PBS NewsHour: Health Archive | 2008

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HEALTH


	2008 DECEMBER Dec. 31, 2008 China Dairy Exec Pleads Guilty in Melamine Case The former chairwoman of a Chinese dairy company implicated in September's tainted milk scandal pled guilty Wednesday to charges of selling "fake or substandard" products.

	Dec. 30, 2008 Young Breast Cancer Patient Finds Outlet in Activism After Dikla Benzeevi was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at 32, she formed a network of young cancer survivors. Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming reflects on her story of strength and achievement.

	Dec. 26, 2008 Researchers Hope Obama Team Will Reinvigorate Role of Science Adviser Scientists and scientific organizations hailed President-elect Barack Obama's choice of top science advisers as a "dream team" this week.

	Dec. 26, 2008 Economic Downturn Threatens California's Health Care System Recent economic problems have created budget shortfalls in many states, but California is worse off than most. Faced with a massive deficit, state lawmakers might have to raise taxes or cut health care services. Betty Ann Bowser reports.

	Dec. 26, 2008 Israel Opens Gaza Border Despite Rocket Fire Israel opened three border crossings into Gaza Friday, allowing in fuel and other goods for the first time in 10 days, as militants fired another round of rockets into Israel.

	Dec. 18, 2008 First U.S. Patient Receives Face Transplant After 22 hours of surgery, a woman at the Cleveland Clinic has an almost entirely new face, the clinic announced this week.

	Dec. 12, 2008 Profile: Robert Mugabe Robert Mugabe, long-time leader of Zimbabwe, was hailed as a hero during his country's liberation from the UK, but has since maintained power in controversial elections and garnered international criticism for how he is running the African nation.

	Dec. 11, 2008 Daschle Tapped for Dual Role to Reform Health Care President-elect Barack Obama named Tom Daschle Thursday to head the Department of Health and Human Services and direct his administration's sweeping health care initiatives. Susan Denzter discusses the selection.

	Dec. 11, 2008 Daschle Selected as Health and Human Services Secretary President-elect Barack Obama chose former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle as Secretary of Health and Human Services, a selection that signals the importance of health care in the next administration.

	Dec. 11, 2008 Daschle Selected as Health and Human Services Secretary President-elect Barack Obama chose former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle as Secretary of Health and Human Services, a selection that signals the importance of health care in the next administration.

	Dec. 9, 2008 Zimbabwe's Cholera Crisis Spurs New Calls for Mugabe to Step Down In the wake of Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak, worsening food shortages and political unrest, some international leaders are urging embattled President Robert Mugabe to step down. An analyst provides an update on the situation.

	Dec. 9, 2008 Bush Joins Calls for Mugabe to Step Down President Bush said in a statement Tuesday that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe should step down and called for African support to end his "tyranny" as a growing chorus of foreign leaders calls for the embattled leader to quit his post.

	Dec. 5, 2008 U.S. Calls for Zimbabwe's Mugabe to Resign as Power-sharing Deal Falters U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice increased pressure on Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to leave office after his government stalled on a power-sharing deal with the opposition party.

	Dec. 4, 2008 'Wired' Americans Wrestle With Sleepless Nights Guest essayist Julia Keller from the Chicago Tribune reflects on why Americans have so much trouble getting a good night's sleep.

	Dec. 3, 2008 Riots Break Out as Zimbabwe Faces Cholera Epidemic, Hyperinflation Doctors, teachers and union members clashed with riot police in the streets of Zimbabwe's capital of Harare as they protested the country's deepening economic meltdown and a cholera epidemic that has been blamed on poor infrastructure.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 26, 2008 Study Shows First-ever Drop in U.S. Cancer Rates New cancer rates in the United States have declined for the first time and the cancer death rate among men and women has continued to drop, according to a report published Tuesday. A doctor discusses the promising new data with Judy Woodruff.

	Nov. 26, 2008 Study Shows First-ever Drop in New Cancer Rates New cancer rates in the United States have declined for the first time and the cancer death rate among men and women has continued to drop, according to an annual report on cancer published Tuesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

	Nov. 20, 2008 In Weak Economy, Obama May Face Obstacles to Health Care Reform During his campaign for the White House, President-elect Barack Obama proposed lowering health care costs and helping the uninsured. Now he faces the tough task of implementing such reforms. Analysts examine the road ahead for health care initatives.

	Nov. 20, 2008 Vet Suicide on the Rise The Army says that suicides among its active duty personnel have doubled in recent years, and multiple deployments may be contributing to the increase. A veterans' advocate, an Army psychiatrist and the head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs took your questions.

