Nathan Seppa
Biomedical Writer (retired September 2015)
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All Stories by Nathan Seppa
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Health & MedicineCardiac Connection: Lupus patients exhibit signs of heart disease
Lupus patients have more signs of atherosclerosis than do healthy people, suggesting that the inflammation that causes many lupus symptoms also damages blood vessels.
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Health & MedicineCardiac Connection: Lupus patients exhibit signs of heart disease
Lupus patients have more signs of atherosclerosis than do healthy people, suggesting that the inflammation that causes many lupus symptoms also damages blood vessels.
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Health & MedicineHard mattresses not best for back pain
People sleeping on medium-firm mattresses report less pain than those sleeping on firm mattresses, contradicting a long-held belief that harder is better.
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Health & MedicineHard mattresses not best for back pain
People sleeping on medium-firm mattresses report less pain than those sleeping on firm mattresses, contradicting a long-held belief that harder is better.
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Health & MedicineRisk Profile: C-reactive protein may presage hypertension
High concentrations of the inflammatory compound C-reactive protein may signal an elevated risk of high blood pressure.
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Health & MedicineNo Scope: CT scan works as well as colonoscopy
A computed tomography scan of the large intestine works as well as colonoscopy in detecting signs of colon cancer.
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Health & MedicineTwo markers may predict heart risk
Two proteins that play a role in inflammation may serve as indicators of a person's risk of heart disease and stroke.
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Health & MedicineFetal Risk: Inflammation in womb tied to cerebral palsy
For a pregnant woman carrying a baby to term, inflammation in the womb nearly quadruples the chance her baby will be born with cerebral palsy.
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Health & MedicineDrug cuts recurrence of breast cancer
Letrozole, which blocks estrogen production, reduces recurrence of breast cancer in women who have exhausted the usefulness of tamoxifen, the frontline cancer drug for this disease.
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Health & MedicineRebuilding the Heart: Marrow cells boost cardiac recovery
Inserting a person's own bone marrow stem cells into an ailing heart via a catheter can improve heart and lung function in such patients.
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Health & MedicineProtein may predict heart problems
Low blood concentrations of a protein called adiponectin may signal risk of heart disease.
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Health & MedicineDefibrillator access pays dividends
Ready access to a heart defibrillator can boost the survival chances of someone who suffers a cardiac arrest.