Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Chronic fatigue syndrome: System under stress
Evidence links autonomic functioning to cognitive impairment in chronic fatigue syndrome.
The hidden consequences of helping rural communities in Africa
Improving water supplies in rural African villages may have negative knock-on effects and contribute to increased poverty, new research has found. Rural development initiatives across the developing world are designed...
Military should reassess reproductive health care for women, researcher argues
Noting that active-duty servicewomen have higher rates of unintended pregnancy than the general population and lower reported contraception use, one researcher is suggesting the answer might be a review of...
Alzheimer's risk gene points to role of inflammation
Scientists have identified a new gene variant that seems to strongly raise the risk for Alzheimer's disease, giving a fresh target for research into treatments for the mind-robbing disorder.
Could poor sleep contribute to symptoms of schizophrenia?
Neuroscientists studying the link between poor sleep and schizophrenia have found that irregular sleep patterns and desynchronized brain activity during sleep could trigger some of the disease's symptoms. The findings...
Health insurance: Higher proportion of California children uninsured than in U.S., analysis shows
Compared to the nation, a higher proportion of children in California are uninsured, one in every 10 children or more than 1.1 million in 2011. More of California's children have...
Bored mink snack between meals, lie awake in bed; Enriching surroundings reduces signs of boredom in caged mink
How can you tell when an animal is bored? Researchers have found that mink housed in boring conditions consume more food treats between meals, and lie awake for a large...
Pancreas stem cell discovery may lead to new diabetes treatments
Professor Len Harrison (pictured) and Dr Ilia Banakh have identified stem cells in the adult pancreas that can be turned into insulin producing cells, a discovery that may lead to......
Heart failure in older breast cancer patients linked to medication
Heart failure is a relatively common complication in older women with breast cancer, but the risk is even higher in those patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab, researchers report.
Premature brain explained
Adolescents who were born before the 37th week of gestation have reduced plasticity in the brain, researchers found.
Tolerance to malaria by means of iron control
Malaria is a life-threatening condition that exposes approximately half of the world’s population to the risk of developing a severe and often lethal form of disease. Researchers have discovered that...
Headshaking in horses: New treatment has 50% success rate
A study has found a pioneering new surgical procedure, called caudal compression of the infraorbital nerve, could be a viable option for headshaking in horses with a long-term success rate...
ACL knee injuries much more likely in female athletes
Female athletes are far more likely than males to suffer serious ACL knee injuries. But many of these injuries could be prevented by doing preseason conditioning and using proper landing...
Meningitis A vaccine breaks barrier; first to gain approval to travel outside cold chain
Signaling a potential breakthrough for immunization programs in resource-poor countries, researchers will for the first time allow a vaccine in Africa to be transported and stored for as long as...
Schizophrenia shouldn't be a life sentence. But it will be | Zoe Williams
Patients used to be given only pills. They respond far better when asked about their lives – that's the bit that costs, thoughThey call it the Abandoned Illness, in the Schizophrenia commission's report...
Lawyer concerned psychiatric medication withheld from inmates
A Toronto lawyer is raising concerns about Thunder Bay District Jail, where he says two of his clients were denied access to necessary psychiatric medications.
News in Brief: Highlights from the American Society of Human Genetics annual meeting
A collection of reports from the conference held November 6-10 in San Francisco
Smoking affects allergy-relevant stem cells
Environmental contaminants, such as smoking, are harmful to the human organism in relation to the occurrence of allergies. Until now, researchers had never investigated whether and to what extent environmental...
Triclosan in cosmetics and personal care products can increase allergy risk
Triclosan - an antibacterial chemical found in toothpaste and other products - can contribute to an increased risk of allergy development in children.
Engineering a photo-switch for nerve cells in the eye and brain
Chemists and vision scientists have designed a light-sensitive molecule that can stimulate a neural response in cells of the retina and brain -- a possible first step to overcoming degenerative...
Goals for science in the post-2015 development agenda
Making science integral to the new development agenda will need new frameworks — and new thinking about the goals.
U.S. Ranchers Struggle to Adapt to Climate Change
BOULDER, Colo. – For western Colorado ranchers, the decision to sell cattle during tough times can hinge on a flower. Local cattle have developed immunity against the poisonous larkspur that...
Cancer therapy: Nanokey opens tumors to attack
There are plenty of effective anticancer agents around. The problem is that, very often, they cannot gain access to all the cells in solid tumors. A new gene delivery vehicle...
C. difficile fight in Cape Breton improving
Nova Scotia's Department of Health and Wellness says random checks in Cape Breton hospitals have shown "significant improvements" in the fight against Clostridium difficile.
A risk gene for cannabis psychosis
The ability of cannabis to produce psychosis has long been an important public health concern. This concern is growing in importance as there is emerging data that cannabis exposure during...
Rural dialysis service still up in the air
The future of dialysis services in rural parts of the province is still undecided, Health PEI says.
Please amputate this leg: it's not mine | Anil Ananthaswamy
David is desperate to be rid of one of his legs: 'It feels like my soul doesn't extend into it.' Can a surgeon be persuaded to amputate, or does he have to...
Serving veggies with meal makes diners think better of cook
Parents may have some new motivations to serve their kids vegetables. A new study, funded by Pinnacle Foods’ Birds Eye [...]