	Nov. 18, 2008 Young Breast Cancer Patient Finds Outlet in Activism After Dikla Benzeevi was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at 32, she formed a network of young cancer survivors. Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming reflects on her story of strength and achievement.

	Nov. 18, 2008 Report Concludes Gulf War Syndrome Is Legitimate Illness A report released Monday revealed that the mysterious illness affecting veterans exposed to toxins during the 1991 Gulf War is real, making it easier for military personnel to seek federal aid. Research advisory committee chairman James Binns details the findings.

	Nov. 12, 2008 Researchers Explore New Technologies, Treatments for Dementia Patients About 5 million Americans suffer from dementia -- about half of those from suspected Alzheimer's disease -- according to official estimates. Now, researchers are looking for new treatments in a field that hasn't seen a major advance since the 1960s.

	Nov. 10, 2008 Military, VA Confront Rising Suicide Rates Among Troops The Army says that suicides among active duty personnel have doubled in recent years, and multiple deployments might contribute to that increase. NewsHour correspondent Betty Ann Bowser reports.

	Nov. 10, 2008 Study Finds Statins Benefit Patients With no History of Heart Problems A new study released Sunday at an American Heart Association conference found that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs significantly cut the risk of death from heart problems even in those with low cholesterol and risk factors. Two doctors discusses what the findings mean for patients.

	Nov. 7, 2008 Scientists Map Whole Genome of Cancer Patient Scientists have for the first time mapped the entire genome of a cancer patient, in the process finding eight new genetic mutations that led to the woman's leukemia.

	Nov. 6, 2008 In Turkey, Degrees of Change in Women's Rights Turkey has made improvements in women's rights, but women still need better enforcement of laws and more representation in the labor force, politics and other key areas, according to the European Commission.



	OCTOBER Oct. 31, 2008 Study: Universal Flu Vaccine Helps Vaccinated, Unvaccinated Alike As flu season kicks off in the Northern Hemisphere this month, many people will decide whether to spend the time and money to get this year's flu vaccine. Now, a Canadian study suggests one more reason to endure a shot: helping your neighbor.

	Oct. 27, 2008 Haiti Digs Out After the Storms In the summer of 2008, Haiti was slammed by four hurricanes and tropical storms, which killed more than 800 people and left 1 million homeless. In the northern city of Gonaives alone, 500 people died in the storm-induced floods.

	Oct. 23, 2008 Researchers ID 26 Genes Associated With Lung Cancer Researchers have identified 26 genes associated with lung cancer -- a finding that could lead to new ways to identify and treat the world's most common cancer.

	Oct. 17, 2008 Researchers Search for New Weapons in Fight Against TB Last year, a young lawyer with drug-resistant tuberculosis travelled overseas despite the fact that he was on the U.S. no-fly list, sparking a media storm and bringing the lung disease back into national awareness.

	Oct. 16, 2008 Number of Uninsured, Physician Shortages Challenge New Mexico Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama weren't the only two candidates who debated Wednesday night. In Washington state, incumbent Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire and GOP challenger Dino Rossi met for their fifth and final debate.

	Oct. 15, 2008 Candidates' Representatives Discuss Merits of Health Care Plans for N.M., Nation Judy Woodruff digs deeper into the health care issue in New Mexico, speaking with the campaigns' state representatives to explain how their respective health plans will better deal with current needs.

	Oct. 15, 2008 New Mexico Residents Struggle to Navigate Health Care System in Crisis In New Mexico, where a quarter of the residents do not have health insurance, rising poverty rates and a lack of medical facilities are straining the system and bringing health care to the forefront of this year's election.

	Oct. 8, 2008 Project Aims to Improve Life in Rural Turkey In the farming village of Yatir in southeastern Turkey, little has changed over time. Rural areas, especially in the East, are some of the poorest parts of the country. A pilot project is aiming to bring more economic opportunities.

	Oct. 8, 2008 Study of Glowing Jellyfish Nets Nobel Prize for Trio One Japanese and two American scientists won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday for discovering and developing a glowing jellyfish protein that has revolutionized the way researchers study disease and normal development in living organisms.

	Oct. 6, 2008 European Scientists Share Nobel Prize for Medicine Three European scientists will share this year's Nobel Prize for Medicine, for identifying two deadly sexually transmitted viruses, the Nobel committee announced Monday.

