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

Researchers Find Marker for Premature Birth

Researchers have found a protein marker in the blood that can indicate whether a pregnant woman has a uterine infection that can lead to premature birth. The discovery could lead to a test that could prevent about 175,000 early births every year, according to the Associated Press.

The study by scientists at Oregon Health & Science University involved only 33 women, leading some experts to say that larger trials are needed to confirm the results.

The study's authors, writing in the July 28 Journal of the American Medical Association, said they hope their discovery leads to a diagnostic test that would allow doctors to treat women with uterine infections earlier. Such infections typically stem from an overabundance of bacteria that normally live in the vagina. Pregnant women often show no symptoms of infection until they prematurely go into labor, the AP reported.

Uterine infections are the root cause of about half of the 350,000 premature births in the United States each year, the news service said. Infants born to infected mothers are at risk of a host of health problems, including brain disorders and blindness.

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Medicare Will Pay for Initial Physical

Under the new Medicare law passed last December, the federal/state insurance program will begin to cover a variety of preventive health services, including an initial physical exam for new participants who turn 65, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

The physical will include flu and hepatitis B vaccines; mammograms; Pap smears and pelvic exams; and screening tests for glaucoma, osteoporosis, and for cancers of the prostate and colon, the newspaper said.

As part of the "welcome to Medicare physical," the program will also pay for an electrocardiogram, an assessment of a person's risk of depression, and hearing and vision tests.

For people already in the program, coverage will include tests for cholesterol and diabetes, according to the Times. These latest changes will begin Jan. 1.

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FDA Experts Endorse Drug for Lung Cancer

An expert advisory panel has recommended unanimously that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approve the Eli Lilly drug Alimta to treat nonsmall-cell lung cancer, the Indianapolis Star reported Wednesday.

The nonsmall-cell variety is the most common type of lung cancer, affecting roughly 140,000 Americans each year and more than 1 million people worldwide.

Alimta was initially approved in February to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma, a cancer almost always associated with the now-banned insulating material asbestos. Lilly is continuing three large clinical trials to further study the drug's effects on nonsmall-cell lung cancer.

The FDA, which usually follows its advisory panels' recommendations, is expected to reach a final decision by year's end, the newspaper said.

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Potential Cancer Drug May Also Be Effective Against Alzheimer's

The drug bryostatin, which is being tested as a treatment for cancer, may also be effective against Alzheimer's disease.

A study in Tuesday's issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that bryostatin slows memory loss caused by Alzheimer's and also protects neurons against degeneration that leads to memory loss.

In research with mice, U.S. and Belgian scientists found that the drug helped break down proteins that play a role in the development of amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease, the Associated Press reported.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved brysotatin for use in some cancer trials.

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Head-Tilt Test Detects Asperger's Syndrome: Study

A simple head movement test can help parents determine whether their babies have a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome, according to University of Florida scientists.

They found that babies with Asperger's kept their heads straight when their bodies were tilted. Doing this test on all 6-month-old infants could help lead to earlier detection of more cases of Asperger's syndrome, the researchers said.

Their study appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Children with Asperger's syndrome usually have fewer language problems than children with autism. While children with autism are usually diagnosed by the time they're 3 years old, children with Asperger's often aren't diagnosed until they're 6 or 7, BBC News Online reported.

The researchers suggest that the head-tilting test be performed on all infants once they reach 6 months of age, especially if there is a family history of Asperger's syndrome or autism.

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Fire Threat Prompts Air Conditioner Recall

A potential fire risk caused by overheating has led to the recall of more than 26,000 packaged terminal air conditioning (PTAC) units used in hotels, schools and nursing homes in the United States.

The recall affects PTAC units made by Friedrich Air Conditioning Co., of San Antonio, Texas. The rotary dial switch on the units can be positioned between the high and low settings, which can cause the units to overheat and possibly catch fire, said the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

To date, there have been 60 reports of these units overheating, including nine reports of fires that caused property damage. The recall affects all PTAC units in the P series manufactured between Nov. 1, 2002, and Dec. 31, 2003.

The recall also includes about 1,600 heater assembly units used in repairs.

The affected PTAC units should not be used in the heating mode until the units can be repaired. To schedule a free, on-site repair, phone 1-800-664-5698 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.

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