Latest science news in Health & Medicine
The New Health Care: Bigger Health Companies: Good for Medicare, Maybe Not for Others
Encouraging hospitals and other providers to merge might drive up prices, and insurance rates, for the privately insured.
Key to identifying, enriching mesenchymal stem cells found
A biomarker that enables researchers to accurately characterize the properties and function of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the body has been identified. MSCs are the focus of nearly 200...
Molecule regulates production of antibacterial agent used by immune cells
Researchers have discovered how a protein molecule in immune cells promotes the production of nitric oxide, a potent weapon in the cells' arsenal to defend the body from bacterial attack....
Antidepressant use during pregnancy may lead to childhood obesity, diabetes
Maternal use of a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, resulted in increased fat accumulation and inflammation in the liver of the adult offspring, researchers have...
Advanced CT scanners reduce patient radiation exposure, study finds
The use of advanced CT scanning equipment is helping to address the important concern of patient exposure to radiation. The study results provide information that will help in setting standards...
Fewer Patients Kill Themselves in Mental Health Units but There are Bigger Benefits to Home Care (Op-Ed)
Suicides among mental health patients under home treatment are double the number of suicides in in-patient units, according to a new study published in The Lancet Psychiatry which looks at...
Mitochondrial Mutation Linked To Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome Identified
Significant progress has been made over the last 25 years to identify genetic abnormalities associated with congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) but many patients remain genetically undiagnosed. A new report identifies a...
Effectiveness of PTSD treatments provided by DOD, VA unknown
The US Department of Defense and US Department of Veterans Affairs should track the outcomes of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) provided to service members and veterans and develop...
Dr. Arnold Relman, Outspoken Medical Editor, Dies at 91
Dr. Relman was a longtime editor of The New England Journal of Medicine, which became a platform for his influential attacks on the profit-driven health care system.
Telling pregnant women to drink no alcohol is counterproductive
There is no strong evidence low levels of drinking in pregnancy are harmful, and to say so risks stigmatising responsible drinkers Continue reading...
Indigenous health-care research gets $10M from Toronto doctor
A Toronto neurosurgeon has donated $10 million toward improving the health of Canada’s indigenous people.
Bacon preservative tested as feral hog poison
A preservative used to cure bacon is being tested as poison for feral hogs.
Q&A: How One Entrepreneur Set Out to Save Uganda's Forests—and Help It
Sanga Moses, the founder of Eco-Fuel Africa, talks about how his fuel enterprise is preventing deforestation and improving prospects for rural families.
Chronic pain poorly understood, costing Canada billions
One in five Canadians suffers from chronic pain, and if you're one of the millions affected — and you're lucky — you have a doctor who knows how to treat...
Uruguayan Player’s Return After Head Injury Stirs Debate
After being unresponsive from a knee to the head, Álvaro Pereira insisted on playing through Uruguay’s game with England, and was allowed to continue, a decision that drew criticism.
PlayStation Side Effect: Dangerous Blood Clots
A New Zealand man who played eight hours of PlayStation for four days in a row developed life-threatening blood clots in his leg, doctors say.
Dr. Oz selling 'fairy dust,' says medical ethicist
A medical ethics expert says TV star Dr. Mehmet Oz is going too far in endorsing "kooky, nonsensical" products on his daytime chat show.
Settlement in case of UCLA chemist in fatal fire
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The criminal prosecution of a University of California, Los Angeles, chemistry professor stemming from a fatal lab fire has ended with a...
Police chase ends when gang-shooting suspects crash near Los Angeles airport
Frances BurnsLOS ANGELES, June 20 (UPI) -- Three men suspected of a gang-related homicide in Los Angeles were arrested Friday after they crashed into a pole while trying to get...
Leukemia patient spends 2 days on ER stretcher
A St. John's woman is appalled that her leukemia-struck husband spent more than two days on a stretcher in the Health Sciences Centre, even though his immune system has been...
Obama orders review of pesticides' effect on bees
The White House on Friday ordered environmental regulators to review the effect that pesticides may be having on bees and other pollinators that have suffered significant losses in recent years.
Tracy Morgan released from hospital, transferred to rehab center
Annie MartinNEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., June 20 (UPI) -- Tracy Morgan was released from the hospital Friday, and has been transferred to a rehab center to continue his "long" recovery.
Shorter time to first cigarette of the day is associated with risk of lung cancer
Standard markers of nicotine dependency include cigarettes smoked per day, duration of smoking, and cumulative exposure (pack years), but another marker of addiction, time to first cigarette of the day,...
No evidence of long-term PTSD risk in patients with awareness during surgery
Patients with confirmed episodes of awareness during anesthesia and surgery don't seem to be at increased risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other problems with psychosocial well-being at long-term...
Rapid diagnostic tests for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis: Review completed
An independent review into the effectiveness of rapid diagnostic tests in diagnosing patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been completed. VL is caused by a parasite and results in fever,...
Screening tool may under-report malnutrition risk in hospitalized frail older people
A number of frail, older hospital patients in the UK who are either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition may currently go unreported, according to the findings of a new...
Triggers, treatment of immediate-type allergic reactions
Sudden allergic reactions can be fatal. The most common triggers of such reactions, also known as anaphylaxis, are wasp and bee venoms, legumes (pulses), animal proteins, and analgesics (painkillers). The...
Menthol cigarettes linked to increased smoking among teens
Teens who use menthol cigarettes smoke more cigarettes per day than their peers who smoke non-menthols, says a new study. The findings mark the first time that menthol cigarettes have...