Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Too much technology kills good bacteria
COLUMBIA, Mo., May 5 (UPI) -- A U.S. scientist says he's fearful the increasing use of silver nanoparticles in wastewater treatment might be killing beneficial bacteria.
FDA calls for more money and power to keep imported drugs safe
A congressional panel grills officials and hears from relatives of those who died after using tainted heparin. ...
Cases: A Holiday From Illness, All Too Fleeting
After the kidney transplant, he felt great. A little too great, as it turned out.
Vital Signs: Hazards: Gymnastics Grades High in Injuries, Too
Gymnastics, a new study finds, can take a heavy toll on its young practitioners’ bodies.
Better-educated Women Are A Healthier Weight, New Research Reveals
A new comparison of multi-national data reveals that highly-educated women have a healthier average weight than less-educated women. In countries where malnutrition is prevalent, better-educated women weigh more. But in...
Heart Disease Discovery: New Mechanism Links Activation Of Key Heart Enzyme And Oxidative Stress
A study, led by University of Iowa researchers, reveals a new dimension for a key heart enzyme and sheds light on an important biological pathway involved in cell death in...
Trachoma 'eliminated' in Tanzanian village
Scientists have successfully eliminated trachoma — the world's leading preventable cause of blindness — in a Tanzanian village.
Trends In Heart Mortality Reversing In Younger Women
Coronary heart disease mortality in younger women could be on the rise, according to new findings. High levels of smoking, increasing obesity and a lack of exercise could all be...
Osteoporosis Drugs Linked to Jaw Infection, Study Shows
Dentistry researchers have identified the slimy culprits killing the jawbones of some people taking drugs that treat osteoporosis. Microbial biofilms, a mix of bacteria and sticky extracellular material, are causing...
Personal Health: You Name It, and Exercise Helps It
People with chronic health problems can improve their health and quality of life by learning how to exercise safely.
Vital Signs: Aging: Depression Tied to Alzheimer’s
A history of depression is associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, a new study has found.
Drug Target For The Most Potent Botulinum Neurotoxin Determined
Botulinum neurotoxin -- responsible for the deadly food poisoning disease botulism and for the beneficial effects of smoothing out facial wrinkles - can also be used as a dreaded biological...
Factors Leading To Hospital Admission For Heart Failure Identified
Nearly two out of three patients have one or more precipitating factors that may contribute to hospital admissions nationwide for heart failure, according to a new study. Pneumonia, irregular heart...
FDA let artificial-blood trials continue despite risks
A report that pools data from 16 studies concludes that the FDA should have halted research years earlier because of increased incidence of heart attacks and deaths. ...
Women's biological clock revealed: Hormone may predict age at menopause
Age at menopause may now be predicted more realistically according to a new study accepted for publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). The study revealed that...
New fatal virus discovered in Bolivia
Scientists have isolated a new fatal virus, associated with haemorrhagic fever, in rural Bolivia.
Nepal on flu alert, tests poultry on India border
KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal has issued a bird flu alert and is testing poultry along the border with India, where the virus rages despite the culling of tens of thousands...
Drinking dulls the brain's response to threats
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Drinking alcohol dulls the brain's ability to detect threats, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday in a study that helps explain why people who are drunk cannot tell...
Many Possible Routes to the Goal of 120/80
These are the main categories of medications now used to reduce elevated blood pressure. Two or more types of drugs are typically used in combination to achieve an optimal pressure...
Vital Signs: Nostrums: Testosterone and Sex Drive in Women
Women who spray testosterone on their stomach to raise their sex drive may not see much benefit — unless they also want to grow hair on their belly.
Sexual Advances
Mary Roach investigates — comprehensively — the latest in sex research.
Cases: Am I Looking at a Malignant Melanoma?
For doctors there can be a fine line between good Samaritan and busybody when it comes to offering unsolicited medical advice.
Lives: The Cure
Sometimes it isn’t enough for your own antibodies to stop attacking you.
Really?: The Claim: During a Seizure, You Can Swallow Your Tongue
One problem with medical myths is that they can sometimes lead well-meaning people to do ill-advised things.
Personal Health: Hypertension: In Retreat, but Hardly Vanquished
The concept of a normal blood pressure has fallen strikingly as doctors learn what it takes to preserve good health.
In Federal Suit, 2 Views of Veterans’ Health Care
A lawsuit seeks to force the government to streamline its procedures for treating former soldiers, particularly those suffering from combat trauma and other mental health problems.
House Panel Criticizes F.D.A. Role in Drug Cases
The Food and Drug Administration was criticized for not doing more checks of foreign drug manufacturers in the wake of problems with the blood thinner heparin and other products.
Personal Best: The Flutter Over Heart Rate
For some activities, a monitor may help you reach your goal. Or it may distract you.