ILLNESSOPEDIA

Free Online Database Of Diseases, Illnesses & Ailments

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Medical News



  • Abnormal neural activity linked to schizophrenia
    Neuroscientists have discovered abnormal neural activity in the brain that may cause people with schizophrenia to experience unorganized thought processes, according to a study published in the journal Neuron... [read more]

  • Mindfulness training helps lower blood pressure
    Becoming mindful - focusing attention and awareness on the moment - may sound like a New Age mantra, but researchers from Ohio claim that it can lower blood pressure to the extent that it could prevent or delay the need for drug intervention... [read more]

  • Faces 'primarily differentiated by race and gender,' study shows
    Researchers from Harvard University say they have uncovered neurological patterns in the brain that play a part in differentiating people's faces, and according to their new study, our brain primarily recognizes faces by race and gender... [read more]

  • Early measles immunization reduces seizure risk
    A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics shows that children who are vaccinated against measles between 12 and 15 months are less likely to suffer fever or seizures than those vaccinated between 16 and 23 months... [read more]

  • Irregular bedtimes linked to kids' behavioral problems
    Parents, teachers and doctors all agree that lack of sleep makes children cranky, tearful and more prone to tantrums. Now researchers from the UK have found that children with irregular bedtimes are more likely to have behavioral difficulties... [read more]

  • Loving touch may be key to healthy sense of self
    A new study suggests that a gentle caress may be the key to feeling comfortable with one's self. Researchers say a loving touch may increase the brain's ability to construct a sense of body ownership and, in turn, play a... [read more]

  • Chemicals in marijuana 'protect nervous system' against MS
    Chemical compounds found in marijuana can help treat multiple sclerosis-like diseases in mice by preventing inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, according to a study reported in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology... [read more]

  • Peanut butter helps diagnose Alzheimer's disease
    A dollop of peanut butter and a ruler can be used to confirm a diagnosis of early stage Alzheimer's disease, University of Florida Health researchers have found.


    Jennifer Stamps, a graduate student in the University of... [read more]

  • New target found for drugs against brain cell death
    A major pathway leading to brain cell death in mice has been blocked by an orally administered drug-like compound, successfully preventing neurodegeneration in the animals.


    While this particular compound also resulted... [read more]

  • Brain training may boost memory, but not intelligence
    With their promise of improved mental abilities, it is easy to see why brain training games are so popular. But new research shows that the perceived benefits may be limited to memory instead of IQ.


    Most people would love a boost in brain power... [read more]

  • 2025 action plan to cut deaths from disease by a quarter
    Health leaders from across the Americas have agreed a pledge to cut the number of deaths caused by non-communicable diseases by 25% by the year 2025.

    The action plan has been agreed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)... [read more]

  • 'Healthy' obesity: identical twin study uncovers characteristics
    A new study analyzing pairs of identical twins, in which one is obese while the other is a healthy weight, has discovered that "metabolically healthy obesity" in some individuals is linked to lack of adipose tissue... [read more]

  • Novel 'human eye' device could diagnose disease
    Scientists have created a novel imaging device inspired by the human eye, which may help diagnose human diseases and monitor hazardous substances. This is according to a study published in the journal Optics Letters... [read more]

  • Cell-culture transplant possible for neurological disorders
    Scientists say that small brain biopsies could be used to grow large numbers of cells, which could then be transplanted back into the patient's own brain. This is according to a study published in The FASEB Journal... [read more]

  • Intestinal cells may prompt Crohn's disease
    A new study reveals that Crohn's disease may be a disorder of specialized intestinal cells, called Paneth cells. Researchers say this finding could provide new targets for treatment... [read more]

  • Cats may be key to HIV vaccine
    There have been numerous studies showing how dogs can benefit human health, by sniffing out cancer, for example. Now it is time for cats to shine, as researchers say they may hold the key to a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine... [read more]

  • Melanoma patients increase sun exposure after diagnosis
    Researchers have discovered that patients with melanoma throw caution to the wind in the 3 years following their diagnoses and increase the amount of time they spend in the sun... [read more]

  • First pre-surgery breast cancer drug approved by FDA
    The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first drug to be used in early stage breast cancer treatment. Perjeta (pertuzumab) will be used as part of a complete treatment regimen for patients before surgery (neoadjuvant setting)... [read more]

  • Shape and color of wine glass influences amount consumed
    Whether you see the glass as half full or half empty, chances are, you will pour more wine into a glass that is wide or matches the wine color, resulting in unintentional overconsumption... [read more]

  • Global heart survey: US walks less than other nations
    Cardiovascular disease is the biggest killer worldwide, and in the lead up to World Heart Day on September 29th, a global survey was conducted about how much time individuals spend walking each day... [read more]

  • Warnings in drug ads may encourage purchasing
    Drug commercials that warn consumers about serious side effects may actually encourage them to make a purchase after a period of time rather than scare them away. This is according to a study published in the journal Psychological Science... [read more]

  • Flame retardant ban reduces levels in pregnant women
    A new study has suggested that phasing out the use of potentially harmful flame retardants in furniture foam, electronics and plastics may be having a positive impact on pregnant women and newborns' exposure to the chemicals... [read more]

  • Nanoparticle lung vaccine protects against HIV, herpes
    Scientists have created a type of nanoparticle that they say can effectively deliver vaccines to the lungs, protecting against numerous infectious diseases. This is according to a study published in Science Translational Medicine... [read more]

  • Antidepressants linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes
    A new systematic review of published studies suggests when prescribing antidepressant medication, clinicians
    should be extra aware that they are linked to raised risk for type 2 diabetes, although the study does not suggest... [read more]

  • Midday naps boost learning in preschoolers
    A new study finds that midday naps boost learning in preschoolers, suggesting if policymakers eliminate
    classroom naps for young children to allow more time for educational activity, it could backfire... [read more]

  • Statin use may raise cataract risk
    New research suggests that use of statins, a class of drugs taken by millions of Americans with
    high cholesterol, is linked to a higher risk for developing cataracts.
    Dr. Jessica Leuschen, of the San Antonio Military... [read more]

  • Brain activity discovered beyond flat line
    Scientists have discovered evidence of brain activity beyond a flat line EEG, opposing existing data that suggests there is no brain activity or possibility of life once a person enters the flat line stage... [read more]

  • Scientists create portable smartphone 'microscope'
    Scientists have created a novel smartphone "microscope" that can detect viruses and material less than one-thousandth of the width of a human hair, according to a study published in the journal ACS Nano... [read more]

  • HIV spread may be prevented with discovery of new gene
    Scientists have discovered a new gene that may have the ability to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from spreading once it enters the body, according to a study published in the journal Nature... [read more]

  • Keeping a beat determines brain's language response
    When a good song comes on the radio, it is often hard to resist nodding your head to the beat. Now, researchers have found that the accuracy with which we respond to a beat may determine how effectively ours brains respond to speech... [read more]

  • Did sex evolve to satisfy 'selfish' genes?
    A new study from New Zealand, which is published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, lends support to the
    idea that "selfish" genes may have encouraged individuals to mate so they could infect other genomes... [read more]

  • CDC urges action against drug-resistant bacteria
    A landmark report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gives the first snapshot of the toll and threat antibiotic-resistance poses to US health. The report ranks each threat
    and proposes four core... [read more]

  • Better treatment for macular degeneration shows promise
    New research on mice raises hope of a better, more lasting treatment for macular degeneration, which uses
    a class of drugs known as MDM2 inhibitors to regress the abnormal blood vessels responsible for the vision loss
    associated with the disease... [read more]

  • Hormone-disrupting chemical detected in bottled water
    Many of us prefer to drink bottled water, swayed by the belief that it is fresher and better for us. But now, researchers have uncovered an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) in commercialized bottled water, according to a... [read more]

  • Researchers discover two linked risk factors of preeclampsia
    Researchers have discovered how one genetic and one sexual risk factor can combine to increase the risk of preeclampsia, according to a study published in the Journal of Reproductive Immunology... [read more]

  • New electronic pump may increase heart failure survival
    Scientists have created a novel "electronic smart pump" that they say will "revolutionize" the treatment of patients suffering from chronic heart failure.


    Researchers from the Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham... [read more]

  • Stem cells generated in live mice
    A team of scientists in Spain has reprogrammed adult cells in live mice to revert to stem cells that appear as
    potent as embryonic stem cells.
    The team reports its findings online this week in the journal Nature... [read more]

  • MERS lab strain could lead to vaccine
    Scientists have developed a strain of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
    that could be used to develop a vaccine against the deadly pathogen. According to the World Health Organization, the virus... [read more]

  • Over 55s more likely to complete exercise on referral
    Older patients and those with heart problems are more likely to take up and complete exercise on referral
    programs than younger or obese patients.
    Researchers from the UK's University of Northumbria in Newcastle upon Tyne... [read more]

  • E-cigarettes as effective as patches in helping smokers quit
    E-cigarettes show about the same rate of success in helping smokers quit as nicotine patches, according to
    the results of a trial that compared both methods against a placebo.
    The findings were presented at the European... [read more]

  • 'Virtual hand' could help treat anxiety and body image disorders
    Neuroscientists in the UK have discovered that a virtual-reality hand, which is synchronized to "pulse" in time to an individual's heartbeat, creates the illusion in the brain of "body ownership" - with the brain believing... [read more]

  • Cancer may get help from immune cells
    A new study from the University of Michigan (UM) suggests a group of immune cells, known as
    myeloid derived suppressor cells, could be giving cancer a hand by bolstering cancer stem cells - the small number of
    cells within... [read more]

  • Better hygiene linked to higher Alzheimer's risk
    Researchers say that people living in wealthier countries may be at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the journal Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health.


    Lead study author Dr... [read more]

  • Cigarette pack health warnings 'have little impact on teens'
    Health warnings in the form of pictures or text on the back of cigarette packets are common in many countries, serving to deter smokers from the habit. But according to a new study, they have little impact on teen smokers... [read more]

  • Childhood leukemia can be inherited, gene study shows
    Scientists say they have discovered two genetic variants, which show that both susceptibility and survival of childhood leukemia can be inherited, according to a study published in the journal Blood... [read more]

  • Urine test 'could predict cognitive decline in diabetics'
    A simple urine test may be able to predict whether people with type 2 diabetes are at risk of cognitive decline, according to a study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology... [read more]

  • Weight control: every minute of brisk exercise counts
    Every minute of high intensity physical activity counts in the war against weight gain, according to a new study published this week. Researchers from the University of Utah found a brief bout of intense exercise that works... [read more]

  • Early deaths from pollution in the US total 200,000 annually
    Those who live in a particularly smoggy city in the US are able to see the pollution that surrounds them on a daily basis. But a recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) reveals that people who live... [read more]

  • A glass of wine a day may keep depression away
    We have all heard that drinking a glass of red wine in moderation may be good for our health. But now, researchers have found that drinking wine may also reduce the risk of depression, according to a study published in the journal BMC Medicine... [read more]

  • Wireless fitness monitor 'can help heart surgery recovery'
    A simple wireless "off-the-shelf" fitness monitor could help the recovery of patients who have had heart surgery, according to a study to be published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery... [read more]

  • 'Majority' of stroke patients might have undiagnosed attention disorders
    The majority of stroke patients may have attention disorders, most of which are not diagnosed, according to a study published in the journal Neurology.


    Researchers from Imperial College London in the UK analyzed 110... [read more]

  • How earning power affects sleep quality
    Occupation and pay has an effect on our quality of sleep, according to The Great British Bedtime Report from the UK's Sleep Council.

    The research for the report was conducted using an online poll in January of this year... [read more]

  • Future screening test could detect ovarian cancer earlier
    Scientists have developed a new screening strategy for ovarian cancer, which could detect the disease in its early stages, according to a study published in the journal Cancer... [read more]

  • Red meat may raise Alzheimer's risk
    Eating too much red meat, which raises brain levels of iron, may heighten the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, researchers from the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA reported in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease... [read more]

  • DNA from our mothers 'influences aging process'
    Scientists say that the process through which we age is determined not only by the changes we go through in our lifetime, but also by the genes we get from our mothers, according to a study published in the journal Nature... [read more]

  • Diet drug controversy as US approves meds rejected by Europe
    The decision from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow two anti-obesity drugs to be marketed in the US has been called into question by a senior doctor publishing in the BMJ.


    Dr... [read more]

  • Calcium-rich diet may reduce female mortality
    A calcium-rich diet, whether from supplements or high-calcium foods, may increase lifespans for women, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism... [read more]

  • 'Biological signal' of suicide risk found in blood
    Researchers have discovered a series of RNA biomarkers in blood that could be used to develop a test to predict the risk of a person committing suicide.


    The research, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry... [read more]

  • Junk food in pregnancy linked to childhood mental disorders
    During pregnancy, it can be hard not to give in to those cravings for unhealthy foods. But researchers have found that mothers who eat junk food while pregnant are more likely to have children with mental health problems... [read more]

  • Caffeinated drinks may be good for the liver
    Researchers have discovered that an increased caffeine intake may reduce the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, according to a study published in the journal Hepatology... [read more]

  • Groundbreaking multiple sclerosis stem cell trial approved
    The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new clinical trial of a groundbreaking strategy using stem cells for the treatment of MS (multiple sclerosis).


    Researchers from the Tisch MS Research Center of New... [read more]

  • Stem cell spine injections for MS - trial approved
    The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new clinical trial of a groundbreaking strategy using stem cells for the treatment of MS (multiple sclerosis).


    Researchers from the Tisch MS Research Center of New... [read more]

  • Safer heart surgery from humble blood pressure cuff
    Scientists have discovered that inflating a blood pressure cuff on the upper arm immediately prior to heart bypass surgery could decrease risk of heart injury and increase long-term survival rate... [read more]

  • Hypnotic suggestions can prompt conscious hallucinations
    Researchers have discovered that "hypnotic suggestions" - instructions that encourage a response from those under hypnosis - may trigger automatic cues, such as for how we perceive color... [read more]

  • 'Safe' levels of sugar can still be harmful to your health
    Consuming the equivalent of three cans of soda on a daily basis, or a 25% increased added-sugar intake, may decrease lifespan and reduce the rate of reproduction, according to a study of mice published in the journal Nature Communications... [read more]

  • Mental disorders linked by genetic traits
    Researchers have discovered that five major mental disorders may be linked to the same common inherited genetic variations, according to a study published in the journal Nature Genetics... [read more]

  • Genetic clues to epilepsy discovered by scientists
    Scientists have discovered two new genes linked to severe forms of childhood epilepsy, a breakthrough reached with new genetic technology, according to a study published in the journal Nature... [read more]

  • Diabetes lifetime costs - as expensive as a house?
    A recent report published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine breaks down the costs of living with type 2 diabetes over the course of a lifetime. The dollar amount is eye-opening, and so are the differences in costs between men and women... [read more]

  • Steep rise in number of children ingesting magnets
    It is fairly common for young children to swallow foreign objects. But according to a new study, children seem to be increasingly attracted to ingesting magnets.


    The study, published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine... [read more]

  • New method for diagnosing children's lung conditions
    Researchers from the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in the UK are revolutionizing the way children's lung conditions are diagnosed, after a study has shown how their lung capacities differ within healthy children of different ethnicities... [read more]

  • US child obesity rates are dropping, says CDC
    The rate of childhood obesity in the US has declined in many states, according to a Vital Signs report from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).


    The report shows that obesity levels among low-income... [read more]

  • Throbbing pain 'surprisingly not linked to pulse'
    Toothaches, migraines and a number of other afflictions are often accompanied by that ever-present throbbing pain that seems to follow the beat of an unwelcome drum. Though many patients and physicians alike have long... [read more]

  • Pioneering cerebral palsy surgery: Daniel's journey
    Daniel Pretty lives in the county of Surrey in the UK. Like many 5-year-olds, he enjoys sports and playing with his little brother - but unlike many children his age, he needs help to do even the simplest of tasks... [read more]

  • Antioxidants do not improve fertility, study shows
    A new study suggests that antioxidants do not improve a woman's chances of conceiving as previously suggested, according to researchers from the University of Auckland, New Zealand... [read more]

  • Your eyes are half a billion years old
    Eyes are amazing and technical organs, precious to each individual. But how did the human eye develop? According to a review of the evidence, it stems back to fish more than 500 million years ago... [read more]

  • Camping could help reset your internal body clock
    Camping in the wilderness can do more than just give us an appreciation for nature. According to a study published in Current Biology, it can also synchronize our internal clocks to the solar day, allowing us to normalize melatonin levels... [read more]

  • Acetaminophen: serious skin reactions in rare cases
    The popular painkiller acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) may cause rare but serious skin reactions, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned.


    The analgesic is one of the most commonly and long-used drugs... [read more]

  • Breastfeeding on the increase in the US
    The number of mothers in the US choosing to breastfeed their babies is on the rise, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).


    The CDC data reveals that within a 10-year period... [read more]

  • 'Children can outgrow obesity' - Exclusive interview
    Researchers have developed a model revealing how excessive calorie intake can affect the weight of children and adolescents, suggesting that children can grow out of obesity, according to a study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology... [read more]

  • Schizophrenia affected by 'poor ability to track moving objects'
    Impaired eye movements could play a part in the symptoms of schizophrenia, according to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience.


