Health - AFP

BRUSSELS (AFP) - The story of a Belgian patient wrongly diagnosed as comatose for 23 years revives the debate on care for those considered in a vegetative state, with the astonishing case far from unique according to a recent study.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Three-quarters of US women disagree with a high-level panel's recommendations to raise the age of breast cancer screening and even more plan to ignore the guidelines, a poll showed Tuesday.

LONDON (AFP) - Men who bottle up frustrations about unfair treatment at work are twice as likely to have a heart attack, a study published on Tuesday suggests.

OTTAWA (AFP) - Six severe allergic reactions to swine flu vaccinations have been observed in Canada, health authorities said Tuesday, adding that all of the individuals are feeling better.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The risks of taking anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx could have been detected nearly four years before the drug was pulled from the market, according to analysis of nearly 30 clinical trials.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Cases of antibiotic-resistant staph infections usually acquired in the community are growing in the United States and rapidly spreading to hospitals, researchers said Tuesday.

SYDNEY (AFP) - A high-fat, high-sugar diet could have the same effect on brain chemistry as mood-altering drugs, giving scientific support to the craving for "comfort food", Australian researchers said on Tuesday.

PARIS (AFP) - A leading association of clinicians on Monday accused an "anti-vaccination movement" of breeding suspicion about the (A)H1N1 swine flu vaccine in Europe and declared public health and lives were at risk.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US authorities expanded a probe Monday into health impacts of drywall imported from China, saying an initial study found a "strong association" with indoor pollution in homes using the product.

MELBOURNE (AFP) - Bangladeshi twins Trishna and Krishna are out of intensive care and seeing each other for the first time as they make an "amazing" recovery from surgery to separate their conjoined heads, doctors said Tuesday.

BERLIN (AFP) - A Belgian man thought to have been in a coma for 23 years has told of his "second birth" after doctors realised he was in fact conscious, a German weekly reported Monday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Key Democratic allies in the US health care battle warned that a Senate bill required major changes if it was to earn their support and give President Barack Obama a crucial victory on his top domestic priority.

PARIS (AFP) - Swine flu vaccines are still effective despite reported cases of mutations in the A(H1N1) virus, health experts in Europe and North America said Saturday.

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AFP) - Days before a forecast three million Muslim pilgrims pack Mecca to begin the holy ritual of the hajj, the spectre of a possible outbreak of swine flu seems to be fazing few of them.

MELBOURNE (AFP) - Bangladeshi conjoined twins Trishna and Krishna appeared on Sunday to have beaten the odds with their miracle story of survival, both awaking from landmark separation surgery happy and well.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Women should not get their first cervical cancer screening before age 21, the leading US group of women's health care professionals said Friday, also recommending less frequent subsequent tests.

GENEVA (AFP) - The World Health Organisation said Friday that a mutation had been found in samples of the swine flu virus taken following the first two deaths from the pandemic in Norway.

GENEVA (AFP) - Around 6,750 people have died from the swine flu pandemic, World Health Organisation data showed Friday, about 500 more than a week ago.

GENEVA (AFP) - An unusual number of severe allergic reactions to swine flu vaccinations have been recorded in Canada, where a batch of the vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has been recalled, the WHO said on Tuesday.

BRUSSELS (AFP) - The story of a Belgian patient wrongly diagnosed as comatose for 23 years revives the debate on care for those considered in a vegetative state, with the astonishing case far from unique according to a recent study.

GENEVA (AFP) - An unusual number of severe allergic reactions to swine flu vaccinations have been recorded in Canada, where a batch of the vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline has been recalled, the WHO said on Tuesday.

GENEVA (AFP) - Almost 60 million people have been infected by HIV and 25 million people killed by causes related to the virus since the epidemic started, according to new data published by UNAIDS on Tuesday.

SYDNEY (AFP) - Bangladeshi twins Trishna and Krishna have left intensive care as they continue their remarkable recovery from surgery to separate their conjoined heads, the hospital said.

PARIS (AFP) - Breathing in fumes from petrol made lab rats more aggressive, a finding that has wide implications for urban pollution, according to a study published on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama's planned overhaul of the US health care system headed Sunday for another major political battle after it cleared a key Senate hurdle that allows for debate on the proposal.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Senate, torn along party lines, voted to formally launch debate on historic legislation to enact President Barack Obama's signature drive to remake US health care, handing him a win for now.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama's signature drive to remake US health care was on track to clear a key Senate hurdle Saturday, as the last wavering Democrats agreed to vote to formally open debate on the bill.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama's health reform faces a landmark first test in the US Senate Saturday as Democratic leaders strive to lock down support for a vote that would allow them to launch a formal floor debate on the proposal.