Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Number Of Fat Cells Remains Constant From Teenhood In All Body Types
The radioactive carbon-14 produced by above-ground nuclear testing in the 1950s and '60s has helped researchers determine that the number of fat cells in a human's body, whether lean or...
New Alzheimer's target identified
SAN FRANCISCO, May 8 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've found modulating enkephalin peptide activity in the brain might reduce the cognitive deficits of Alzheimer's disease.
Depressed people have fewer serotonin and opioid receptors
Depressed people may have far fewer of the receptors for some of the brain’s “feel good” stress-response chemicals than non-depressed people, new University of Michigan Depression Center research shows. read more
Immune System Pathway Identified To Fight Allergens, Asthma
For the first time, researchers have identified genetic components of dendritic cells that are key to asthma and allergy-related immune response malfunction. Targeting these elements could result in more effective...
Climate change puts koalas at risk
CANBERRA, Australia, May 8 (UPI) -- An Australian scientist contends global warming is putting the country's koala population at serious risk.
Mental disorders cost society billions in unearned income
Major mental disorders cost the nation at least $193 billion annually in lost earnings alone, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health`s National Institute of...
Survey: U.S. honey bee deaths on rise
A survey of bee health released Tuesday revealed a grim picture, with 36.1 percent of the nation's commercially managed hives lost since last year.
Too much, too little sleep tied to ill health in CDC study
(AP) -- People who sleep fewer than six hours a night - or more than nine - are more likely to be obese, according to a new government study...
Study: Anesthetics may curb nerve regrowth
AUSTIN, Texas, May 7 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists using a worm model say they've found nerves can regenerate up to 12 times faster when they are severed without...
Researchers target tumors with tiny 'nanoworms'
Scientists at UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and MIT have developed nanometer-sized “nanoworms” that can cruise through the bloodstream without significant interference from the body`s immune defense system and—like...
Asbestos in children's hospital prompts surgery delays
The children's hospital for the Maritimes cancelled all elective surgeries Wednesday after asbestos was discovered in some ductwork.
Prisoner HIV program leads to continuum of medical care after release
By linking HIV positive prisoners to community-based medical care prior to release through an innovative program called Project Bridge, 95 percent of ex-offenders were retained in health care for a...
Study in mice suggests molecules in plants have beneficial effect on Alzheimer's disease
A set of molecules found in certain plants appears to have a beneficial effect in brain tissue associated with Alzheimer`s disease, according to a new study conducted in mice. The...
Q&A: Steno superbug
David Batty explains the rise of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, the latest superbug threat to healthcare wards
Elucidating Iron Transport Mechanisms In Tuberculosis Bug Identifies New TB Drug Targets
It is pathetically true that Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB is still thriving the test of scientific interventions despite affecting almost one -third of the worlds' population. The...
New Method For Processing Rape Evidence Could Eliminate Crime-lab Backlogs
Approximately 250,000 items of sexual assault evidence are mired in three- to 12-month backlogs awaiting analysis in US forensic laboratories. A forensic chemist has now developed a method for handling...
Don't ask, don't tell: Financial disclosure lacking in literature on stents
Most published research about coronary stents does not reveal information about authors` financial relationships that might bias their interpretation of scientific data, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center.
Flood risk fear over key UK sites
Hundreds of power substations and sewage plants are potentially at risk from flooding, the BBC learns.
Healthcare costs pinch employers
Study suggests that manufacturers have limited resources to offset rising fees. ...
Researchers Find Way To Make Tumor Cells Easier To Destroy
Radiation oncology researchers found that tumors have a built-in mechanism that protects them from heat damage and most likely decreases the benefit of hyperthermia and radiation as a combined therapy....
Naturally-occuring Protein May Be Effective In Limiting Heart Attack Injury And Restoring Function
Researchers have shown for the first time that thrombopoietin, a naturally occurring protein being developed as a pharmaceutical to increase platelet count in cancer patients during chemotherapy, can also protect...
Charges dropped against doctor over autistic boy's death
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Criminal charges were dropped Tuesday against a doctor accused of causing the death of a 5-year-old autistic boy by incorrectly administering the wrong drug for him....
Q & A: Long Live the Amaryllis!
When my nephew was born 16 years ago, his mother received a white amaryllis, which is about to bloom once again. How long does an amaryllis live?
Vital Signs: Prognosis: Kidney Decline Difficult to Stop
A new study indicates how challenging it remains to treat kidney disease, and suggests that other factors besides high blood pressure need to be addressed.
Vital Statistics: E.R.’s Are Busy, but Fewer Patients Are Uninsured
A new study suggests that while the number of uninsured people nationwide rose, the proportion of uninsured people using E.R.’s declined.
Global Update: Blood Pressure Is Most Lethal in Poor and Middle-Income Countries
A new study has found that about 80 percent of the world’s deaths from high blood pressure occur in poor and middle-income countries.
Evidence a High-Fat Diet Works to Treat Epilepsy
A new study indicates that a high-fat diet has proved effective in reducing seizures in children whose epilepsy does not respond to medication.
Lasers May Treat Cancers of the Larynx
A new outpatient laser procedure could eliminate the need for radiation treatment for cancer of the larynx if the tumors are detected early.