    Researchers form the University of British Columbia tracked the eye movements of... [read more]

  • Migraines could be blamed on 'brain artery structure'
    An incomplete network of arteries that supply blood to the brain could be a culprit for migraine headaches. A study recently published in PLOS ONE reveals that variations in the brain's arteries cause inconsistent blood... [read more]

  • The taller the woman, the higher her cancer risk
    The ability to reach items on high shelves and easily see through a crowd may no longer have the same appeal for some women. A study recently published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention finds a link between... [read more]

  • Drinking coffee linked to lower suicide risk in adults
    Drinking coffee is linked to lower suicide rates, suggests a study published in The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry.


    Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) reviewed data from three large US studies... [read more]

  • 'Marijuana in adolescence can cause permanent brain damage'
    New research may give backing to parents telling teens to "just say no." A study in mice from the University of Maryland School of Medicine reveals that regular use of marijuana during adolescence could damage brain... [read more]

  • Experimental drug tackles both HIV and genital herpes
    Scientists are developing a drug that may be effective in treating two sexually transmitted infections at once - HIV and genital herpes - as well as potentially preventing the spread of HIV from one person to another... [read more]

  • Smoking during pregnancy linked to child conduct disorder
    Mothers who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have children with conduct disorder (CD), according to a study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.


    The study, carried out by researchers at the University of... [read more]

  • Food rituals tickle your taste buds
    Remember those Reese's Peanut Buttercup ads? They showed people performing a series of "rituals" before eating the candy, suggesting that because of this, it would taste so much better... [read more]

  • Future blindness cure? Stem cell success in lab
    Scientists are one step closer to curing blindness, after they carried out the first successful transplant of light-sensitive photoreceptor cells from a synthetic retina that was grown from embryonic stem cells... [read more]

  • Cell phone game joins fight against cancer
    Anyone fancy a game of cancer hunting? The charity Cancer Research UK has announced a partnership with an England-based software agency to develop a game in which the general public can analyze cancer data while playing... [read more]

  • Drinking water boosts your brain's reaction time
    We all know that drinking water regularly is good for the body. But new research has revealed that drinking water when we feel thirsty boosts our brain's performance in mental tests... [read more]

  • Could compounds from the ocean kill anthrax and MRSA?
    He may not be Jacques Cousteau, but William Fenical from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego is exploring the ocean in a whole new way.


    According to a paper published in Angewandte Chemie, his team... [read more]

  • Hope for injection of cells to regenerate spine discs
    Scientists have developed a new method of stopping or reversing disability and pain caused by degenerative disc disease in the spine using cell therapies, according to a proof-of-concept study published in the journal Biomaterials... [read more]

  • New Study Shows There's A Reason Why We "Hear" Our Inner Voice
    Chances are, you are reading this first sentence and hearing your own voice talking in your head.


    According to a new study, internal speech makes use of a system that is mostly employed for processing external speech... [read more]

  • Eating Fish While Pregnant May Lower Anxiety Levels
    Pregnant women have many choices to make when eating for two. What supplements to take, which cheeses to avoid, how much (if any) alcohol is safe to consume, and which fish to avoid - with so many decisions to make just... [read more]

  • Surgeons Save Teen's Sight Using Pioneering Laser Surgery
    UK eye surgeons have saved the sight of a 16-year-old boy using laser treatment inspired by "tongue and groove" floor boards.


    James Bowden was facing blindness after suffering from an eye condition called Keratoconus... [read more]

  • DNA Databases - Threat To Privacy Or A Good Thing?
    Creating huge national databases of people's DNA is an increasingly contentious topic since the US Supreme Court recently backed the routine swabbing of DNA from all criminal suspects once they are arrested - at the... [read more]

  • Improved Pregnancy Test Exposes Birth Defect Much Earlier
    An improved pre-natal test has been developed in Europe, which can detect fetal abnormalities such as down syndrome in high-risk pregnancies from the ninth week.


    PrenaTest® is a non-invasive molecular genetic blood... [read more]

  • US Falls Behind Other Wealthy Nations On Health, Says Report
    A major study reveals that while overall health has improved in the US, it still lags behind that of the other 34 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)... [read more]

  • Dementia Patients In Scotland Share Their Homes With Robots
    Caring for a person with dementia can be a full-time job. Characterized by memory loss, moodiness or communicative difficulties, the condition makes independent living quite difficult... [read more]

  • Researchers Develop MRI Scan To Detect Cancer Using Sugar
    Researchers say they have developed a new way of detecting cancer by giving patients an injection of sugar before doing an MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging).


    Scientists from University College London (UCL) have... [read more]

  • How Much Sugar Is In Your Food?
    With people living ever more frantic and fast-paced lives, we can often lose track of which essential and non-essential nutrients we consume. Sugar is vital for good health, without it all the cells in our body would come to a halt and perish... [read more]

  • FDA Proposal May Soon Allow Updated Safety Information On Generic Drug Labels
    Present Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations prohibit generic drug manufacturers from updating a product's safety labeling quickly. This creates a problematic safety gap, whereby the public is left unaware of... [read more]

  • Possibility Of First Head Transplant Fraught With Ethical And Medical Dilemmas
    A leading neurosurgeon has revealed a project to carry out the first human head transplantation with spinal linkage within the next two years. The project is code-named HEAVEN/GEMINI... [read more]

  • State Battles Federal Government for Independence in Medical Marijuana Case
    Magistrate Maria-Elena James ruled that a cannabis dispensary in Oakland, CA, is free to stay open while local authorities fight federal prosecution to shut it down, reports Reuters... [read more]

  • Sleep May Play Important Role in Heart Health
    A good night's sleep boosts the benefits of a healthy lifestyle on the heart, according to a new large study from the
    Netherlands published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology on Wednesday... [read more]

  • Chest Pain Patients Could Get Quick DNA Test for Heart Problems
    Testing fragments of DNA in the blood may be a fast way to find out if a patient's chest pain is due to coronary artery disease
    according to a new US-led study published online this week in the journal Arteriosclerosis... [read more]

  • Women Lose Weight With Help From Avatar
    Could an avatar modeling weight-loss behavior help you fight the flab? Perhaps, according to US researchers whose pilot study
    suggests a virtual world "alter ego" may help some women lose weight in the real world... [read more]

  • Late Bedtimes Linked To Weight Gain In Healthy People
    If you are healthy and go to bed late regularly and you do not sleep enough, your risk of gaining weight is significantly greater than if you go to bed earlier and have a good night's sleep every night, says a new study... [read more]

  • Ritalin May Help In Treating Addiction
    A single dose of Ritalin (methylphenidate) may help improve brain function in people addicted to cocaine, an imaging study carried out by scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai showed... [read more]

  • Asthma Test To Predict Which Children Will Grow Out Of It Steps Closer
    New US-led research has brought closer the day when a genetic test can predict whether children with asthma are likely
    to grow out of it by the time they become adults.
    The study, led by researchers from Duke... [read more]

  • Drug Combo Cuts Stroke Risk After TIA
    A simple combination of two anti-clotting drugs, clopidogrel and aspirin, can cut the risk of a stroke in patients who have
    already experienced a mini-stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)... [read more]

  • Surgeon Live-Streams Procedure Using Google Glass And iPad
    With the help of Google Glass and an iPad, a surgeon in the US live-streamed a procedure as he performed it in the
    operating room, thus turning a new page in the annals of telemedicine... [read more]

  • Two Small Mutations Led To Huge Leap In Hormone Evolution
    Sometimes, evolution takes huge leaps instead of tiny steps. An example came to light this week in a paper published
    online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) where US researchers describe how... [read more]

  • Hand Washing Averts Petting Farm Illnesses
    Following a number of outbreaks of diarrhoea illnesses this year, public health experts in England are warning people
    about the need for good hand hygiene when visiting petting farms... [read more]

  • Exercise Can Turn Bad Fat Into Good Fat
    Researchers have found that exercise helps "bad" fat transform into a form of "good" fat that is more metabolically active.
    The findings were presented at the American Diabetes Association's 73rd Scientific Sessions... [read more]

  • Chlamydia Infection May Pave Way For Cancer Via DNA Damage
    New research from Germany suggests that persistent infection by Chlamydia may pave the way for cancer: not
    only does the pathogen cause mutations in host cell DNA, it also inhibits the cellular mechanisms that attempt to repair the
    damage... [read more]

  • Silver Boosts Effect Of Antibiotics
    New research shows that low doses of silver can massively boost the effect of antibiotics on bacteria, making them up
    to 1,000 times more sensitive to the drugs. The researchers hope their discovery will give new life to... [read more]

  • Pesticides Tied To Reduced Biodiversity In Streams And Rivers
    A new study of water habitats in Europe and Australia, that for the first time examines the effect of pesticides on
    regional biodiversity, concludes pesticide use significantly reduces regional biodiversity of... [read more]

  • Chip Identifies Bacterial Infection In Minutes, Not Days
    Bacterial infections kill tens of thousands of North Americans every year. The fact it can take days to find out which
    bacteria are behind the infections and even longer to establish exactly which drugs will work, doesn't help... [read more]

  • "Automated Conversation Coach" Enhances Interpersonal Skills
    Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US have produced a computer program that helps
    individuals practise interpersonal skills so they feel more comfortable in job interviews or going on a first date... [read more]

  • Lilly Terminates Alzheimer's Drug Trial, Citing Abnormal Liver Tests
    Eli Lilly's Phase II study for an investigational drug for Alzheimer's disease has been terminated due to abnormal liver biochemical tests. The company says that clinical study investigators have been informed... [read more]

  • Proof Gulf War Illness Does Exist
    Scans have shown loss of brain matter in two regions of the brain associated with pain regulation in Gulf War veterans, researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center reported in the journal PLoS One... [read more]

  • Melanoma Detected In Skin Odor
    Using sophisticated techniques to sample and analyze airborne molecules in the odors from human skin cells, scientists
    in the US were able to detect a unique chemical signature for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer... [read more]

  • Vaccine Delivery Via Nanopatch Eliminates Needles
    A new technology called Nanopatch is showing promise as a needle-free way to deliver vaccines. The technology is the
    brainchild of biomedical engineer Mark Kendall, who presented it at TEDGlobal 2013 in Edinburgh... [read more]

  • Cross-Country Skiers Run Higher Risk Of Heart Rhythm Problems
    Despite being extremely fit, top cross-country long-distance skiers are at increased risk of developing arrhythmia, or
    abnormal heart rhythm. This was the conclusion of a Swedish-led study published online this week in the European Heart
    Journal... [read more]

  • Breast Cancer Screening Does Not Reduce Deaths Says Study Of 40 Years Of Mammograms
    A new UK study suggests screening for breast cancer does not reduce deaths from the disease. The study, which
    looked at nearly 40 years of breast screening, adds to the controversy surrounding whether it is screening or... [read more]

  • Arc Protein Helps Translate Learning Into Memory
    By delving into the inner workings of synapses, the junctions between brain cells, scientists have mapped how a protein
    called Arc helps regulate their activity to translate learning into long-term memory... [read more]

  • Frozen Fruit Blend Linked To Hepatits A Outbreak
    Virginia health officials have just announced that the "Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Berry Blend" sold under the Harris Teeter brand, could be the cause of the outbreak of hepatitis A infections... [read more]

  • New Down Syndrome Test Is More Reliable, Say Researchers
    A new study reported this week shows UK researchers have developed a more reliable non-invasive test for Down syndrome during the first three months of pregnancy.
    Writing in the 7 June online issue of Ultrasound in... [read more]

  • Down's Syndrome Testing Can Be Earlier And More Reliable Say Researchers
    A new study reported this week shows UK researchers have developed a more reliable non-invasive test for Down's syndrome during the first three months of pregnancy.
    Writing in the 7 June online issue of Ultrasound in... [read more]

  • How HIV Makes Immune Cells Commit Suicide
    A new study from the US shows how the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes infected immune cells to commit
    suicide. The researchers believe the finding is an important lead on how to preserve the immune systems of... [read more]

  • Enzyme That Finds Unwanted DNA In Cells Revealed
    Two new studies published in Nature recently reveal the structure and mechanism of an enzyme called cGAS
    that detects DNA found in the wrong place inside mammal cells and triggers an immune response... [read more]

  • Ketamine Effective At Treating Depression
    Researchers at Mayo Clinic have found that the general anesthetic, Ketamine, is very effective at treating depression when administered over a long period.
    The study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, revealed... [read more]

  • We Need More Breast Cancer Trials For Younger Patients Urge Experts
    The poorer survival rates of younger breast cancer patients could be a result of insufficient clinical trials for this age
    group. This was a conclusion of a major new Cancer Research UK study published online recently in... [read more]

  • First Drug To Help Melanoma Of The Eye
    AstraZeneca's experimental drug, selumetinib, is the first targeted medication to show a significant clinical benefit for patients with melanoma of the eye (metastatic uveal melanoma), researchers from the Memorial... [read more]

  • 12 Minutes Of Exercise A Week Could Be Enough To Stay Fit
    Only twelve minutes of exercise each week is enough to stay fit, according to a new study in PLOS One.
    The research, conducted by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, found that four-minute bursts of vigorous... [read more]

  • Mosquitoes With Altered Smell Gene Lose Preference For Humans
    By changing one gene, scientists have bred a mosquito that does not seek out the smell of humans in preference to
    other animals. The team behind one of the first successful attempts to genetically engineer mosquitoes... [read more]

  • HIV Shell Structure Cracked With Help Of Supercomputer
    A new study that features on the cover of Nature this week describes how researchers in the US have for the
    first time cracked the chemical structure of the capsid or protein shell of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)... [read more]

  • New MERS Virus Threat To The Entire World Says WHO Leader
    In a speech this week, Margaret Chan, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the newly named
    Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a "threat to the entire world"... [read more]

  • Stroke Patients Show Signs Of Recovery Following Stem Cell Trial
    As one of the first ever trials to test the safety of stem cells as a treatment for stroke draws to a close, investigators report there appear to be no
    harmful side effects. Most patients have also shown modest... [read more]

  • Doubts Regarding Alzheimer's Study
    Anti-cancer drug bexarotene (Tagretin), which had extremely promising results in reversing Alzheimer's disease symptoms in mice last year, was found not to be as promising in later trials, according to articles published in the journal Science... [read more]

  • Sugary Drinks Increase Risk Of Kidney Stones
    According to new research conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital, sugar-sweetened drinks are linked to an increased risk of developing kidney stones.
    Twenty percent of men and 10 percent of women in the U.S... [read more]

  • Anti-Cancer Drug Reverses Alzheimer's Disease In Mice
    An anti-cancer drug may reverse memory problems in an Alzheimer's Disease mouse model, according to new research carried out at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health... [read more]

  • Itch And Pain Have Separate Brain Circuits
    US scientists have found a molecule that triggers the sensation of itching in mice. They say the finding solves a mystery about itching: it is not a low level of pain but a separately wired circuit with a direct line into the brain... [read more]

  • Alzheimer's Cause Found In Trigger Of Brain Protein Malfunction
    In a new breakthrough to find the cause of Alzheimer's disease, scientists have pinpointed a molecule that appears to trigger a chain
    reaction of protein malfunction that eventually clogs up and kills brain cells... [read more]

  • Radioactive Bacteria Dramatically Reduce Spread Of Pancreatic Cancer In Mice
    Using bacteria to ferry radioisotopes commonly used in cancer therapy directly into pancreatic cancer cells in mice, researchers in the US
    were able dramatically to reduce the number of secondary tumors that arise when the... [read more]

  • Vitamin D May Help Treat Asthma
    Researchers in London have identified a mechanism through which vitamin D can significantly reduce the symptoms of asthma and
    suggest it may offer a new way to treat the debilitating condition, which in the UK alone affects around 5... [read more]

  • Type 1 Diabetes May Be Reversible With Immune Suppressor Protein
    A professor in Melbourne, Australia, who is on a mission to find a cure for type 1 diabetes, believes that the answer, or part of it, lies with
    an immune suppressor protein called CD52... [read more]

  • Yoga Can Help Lower Blood Pressure
    According to a new study presented at the "28th Annual Scientific Meeting", yoga can help lower a person's blood pressure.
    Desirable or normal blood pressure is generally considered to be below 120/80 (one-twenty over eighty)... [read more]

  • Most Americans Have Smoke-Free Rules For Home And Car
    A national survey finds that a large majority of adults in the US voluntarily apply smoke-free rules in their homes or vehicles. Yet despite
    this, millions of Americans, many of them children, continue to be exposed to... [read more]

  • Nanogel To Manage Type 1 Diabetes
    An extended insulin-release system comprising an injectable gel of nanoparticles may one day help patients with type 1 diabetes manage
    their condition without having constantly to test their blood-sugar and inject themselves with insulin... [read more]

  • Erectile Dysfunction Tied To Long Term Painkiller Use
    A new study suggests that long term use of opioid prescription painkillers for back pain is tied to a higher risk of erectile dysfunction (ED).
    The findings are published in the 15 May online issue of the journal Spine.
    Lead author Richard A... [read more]

