Health & Medicine
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Health & MedicineBPA and babies: Feds acknowledge concerns
Federal health and research officials outlined new guidance today for parents on the use of plastics made from bisphenol-A, a hard, clear plastic. Their bottom line: Minimize BPA-based products that could make contact with foods or drinks that infants or toddlers might consume — especially hot foods and drinks. But the Food and Drug Administration stopped short of recommending that parents pitch baby bottles and sippy cups made from BPA. Nor did it call for parents to avoid processed infant formulas and baby foods — some of which it acknowledges are contaminated with traces of BPA.
By Janet Raloff -
Health & MedicineStudy supports connection between BPA and heart disease
U.S. population data reveal possible relationship between cardiovascular risk and plastics chemical.
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Health & MedicineGene variant might guard against Alzheimer’s, other dementia
Same form has been linked to longevity and ‘good’ cholesterol levels.
By Nathan Seppa -
LifeWhy light makes migraines worse
A new study traces brain wiring to discover why light increases migraine pain.
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Health & MedicineSkip spine stabilization and get to the hospital
Gunshot victims may be more likely to survive if they get to the hospital quickly instead of getting spine stabilization first.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & MedicineVast majority of teens are sleep-deprived
Most adolescents need at least eight hours of zzzzz’s a night, studies show, and ideally should garner at least nine. A new study tells us just how many kids meet their slumber quota: a whopping 7.6 percent.
By Janet Raloff -
Health & MedicineNew test could discern serious condition early after bone marrow transplant
Protein level in blood reveals graft-versus-host disease, may indicate severity of this complication
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & MedicineCelebrex combats skin cancer in vulnerable group
Anti-inflammatory drug limits number of tumors in patients with hereditary condition
By Nathan Seppa -
HumansPet tarantulas can pose a hairy threat
A new medical case report reaffirms why even largely non-venomous tarantulas can make questionable pets. Some respond to stress by expelling a cloud of barbed hairs that can lodge in especially vulnerable tissues. Like your eyeball.
By Janet Raloff -
Health & MedicineTexting and driving don’t mix, just as suspected
Sending or receiving messages proves even worse than cell phone calls for young adults on simulators.
By Nathan Seppa -
LifeLupus not identical in twins
Differences in DNA methylation may account for why one sibling gets the autoimmune disease while the other stays healthy.
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Health & Medicine2009 Science News of the Year: Nutrition
Natural vanilla extract comes from pods (shown), but most vanillin is synthesized in the lab. Credit: De-Kay/istockphoto That yeast smells good Yeast has long been pressed into service for making beer and bread. Now the fungus has been tapped for a loftier flavor: vanillin, vanilla’s dominant compound (SN: 5/23/09, p. 9). Natural vanilla comes from […]
By Science News