Pomegranate juice claims deceptive, US rules

A photo illustration of a bottle of POM Wonderful pomegranate juicePomegranate juice has not been proven to be an effective treatment for cancer, heart disease or erectile dysfunction, US regulators said Monday, calling a company's ad claims deceptive.



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Chemical exposure influences rat behavior for generations

The US study may provide an explanation for the mounting number of cases of anxiety disorders and obesity among humansWhen pregnant rats are exposed to a common crop chemical, their descendants three generations later show more anxiety and stress than the offspring of unexposed peers, US researchers said.



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World's smallest artificial heart implanted in Italian baby

Italian heart surgeon Antonio Amodeo is pictured in 2010Italian doctors in March implanted the smallest ever artificial heart into a 16-month-old baby before the infant received a permanent organ donation, said the hospital that performed the operation.



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Born to run barefoot? Some end up getting injured

In a photo made Thursday, April 19, 2012, Greg Farris takes a break while wearing a protective boot as he helps set up for a weekend triathlon event in Lakeland, Fla. Farris injured his foot while running in barefoot running shoes.(AP Photo/John Raoux)Swept by the barefoot running craze, ultramarathoner Ryan Carter ditched his sneakers for footwear that mimics the experience of striding unshod.



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Final advice: Panel against routine prostate test

Healthy men shouldn't get routine prostate cancer screenings, says updated advice from a government panel that found the PSA blood tests do more harm than good.
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Study: Simple scope exam cuts colon cancer deaths

A simple, cheaper exam of just the lower part of the bowel can cut the risk of developing colon cancer or dying of the disease, a large federal study finds.
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More Research Points to Long-Term Ills With Bone Drugs

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Adding more weight to concerns about possible long-term dangers of osteoporosis drugs, a new study finds that people who take the drugs, known as bisphosphonates, may be at increased risk for atypical fractures of the thigh bone (femur).
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Obese More Likely to Be Diagnosed With Advanced Thyroid Cancer

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Obese patients are more likely than other patients to have advanced, aggressive forms of papillary thyroid cancer when they're diagnosed with the disease, a new study has found.
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Teens' Love of Loud Music Tied to Drinking, Drug Abuse

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- In a new study, teens who loved listening to music blasting at high decibels on their MP3 players were also more likely than others to smoke marijuana, while those who listened to loud music at concerts and clubs were more likely to drink heavily and have sex without a condom.
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Could Compound in Artificial Sweeteners Worsen Crohn's Disease?

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- The food additive maltodextrin, commonly used in some artificial sweeteners, may worsen Crohn's disease by encouraging the growth of E. coli bacteria in the small intestine, a new study suggests.
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Study Supports Value of Sigmoidoscopy, an Alternative to Colonoscopy

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- New research confirms that sigmoidoscopies -- less-invasive alternatives to colonoscopies that don't require sedation -- are effective in lowering the risk of colon cancer.
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Night Staffing With Critical Care Docs May Lower ICU Death Rates

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Having so-called intensivist physicians on staff in intensive care units during the night can reduce death rates in ICUs that do not have similar coverage during the day, according to a large new study.
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Severe Gum Disease, Impotence May Be Linked

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Men with severe gum disease, known as periodontitis, are at greater risk for impotence, according to a new study that finds young men and the elderly at particular risk.
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Statins May Help Prevent Enlarged Prostate: Study

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Statin drugs commonly used to lower cholesterol levels may also slow the unhealthy growth of the prostate in men with elevated blood levels of prostate-specific antigen, a new study finds.
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Birth Control Pills, HRT Tied to Digestive Ills

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- The use of oral contraceptives by younger women or hormone therapy by older women may be linked with inflammatory bowel disease, new research indicates.
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Obese Teens Can Have Heart Damage Without Showing Signs

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Heart damage can be present in obese teens who don't have any symptoms of heart disease, a small, preliminary study found.
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COPD Can Put a Damper on Sex Life

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Shortness of breath during sexual activity is common for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new, small study finds.
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New Blood Thinner May Lower Chances of Clots in High-Risk Heart Patients: FDA

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- The new blood thinner Xarelto appears to lower the chances of potentially fatal blood clots in high-risk heart patients, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration review has found.
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U.S. Advisers Say 'No' to Routine PSA Tests for Prostate Cancer

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- In a highly anticipated move sure to unleash heated debate, a prominent U.S. government advisory panel is recommending that men of all ages no longer be screened for prostate cancer by undergoing the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.
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Health Highlights: May 21, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
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Screening for Lung Cancer Might Benefit Those at Highest Risk

SUNDAY, May 20 (HealthDay News) -- Using low-dose CT scans to screen for lung cancer might save the lives of patients at the greatest risk for the disease, a new analysis suggests.
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Dieting May Lower Hormone Levels Tied to Breast Cancer

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that weight loss through exercise and dieting helps overweight women lower the levels of certain hormones in their blood, potentially raising the odds that they'll avoid developing breast cancer.
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Study Ties Secondhand Smoke to Bladder Irritation in Kids

SUNDAY, May 20 (HealthDay News) -- Parents who smoke may put their children at greater risk for bladder irritation, according to a small new study.
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U.S. Teens Heading for Heart Trouble: Study

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Many American teenagers, including some with a normal, healthy weight, already have one or more risk factors for heart disease, researchers say.
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Keeping Your Family Safe From Dog Bites

SATURDAY, May 19 (HealthDay News) -- More than 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and more than half of those victims are younger than age 14, experts say.
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Health Tip: Use Proper Form When Running

(HealthDay News) -- Using proper running form can help prevent injuries and make running a little easier and more comfortable.
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Health Tip: Comforting Baby's Pain

(HealthDay News) -- When your baby is in pain -- be it from things like a circumcision, vaccine or incoming tooth -- parents can take steps to soothe, comfort and ease the pain as much as possible.
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Vigorous Exercise Might Keep Psoriasis at Bay

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Women who exercise vigorously may be reducing their risk of psoriasis, Harvard University researchers report.
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