SATURDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Irresponsible eating, lack of exercise and alcohol consumption are among the factors that contribute to the Freshman 15, which refers to the extra pounds packed on by many new college students, according to a Duke University expert.

FRIDAY, July 25 (HealthDay News) -- The first evidence linking gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and asthma has been discovered by Duke University Medical Center researchers.

An association between the two conditions was first noted in the 1970s, and since then studies have shown that between 50 percent and 90 percent of asthma patients also experience GERD symptoms. But the actual link between GERD and asthma hasn't been clear.

WEDNESDAY, July 9 (HealthDay News) -- Genetic activity in breast cancer cells from younger patients could explain why tumors tend to more aggressive when they strike at a younger age.

"We haven't had a good reason why younger women do worse than older women," said senior study author Dr. Kimberly Blackwell, director of the clinical trials program in breast cancer at Duke University. "This study offers some insight into why younger women do worse."

Ok, maybe not the best news EVER. But I suffer from these horrid little creatures and have painful bouts several times a year that last about 10 days every time. Even highly touted creams like Abreva have done nothing for me.

WEDNESDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) -- Glaucoma doesn't necessarily have to end in blindness, two new studies suggest.

In one report, researchers say they found traditional surgery for glaucoma has better outcomes than using glaucoma drainage devices. The second report found that even patients with end-stage glaucoma can be successfully treated. Both studies were published in the July issue of Ophthalmology.

In the first report, researchers looked at the number of complications from traditional glaucoma surgery versus complications from inserting a device that drains fluid from the eye.

TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDay News) -- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy enjoyed "a restful night's sleep" and was walking the hallways of Duke University Medical Center on Tuesday, one day after undergoing what his doctors called a "successful" three-and-a-half-hour surgery to treat his malignant brain tumor.

The 76-year-old Kennedy was "recuperating well from yesterday's procedure," his office said in a statement released to the Associated Press. "He is experiencing no complications and has been walking the hallways, spending time with family and actively keeping up with the news of the day."

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy enjoyed "a restful night's sleep" and was walking the hallways of Duke University Medical Center on Tuesday.

http://empowher.com/news/cancer/2008/06/...

Sen. Edward Kennedy certainly was heroic as he underwent surgery Monday for a malignant brain tumor while partially awake. But he was no more a superhero than other men and women who suffer from the same condition and are faced with the same type of procedure to remove their cancer.