FRIDAY, Sept. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Girls growing up in higher-income homes without a biological father are likely to reach puberty earlier than others, new research finds.

(HealthDay News) -- It's important to drink plenty of water, but feeling thirsty all or most of the time can signal a medical problem.

(HealthDay News) -- Although multiple sclerosis lasts a lifetime, symptoms may come and go.

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Pine-bark extract taken as a dietary supplement does not lower blood pressure or prevent other heart disease risk factors, new research shows.

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Despite the fact that bacteria-fighting antibiotics are useless against viruses, hospital physicians are prescribing them with some frequency to patients with viral respiratory tract infections, new research indicates.

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- A good night's sleep when you're pregnant may help keep your blood pressure levels normal, new research suggests.

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) --The majority of suicidal adolescents who seek care in a hospital emergency room (ER) go on to receive follow-up care by a mental health professional in the next 30 days, a new survey of parents and guardians indicates.

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Height is determined not by a single "short" or "tall" gene but by many genes working in concert, says an international team of scientists that has identified hundreds of height-influencing genes.

THURSDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Patients battling chronic kidney disease face a higher risk for stroke and heart disease, new research reveals.

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- The flu vaccine is safe for children with food allergies, experts say, as long as precautions are taken.

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Nutrition experts have examined the diets of typical U.S. children and they don't like what they see: Almost 40 percent of the kids' calorie consumption comes from solid fat and added sugars.

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- In yet another study, a moderate intake of alcohol has been shown to be healthy for the heart.

THURSDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- New research finds that women with ovarian cancer relapse who start chemotherapy as soon as levels of a biomarker for the cancer rise don't live significantly longer than women who wait until symptoms begin to reappear.

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Memory problems are common among people who have a history of cancer, new research reveals.

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors who take care of themselves may be more likely to recommend healthy lifestyle habits to their patients than doctors who gobble down fast food a couple of times a week and rarely hit the gym, according to new research.

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

(HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com: