Nathan Seppa

Biomedical Writer (retired September 2015)

All Stories by Nathan Seppa

  1. Health & Medicine

    Mouth cancer data faked, journal says

    A study by a Norwegian researcher claiming that anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the risk of mouth cancer in smokers was based on faked data.

  2. Health & Medicine

    Newborn head size linked to cancer risk

    Healthy newborns with big heads face an increased risk of brain cancer.

  3. Health & Medicine

    Self Help: Stem cells rescue lupus patients

    By rebuilding a patient's immune system using his or her own stem cells, doctors can reverse of the course of lupus in severely ill patients.

  4. Health & Medicine

    Double Dose: Two ways to boost kidney-transplant viability

    By evaluating kidneys obtained for transplant from older people—then culling the worn-out organs—scientists can identify kidneys likely to last longer in their new hosts, especially when implanted in pairs.

  5. Health & Medicine

    Old idea fights ovarian cancer

    Delivering chemotherapy directly into the abdomen improves survival in women with advanced ovarian cancer.

  6. Health & Medicine

    Defenses Down: Mutation boosts West Nile risk

    A genetic mutation has been identified that increases a person's susceptibility to West Nile virus.

  7. Health & Medicine

    Put Down That Fork: Studies document hazards of obesity

    Being overweight or obese in middle age increases a person's risk of heart or kidney problems later in life.

  8. Humans

    Faked Finds: Human stem cell work is discredited

    South Korean scientist Woo Suk Hwang faked embryonic stem cell findings, say investigators from Seoul National University.

  9. Health & Medicine

    Alzheimer Clue: Busy brain connections may have downside

    Brain areas that are chronically activated have excess amyloid beta, the waxy protein associated with Alzheimer's disease.

  10. Health & Medicine

    Protein exposes long-term risk from heart problems

    Elevated blood concentrations of a certain protein can signal risk of death in people with heart problems.

  11. Humans

    Stem Cell Controversy: Scientist is retracting landmark finding

    A South Korean researcher who claimed to have cloned the first human embryonic stem cell is now asking that some of his published work be retracted.

  12. Health & Medicine

    Ebola may travel on the wing

    Fruit bats can carry the Ebola virus, suggesting that they may spread it in Africa.