Not all pneumonia patients need a chest X-ray

Pneumonia patients who are under 50 and don't smoke don't need chest X-rays to look for lung cancer, suggests a new study from Canada.

The finding goes against most guidelines for pneumonia treatment, which say that patients should have the X-rays to rule out lung cancer as the hidden cause of the pneumonia.

It also comes in the midst of recent research suggesting that radiation from chest scans might increase the risk of some cancers, including breast cancer.

"If you're over 50 years of age and a smoker you do need a follow-up chest X-ray," Dr. Eric Mortensen, who has studied pneumonia and lung cancer at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, told Reuters Health.

Vaccine in Development Could Cure Cat Allergies

Sniffly-nosed kitten-lovers rejoice: A new vaccine could soon banish allergies to cats.

The vaccine isn't ready for prime time yet, but a new study finds that the shots are safe, researchers reported March 31 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. They're also effective at reducing allergic reactions, the researchers reported.

About 10 percent of peopleare allergic to cats. Currently, the only solutions are to stay far away from felines or to get multiple injections of kitty allergens to help the body build up a tolerance. But that process can take years, wrote McMaster University immunologist and study researcher Mark Larche.