  • Hysterectomy Does Not Raise Heart Risk
    Contrary to some previous research, a new study from the US finds women's risk of cardiovascular disease does not go up after having a
    hysterectomy in mid-life, with or without ovary removal... [read more]

  • Giving Babies Formula In Early Days May Help Prolong Breastfeeding For Some
    In a bid to promote breastfeeding, hospitals push to reduce formula feeding in infants in the days following their birth. But in a new
    study, the first to carry out a randomized trial, researchers show that giving small... [read more]

  • IPad 2 May Interfere With Heart Implants, Study Shows
    The magnets in iPad 2 tablets and their covers are capable of interfering with heart implants, including pacemakers, according to a new small study presented Thursday at Heart Rhythm 2013, the Heart Rhythm Society's 34th Annual Scientific Sessions... [read more]

  • Protein Rejuvenates Hearts In Mice
    Researchers in the US have identified a protein that rejuvenates old hearts in mice. The mouse hearts had thickened walls, a sign of
    aging similar to that seen in humans, but after treatment their hearts reduced in size... [read more]

  • Tickling Laughter Produces Different Brain Response To Social Laughter
    When we hear someone laughing because they are being tickled, the connections in our brains respond differently to when we hear social
    laughter, such as that which expresses joy or accompanies mocking behavior... [read more]

  • Walnuts And Walnut Oil Benefit Heart Health Beyond Lowering Cholesterol
    As well as lowering cholesterol, it appears that consuming whole walnuts and walnut oil also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in
    other ways, according to a new study funded by the California Walnut Board... [read more]

  • 1 In 4 Brits Walks For An Hour Or Less A Week
    One in four adults in Britain walks for no more than an hour a week, according to an online survey commissioned from YouGov by the
    walking charity Ramblers.
    This figure includes everyday walking to the shops, work or... [read more]

  • Largest Hospice Chain Sued For Alleged False Billings To Medicare
    America's largest for-profit hospital chain, Vitas Hospice Services LLC, and other hospice subsidiaries of Chemed Corp are being sued by the US Justice Department for alleged false billings for Medicare hospice services... [read more]

  • Deaths From Prostate Cancer Lower Among Statin Users
    New research from the US suggests men with prostate cancer who took or started taking statins before their diagnosis, may reduce their
    risk of dying from the disease. Statins are a class of drugs prescribed for lowering cholesterol... [read more]

  • Workers' Exposure Levels To Nanomaterials Recommended, US
    In anticipation that the numbers of US workers exposed to nanomaterials will rise significantly in the next ten years, the National Institute
    for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is recommending new exposure levels... [read more]

  • 12 Children Tackle Everest For Extreme Science
    In a valiant example of "extreme science", 12 children from the UK recently took part in an Everest expedition that aimed to help doctors
    better understand how to treat critically ill youngsters... [read more]

  • Scientists Decode "Molecular Chatter" That Makes Cancer Cells Spread
    For the first time, scientists in the US have decoded the "molecular chatter" that makes cancer cells more aggressive and more likely to
    travel and set up tumors in other parts of the body (metastasize)... [read more]

  • Schizophrenia May Be Diagnosed By Testing Nerve Cells From The Nose
    Collecting neurons from the nose could be a fast way to test for schizophrenia, a debilitating mental illness that is often difficult to
    diagnose. This was the finding of a new study led by researchers from Tel Aviv University (TAU) in Israel... [read more]

  • Genetic Fingerprints Track Drug-Resistant Malaria Parasites
    New artemisinin-resistant strains of the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum are spreading rapidly in Cambodia, an
    international group of scientists says in a research paper that also reveals how the... [read more]

  • New Rewards And Penalties For Hospitals Proposed By Medicare
    Hospitals that take part in CMS' Inpatient Quality Reporting Program will receive 0.8% in extra payments, while those not successfully participating would have payments reduced by 2%, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid... [read more]

  • Clenching Your Fist Can Improve Your Memory
    Clenching your right hand may help create a stronger memory of an event or action, and clenching your left hand may help you recall the memory later, according to a new study.
    The research was conducted by a team of experts... [read more]

  • How Trees Add To Air Pollution
    A new study shows that when isoprene, a substance given off by trees that protects their leaves, combines with man-made nitrogen
    oxides present in air pollution, it produces more of the very small air-borne particles that... [read more]

  • Alcohol And Weight Affect Women's Risk Of Getting And Dying From Liver Disease
    Congress delegates heard this week about a study that showed the deadly effect that high alcohol intake and excess body weight can
    have on women's chances of developing and dying from chronic liver disease... [read more]

  • Walking Minutes Help People Make Healthier Menu Choices
    When menus present them with how many minutes of brisk walking it takes to burn off the calories contained in different food options,
    people tend to choose lower calorie meals... [read more]

  • Ovarian Cancer May Be Detectable Early By Testing Cells From Uterus Or Cervix
    Pioneering biophotonics technology developed in the US can detect nanoscale changes in cells from the cervix and uterus that may indicate early
    stage ovarian cancer, according to a study published this month in the International Journal of Cancer... [read more]

  • Low-Dose Aspirin May Halt Breast Cancer
    Research done in test tubes and in mice presented at a conference in Boston in the US at the weekend suggests taking low doses of
    aspirin on a regular basis may stop breast cancer from growing and spreading... [read more]

  • Sperm Quality Higher In Men Who Wear Kilts
    Men, want to increase your chances of becoming a dad? Then wearing a kilt, without underwear, could do it for you. At least that is the
    recommendation of a researcher, who writing in the current issue of the Scottish... [read more]

  • New Alzheimer's Treatment May Come From Discovering How Plaques Lead To Tangles
    Alzheimer's disease has two key hallmarks: accumulation of amyloid protein plaques outside brain cells and of neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein inside brain cells. The plaques appear first, and then the tangles... [read more]

  • Magnetic Brain Stimulation May Help Smokers Quit
    Smokers looking to quit cigarettes face an expanding choice of therapies to help them give up the habit, ranging from nicotine replacement
    medications and behavioral therapy, to hypnosis and even acupuncture... [read more]

  • Men With Enlarged Prostate Get Symptom Relief From Minimally-Invasive Shrinking Treatment
    Enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), affects most men after middle age, causing frequent nighttime trips to the
    bathroom and health problems. Now early findings from a small US study presented at a... [read more]

  • Luminous Bacteria Control Clock Genes In Host's Body
    Another new study takes a further step toward revealing the pervasive influence microbial communities that inhabit plants and animals
    have on their biology. Scientists in the US have discovered that the luminous bacterium... [read more]

  • Gastric Bypass Surgery Corrects Genes As Well As Shrinking Waists
    Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery does not only shrink waists, but also results in gene-expression alterations, researchers from the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark... [read more]

  • US Scientists Find High Levels Of Lead In Imported Rice
    Some of the rice imported into the United States contains high levels of lead, according to a scientific study presented at an American
    Chemical Society meeting in New Orleans this week... [read more]

  • Brain Scan Offers First Objective Measure Of Pain
    Using fMRI scans of the brain, US scientists have for the first time developed a method of "seeing" pain and suggest it may lead to
    reliable ways for doctors to quantify objectively how much pain patients are feeling... [read more]

  • Reflexology Offers Some Pain Relief
    A small scientific study on reflexology as a treatment for acute pain finds that it may be as effective as painkillers. The authors suggest
    reflexology may usefully complement conventional treatments for conditions like... [read more]

  • Artificial Ovary Offers More Natural Hormone Replacement
    Researchers in the US have bioengineered an artificial ovary that makes sex hormones in the same proportions as a healthy one. They
    report that in the lab setting at least, the bioengineered ovary shows sustained released... [read more]

  • Personalized Ovarian Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise In Trial
    Delegates at a conference in the US this week are hearing about early results of a trial of a new personalized ovarian cancer vaccine that
    offers new hope for the large number of patients who relapse after treatment... [read more]

  • Blood Lead Levels High In 535,000 Kids In The USA
    More than half-a-million children aged 1 to 5 years had blood lead levels higher than 5 µg/dL, the new threshold-for-concern, according to a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report issued by the CDC this week... [read more]

  • Negative Emotional Responses To Everyday Stressors Can Contribute To Psychological Problems Later In Life
    The way in which people respond to everyday stress could be an accurate predictor of their long-term mental health, revealed a study published in the journal Psychological Science... [read more]

  • "Nanokicking" Stem Cells Offers Cheaper And Easier Way To Grow New Bone
    Researchers in Scotland have developed a new method that coaxes stem cells into growing new bone by "nanokicking" them 1,000 times
    per second. They suggest the technology is cheaper and easier to implement than the... [read more]

  • Near Vision Restored By Wearing Contact Lens Overnight
    Wearing contact lenses overnight may offer a non-surgical alternative to restoring near vision without the need for glasses, according to
    a new Australian study that successfully tested the method in middle-aged patients... [read more]

  • Biomechanical Origins Of Common Eye Diseases Easier To Study With New "Stretched Tissue" Approach
    Until now, researchers looking for the origins of eye diseases like detached retina and glaucoma have focused on biochemical processes.
    Now using approaches based on new technology that grows retinal tissue under tension... [read more]

  • ALS Disease Involves Cells Other Than Motor Neurons
    A new study of mice finds that cells other than motor neurons play a bigger role in the development of the fatal degenerative disease
    amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) than first thought... [read more]

  • Sleep Apnea In Kids Linked To Behavioral Problems
    Obstructive sleep apnea, a common type of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), has been linked to elevated rates of ADHD-like behavioral issues in kids, in addition to learning and adaptive problems... [read more]

  • Unusual Bird Flu Virus Kills Two Men In China
    Two men have died in Shanghai after being infected with the H7N9 bird flu virus strain, one that has never affected humans before, Chinese health authorities reported.
    The two patients were aged 87 and 27 years... [read more]

  • New Test Could Help Detect Pancreatic Cancer Early
    A new diagnostic test that uses a scientific method called metabolomic analysis could help detect pancreatic cancer early, and therefore, improve the prognosis of patients with the disease... [read more]

  • New Vaccine For Foot And Mouth Safer, Cheaper To Make Thanks To Synthetic Virus Shell
    UK scientists have developed a new vaccine against foot and mouth disease that is cheaper and safer to manufacture thanks to the fact it
    doesn't rely on inactivating live infectious virus but uses a synthetic virus shell... [read more]

  • Breath Test Reveals Gut Bacteria Linked To Obesity
    A growing body of evidence is increasingly showing us that the microbes in our gut influence our metabolism in surprising ways. Now a
    new study from the US suggests that a breath test of the gases they give out may... [read more]

  • Social Isolation Tied To Shorter Lifespan
    Social isolation, where a person has little actual interaction with others, more so than loneliness, a subjective feeling that one's social
    connections fall short of what we desire or need, is tied to premature death in older people... [read more]

  • New Nanoparticle Chemo Is Gentler On Fertility
    Using nanoparticles as "Trojan horses", scientists have designed and lab-tested a way to deliver an arsenic-based chemo drug that ferociously attacks cancer, but is gentler on the ovaries... [read more]

  • Energy Drink Consumption Linked To Increased Blood Pressure
    Energy drinks can drastically increase blood pressure and disturb the heart's natural rhythm, say researchers who presented their findings at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical... [read more]

  • High Salt Consumption Linked To 2.3 Million Deaths In 2010
    In 2010, salt contributed to 2.3 million deaths from strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular disease globally - approximately 15% of all deaths, says a study carried out by researchers from Brigham and Women's... [read more]

  • Remote Monitoring Of Chronically Ill Patients Not Cost-Effective Says Large UK Telehealth Study
    "Telehealth" technology for remote monitoring patients with long term conditions so they can live more independently at home does not appear to
    be more cost-effective than standard support and treatment, according to a new... [read more]

  • Virus-Based Melanoma Drug Shows Promise In Trial
    For the first time in a late stage trial, a virus-based cancer drug is showing some promising early results. The news that Amgen's
    melanoma drug talimogene laherparepvec (TVEC) has met the primary goal of a Phase 3 trial... [read more]

  • Stronger Statin Doses Tied To Kidney Injury
    A new study finds that high potency statins are tied to higher risk of being hospitalized for acute kidney injury compared with less potent
    statins and that the risk persists for two years... [read more]

  • Phoning, Texting While Driving Common In US
    Mobile phoning, and even texting or emailing, while driving is common among Americans, according to a report from the US Centers for
    Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that finds these habits are more prevalent in the US... [read more]

  • Getting White Fat Cells To Burn Calories Could Be Way To Tackle Obesity
    US scientists have discovered a protein switch that decides whether precursor fat cells turn into white fat cells that store calories, or
    brown fat cells that burn calories. They suggest the fight against obesity and... [read more]

  • Ruminating About Stressful Events May Increase Inflammation In The Body
    Dwelling on negative and/or stressful events can raise levels of inflammation in the human body, researchers from Ohio University, Athens, USA, found. They will soon be presenting their findings at the Annual Meeting of the... [read more]

  • The Plague Could Return, Warn Scientists
    Scientists have warned that the "Black Death", one of the most devastating pandemics in human history that killed between 75 million and 200 million people, could one day return with the emergence of antibiotic-resistant forms of the bacterium... [read more]

  • HIV "Functionally Cured" In 14 Adults Treated Early
    A new study shows that 14 HIV-infected adults appear to be "functionally cured", that is they still carry small, barely detectable reservoirs
    of the human immunodeficiency virus but their bodies are preventing them from... [read more]

  • Burnout Independently Linked To Coronary Heart Disease
    If your job burns you out, it looks like your heart health can suffer as well as your mental health, according to a study by researchers
    from Tel Aviv University (TAU) in Israel reported in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine... [read more]

  • Immune Cells Share Information Like Bees
    When bees come across new information, such as a good new source of honey, they share the news with other bees when they get back
    to the hive. Now new research from the US suggests the T cells of the immune system behave... [read more]

  • How Insect Wings Destroy Bacteria
    In a new study, researchers describe how the veined wing of the Clanger cicada is the first known example of a natural biomaterial that
    kills bacteria on contact, using only its physical structure, unaided by chemical or biological agents... [read more]

  • Melanoma Risk Lower In Women Who Take Aspirin
    Women who take aspirin on a regular basis have a lower risk for developing melanoma, according to the largest US study ever conducted
    into potential ways to prevent this most dangerous form of skin cancer... [read more]

  • Bee Venom Destroys HIV And Spares Surrounding Cells
    Nanoparticles containing bee venom toxin melittin can destroy human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) while at the same time leaving surrounding cells unharmed, scientists from Washington University School of Medicine reported in... [read more]

  • New Wrigley Gum Offers Caffeine Boost
    Wrigley is launching a new chewing gum called Alert Energy Caffeine Gum which offers a boost of caffeine.
    The new product is aimed at consumers between the ages of 25 and 49 who may have quit their habit of chewing gum when... [read more]

  • Stroke Survivors Benefit From Regular, Brisk Outdoor Walks
    A new study finds that taking regular brisk walks outdoors can help people recovering from a stroke to improve their physical fitness,
    enjoy a better quality of life, and increase their mobility... [read more]

  • Diabetes Costs The US $245 Billion A Year Says New Report
    Diagnosed diabetes cost the United States an estimated $245 billion in 2012, according to new research released by the American
    Diabetes Association (ADA) this week. The new figure represents a 41% rise in five years... [read more]

  • Breath Test Could Detect And Diagnose Stomach Cancer
    A simple test that analyzes the chemical signature of a patient's exhaled breath could help diagnose stomach cancer, according to new
    research by scientists from Israel and China reported online in the British Journal of Cancer this week... [read more]

  • Shelf Life Of Blood Nearer 3 Than 6 Weeks, Study
    Blood banks consider six weeks to be the standard shelf life of blood for use in transfusion. Now a new small study from the US adds
    further evidence to suggest this timescale should be shortened to three weeks, because... [read more]

  • Queen Elizabeth II Hospitalized With Gastroenteritis
    Queen Elizabeth II has been admitted to hospital with a stomach bug, Buckingham Palace informed yesterday. A palace spokesperson said she was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital with symptoms of gastroenteritis... [read more]

  • Blocked Heart Arteries May Presage Stroke
    Even if you are considered to be at low risk for stroke, having blocked heart arteries can mean you are more likely to have one, says new
    research published online this week in Stroke, a journal of the American Heart Association... [read more]

  • Innovative Smartphone App Tests Your Urine For Medical Issues
    A 29-year-old entrepreneur from India has developed a smartphone app that can analyze your urine for the presence of up to 10 markers
    covering 25 different medical conditions.
    uChek is the brainchild of Myshkin Ingawale... [read more]

  • Superbug's Weak Spot Could Be Its Protein Factory
    Researchers in the US have spotted a weakness in the internal machinery of a superbug that could offer new targets for drugs. They
    believe the key lies with the molecular mechanisms that antibiotic-resistant bacteria use... [read more]

