Health & Medicine
- Health & Medicine
Low-Fat Diet Falls Short: It’s not enough to stop cancers, heart disease
Reducing fat consumption after menopause offers women little if any protection against breast cancer, colorectal cancer, or heart disease, according to reports from a massive, 8-year trial.
By Ben Harder - 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.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
Newborn head size linked to cancer risk
Healthy newborns with big heads face an increased risk of brain cancer.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
Protecting People from a Terrifying Toxin: Vaccine stimulates immune response against ricin
In its first test in people, a vaccine against the toxin ricin appears safe and generates antibodies that are expected to be protective against the potential bioterrorism agent.
By Ben Harder - 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.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
Rotavirus vaccines pass big safety tests
The largest industry-funded medical trials in history have found that two new vaccines are both safe and effective against life-threatening childhood diarrhea caused by rotavirus.
By Ben Harder - Health & Medicine
Tumor’s border cells told to leave
Cells on a tumor's outer layer that touch healthy tissue receive a chemical signal that sends them wandering away.
- Health & Medicine
Diabetes most often begins in March
A person's likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes varies seasonally and is about 50 percent higher in March than in August.
By Ben Harder - Health & Medicine
Born to Love Salt
A growing body of research hints that some type of biological programming may occur in the womb to foster a preference for salty foods.
By Janet Raloff - 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.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
Old idea fights ovarian cancer
Delivering chemotherapy directly into the abdomen improves survival in women with advanced ovarian cancer.
By Nathan Seppa - 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.
By Nathan Seppa