Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Cardiac disease treatments could get help from patient-derived stem cells
Skin cells from a patient with an inherited heart disease were the seeds of a stem cell experiment that could help researchers test specific treatments for the disease, known as...
Why coffee protects against diabetes
Researchers have discovered a possible molecular mechanism behind coffee's protective effect against type 2 diabetes.
Over half of US online adults use Wikipedia: survey
More than 50 percent of US adult Internet users look up information on Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia which marks its 10th anniversary on Saturday, according to a new report.
Fewer Meds, Balance Exercises May Prevent Elderly Falls
Doing exercises and balance and eliminating unnecessary medications may prevent falls among older people.
Antibiotics effective for kids' ear infections
Parents of babies and toddlers suffering from painful ear infections are often told to wait before antibiotics can be prescribed, but new research shows the treatment can ease symptoms faster...
WHO calls for global action on malaria resistance
A call for more research and funding to stop the spread of malaria drug resistance has been issued by the WHO.
Room light before bedtime may impact sleep quality, blood pressure and diabetes risk
According to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM), exposure to electrical light between dusk and bedtime strongly suppresses melatonin...
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome may be more vulnerable to BPA
A recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM), found higher Bisphenol A (BPA) levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)...
New measure trumps HDL levels in protecting against heart disease
The discovery that high levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the 'good cholesterol') is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease has fostered intensive research to modify HDL levels for...
Origins of the pandemic: Study reveals lessons of H1N1
As H1N1 'Swine Flu' returns to the national headlines a new research paper reveals the key lessons about the origins of the 2009 pandemic. The paper, published today in BioEssays,...
Women with false-positive mammograms report high anxiety and reduced quality of life
Doctors are calling for women to receive more information about the pitfalls of breast cancer screening, as well as the benefits, after some women who received false-positive results faced serious...
P.E.I. family doctors' roles to change: official
Prince Edward Island may have fewer family doctors someday, but not before it has more nurse practitioners, advanced care nurses and home care workers, a senior health official says.
Researchers discover genes affecting cancer drug
Genomic research could help doctors better target a drug widely used to treat colorectal cancer patients, according to a study by Genomic Health Inc. and the Translational Genomics Research Institute...
Robotic surgery of 'tremendous benefit' to patients
Robot-assisted surgery dramatically improves outcomes in patients with uterine, endometrial, and cervical cancer. Moreover, because of fewer post-operative complications and shorter hospital stays, robotic procedures also cost less.
Cancer costs projected to reach at least $158 billion in 2020
Based on growth and aging of the US population, medical expenditures for cancer in the year 2020 are projected to reach at least $158 billion (in 2010 dollars) -- an...
New method will triple amount of genetic information from newborn blood spot screenings
Researchers have developed a method that can yield more information from archived newborn blood that has implications for a vast array of research, including population health studies and answering questions...
Editorial: Autism Fraud
The report that first triggered scares that a vaccine to prevent measles, mumps and rubella might cause autism in children has received another devastating blow to its credibility.
Recycling approach 'may backfire'
Pressure on local authorities to meet targets for keeping waste out of landfill is at risk of backfiring, a report says.
Rapid Increase of Diabetes Strains Middle East’s Health Agencies
Six countries in the Middle East-North Africa region are among the top 10 in the world in prevalence of the disease, according to the International Diabetes Foundation.
Scientists look for better rat poisons
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Scientists are working on lethal baits that lure rats as effectively as the Pied Piper did in the children's classic fairy tale.
Well: The Hazards of the Couch
Increasingly, research is focusing not on how much exercise people get -- but how much of their time is spent in sedentary activity, and the harm that does.
Switch off enzyme to control chronic pain, say researchers
A team of researchers at the University of Toronto has developed a new drug targeted at parts of the brain and spinal cord associated with pain perception, which may more...
The Medical Minute: Maintain weight-loss goals throughout the year
The beginning of the New Year is a time when we start to think about getting back on track with our eating and exercise goals that may have slipped during...
Quick school cafeteria lines could lead to healthier food choices
Middle schools soon might add fast cafeteria lines to their menu of tools to help students eat healthier, according to Penn State researchers.
The quest for rat poisons that mimic the Pied Piper’s magic flute
Scientists dream of developing a real-world version of the Pied Piper's magic flute -- new poisons that pose no threat to people, pets or wildlife, while specifically targeting...
Tinnitus treatment developed
Targeted nerve stimulation could yield a long-term reversal of tinnitus, a debilitating hearing impairment affecting at least 10 percent of senior citizens and up to 40 percent of military veterans,...
Learning Muscle Control Curbs Prostate Surgery Incontinence
Teaching men techniques to control certain muscles can reduce urinary incontinence in those who have had their prostates surgically removed during cancer treatment.
Review: Technology helps golfers fine-tune game
(AP) -- Golf is a constant quest for improvement, which is why new clubs, balls, training aids and other gadgets are introduced each year. If gadgets were truly the...