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By Sarah Morgan

Studies prove that the diet of a pregnant woman can determine their level of morning sickness

It is being reported that morning sickness experienced by pregnant women could be due to their diet and not due to their pregnancy. Research compiled from 21 countries, points to the fact that morning sickness may in actual fact be the body's defense mechanism for fending off toxins that the body derives from the food eaten by the pregnant woman.

56 studies from 21 different countries were comprised and analysed taking into account morning sickness in pregnant women, along with the prevalent diets associated with each country. The results showed that pregnant women who had a diet higher in sugars, stimulants (caffeine), vegetables, meats, milk and eggs were more apt to suffer from morning sickness than pregnant women who had a diet consisting of high levels of cereal and pulses.

From the study: "Taken together, our results add to a growing body of evidence suggesting links between nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and diet."

It has long been thought that dairy products were one food group that would promote vomiting, a common symptom of morning sickness. Due to their ability to harbour bacteria, it is thought that vomiting is the body's way of ridding the body of potentially dangerous toxins that may harm the mother and her growing fetus.

By Mya Blake

Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'connor is reported to be doing well after his first chemo treatment to fight a rare type of cancer that he has been diagnosed with

It is being reported that the Mayor of Pittsburgh, who is currently battling cancer is doing very well. 61-year-old Mayor Bob O'Connor is dealing with a very rare form of the disease known as primary central nervous system lymphoma, and underwent his initial chemotherapy session yesterday. "He tolerated the chemotherapy extremely well without any side effects," said Dr. Stanley Marks.

Doctors are very pleased with his condition and state that he could be home by as early as this weekend. The Mayor despite his condition will be continuing to work, and will use a laptop and other mobile devices to make working from home or the hospital a possibility for him.

The Mayor will receive the chemotherapy treatments for 10 to 12 weeks. "Mr. O'Connor is a fighter," said his personal physician, Dr. Bernard Bernacki. "He has that great charm and that great smile. He is going to compete with this disease and he is going to fight it."

Source KDKA

By Ron Swerdfiger

Two human cases of West Nile have been reported in the state of Nebraska

It is being reported that the state of Nebraska is home to its second human case of West Nile virus this year. Two counties in the state have also found positive mosquitoes, prompting health officials to issue warnings to the public to protect themselves from potentially infected mosquitoes.

The most recent human case of infection was discovered on July 6th in a 55-year-old woman who lives in Saline County. The confirmed case was proceeded by another confirmed case in the last week of June.

The virus is transmitted to people through the bite from an infected mosquito, therefor protecting yourself from mosquito bites is the best prevention. Removing still water from around your home, wearing bug spray and long sleeved clothing when outdoors, and staying inside during dawn and dusk, are all viable ways of limiting your exposure to mosquitoes.

The health department may spray areas next week to help snuff out some of the threat that mosquitoes bring with them.

By Dennis Landrey

A jury is now the deciding factor in the latest Vioxx trial taking place in New Jersey

New Jersey's latest case over the withdrawn painkiller Vioxx is wrapping up this week, leaving the pending decision in the hands of the jury, who will have to decide whether or not a 68-year-old woman's heart attack was caused by her obesity and clogged arteries or the actual use of the Vioxx drug that she was taking.

"For somebody like Mrs. Doherty, it's not whether you're going to have a heart attack, it's when," lawyers claimed. "It would be hard to find somebody with more risk factors for a heart attack."

The woman's lawyers have claimed that Merck downplayed the potential side effects of the drug knowing that it would sell very well and make them a lot of money. Before jurors can decide on if damages for the woman are warranted, they must vote on whether or not the doctors and patients were warned on the potential dangers of taking the drug by Merck.

By Mya Blake

Arimidex has been approved in the UK to treat post-menopausal breast cancer patients

It has been reported that the UK has cleared a cancer drug created by Astrazeneca to be used to treat cancer patients. The drug is called Arimidex and will be used to treat breast cancer in post-menopausal women. The drug is taken orally once daily and will be offered to women who have not responded to other treatments.

In various clinical trials, Arimidex was proven to be more effective than tamoxifen, which is a current breast cancer treatment drug. It works by slowing down the body's production of estrogen thus slowing down the growth of cancer.