	Oct. 2, 2008 Doctors Aim to Better Diagnose Troubling Sleep Apnea Twelve to 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea -- many without knowing it. Now, new research suggests that they are more than three times as likely to die from other ailments as people who sleep normally. NewsHour Health correspondent Betty Ann Bowser reports.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 30, 2008 Campaigns Offer Two Very Different Visions for Health Care In Rx for Change, a MacNeil/Lehrer Productions special, health care experts and campaign officials debate the state of the American medical system and which presidential candidate may do more to improve care.

	Sept. 30, 2008 China Detains 22 People Over Contaminated Milk The Chinese government has said it detained 22 people suspected of operating an underground network that added the industrial chemical melamine to milk. The contamination has sickened more than 50,000 children in China.

	Sept. 26, 2008 Congress Passes Mental Health Parity Legislation After slogging through Congress for nearly a decade, legislation on the fair treatment of mental health conditions reached a critical milestone this week when it cleared both houses of Congress.

	Sept. 22, 2008 China's Food Quality Chief Quits Over Tainted Milk Supply Scandal The head of China's food quality watchdog agency quit Monday, as anger grew in China and in neighboring countries over a tainted milk supply scandal that has sickened more than 50,000 children.

	Sept. 19, 2008 FDA Hearings, New Research Reignite BPA Controversy The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reiterated its position in a hearing this week that the chemical bisphenol A, used in many plastic household products, is safe in low levels.

	Sept. 10, 2008 Scientists Track Source of Salmonella Outbreak Mystery A salmonella outbreak in May sparked a lengthy investigation that first called tomato crops the culprits, causing farmers to lose $100 million, and later found the true source to be Mexican peppers. Tom Bearden reports on the salmonella probe.

	Sept. 5, 2008 Genetic Map of Cancer Reveals Unexpected Complexity Researchers have mapped the genetic blueprint of two of the deadliest forms of cancer, detailing the mutations that lead to tumors of the pancreas and brain.

	Sept. 2, 2008 Scientists 'Reprogram' Adult Mouse Cells to Produce Insulin Researchers have discovered a way to convert one type of adult cell to another without stem cells, possibly paving the way for major advances in treating diabetes and other illnesses.



	AUGUST Aug. 27, 2008 Mayor Gavin Newsom Answered Your Questions on Gay Marriage, Health Care San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has gained national attention for his championing of sometimes controversial social issues like gay marriage and universal health care. Newsom recently launched an exploratory committee for Governor of California. While attending the Democratic National Convention, he answered your questions.

	Aug. 26, 2008 Health Insurance Rates Rise, Poverty Unchanged in 2007 The number of people without health insurance in the United States fell last year for the first time since the beginning of the Bush administration, according to a report released by the Census Bureau Tuesday on poverty, income and health insurance.

	Aug. 22, 2008 90 Years Later, 1918 Flu Lives on in Antibodies, Research Ninety years after the 1918 flu pandemic claimed the last of its approximately 50 million victims, antibodies to the virus live on in people exposed to it as children -- and the pandemic itself is still inspiring research and debate among scientists.

	Aug. 19, 2008 Educators Spark Dialogue on Underage Drinking A coalition of college and university presidents recently urged lawmakers to discuss making age 18 the legal limit for drinking as a means to curb alcohol abuse among students. Two university officials take up the controversial initiative that has sparked a national debate.

	Aug. 13, 2008 Doctors Aim to Better Diagnose Troubling Sleep Apnea Twelve to 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea -- many without knowing it. Now, new research suggests that they are more than three times as likely to die from other ailments as people who sleep normally. NewsHour Health correspondent Betty Ann Bowser reports.

	Aug. 12, 2008 Can you explain "moral hazard" in how it increases the cost of health care? Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."

	Aug. 12, 2008 Can you explain "moral hazard" in how it increases the cost of health care? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 11, 2008 Disaster Feared as 130,000 Flee Fighting in Southern Philippines Continued fighting between Muslim rebels and troops in the southern Philippines has raised fears of a humanitarian disaster as nearly 130,000 refugees have fled their homes.

	Aug. 8, 2008 AIDS Conference Highlights Successes in Treatment, Struggles in Prevention Researchers and activists focused on the search for an HIV vaccine and other prevention methods, as well as broadening access to HIV care across the globe, at this week's International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, which concluded Friday.

	Aug. 7, 2008 Years After Anthrax Attacks, Bioterrorism Threat Still Looms As the probe into the 2001 anthrax attacks comes to a close, the country still faces challenges preventing and responding to bioterrorism attacks. Experts assess U.S. preparedness.

