Health & Medicine

  1. Health & Medicine

    Genetic Culprit: Mutation increases risk for uterine fibroids

    Analysis of DNA from families whose women have been beset by uterine growths reveals a mutation that can predispose women to these so-called fibroids.

    By Nathan Seppa
  2. Health & Medicine

    Protein Repair: New compounds may help cells fight off cancer

    Researchers have identified a compound that enables even defective p53 proteins to initiate anticancer chain reactions.

    By Nathan Seppa
  3. Health & Medicine

    Broken Weapon: Mutation disarms HIV-fighting gene

    A gene that once produced a small protein able to prevent HIV from infecting cells now lies unusable in the human genome.

    By John Travis
  4. Health & Medicine

    More good news about chocolate

    The Kuna people of Central America appear to keep their blood pressure down by drinking cocoa rich in chemicals called flavanols.

    By Jessica Gorman
  5. Health & Medicine

    Coffee beans, cavity-causing germs

    Compounds in coffee loosen the grip of bacteria that cause tooth decay.

    By Ben Harder
  6. Health & Medicine

    High homocysteine tied to Alzheimer’s

    Research has linked the incidence of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia to elevated blood concentrations of the amino acid homocysteine.

    By Nathan Seppa
  7. Health & Medicine

    Tracking Tumors

    Researchers are trying to visualize molecular and cellular changes as a cancer responds to therapy in order to predict whether treatments are effective sooner than it's currently possible to determine.

    By Damaris Christensen
  8. Health & Medicine

    Vaccine Power: Immune cells target cancerous tissue

    Researchers are enlisting a person's own immune system to attack prostate tissue, including cancerous cells.

    By John Pickrell
  9. Health & Medicine

    Suspicious DNA: Chromosome study homes in on Alzheimer’s disease

    Several human chromosomes now face intensified scrutiny for possibly harboring genes involved in Alzheimer's disease.

    By Ben Harder
  10. Health & Medicine

    Chill Out: Mild hypothermia aids heart attack recovery

    Icing down patients who have just had a heart stoppage may boost their survival chances and prevent brain damage in those who pull through.

    By Nathan Seppa
  11. Health & Medicine

    Indoor tanning ups all skin cancer rates

    Artificial sunbathing using ultraviolet lights increases the risk of all types of skin cancer.

    By Ben Harder
  12. Health & Medicine

    Alzheimer’s vaccine trial is suspended

    A drug company in Ireland has halted tests of an experimental vaccine for Alzheimer's disease.

    By John Travis