HCS Information Exchange

(Sept. 3) -- Wanda Rodriguez, a 41-year-old nurse, meets her long-lost father when he is admitted to the hospital where she works.

(Sept. 3) -- They help boost bone strength, but a class of drugs known as oral bisphosphonates also appear to increase one's risk of developing esophageal cancer. And while that's the study conclusion making headlines this week, it's not the first research to suggest significant downsides to the medications -- especially with long-term use.

(Sept. 2) -- After rapper T.I. and his wife, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, are charged with drug possession following a traffic stop in Los Angeles, rumors fly that the couple had been drinking the concoction known as sizzurp.

(Sept. 2) -- Dr. Richard Edwards, the recipient of cutting-edge double hand transplant surgery, is speaking to the media today and reporting that he can already wiggle his fingers and is able to form half a fist.

(Sept. 2) -- A concrete link between post-traumatic stress disorder and dementia is quickly being established, as research published this week concludes that PTSD among war veterans doubles their risk of developing the age-related ailment.

(Sept. 1) -- Only days after announcing that he has throat cancer, actor Michael Douglas is making headlines again -- this time, for his remarkable optimism in discussing the late-stage illness on "Late Show with David Letterman."

With newly imposed tax hikes on cigarettes and alcohol set to go into effect, Russian Finance Minister Alexi Kudrin is telling his countrymen and women to let the good times roll.

ATHENS, Greece (Sept. 1) -- Warning: Greece has banned smoking -- again. In its fourth attempt in a decade, Greece on Wednesday moved to wean the country from cigarettes by imposing a sweeping tobacco ban and stiff fines.

(Sept. 1) -- When Atlanta's public hospital closed its outpatient dialysis clinic last fall for financial reasons, some 60 poor patients, most of them illegal immigrants, were left in the lurch. Grady Memorial was hit with a lawsuit and agreed to continue providing care, but the contract for those treatments expired Tuesday. Now the hospital and dialysis providers have reached a tentative agreement to continue the treatments, according to media reports.

(Aug. 31) -- The Obama administration filed papers Tuesday to block a court ruling preventing use of government funds for embryonic stem cell research.

(Aug. 31) -- The abuse of cough syrups, like NyQuil and Vicks, leads to thousands of hospitalizations a year. Now, the Food and Drug Administration is considering new regulations in an effort to tighten access to the products -- especially among teens.

(Aug. 31) -- A dramatic increase in children admitted to ERs with concussive injuries, caused by both team and solitary sports, offers a stark reminder to parents and coaches that precautionary measures are a must in youth sports.

(Aug. 30) -- New research released today reports that marijuana is an effective pain reliever for those suffering from chronic pain.

(Aug. 30) -- The Cargill patties recalled from BJ's Wholesale are a reminder of the industry's bigger persistent food safety problems.

(Aug. 30) -- HBO's film about Temple Grandin won big at the Emmys on Sunday. Three selections from the best works by the autism research and animal rights pioneer.

(Aug. 30) -- A strain of E. coli that the government doesn't regulate has already sickened hamburger eaters in two states. And federal food safety detectives say more cases may be identified as we approach the summer's last big weekend for picnics and barbecues.

(Aug. 30) -- Accidentally eat some recalled ground beef? The basics on how to handle an E. coli infection.

(Aug. 30) -- A quick guide to Escherichia coli, contaminator of food, scourge of eaters, prompter of FDA recalls.

(Aug. 30) -- A brief synopsis of E. coli symptoms.

(Aug. 30) -- The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service announced an 8,500-pound recall of ground beef produced by Cargill Meat Solutions.