	Aug. 6, 2008 Air Pollution in China Atmospheric chemist Kenneth Rahn regularly travels to China to consult with scientists there about the country's air pollution problem. Rahn took your questions about pollution in Beijing during the run-up to the Olympic Games.

	Aug. 5, 2008 The Power of Access to AIDS Medication Photographers captured images of HIV positive people in countries around the world before and after they began antiretroviral treatment.

	Aug. 5, 2008 Men over 75 Urged to Skip Prostate Cancer Screening Medical care for older men may change after a federal task force recommended Monday that men older than 75 not get screened for prostate cancer, the second-deadliest-type among males. A National Institutes of Health official presents the concerns behind the recommendation.

	Aug. 5, 2008 D.C.'s Black Community Struggles With HIV/AIDS Rates The rate of HIV/AIDS infections in the U.S. has drawn new attention this week at the International AIDS Conference. Betty Ann Bowser examines the prevalance of AIDS among the African-American community in Washington, D.C.

	Aug. 4, 2008 Beijing's Pollution a Contentious Foe for Olympic Athletes Despite efforts to curb China's air pollution, a thick haze swept over Beijing Monday, just days before the Olympic Games begin. Betty Ann Bowser examines the country's pollution woes and the impact on athletes.

	Aug. 1, 2008 Researchers Find Drug That Mimics Effects of Exercise Scientists announced this week that they've found a chemical compound that allows mice to run 44 percent longer on a treadmill -- without doing any exercise. Lead researcher Ronald Evans discusses the results and what they could mean for humans.

	Aug. 1, 2008 Scientists Create Stem Cells From Lou Gehrig's Disease Patients In a stem cell research breakthrough, scientists have reprogrammed skin cells from two elderly patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis -- also called ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease -- to act like stem cells.



	JULY July 30, 2008 In Rwanda, U.S.-Backed Program Improves Access to AIDS Drugs A U.S. program to curb AIDS in Africa is having success providing antiretroviral drugs to AIDS patients in Rwanda -- particularly pregnant women and newborns. Health correspondent Susan Dentzer begins a series of reports examining the impact of the American effort.

	July 23, 2008 The Health Care Debate: Eliminate the for-profit middle man and all is solved? Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."

	July 18, 2008 Biotech Companies, Investors Look to Adult Stem Cell Research In June, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced that it was investing $3 million in a small San Diego-based biotech startup called EyeCyte, which will work to develop adult stem cell-based treatments for eye diseases.

	July 17, 2008 U.S. Doctors Create Pediatric AIDS Network in Malawi In Malawi, where some 83,000 children are infected with HIV, a new program brings U.S. doctors to the East African country and encourages African doctors to set up practices in their hometowns, instead of leaving for more prosperous countries.

	July 14, 2008 Pioneering Heart Surgeon Michael DeBakey Dies at 99 Michael DeBakey, the prolific and influential heart surgeon who performed the first successful bypass operation, died July 11 in Houston at age 99. DeBakey's colleague and former student looks back on his medical legacy.

	July 11, 2008 Doctors Seek to Improve End-of-life Care for Cancer Patients Recent studies have indicated that barely a third of patients report having substantive conversations with their oncologists about end-of-life care, a statistic some physicians are looking to change. Health correspondent Betty Ann Bowser reports.

	July 10, 2008 Medical Association Apologizes for History of Prejudice The American Medical Association apologized on Thursday for its history of discrimination aimed at preventing African-Americans from gaining membership. Experts offer insight into the statement and the history behind it.

	July 10, 2008 Katrina Trailer Makers Defend Record in Congressional Testimony The companies that manufactured trailers for displaced New Orleans residents after Hurricane Katrina knew that the trailers contained unsafe levels of toxic formaldehyde, but failed to inform the public, congressional Democrats charged Wednesday.

	July 9, 2008 Senate Rejects Cut to Doctors' Medicare Payments The Senate passed a bill Wednesday blocking a 10.6 percent drop in Medicare payments to doctors treating elderly, troops and veterans. Susan Dentzer discusses the short and long-term implications of the move by Congress, which President Bush will likely veto.

	July 7, 2008 Doctors Recommend Cholesterol Tests, Drugs for Kids The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended Monday that children with risk factors such as obesity and a family history of cardiac disease be screened for high cholesterol -- and said some should be treated with cholesterol-lowering drugs.

