Latest science news in Health & Medicine
MicroRNAs present exciting opportunities for cancer therapy and diagnosis
As many as 50 percent of all human protein-coding genes are regulated by microRNA (miRNA) molecules. While some miRNAs impact onset and progression of cancer, others can actually suppress the...
Home care for seniors falls largely on friends, family
Nearly 180,000 Canadians aged 65 and older said their professional home-care needs were unmet, which could have increased their risk for injuries and hospitalization, a new report suggests.
Video: Robot arm controlled by brain of quadriplegic woman
Jan Scheuermann uses a robotic arm, wrist and hand to feed herself in this video provided by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Scheuermann, a quadriplegic, controlled the arm using...
World Briefing | Science and Health: Lack of Funds Could Weaken Malaria Fight, Report Says
The world has made great progress against malaria, but the fight is stalling for lack of funds, the World Health Organization’s annual report on malaria concluded on Monday.
Changes in progenitor cell population in breast may be overlooked factor in breast cancer
DNA mutations that accumulate as women age are not the sole contributor to higher frequency of breast cancer in women over 50. In breast cancer and aging, changes in the...
Improving the development of new cancer models using an advanced biomedical imaging method
Scientists have demonstrated that an advanced magnetic resonance imaging method can non-invasively evaluate the cellular proliferation of tumor models of breast cancer. This quantitative imaging method evaluates the diffusion of...
Snack attack: Eating unhealthy snack foods may affect cancer risk in patients with Lynch syndrome
A new analysis has found that loading up on snack foods may increase cancer risk in individuals with an inborn susceptibility to colorectal and other cancers. The study suggests that...
Perceived stress may predict future coronary heart disease risk
Are you stressed? Results of a new meta-analysis of six studies involving nearly 120,000 people indicate that the answer to that question may help predict one’s risk of incident coronary...
Malaria progress falters
The fight against malaria is slowing down amid a dramatic drop in efforts to reverse the epidemic, new report suggests.
New technology allows scientists to capture and preserve cancer cells circulating in the bloodstream
Scientists have developed a new nanoscale Velcro-like device that captures and releases tumor cells that have broken away from primary tumors and are circulating in the bloodstream. This new nanotechnology...
Mechanism used by BRCA1 to suppress tumors uncovered
A new reveals how a well-known tumor suppressor gene may be functioning to stop cancer cell growth. The findings focus on the gene BRCA1.
Student-athletes could lose eligibility, scholarships with tweet missteps
With a single social-media misstep, student-athletes could lose athletic eligibility or a scholarship. But that's not stopping them from using Twitter -- sometimes even during games, when they may see...
New Material Offers Safer Breast Implants, Integrates Cancer Treatment
Biorubbers offer unique protection.
Why are kids in asthma hotspots in NYC more likely to visit the ER? Exercise may be a factor
Asthmatic children living in asthma hotspots in New York City were twice as likely to have experienced symptoms after exercise and more likely to have visited their doctor in a...
A layer of cool, healthy air: Stratum ventilation systems may reduce spread of airborne diseases
Stratum ventilation systems have been touted as a much more energy efficient system for cooling buildings such as school rooms and offices in hotter climes based on the provisions of...
Cancer progress report highlights improvements
Colorectal cancer screening rates are improving in Canada, according to a new report on cancer outcomes.
Biological pathway that controls the leakiness of blood vessels unraveled
Scientists have decoded the entire pathway that regulates leakiness of blood vessels — a condition that promotes a wide number of disorders, such as heart disease, cancer growth and spread,...
Genetic defect in sex cells may predispose to childhood leukemia
Researchers have found a possible heredity mechanism that predisposes children to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common type of blood cancer in children. The presence of a genetic defect...
Role of oxidative stress in diseases needs to be re-evaluated: Preventive detention for oxidizing agents
Oxidative stress is believed to cause a number of diseases. Up to now, it has been common practice to measure oxidative stress levels by determining the oxidation state of a...
Dollarama takes cleansing wipes off shelves after CBC probe
Dollarama has pulled two products from their stores across the country after tests by CBC News revealed unacceptable levels of bacteria in cosmetic wipes and excessive bacteria growth in baby...
Resident fatigue, stress trigger motor vehicle incidents
It appears that long, arduous hours in the hospital are causing more than stress and fatigue among doctors-in-training -- they’re crashing, or nearly crashing, their cars after work, according to...
First road map of human sex-cell development
Study marks a step towards stem-cell treatment of infertility.Nature News doi: 10.1038/nature.2012.12048
First study of new treatment for early stage bipolar disorder
A new clinical trial of people who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder for less than five years will be the first study of its kind to shed light on...
River blindness: from disease control to elimination
Emilie Filou reports on the challenges of eliminating river blindness from Africa by 2025The implications of shift from disease control to elimination are considerable, as has been the case with the objective to...
Sick child denied care after treatment in U.S.
An eight-year-old boy with a rare childhood disease has been refused care by at least one Canadian specialist because his mother took him to the U.S. for treatment not approved...
John Rosen, Doctor Who Pushed to Prevent Lead Poisoning, Dies at 77
Dr. Rosen went on to persuade New York City to adopt stricter standards for removing lead paint from tens of thousands of old buildings.
Experts Say Thimerosal Ban Would Imperil Global Health Efforts
Banning thimerosal, a mercury compound used as a preservative in vaccines, would devastate public health efforts in developing countries, warn a group of doctors and experts.
2 cups of milk meet kids' vitamin D and iron needs
Drinking two cups of milk a day is enough to give most young children enough vitamin D and iron, a Canadian study suggests.