Nathan Seppa
Biomedical Writer (retired September 2015)
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All Stories by Nathan Seppa
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Health & Medicine
Migraines during pregnancy may be linked to stroke
Pregnant women who have migraines also face a heightened risk of stroke and other vascular diseases, a new study finds.
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Health & Medicine
Blood type could matter in pancreatic cancer
People with type O blood are less likely to develop pancreatic cancer than are people with type B blood, a study finds.
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Health & Medicine
New drug shows benefits against nasty asthma
An experimental drug called mepolizumab prevents some emergency asthma attacks in people who no longer benefit from normal doses of steroids.
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Health & Medicine
Popular acid blockers, anticlotting drug don’t mix
Acid-blocking drugs commonly prescribed to cardiac patients upon hospital discharge seem to interfere with an anticlotting drug.
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Health & Medicine
Stick to a low-cal diet and it will work
Summary: Overweight people on low-calorie diets lose weight equally well despite differences in how much fat, protein or carbohydrates the diet allows.
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Health & Medicine
B vitamins, folic acid may protect vision
Vitamin B and folic acid supplements might defend against macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the elderly.
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Health & Medicine
Possible genetic flag for brain cancer
Mutations in IDH genes show up in many brain cancers, but the genes’ role remains unclear.
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Health & Medicine
Bigger rewards boost tobacco quit rate
Smokers who are offered several hundred dollars are three times as likely to quit as those offered no reward.
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Health & Medicine
A better test for prostate cancer
Elevated urine concentrations of a compound called sarcosine in men with prostate cancer may signal an aggressive malignancy.
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Health & Medicine
How the body rubs out West Nile virus
Tests in mice show how the immune system tracks down cells infected with West Nile virus, findings that might explain why some old people fare worst from the virus.
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Health & Medicine
Needles can stick it to pain
Acupuncture lessens pain, but so do needles randomly stuck in the skin, a new analysis shows.
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Health & Medicine
Excess blood sugar could harm cognition
Chronically high blood sugar levels in elderly people with diabetes seem to contribute to worsened cognitive function, a study shows.