HIV Breakthrough: Daily Drug 73 Percent Effective Against Infection, Says Study
(istockphoto)
(CBS) A revolution in the fight against HIV/AIDS might be around the corner, according to a new study, which found a daily pill, made of two commonly used HIV medications, lowered the risk of infection by 73 percent.
That's for participants who took the drug almost every day. The study found a 44 percent reduction in HIV infection across all 2,499 members of the study, many of whom were taking the drug, a combination of emtricitabine and tenofovir, inconsistently.
Continue »Johnson & Johnson Recalls Benadryl, Motrin
(benadryl.com)
(CBS/AP) It's recall time again for Johnson & Johnson.
This time Children's Benadryl Allergy Fastmelt Tablets and Junior Strength Motrin Caplets are in the drug maker's cross-hairs.
Continue »Pope's Condom "Blessing:" Souls vs. Lives?
Pope Benedict XVI in ceremony at St. Peter's basilica on Nov. 21, 2010. (ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images)
(CBS/AP) Is the Pope giving condoms his blessing? Hardly. But Benedict XVI sent eyebrows sky-high - and heartened health experts who see condoms as a key weapon in the global fight against AIDS - by remarking that condom use might be acceptable under certain circumstances.
One year after saying that condoms could be worsening the AIDS crisis, the 83-year-old pope said that for some people, condom use could represent a first step in assuming moral responsibility "in the intention of reducing the risk of infection."
What sorts of people was Benedict talking about? Single people infected with HIV? Married couples in which one partner is infected?
No, he was talking about male prostitutes.
Continue »Hobbs Not Paralyzed: What About Brutal Hits?
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Ellis Hobbs seen September 12, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pa. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
(CBS) For football fans, it was a scary 11 minutes.
That's how long Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Ellis Hobbs lay motionless on the field during Sunday night's game against the New York Giants. He had suffered a helmet-to-helmet collision. Hobbs was eventually carted off raising both his hands to the sky with two thumbs up.
It was eerily reminiscent of Rutgers player Eric LeGrand, who, last month, lay motionless on the field for seven minutes after a helmet to helmet hit. LeGrand hasn't moved since.
Continue »Propoxyphene Pulled From Market: Why?
(istockphoto)
CBS/AP) It's curtains for Darvon.
The prescription painkiller is being taken off the market by its maker at the request of U.S. health officials who say the 50-year-old pill can cause deadly heart rhythms.
The FDA said Friday that Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals had agreed to halt all U.S. marketing of Darvon and the related brand Darvocet, which contain the drug propoxyphene. The medications have been subject to safety concerns for decades.
Continue »Epilepsy Diet Cuts Seizures Drugs Can't
(istockphoto)
(CBS) What do you call a father who makes his grade-schooler eat heavy cream, butter, bacon, eggs, and whole-fat yogurt mixed with coconut oil?
If the child has epilepsy, you might call him a good dad.
Continue »Breathe In: America's Most Polluted Cities 2010
(istockphoto)
(CBS) The American Lung Association reports that more than 175 million people - roughly 58 percent of Americans - live with dangerous levels of air pollution.
That's bad news for people with asthma, lung infections, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Too much particular matter and ozone in the air can aggravate their conditions. And America's poorest citizens often live in the most dangerous zones.
Four Loko's End of Days: "Rest in Puke"
"Rest is Puke" Four Loko. (Facebook/Kay Kasparhauser Goldberg)
(CBS) As Four Loko and other caffeinated alcoholic drinks near their final days, young fans of the controversial beverages are acting as if Armageddon is nigh.
"We will be the last earthlings to enjoy the taste of Four Loko," Tom Grahsler, a 26-year-old hoarder told the Washington Post. His plan is to stockpile the drink and throw a party after the government pushes them off the shelves.
On Wednesday, the FDA told Four Loko and three other makers of similar products to stop distributing the drinks within two weeks. The agency said they consider them unsafe. They might also be illegal.