  • 2 In 5 Brits Need Painkillers To Be Able To Work
    A survey that took a snapshot of painkiller use across the UK reveals that nearly 2 in 5 people (37%) say they have to take painkillers in
    order to feel well enough to work. It also finds that 1 in 3 people using... [read more]

  • Mediterranean Diet Reduces Heart Attack, Stroke In High Risk Groups
    A landmark study from Spain reports that a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts reduced the incidence of
    major cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular death) among people... [read more]

  • Are There Fewer Innovative Drugs In UK? No, There Are More
    The idea that the supply of breakthrough drugs in the UK is drying up is a myth, researchers from Birmingham University reported in BMJ Open.
    In fact, the authors point out that if we look over the last four decades, the... [read more]

  • Over Two Thirds Of Sunbed Users Concerned They Are Aging Their Skin
    Results of a survey by the charity Cancer Research UK show that more than two thirds (68%) of people who use sunbeds are concerned
    that the practice is aging their skin.
    The research, which polled 2,500 UK adults in... [read more]

  • Astronomy Algorithms Help Diagnose Aggressive Tumors
    In a remarkable example of interdisciplinary teamwork, astronomers are helping cancer researchers use computerized stargazing
    algorithms developed for spotting distant galaxies to identify biomarkers in tumors to determine how aggressive they are... [read more]

  • Fast Food Accounts For More Than 11% Of Americans' Daily Calories
    As lifestyles become more hectic, fast foods feature more frequently in the daily American diet. The latest national figures for 2007-2010
    show that on average, adults in the US get more than 11% of their daily calories from eating fast food... [read more]

  • Language Protein In Brain Differs By Sex
    Males and females acquire language differently: it has been well documented in children, where on average girls tend to speak earlier,
    with greater complexity, than boys. We also know that animals differ by sex in the ways they communicate... [read more]

  • Fungi In Lungs May Hold Asthma Treatment Clues
    There was a time when we assumed the insides of our lungs were devoid of life, apart from our own cells helping us breathe. But now we
    learn that the lung is home to a wide range of organisms, including fungi... [read more]

  • Gene Enables Cells To Survive Even If Growth Stops
    Researchers in Australia have discovered a genetic defect that can stop cells growing but forces them into a death-defying state where
    they consume their own cellular material to survive... [read more]

  • More Americans Meeting Diabetes Goals
    The number of Americans meeting their diabetes goals - blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol - has increased considerably over a 12-year period, says a new study by the NIH (National Institutes of Health) and CDC... [read more]

  • Copper Depletion Therapy Very Effective At Preventing Spread Of Cancer
    Copper depletion therapy has shown surprisingly good results in preventing the spread of cancer to organs in high-risk triple-negative breast cancer - a form of cancer that is very difficult to treat... [read more]

  • Natural Antiviral Protein Stops HIV, Deadly Viruses Entering Cells
    Researchers in the US have identified a natural antiviral protein that stops HIV and certain other deadly viruses like Ebola, Rift Valley Fever, and Nipah, from entering host cells... [read more]

  • Deep Brain Stimulation Effective In Early Parkinson's
    Deep brain stimulation (DBS) improves overall quality of life and social functioning in patients in earlier stages of Parkinson's disease,
    according to results of a two-year clinical trial... [read more]

  • Vitamin C Helps Marathon Runners Reduce Risk Of Catching A Cold
    An updated review of placebo-controlled trials on Vitamin C and the common cold finds the vitamin may help people under heavy physical
    stress, such as marathon runners and skiers, to reduce their risk of catching a cold... [read more]

  • Antibiotic Resistance Can Be Starved Out Of Bacteria
    The ability of bacteria to carry and pass on genes that give them survival advantages, such as resistance to antibiotics, depends on there
    being a plentiful supply of oxygen and nutrients... [read more]

  • Broken Bones Mended With Stem Cells And Plastic
    New bone tissue grown from patients' own stem cells that attach themselves to an implanted, rigid lightweight plastic "scaffolding" which
    gradually degrades and is replaced as new bone grows, could soon be healing... [read more]

  • Carotid Bypass Surgery Does Not Improve Cognition After Stroke
    Patients who have suffered from stroke and receive carotid bypass surgery - which improves blood flow to the brain - see no overall improvement in cognitive performance, researchers informed at The American Stroke... [read more]

  • Millennials: The Most Stressed-Out Generation, USA
    Young adults in the USA find it particularly hard to manage their stress and get the health care that meets their needs, says a new American Psychological Association survey "Stress in America: Missing the Health Care Connection"... [read more]

  • Giving May Shield Us From Stress And Help Us Live Longer
    Giving time to help others with shopping, child care, house work and other errands may be good for our health and help us live
    longer, according to a new US study that looked at how giving practical assistance to others... [read more]

  • Stem Cell Differentiation Is Triggered By A Key Protein
    Scientists have discovered a key protein that kicks off the natural process that differentiates stem cells into any cell of the body. They
    hope the discovery will help development of therapies for degenerative diseases... [read more]

  • Air Pollution Tied To Low Birth Weight
    A large study spanning four continents finds that babies carried by mothers exposed to air pollution caused by tiny particles in fumes from
    traffic, heating systems, and coal-fired power stations, are more likely to be of low birth weight... [read more]

  • Some Cancer Mutations Slow Or Stop Tumor Growth
    Just as some mutations in the genome of cancer cells actively spur tumor growth, it would appear there are also some that do the
    reverse, and act to slow it down or even stop it, according to a new US study led by MIT... [read more]

  • Childhood Epilepsy In UK Has Fallen Sharply
    The past decade in the UK has seen a sharp fall in the number of children diagnosed with epilepsy, reflecting a trend seen in other
    countries, according to a study published recently in the Archives of Diseases in Childhood... [read more]

  • Avoid Eight Cancer Screenings, Says Consumer Reports
    Consumer reports evaluated eleven cancer screening tests, and has found that most of us should avoid eight of them. The non-profit consumer's organization says that most preventive cancer screenings are oversold and may confuse rather than clarify... [read more]

  • Do Infections Speed Up Alzheimer's?
    An increase in brain inflammation, such as that caused by age, diabetes and obesity, is known to increase risk for developing Alzheimer's
    disease. Now scientists at UK's Southampton University are about to start a... [read more]

  • Binge Drinking Raises Risk For Type 2 Diabetes Via Insulin Resistance
    Binge drinking directly causes insulin resistance, which in turn leads to type 2 diabetes. This was the finding of a new study on rats, that
    the researchers say is the first to show binge drinking alone, separate from... [read more]

  • Cancer Deaths Third Higher In Men Than Women In UK
    A new report shows that men are more than one third (35%) more likely to die of cancer in the UK than women, and they are two-thirds
    (67%) more likely to die from the disease when sex-specific cancers such as prostate... [read more]

  • Late Lunching Can Slow Weight Loss
    A new study suggests if you are trying to lose weight, then you shouldn't just keep an eye on the calories you consume, but also when
    you consume them: if lunch is your big meal of the day, then a tendency to eat it later... [read more]

  • Melanoma Genes Found In "Junk" DNA
    US scientists have found two new mutations in non-coding (formerly dubbed "junk") DNA that occur in 71% of malignant melanomas.
    They say the highly recurrent mutations may be the most common in this deadliest form of... [read more]

  • Three Type 2 Diabetes Pills From Takeda Approved By FDA
    Nesina (alogliptin) tablets, Oseni (alogliptin and pioglitazone) tablets, and Kazano (alogliptin and metformin hydrochloride) tablets, for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, for use along with diet and exercise, have been... [read more]

  • FDA Approves First Medical Robot For Hospital Use
    A robot that allows patients to communicate with doctors via a telemedicine system that can move around on its own has just received 510(k) clearance by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)... [read more]

  • 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic Infected 1 In Every 5 People
    Data gathered from 19 different countries reveals that the global swine flu pandemic which began in 2009 infected close to 20% of the population and almost 50% of all schoolchildren... [read more]

  • It Takes More Than Protein-Coding DNA To Make A Heart
    Remember when we thought most of the human genome was "junk" DNA? Because when scientists first sequenced it, they found less
    than 3% of the DNA was for coding proteins, the building blocks of life... [read more]

  • Prostate Cancer Diagnoses Up, Deaths Down, Latest UK Figures
    1 in 7 boys born in 2015 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, compared with 1 in 20 in 1990, according to the latest figures
    from Cancer Research UK, who suggest the main reason is the increased use... [read more]

  • Breast Cancer Recurrence Predictable With Blood Test
    Using a DNA marker that can be obtained via a blood test, researchers in Canada were able accurately to predict which women were
    more likely to see a recurrence of their breast cancer years later... [read more]

  • Huntington's Gene Disrupts Brain Cells Via Changes To Other Genes
    Biological engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US have discovered that the gene that causes Huntington's
    disease, a fatal neurodegenerative disorder, damages brain cell function by disrupting... [read more]

  • Skin Patch For Migraines Receives FDA Approval
    The FDA has approved Zecuity (sumatriptan iontophoretic transdermal system) for the treatment of acute migraine in adults with or without aura.
    Zecuity is a battery-powered skin patch that delivers sumatriptan through the... [read more]

  • Bacteria Can Morph Host Cells Into Stem Cells
    Bacteria have the ability to convert the host tissue cells that they infect to become like stem cells that can then differentiate into virtually
    any other type of cell, thereby enabling the bugs to spread to other parts of the body... [read more]

  • Coffee Drinking Tied To Urinary Incontinence In Men
    Men who consume about two cups of coffee a day, or the equivalent amount of caffeine, are significantly more likely to have urinary
    incontinence or a "leaky bladder" than men who drink less or none at all, according to new research from the US... [read more]

  • Norovirus Symptoms? Then Stay Away From Hospitals Urges UK Health Agency
    The UK's Health Protection Agency (HPA) is asking people with symptoms of norovirus infection to stay away from hospitals and care
    facilities so as not to put at risk those who are already ill and thus vulnerable to... [read more]

  • Blueberries And Strawberries May Reduce Women's Risk Of Heart Attack
    A new US study suggests women could cut their risk of heart attack by as much as one-third by eating three or more servings of
    blueberries and strawberries per week, the likely reason being because these foods are high in... [read more]

  • Self-Tracking Tools Help You Stay Healthy
    Self-tracking is a new trend in personal electronic health where computing tools such as wearable sensors and mobile apps collect,
    process and display a wealth of personal data to help you keep track of and manage all aspects of your health... [read more]

  • Electronic Medical Records A Disappointment In The USA
    Electronic medical records arrived with a fanfare in 2005, promising huge cost savings, better accuracy and efficiency - most health care professionals and authorities have been disappointed, stating that systems overall are... [read more]

  • Lung Cancer Screening For Heavy Smokers Recommended
    People who have smoked at least a pack-a-day for thirty years should undergo lung cancer screening, the American Cancer Society announced today in its lung cancer screening guidelines... [read more]

  • Artificial "Poop" Cures Gut Superbug C. Difficile
    Few treatments exist for people infected with the nasty gut superbug C.difficile, although new approaches based on transplanting fecal matter taken from stools of healthy people are proving successful... [read more]

  • Cancer Drug "Holiday" May Extend Patient Survival
    New research on mice shows that drug-resistant melanoma tumors shrink when treatment is interrupted, or given a "holiday", suggesting
    that altering the dose pattern of cancer drug treatment in this manner could be a simple... [read more]

  • Parkinson's Impulse Disorders May Be Drug-Related
    A new study finds that untreated Parkinson's disease patients are no more likely to have impulse control disorders like gambling and
    impulse buying, than people without the disease... [read more]

  • Stem Cell Transplant Studies Raise Hopes Of Treatment For ALS
    For the first time, hopes are raised that the devastating and fatal nerve-cell-wasting disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be
    treatable, following a recently published review of 11 independent animal studies of the disease... [read more]

  • Blind Mice Have Sight Restored
    Completely blind mice had their sight restored after having developing cells transplanted into their eyes. The cells reformed the entire
    light-sensitive layer of the retina, rather like replacing the film in a camera... [read more]

  • Walking Reduces Stroke Risk Among Women
    New research reveals that walking at least three hours a week reduces the risk of stroke among women.
    The finding, published in the journal Stroke, comes from yet another study highlighting the health benefits of doing... [read more]

  • Cancer-Killing Stem Cells Could Be Used To Treat Cancer
    Researchers in Japan have for the first time shown it is possible to make cancer-specific immune system cells from induced pluripotent
    stem cells (iPSCs). Their work brings closer the day when therapies use cloned versions... [read more]

  • Cancer-Killing Immune Cells Made From Stem Cells
    Researchers in Japan have for the first time shown it is possible to make cancer-specific immune system cells from induced pluripotent
    stem cells (iPSCs). Their work brings closer the day when therapies use cloned versions... [read more]

  • Probe That Checks For Cancer On The Margin During Breast Lumpectomy Gets FDA Approval
    A probe that allows surgeons removing cancerous tissue during breast "lumpectomy" to check if the margins of the removed tissue are
    clear of cancer cells, has received Premarket Approval (PMA) in the US from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)... [read more]

  • Knowing How Cells Know They Aren't Upside Down May Help Fight Cancer
    The tops and bottoms of cells do different jobs, and healthy organs and tissue contain well-organized cells that are the right way up. One
    of the first signs of cancer is when cells become disorganized and can end up upside down... [read more]

  • Cholesterol Plays Key Role In Cell Signaling
    Healthy organisms rely on tightly controlled pathways of cellular signals that pass from protein to protein, each protein modifying the
    next in some way. Now an international team of researchers has discovered that... [read more]

  • Unhealthy Behavior Common Among University Students
    An analysis of student lifestyles was carried out by researchers at the University of Vigo to evaluate how much students drink, whether or not they take illegal drugs, their diet and how much exercise they do... [read more]

  • Cancer Screening Rates Have Fallen In US
    Despite evidence that earlier diagnosis and improved treatment increases survival, rates of people seeking preventive cancer screening
    have fallen in the US in the last ten years... [read more]

  • Mental Health Disorders Linked To Domestic Violence
    New research from the UK finds that experience of domestic violence is more common among adults with all kinds of mental health
    disorders than in the general population. The researchers, from King's College London's... [read more]

  • Eyes May Reveal Multiple Sclerosis Progression
    Retina thinning may reveal how rapidly multiple sclerosis is progressing, researchers from Johns Hopkins MS Center reported in the journal Neurology. The scientists explained that they referred to the thinning of "a layer of the retina in the eyes"... [read more]

  • Close To One-Third Of Children With Food Allergies Are Bullied
    Food allergies can pre-dispose children to being bullied at school, suggests a new study published today in Pediatrics.
    The study examined 251 families from a New York City food allergy clinic and discovered that nearly... [read more]

  • Whooping Cough Cases Remain High, UK
    Cases of whooping cough in England and Wales have remained high through November, says the Health Protection Agency
    (HPA).
    New figures released by the agency on Friday show 1,080 confirmed cases for November, down from... [read more]

  • Human Hands Evolved For Throwing Punches
    Human hands evolved so that men could form fists and fight, not just for the manual dexterity necessary for using tools, playing a piano, or writing.
    The finding came from new research conducted by researchers at the... [read more]

  • Menus Showing Miles Plus Calories Help People Choose Healthier Meals
    A new US study that explores the effect of menu information on people's choice of fast food meals finds they tend to choose healthier options when
    shown not only the calories they contain, but also how many miles they... [read more]

  • Family Meals Boost Kids' Fruit And Veg Intake
    Children in families that eat meals together, even if only once or twice a week, eat more fruit and vegetables than children who never eat with their
    families. The boost they receive from learning eating habits from... [read more]

  • Antibiotic No Better For Coughs, Uncomplicated Chest Infections Than No Medication
    Amoxicillin, the antibiotic doctors often prescribe for persistent coughs caused by uncomplicated chest infections such as bronchitis, is no more
    effective at easing symptoms than no medication at all, even in older patients... [read more]

  • New 4-Strain Flu Vaccine From GSK Wins FDA Approval
    The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new 4-strain seasonal flu vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK), the company
    announced on Monday.
    Fluarix Quadrivalent is approved for use in adults, plus children... [read more]

  • Surprising Discovery About Stem Cells Reveals How A Common Breast Cancer Evades Treatment
    A new study reveals a surprising paradox about stem cells in breast cancer: one whose discovery may explain how a common breast cancer evades
    treatment, and improve diagnosis and treatment of the disease... [read more]

  • Single Gene Converts Heart Cells Into Biological Pacemaker
    Bringing to fruition a decade-long quest to find a biological way to correct erratic and failing heartbeats, a team in the US has succeeded in converting
    ordinary heart cells into pacemaker cells by inserting a single gene... [read more]

  • Drug Approved To Treat Rare Forms Of Leukemia
    A new drug used to treat patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome positive acute leukemia (Ph+ ALL) has just received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration... [read more]

  • People Worldwide Are Living Longer But Sicker
    People worldwide are living longer and sicker; injuries, mental health disorders, pain and disabilities are undermining people's overall health, according to the "Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 (GBD 2010)", published in The Lancet today... [read more]

