Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Drug fails to help kidney transplant recipients, study suggests
While safe and well-tolerated, angiotensin II blockade did not lessen tissue scarring or prevent kidney failure in kidney transplant recipients. Angiotensin II blockade is known to slow kidney disease progression...
Junior Seau had degenerative brain disease when he committed suicide
The National Institutes of Health says in a study that Seau, one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history, had chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he shot himself in May. More...
Dropping annual physicals worries doctor
A northern Ontario doctor says he's worried changes to annual physical examinations will mean some diseases and illnesses may go undetected.
Breath test identifies bacteria's fingerprint
Scientists have identified the chemical ‘fingerprints’ given off by specific bacteria when present in the lungs, potentially allowing for a quick and simple breath test to diagnose infections such as...
Epigenomic abnormalities predict patient survival in non-Hodgkins lymphoma
"Not only do we see more abnormal methylation in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients than in healthy B-cell populations, but there are three distinct subtypes of the disease in the clinic, each...
Women should wait at least 12 months before trying for a baby following weight loss surgery, experts say
Women should wait at least 12 months before trying for a baby following weight loss surgery and need further advice and information on reproductive issues, suggests a new evidence-based literature...
Herbal treatments for postmenopausal symptoms may be recommended as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy
Herbal and complementary treatments could be recommended as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for treating postmenopausal symptoms says a new review.
Flu season strikes early and hard in some U.S. cities
From the Rocky Mountains to New England, U.S. hospitals are swamped with people with flu symptoms.
Ask Well: Exercises for Tennis Elbow
Phys Ed columnist Gretchen Reynolds offers exercise advice for a reader concerned about tennis elbow.
Children’s Flu Medicine in Short Supply
Pharmacies face shortages of liquid Tamiflu because its supplier cannot keep up with demand, officials say.
Google and Twitter Help Track Influenza Outbreaks
Public health officials turn to Google, Twitter, and Facebook to track and predict outbreaks of seasonal flu.
Surgical technique spots cancer invasion with fluorescence
A team of surgeons and scientists have developed a new technique that will allow surgeons to identify during surgery which lymph nodes are cancerous so that healthy tissue can be...
Saliva gland test for Parkinson’s shows promise
Described as a “big step forward” for research and treatment of Parkinson’s disease, new research from Mayo Clinic in Arizona [...]
Study deflates notion pear-shaped bodies healthier than apples
People who are “apple-shaped” — with fat more concentrated around the abdomen — have long been considered more at risk [...]
Scientist at Work Blog: A Persistent Foreign Predator, Dangerous but Delicious
The invasive lionfish is flourishing in the waters off of Belize, posing a threat to the endangered social wrasse. Controlling it could be a difficult, but potentially tasty, job.
Study finds poorer outcomes for obese patients treated for lumbar disc herniation
While obese patients are more likely to have surgical treatment for lumbar disc herniation -- a slipped or ruptured disc -- than non-obese patients, obesity increases operative time, blood loss...
Significant increase in flu cases as severe flu season gains momentum
Infectious disease experts are urging the public to get vaccinated against influenza in one of the most severe and longest flu seasons in a decade.
Mercury said risk in developing countries
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- People in developing countries are facing increasing health and environmental risks linked to exposure to mercury, a U.N. report says.
Scientists uncover potential drug target to block cell death in Parkinson's disease
Oxidative stress is a primary villain in a host of diseases that range from cancer and heart failure to Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. Now, scientists have...
Virus caught in the act of infecting a cell (w/ video)
The detailed changes in the structure of a virus as it infects an E. coli bacterium have been observed for the first time, report researchers from The University of Texas...
Helping patients navigate new cancer drugs
As cancer treatment in pill form transforms how care is delivered, a new study underscores the challenges patients face in administering their own chemotherapy outside the supervised environment of a...
Premature birth stunts brain growth
New research suggests that preterm birth suppresses the production of brain cells, but offers a possible treatmentEvery year, almost 15 million babies are born prematurely worldwide, and although the number of premature births...
Study points to a safer, better test for chromosomal defects in the fetus
A noninvasive, sequencing-based approach for detecting chromosomal abnormalities in the developing fetus is safer and more informative in some cases than traditional methods, according to a new study. This method,...
Regulating single protein prompts fibroblasts to become neurons
Repression of a single protein in ordinary fibroblasts is sufficient to directly convert the cells -- abundantly found in connective tissues -- into functional neurons. The findings could have far-reaching...
Next steps in potential stem cell therapy for diabetes: Study looks at differentiation of hESCs in endocrine cell progression
Researchers looked at the differences and similarities between two types of hESC-derived endocrine cell populations and primary human endocrine cells, with the longer-term goal of developing new stem cell therapies...
Cancer scientists determine mechanism of one of the most powerful tumor-suppressor proteins, Chd5
Researchers have solved the mystery of how one of the most powerful of the body's natural tumor-suppressing proteins, Chd5, exerts its beneficial effects. Chd5 engages processes fundamental to cancer prevention;...
Addressing an epidemic of Rx deaths
With prescription drug overdoses at an alarming level, California officials must update and recommit to its database of providers and users to help prevent medical emergencies and deaths.Prescription drug overdoses...
New insights into HIV vaccine will improve drug development
Four years ago, a potential HIV vaccine showed promise against the virus that causes AIDS, but it fell short of providing the broad protection necessary to stem the spread of...