Latest science news in Health & Medicine
On the frontier of medical pot to treat boy's epilepsy
A U.S. crackdown on pot shops threatens a father's search for cannabidiol in hopes of halting his son's seizures from Dravet syndrome.MODESTO —Topamax. Depakote. Phenobarbital. The list goes on. Before...
Children's intensive care units performing well despite low staffing levels
Standards of care in children's intensive care units come under scrutiny in a new audit report.
Insulin: Charting the SH2 pool
New research describes a large set of interactions (interactome) which maps the range of phosphotyrosine (pTyr)-dependent interactions with SH2 domains underlying insulin (Ins), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and fibroblast growth...
WHO warns Congo Ebola outbreak could spread
The World Health Organization is warning that an Ebola virus outbreak in Congo is very serious and could spread to larger centres.
Majority of U.S. schools not ready for next pandemic, researchers say
A new study finds many U.S. schools are not prepared for bioterrorism attacks, outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases or pandemics.
Recipes for Health: Yogurt Berry Parfait With Steel-Cut Oats — Recipes for Health
A soak in yogurt softens the oats, and a tangy berry sauce lends them sweetness.
Health Board Approves Bloomberg’s Soda Ban
The measure, which bars the sale of sweetened drinks larger than 16 ounces, will take effect in six months unless blocked by a judge.
Kidney Society describes ways to eliminate wasteful tests and procedures
Earlier this year, the American Society of Nephrology joined other groups in a campaign to help health care professionals and patients avoid wasteful and sometimes harmful medical interventions. A new...
No evidence that black cohosh relieves menopause symptoms
Although many women coping with hot flashes and other distressing symptoms of menopause have turned to black cohosh supplements as a treatment alternative, a new review finds no evidence that...
Well: The Trials of Cancer Trials
There are many trials associated with enrolling in a cancer trial. Patients can fail to qualify, or later they can be thrown out or end up in a group that...
'Mini' stroke can cause major disability, may warrant clot-busters
A transient ischemic attack, TIA or a "mini stroke," can lead to serious disability, but is frequently deemed by doctors too mild to treat, according to a new study.
Bionic Suit Helps Paralyzed Patients Walk Independently
A new robotic suit gives patients a leg up during rehab.
Even with personalized assessments, many underestimate disease risks
People with a family history of certain diseases, including heart disease and diabetes, often underestimate their risk for developing them, even after completing a risk assessment and receiving personalized prevention...
Rising cost of inpatient care linked to medical devices and supplies
Inpatient hospital treatment accounts for the largest proportion of health care spending in the U.S., with the use of diagnostic imaging services such as MRIs, frequently implicated as the probable...
FDA says muscle, joint pain creams can cause burns
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about rare chemical burns reported by people using popular pain relief products like Bengay, Icy...
Farming out dairy chores to robots
The boss cow saunters to the head of the line and, with a flick of her hip, cuts off two other ladies. She's itching to get at the tasty brown...
Study explains decrease in insulin-producing beta cells in diabetes
Scientists generally think that reduced insulin production by the pancreas, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, is due to the death of the organ’s beta cells. However, a new study...
'Siloed' agencies hindered in efforts to fight animal-to-human diseases, analysis finds
The "siloed" structure of U.S. health agencies is hindering efforts to spot and combat animal-to-human afflictions, such as West Nile Virus, New York University sociologist Colin Jerolmack has concluded after...
Neural stem cells regenerate axons in severe spinal cord injury; functional recovery in rats
A a new study, researchers were able to regenerate "an astonishing degree" of axonal growth at the site of severe spinal cord injury in rats. Their research revealed that early...
New analysis tells how world eradicated deadliest cattle plague
A new analysis traces the recent global eradication of the deadliest of cattle diseases, crediting not only the development of a new, heat-resistant vaccine, but also the insight of local...
Kids with food allergies can fall through the cracks
More can be done to properly manage the care of American children with food allergies, especially when it comes to diagnostic testing and recognizing non-visual symptoms of severe allergic reactions,...
Honestly? Just sign here—first
Tax collectors and insurance agencies trying to boost honest reporting could improve compliance simply by asking people to sign their forms at the beginning instead of at the end.
Chemists develop nose-like sensor array to 'smell' cancer diagnoses
In the fight against cancer, knowing the enemy's exact identity is crucial for diagnosis and treatment, especially in metastatic cancers, those that spread between organs and tissues. Now chemists led...
Souris doctor shortage gets short-term fix
The Souris doctor shortage has been eased temporarily, according to provincial health officials.
Two studies could lead to new personalized therapies for lung cancer patients
Lung cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and is associated with very low survival rates. Two new genome-sequencing studies have uncovered novel genes involved in the deadly disease,...
Coyote tapeworm that infects dogs, humans spreading to cities
Animal health researchers are watching what appears to be mounting evidence of the spread of a potentially dangerous parasite in coyotes, foxes and other animals in Canada.
Studies offer ‘panoramic view’ of lung cancer
Three genome-sequencing trials may help to revamp treatments for the world’s most deadly cancer.Nature News doi: 10.1038/nature.2012.11413
Birth Control May Boost Risk of Carrying Staph Bacteria
Use of birth control may make women's bodies more hospitable to staph bacteria.