India Breaking News: Reuters Health Report: August 27, 2015

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Thursday, August 27, 2015

Global life expectancy rises, but people live sicker for longer

LONDON (Reuters) - People around the world are living longer, but many are also living sicker lives for longer, according to a study of all major diseases and injuries in 188 countries.

FDA wants food companies to hand over their pathogens

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Investigations into foodborne illness are being radically transformed by whole genome sequencing, which federal officials say is enabling them to identify the source of an outbreak far more quickly and prevent additional cases.

Surgeon performance unaffected by fatigue from overnight work: study

(Reuters Health) - Going without sleep the night before does not affect the performance of doctors doing elective surgery the next morning, according to a new Ontario study that runs contrary to research demonstrating that sleep-deprived physicians pose a hazard to patients.

Pilates linked to better balance in older women with back pain

(Reuters Health) - Older women with lower back pain who add pilates to their physical therapy routine may see improvements in balance and reductions in fear of falling that don't result from other types of exercise, a Spanish study suggests.

Maine governor convenes police summit on heroin crisis

AUGUSTA, Maine (Reuters) - Maine Governor Paul LePage said on Wednesday the state would boost police efforts to fight its burgeoning heroin crisis, calling on support from the National Guard, a day after the top U.S. drug official pushed for improved access to treatment in the state.

Few gay, bisexual teen males being tested for HIV

(Reuters Health) - Only about one in five teenage gay and bisexual males in a new study said they'd ever been tested for HIV, despite their increased risk of infection.

Cancer sniffing dogs to aid British doctors

They're known as man's best friend; but dogs could soon also be their greatest ally in the fight against prostate cancer. Britain's National Health Service recently approved a trial for dogs capable of sniffing out prostate cancer in the hope that it could show up inaccuracies in the current PSA (prostate specific antigen) test.

For marijuana and the brain, questions remain

(Reuters Health) - Two new studies out today in JAMA Psychiatry highlight the persistent questions about how cannabis might affect brain development.

U.S. business groups call for probe of medical funding industry

(Reuters) - Two business lobbying groups this week called on the Consumer Financial Protection Board to investigate the medical funding industry after a Reuters investigation revealed that private investors are funding operations for women who have sued makers of surgical implants.