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Even after escaping a violent or controlling relationship, a mother's mental health may continue to decline, a new study finds.

Diabetes Drug Metformin Linked to Lower Lung Cancer Rate in Mice (HealthDay)

HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- A drug widely used to treat high blood sugar in type 2 diabetics may hold some promise in the prevention of tobacco-induced lung cancer, according to extremely preliminary findings in a mouse study.

Mental 'Exercise' May Only Hide Signs of Alzheimer's (HealthDay)

HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Reading, crossword puzzles and other mentally stimulating activities have pros and cons when it comes to Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests.

Diabetes drug may keep lung cancer at bay (Reuters)

Reuters - The common diabetes drug metformin may hold promise as a way to keep smokers from developing lung cancer, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.

Cancer drug points way to new Alzheimer's approach (Reuters)

Reuters - An altered version of the cancer drug Gleevec could form the basis of a new class of drugs that block the development of brain-damaging plaques in Alzheimer's disease, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.