Health & Medicine

  1. Health & Medicine

    Another Polio? Alarming West Nile fever risks emerge

    Medical workers have found poliolike symptoms in a few victims of West Nile fever, and federal officials noted that blood transfusions appear to have infected some people.

    By John Pickrell
  2. Health & Medicine

    New Drugs Beat Old Flu: Antiviral agents counter deadly 1918 influenza

    After partially recreating a deadly influenza virus that swept the globe from 1918 to 1919 and killed millions of people, researchers have shown that available flu drugs could probably prevent a new pandemic of the 1918 influenza strain or a similar flu.

    By John Travis
  3. Health & Medicine

    Immune gene linked to prostate cancer

    An immune-cell gene plays a role in predisposing men to prostate cancer.

    By John Travis
  4. Health & Medicine

    New twist on a pet theory

    Growing up with cats may reduce a child's risk of developing asthma—unless the child's mother has asthma as well.

    By Damaris Christensen
  5. Health & Medicine

    Coagulation factor XI boosts clot risk

    People who have had a major blood clot in a vein are roughly twice as likely to harbor high concentrations of blood coagulation factor XI as people who haven't.

    By Nathan Seppa
  6. Health & Medicine

    Myopia link to night lights doubted

    Two studies cast doubt on the apparent link between night lights in a baby's nursery and an increased risk of being nearsighted later in childhood.

    By Nathan Seppa
  7. Health & Medicine

    Pig-cell grafts ease symptoms of Parkinson’s

    Pig brain cells transplanted into the brains of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease help some of the patients regain mobility and the ability to do basic tasks.

    By Nathan Seppa
  8. Health & Medicine

    Acetaminophen in Action: Effect on an enzyme may stop pain, lower fever

    The discovery of an enzyme scientists are calling cyclooxygenase-3, which is disabled by acetaminophen, might explain why this drug can stop pain and fever but not inflammation.

    By Nathan Seppa
  9. Health & Medicine

    Herbal cancer remedy is chock full of drugs

    An herbal remedy that had been popular among prostate cancer patients was tainted with three synthetic drugs.

    By Nathan Seppa
  10. Health & Medicine

    RNA interferes with cancer-cell growth

    To curb the growth of cancer cells, scientists are silencing genes by introducing small strands of RNA.

    By John Travis
  11. Health & Medicine

    Chocolate Hearts

    Preliminary studies indicate that moderate consumption of chocolate products may offer cardiovascular benefits.

    By Janet Raloff
  12. Health & Medicine

    Olfactory cells aid spine healing in rats

    Injections of olfactory ensheathing glial cells from the brain help severed spinal cords heal in rats.

    By Nathan Seppa