	July 7, 2008 Aid to Africa Tops Agenda for G-8 Leaders World leaders entered the second day of their annual G-8 summit prepared to focus on whether Africa is receiving enough aid amid soaring food and oil prices and concerns over climate change.

	July 2, 2008 FDA Expands Search for Source of Salmonella Outbreak The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that it still did not know the source of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 869 people and plans to expand its search beyond tomatoes, the first suspected culprit. A USA Today reporter updates the story.

	July 1, 2008 Study: HIV Mortality Rates Continue to Drop as Treatments Improve More than a decade after antiretroviral treatments for HIV first debuted, HIV mortality rates have declined dramatically and they continue to drop in countries where patients have access to the drugs.



	JUNE June 25, 2008 Transparent Fish Give Cancer Research a Boost Richard White is an oncologist at Children's Hospital Boston and instructor at Harvard Medical School -- but lately, he's also gained fame as an animal breeder.

	June 19, 2008 Three Years On, New Orleans Still Struggles With Hurricane Debris Nearly three years after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the city is still coping with the toxic debris the storm left behind. Betty Ann Bowser reports from New Orleans on the ongoing controversy over the city's landfills.

	June 13, 2008 Low Levels of Vitamin D Tied to Numerous Health Ailments, Studies Find Men with low vitamin D levels are more likely to suffer heart attacks than men with healthy levels of the vitamin, according to a study released this week.

	June 11, 2008 Protests Against Government, U.S. Imports Sweep South Korea More than 100,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Seoul to protest a proposed deal allowing U.S. beef imports and taking to task the teetering government of President Lee Myung-bak. A regional expert explores the core issues behind the protests.

	June 10, 2008 More Than 25 Million Americans Underinsured, Study Finds More than 25 million Americans with health insurance did not have sufficient coverage for their medical expenses in 2007, according to a study released Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs.

	June 10, 2008 Salmonella Concerns Prompt Widespread Tomato Recalls Concerns over salmonella contamination have led the FDA to issue nationwide health warnings for tomatoes. This in turn has led to many vendors recalling or prohibiting the use of tomatoes in their products. A food safety journalist discusses the tomato health scare.

	June 10, 2008 Tomatoes Pulled From Shelves Over Salmonella Federal officials are trying to locate the source of a 17-state salmonella outbreak linked to three types of raw tomatoes while the list of supermarkets and restaurants pulling the affected tomato varieties from shelves and menus continues to grow.

	June 5, 2008 World Leaders Pledge to Ease Food Crisis After Political Squabbling World leaders at a United Nations food summit pledged Thursday to reduce trade barriers and boost agricultural production to combat the food crisis that is spreading hunger and violent unrest across the globe.

	June 2, 2008 Researchers Examine Impact of Exercise on Aging Scientists have coined a new term -- geroscience -- to describe research that aims to slow down aging and delay the onset of age-related diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Researchers are studying the underlying genetic causes of aging and effects of exercise.

	June 2, 2008 Doctor: Kennedy Brain Tumor Surgery a Success Sen. Edward Kennedy underwent surgery to treat a malignant brain tumor Monday, and his doctors said that the surgery was successful, according to a family spokeswoman.



	MAY May 29, 2008 Monkeys Learn to Control Robotic Arm With Brainwaves Advances in brain-controlled prosthetics reached new heights as researchers at the University of Pittsburgh announced the successful use of a prosthetic arm linked directly to the brain of a monkey. Lead researcher Andrew Schwartz discusses the findings.

	May 29, 2008 Food Prices Will Likely Remain High, Report Warns Declaring cheap food a thing of the past, officials said in a report released Thursday that world food prices are likely to fall from their current levels in the years ahead but will stay "substantially above" average costs from the past decade.

	May 28, 2008 Modernizing China Confronts Environmental Woes Since undertaking market reforms in late 1970s, China has enjoyed an economic boom -- but the economic progress has also produced serious environmental damage and pollution problems. Margaret Warner reports on China's environmental woes and their impact on the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.

	May 27, 2008 Experts Debate Cloned Food In January, the Food and Drug Administration decided that meat and milk from cloned animals is safe to eat. Two experts on different sides of the issue -- a veterinarian whose company produces cloned animals and an advocate for clone-free food -- answered your questions.

	May 27, 2008 FDA's Approval of Cloned Beef for Human Consumption Ignites Debate The Food and Drug Administration recently approved meat and milk from cloned cows as safe for human consumption. However, some observers believe the FDA's decision was hasty and more study of the issue is needed. Tom Bearden reports on the controversy.

