Nathan Seppa
Biomedical Writer (retired September 2015)
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All Stories by Nathan Seppa
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Health & Medicine
Old drug offers new tricks for fighting cancer
A drug once envisioned as a treatment for cancer might instead prevent the occurrence of colorectal cancer.
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Health & Medicine
Two drinks a day might increase breast cancer risk
Two or more alcoholic drinks a day can increase the risk of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, new research suggests.
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Health & Medicine
Tandem Attack
By attaching a tumor-suppressing protein to a harmless compound, scientists can kill cancer cells in a mouse model.
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Life
Pockets of Poor Health
The trend towards longer life expectancy plateaued or reversed in some parts of the U.S., a new study finds.
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Health & Medicine
New approach might strike at the core of Alzheimer’s disease
By anchoring an enzyme-inhibiting molecule to a cell membrane, researchers have designed a potential skeleton for a new Alzheimer's treatment.
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Health & Medicine
Virus Reprise: Mumps outbreak in 2006 was largest in 20 years
Mumps infected more than 6,500 people in the United States in 2006, the largest outbreak in 20 years.
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Health & Medicine
Take a Breath: Fatty substance may play role in cystic fibrosis
A fatty compound called ceramide that accumulates in lung cells may be instrumental in the devastating disease cystic fibrosis.
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Health & Medicine
New drug curbs rheumatoid arthritis in adults, children
The experimental drug tocilizumab quells rheumatoid arthritis in adults and children by inhibiting an inflammatory compound called interleukin-6.
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Health & Medicine
Still Waters: Skin disease microbe tracked to ponds, swamps
Scientists establish pond water as the natural environment of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the cause of the skin disease Buruli ulcer.
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Health & Medicine
Bad Blood? Old units might be substandard
Heart patients who get transfusions of donated blood that's kept more than 14 days fare worse than patients who get fresher blood.
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Health & Medicine
Roll Up Your Sleeve: Hypertension vaccine passes early test
An angiotensin vaccine stifles high blood pressure in an early test in people.
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Health & Medicine
Exercises counteract lazy eye
Amblyopia, or lazy eye, can be reversed in adults with visual task exercises.