Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Health of kidney disease patients: Diet and blood pressure
Three studies provide new information on diet and blood pressure in kidney disease patients: adding fruits and vegetables to the diet improves kidney disease patients' health; poor nutrition plays a...
US Navy Warships Offer Aid After Superstorm Sandy
Three Navy warships have headed for New York and New Jersey to assist in storm recovery from Sandy's devastation.
Tips to keep kids safe on Halloween
Trick-or-treaters are often so excited by the fun of Halloween that they forget to follow regular safety rules as they dash around the neighbourhoods.
Overweight and smoking during pregnancy boost risk of overweight kids
Mums who carry too much weight and/or who smoke during pregnancy increase the risk of having overweight kids, indicates a systematic analysis of the available evidence.
No more tears tape
Quick release medical tape could reduce pain and damage in neonatal care
Lifelong exercise keps octogenarians super fit
Study of athletic seniors finds 80-year-olds with a history of endurance exercise have the aerobic capacity of 40-year-olds
Migraine in children may affect school performance
Children with migraine are more likely to have below average school performance than kids who do not have headaches, according to new research.
First Mention: First Mention: Monoclonal Antibodies in The New York Times
Monoclonal antibodies are manufactured in the laboratory and then cloned to attach to specific disease cells without injuring healthy tissue.
In Theory: A Weak Spot in H.I.V’s Armor Raises Hope for a Vaccine
Researchers announced that they had found a vulnerable spot on the virus’s outer shell that might present a good vaccine target.
Scientists Move Closer to a Long-Lasting Flu Vaccine
Thanks to a flurry of recent studies, flu experts foresee a time when seasonal flu shots are a thing of the past.
Hepatitis E vaccine debuts
Success of Chinese biotech partnership raises hopes for prevention of overlooked diseases.Nature 491 21 doi: 10.1038/491021a
N.B. methadone clinic boasts highest retention rate
A methadone clinic in uptown Saint John has the highest patient retention rate in the country, according to a new study.
Outdoor wear often coated in harmful chemicals: Greenpeace
Outdoor clothing from top manufacturers is frequently contaminated with chemicals that are harmful to health and the environment, Greenpeace warned Monday.
Afraid of Hurricane Sandy? Tips to Stay Calm for You and Fido
From slow breathing to doggie chew toys, here are some tips to keep your household calm during the storm.
Stay-at-home transcription factor prevents neurodegeneration
A new study shows how a transcription factor called STAT3 remains in the axon of nerve cells to help prevent neurodegeneration. The findings could pave the way for future drug...
Mandatory flu vaccine for health care workers to protect patients
All health care workers in health care institutions should be vaccinated with the annual influenza vaccine to protect patients, argues an editorial.
El Monte soda tax plan faces crush by beverage industry
His city faces financial woes and a high rate of childhood obesity, so Mayor Andre Quintero thought residents would back the measure. But he hadn't counted on the beverage industry...
Crucial test for an outpost of healthcare in South L.A.
T.H.E. Clinic is one of 1,250 federally funded nonprofit community facilities nationwide that are bracing for an influx of patients when major elements of healthcare reform begin in 2014.Nurse practitioner...
Military veterans with history of heavy alcohol use more likely to seek treatment and afterwards report better overall health than civilians
Male military veterans with a history of heavy alcohol use are more likely to seek treatment and, later, report better overall health and less depression than their civilian counterparts, according...
Complementary and alternative therapy improved lives of arthritis patients, study suggests
Nearly a quarter of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis used complementary and alternative therapy (CAT) to help manage their condition, according to a new study.
Antidepressant eases radiation-related mouth pain in head, neck cancer
An oral rinse of the antidepressant doxepin significantly eased pain associated with oral mucositis in patients receiving radiation therapy for cancers of the head and neck, a new study has...
New approach to HIV vaccine development: Tricking the immune system
Scientists are seeking to speed up the development of an HIV-vaccine through a rigorous exchange of information, methods and reagents.
Peer pressure can be used for good when it comes to physical activity
Peer mentors can significantly influence the amount of physical activity kids have throughout the school day.
Proton therapy treatment preserves quality of life for men with prostate cancer, studies suggest
Two new studies have found that proton therapy preserves the quality of life, specifically urinary and bowel function, in men treated with this targeted radiation modality for prostate cancer.
UN atlas ties climate change to spread of disease
The two UN agencies for health and weather services have created a new "atlas" of scientific data that they say offers fresh evidence of the links between climate change to...
Neutrons help explain why antibiotics prescribed for chemotherapy cause kidney failure
Neutron scattering experiments have provided new insights into the origin of the side effects of an antifungal drug prescribed all over the world. The analysis follows 40 years of debate...
Convicting Scientists For Miscommunicating Risk: What We Should Focus On
As I reported in a post a few days ago, the Italian sentencing of seven scientists to 6-years imprisonment for their misassessment of the risks of the population of L'Aquila,...
Cheap colour test picks up HIV
A cheap test which could detect even low levels of viruses and some cancers has been developed by researchers in the UK.