Britain, Germany, Portugal, Italy and Spain have also been granted permission to begin marketing the drug, a drug that will be now competing against treatments manufactured by drug manufacturing giants Novartis AG and Pfizer Inc.

By Sarah Morgan

The US government will be putting an additional 225 million dollars towards bird flu preparedness

It is being reported that the United States government is planning to spend an extra 225 million dollars to prepare for the possibility of a bird flu pandemic. The funds will be divided up between states so they can prepare themselves for what could be the word's biggest pandemic of all time.

"Earlier this year HHS joined the nation's governors for a series of state pandemic influenza summits," Secretary Leavitt said. "These funds will build on the work begun at the summits and help local, tribal, territorial and state public health officials as they undertake critical preparedness planning that communities must do themselves."

So far more than 220 humans have been infected with the virus with the majority of them coming from Asia. Millions of birds all around the world have been killed in an attempt to stamp out the threat of the virus spreading, however only time will tell if the massive prevention efferts will pay off.

Source: UPI

By Dennis Landrey

GlaxoSmithKline has won approval for their new drug combo to treat Type 2 diabetics called Avandamet

It has been reported that the drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration, (FDA) to begin marketing its newest drug aimed at treating Type 2 diabetes. Avandamet is the name of the drug and is a combination of two drugs; rosiglitazone, an insulin sensitizer, with another diabetes treatment, metformin.

The drug was originally approved as a second line therapy when front line treatments failed, but has now been approved for initial use when the onset of Type 2 diabetes is established.

In the United states nearly 18 million people are living with Type 2 diabetes, with even more not even realizing that they are at risk of developing it.

“GlaxoSmithKline is committed to developing diabetes therapies to treat a disease that has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and throughout the world,” said Anne Phillips, vice president of Clinical for North America Cardiovascular-Metabolic at GSK, in a statement. “With the approval of Avandamet for use as initial therapy as an adjunct to diet and exercise, GSK offers this effective and convenient option now for initial treatment of type 2 diabetes. This combination of rosiglitazone and metformin can help patients get their blood sugar under control."

Source: Local Tech Wire

By Mya Blake

It is being reported that imported tuna from Latin America may contain dangerous levels of mercury

It is being reported that levels of the metal mercury are so high in some cans of white tuna, that it is now being deemed as unsafe to eat. The analysis performed by an environmental group shows that canned tuna imported into the US from Ecuador and Mexico, contain levels of mercury that make the tuna unfit for human consumption.

"They tend to catch larger, more mature fish, which tend to have higher levels, being at the top of the food chain," said Bob Irvin, the group's senior vice president for conservation. He is referring to dolphins that have been seen catching tuna, below nets that are set out off the coasts of Ecuador and Mexico

The environmental group sent canned imported tuna from various countries including the United states, to a lab for mercury testing. The results showed that Asia had the lowest level of mercury from any other country's sample, with Latin America's samples being at or over the regulated mercury limit.

Controversy is now swirling as although the proof is that canned light tuna contains potentially dangerous levels of mercury, the FDA has stated that the levels are not dangerous. "The occasional tuna sandwich is not going to cause any problems, but we are saying the government needs to do a better job of looking at mercury content in light canned tuna, which up to now has been touted as a low-mercury source of protein," said a member of the group.

By Laura Watson

Two cases of West Nile virus have been found in the town of Sudbury

It is being reported that a crow has tested positive for the West Nile virus in the town of Sudbury, Ontario. This is the second positive tested case in the last month, prompting the Sudbury and district health unit to warn all residents to take precautionary measures.

A year ago, 101 human cases were reported in the province of Ontario, and although health officials are optimistic, they did say that Sudbury's positive cases came a month earlier than their first of a year ago.

For a human to be infected with West Nile, they would have to be bitten by an infected mosquito. By limiting your exposure to mosquitoes, one can drastically reduce their risk of exposure. Things you can do to protect yourself include; wearing long sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors, removing still water from around your home, wearing lots of bug spray when outside, and staying indoors during dawn and dusk.