Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Retinopathy Linked In Diabetes
The eyes may be the window into the soul, but they may also contain important medical information. According to new research, patients with diabetes who have retinopathy should also be...
Drug promising as cystic fibrosis therapy
DURHAM, N.C., May 20 (UPI) -- U.S. pharmaceutical researchers say a new sodium channel blocker is showing promise as a potential treatment for cystic fibrosis.
New drug may help fibrosis patients
DENVER, May 20 (UPI) -- U.S. medical researchers say they have demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of a new drug to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Auto phone calls help patients take meds
PORTLAND, Ore., May 19 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say they've determined automated phone calling might help physicians solve a perennial problem -- patients who don't take their medicines.
A molecular link between sleep and weight gain
There appears to be a link between sleep and weight control, with some studies indicating that sleep disruption can increase weight gain and others that diet affects sleep. Victor Uebele...
Heart disease patients carrying extra pounds do better, live longer
Being overweight or obese is a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated risk factors; however, in patients with established CVD, obesity appears to play a protective role. In...
Babies Born To Native High-altitude Mothers Have Decreased Risk Of Low Birth Weight
Pregnant women who are indigenous to the Andes Mountains deliver more blood and oxygen to their fetuses at high altitude than do women of European descent. The study helps explain...
Environmental exposures may damage DNA in as few as three days
Exposure to particulate matter has been recognised as a contributing factor to lung cancer development for some time, but a new study indicates inhalation of certain particulates can actually cause...
Self-treatment results in lower overall health care costs for COPD sufferers
Individuals suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) can experience significant savings in healthcare costs by employing a self-treatment program with the judicious use of medications, according to the results...
Genes that influence start of menstruation identified for first time
Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School, along with collaborators from research institutions across Europe and the United States, have for the first time identified two genes that are involved in...
Early mobilization of patients in ICU improves outcomes
Aside from the obvious and immediate health problems that patients undergoing mechanical ventilation face, those who recover often do so with profound loss of strength and mobility that can impair...
Good fats keep eyes healthy
Regularly eating fish, nuts and other foods high in 'good fats' has been shown to reduce the risk of age-related vision loss.
Genetic Links To Age Of First Menstrual Period And Menopause Found
Newly identified gene variants associated with the age at which females experience their first menstrual period and the onset of menopause may help shed light on the prevention of breast...
UN: Growth of slums boosting natural disaster risk
(AP) -- The rampant growth of urban slums around the world and weather extremes linked to climate change have sharply increased the risks from "megadisasters" such as devastating floods...
The future of personalised cancer treatment: An entirely new direction for RNAi delivery
In technology that promises to one day allow drug delivery to be tailored to an individual patient and a particular cancer tumour, researchers at the University of California, San Diego...
Caesarean numbers rise despite risk, cost
LOS ANGELES, May 17 (UPI) -- Unnecessary Caesarean sections are increasing U.S. healthcare costs and the risks to mothers and newborns, health reform advocates said.
Snoring can damage brain
The damage sleep apnoea does to the brain is worse than thought and can cause effects similar to a stroke, research has found.
Saffron may stop vision loss
Saffron can slow the loss of sight in old age, and may even help to reverse the effects of blinding diseases, researchers have found.
RCOG releases new model for medical revalidation
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has released a new model for medical revalidation this week...
Two studies examine medical consequences of police use of force during restraint
Dr Jared Strote at the University of Washington Medical Centre led a group that examined the medical records of nearly 900 patients subdued by the Seattle Police Department with a...
Feature: Mutant HIV discovery
Scientists are inching toward understanding how to defeat the HIV virus, reports Rebecca Hyde.
Where is the line on natural remedies?
As a breast cancer specialist, Dr. Barbara Bowers uses a whole arsenal of alternative treatments to help her patients -- acupuncture, green tea extract, vitamins, meditation and yoga, to name...
Inexpensive face-to-face weight-loss support programmes effective
(PhysOrg.com) -- For people trying to maintain weight after participation in a weight-loss programme, support from nurses is as effective as a more expensive intensive programme with dieticians and exercise...
Study Demonstrates Link Between Appetite And Elderly Mortality
A new study reveals a linkage between elderly people's appetite and mortality rates, with those who report impaired appetite more likely to die sooner. The study demonstrates a link between...
Control Of Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria In Out-patient Clinics And Offices
While infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, are usually associated with in-patient settings, the potential for infection in out-patient clinics and offices...
Cyber Millenials: High-tech And Highly Educated Young Adults Who Drink Way Too Much
Market or audience segmentation is widely used in social-marketing efforts to reach certain populations. New research has used this tool to identify 10 audience segments most likely to engage in...
A Stronger Backbone: DHEA Hormone Replacement Increases Bone Density In Older Women
A new study has found that taking DHEA hormone supplements in conjunction with calcium and vitamin D could lower the risk of spine fractures in older women by 30 to...
Iplex and ‘Compassion’
Last year, the F.D.A. fielded more than 500 requests from seriously ill patients who wanted to be treated on a “compassionate use” basis with drugs that had not been approved...