  • Genes Are Not The Only Drivers Of Colon Cancer
    Genes are not the only drivers of colon cancer. A new study suggests cellular factors play an equally important part, and these not only drive tumor
    growth, but also affect how well the disease responds to chemotherapy... [read more]

  • Diabetes Drug May Restore Memory In Alzheimer's
    Researchers in Canada have discovered a drug originally intended for the treatment of diabetes may restore memory in brain cells affected by
    Alzheimer's disease. In tests on animal brain cells, they found that AC253, a... [read more]

  • One In Three Kids In England Ends Primary School Overweight Or Obese
    More than one in three children in their last year of primary school in England is either overweight or obese, according to the latest figures from the
    National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) published on Wednesday... [read more]

  • Coffee Drinking May Halve Risk Of Mouth And Throat Cancer
    A new study from the US finds people who drink more than 4 cups of caffeinated coffee a day have half the risk of dying from oral/pharyngeal (mouth
    and throat) cancer as people who drink it either occasionally or not at all... [read more]

  • Child's Leukemia Cured By Her Own Re-Engineered Immune Cells
    Thanks to an experimental new therapy, a seven-year-old girl in the US with an aggressive form of childhood leukemia has been cured with her own
    re-engineered immune cells. After the treatment, her doctors could find no evidence of cancer... [read more]

  • Porcupine Quills Inspire New Medical Adhesives
    In a prime example of turning to nature for inspiration, engineers in search of new biomaterials hope to emulate the unique penetration and binding
    properties of porcupine quills to develop new types of medical adhesives... [read more]

  • Malaria Cure Step Closer With Discovery Of Parasite's Cloaking Device
    A team in Israel believes the hope of a cure for malaria is a step closer after discovering a genetic cloaking device that the parasite uses to evade the
    immune system and establish infection... [read more]

  • How Cat Litter Parasite Toxoplasma Gondii Influences The Brain
    New research led by a team at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden reveal for the first time what the common "cat litter parasite" Toxoplasma
    gondii does once it gets into the brain... [read more]

  • First Synthesis Of Gold Nanoparticles Inside Human Hair For Dyeing And Much More
    [read more]

  • Fruits And Vegetables Linked To Lower Breast Cancer Risk
    A new study suggests women may reduce their risk for breast cancer by having a diet rich in fruits and vegetables: researchers found women whose
    blood carried higher levels of carotenoids, nutrient compounds found in fruits... [read more]

  • DNA Of Gut Microbes Has Unique Fingerprint
    New research suggests the DNA of the vast collection of microbes in the gut has a unique figerprint that can identify individuals in the same way as
    human DNA.
    The researchers, from Washington University School of Medicine in St... [read more]

  • Brain Tumors Respond To Diet And Radiation Therapy
    Brain cancer researchers have successfully treated mice with malignant gliomas, a type of aggressive and deadly brain tumor, with a unique
    combination of radiation therapy and ketogenic diet, a high fat, low carbohydrate... [read more]

  • French Sperm Count Shows Steady Decline
    A new study shows a steady decline in French male sperm count and quality from 1989 to 2005, reflecting evidence that suggests this is a global
    phenomenon. The researchers call for health authorities to reinforce their... [read more]

  • Fruit Flies Reveal Steps In Cancer Cell Development
    Using fruit flies as a model, researchers in Spain believe they have uncovered the individual steps that normal cells go through when they become
    cancerous and spread. Because the vast majority of genes in Drosophila... [read more]

  • Gene May Prime Teens To Binge Drink
    Some teens may be primed to binge drink because they have a version of a gene that makes alcohol stimulate stronger feelings of pleasure and reward,
    according to new research from the UK that provides the most detailed... [read more]

  • Large Gene Study Links Plaque In Heart Disease To Inflammation
    By linking 15 new genetic regions to coronary artery disease, a large international study sheds new light on the underlying causes of this most
    common form of heart disease, which results from the build up of fatty... [read more]

  • Scientists Find Early Immune Trigger Of MS
    Using advanced imaging to observe the early stages of nerve damage in mice with MS, scientists in the US believe they have found an important early
    trigger for the disease: the leakage of a clotting protein across the... [read more]

  • High Fructose Corn Syrup Fuelling Type 2 Diabetes Epidemic
    A new study suggests countries that use large amounts of high fructose corn syrup in their food may be helping to fuel the global epidemic of type 2
    diabetes. Researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of... [read more]

  • Heart Healthy Omega-3s Now Present In Milk, Not Just Fish
    It is now possible to incorporate fish oil into milk and other dairy-based beverages in concentrations high enough to promote heart health, and without effecting the product's taste or lifespan, suggests a new study... [read more]

  • Aspirin Tied To Lower Risk For Liver Cancer And Death From Liver Disease
    A new study from the US finds that use of aspirin is tied to a reduced risk for hepatocellular
    carcinoma, the most common type of primary liver cancer, and also to a reduced risk of death from chronic liver disease.
    Vikrant V... [read more]

  • Fracture Risk Predictable From History Of Falls
    A new UK study finds that when clinicians are aware of a patient's fall history, they are better able to predict whether he or she will fracture a
    bone.
    You can read how researchers from the University of Southampton... [read more]

  • Social Isolation Reduces Myelin Production
    A new US study finds that depriving adult mice of social contact reduces production of myelin, the protein sheath that surrounds the fibers or axons
    that convey electrical signals between nerve cells... [read more]

  • Scientists Find Evidence For "Chemo Brain" In Scans
    Using brain scans, scientists in the US have uncovered physiological evidence for "chemo brain", a common and often debilitating side effect of cancer
    chemotherapy treatment that patients often describe as a "mental fog"... [read more]

  • New Flu Forecasting Model Uses Google Search Data
    By combining data that keeps track of Google searches about flu with the latest techniques used in weather forecasting, two US researchers have
    developed a computer model that predicts regional peaks in flu outbreaks more than 7 weeks ahead... [read more]

  • Mental Activity May Keep Older Brains Healthy
    Simple mental activity such as reading, writing, playing games and doing puzzles may protect brain health in old age, according to a new study being
    presented at a meeting in the US this weekend... [read more]

  • Cancer Treatment Could Be Improved By Discovery Of Drug Resistance Biomarker
    [read more]

  • New Respiratory Coronavirus Claims Second Victim
    Another person with a severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) caused by a novel coronavirus 2012 has died, the World Health Organization (WHO)
    announced on Friday. The second victim, like the first, died in Saudi Arabia... [read more]

  • Ovarian Cancer Deaths Fall By 20%, England
    Deaths from ovarian cancer among women in England have fallen by 20% over the last ten years, says a new report from the National Cancer
    Intelligence Network released on 20 November... [read more]

  • 4D Scan Shows Fetus Yawning, A Sign That Could Help Identify Healthy Babies
    Using 4D ultrasound scans that distinguish between yawning and simple mouth opening, researchers in the UK show that contrary to some
    views, fetuses do yawn, and suggest observing this behavior could be a useful way to... [read more]

  • Women's Health In Midlife Begins With 6,000 Steps
    Habitual physical activity that adds up to moving 6,000 or more steps a day may protect women's health in midlife, because, whether through formal
    exercises or just the activities of daily life, this level of activity is... [read more]

  • New Epilepsy Drug From Fatty Acids
    Scientists in London have identified specific fatty acids that could form the basis of new drugs to treat epilepsy in children and adults. They suggest
    drugs based on them could provide similar epilepsy control as a... [read more]

  • Over 40% Of Post-Op Complications Occur Following Discharge
    A new US study finds that over 40% of complications after general surgery procedures arise after patients have been discharged, with three quarters
    occurring within the first two weeks of leaving hospital... [read more]

  • Heart Attack Risk Higher With Job Loss
    New research on older adults in the US finds that being unemployed, experiencing multiple job loss and even going for short periods without work is
    tied to a greater risk for heart attack (acute myocardial infarction, AMI) compared with no job loss... [read more]

  • Nanoparticles Stop Multiple Sclerosis In Mice
    A breakthrough new experimental treatment that uses nanoparticles covered with proteins to trick the immune system, managed to stop it attacking
    myelin and halt disease progression in mice with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS)... [read more]

  • Antibiotic Resistance Major Public Health Problem
    Antibiotic resistance remains a major threat to public health around the world, and for the large part, the cause is misuse of antibiotics, says the
    European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)... [read more]

  • Diabetes Rises "Dramatic", CDC Report
    Over the past decade and a half, the United States has seen a "dramatic" rise in rates of diagnosed diabetes, according to a study from the Centers for
    Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)... [read more]

  • 60% Of Largest U.S. Cities Now Have Smoke-Free Laws
    Out of the 50 largest cities in America, 30 are now protected by smoke free laws which ban smoking from all indoor parts of bars, restaurants and private work areas, according to a recent report released by the CDC (Centers... [read more]

  • Parasitic Worms Treat Colitis Diarrhea In Monkeys
    US researchers have successfully treated monkeys with chronic diarrhea using parasitic worms that seem to work by restoring balance in gut bacteria.
    Their findings strengthen the case for developing and testing probiotic... [read more]

  • Alzheimer's Linked To Rare Gene Mutation That Affects Immune System
    Two international studies published this week point to a link between Alzheimer's disease and a rare gene mutation that affects the immune system's
    inflammation response. The discovery supports an emerging theory about... [read more]

  • Type 1 Diabetes Stem Cell Breakthrough Moves Toward Cure
    In a breakthrough that signifies a move toward a cure for type 1 diabetes, researchers in Australia have identified stem cells in the pancreas that can be
    turned into insulin-producing cells... [read more]

  • Hearing And Balance Rely On "Firm Handshake" Between Two Inner Ear Proteins
    Harvard researchers in the US have for the first time described how a chemical bond resembling a "firm handshake" between two proteins in the inner
    ear is critical for hearing and balance... [read more]

  • Breakthrough Chemo Bath Treats Liver Cancer For First Time In UK
    A treatment that isolates the blood supply to a cancerous liver while the organ receives a "chemo bath" has been used for the first time in the UK. The
    procedure saturates the liver with high doses of chemotherapy without... [read more]

  • OCD Brain Has Higher Activity When Dealing With A Moral Dilemma
    Morality problems cause much more worry for people with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), compared to the general population, researchers from the Hospital de Mar, Barcelona, Spain, and the University of Melbourne... [read more]

  • How Intellect And Behavior Emerge During Childhood
    [read more]

  • Brain Has Distinct Activity Pattern When Losing Consciousness During Anesthesia
    A new study from the US reveals for the first time, that the brain has a distinct pattern of electrical activity as patients lose consciousness during
    anesthesia. The pattern shows very slow oscillations, reflecting a... [read more]

  • New Diet Can Help Battle Child Obesity
    All around the world obesity rates among children have increased three-fold in the last 20 years, and there are a few available options that are effective for treating obesity in these kids... [read more]

  • Mucus Is Beneficial In The Fight Against Bacteria
    A possible new protection against biofilm formation, polymers found in mucus, have been discovered by a team of researchers from MIT.
    Biofilms are slimy sheets of bacterial buildup that create a serious danger in medical and industrial environments... [read more]

  • Black Tea Could Lower Your Diabetes Risk
    Countries with high black tea consumption have lower type 2 diabetes rates, compared to other nations, researchers reported in BMJ Open today. The authors carried out a mathematical analysis of data from fifty different nations... [read more]

  • Statins Tied To Reduced Cancer Deaths
    A new study from Denmark found that people who regularly used statins to lower cholesterol and then received a cancer diagnosis were 15% less likely
    to die from cancer or any other cause than cancer patients who had never used statins... [read more]

  • Blood Marker Reveals Type 2 Diabetes Risk Years In Advance
    A new Swedish-led study has identified a blood marker that may show who is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes many years before the disease is
    typically diagnosed.
    Team leader Anders Rosengren, a researcher at the Lund... [read more]

  • Addiction History In Smokers' DNA May Show Cancer Risk
    Smokers leave a chemical "footprint" of their addiction history on the surface of their DNA, and this may serve as a measure of their risk for developing
    cancer, say researchers from the UK and Italy who presented their... [read more]

  • Baldness, Signs Of Aging Linked To Heart Risks
    Telltale visible signs of aging, such as baldness and fatty deposits on the eyelids, are linked to an increased risk for heart attack and heart disease, according to
    new research presented at a scientific meeting in the US this week... [read more]

  • MRSA Superbug Found In US Wastewater Plants
    Scientists have found the superbug MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) at four US wastewater treatment plants. In the past,
    the drug-resistant bacterium, which causes potentially fatal, difficult to treat... [read more]

  • Diabetics Benefit More In Long Term From Heart Bypass Than Stents
    Diabetics with more than one clogged heart artery are more likely to benefit in the longer term from heart bypass surgery than drug-coated stents,
    according to a late-breaking clinical trial whose results were presented at... [read more]

  • High Blood Pressure Ages The Brain
    New research led by the University of California (UC) Davis found accelerated brain aging among young middle-aged people with high blood pressure,
    and even among those whose blood pressure would not be considered high... [read more]

  • Pradaxa (Dabigatran) Bleeding Rates No Higher Than Warfarin, Says FDA
    Bleeding rates linked to new use of Pradaxa (Dabigatran) are no higher than they are with new users of warfarin, says a new FDA Drug Safety communication report update (November 2, 2012)... [read more]

  • ADHD Drugs Do Not Raise Heart Risk In Children
    Children who take Adderall, Ritalin, and other central nervous system stimulants, do not have a higher chance of developing serious heart conditions.
    This finding, confirming research from 2011, came from a study at the... [read more]

  • Indoor Laundry Drying Could Be Bad For Your Health
    A combination of prolonged wet weather and reducing use of tumble dryers as a way to cut fuel bills, may encourage people to dry more clothes
    indoors, for instance on drying frames or by draping on radiators... [read more]

  • Math Anxiety: The Brain Can Feel The Pain
    Worry about math can trigger regions of the brain associated with the experience of physical pain and instinctive risk detection, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago and published in PLOS ONE... [read more]

  • Drying Laundry Indoors May Pose Health Risks
    A combination of prolonged wet weather and reducing use of tumble dryers as a way to cut fuel bills, may encourage people to dry more clothes
    indoors, for instance on drying frames or by draping on radiators... [read more]

  • "Rebooting" MS Drug Succeeds In Trials
    Two phase 3 trials of a drug for treating multiple sclerosis (MS) that "reboots" the immune system showed it to be effective in patients who had not
    responded to first-line therapy: it reduced risk of disability and brain shrinkage... [read more]

  • Repair Of Multiple Sclerosis Brain Damage May Be Possible
    In what they describe to the press as a "life-changer" for millions of people with the disease, researchers in the US report this week a study where they
    discovered blocking an enzyme in the brain may help repair the... [read more]

  • Biomarker Of Tamoxifen Resistance In Breast Cancer Identified
    New research led by the University of Manchester in the UK has found a biomarker or molecular "flag" in women with breast cancer who do not repond,
    or who have become resistant, to treatment with the hormone drug tamoxifen... [read more]

  • Brain Can't Empathize And Analyze At Same Time, New Study
    Scientists have discovered that the brain circuits we engage when we think about social matters, such as considering other people's views, or moral
    issues, inhibit the circuits that we use when we think about inanimate... [read more]

  • AIDS Vaccine Clue In Discovery Of HIV Vulnerable Spot
    Researchers in South Africa leading a study published recently, suggest their findings offer a new clue toward a possible vaccine against AIDS. They
    have discovered a vulnerable spot on the outer shell of the human... [read more]

  • ALS Treatment Target Found With Help From Yeast
    With the help of baker's yeast, a tiny one-celled organism, scientists in the US say they have found a "chink in the armor" of the currently incurable
    disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease... [read more]

  • UN Publishes Atlas Of Health And Climate
    Climate information can help nations reduce risk of disease and poor health. With this in mind, two UN agencies have produced an atlas of health and
    climate that illustrates some of the most pressing challenges, both now and in the future... [read more]

  • Exercise Benefits Brain In Middle Age
    Gym-style exercise may improve not only general health in middle age, but also brain function, according to new research presented at the Canadian
    Cardiovascular Congress that is taking place in Toronto from 27 to 31 October... [read more]

  • Cheap, Ultra-Sensitive Colour Test Spots Early HIV, Cancer
    Researchers in the UK have developed a "naked eye" colour test for virus and disease biomarkers that is ten times more sensitive than current gold
    standard methods. They have tested it on HIV and prostate cancer... [read more]

  • Women Smokers Who Quit Before Age 30 Could Evade Early Death
    Smoking increases a person's risk of dying early. Now a new UK study of 1 million women finds those who quit smoking by age 30 can almost
    completely eliminate the increased risk of dying early compared to never smokers... [read more]

  • Women Who Quit Smoking By Age 30 Evade Early Death
    Smoking increases a person's risk of dying early. Now a new UK study of 1 million women finds those who quit smoking by age 30 can almost
    completely eliminate the increased risk of dying early compared to never smokers... [read more]

  • Bacteria Cocktail Wipes Out Superbug C. Diff In Mice
    Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is a highly infectious "superbug" associated with many deaths in hospital. Now scientists in the UK have
    identified a "cocktail" of bacteria that successfully wipes out the deadly bacterium in mice... [read more]

