Thursday, 9 February, 2012

Good news: Study confirms efficacy of interferon and ribavirin, shows that standard treatment for hepatitis C can cure the deadly disease. Bad news: The meds only help 50 percent of patients.

Making mosquitoes that resist malaria sounds like a winning strategy. Could this bright idea fail — or even backfire? What other smart ideas might help us fight malaria?

Cancer interferes with glucose use inside cells. Is this a key to combating the spreading disease? Research from Canada shows that an existing drug could help fight cancer.

Fetal alcohol syndrome causes mental and physical probems in one percent of American babies. Why is alcohol so damaging to young brains, and what can we do about it?

Just months after contaminated spinach causes grave diarrhea, another outbreak. What is E. coli O157:H7, and why is it so dangerous? Got any bright ideas for constraining this killer bug?

People pray for the health of friends and family. Can science prove these prayers work? Should it try? Random, double-blind studies tread the natural-supernatural schism.

Study: Drug companies advertise new diseases to push their product. How do journalists respond to the media blitz? How have newspapers reported on restless leg syndrome?

Bird flu is spreading like mad in poultry and wild birds. It’s killed more than 60 people. What can we do if it starts spreading directly between people?

Think people without health insurance still get decent medical care? This study say “think again”: People with insurance were 2x as likely to get a prompt doctors appointment after visiting the ER.

Along with the students, head lice are heading back to school this fall. Researchers say combs are the best way to dismiss an infestation of the little buggers. (The lice, not the kids…)