Nathan Seppa
Biomedical Writer (retired September 2015)
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All Stories by Nathan Seppa
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Life
Tracking the viral link to lymphoma
A mutation in an anticancer gene in the Epstein-Barr virus may account for some of its malignant effect, research shows.
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Health & Medicine
A dash of marrow helps kidney transplant
A new approach enables researchers to wean some patients who receive poorly matched kidneys off immune-suppressing drugs
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Health & Medicine
Antibiotic fails sinus infection test
Treatment with amoxicillin provided little benefit over placebo, a new study finds.
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Health & Medicine
Tai chi helps Parkinson’s patients balance
The controlled movement of the Chinese martial art can improve patients' coordination and limit falls, a study finds.
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Chemistry
Muscle massage may speed healing
Rubbing sore, overworked areas trips anti-inflammatory switches in the tissue that might speed healing and ease pain.
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Health & Medicine
Social friction tied to inflammation
Negative interactions with others or stressful competition for another’s attention seem to have risky biological effects on an individual.
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Health & Medicine
Proteins may warn of diabetic kidney disease risk
Patients who have high levels of compounds called TNF receptors in their blood have a heightened risk of developing renal failure, two studies suggest.
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Health & Medicine
Light pot smoking easy on lungs
Infrequent marijuana users show a slight improvement in breathing capacity and middling smokers had no change, a 20-year study shows.
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Health & Medicine
Gene therapy helps counter hemophilia B
Treatment enables cells to produce a key blood-clotting compound, allowing some patients to quit medication.
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Health & Medicine
Bedbugs not averse to inbreeding
The pests have also developed ways to resist common insecticides, research shows.
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Health & Medicine
Scooters save lives of snakebite victims
Nepal project achieves dramatic drop in deaths by using motorbike helpers to rush the stricken to hospital.
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Health & Medicine
Immune booster also works in reverse
Injections of the protein interleukin-2 can calm runaway defenses that damage tissues in the body, two studies show.