Health & Medicine
- Health & Medicine
Inflammation linked to diabetes
Women who go on to develop diabetes seem to have signs of widespread, low-level inflammation years before they have symptoms of the disease.
- Health & Medicine
Ancient Estrogen
A jawless fish ancestor may have revealed the most ancient of hormones and how current hormones evolved from it.
- Health & Medicine
Drink Those Antioxidants
Mention antioxidants and most people will immediately think of vitamins–typically C and E–usually in the form of mega-dose capsules available at the local drug store. However, a new study finds that many common beverages also deliver a healthy antioxidant serving. R. Savidge These beverages may give some protection against the ravages of oxidizing chemicals that […]
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
Surgery for epilepsy outshines medication
People with severe epilepsy who undergo brain surgery have markedly fewer disabling seizures during the following year than do those relying on medication.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
Busting the Gut Busters
Scientists are uncovering a cache of specialized weaponry used by bacteria that can spear holes in the intestine, perforate it, force it to change shape, and then spew toxins that attack other organs.
- Health & Medicine
Synthetic protein may yield malaria vaccine
A molecule patterned after part of the parasite that causes most severe malaria induces a strong immune response in people.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
Fighting Herself
Autoimmune diseases are more common in women than in men, and researchers are beginning to tease out the cellular mechanisms that may be responsible for this phenomenon.
- Health & Medicine
Herpes virus homes in on cancer target
Herpes simplex virus 1 has an affinity for cells with a mutation that marks many tumors, indicating how the virus may be refined as a cancer therapy and that certain new drugs might attack herpes itself.
- Health & Medicine
Ebola May Enter Cell via Folate Gate
A cell-surface molecule that normally binds to folate might be targeted by Ebola and Marburg viruses as their entry point to people's cells.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
A Brew for Teeth—and the Rest of You
Globally, in terms of its popularity as a drink, tea ranks second only to water. While most people began sipping this brew for its taste and its ability to sooth the palate, researchers have recently turned up a variety of reasons to reinforce tea-quaffing habits. The newest: It slows the growth of germs that lead […]
By Janet Raloff - Health & Medicine
Reptilian drug may help treat diabetes
The synthetic version of exendin-4, a compound in gila monster venom, helps insulin injections control blood sugar in people with type I, or juvenile-onset, diabetes.
By Nathan Seppa - Health & Medicine
Thinking blurs when blood sugar strays
Blood sugar concentrations that are too high or too low can impair thinking and, in the case of low blood sugar, driving ability.
By Nathan Seppa