'Good' cholesterol doctrine may be flawed: study

High concentrations of HDL are one of the big markers for blood testsResearchers on Thursday challenged a tenet of modern medicine that higher levels of "good" cholesterol automatically boost cardiovascular health.



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Minorities overtake whites in US births

Whites still make up just under half of all US birthsFor the first time ever, white births in the United States are no longer in the majority, according to US Census Bureau estimates Thursday that underscored the growth of the Hispanic population.



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Common antibiotic boosts death risk: study

Antibiotic used for treating bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections and STDs may boost risk of deathA popular antibiotic used for treating bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections and sexually transmitted diseases may boost the risk of death, a US study said Wednesday.



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CDC to baby boomers: Get tested for hepatitis C

Graphic charts the expected outcomes per one hundred people infected with Hepatitis CFor the first time, the government is proposing that all baby boomers get tested for hepatitis C.



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French autistic kids mostly get psychotherapy

This photo made available by Andy Beverly shows his son Guillaume Beverly, 15-years-old in Conflans Sainte Honorine, France in May 2012. Some French parents resort to sending their children abroad to get adequate treatment. In most developed countries, children with autism are usually sent to school where they get special education classes. But in France, they are more often sent to a psychiatrist where they get talk therapy meant for people with psychological or emotional problems. When Andy Beverly's son Guillaume was diagnosed as autistic at age 2, Guillaume began to receive treatment from psychiatrists in Paris. After years of sporadic schooling in France, Beverly sent Guillaume to a school in Belgium that focuses on techniques to help him interact with others and do simple things like putting on his coat. He is convinced that Guillaume, now 15, would be more advanced if he'd gotten better treatment as a child. (AP Photo/Andy Beverly/Family HO)In most developed countries, children with autism are usually sent to school where they get special education classes. But in France, they are more often sent to a psychiatrist where they get talk therapy meant for people with psychological or emotional problems.



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Panel debates bioterrorism protection for children

The Obama administration is asking a presidential commission to help decide an ethical quandary: Should the anthrax vaccine and other treatments being stockpiled in case of a bioterror attack be tested in children?
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CDC to baby boomers: Get tested for hepatitis C

Graphic charts the expected outcomes per one hundred people infected with Hepatitis CFor the first time, the government is proposing that all baby boomers get tested for hepatitis C.



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Antibiotics prevent UTIs better than probiotics

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Antibiotics are still better than probiotics at preventing urinary tract infections, but at least "good bacteria" don't add to a person's antibiotic resistance, a new study concludes. Recurring UTIs are common among some women and low-dose antibiotics are sometimes used to prevent them. The worry is that overuse of the drugs also reduces their effectiveness by making disease-causing bacteria like E. coli resistant. ...
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Fees Lead Some Kids to Skip After-School Sports: Survey

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Schools that charge kids to participate in sports may be benching some children, a new survey finds.
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Health Highlights: May 18, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
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Tiny Tots in the Dentist's Chair Among Changes in Pediatric Dentistry

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- If you've been to the dentist with your children recently, you may have noticed that things have changed since you were a kid.
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Chronic Heartburn May Boost Risk for Esophageal Cancer

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Inflammation caused by chronic heartburn may increase the risk of esophageal cancer, a new study finds.
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Melanoma a Big Threat to Older Men

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Older men have an increased risk of developing melanoma, but most are careless about sun protection and do not know how to properly check themselves for signs of skin cancer, a new survey reveals.
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Military Marriages Stay Strong in Face of Challenges: Study

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Despite being tested by long hours and frequent relocations and separations, military marriages are no more likely to end in divorce than civilian marriages, a new study shows.
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One-Third of U.S. Homeless Population Is Obese: Study

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- One-third of homeless people in the United States are obese, about the same rate as the general population, a new study finds.
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Females, Young Athletes Take Longer to Get Over Concussions

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Female athletes take longer to recover from concussions, a new study says.
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From One Generation to the Next, Dental Care Changes

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Stephanie Crowe, a mother of three from Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., still remembers dreading a visit to the dentist as a young girl. It was often a painful experience, and her family's dentist showed little empathy to his smallest patients.
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Research With Dogs Points to Early Test for Arthritis

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- A new test that can detect and predict osteoarthritis before patients experience symptoms was developed by analyzing the joints of dogs with arthritis.
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Underage Drinkers Can Easily Order Alcohol From the Internet

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Young people can easily buy alcohol on the Internet, where they're also exposed to a wide range of advertising and marketing efforts from the alcohol industry, two new journal articles warn.
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Gene Tests May Not Drive Patients to More Medical Care

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Personal genetic testing does not lead to an increased use of health services, a new study finds.
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Test Baby Boomers for Hepatitis C, Says CDC

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants all Americans born between 1945 and 1965 -- the baby boom generation -- tested for hepatitis C.
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Diabetes Can Take a Toll on Your Emotions

THURSDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- Many people know diabetes -- both type 1 and type 2 -- can take a serious toll on physical health. But these blood-sugar disorders also can affect your emotions and, in turn, your emotions can wreak havoc on your diabetes control.
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Health Tip: Keep Cloth Grocery Totes Clean

(HealthDay News) -- Reusable grocery totes may be friendly for the environment, but they can also befriend harmful bacteria.
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Health Tip: Log Migraine Details in a Diary

(HealthDay News) -- Tracking your migraines can better prepare you to prevent or treat these often-debilitating headaches.
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Healthy Dieting in Pregnancy May Be Helpful

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Eating a healthy, calorie-controlled diet during pregnancy can help prevent excessive weight gain and cut the risk of obstetric complications, researchers report.
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'Bad' Fat May Hurt Brain Function Over Time

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Women who eat a lot of "bad" saturated fat may hurt their overall brain function and memory over time, Harvard University researchers report.
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Review so far shows mad cow case was atypical

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Investigators are searching for a dozen herdmates of the elderly California dairy cow that had mad cow disease, the Agriculture Department said on Friday, with all signs indicating it was a rare spontaneous case of the fatal brain-wasting illness. Two laboratories associated with the World Organization for Animal Health confirmed the cow had an atypical version of mad cow disease, USDA said. It was the same diagnosis as USDA tests. USDA said the investigation was moving toward completion. ...
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The Scienceblogging Weekly (May 18, 2012)

The Scienceblogging Weekly (May 18, 2012)
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