HEALTH & WELLBEING

In the aftermath of the Aurora, Colorado Batman movie theater shooting, President Obama chimed in on the gun control debate yesterday, saying, "Every day, the number of young people we lose to violence is about the same as the number of people we lost in that movie theater.

Female genital cosmetic surgery practitioners should be more aware of the wide variation in appearance of female genitalia and be wary of performing surgery on women whose genital dimensions are normal, says a new review published today in The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (TOG). In addition, the long term risks of this surgery have not been explored enough say the authors.

WHO has identified four key actions countries can take to prevent viral hepatitis B and C among people who inject drugs. Of the estimated 16 million people who inject drugs worldwide, it is estimated that 10 million are infected with hepatitis C. An additional 1.2 million are infected with hepatitis B.

Researchers in Newcastle and Singapore have identified a new type of white blood cell which activates a killing immune response to an external source - providing a new potential target for vaccines for conditions such as cancer or Hepatitis B.

Radio personality Dr. Drew Pinsky once touted GlaxoSmithKline PLC's antidepressant Wellbutrin as one of a few such medications he prescribed to patients suffering from depression because it "may enhance or at least not suppress sexual arousal" as much as other antidepressants.

Targeting a key protein blocks two important pathways related to blood vessel leakage in diabetic retinopathy.

Running backwards can provide important insights on forces in the knee joint which can help people struggling with knee pain, a University study has found.

Study finds that hormonal response is stronger in people with Williams syndrome, shedding light on the biological underpinnings of social disorders.

Research from Karolinska Institutet has identified a monoamine stabiliser as a potential new drug for the treatment of alcohol dependence.

Dementia can affect a person's ability to recognise the meaning of common emotional words such as 'thrilled' and 'annoyed', according to new research.

The world's strongest micromotor could revolutionise stroke treatment, thanks to a partnership between The Royal Melbourne Hospital and RMIT University.

Australian women were more inclined to stay and excel in school as compared to their male counterparts, according to results of a new study released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

A new study published this month finds that the hormonally active form of vitamin D, Calcitriol 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3), inhibits the growth of many kinds of cancerous cells, including breast cancer, indicating that vitamin D3 can be useful in treating and even preventing a variety of cancers.

Though increasingly looked down upon here in the U.S. as a sign of slothfulness and low socioeconomic status, routine fast food consumption in some parts of the world is actually considered to be culturally desirable.

The U.S. department for agriculture has warned that is a high probability of food price increase due to a severe drought in the Midwest. More than 55 percent of the land mass in the U.S. is affected by the drought. Torrid heat and the drought, which is said to be the worst in over 50 years, will likely have an impact on food prices.

A report by Fairfax Media claims that Thalidomide, the drug which caused thousands of babies to be born with congenital defects, was initially tested on pregnant Australian women.

Women with large breasts have a higher incidence of breast cancer than those with average-sized breasts, according to a study by medical students and researchers at The University of Western Australia and BreastScreen WA.

Results of a survey of nearly 3,000 nurses across England have revealed that nurse staffing and workforce issues have a significant impact on both staff satisfaction levels and patient care.

You want to know why food prices are climbing all over the world? Well, the head of Nestle, the world's largest food manufacturer, says it's because we are increasingly burning our food for fuel.

The EFSA is the European Food Safety Authority, and it considers it okay for a food to promote health benefits based on scientific proof. This is not the attitude of USA's Food and Drug Administration.

An American diet and banquets so big the 'tables groan under the weight' have led to an alarming obesity epidemic in Kuwait.

Researchers at Scotland's oldest and youngest universities have teamed up to explore the potential of exciting new gas-releasing materials for medical applications.

Australians aged 60 and over spend more time watching TV than other adults and are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a new study from The University of Queensland has found.

Contrary to government claims, suicide rate in Australia could be in the upswing, at least in the past few years, according to a number of mental health experts.

Many people in the natural health community have been well aware of the health benefits of coconut oil and other coconut products for decades. More recently, "clean eaters" and people following an ancestral diet have been replacing canola oil and other cooking oils with coconut oil. Unfortunately, some people do not realize that certain brands of coconut oil pose serious health risks. Innocent health seekers may be consuming a product that makes them sick.

A study released today by the Australian National University (ANU) has found that infants who are solely breast fed for the first six months may be more susceptible to nut allergies.

While many people wish to lose weight, healthy weight loss calls for consistency, dedication and time - the latter of these being a precious commodity. Researchers have shown that Interval Training (IT) can dramatically shorten workout sessions and maximize weight loss for those on a tight schedule.

The EFSA is the European Food Safety Authority, and it considers it okay for a food to promote health benefits based on scientific proof. This is not the attitude of USA's Food and Drug Administration.

An HIV prevention program for young Latino parents that was created in a community-academic partnership between the UCLA School of Nursing and the National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute (NLFFI) is now recognized by the federal government as a model program that enhances the health and quality of care of at-risk populations.