| "Under a new FDA proposal, certain foods made without a protein found in barley, rye and wheat could be labeled gluten-free, the " "The agency is inviting comment on the proposal, which was posted on the agency's Web site Monday. The label could voluntarily be used on foods that have been processed to remove gluten. It would not apply to products made from naturally gluten-free foods such as corn or rice." "For an estimated .5 million to 3 million Americans with celiac disease, gluten can cause an immune response that damages the lining of the small intestine. Eventually, that damage can impair the ability of the intestines to absorb nutrients from foods, the " "There is no cure for celiac disease, but people with the condition can manage it by avoiding foods that contain gluten." "Drug maker Pfizer's marketing of its erectile dysfunction drug Viagra has caused an increase in HIV-AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, says a major U.S. AIDS group in a lawsuit against the drug company." "AIDS Healthcare accused Pfizer of deliberately marketing Viagra to men who do not need the drug. The lawsuit, filed under California law, accuses the drug company of "unlawful, unfair and fraudulent business practices," " "AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which is the largest AIDS healthcare, prevention and education provider in the United States, charged that Pfizer's "deceptive" marketing of Viagra "has caused an increase in the spread of sexually transmitted diseases including, but not limited to, HIV/AIDS."" ""Pfizer's direct to consumer marketing of Viagra as a drug to enhance sexual performance is primarily aimed at men who don't necessarily suffer from a clinical diagnosis of erectile dysfunction," Michael Weinstein, the head of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said in a statement." ""We believe it is not only irresponsible, but also illegal, especially in light of the drug's known use as part of a 'circuit party cocktail' of drugs that is fueling the spread of STDs and HIV," Weinstein said." "Dogs are better than cats at improving their owners' physical and mental health, suggests a study by a researcher at Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland." "Dog owners have lower cholesterol and blood pressure, fewer minor physical ailments, and are less likely to develop serious medical problems, according to Dr. Deborah Wells, a senior lecturer at the university's Canine Behavior Centre." "Wells found that people who adopted dogs and cats from animal rescue shelters experienced a decrease in minor ailments, such as colds, headaches and dizziness, in the month after they brought their pets home, the " ""It is possible that dogs can directly promote our well-being by buffering us from stress, one of the major risk factors associated with ill health. The ownership of a dog can also lead to increases in physical activity and facilitate the development of social contact, which may enhance both physiological and psychological human health in a more indirect manner," Wells wrote in her study." "The widely-used blood pressure drug losartan reduced muscle damage in mice with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common form of the condition in children, concludes a Johns Hopkins University study published online Monday in the journal " "Following six months of treatment with the drug, the mice showed a significant reduction in muscle damage, increased grip strength in their fore- and hind-limbs, and less fatigue in repetitive tests, the " "The only current treatment for Duchenne causes side effects, so it's worth investigating whether losartan can offer an alternative, said Dr. Valerie Cwik, medical director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Cwik did not take part in the study." "Cwik noted that the drug is currently used in children and has a good safety profile." "The Johns ... read the whole article |