Online Journal

Any type of cellphone use while driving, including with hands-free devices, is too dangerous to be permitted, a U.S. federal agency said, urging a total ban. more

Flu immunization rates in children are up this year compared with last but have remained the same in adults, government officials reported. more

Adding the drug pertuzumab to trastuzumab and docetaxel chemotherapy extended survival in women with HER2-positive breast cancer, U.S. researchers say. more

Girls under the age of 17 will still need a prescription to obtain the so-called morning-after pill known as Plan B, U.S. regulators said Wednesday. more

Women who work rotating or irregular shifts that include some night shifts, may have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, U.S. researchers say. more

A drug used to treat type 2 diabetes is promising as a preventive drug for breast cancer or other cancers, U.S. and South Korean researchers say. more

AIDS researchers in Russia say the number of new HIV infections rose nearly 10 percent this year. more

A U.S. test of apple juice and grape juice found 10 percent had arsenic levels higher than federal drinking water standards, Consumer Reports said. more

People diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder are having trouble filling prescriptions for Adderall, Ritalin and other drugs, U.S. pharmacists say. more

Regular consumption of a vitamin D-fortified yogurt drink improves cholesterol levels and biomarkers of heart disease, in diabetics, researchers in Iran say. more

New HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths globally are falling in 2011 to the lowest levels since the peak of the epidemic, U.N. officials in Switzerland said. more

Eradication of wild poliovirus transmission might be achieved in 2012 if it could be controlled in Afghanistan and Pakistan, health officials said. more

For those needing a bit more motivation to quit smoking, a U.S. physician suggests focusing on the thousands of dollars a smoker will keep in his or her pocket. more

Children should be screened for high cholesterol as young as ages 9-11 and again at ages 17-21, no matter what their family history, U.S. researchers say. more

Osteoarthritis is driven by low-grade inflammation, which is at odds with the prevailing view it is brought on by joint wear and tear, U.S. researchers say. more

It's rare, but allergies to alcohol can cause symptoms such as red itchy eyes, nasal congestion, upset stomach and breathing problems, U.S. researchers say. more

Resveratrol, a natural compound found in red wine, may improve metabolic health, researchers in the Netherlands suggest. more

Previous depression, smoking and a lack of control over life circumstances are risk factors for repeat episodes of depression, Canadian researchers say. more

Purging the body of senescent cells, old "zombie" cells that are no longer functioning properly, may slow down the human aging process, U.S. researchers say. more

The average U.S. child collects between 3,500 and 7,000 calories from candy on Halloween night, a public heath expert estimates. more