Antipsychotics Still Widely Used in U.S. Nursing Homes

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Many Americans in nursing homes still get powerful antipsychotic medications, despite recent attempts by the U.S. government to rein in the practice, two new studies show.

To Circumcise or Not?

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- As a major organization of pediatricians considers revising its recommendations on circumcision of newborn boys, two new reviews of existing research offer conflicting conclusions about the bitterly debated procedure.

Genetic Marker for Aggressive Prostate Cancer Found

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- A focused search of the entire human genome has found a genetic variant associated with the aggressiveness of prostate cancer, in a discovery that marks an important first step toward singling out cancers that need intensive treatment from those that can simply be left alone.

Actemra Approved for Rheumatoid Arthritis

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Actemra (tocilizumab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat rheumatoid arthritis among people who haven't responded to, or who cannot tolerate, other approved RA drugs, the agency said Monday.

More Aggressive Treatment for Weekend Stroke

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Stroke victims brought to a hospital on a weekend are more likely to receive the powerful clot-dissolving drug tPA than those who arrive on a weekday, a study finds.

Very Low Levels of Lead Harm Kids' Kidneys: Study

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Even very low levels of lead may harm children's kidneys, say U.S. researchers.

TV Watching May Shorten Your Life

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Every hour spent watching TV each day may increase your risk of an early death from cardiovascular disease by as much as 18 percent, Australian researchers say.

Exercise May Stave Off Mental Decline

FRIDAY, Jan. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Exercise appears to help prevent and improve mild cognitive impairment, two new studies show.

Clinical Trials Update: Jan. 11, 2010

(HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:

Confidence Helps Boost Teenage Girls' Math Skills

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Girls are as good as boys at math, but boys have more confidence in their math abilities, according to researchers who analyzed international data.

Health Highlights: Jan. 11, 2010

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Marijuana Compounds Could Beat Back Brain Cancer

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Preliminary research suggests that a combination of compounds in marijuana could help fight off a particularly deadly form of brain cancer.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Lowers Flu Shot Effectiveness

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- New research offers a caution to rheumatoid arthritis patients who take the drug rituximab (Rituxan): The flu vaccine is safe, but it's ineffective during the first six months following treatment with Rituxan.

Why You Eat for the Joy of It

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Why do people keep eating when they already feel full? New research in mice suggests it may have something to do with a hunger hormone that tells you to keep chowing down.

Seat Belts, Bike Helmets Go Unused in Movies Aimed at Kids

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Movies made for kids are getting better at portraying safety behaviors like wearing seatbelts and bike helmets, but they're still missing the mark about half the time.

Misconnections in Developing Brain May Cause Autism

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- A new study adds to growing evidence that autism is caused by a miswiring of connections in a child's developing brain, resulting in impaired information flow.

PET Scan Improves Diagnosis of Parkinsonism: Study

MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- New research shows that PET brain scans can diagnose which type of Parkinson's-related disease a person has.

Health Tip: When Baby Gets a Shot

(HealthDay News) -- It's crucial to get your infant or child vaccinated against a host of deadly germs. But that doesn't make it less painful for the child or concerned parents.

Health Tip: You Need Vitamin B12

(HealthDay News) -- Vitamin B12 helps maintain healthy blood and aids in making important proteins. People who don't get enough can have memory problems or confusion, and are at greater risk of developing anemia, Children's Hospital Boston says.