  • Guidance On Hard Core Smokers' Quit Options, England
    If you can't quit smoking in one go, what are your options? In England it appears that hard core smokers may be offered an alternative route that starts
    with "harm reduction" rather than quitting in one step... [read more]

  • Alzheimer's Risk Changes With Timing Of Hormone Therapy
    New research from the US suggests that use of hormone therapy may affect women's risk for developing Alzheimer's disease: those who start it within
    five years of menopause may experience a lower risk, and those who start it... [read more]

  • Placebo Effect Could Be Genetic
    The placebo effect, where treatments with no active ingredients help to alleviate symptoms in some patients and not others, has been a mystery to
    medical science for the last 70 years... [read more]

  • Epilepsy Drug Fycompa Receives FDA Approval
    The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Monday that it has approved Fycompa (perampanel) tablets as an adjunctive treatment for
    partial onset seizures in epilepsy patients aged 12 and over... [read more]

  • Statins May Reduce Risk Of Esophageal Cancer
    A new US review of published evidence from studies looking at the cancer prevention effects of statins, finds taking the cholesterol-bustings drugs
    may cut people's risk of developing esophageal cancer (cancer of the gullet)... [read more]

  • Brain Scans Help Decode Sleepers' Dreams
    Scientists from Japan reported at a conference last week how brain scans helped them decode the visual content of volunteers' dreams as they slept.
    They suggest their findings support the idea that dreaming and... [read more]

  • Brain Injury Linked To Crime In Young People
    A new UK report finds there is a link between brain injury in childhood and crime in young people, and points to evidence that brain trauma can cause
    maturing brains to "misfire" and disrupt the development of... [read more]

  • Fat-Burning Trigger Refocuses Obesity Research
    US scientists have discovered a biochemical trigger that switches on brown fat cells so the body burns calories instead of storing them. They suggest
    the finding brings a new focus to pharmaceutical research aimed at fighting obesity... [read more]

  • Boys In US Reaching Puberty Earlier, Like Girls
    Boys in the United States are reaching puberty some 6 months to 2 years earlier than a few decades ago, reflecting the trend in girls, according to a
    new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published online before print on Saturday... [read more]

  • Over 50s Who Enjoy Life More Live Longer, England Survey
    Seniors who enjoy life more live longer, according to a study of ageing in England that followed thousands of people aged 50 and over for a decade.
    The study also reveals some key concerns about the UK's ageing... [read more]

  • Why Skipping Breakfast Increases Appeal Of High Calorie Foods
    Scientists presenting a new study at a conference this week suggest the reason skipping breakfast makes high calorie food more appealing later in the
    day is because our brain circuits may be primed toward seeking it when fasting... [read more]

  • Urine Stream Shape May Help Diagnose Prostate Problems
    New research from the UK suggests that the shape of a man's urine stream may help diagnose prostate and urinary problems. The researchers hope
    their findings will lead to a solution that helps male patients monitor their... [read more]

  • Cold Virus Proteins Give New Clues For Cancer Therapy
    A new study by scientists in the US suggests cold viruses may prove to be surprisingly valuable allies in the fight against cancer. The findings,
    published on 12 October in Cell, reveal how small proteins in a type of cold... [read more]

  • Protein Mechanism That Spurs Tumor Growth In Prostate, Other Cancers, Unveiled
    US researchers have discovered how a protein called Trop2 controls the growth and proliferation of cancer cells in prostate and probably other epithelial cancer
    tumors, It involves a mechanism where the protein "cleaves"... [read more]

  • General Health Checks Seem Of Little Benefit
    General health checks, such as the "annual physical", are common elements of health care in many countries, including the United States. Their
    purpose is to reduce ill health and prevent premature death by improving early... [read more]

  • Antibiotic Resistance Diagnosed Much Faster With New Tests
    Researchers who developed two ultra-rapid new tests, designed for worldwide use, say they dramatically speed up the diagnosis of antibiotic resistant
    infections and will improve our ability to control antibiotic... [read more]

  • Older Women Living With Breast Cancer To Quadruple, UK
    New research predicts the number of older women in the UK who will be living with breast cancer in 2040 will be four times the number today.
    Macmillan Cancer Support, the charity that funded the study says the health... [read more]

  • Sitting For Long Periods Raises Your Risk Of Diabetes, Heart Disease
    Sitting around for long periods raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and premature death, even for people who have the amount
    of daily physical activity recommended by health professionals... [read more]

  • Hope For New Autoimmune Disease Treatment Using Rare Immune Cells
    A new study in mice where researchers replicated a rare type of immune cell in the lab and then infused it back into the body, is raising hope for a new
    treatment for severe autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis... [read more]

  • Prolonged Sitting Raises Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Disease, Death
    Sitting around for long periods raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and premature death, even for people who have the amount
    of daily physical activity recommended by health professionals... [read more]

  • B Vitamins And Folic Acid Do Not Reduce Colorectal Adenoma Risk
    Taking the supplement combo of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid has no impact on colorectal adenoma risk in females at high risk of cardiovascular disease, researchers from Harvard Medical School in Boston reported in the... [read more]

  • Exercise Helps Immune System Protect Against Future Cancers
    After completing chemotherapy, cancer survivors who exercise for several weeks are helping their immune systems become more effective, which in turn, prevents cancer from developing in the future... [read more]

  • Nerve Signals Are Sent As Electrical Impulses At Varying Speeds
    After sixty years, a theory which said that nerve signals are sent throughout the body at different speeds as electrical impulses, has been proven true in a recent study.
    A team from the University of Edinburgh analyzed how... [read more]

  • Incurable Blood Cancer Treatment Could Be In Sight
    One of the characteristics of Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) is the aggressive over-production of a cell-proliferation protein due to an overactive gene.
    Now scientists at Tel Aviv University in Israel, in collaboration with... [read more]

  • More Younger Adults Having Strokes
    Researchers who examined the incidence of stroke in a large US population suggest they are becoming more common in younger adults. They write
    about their findings in the 10 October online issue of Neurology... [read more]

  • New Clue To How Cancer Cells Spread
    Scientists have found a new clue to an important question in cancer research: how do cancer cells spread? The clue lies with changes in
    their stickiness or adhesion properties: they become unstuck at the original tumor... [read more]

  • Rare Gene Deletion Tied To Psychiatric Disease And Obesity
    The authors of a new study published online in the Archives of General Psychiatry this week, conclude that a rare deletion of a small region of
    the genome that codes for BDNF (short for brain-derived neurotrophic factor)... [read more]

  • MRI May Spot Early Stage Heart Disease
    Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US have conducted a study about a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique
    that may soon be used to identify the early stages of coronary heart disease... [read more]

  • Methadone Therapies Reduce HIV Transmission Risk
    A new study provides solid evidence of a link between methadone treatments and a reduced risk of HIV trasmission in people who inject drugs. The
    international team of researchers write about their findings in the 4 October online issue of the BMJ... [read more]

  • Autistic Children Are More Likely To Run Away
    A new study from the US finds that nearly half of children with autism wander off or run away, often placing themselves in danger. An analysis of
    responses from parents surveyed by the nation's largest online autism... [read more]

  • Children With Autism More Likely To Run Away
    A new study from the US finds that nearly half of children with autism wander off or run away, often placing themselves in danger. An analysis of
    responses from parents surveyed by the nation's largest online autism... [read more]

  • Neurons Made From Adult Cells In The Brain
    Finding ways to make new brain cells are important steps in the search for treatments for brain-wasting diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
    Now a German-led team has discovered how to make new human neurons from... [read more]

  • Aspirin May Slow Brain Decline In Elderly Women With Heart Risk
    Low dose aspirin may ward off cognitive decline in elderly women with a high risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke,
    conclude researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden who write about... [read more]

  • 50-Hour Whole Genome Test Could Reduce Deaths In Critically Ill Babies
    Many babies requiring critical care have genetic diseases that can progress rapidly, and the sooner doctors can diagnose them, the sooner the infants
    get the treatment they need, which can often be life-saving... [read more]

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis Tied To Raised Risk Of Blood Clots
    A new study from Sweden suggests that patients with rheumatoid arthritis may be at higher risk for blood clots in the first ten years after diagnosis
    compared to the general population... [read more]

  • Type 2 Diabetes Risk Tied To Short Sleep In Teens
    A study of teenagers in the US found that the less sleep they got, the higher the chance of them having insulin resistance, a metabolic condition that
    increases a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes... [read more]

  • Deadly New Salmonella Spreads In Wake Of HIV In Africa
    A new deadly form of Salmonella is spreading in sub-Saharan Africa. Now a new study suggests the rapidly evolving invasive intestinal
    disease may be following a wake created by other disease epidemics such as HIV and... [read more]

  • Kids' Exercise Interventions Show Negligible Impact
    Interventions like extra exercise classes that aim to increase physical activity levels in children as a way to tackle the rising problem of obesity and
    overweight in youngsters appears to be having only a small, almost... [read more]

  • Deadly New Virus Uncovered In Africa
    A piece of genetic detective work by an international team has uncovered a deadly virus not seen before that likely caused a small isolated outbreak of
    acute hemorrhagic fever in central Africa in the summer of 2009... [read more]

  • Eating Cherries Reduces Gout Attacks
    Eating cherries over a two-day period reduced the risk of gout attacks by 35%, according to a new study led by Boston University (BU) in the US that is
    being published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism... [read more]

  • Purging Stem Cells To Make Therapy Safer
    A sticky problem that is holding back the therapeutic use of stem cells bioengineered from adult tissue (induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS cells), is
    the risk that any residual undifferentiated ones will remain and form... [read more]

  • Viruses Could Sanitize Water Plants And Fight Deadly Superbugs
    Scientists who have developed a way of using viruses to kill colonies of the common disease-causing bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, say it
    could be adapted to sanitize water treatment plants and help fight deadly... [read more]

  • Type 2 Diabetes Revealed By Gut Bacteria
    A new study suggests your gut bacteria could show whether you have type 2 diabetes. After analyzing some 60,000 bacterial markers in people with
    and without the disease, scientists in China and Europe conclude there is... [read more]

  • Lower IQs Linked To Less Happiness
    People with lower IQs tend to be less happy and have poorer health in general than individuals with higher IQs, researchers from University College London reported in Psychological Medicine... [read more]

  • First Successful Treatment for Progeria, Rare Childhood Disease
    Results of the first clinical drug trial for children with a rare rapid-aging disease, known as Progeria, has shown successfulness with a farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI), a drug first used to treat cancer... [read more]

  • Knee Replacements Rise By 161% In 20 Years
    The number of Medicare patients undergoing knee replacements in the USA rose by 161.5% over the last twenty years, researchers from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine reported in JAMA (Journal of the American... [read more]

  • Breast Cancer Mapping Reveals Four Distinct Types
    After mapping the genetic features of 800 breast cancer tumors, scientists with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) program conclude that even
    given the huge genetic diversity of the disease, there are four main subtypes... [read more]

  • Migraine Sufferers Find Relief From Handheld Magnetic Device
    A handheld magnetic device may be a way for migraine sufferers to take treatment into their own hands. At a congress last week, researchers revealed
    how three months of treatment with the device relieved or reduced... [read more]

  • Free Bus Passes May Help Seniors Stay Healthy
    A new study finds having free bus passes encourages older people to be more physically active, which is known to benefit health, adding weight to the
    argument that proposals to scrap the scheme as a way for the government... [read more]

  • New Clue To Slower Progression Of AIDS
    The average time from HIV infection to full-blown AIDS in the absence of treatment is about 10 years, and while some people succumb much sooner,
    others, known as the "slow progressors", can remain healthy for another 20 years or more... [read more]

  • Link Between Sleep Apnea In Obese Pregnant Women And Poor Maternal And Neonatal Outcomes
    [read more]

  • Cell Death Discovery May Help Prevent Infertility, Early Menopause
    The discovery of a cell death mechanism may lead to new ways to protect female fertility, bringing hope to women who risk becoming infertile through
    cancer treatment or early menopause, thanks to a new study from Australia... [read more]

  • Emotional Memories Can Be Erased From Our Brains
    Emotional memories that are recently formed can be erased from the human brain.
    A new study by Thomas Ågren, a doctoral candidate at the Department of Psychology, under the observation of Professors Mats Fredrikson and... [read more]

  • Chocolate Gorging Linked To Opium Chemical In Brain
    A new brain study suggests an opium-like chemical may drive the urge to gorge on chocolate candy and similar fatty and sweet treats.
    Researchers discovered this when they gave rats an artificial boost with a drug that went... [read more]

  • MS Pill Shows Promise In Reducing Relapses
    Two studies of a new pill for multiple sclerosis (MS) suggest it may reduce relapses and disability progression in people with the more common,
    relapsing-remitting form of the neurological condition, which accounts for around 85% of cases... [read more]

  • Prehistoric Tooth Filled With Beeswax Gives Rare Glimpse Of Ancient Dentistry
    Traces of beeswax filling inside a tooth in a prehistoric human jawbone have given scientists a rare glimpse of early dentistry.
    Team leaders Federico Bernardini and Claudio Tuniz, of the Abdus Salam International Centre for... [read more]

  • MS Relapses Reduced In Trials Of New Pill
    Two studies of a new pill for multiple sclerosis (MS) suggest it may reduce relapses and disability progression in people with the more common,
    relapsing-remitting form of the neurological condition, which accounts for around 85% of cases... [read more]

  • World's First Mother To Daughter Womb Transplant
    On 15 to 16 September, a team of researchers, doctors and specialists at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, carried out the world's first mother-to-daughter womb transplant, where two Swedish women received new wombs donated by their mothers... [read more]

  • Gastric Bypass Cuts Diabetes, Cardiovascular, Health Risks
    For an average of six years after undergoing gastric bypass surgery, severely obese patients not only lost a lot of weight, but also showed frequent
    remission and lower incidence of type 2 diabetes, plus lower rates of high... [read more]

  • Embryo-Critical Protein Modeled In 3D For First Time
    PRC2 (Polycomb Repressive Complex 2) is a protein that is important in embryo development, and also plays a key role in the progression of many
    cancers. Now an international research team has for the first time created a... [read more]

  • "Three-Parent IVF" Up For Public Consultation In Britain
    Following an invitation from the government, the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has launched a public consultation on the
    ethics of a new IVF technique that uses DNA from three "parents" to avoid... [read more]

  • Smokers With Lung Cancer Have Tenfold Genetic Damage
    The tumors of smokers who develop lung cancer have ten times more genetic damage than those of never-smokers who develop the disease, according to a study published online in the journal Cell this week.
    Senior author Richard K... [read more]

  • DNA Blueprint Maps How A Heart Becomes A Heart
    Using stem cell technology, next-generation DNA sequencing and computer tools, researchers at the Gladstone Institutes in California, and other
    academic centers, have mapped how a heart becomes a heart, revealing a genomic... [read more]

  • Painless Laser Injection Could Replace Needle Jab
    Painless microjet injections powered by laser could one day replace jabs from hypodermic needles in delivering annual flu shots, vaccines and other
    medications, according to researchers at Seoul National University in South... [read more]

  • Killer Virus Uses Protein Wrap To Evade Immune System
    One of the deadliest pathogens on our planet is the Marburg virus, which can kill up to 9 out of 10 people it infects. Now scientists at The Scripps
    Research Institute in the US have discovered how this close cousin of... [read more]

  • Aubagio (teriflunomide) Approved For Multiple Sclerosis Treatment, FDA
    Aubagio (teriflunomide), a once-daily tablet for adults with relapsing forms of MS (multiple sclerosis), has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
    According to experts, the Multiple Sclerosis... [read more]

  • Chest X-Rays On Young Women With Faulty Genes Increase Breast Cancer Risk
    Women with faults in BRCA genes are at higher risk for breast cancer if they receive chest X rays before they are 30, according to a study led by the
    University of Cambridge that was published online in BMJ on 6 September... [read more]

  • Chest X Rays On Young Women With Faulty Genes Increase Breast Cancer Risk
    Women with faults in BRCA genes are at higher risk for breast cancer if they receive chest X rays before they are 30, according to a study led by the
    University of Cambridge that was published online in BMJ on 6 September... [read more]

  • Type 2 Diabetes Tied To Breast Cancer Risk
    Having type 2 diabetes appears to give post-menopausal women a 27% higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new study published in
    the British Journal of Cancer this week... [read more]

  • Breast Cancer Screening Benefits Outweigh Harms, Europe
    A comprehensive review of breast cancer screening of millions of women in Europe concludes that in terms of lives saved, the benefits outweigh the
    harms of over-diagnosis.
    The findings of the review, led by researchers at... [read more]

  • Stem Cells Help Deaf Gerbils Hear Again
    A cure for a common form of deafness known as auditory neuropathy is a step closer, after researchers from the University of Sheffield in the UK used
    human embryonic stem cells to repair a similar type of hearing loss in gerbils... [read more]

  • Deafness Cure Step Closer With Stem Cells
    A cure for a common form of deafness known as auditory neuropathy is a step closer, after researchers from the University of Sheffield in the UK used
    human embryonic stem cells to repair a similar type of hearing loss in gerbils... [read more]