	May 23, 2008 Clinton Gaffe, McCain Health Records Top Campaign News As Sen. Hillary Clinton apologized for citing the 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy as a rationale for staying in the race, Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama took harder punches at one another in the presidential contest. Mark Shields and David Brooks consider the news from the trail.

	May 22, 2008 Fear of Vaccine Dangers Leads Some Families to Opt Out of Routine Care An increasing fear of alleged dangers from child vaccinations, including autism and allergies, has led to an upsurge in the reported cases of measles this year. Betty Ann Bowser examines why some parents are opting against routine vaccinations for their children.

	May 20, 2008 BPA Dropped From Some Plastics Amid Health Concerns Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a chemical commonly found in hard plastic bottles such as Nalgenes and other everyday plastic products. However, increasing concerns about BPA's alleged toxicity has caused Nalgene to stop using it to make bottles.

	May 20, 2008 Kennedy May Face Lengthy Treatment for Brain Tumor Sen. Edward Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, his doctors said Tuesday. Malignant gliomas, like Kennedy's, are the most common type of adult brain cancers, inflicting some 9,000 Americans a year. A medical expert discusses treatment for brain tumors.

	May 20, 2008 Kennedy Diagnosed With Malignant Brain Tumor Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor, his doctors said Tuesday, a challenging health diagnosis for the iconic American political figure and the last surviving of the four famed Kennedy brothers.

	May 13, 2008 Q & A With Dr. Asis Min of Doctors Without Borders Dr. Asis Min of Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres is working in the aid group's operations base in Bassein in the southwestern Irrawaddy delta region of Myanmar -- the area hit hardest by the cyclone.

	May 6, 2008 Little-known Drug Draws New Scientific, Legislative Attention Most of what the public knows about the hallucinogenic drug salvia divinorum comes in disturbing snippets from a growing collection of online videos.

	May 5, 2008 Relief for World Food Crisis Made More Difficult by Cyclones, Riots In the wake of the devastating cyclone in Myanmar and widespread rioting in Somalia, the international community continues to try and respond with food relief programs to confront the rising need. World Food Program's head Josette Sheeran discusses the relief efforts.

	May 1, 2008 New Policy Urges Soldiers to Seek Mental Health Care In a bid to encourage veterans to get needed counseling, the Pentagon said Thursday that most military and civilian employees will no longer be required to disclose mental health treatment when applying for government jobs. Experts examine the impact of the new rule.



	APRIL April 28, 2008 Mass. Health Care Plan Praised, But Struggles With Cost Massachusetts' universal coverage plan has helped thousands of the state's residents gain health care -- but critics remain wary of the high costs of the program, both expected and unexpected. Susan Dentzer reports on how the Bay State is faring in its reform efforts.

	April 25, 2008 Senate Votes to Prevent Genetic Discrimination in the Workplace As research of preventative genetic testing increases, many fear the impact this information can have on employment and health-insurance practices -- leading the Senate to vote Thursday to ban genetic-based discrimination. An expert on genetics examines the issue.

	April 25, 2008 Social Status is Hard-Wired into the Brain, Study Shows Our world is defined by social hierarchies: parent and child, teacher and student, employee and boss. From the playground to the office, our place in the pecking order helps us decide how to behave.

	April 25, 2008 Medicare's trust fund to run out by 2019? Then what? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	April 22, 2008 FDA Links Heparin Deaths to Contaminated Chinese Supply The Food and Drug Administration announced new evidence this week that links a contaminated blood thinner from China to 81 deaths in the United States.

	April 18, 2008 Wal-Mart, Nalgene Pull BPA Items After Report Sparks Concerns Retail giant Wal-Mart and water bottle maker Nalgene are taking steps to phase out the use of the plasticizer Bisphenol A, only days after a major report linked the omnipresent chemical to a range of possible hormonal and other health problems.

	April 16, 2008 Researchers Track Global Flu Travel Patterns If you live in North America, the flu strain that laid you low last winter likely originated in East or Southeast Asia six to nine months before you caught it, according to a new study of the worldwide circulation of the flu virus.

	April 15, 2008 Merck Faces New Questions Over Vioxx Risks, Research Pharmaceutical company Merck knew in 2001 that its arthritis drug Vioxx could harm patients and used staffers to "ghostwrite" favorable research on the drug, articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association report. Susan Dentzer examines the charges.

	April 8, 2008 After 25 Years, AIDS Vaccine Research Makes Mid-course Correction It took 47 years to develop a polio vaccine, 42 to develop a measles vaccine and 105 for typhoid. So historically speaking, at 24 years in, research on the AIDS vaccine is still young.



