Health & Medicine

  1. Health & Medicine

    Cell-Phone Buzz: Contradictory studies heat up radiation question

    A new long-term animal study of cell-phone radiation suggests that emissions don't cause cancer, but studies by a second team hint that cell phones may cause damage in other ways.

    By John Pickrell
  2. Health & Medicine

    Kill or Be Killed: Tumor protein offs patrolling immune cells

    Many human cancers may evade surveillance by exploiting a protein normally found on certain immune cells.

    By John Travis
  3. Health & Medicine

    Rewiring Job: Drug spurs nerve growth in stroke-damaged brains

    The natural compound inosine spurs nerve reconnection in rats that have suffered the loss of blood to parts of the brain, suggesting inosine might help people recover from a stroke.

    By Nathan Seppa
  4. Health & Medicine

    Survivors’ Benefit?

    Smallpox outbreaks throughout history may have endowed some people with genetic mutations that make them resistant to the AIDS virus.

    By John Travis
  5. Health & Medicine

    Oxygen limits infections from surgery

    Giving patients extra oxygen during and shortly after colorectal surgery halves the incidence of infection.

    By Nathan Seppa
  6. Health & Medicine

    Stem Cell Gain: Bone marrow cells seem to have what it takes

    Tests show that a rodent bone marrow cell similar to one found in people acts as a multipurpose stem cell, much as embryonic stem cells do.

    By Nathan Seppa
  7. Health & Medicine

    Enough Isn’t Enough: An epidemic of vitamin D deficiency

    Many U.S. women of childbearing age, particularly those of African descent, lack sufficient vitamin D even though they consume the recommended amount.

    By Ben Harder
  8. Health & Medicine

    Let Them Eat Cake: Altered mice stay svelte on a high-fat diet

    A protein that links gluttony and weight gain may be a novel target for antiobesity drugs.

    By Kristin Cobb
  9. Health & Medicine

    Chinese chimneys slash lung cancer risk

    People in rural China who replace rudimentary domestic hearths with well-ventilated stoves enjoy both less-smoky homes and a dramatic reduction in their risk of developing lung cancer.

    By Ben Harder
  10. Health & Medicine

    New clue stirs up lithium mystery

    Lithium and two other mood-stabilizing drugs may all work by depleting nerve cells of a chemical that the cells use to signal each other.

    By John Travis
  11. Health & Medicine

    Drug cuts risk of seizures in pregnancy

    An inexpensive drug treatment lessens the risk of seizures that sometimes strike and even kill women during pregnancy or immediately after delivery.

    By Ben Harder
  12. Health & Medicine

    USDA gives nod to irradiating meats

    The federal government approved food irradiation, the only technology known to kill an especially lethal strain of bacteria, for use on raw meats.

    By Janet Raloff