U.S. consumer safety group eyeing Mr. Squiggles

Reuters - Zhu Zhu toy hamsters, one of the hottest toys of the holiday season, are being examined by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission after a report by a consumer group raised concerns about levels of a chemical in one type of the China-made toy.

Most in U.S. want public health option: poll

Needle injuries often not reported by med students

Reuters - Medical students are commonly stuck by needles but often fail to report their injuries to employee health services, placing them at risk for hepatitis, HIV and other blood borne diseases, results of a survey show.

Smoking skunk raises risk of psychosis, study finds

Reuters - People who smoke "skunk" -- a potent form of cannabis -- are almost seven times more likely to develop psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia than those who smoke "hash" or cannabis resin, according to research.

Abdominal CT scans overused: study

Reuters - More than half of patients receiving abdominal CT scans, an advanced type of X-ray, got them for tests they did not need, exposing them to excess radiation that could raise the long-term risk of cancer, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

U.S. readies new phase of global AIDS assistance

As moms age, more babies born with Down syndrome

Reuters - The percentage of children born with Down syndrome has increased by about one percent per year since 1979, according to new findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Many get extra radiation from needless CT scans

Reuters - Every year, many patients undergo unnecessary computed tomography (CT) scans that are not indicated, exposing them to more radiation than is necessary, according to new research presented here at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA 2009).

Soda can tabs still a swallowing hazard for kids

Reuters - Kids are swallowing more than just their soda when they drink from cans. They are also swallowing the can's aluminum stay tabs, Ohio investigators reported here at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA 2009).