	MARCH March 31, 2008 Researchers Examine Impact of Exercise on Aging Scientists have coined a new term -- geroscience -- to describe research that aims to slow down aging and delay the onset of age-related diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Researchers are studying the underlying genetic causes of aging and effects of exercise.

	March 28, 2008 After Major Cyclone, Bangladesh Worries About Climate Change Months after Cyclone Sidr killed 3,200 people along the Bangladesh coast, the devastated country turns its attention to climate change. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on recovery efforts and worries about the long-term future of the country.

	March 27, 2008 Volunteers Shape Frontlines of TB Fight in Bangladesh Tuberculosis -- a potentially fatal but treatable lung disease -- infects 300,000 people in Bangladesh every year. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on a success story in the country's fight against TB, which relies on local women trained to spot and treat infected patients.

	March 26, 2008 U.S. Seeks AIDS Vaccine Research Overhaul The head of the federal government's AIDS vaccine research program said Tuesday that the focus should shift from large-scale human vaccine trials back to basic research.

	March 24, 2008 Water Recycling Efforts Spark Policy Debate in California In water-strapped southern California local authorities are exploring new approaches to water usage, launching new programs that send highly treated wastewater back into the groundwater supply to serve as drinking water.

	March 24, 2008 Digital Files Put Medical Records at Doctors' Fingertips New technologies now allow doctors and hospitals to keep electronic health records, but the U.S. has been slow to switch formats. Susan Dentzer reports on the advantages and difficulties that some hospitals are facing in their efforts to digitize medical records.

	March 21, 2008 Extended Interview: U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael O. Leavitt spoke to Susan Dentzer about Electronic Health Records.

	March 21, 2008 Extended Interview: Dr. Charles Shepard Dr. Charles Shepard spoke to NewsHour health correspondent Susan Dentzer about the benefits and bumps along the road in using electronic health records.

	March 21, 2008 Extended Interview: Dr. William Davis Dr. William Davis, a family practice physician at Winona Family Medicine, discusses the use of electronic health records.

	March 21, 2008 Extended Interview: Cerner Corp. President Trace Devanny Trace Devanny, president of Cerner Corp., spoke to NewsHour health correspondent Susan Dentzer about the difficulties in getting the U.S. health care system to adopt electronic record-keeping practices.

	March 13, 2008 Katrina Victims Still Struggle With Housing Problems The Centers for Disease Control found high levels of formaldehyde in trailers issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house Hurricane Katrina victims. In the first of a series of reports, Betty Ann Bowser examines the housing problems along the Gulf Coast.

	March 10, 2008 Probe Finds Traces of Common Pharmaceuticals in U.S. Drinking Water An investigation by the Associated Press found trace amounts of many types of pharmaceuticals -- including painkillers, antibiotics and anti-seizure medications -- in the drinking water of 24 American cities. A reporter who worked on the story describes the findings.

	March 4, 2008 Health Insurance Mandate Tested In Massachusetts This year, Massachusetts residents will be required to prove that they have health insurance in order to avoid fines and penalties. But the state -- the first in the country to require its residents to obtain health insurance -- is still grappling with the mandate's high costs, and searching for ways to get residents to sign up.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 22, 2008 New Technology Improves Care for Wounded Troops Drawing on new technologies as well as lessons learned in Iraq, the U.S. military is using both new technology and improved methods to treat wounded soldiers, leading to higher survival rates overall. Tom Bearden reports on these advances.

	Feb. 18, 2008 USDA Orders Record Beef Recall in Wake of Slaughterhouse Scandal The USDA has ordered a California company to recall a record 140 million pounds of ground beef as part of a federal investigation into animal abuse and health code violations. A representative of the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service discusses the recall.

	Feb. 14, 2008 Hurricane Victims Should Leave Toxic Trailers, CDC Says Federal officials said Thursday they will intensify efforts to move Gulf Coast hurricane victims out of some 38,000 government-issued trailers as quickly as possible after tests found toxic levels of formaldehyde fumes.

	Feb. 13, 2008 Democratic Republic of Congo: Toils of War The Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa is striving to recover from a five-year interstate war and its aftereffects, including widespread poverty and disease. All photos are from the International Rescue Committee.

	Feb. 12, 2008 Doctor Explores Decision-making and Diagnoses Harvard Medical School's Dr. Jerome Groopman came up with the idea for his book "How Doctors Think" while watching medical students make snap judgments while diagnosing patients. Groopman talks about how doctors get diagnoses right and sometimes wrong.

