Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Dismantling Pancreas Cancer's Armor
SEATTLE – Pancreas cancer is notoriously impervious to treatment and resists both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It has also been thought to provide few targets for immune cells, allowing tumors to...
New clues found to preventing lung transplant rejection
Broadly suppressing the immune system after lung transplantation may inadvertently encourage organ rejection, according to a new study in mice. Organ transplant patients routinely receive drugs that stop their immune...
MMR vaccine linked to lower rate of infection-related hospital admissions
In a nationwide group of Danish children, receipt of the live measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine on schedule after vaccination for other common infections was associated with a lower...
Continuous handling of receipts linked to higher urine BPA levels
Study participants who handled receipts printed on thermal paper continuously for two hours without gloves had an increase in urine bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations compared to when they wore gloves,...
Brain cell activity regulates Alzheimer's protein
Increased brain cell activity boosts brain fluid levels of a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. Tau protein is the main component of neurofibrillary tangles, one of...
Obesity rates in 2- to 5-year-olds improve, although overall obesity rates remain unchanged, U.S. study shows
The latest U.S. obesity data show a significant decline in obesity among children aged 2 to 5 years. Obesity prevalence for this age group went from nearly 14 percent in...
Promising new option for first line of attack in lymphoma
Follicular lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma -– a blood cancer -- that usually develops slowly. The majority of patients are diagnosed when their disease is at an advanced...
Strawberries lower cholesterol, study suggests
A team of volunteers ate half a kilo of strawberries a day for a month to see whether it altered their blood parameters in any way. At the end of...
New risk gene illuminates Alzheimer's disease
A team of international scientists has isolated a gene thought to play a causal role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. The newly identified gene affects accumulation of amyloid-beta, a...
Breast-feeding benefits appear to be overstated, according to study of siblings
A new study comparing siblings who were fed differently during infancy suggests that breast-feeding might be no more beneficial than bottle-feeding for 10 of 11 long-term health and well-being outcomes...
Eliminating maternal mortality in developing countries could extend women's life expectancy in reproductive ages
Maternal death rates represent the single largest health discrepancy between developed and developing populations, with nearly all -- over 99% -- maternal deaths worldwide occurring in developing countries and over...
Byproducts of bacteria-causing gum disease incite oral cancer growth, study shows
Researchers have discovered how byproducts in the form of small fatty acids from two bacteria prevalent in gum disease incite the growth of deadly Kaposi's sarcoma-related lesions and tumors in...
New neurons generated in brains, spinal cords of living adult mammals
New nerve cells in the brains and spinal cords of living mammals have been created by researchers without the need for stem cell transplants to replenish lost cells. Although the...
Scotland reduces post-code lottery for hip replacement surgery
A reduction in the post-code lottery for hip replacement surgery has been achieved in Scotland without recourse to the private sector, according to new research. "Scotland has managed to improve...
Health Check: How High Heels Harm and How to Make it Better (Op-Ed)
High-heeled shoes are thought to characterise femininity and beauty, making the wearer feel self-assured and elegant. But they also alter alignment of the feet, legs, and back, and can have...
How To Get Rid Of Phantom Limb Pain: Put It Back To Work
A new method for the treatment of phantom limb pain after an amputation has been initially tested on a patient who has suffered from severe phantom limb pain for 48...
Obesity Rate for Young Children Plummets 43% in a Decade
The data, reported in a major federal health survey, offered the first clear evidence that America’s children have turned a corner in the obesity epidemic, and came as a surprise...
Rising Home Prices Linked To More Babies
Gregoryj77 via Wikimedia Commons As housing prices rise, non-owners (e.g. renters) tend to have fewer kids. A new study found that for every $10,000 rise in house prices, the fertility rate of non-owners subsequently...
FDA weighs unknowns of 3-person embryo technique
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Genetic experts cautioned the federal government Tuesday that it could take decades to confirm the safety of an experimental fertilization technique that would...
How Do You Get Herpes?
A herpes infection is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which comes in two forms: HSV-1, which usually results in oral herpes infections affecting the mouth and lips; and...
The Myths of Charles Krauthammer: The Drinking Game (Op-Ed)
Climate denial is becoming all too predictable, so a drinking game could liven things up.
City Mouse Or Country Mouse? What Genetic Claims Tell Us About The Importance Of Design
People who live in cities love the infrastructure, the nightlife, the hobos, the fact that you can find a Starbucks on every corner. People who live in the country love...
Vitamin A May Help Boost Immune System to Fight Tuberculosis
UCLA researchers show that vitamin A may play an important role in combating TB. The team describes for the first time the mechanism by which vitamin A and...
Computer to aid cancer treatment
A newly developed computer model simulates cancer tumour growth and treatment on the nanoscale.
What Is Vasculitis?
After suffering from vasculitis for years, actor and director Harold Ramis died of the disease yesterday (Feb. 24) at his Chicago-area home. Vasculitis is the term used to describe a...
IVF babies grow into healthy adults
Research has found that babies conceived through IVF grow into healthy young adults when compared to those conceived naturally.
Is a Wave of Poliolike Symptoms in California Cause for Alarm?
A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expert sheds light on five cases of children infected with an unidentified virus -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Brush kids’ teeth with just a little fluoride toothpaste
The American Dental Association has released new brushing guidelines for infants.