Air Bags-Seat Belts Cut Injuries, Deaths, Costs

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- The combined use of air bags and seat belts significantly reduces injuries to the brain, face, spine and chest during a vehicle crash and also lowers in-hospital death rates, injury severity and hospital-acquired infections among crash patients, says a U.S. study.

  Study IDs Gene for Late-Onset Alzheimer's

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- A gene that plays a role in Alzheimer's disease in two large families in which many siblings suffer from the neurodegenerative condition has been identified by U.S. researchers.

  Health Tip: Take a Short Nap

(HealthDay News) -- While a full night's sleep is vital to good health, stamina and alertness, a short nap also can do wonders for your mood and performance.

  Health Tip: Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy

(HealthDay News) -- Three months to a year before you conceive, it's important to begin preparing your body for pregnancy.

  TV Commercials Color Gender Choices for Careers

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- The way that men and women are portrayed in television commercials can have a major impact on how people behave in their daily lives, suggests a University of New Hampshire study.

  Scientists Break Into HIV 'Hideout'

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have confirmed that a certain type of cell provides a "hideout" for HIV during drug treatment and is a reservoir of HIV in humans.

  New Compound Slows HIV Replication

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- A new compound that inhibits HIV protease has been developed by researchers at the University of Michigan.

  Secondhand Smoke Leaves Kids Prone to Severe Infections

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- Here's another reason why adults shouldn't smoke around kids:

  Lead Exposure in Childhood Linked to Criminal Behavior Later

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- Children who are exposed to lead at a young age are more likely to be arrested later in life.

  Ibuprofen No Better at Reducing Alzheimer's Risk

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- The painkillers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) appear to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, but no one medication in the class works better than the others, a new analysis finds.

  Gut Bacteria Fights Inflammatory Bowel Disease

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- A molecule produced by intestinal bacteria can eliminate symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice, U.S. researchers say.

  Adults With ADHD Lose 3 Weeks Worth of Work Annually

TUESDAY, May 27 (HealthDay News) -- Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) miss, on average, more than three weeks a year in workplace productivity, according to a new global reckoning of the problem.

  States' Scorecard Finds Big Differences in Kids' Health Care

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- The quality of children's health care in America varies widely from state to state, as does their access to insurance and care and the likelihood of living long and healthy lives.

  Two Drugs Show Promise Against Severe Constipation

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- Two new medications offer hope for the most severe forms of constipation.

  C-Sections Explain Jump in U.S. Preemie Births

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- Premature births of single babies in the United States have been on the rise in recent years, and a new report finds that Caesarean sections account for nearly all of the increase.

  Clinical Trials Update: May 28, 2008

(HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch:

  Health Highlights: May 28, 2008

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:

  Brain May Ignore Bladder Signals, Causing Bedwetting

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- Much like the boy who cried wolf, a bladder that constantly sends signals to arouse the brain may end up being ignored in its time of greatest need.

  FDA Proposes New Drug Labels for Pregnant Women

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. health officials proposed Wednesday changes to the labels on prescription drugs that would detail potential health effects for pregnant and breast-feeding women, their fetuses or their newborns.

  Monkey Controls Robotic Arm With Brain

WEDNESDAY, May 28 (HealthDay News) -- Relying solely on brain signal manipulation, monkeys have learned to operate human-like robotic arms to feed themselves, U.S. researchers reported Wednesday.