  • Map Of 1918 Flu Virus Invaluable For Dealing With Future Pandemics Say Scientists
    Having available the complete genetic map of the 1918 flu virus that killed 50 people worldwide offers new insights into flu virus biology and will help
    prevent and control future epidemics, according to a paper published... [read more]

  • Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements May Not Offer Heart Benefits After All
    A review of 20 studies covering nearly 70,000 participants finds no statistically significant evidence that supplementation with omega-3
    polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), commonly referred to as fish oil supplements, is... [read more]

  • Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements May Not Help Heart After All
    A review of 20 studies covering nearly 70,000 participants finds no statistically significant evidence that supplementation with omega-3
    polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), commonly referred to as fish oil supplements, is... [read more]

  • Heart Attack Survivors Should Be Wary Of Some Painkillers Say Researchers
    Heart attack survivors should be wary about taking a common group of painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), say
    Danish researchers reporting in the journal Circulation this week, because the... [read more]

  • Dengue Vaccine May Be In Sight
    A new study published in The Lancet on Tuesday shows that an effective and safe vaccine for dengue may be in sight.
    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), half of the world's population is at risk of dengue, a... [read more]

  • Soy Diet May Lessen Anxiety Effect Of BPA On Genes
    Early life exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) heightens anxiety by altering gene expression in the amygdala, a region of the brain that plays a role in
    shaping responses to fear and stress. But a diet rich in soy can lessen this effect... [read more]

  • Marital Happiness And Coping Mechanisms Help Pregnant Moms
    Pregnant women commonly develop post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression when they learn from prenatal diagnosis that they are carrying a fetus with a congenital heart defect (CHD)... [read more]

  • Screening For Hypertriglyceridemia Every Five Years Is Recommended
    Adults should be screened for hypertriglyceridemia every five years, according to a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the diagnosis and treatment of the condition, which has been issued today by the Endocrine Society in... [read more]

  • Toddlers Choking On Liquid Detergent Capsules
    A growing number of toddlers are inadvertently swallowing liquid detergent capsules, known as Liquitabs, doctors from the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, UK, Scotland reported in Archives of Childhood Diseases... [read more]

  • West Nile Virus, Worst Year Ever Says CDC, USA
    So far, this has been the worst year on record for West Nile virus infections, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 48 states have reported infections in humans, birds and/or mosquitoes... [read more]

  • 'Junk DNA' Plays Crucial Role In Human Diseases
    A lot more of our genome is biologically active than previously thought - about 80% - an international team involving over 400 scientists revealed yesterday. The researchers explained that only approximately 1% of our genome... [read more]

  • Sleep Problems May Be Early Indication Of Alzheimer's Disease
    According to a team of researchers at Washington University School of Medicine, one of the first signs of Alzheimer's disease is sleep disruptions.
    The finding came from a mouse experiment which showed that the regular... [read more]

  • Professional Football Players Have Higher ALS And Alzheimer's Death Risks
    Professional football players are much more likely to die from Alzheimer's disease, ALS (Lou Gerhig's disease) and other conditions cause by brain-cell damage, researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety... [read more]

  • Hypertension Poorly Controlled By 53% Of Americans
    Of the 66.9 million Americans with high blood pressure, 53.5% do not have their hypertension under control, says a new report issued by the CDC (MMWR report). Hypertension means high blood pressure. The authors added that 39.4% (14... [read more]

  • Organic Food Has No Benefits Over Conventional Food, Says Study
    Overall, organic foods are not nutritionally superior to conventional foods, neither are they safer regarding bacterial contamination, researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine reported in Annals of Internal Medicine... [read more]

  • Organic Food Not Safer Or Nutritionally Superior To Conventional Foods
    Overall, organic foods are not nutritionally superior to conventional foods, neither are they safer regarding bacterial contamination, researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine reported in Annals of Internal Medicine... [read more]

  • Coconut Oil May Prevent Tooth Decay
    Coconut oil, a natural antibiotic when digested, destroys the bacteria that cause tooth decay, researchers at the Athlone Institute of Technology, Ireland, reported at the Society for General Microbiology's autumn conference... [read more]

  • Electronic Cigarettes Harm The Lungs
    Electronic cigarettes, seen by many as a healthy alternative to tobacco smoking, do cause damage to the lungs, scientists from the University of Athens, Greece, explained at the European Respiratory Society's Annual Congress 2012, Vienna, on Sunday... [read more]

  • Thalidomide Apology 50 Years Later
    Gruenenthal Group's CRO has apologized to mothers who took Thalidomide in the 1950s and 1960s and gave birth to children with congenital birth defects. Exactly 50 years ago today, Thalidomide was pulled off the market... [read more]

  • Beer Glass Shape Influences People's Drinking Speed
    The shape of the glass may influence how rapidly we consume an alcoholic drink, researchers from the University of Bristol reported in the journal PLoS ONE. The authors believe that their findings could help towards reducing... [read more]

  • Leg Compressions May Limit Stroke Damage
    Compressing then releasing the legs several times with a five-minute break in between, while administering a clot-busting drug, may be a way to limit brain damage following a stroke... [read more]

  • Chocolate May Lower Your Stroke Risk
    Adding to the mounting evidence that consuming moderate amounts of chocoloate may benefit the heart, comes that of a new study of Swedish men
    that suggests it may also lower the risk of stroke.
    First author Susanna C... [read more]

  • Chocolate May Lower Stroke Risk
    Adding to the mounting evidence that consuming moderate amounts of chocoloate may benefit the heart, comes that of a new study of Swedish men
    that suggests it may also lower the risk of stroke.
    First author Susanna C... [read more]

  • Aspirin May Prolong Prostate Cancer Survival
    Taking a regular dose of aspirin may help men treated for prostate cancer, either with surgery or radiation, live longer, especially if they have the high
    risk form of the disease... [read more]

  • Tissue-Engineered Heart Steps Closer with Embedded Nanowires
    By adding tiny nanowire electronic sensors into engineered 3D tissue structures, scientists have developed a way to monitor cell behavior that could
    advance the treatment of cardiac and neurological diseases and speed up... [read more]

  • Men Should Sit To Pee Says Taiwan Minister
    Men should sit down to urinate in the toilet instead of standing up because it helps maintain a cleaner environment, says a Taiwanese government
    minister.
    Stephen Shen is Taiwan's minister for Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)... [read more]

  • Breast Milk Boosts Beneficial Growth Of Gut Flora
    Unlike infant formula, breast milk promotes more beneficial growth of gut flora, the colonies of friendly bacteria that help absorb nutrients and
    develop the immune system. This may explain why it is better than formula at... [read more]

  • Vitamin B3 May Help Kill Superbugs
    Nicotinamide, commonly known as vitamin B3, may help the innate immune system kill antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria, the so-called "superbugs".
    In lab work done with mice and human blood, researchers found high doses... [read more]

  • Pig Parasite To Be Trialled As Treatment For Crohn's Disease
    A trial using eggs of a pig parasite to treat Crohn's disease started this month, led by a US biotech company that is developing a new class of biologic
    treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancer... [read more]

  • Sudden Cardiac Death Less Likely If You're Exercising
    There is a smaller chance of dying from sudden cardiac arrest if it is exercise-related, than cardiac arrests for other reasons, researchers from The Netherlands reported at the European Society for Cardiology 2012 Congress, in Munich, Germany... [read more]

  • Kidney Disease Mechanism Triggers Heart Attacks And Strokes
    Scientists at Bristol University in the UK have identified a kidney disease mechanism that triggers heart attacks and strokes: the mechanism damages
    the lining of blood vessels, causing them to leak, which in turn raises... [read more]

  • Heart Risk Prediction Improves With Calcium Scan
    A review of six screening tools for identifying people at high risk for heart disease who are misclassified as intermediate risk using the current
    standard, suggests the best one is a CT scan that looks for calcium... [read more]

  • Osteoporosis Clue Found In Stem Cell Signalling Protein
    Understanding how a well-known signalling protein influences whether bone marrow stem cells turn into bone or fat could transform scientists' view of
    osteoporosis and lead to new treatments for the bone-thinning disease... [read more]

  • Anorexics Overestimate Their Own Body Size
    Anorexic people appear to be less able to judge the size of their own bodies than that of others. This was the finding of an intriguing new
    French study published this week in the open access journal PLoS ONE... [read more]

  • Anorexics Misjudge Own Body Size
    Anorexic people appear to be less able to judge the size of their own bodies than that of others. This was the finding of an intriguing new
    French study published this week in the open access journal PLoS ONE... [read more]

  • Heart Attack Spouses Also Need Care
    Spouses of people who have a sudden heart attack are at increased risk for depression, anxiety or suicide after the event, according to a new study
    from Denmark that highlights family members may also need care when their... [read more]

  • Working Moms Enjoy Better Physical And Mental Health
    Moms who work full-time are healthier at age 40 than moms who stay at home, work part time, or moms who find themselves repeatedly out of
    work.
    This was the result of a study reported on Monday, the last day of the Annual... [read more]

  • Full-Time Working Moms Enjoy The Best Health
    Moms who work full-time are healthier at age 40 than moms who stay at home, work part time, or moms who find themselves repeatedly out of
    work.
    This was the result of a study reported on Monday, the last day of the Annual... [read more]

  • Obesity May Speed Up Mental Decline
    Combined with high blood pressure and other metabolic factors, people who are obese in middle age may experience a more rapid decline in cognitive
    skills like thinking and memory... [read more]

  • Obesity May Hasten Cognitive Decline
    Combined with high blood pressure and other metabolic factors, people who are obese in middle age may experience a more rapid decline in cognitive
    skills like thinking and memory... [read more]

  • Common Parasite Linked To Suicide Risk
    Testing positive for a common parasite that lives in the bodies of 10 - 20% of Americans is linked to a sevenfold higher risk of attempted suicide
    according to new research.
    This was the main finding of a study appearing in... [read more]

  • Stress May Cause Illness By Changing Genes
    A new study suggests that acute psychological stress, which is known to increase the risk of physical and mental illness, may do so by altering the
    control of genes.
    A report on the study, thought to be the first to show... [read more]

  • Married Men Drink Less, Women More
    A new study finds that where drinking is concerned, marriage seems to be more beneficial to men than women: it reveals that compared to their single
    or divorced counterparts, married men tend to consume fewer alcoholic... [read more]

  • Walnuts May Boost Sperm Quality
    Healthy young men with a Western-style diet may be able to boost their sperm quality by eating a small packet of walnuts a
    day.
    These are the findings of a new study that shows healthy American men in their 20s and 30s who ate a 75g (2... [read more]

  • Male Contraception Research Goes In New Direction
    A successful test in mice of a molecule that can pass the blood-sperm barrier and render a reversible contraceptive effect in males has taken the quest
    for a non-hormonal male contraceptive pill in a new direction... [read more]

  • Toilet Innovators Flush With Funding
    A toilet that uses solar power and generates hydrogen and electricity, another that makes charcoal, minerals, and water, and a third that sanitizes
    excrement and recovers resources and clean water: these are all inventions... [read more]

  • Blood Type May Affect Heart Disease Risk
    A person's blood type may affect their risk for heart disease, according to a new study that finds people with blood type A, B or AB were more likely to
    develop the disease than those with type O... [read more]

  • Overconfidence Helps People Climb Social Ladder
    Overconfidence helps people climb the social ladder, increasing their social status and causing them to be promoted higher than their level of
    competence. Falsely believing oneself to be better than others has a strong... [read more]

  • Heart Attack Test Gives Diagnosis In 1 Hour
    A more sensitive test for heart attack may cut the diagnosis time to one hour, removing the need for prolonged monitoring in 3 out of 4 patients who
    present to the Emergency Department (ED) with chest pains, according to... [read more]

  • Artificial Retina Restores Sight In Blind Mice
    Two researchers in the US have taken a huge step forward in developing technology to help blind people see: they have made an artificial retina that
    restored normal vision in blind mice... [read more]

  • Regular Exercise In Middle Age Protects Heart
    Research on more than 4,000 middle-aged Britons finds that staying physically active into the senior years is linked to lower markers of inflammation
    which is important for protecting the heart... [read more]

  • Alzheimer's Blood Test - Scientists Closing In
    Scientists are a step closer to developing a blood test for Alzheimer's disease following the publication online this month in Neurology of a new study that found four
    biomarkers showed consistent results across three independent groups of patients... [read more]

  • Diabetic Macular Edema Drug Wins FDA Approval
    The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Genentech's drug Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) for the treatment of diabetic macular
    edema (DME), an eye disease that can cause blindness in people with diabetes... [read more]

  • Cancer-Protective Effect Of Daily Aspirin Smaller Than Previously Thought
    A new study adds support to the idea that daily aspirin use results in fewer cancer deaths, but the effect may not be as large as previous research might
    suggest. The researchers say although the collected evidence seems... [read more]

  • Yoga Can Fight Depression During Pregnancy
    Although many pregnant women experience hormonal mood swings, in some expectant mothers it is much more serious; one in five pregnant women experiences a major depression. A study featured in the journal Complementary... [read more]

  • Child's Allergy Risk Higher If Parent Of Same Sex Has It
    Researchers have discovered an interesting fact about the genetic basis of childhood allergic diseases: a child is more likely to have a particular allergy if his or her same-sex parent has it... [read more]

  • Weight Training May Lower Your Diabetes Risk
    Men who do weight training or resistance training on a regular basis may be able to lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a
    new study published online this week... [read more]

  • Child's Allergy Risk Higher If Same Sex Parent Has It
    Researchers have discovered an interesting fact about the genetic basis of childhood allergic diseases: a child is more likely to have a particular allergy
    if his or her same-sex parent has it... [read more]

  • Fruit Fly Hormone Offers Clue To Diabetes "Cure"
    By controlling a hormone in fruit flies, researchers were able to manipulate levels of sugar in their bodies, opening the way to developing a "cure" that would reduce the need for insulin shots in human diabetics... [read more]

  • Weight Training May Lower Diabetes Risk
    Men who do weight training or resistance training on a regular basis may be able to lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a
    new study published online this week... [read more]

  • Young Athletes: Injuries And Prevention
    High profile events like the Olympics bring the hope that witnessing and celebrating dedicated athletes at the top of their game, will inspire young people to
    take up sport and physical activities that help them develop... [read more]

  • Protein That Slows Aging May Protect Against Diabetes
    A new MIT study has found that a protein that slows aging in mice and other animals also helps fight against the damages of a high-fat diet, including diabetes.
    Over a decade ago, SIRT1's longevity-boosting properties were... [read more]

  • Disturbing Rates Of Improper Car Seat Use Among Children
    In the United States, car accidents represent the highest cause of death for children above the age of 3 and are responsible for over 140,000 children's visits to the emergency room each year... [read more]

  • Chemotherapy Can Inadvertently Encourage Cancer Growth
    A new study from the US finds that in the process of targeting and killing off cancer cells, chemotherapy may also spur healthy cells in the neighbourhood
    to release a compound that stimulates cancer growth, eventually... [read more]

  • Swine Flu And Agricultural Fairs, CDC Issue Precaution
    The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are asking people attending agricultural fairs to take precautions when around pigs
    because of a rise in the number of cases of a new strain of "swine flu" virus in humans... [read more]

  • Chemo Spurs Resistance In Healthy Cells
    A new study from the US finds that in the process of targeting and killing off cancer cells, chemotherapy may also spur healthy cells in the neighbourhood
    to release a compound that stimulates cancer growth, eventually... [read more]

  • Afinitor Approved In Europe For Advanced Breast Cancer
    E.U. approval has been granted to Novartis drug Afinitor® (everolimus) after successful completion of the Phase III BOLERO-2 (Breast cancer trials of OraL EveROlimus-2) trial... [read more]

  • Genetic Clue Discovered For Why Women Outlive Men
    A new study of mitochondrial DNA in fruit flies offers a number of clues that might explain why females tend to outlive males across much of the
    animal kingdom, including humans... [read more]

  • DNA Clue Discovered For Why Women Outlive Men
    A new study of mitochondrial DNA in fruit flies offers a number of clues that might explain why females tend to outlive males across much of the
    animal kingdom, including humans... [read more]

  • DNA Clue To Women's Longevity Found In Fruit Flies
    A new study of mitochondrial DNA in fruit flies offers a number of clues that might explain why females tend to outlive males across much of the
    animal kingdom, including humans... [read more]

  • FDA Approves Ingestible Sensor That Tracks Health From The Inside
    The US Food and Drug Administration has approved an ingestible digital sensor that can be swallowed in a pill to track health data from inside the
    body. The idea is that the data can be used not only by patients... [read more]

  • FDA Approves Swallowable Sensor That Tracks Health From The Inside
    The US Food and Drug Administration has approved an ingestible digital sensor that can be swallowed in a pill to track health data from inside the
    body. The idea is that the data can be used not only by patients... [read more]

  • Cancer Stem Cells May Drive Tumor Growth
    Three new studies of cancer in the brain, skin and gut, appear to support the controversial idea that cancer may have its own stem cells that drive the
    regrowth of tumors. If confirmed with more evidence, the idea may... [read more]

