All Stories by Nathan Seppa
- Health & Medicine
Bone marrow transplant could reverse sickle cell in adults
A relatively mild treatment involving radiation and chemo followed by a bone marrow transplant may treat sickle cell disease in adults.
- Health & Medicine
Hidden heart rhythm problem may underlie some strokes
In two clinical studies, people who had had strokes with no trigger sometimes also had undiagnosed atrial fibrillation.
- Health & Medicine
Junk food ahead of pregnancy may harm baby-to-be
Women who have poor diets in the year before conception might have a higher risk of delivering a baby preterm than do women who eat healthful foods
- Health & Medicine
Simple blood test detects heart transplant rejection
Heart transplant recipients whose bodies are starting to reject the new organ might carry genetic warning signs.
- Health & Medicine
Ulcer microbe changes quickly to avoid immune attack
During the initial weeks of infection, Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium that causes stomach ulcers, mutates at a high rate, apparently to evade the body’s defenses.
- Health & Medicine
Number of skin moles tied to breast cancer risk
Women who have many moles also have increased disease risk, which may reflect higher estrogen levels.
- Health & Medicine
Early malnutrition may impair infants’ mix of gut microbes
Babies’ gut microbiomes fail to fully recover even after fending off bouts with malnutrition.
- Humans
Big babies: High birthweight may signal later health risks
A high birthweight might signal health risks later in life.
- Health & Medicine
Blood test predicts if false labor is headed for delivery room
A test for white blood cells and specific genetic markers may offer insights into whether preterm contractions are false labor or the real thing.
- Neuroscience
Playing football linked to brain changes
Division I college football players have smaller hippocampi, especially if they’ve had concussions.
- Health & Medicine
Poor ventilation in schools may spur TB spread
Researchers found high carbon dioxide levels in South African classrooms, suggesting that poor ventilation may contribute to tuberculosis transmission.
- Health & Medicine
Massachusetts insurance mandate lowers death rate
Since “Romneycare” was phased in, mortality fell by 2.9 percent.
