Kidney Cancer Vaccine Shows No Boost in Survival (HealthDay)
HealthDay - FRIDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- The new vaccine vitespen didn't increase recurrence-free survival among kidney cancer patients who'd had surgery, say U.S. researchers.

Medicare proposes hospital outpatient pay rates (Reuters)
Reuters - The U.S. government proposed a 3 percent inflation increase in 2009 Medicare rates for outpatient services at about 4,000 U.S. hospitals, which will also impact medical imaging, diagnostic and other health care services.

New Tests Assess Kids' Sense of Smell, Taste (HealthDay)
HealthDay - THURSDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- A series of tests that are the first to accurately assess children's ability to taste and smell have been developed by Australian researchers.

Medication Reduces Violence in Some Schizophrenics (HealthDay)
HealthDay - THURSDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- Taking prescription medications can help reduce violent behavior in some schizophrenia patients, Duke researchers report.

Lots of Sex May Prevent Erectile Dysfunction (HealthDay)
HealthDay - THURSDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- Frequent sexual intercourse may cut down on a man's chances of developing erectile dysfunction, Finnish researchers report.

Obesity may offer some protection after stenting (Reuters)
Reuters - Paradoxically, obesity may offer some protection against heart-related "events," like heart attack, in people who have a stent placed to prop open a clogged coronary artery, research shows.

First floods, now pesky mosquitoes for Midwest (AP)

AP - First came the floods ? now the mosquitoes. An explosion of pesky insects are pestering clean-up crews and just about anyone venturing outside in the waterlogged Midwest.

Filipina with upside-down feet walks for 1st time (AP)

AP - A Filipino teenager who came to New York so doctors could perform surgery to untwist her severely clubbed feet took her first unaided steps Wednesday in pink-and-white sneakers ? the first shoes she's ever worn.

Scientists: Watermelon yields Viagra-like effects (AP)

AP - A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra ? but don't necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks going all night long.

Some psych patients wait days in hospital ERs (AP)

AP - When staffers at a Brooklyn hospital spotted a middle-aged woman lying face-down on a waiting room floor last month, it hardly seemed like cause for alarm.

Haywire brain chemical linked to sudden baby death (AP)
AP - Scientists have new evidence that the brain chemical best known for regulating mood also plays a role in the mystifying killer of seemingly healthy babies ? sudden infant death syndrome.

6 hospital employees disciplined in ER death
Six hospital employees have been fired or suspended after ignoring for more than a hour a woman who collapsed and died in a New York emergency room waiting area.

Survey: Denmark 'happiest' country in the world
Denmark is the happiest country in the world while politically unstable Zimbabwe ranks at the bottom, according to a U.S. government-funded study released this week.

Salmonella inquiry looks beyond tomatoes
The federal government has expanded its investigation into an outbreak of salmonella illness to include items commonly eaten with tomatoes, health officials said Tuesday.

Life of a military boy: 'My heart kind of dropped'
Jordan has moved 10 times in the last three years, but his most unsettling news came when his mother recently sat him down and asked, "How would you feel about your dad going to Iraq?"

Handle produce right for more nutrition
Fresh fruits and vegetables are among the most nutritious foods you can choose. They're low in calories yet rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. That's why produce, along with whole grains, forms the basis of a healthful diet. What's more, the way you store, prepare, and cook these foods can magnify (or preserve) their already healthful properties.

Helping kids get well one car ride at a time
If Russell Jackson has his way, any child who needs medical care but lacks the transportation to get there will have a safe and reliable alternative.

Panel urges stricter diabetes drug testing
Read full story for latest details.

Watermelon may juice up sex drive
Read full story for latest details.

'Empowered' heroes' lessons now help others
The mission of the Empowered Patient column is to help you take charge of your health care. This week, we're saluting a few "patient empowerment" heroes, whose experiences with the health-system have inspired them to help others.

Pregnancy timeline
A week by week guide to pregnancy taking in how the baby develops, changes to the mother and key scan dates.

Cancer: The facts
The disease tends to affect older people - but can strike at any time.

Heart disease and stroke

Quality ranking key to NHS funds
Patients' rating of the quality of their care will directly affect funding of NHS services in England, the government says.

Dutch smoking ban enforced
A ban on the smoking of tobacco - but not marijuana - in cafes, bars and restaurants comes into force in the Netherlands.

Caffeine 'could help prevent MS'
Animal research in several countries suggests caffeine may help reduce nerve damage associated with multiple sclerosis.

'Good' cholesterol dementia risk
Too little of one type of cholesterol has been linked by research to memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.

Video shows death of US patient
Video footage emerges of a woman dying on the floor of a New York hospital as workers fail to help for more than an hour.

Child food 'poor' at attractions
UK theme parks, museums and other holiday sites are serving up child meals loaded with sugar, salt and fat, a survey finds.

Mediterranean diet 'cuts cancer'
Adopting just a couple of elements of the "Mediterranean" diet could cut your risk of cancer by 12%, say scientists.

EU plans cross-border healthcare
More patients across Europe may seek treatment abroad if new EU healthcare proposals are adopted.

From BBC Health
Prevent heart disease by upping your activity levels

Medical notes
A comprehensive guide to clinical conditions

Changing times
How care has been transformed by the NHS

Money matters
Is the French system better than the NHS?

Fighting fit?
How to get the most out of your gym membership

NHS immigration
'Everybody was so kind and welcoming'

Doctors shocked by own water baby
Two doctors who live near a maternity hospital are caught out by their baby's home delivery in the bath.

Cold sore virus secret revealed
The secret of how the cold sore virus persists for a lifetime in the body may have been cracked by US scientists.

Woman 'not in danger' if removed
A campaign tries to halt the removal of a pregnant Nigerian woman and her family from the UK after being refused asylum.