Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Doctor Who neuroscience special: The Brain of a Time Lord
This Saturday sees the return of Doctor Who, and the debut of Peter Capaldi as the 12th Doctor. One of the most enduring qualities of the titular Time Lord is...
Review of clinical treatment of bronchiolitis in infants reveals over-reliance on one test
The importance of physicians using all available clinical assessment tools when considering how to treat patients is the focus of a new article. The study examined how pediatric emergency medicine...
Newborn screening expansion offers early diagnosis and treatment to infants with SCID
Data from 11 newborn screening programs showed that newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) can be successfully implemented across public health newborn screening programs. SCID babies are born without...
Novel oral anticoagulant prescriptions soar, but at a high cost
Warfarin, the longtime standard treatment for atrial fibrillation, is facing competition from new options in the anticoagulant drug marketplace including dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban. A new study documents the rapid...
Diabetes calculator helps identify patients at risk of disease
A new online tool will help doctors predict which patients are most likely to develop diabetes. Experts say it could offer a cost-effective way to identify people with diabetes, as...
Novel gene predicts both breast cancer relapse, response to chemotherapy
Scientists have made it easier to predict both breast cancer relapses and responses to chemotherapy, through the identification of a unique gene. The newly found marker could help doctors classify...
James Foley beheading prompts action by Twitter
Social media outlets try to block the spread of gruesome images of the killing of American journalist
Nurse staffing and mortality in stroke centers
Hospital staffing levels have been associated with patient outcomes, but staffing on weekends has not been well studied. To helpaddress the paucity of research, researchers conducted a prospective cohort study...
New study first to examine quality of cardiac rehabilitation programs in Canada
The quality of cardiac rehabilitation programs across Canada is strong, with specific criteria areas now identified as requiring further enhancement to improve patient outcomes, according to a new study. 'We...
Common Antibiotic Clarithromycin Linked With Heart Deaths
The antibiotic clarithromycin is widely used for treating common bacterial infections and has been linked to an increased risk of heart deaths by a study on BMJ. The absolute risk is...
Ten Questions to Ask Your Doctor After a Cancer Diagnosis
If diagnosed with cancer, these questions can help you "prepare for battle."
Increase in reported flooding a result of higher exposure
A rise in the number of reported floods in the UK over the past 129 years can mainly be explained by increased exposure, resulting from urban expansion and population growth,...
Flu Shot Recommended for All Pregnant Women
Pregnant? Then you should get a flu shot, according to new guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Simple measures made hospital patients 70% more likely to quit smoking
A free supply of nicotine replacement medication and a handful of automated phone calls made smokers who wanted to quit much more likely to succeed, according to results of a...
For E. Coli Outbreaks, Cinnamon Spice Makes Everything Nice
(Inside Science) - For centuries, cinnamon has been used to enhance the flavor of foods, but new research shows that the spice could also help make foods safer.According to a...
Julia Roberts, husband Danny Moder to receive GLSEN awards
Annie MartinLOS ANGELES, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Julia Roberts and husband Danny Moder will be recognized at the 2014 Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network Respect Awards for their humanitarian...
Bacteria detected in food may cause risks to unborn children
At least 10 percent of the fresh cheese, sausages and meats sold in markets and on the street may be contaminated, Mexican research suggests. Human listeriosis is a disease with...
Key to saving lives: Hands-only CPR
Cardiac arrest – an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs - is...
New Vaccine Shows Promise as Stronger Weapon Against Both Tuberculosis and Leprosy
A variant of the century-old vaccine Bacille Calmette-Guerin is superior to BCG in protecting against tuberculosis in animal models, and also cross protects against leprosy. Boosting that variant with...
Grand jury to investigate death of New York man in police chokehold
Frances BurnsNEW YORK, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- A special grand jury will begin investigating the death of a man in an apparent chokehold by a New York City police officer,...
Well: Talking to Men About PSA Testing
Despite recommendations against widespread screening for prostate cancer, many doctors continue to routinely offer PSA testing because it’s easier than explaining the pros and cons.
Drug used for dementia symptoms may carry kidney risks
A class of drugs sometimes used to control symptoms of dementia appears to increase the risk of acute kidney injury in people who take it, a new study in Ontario...
Jenna-Louise Coleman to depart 'Doctor Who'
Annie MartinLONDON, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Jenna-Louise Coleman will reportedly depart "Doctor Who" in December, and "Game of Thrones" actress Rose Leslie is rumored to replace her.
Forced mutations doom HIV
Fifteen years ago, MIT professor John Essigmann and colleagues from the University of Washington had a novel idea for an HIV drug. They thought if they could induce the virus to mutate...
Model of viral lifecycle could help in finding a cure for hepatitis B
A new technique for studying the lifecycle of the hepatitis B virus could help researchers develop a cure for the disease. In a paper published today in the journal Proceedings of the...
Advanced thin-film technique could deliver long-lasting medication
About one in four older adults suffers from chronic pain. Many of those people take medication, usually as pills. But this is not an ideal way of treating pain: Patients must take...
3 Questions: Jayakanth Srinivasan on mental health in the military
Earlier this summer, the U.S. Army presented its “Outstanding Civilian Service” award to Jayakanth Srinivasan, a research scientist in the Organizational Studies Group at the MIT Sloan School of Management. The award was...
New analysis reveals tumor weaknesses
Scientists have known for decades that cancer can be caused by genetic mutations, but more recently they have discovered that chemical modifications of a gene can also contribute to cancer. These alterations, known...