Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Possible new target for future brain cancer drugs
A molecule in cells that shuts down the expression of genes might be a promising target for new drugs designed to treat glioblastoma, the most frequent and lethal form of...
Women's brains more resilient to higher levels of genetic defects: study
Women are able to carry higher levels of genetic defects without getting brain development disorders such as autism, supporting the possibility of a 'female protective effect', finds a new study.
Cushing's syndrome: Genetic basis for cortisol excess
Cushing’s syndrome has been found to be linked to a genetic basis for cortisol excess. Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal gland in response to stressful...
Low birth weight reduces ability to metabolize drugs throughout life
Another concern related to low birth weight has been found by researchers: a difference in how the body reacts to drugs, which may last a person's entire life and further...
Type 1 diabetes: Vitamin D deficiency occurs in early stage
Low levels of vitamin D are commonly found in people with type 1 diabetes. But even children who have multiple positive islet autoantibodies without manifest type 1 diabetes have lower...
U.S. household wealth still down 14 percent since recession
Household wealth for Americans still has not recovered from the recession, despite last summer’s optimistic report from the U.S. Federal Reserve, a new study suggests.
Supplement added to standard diet improves health, prolongs life in mice
Activating a protein called Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) extends lifespan, delays the onset of age-related metabolic diseases, and improves general health in mice. The findings point to a potentially promising strategy...
Training begins for police officers to control bleeding of mass-casualty victims in the US
Surgeons and first responder organizations have been working to increase the number of survivors of an active shooter or mass casualty incident. An important part of this initiative requires all...
Link found between pollutants, certain complications of obesity
A link has been found between a type of pollutant and certain metabolic complications of obesity. The breakthrough could eventually help improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiometabolic risk...
Bisphenol A (BPA) at very low levels can adversely affect developing organs in primates
Bisphenol A is a chemical that is used in a wide variety of consumer products and exhibits hormone-like properties. Fetuses, infants, children or adults exposed to the chemical have been...
Making treatment of rare blood disorder more affordable, effective
A research team has defined a possible new way to fight a disease that is currently treatable only with the most expensive drug available for sale in the United States....
Deadly immune 'storm' caused by emergent flu infections
Scientists have mapped key elements of a severe immune overreaction -— a “cytokine storm” -— that can both sicken and kill patients who are infected with certain strains of flu...
Trigger found for most common form of intellectual disability, autism
The most common genetic form of mental retardation and autism occurs because of a mechanism that shuts off the gene associated with the disease, new research concludes. The findings also...
Dual role of brain glycogen revealed by researchers
Key questions regarding the activity of glycogen in neurons are answered in two recently published articles, building on years of research and publications. The authors postulated that glycogen is a...
How New Nutrition Labels Could Change Your Food
The U.S. government's proposed changes to nutrition labels are an important and positive step, and could even spur food companies to give consumers healthier options, but the changes are only...
Teen helps scientists study her own rare disease
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A teenager who survived cancer decided to study her own rare disease, and helped point scientists to a gene flaw that might spur...
Huntington proteins and their nasty 'social network'
Researchers at the Buck Institute have identified and categorized thousands of protein interactions involving huntingtin, the protein responsible for Huntington's disease (HD). To use an analogy of a human social...
Discoveries Point to More Powerful Cancer Treatments, Fewer Side Effects
Alexey Ryazanov of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, who first identified the eEF2K enzyme a quarter century ago, has published new research in Developmental Cell adding evidence that inhibition...
Crib Mattresses Expose Infants To Elevated Levels Of Volatile Organic Compounds
Environmental Health: A baby sleeping in a crib breathes in air containing twice the amount of potentially harmful VOCs than that of typical indoor air
Effective alternatives to declawing housecats
As many pet owners know, cats like to scratch – and this natural behavior can result in shredded furniture and other troubles. For many years, cats were routinely declawed to...
View on Poverty: Uganda’s cheap bike problem
Boda-boda taxis may be affordable, but without safety measures they are also deadly, says Joseph Magoola.
Race factor in investigatory police stops erodes trust in law enforcement, study finds
"Driving While Black" is not a crime, but a University of Kansas research team has found that race plays a major role in determining whom officers pull over for investigatory...
Mitochondrial transfer consultation launched in UK
Controversial technique, currently banned, would prevent women from passing mitochondrial diseases to their childrenThe Department of Health has launched a three-month consultation on the draft regulations for a radical procedure that aims to...
Climate change puts wheat crops at risk of disease
There is a risk that severity of epidemics of some wheat diseases may increase within the next ten to twenty years due to the impacts of climate change according to...
Wine Becomes More Like Whisky as Alcohol Content Gets High
Superstar wine critic Robert Parker’s legacy—a zinfandel with 17 percent alcohol? -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Child care centers to follow first lady guidelines
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The nation's second-largest for-profit child care provider is adopting Michelle Obama's healthy eating and activity guidelines....
Mobile industry sees boom in high-tech targeted ads
You are strolling past a cafe when a discount coupon flashes up on your smartphone, tempting you to go inside and purchase a drink.
Study Shows That Premature Infants Benefit From Adult Talk
Research led by a team at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University has been published in the February 10, 2014...