Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment May Not Work As Well for Heavier Patients TUESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Overweight and obese people with rheumatoid arthritis are less likely to go into remission in the early stages of the disease and require much more drug treatment than people with normal weight, according to a new study. The study included nearly 350 people with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who underwent a treatment meant to achieve remission of their disease. The strategy included strict fol...

Endoscopes Not Always Cleaned Properly: Study THURSDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) -- Three of every 20 flexible endoscopes used to examine patients' gastrointestinal tracts and colons were improperly cleaned, a new study finds. Those 15 percent of endoscopes had unacceptable levels of "bio dirt" -- cells and matter from a patient's body that could pose a potential infection risk to other patients, according to the researchers. They examined 275 flexible duodenoscopes, gastroscopes, and colonoscopes used ...

CDC: 87 Now Sickened in Hepatitis A Outbreak Tied to Frozen Berry Mix TUESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- The number of people sickened in a hepatitis A outbreak that may be tied to a frozen berry/pomegranate mix now stands at 87, U.S. health officials said Tuesday. As of June 10, cases had been reported in eight states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Washington. The number of cases is expected to rise as the investigation continues, according to the U.S. Centers fo...

Scientists ID Gene Linked to Aggressive Liver Cancer WEDNESDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have found a gene they say can help identify patients facing aggressive liver cancer, and may prove key to their future treatment. This is good news in a field "that has not had big advances before this and has not been the beneficiary of genomic medicine," said Dr. Richard Goldberg, a professor of medicine at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. The new laboratory study focused on h...

Cutting Unneeded CT Scans in Kids Could Lower Future Cancer Risk MONDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- Reducing the number of unnecessary and high-dose CT scans given to children could cut their lifetime risk of associated cancers by as much as 62 percent, according to a new study. CT (computed tomography), which uses X-rays to provide doctors with cross-sectional images of patients' bodies, is frequently used in young children who have suffered injuries. Researchers concluded that the 4 million CT scans ...

Healthy Grilling Tips for Summer Barbecues SUNDAY, June 9 (HealthDay News) -- For many Americans, summer just wouldn't be the same without a backyard barbecue. However, the blackened meats and smoky flavor that come with grilling could put your health at risk, experts caution. The good news, though, is that by planning ahead and making some smart choices, you can enjoy summer barbecues and reduce your exposure to cancer-causing chemicals. High-heat grilling can convert proteins found in red meat, pork, ...

Gene-Based Blood Test Might Help Spot Colon Cancer FRIDAY, June 7 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers in South Korea say they've developed a blood test that spots genetic changes that signal the presence of colon cancer. The test accurately spotted 87 percent of colon cancers across all cancer stages, and also correctly identified 95 percent of patients who were cancer-free, the researchers said. Colon cancer remains the second leading cancer killer in the United States, after lung cancer. According to the ...

61 Now Sickened in Hepatitis A Outbreak Tied to Frozen Berry Mix THURSDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- The number of people now ill in a hepatitis A outbreak that may be tied to a frozen berry/pomegranate mix continues to rise, U.S. health officials said on Wednesday. As of June 5, 61 people in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Hawaii and California have been reported ill with hepatitis A that may be connected to Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend frozen berry and pomegranate mix, accor...

49 Now Sickened in Hepatitis A Outbreak Tied to Frozen Berry Mix WEDNESDAY, June 5 (HealthDay News) -- The number of people now ill in a hepatitis A outbreak that may be tied to a frozen berry/pomegranate mix continues to rise, U.S. health officials said on Wednesday. As of June 4, 49 people in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Hawaii and California have been reported ill with hepatitis A that may be connected to Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend frozen berry and pomegranate mix, acco...

Pace of New Drug Advances May Be Slowing, Study Finds TUESDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- The drugs emerging from clinical trials in recent years seem less impressive than those developed in decades gone by, a new review finds. Looking at more than 300 studies done since 1966, researchers found that drugs under development these days are less likely to solidly outperform placebos -- the sugar pills or other inert substances against which new drugs are tested. From 1966 to 1990, the average study drug wa...