  • Poor Mental Health Linked To Higher Death Risk
    A large study of English households finds that people who experience symptoms of psychological distress like anxiety, depression, or even minor
    mental health problems, have a lower life expectancy than people who do not... [read more]

  • Poor Mental Health Linked To Premature Death
    A large study of English households finds that people who experience symptoms of psychological distress like anxiety, depression, or even minor
    mental health problems, have a lower life expectancy than people who do not... [read more]

  • Self-Awareness Activates Particular Brain Centers
    Scientists in Germany have found which centers of the brain become active when we are aware of ourselves, the so-called state of "metaconsciousness". Their study, which appears online in the July issue of SLEEP, is the... [read more]

  • Smiling Reduces Stress And Helps The Heart
    A new study suggests that holding a smile on one's face during periods of stress may help the heart. The study, due to be published in a
    forthcoming issue of Psychological Science, lends support to the old adage "grin and... [read more]

  • Bird Flu That Spread To Seals May Threaten Humans
    A new strain of flu virus that started in birds and then jumped to harbor seals may pose a threat to human health and wildlife, according to a new study
    due to be published this week in mBio, an open access online journal... [read more]

  • COPD Drug Tudorza Pressair Wins FDA Approval
    Tudorza Pressair, a drug for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), has received approval from the US Food and Drug
    Administration (FDA).
    The FDA announced last week that it had approved the... [read more]

  • PSA Test Reduces Advanced Prostate Cancers
    The number of men with advanced prostate cancer at the time of first diagnosis would most likely rise without routine PSA screening, according to a
    new study.
    Without routine screening for prostate cancer with the... [read more]

  • Shift Work Linked To Higher Risk Of Heart Attack, Stroke
    An analysis that reviews studies covering over two million people finds shift work is associated with a higher risk for vascular events, such as heart attack and ischemic stroke... [read more]

  • Shift Work Tied To Higher Risk For Heart Attack, Stroke
    An analysis that reviews studies covering over two million people finds shift work is associated with a higher risk for vascular events, such as heart
    attack and ischaemic stroke... [read more]

  • Dengue Vaccine Shows Promise in Thailand Trial
    Early analysis from the world's first ever efficacy trial of an experimental vaccine against dengue fever shows promising results. In a study involving
    4,000 children in Thailand, the vaccine appeared to prevent infection... [read more]

  • New Contagion Model Examines Role Of Airports In Spreading Disease
    The first study to model the dynamics of disease spreading in the early stages of an outbreak, looked at 40 US airports and finds the one that would
    spread the disease from its home city to other places the fastest would be... [read more]

  • Liver Cancer Could Be Due To Absence Of Tiny Molecule
    The absence of a tiny, abundant liver-specific microRNA (miRNA) molecule may lead to liver cancer, say researchers who tested the idea in mice and
    write about their findings in a paper published online this week in the... [read more]

  • New Drug For Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Brain Injury, Shows Promise
    A "one-size-fits-all" new class of drugs that targets a particular type of brain inflammation is showing early promise for the treatment of Alzheimer's
    disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury... [read more]

  • Cutting Salt Could Reduce Stomach Cancer
    If people in the UK cut the amount of salt they consumed to the recommended daily maximum, it could prevent one in seven cases of stomach cancer,
    said the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) on Tuesday, after examining the... [read more]

  • Dr Google And The Unwise Practice Of Self-Diagnosis
    Am I having a heart attack? My self-diagnosis concludes I must be, because the symptoms match what I found on Google. However, a more objective
    reflection that also takes into account the risk of having a particular... [read more]

  • Localized Prostate Cancer: Removal No Better Than Observation, Study
    A large study that followed men across the US diagnosed with localized prostate cancer for over 10 years found they lived just as long whether they
    had surgery to remove the prostate or underwent observation... [read more]

  • What Is Lipitor (atorvastatin)?
    Lipitor, generic name atorvastatin, is a member of a class of drugs called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors or "statins". It reduces levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) in the blood, while at the same... [read more]

  • Qsymia For Weight Management Approved By FDA
    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate extended-release) as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise for chronic weight management... [read more]

  • WHO Endorses Use Of Antiretrovirals To Prevent HIV Infections
    The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first guidance to nations considering providing ARVs (antiretrovirals) to HIV-negative, high risk people. HIV is a retrovirus... [read more]

  • First Gene Therapy Recommended For European Approval
    A gene therapy medicine has been recommended for authorization in the European Union for the first time. Glybera (alipogene tiparvovec), developed by uniQure, a Dutch biotech, is designed for patients with the genetic... [read more]

  • Atrial Fibrillation - New Technology Doubles Treatment Success Rate
    A new type of technology that precisely targets the causes of irregular heart rhythms in patients with atrial fibrillation has the potential to nearly double the
    success rate of treating the condition, according to a... [read more]

  • Polypill Could Cut Heart Attacks And Strokes Dramatically
    A randomized trial finds that giving over-50s a four-in-one "Polypill" to cut their risk of heart attack and stroke, led to large drops in blood cholesterol
    and blood pressure, the main causes of these two diseases... [read more]

  • Polypill Could Dramatically Cut Heart Attacks And Strokes
    A randomized trial finds that giving over-50s a four-in-one "Polypill" to cut their risk of heart attack and stroke, led to large drops in blood cholesterol
    and blood pressure, the main causes of these two diseases... [read more]


  • [read more]

  • Alzheimer's Treatment Halts Symptoms For 3 Years
    A group of Alzheimer's patients treated for 3 years with an immunotherapy drug showed no symptom decline over the treatment period. The patients were taking part in a small placebo-controlled phase 2 trial testing Baxter's... [read more]

  • Alzheimer's Immunotherapy Halts Symptoms For 3 Years
    A group of Alzheimer's patients treated for 3 years with an immunotherapy drug showed no symptom decline over the treatment period. The patients were taking part in a small placebo-controlled phase 2 trial testing Baxter's... [read more]

  • MS Drug Interferon Beta May Not Slow Progression
    Interferon beta, a group of widely-prescribed drugs for treating multiple sclerosis (MS), may not slow long-term progression of the disease,
    according to a new study of patients with relapsing-remitting MS that is due to be... [read more]

  • Fighting Malaria By Modifying Friendly Bacteria In Mosquito Gut
    By genetically modifying gut bacteria in the malaria mosquito, US researchers have found a potentially powerful way to fight malaria. The
    modified "friendly" bacteria, which live in the midgut of the mosquito alongside the... [read more]

  • FDA Approves First Drug To Reduce Risk Of HIV Infection
    The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announced on Monday that it has approved a existing drug, Truvada for reducing risk of infection by sexually
    transmitted HIV-1 in adults... [read more]

  • New Platinum Drug Kills Cancer Cells Better
    Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US who are testing phenanthriplatin, a new experimental drug based on platinum,
    say it kills cancer cells better and may provide a more effective... [read more]

  • Gait Changes May Signal Cognitive Decline, Presage Alzheimer's
    Changes in gait, such as slower walking or a more variable stride and rhythm, may be early signs of mental impairments that can develop into
    Alzheimer's before such changes can be seen on neuropsychological tests, said... [read more]

  • Propecia (finasteride) Permanent Sexual Dysfunction Risk
    Hair loss medication, Propecia (finasteride) may be linked to a side effect of sexual dysfunction, a problem which may not go away after treatment has stopped, researchers from George Washington University reported in the Journal of Sexual Medicine... [read more]

  • Some Personal Care Products May Raise Diabetes Risk
    Women may be at higher risk of developing diabetes because of phthalates that exist in such personal care products as soaps, hair sprays, moisturizers, nail polish, and even perfume... [read more]

  • Effective Weight Loss - Keep A Food Journal, Don't Skip Meals, Don't Eat Out
    If you want to really succeed in losing weight you should never skip meals, you should avoid eating out, and ideally, you should keep a food journal, especially if you are an overweight or obese postmenopausal woman... [read more]

  • Anxiety Linked To Accelerated Aging
    New research suggests middle-aged and older women who experience high levels of a common form of anxiety known phobic anxiety, such as being
    unreasonably fearful of crowds and heights, are more likely to carry a risk... [read more]

  • Alzheimer's Early Timeline Of Changes Identified
    Scientists have for the first time identified a timeline of early detectable biological changes that precede symptoms of Dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease by decades. They now plan to use these markers for prevention... [read more]

  • Native American Ancestors Came From Asia In Three Migrations
    The ancestors of Native American populations from the tip of Chile in the south to Canada in the north, migrated from Asia in at least three
    waves, according to a new international study published online in Nature this... [read more]

  • Food In Smaller Pieces May Help Control Weight
    Cutting up food into smaller pieces may help people control their weight more easily because they are more satisfying to eat than one large piece
    with the same number of calories, according to a new study presented at a conference this week... [read more]

  • Colon Cancer Cells Use "Let Me Pass" Signals
    In what reads like a chilling tale of skulduggery and subterfuge, researchers writing online in the journal Cancer Cell this week, describe how colon cancer tumor cells send "let me pass" signals to make blood vessel walls... [read more]

  • Facebook Use Feeds Anxiety And Inadequacy Says Small Study
    Use of social media like Facebook and Twitter may be feeding anxiety and increasing feelings of inadequacy, according to a small UK study
    reported in The Telegraph on Monday.
    For the study, commissioned by the charity... [read more]

  • Stem Cells From Amniotic Fluid
    It is possible to take stem cells from amniotic fluid and reprogram them to a more versatile "pluripotent" state similar to embryonic stem cells and do this without inserting extra genes, according to a new study published... [read more]

  • Drinking Coffee: More Good Than Harm?
    There was a time when the only news about coffee and health was how it was bad for the heart, likely to give us ulcers and aggravate our nerves, but
    now it seems this popular beverage is receiving a more favorable kind of press... [read more]

  • What Has Killed 56 Children In Cambodia? World Health Organization Baffled
    Fifty-six children have died so far in Cambodia from an "undiagnosed syndrome", the Cambodian Ministry of Health and WHO (World Health Organization) announced on Friday. Initially, health officials placed the death toll at... [read more]

  • Synthetic Protein EP67 Boosts Immune System To Fight Off Flu
    A synthetic protein known as protein EP67 has been found to boost the immune system and fight off the flu before the person becomes ill, San Diego State University researchers at the Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center reported in PLoS One... [read more]

  • Perinatal IVF Mortality Down With Single Embryo Transfer
    The risk of perinatal mortality has decreased in infants born by the methods of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with the help of a policy of single embryo transfer (SET)... [read more]

  • Why Do Cancer Rates Increase As We Age?
    As we age, our risk of developing cancer increases, now researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center say that this is because our tissue landscape changes as we age.
    The study is published in the journal Oncogene.
    James DeGregori, Ph.D... [read more]

  • Are Hospitals And Doctors Prepared For The Upcoming Olympics?
    The Olympics, the world's largest sporting event, which starts on July 27, is a reminder for medical and dental practices to ensure they are adequately prepared in terms of staffing and transport issues... [read more]

  • People Who Lack Control Are More Likely To Be Superstitious
    During the 2010 soccer World Cup, Paul the Octopus became a worldwide superstar for correctly "predicting" the winner of all games in the competition. Queensland University researchers have found that people who felt a... [read more]

  • Teen Drug And Alcohol Abuse Reports By SAMHSA
    The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released two new reports regarding substance abuse.
    The first report suggests that 12 to 17 year-olds are far more likely to begin abusing most... [read more]

  • Researchers Discover Gene That Plays Major Role In Parkinson's Disease
    About 1 million Americans suffer from Parkinson's disease, and according to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, a further 60,000 Americans are newly diagnosed with this complex neurodegenerative disorder every year... [read more]

  • Legionnaires' Outbreak In Scotland Claims Third Life
    A third man being treated for Legionnaires' disease in the outbreak in Scotland has died, health authorities said on Tuesday.
    The outbreak, which started at the end of May, is believed so far to have sickened 99 people, 49... [read more]

  • Caffeine Intake Tied To Lower Risk Of Common Skin Cancer
    A new US study of over 110,000 people found that the more caffeine there was in their diets, the lower their risk of developing basal cell carcinoma,
    the most common type of skin cancer... [read more]

  • FDA Approves HIV Home Test Kit
    The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Tuesday that is has approved the first over the counter HIV test kit that allows Americans
    to test, in the privacy of their own homes, whether they are infected with the virus that causes AIDS... [read more]

  • HIV Home Test Kit Wins FDA Approval
    The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Tuesday that is has approved the first over the counter HIV test kit that allows Americans
    to test, in the privacy of their own homes, whether they are infected with the virus that causes AIDS... [read more]

  • Honey Bees Reveal Link Between Sugar Sensitivity And Metabolic Disorders
    Scientists studying the genetics of honey bees found they reveal some insights into the link between sugar sensitivity, diabetic physiology and
    carbohydrate metabolism that may also be relevant to humans... [read more]

  • Chronic Pain Predicted By Brain's Emotional Response
    For the first time scientists have followed a group of people with the same new back injury over time and found brain scans of those who go on to have
    chronic back pain, appear to show a different pattern in the region that... [read more]

  • FMRI Brain Scanner Reads Thoughts Letter By Letter
    Scientists have found a way to use fMRI brain scans to read thoughts letter by letter in real time. They suggest their "brain-scanning speller" has
    potential for helping paralysed people who can't move or speak, such as... [read more]

  • Severe Sleep Loss Affects Immune System Like Physical Stress Does
    Sleep deprivation and physical stress have similar effects on the immune system of human beings, researchers from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom reported in the journal SLEEP... [read more]

  • PTSD Military And Veterans Should Receive Purple Hearts, NAMI Urges
    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an invisible wound and soldiers with PTSD should be considered for Purple Heart medals, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) urged yesterday as it launched a special report... [read more]

  • Type 1 Diabetes Prevented In Animal Study
    Researchers from the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, managed to prevent Type 1 Diabetes onset in genetically susceptible mice, according to an article published in Diabetes. The scientists explain that they injected the mice... [read more]

  • Lung Diseases Leading Cause Of Death, Most People Don't Know
    Despite lung disease killing 4 million people every year, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) revealed alarming data showing that most people are ignorant about lung disease, which kills more people than... [read more]

  • Drug Trial Participants Not Fully Informed About Placebos
    Participants in drug trials are often not fully informed about the effect of placebos, thereby undermining the process of "informed consent",
    concludes a new study published this week in the open access journal PLoS ONE... [read more]

  • Weight Loss Pill Belviq Gets FDA Approval
    The US Food and Drug (FDA) announced on Wednesday that it has approved the weight loss pill Belviq, for use in adults who are obese or overweight,
    as part of chronic weight management that includes a reduced calorie diet and exercise... [read more]

  • Stem Cell Breakthrough Significant For Degenerative Diseases
    Researchers in Israel have achieved a significant global milestone in stem cell technology: they have created the first human embryonic stem cell
    (hESC) lines that are free of animal contamination and whose production... [read more]

  • Coffee In Moderation May Benefit Heart Slightly
    New research from the US suggests drinking coffee in moderation, that is four European cups (equivalent to two 8-ounce American servings) per day,
    may protect slightly against heart failure, contradicting the guidelines of... [read more]

  • Stress As Risk Factor For Alzheimer's Under Investigation
    A UK research team is poised to begin a new study funded by the Alzheimer's Society to investigate chronic stress as a risk factor for developing dementia.
    Anne Corbett, research manager for the Society told the press on... [read more]

  • Smartphone App Improves Ovarian Tumor Database
    When surgeons complete an operation, they often have to go away and immediately fill in records to upload to databases for programs that are tracking
    patient and disease outcomes to help current and future research and inform treatment decisions... [read more]

  • Speech Algorithms To Detect Parkinson's Disease
    A British mathematician hopes he can speed up the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease with a cheap test that uses speech signal processing
    algorithms he developed at Oxford University in the UK... [read more]

  • Keeping Fit May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
    Women who keep fit with regular exercise, even mild physical activity, may reduce their risk of developing breast cancer, even after the menopause, but not if they also put on a
    lot of weight, according to a new study from the US... [read more]

  • H5N1 Bird Flu Pandemic Potential Revealed
    Two papers published this week, and one last month, reveal the pandemic potential of H5N1 "bird flu". One identifies four, another identifies five, genetic changes the virus would have to undergo before it could spread... [read more]

  • Pandemic Potential Of H5N1 Bird Flu Revealed
    Two papers published this week, and one last month, reveal the pandemic potential of H5N1 "bird flu". One identifies four, another identifies five, genetic changes the virus would have to undergo before it could spread... [read more]

  • Apple Peel Compound Protects Mice From Obesity
    A new study in mice finds that ursolic acid, a compound naturally present in apple peel, partially protected the animals against obesity and some of its
    harmful effects such as pre-diabetes and fatty liver disease... [read more]

  • Virus Hitches Ride On Blood Cells To Kill Cancer
    Scientists have discovered when a cancer-killing virus is injected in the bloodstream it hitches a ride on blood cells and evades attack from the
    immune system, allowing it to reach cancer tumors, and start destroying cancer cells... [read more]

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