Antioxidants Fighting Asthma

Daily intake of antioxidants, such as vitamins A and E, could help asthmatics breathe easier, experts say. "Supplementation of the diet with vitamins E and C benefits asthmatic adults," according to researchers from the Department of Environmental Health at the University of Washington in Seattle. They found an 18% improvement in breathing capacity in asthmatics on high-antioxidant diets.

Illness from Wood Chip Mulch

Gardening with wood chip mulch can cause inflammation of the lungs, and in some people a brief, flu-like illness with fever, a study shows. This is the first report to verify such a lung reaction after exposure to low-level organic dust from wood mulch -- similar to the levels homeowners are commonly exposed to when using the mulch.

Breast "Thermometer" to be Marketed

A new device aimed at improving the detection of breast tumors will go on sale in the Northeast U.S. next month. The BreastAlert Differential Temperature Sensor is to be marketed by HumaScan Inc. According to a statement from the company, the device "may improve chances for detection of fast-growing tumors in the intervals between mammographic screening." The device, which consists of two mirrored pads that use chemical sensors to detect changes in breast temperature, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1984, but was not developed for sale until now.

Mental Stress Threatens Heart

Common emotions such as tension, frustration, and sadness can trigger myocardial ischemia -- a drop in blood supply to the heart -- researchers say. A new study of heart patients demonstrates that high levels of such mental stresses in daily life more than doubles the risk of myocardial ischemia.

Weight Gain Ups Women's Stroke Risk

Women who pile on the pounds as they get older could be increasing their risk of having a stroke -- and the more they gain, the higher the risk, a new study suggests. Those women who gained more than 44 pounds after age 18 doubled their stroke risk compared with women who stayed within 11 pounds of their teenage weight, according to the report in this week's issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

Nicotine Patch Success Lasts

Most smokers who successfully use the nicotine patch to help kick their habit will still be off cigarettes years later, according to new research. "Nicotine replacement therapy is associated with long-term smoking cessation benefits," concludes David Daughton, a behavioral researcher in the pulmonary critical care section of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. His five-year follow-up study also found that smokers over 30 years of age were much more successful at kicking the habit than younger ones.

Glue Seals Wound Without a Stitch

Every year, 11 million people in the U.S. visit the emergency room for a serious cut in the skin, but getting stitches may be more scary for some patients than the original laceration. But help may be on the way. A new study suggests that a skin adhesive can "glue" a wound together more quickly and less painfully than stitches. And three months after the procedure, plastic surgeons unaware of the wound closing technique rated the cosmetic results of the glue almost as successful as conventional stitches, according to the report in this week's issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

Drug Combo Blocks Eye Infection

Government researchers have discovered that a combination of certain anti-HIV drugs can prevent or delay progression of a blinding eye infection in people with AIDS. The new findings are the first to show that such drug combinations along with other medications can restore the immune system's ability to control a common AIDS complication.

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