Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Work often causes asthma
Up to 3000 new cases of asthma per year in Australia are triggered by exposure in workplaces to any of 300-400 agents, including coffee bean dust and solder flux.
Federal Court to Hear Autism-Vaccine Link Case
A federal court is hearing a case in which the plaintiffs believe that mercury in childhood vaccines led to their children's autism, according to a Reuters story. read more
South Korea battles new bird flu outbreak
PYONGYANG, North Korea, May 12 (UPI) -- A new outbreak of birdflu in South Korea's capital has prompted North Korea to place its quarantine officials on high alert.
Smoking ban benefit: fewer youths lighting up
Laws restricting smoking in public restaurants deters teens from starting the habit. ...
Anti-virulence Factor In Salmonella Discovered
Researchers have discovered an anti-virulence factor in Salmonella, knowledge that could be used to design improved Salmonella vaccines. Virulence factors allow a pathogen to thrive in the host and cause...
Naltrexone effective for Alaska Natives
Access to treatment for alcohol dependence (AD) in rural and remote areas is limited. This study evaluated the effectiveness of two pharmacotherapies for AD – naltrexone alone, and in combination...
Clues Into How Preeclampsia May Surface In Some Pregnancies
The COMT gene -- known already for its role in schizophrenia -- has been found to play a role in preeclampsia, according to a report in Nature. The study further...
Digging Deeper Into The Genetics Of Schizophrenia By Evaluating MicroRNAs
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have illuminated a window into how abnormalities in microRNAs may contribute to the behavioral and neuronal deficits associated with schizophrenia and possibly other brain...
UV lotion lights the way to cleaner facilities
A team of Canadian scientists using a lotion which glows under ultraviolet light have shown that up to a third of patient toilets are not properly cleaned. Their findings, published...
US co-inventor of nicotine patch dies
A pioneer in the fight against tobacco and the co-inventor of the nicotine patch, Murray Jarvik, died this week of congestive heart failure, the University of California said Saturday. He...
70 people sickened during San Francisco conference
(AP) -- It's a new kind of virus for Sun Microsystems Inc. At the company's JavaOne conference this week in San Francisco, 70 people came down with what officials...
New outbreak of bird flu hits India: minister
Bird flu has spread to the hilly Darjeeling district of eastern India which has been hit by avian influenza several times already this year, a minister said Saturday.
HIV patient triggers a doctor's dilemma about confidentiality and safety
When a patient tests HIV-positive, a doctor has to navigate state law and medical ethics. It can be a rocky path. ...
Surgery options for enlarged prostate
Surgery, sometimes, is needed to treat an enlarged prostate. That technology, too, is changing.
Vaccine falls short in fighting flu
NEW YORK, May 10 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers said survey results show last year's flu vaccine fell far short, compared to past years, in keeping people from getting...
Respiratory issues rise after Katrina
WASHINGTON, May 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said complaints of respiratory illness among Gulf Coast children increased after Hurricane Katrina.
Side-angle yoga postures boost strength and stability
Much of yoga is about practicing proper alignment and focus, so be precise when performing yoga postures. You should strive to feel centered while developing strength and stability in each...
High-fat ketogenic diet gives relief from seizures
The regimen is one of several diets that can provide relief from the symptoms of various illnesses when medication fails. ...
Exercise can ease fibromyalgia pain
Studies show that chronic pain sufferers can reduce the severity of symptoms by adding a moderate workout regimen to their treatment. ...
Conflicting studies on saw palmetto's effect on prostate
Extract of saw palmetto, the Serenoa repens plant, has long been promoted as a way to prevent the prostate from growing large.
Probiotics: business of bacteria
Probiotic products claim to improve digestion and boost immunity with microorganisms. And sales are up -- way up. ...
Margaret Drabble: The beginning of life should not be a subject for crude polemic
Margaret Drabble: Forty years ago legalised abortion was a triumph, but is it time to rethink the rights of the unborn?
Cancer patients priced out of prescriptions - charity
Claim that 800,000 have missed treatment as charges generated £430m for Treasury last year
How pools of blood trials could save lives
Ben Goldacre: In the United States last week the papers went crazy: artificial blood products cause a 30% increase in deaths
Criticism of natural health products Bill C-51 mounts
Bill C-51, which would lead to more regulatory scrutiny of natural health products sold in Canada, is drawing some criticism.
Edmonton doctor loses medical licence
An Edmonton doctor has been stripped of his medical licence after the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta found him guilty of inappropriately touching women patients during breast and...
Calgary response to botched 911 dispatch 'appropriate'
The City of Calgary's response to a 911 call from an internet phone that was initially routed to another city 'were timely and completely appropriate,' says a city review of...
Phoney drugs a growing threat in developing countries: report
A huge increase in counterfeit drugs in the U.S. is posing a serious threat to public safety, especially in developing countries, medical journal The Lancet says.