Latest science news in Health & Medicine
New treatment for chronic reflux disease
Clinical trial offer additional evidence that a new device may help relieve chronic heartburn symptoms that standard treatment cannot.
Staff satisfaction at hospitals may affect the quality of patient care
The satisfaction levels among a hospital's staff are closely linked to the quality of healthcare it provides, say a team of doctors from the UK.
Well: Doctor Groups Issue List of Overused Medical Tests
Major medical specialty groups recommended that doctors greatly reduce their use of 90 widely used but largely unnecessary tests and treatments.
Regulate antibiotics not recreational drugs, ethicist argues
Governments worldwide should stop wasting money on criminalizing recreational drugs and use those funds to curb antibiotic misuse, a medical ethicist suggests.
Early life stress may take early toll on heart function
Early life stress like that experienced by ill newborns appears to take an early toll of the heart, affecting its ability to relax and refill with oxygen-rich blood, researchers report.
Study disputes long-term medical savings from bariatric surgery
A study finds that bariatric surgery did not reduce patients' medical costs over the six years after the operation, dashing hopes that the procedure could cut expenses for obese patients.In...
Molecular system that could help develop potential treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease identified
Scientists have identified the molecular system that contributes to the harmful inflammatory reaction in the brain during neurodegenerative diseases. An important aspect of chronic neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s,...
Cooling may prevent trauma-induced epilepsy
In the weeks, months and years after a severe head injury, patients often experience epileptic seizures that are difficult to control. A new study in rats suggests that gently cooling...
Common acne drug not associated with increased risk of IBD
Doctors should not be discouraged from prescribing isotretinoin to adolescents for inflammatory acne, according to a new study showing the drug does not increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease.
Drug could aid treatment of anxiety disorders
Scopolamine is a drug with many uses. Treating anxiety disorders may become a new use for it, new life science research suggests.
Avocado consumption may be associated with better diet quality
New analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) , a program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), indicates that consuming avocados may...
Digital processing system avoids 17.4 million drug errors in US in one year
Processing a prescription through an electronic ordering system can halve the likelihood of a drug error, and avert more than 17 million such incidents in US hospitals in one year...
Landmark study finds separated bike lanes, slower vehicle speeds greatly reduce bicycle injuries
Using your bicycle to commute to work has numerous health and environmental benefits. Yet, the largest Canadian study on cycling injuries led by Ryerson University suggests cyclists are at risk...
Exposing the secrets of costly viruses
Researchers are making headway in discovering how two harmful viruses – ISAV and IPNV – sidestep the salmon immune system. Effective viral vaccines are now in sight.
National Briefing | Health: Renewal of AIDS Program Backed
The 10-year-old program to fight global AIDS started by the Bush administration is doing a good job and should be funded again after it expires this year, a panel of...
Children in U.S. Are Eating Fewer Calories, Study Finds
Health experts said the findings offered an encouraging sign that the obesity epidemic might be easing, but cautioned that the magnitude of the decline was small.
People with disabilities at greater risk of violence and subsequent mental ill-health
People with disabilities are at a greater risk of being the victims of violence and of suffering mental ill health when victimized, according to new research.
Omega-3 lipid emulsions markedly protect brain after stroke in mouse study
Triglyceride lipid emulsions rich in an omega-3 fatty acid injected within a few hours of an ischemic stroke can decrease the amount of damaged brain tissue by 50 percent or...
Multiple tests needed to detect infection in low birth-weight newborns, study suggests
New research finds that cultures commonly used to detect bacterial infections in low birth-weight newborns with early onset sepsis may actually overlook some germs.
Elderly in care 20 times more likely to be on antipsychotics
Sharp rise in medication, including chemical calming 'cosh', revealed in database study by Queen's University BelfastPrescriptions for psychotropic drugs, including those sometimes referred to as the "chemical cosh", soar amongst elderly people who are...
Sugar Mist Makes Veggies More Palatable to Kids
Kids prefer veggies sweetened with a light mist of sugar.
Artificial Platelets Could Stop Battlefield Bleeding
Artificial platelets could speed up blood clotting and reduce bleeding in people who've suffered life-threatening wounds, researchers say.
Antioxidants May Not Help Prevent Stroke, Dementia
The total amount of antioxidants in the diet is not linked to stroke and dementia risk.
Signaling pathway linked to fetal alcohol risk: Molecular switch promises new targets for diagnosis and therapy
Scientists have identified a molecular signaling pathway that plays an important role in the development of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Data pooling in biobanks: The BIOPOOL project
A European consortium of medical, research and higher education institutions is developing a network for banks containing digitalised images of human tissue—"biobanks"— which will help doctors to diagnose different types...
Surgery shows promise in treating persistent heartburn
Ring-shaped device around esophagus prevents acid reflux in most patients
Organic tomatoes accumulate more vitamin C, sugars than conventionally grown fruit
Tomatoes grown on organic farms accumulate higher concentrations of sugars, vitamin C and compounds associated with oxidative stress compared to those grown on conventional farms, according to research published February...
Modifying infant's diet may reduce celiac disease risk, Swedish study suggests
Celiac disease is much more common in Sweden than in the rest of Europe and the U.S., but may be prevented with gradually introducing gluten-containing foods to breast-feeding infants, according...