Continue »World Toilet Day: How Is It Observed?
World Toilet Day's organizers ask people to squat for one minute at noon each Nov. 19. (World Toilet Day)
(CBS) Happy World Toilet Day!
No, it's not a joke. World Toilet Day, which has been marked every November 19 since 2001, is the centerpiece of an international effort to raise awareness about poor sanitation - the leading cause of illness and death around the world.
According to the official World Toilet Day website, 2.6 people billion lack access to indoor plumbing, and it's killing them - literally. Each year, 1.8 million people - mostly children - die of diarrheal disease that spreads via fecal matter that isn't disposed of properly. "That's 5,000 children DYING EVERY SINGLE DAY," the site exclaims.
Continue »Surrogate Gives Birth to Chris Daughtry's Twins
Chris Daughtry performs on NBC's 'Today' at Rockefeller Center on August 20, 2010 in New York City. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
(CBS) On his website, rocker Chris Daughtry is thanking the Almighty for the birth of his twins, but maybe some credit should go to the woman who bore them.
And it wasn't his wife.
Continue »Great American Smokeout 2010: Eleven Ways to Make Big Tobacco Rich
Will the Great American Smokeout 2010 get you to quit? (iStockPhoto)
(CBS) Smokers, you know the drill. You've had it banged into your head: lung cancer, heart disease, rotting teeth, crappy breath.
You've heard you're a menace to society, baby killers, second hand and third hand smoke baby killers and people that make a bar smell like, well, a bar.
But you also know something that people who have never smoked don't know. It's hard to quit, really hard. Even if you want to quit, it's hard. And if you don't, well then it's sort of easy actually. Just keep smoking.
Continue »Smoke Out? Not at Some U.S. Airports
(istockphoto)
(CBS) Today is the 35th annual Great American Smokeout, meant to encourage smokers to kick the habit for 24 hours as a prelude to quitting completely.
But even if cigarettes are out with smokers looking to quit, smoking is very much in at some of the nation's busiest airports.
PICTURES: 7 Airports that Don't Care about Your Lungs
Continue »Lupus and Toni Braxton: "I'm a Survivor"
Toni Braxton performs in New York on May 3, 2010.(Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for The Steve Harvey Foundation)
(CBS) Toni Braxton is coming out of the closet - about lupus
On Tuesday, the 43-year-old Grammy winner talked about her battle with the disease while accepting a Woman in Achievement award from the 8th Annual Lupus LA Bag Ladies Luncheon.
"Today, I'm going to talk about it because I'm a survivor and I'm here, and I don't want to lose hope," she said. "Take a look - this is what lupus looks like."
Continue »Greg Oden's Surgery: End to Knee Trouble?
Greg Oden, of the Portland Trail Blazers, shoots against the Golden State Warriors during an NBA game at Oracle Arena on Nov. 20, 2009 in Oakland, Calif. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
(CBS/AP) Greg Oden is no stranger to knee trouble. Twice in recent years the Portland Trail Blazers center was betrayed by his knees, and now they've done it again. Bigtime.
Oden, the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft, will miss the season after having microfracture surgery on his left knee, the team said yesterday in a press conference.
"This young man is devastated about not having the opportunity to play this season, being so close to getting back on the floor and just all of a sudden, this situation comes up and it's like, here we go again for him," Portland coach Nate McMillan said.
Continue »New Lupus Drug: Can Benlysta Help Women?
Lady Gaga says she has lupus but no symptoms. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
ADELPHI, Md.(CBS/AP) For five decades, Lupus sufferers, ninety percent of whom are women, haven't had much good news.
That's how long it's been since a new drug was introduced to fight the potentially fatal ailment characterized by skin rashes, joint pain and inflammation of the kidneys and other organs.
Now, an FDA panel has declared that Benlyst, a drug from Human Genome Sciences, substantially relieves pain and flare-ups caused by lupus.
Continue »