Health Highlights: Jan. 11, 2007

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

U.S. House Passes Stem Cell Bill

A bill to loosen restrictions on embryonic stem cell research in the United States was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, theAssociated Pressreported.

But the 253-174 tally was short of the two-thirds margin that would be needed to override a promised veto by President Bush, the wire service said.

The bill is identical to one passed by the House and Senate in 2005 and later vetoed by Bush.

But there's been a change since 2005. The Democrats, who favor expanded stem cell research, now control Congress and they'll keep pushing the bill.

"One way or another, we're going to get this done this year," Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said in a meeting Wednesday withWashington Postreporters and editors.

Under a policy introduced by Bush in August 2001 taxpayer dollars can be used to study only stem cells derived from embryos that had already been destroyed by that date. That covers about 21 colonies of cells out of nearly 400 that currently exist, thePostreported.

The new bill seeks to increase that number by allowing federal funding of research on cells from embryos slated for disposal at fertility clinics and donated by parents.

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Americans Need More Health Screening: Reports

While overall quality in the U.S. health system improved in 2006, too few Americans are being screened and counseled to prevent colorectal cancer, obesity, and other conditions, according to two annual reports released Thursday by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.