Death From Febrile Seizure Rare in Children

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Even in high-risk children, death from febrile (fever-linked) seizures is rare, say Danish researchers who analyzed data on 1.6 million children.

 Robot Playmates Help Autistic Kids With Social Skills

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Many children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) interact more easily with mechanical devices than with humans, according to new reports.

 Gene Behind Rare Eye Disease in Dachshunds Discovered

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have discovered a gene mutation that may cause a rare eye disease in dogs, and possibly humans as well.

 Medical Blogs May Threaten Patient Privacy

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Blogs written by medical professionals may pose a threat to patient privacy, because the authors of the blogs may inadvertently reveal patient information, says a U.S. study that's the first to examine the issue.

 Many Miss Out on Stroke Treatment

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Most people who have strokes don't act quickly enough to get the clot-dissolving treatment that can limit brain damage, a new study finds.

 Blood Sugar Test May Also Aid Diabetes Detection

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- A widely used test to monitor blood sugar levels in people with diabetes could help identify millions of people with undetected diabetes, according to a consensus statement released by a team of experts.

 Protein Key to Brain Rewiring

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists say they're gaining insight into how the brain rewires itself as it learns new things, potentially helping them move toward better treatments for mental illness and brain injuries.

 B Cells Can Act Alone in Autoimmune Diseases

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- B cells may be more responsible for causing autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis than initially thought, according to a new study.

 Men More Likely Than Women to Adopt Children

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- American men ages 18 to 44 are more than twice as likely as women in the same age group to have adopted a child, a new federal report says.

 Disease-Specific Stem Cell Lines Developed

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers in Massachusetts have succeeded in generating several disease-specific stem cell lines which should advance both research and, one day, treatment.

 Most Americans Want Health Care Reform

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- The vast majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the U.S. health care system, and 82 percent think it needs to be overhauled, a new survey found.

 2 New Genes Tied to 3 Cancers

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Two genes linked to breast, thyroid and kidney cancer have been identified by Cleveland Clinic researchers. The discovery of the genes SDHB and SDHD could help improve early detection of these cancers and boost patients' chances of survival.

 Health Highlights: Aug. 7, 2008

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

 Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 7, 2008

(HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch :

 Fat Deposits Boost Heart Attack Risk

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Having excess fat around your heart may be more dangerous than a high body mass index (BMI) or a thick waist in terms of your heart attack risk, according to new research.

 Health Tip: Detecting False Labor

(HealthDay News) -- You should speak with your doctor if you're concerned about the possibility that you've gone into labor, or whether you're experiencing a false alarm called "false labor," the American Pregnancy Association says.

 Health Tip: Managing Your Child's Migraines

(HealthDay News) -- If your child gets migraine headaches, the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help prevent them:

 Breaking the News About Breast Cancer

THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Shelley Volz, now 59, got the news about her breast cancer diagnosis 10 years ago, right before she was headed from San Francisco to New York for the wedding of her younger brother.