Drugs / Treatments
Lorcaserin weight loss drug wins thumbs up from FDA panel
For the second time in less than three months, an expert panel convened by the US Food and Drug Administration voted to recommend approval of a prescription weight loss drug that had previously been rejected because of safety concerns: Lorcaserin (Lorqess) was approved Thursday by an 18 to 4 vote with 1 abstention for its ability to help overweight people shed pounds with few apparent side effects.
FULL ENTRYStudy questions whether raising “good" cholesterol reduces heart attack risk
Raising levels of “good” cholesterol may not be so good for you after all. A study published Wednesday by Boston-area scientists challenges the long-held idea that HDL cholesterol actively protects against heart disease, finding that people with genes that boosted their HDL did not have a lowered risk of heart attacks. In the study appearing in the medical journal The Lancet, researchers examined the health of more than 100,000 people, some of them with genetic variations that elevated their levels of HDL, and found that these genetic variations did not protect against heart attacks.
FULL ENTRYHow common is flesh-eating bacteria?
We’ve been hearing a lot about the terrifying case of Aimee Copeland -- a 24-year-old graduate student from Georgia who contracted flesh-eating bacteria several days ago and remains in critical condition after having her leg amputated. While the infection is very rare, the case underscores the importance of properly treating wounds to keep germs at bay.
FULL ENTRYPrep-free virtual colonoscopy could be as effective as scope procedure
A new method of performing virtual colonoscopy using a CT scan -- which doesn’t involve the dreaded laxative preparation to clear the colon the night before -- may be about as effective as a standard colonoscopy at identifying the large polyps most likely to become cancerous, according to new research. If the finding is confirmed, the technique could eventually serve as a first-line screening tool for colon cancer, especially for the many people who avoid screening altogether.
FULL ENTRYMisdiagnosed Lyme disease: One reader’s horrific experience
After writing my weekly challenge on protecting yourself against Lyme Disease, I received a poignant and important essay from a reader who has been suffering from a case of Lyme Disease that was originally misdiagnosed and not treated for years after her original tick bite. What her experience can teach the rest of us.
FULL ENTRYWould you want your surgeon to live tweet when operating?
Want to feel like you’re in the operating room during brain surgery? You can log on to a live twitter feed of a brain surgery being performed at Houston’s Memorial Hermann hospital. The surgeon performing the operation is none other than Dr. Dong Kim, a neurosurgeon who helped treat former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after she suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
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May 17, 2012
Can drinking coffee really help you live longer? New study is hardly conclusive
By Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff Have you been to Starbucks yet today? Even if you’re not a coffee drink …
More from Health News ▼May 16, 2012
Study questions whether raising “good" cholesterol reduces heart attack risk
By Carolyn Y. Johnson and Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff Raising levels of “good” cholesterol may not be …
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May 18, 2012
Favorite reader feedback of the week
By Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff Here are some of the best comments that I received from readers this we …
More from Preventive Care ▼May 16, 2012
Study questions whether raising “good" cholesterol reduces heart attack risk
By Carolyn Y. Johnson and Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff Raising levels of “good” cholesterol may not be …
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May 16, 2012
Skechers toning shoes buyers can get refund under lawsuit settlement for false advertising
By Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff Consumers who purchased Skechers Shape-ups or other toning shoes made b …
More from Fitness ▼May 8, 2012
Should supplements containing DMAA be banned from the market? A Harvard researcher says yes.
By Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff Another over-the-counter weight-loss supplement has come under the scru …
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May 18, 2012
Tweaking dietary fat intake could help slow brain aging, study suggests
By Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff In a finding sure to re-ignite the debate over the harms of saturated f …
More from Nutrition ▼May 17, 2012
Can drinking coffee really help you live longer? New study is hardly conclusive
By Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff Have you been to Starbucks yet today? Even if you’re not a coffee drink …
Daily Dose gives you the latest consumer health news and advice from Boston-area experts. Deborah Kotz is a former reporter for US News and World Report. Write her at dailydose@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @debkotz2.
Long-term health consequences to being born prematurely? It's estimated that each year nearly 500,000 babies in the United States are born prematurely, or before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Submit question | More answers

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