	Feb. 7, 2008 Lipitor TV Spots Raise Debate Over Advertising Practices A House Committee is exploring whether ads for the cholesterol drug Lipitor mislead the public because spokesman Dr. Robert Jarvik is not licensed to practice medicine and used a stunt double in a scene that portrays him rowing. Representatives of the pharmaceutical industry and consumers union debate advertising practices.

	Feb. 7, 2008 Diabetes Study Partially Halted Due to Cardiac Risk A new study on Type 2 diabetes was partially halted after research showed lowering blood sugar levels for some high-risk patients increased their chances of dying from a heart attack. The head of the American Diabetes Association details the surprising findings.



	JANUARY Jan. 31, 2008 Stress Disorder, Concussion Raise Risks for Iraq Vets As many as one in six soldiers who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from a concussion or other head injury during their service, and many of them report long-term health effects, such as irritability, headaches, and memory and balance problems.

	Jan. 29, 2008 California Senate Rejects Health Care Reform Bill A California Senate committee voted Monday to reject a bill by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that would have covered millions of uninsured Californians, ending the hopes of advocates that it would provide a model for national health care reform.

	Jan. 23, 2008 Study Poses New Questions About Cholesterol Drugs The makers of the cholesterol drug Vytorin pulled its telelvision ads off the air on Tuesday, after a study found the drug was no more effective at reducing the risk of heart attack than one of its generic counterparts. Two doctors offer perspective on the study and the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs.

	Jan. 23, 2008 'Green House' Nursing Homes Expand as Communities Reinvent Elder Care Susan Dentzer reports on the "green houses" project, which seeks to reinvent traditional nursing home care and create close-knit communities of patients and caregivers. Some observers, however, question the homes' financial feasibility.

	Jan. 17, 2008 Paralyzed Mice Able to Regain Movement, Study Reveals The brain is a stubborn organ. When faced with a roadblock, it works to find another way. It fumbles to repair itself. Researchers have found new evidence of the brain's ability to adapt to injuries by studying the spinal cord of a paralyzed mouse.

	Jan. 16, 2008 Alzheimer's Patients Describe Life with Disease Some 5 million Americans are estimated to live with Alzheimer's disease -- a degenerative brain illness that progressively attacks neurons. Alzheimer's is usually diagnosed in people 65 and older but with new advances, people as young as 45 are being diagnosed with the disease.

	Jan. 16, 2008 Neurologist Discusses Alzheimer's Some 5 million Americans live with some form of Alzheimer's disease. The degenerative brain illness usually attacks people over 65, but new technology is now detecting it in those much younger. Neurologist Claudia H. Kawas of the University of California, Irvine, answered your questions.

	Jan. 15, 2008 Baseball Officials Testify on Steroid Use in Sport At a House hearing Tuesday to discuss the recent report by former Sen. George Mitchell on the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball, Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and Players Union Chief Donald Fehr pledged to improve safegaurds against steroid abuse in the sport.

	Jan. 14, 2008 Bid to Print Nutrition Facts on Menus Raises Debate Lee Hochberg reports on the debate in some cities and states over laws that would require restaurants to display nutritional information on their menus. Lawmakers hope the policy would benefit diners with certain health conditions, while restaurant owners are concerned about additional costs.

	Jan. 14, 2008 Scientists Grow Rat Heart from Transplanted Cells Researchers grew beating rat hearts in a lab using heart cells from newborn rats grafted to the scaffolding of hearts from dead rats, according to a study released Sunday.

	Jan. 10, 2008 Sufferers of Early Onset Alzheimer's Describe Life with the Disease Susan Dentzer reports on early onset Alzheimer's -- a degenerative brain disease that affects an estimated 250,000 to half a million Americans -- and how a forum organized by those suffering from the diagnosis has proven an effective means of coping.

	Jan. 2, 2008 Study: Hospital Response Slow in Cardiac-Arrest Cases Nearly a third of patients who suffer cardiac arrest in a hospital don't get potentially life-saving defibrillator shocks quickly enough, according to a study published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

2013

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2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998
1997 | 1996





	Myanmar's Humanitarian Crisis A cyclone pummeled Myanmar on May 3, 2008, launching a global aid effort that at times hit logistical and governmental hurdles.


	Bird Flu Coverage of how the H5N1 virus has swept through bird populations, sparking fears it may become the next major human pandemic

2013

2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998
1997 | 1996

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