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Medical Breakthroughs

Started by S Goldstein; Last updated Feb 26, 08 5:16 AM CST by D Lim | View history

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Medical Breakthroughs

The latest from the labs

Stories

Stories 101 - 120 of 213

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February 2008
- Blood Test Aims to ID Bipolar Moods
  
  MSNBC | Feb 26, 08 6:17 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Researchers at Indiana University have developed a blood test that uses genetic markers to identify a patient's mood state, a discovery that could herald a breakthrough in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Widespread tests are still at least 5 years away, but already many are concerned that results would be used to screen employees, military enlistees, or even college applicants, MSNBC reports. More »
- Medical Breathalyzer Tracks Disease
  
  Rocky Mountain News | Feb 19, 08 2:19 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Diagnosing diseases such as asthma and cancer may become quicker and easier thanks to a new device that analyzes a patient's breath. By shooting lasers as the gas molecules in a person's breath, doctors will be able to analyze the composition of the gas and search for biological markers of disease, reports the Rocky Mountain News. More »
- Gecko Toes Inspire New Surgical Tape
  
  MSNBC | Feb 19, 08 9:20 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Inspired by geckos' sticky feet, MIT scientists have developed a bandage that could soon be used in place of stitches or staples during surgery. The waterproof material, coated with a sugar-based adhesive that has the nano-scale hills and valleys found on lizard feet, is flexible enough to be used on internal organs, MSNBC reports. Live studies have focused on rats, but human application isn't far off. More »
- 'Toxic Sperm' Linked to Child Ills
  
  Daily Telegraph (UK) | Feb 19, 08 2:50 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Men who smoke or drink heavily may transmit genetic abnormalities through their damaged sperm, leading to child health complications, miscarriages or stillbirth, researchers have found. The effects of environmental toxins on paternal health—long held to be far less important than that of mothers—may play a crucial role in explaining birth defects, a researcher told a conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston. More »
- Missing Protein May Explain 'Rain Man'
  
  LiveScience | Feb 13, 08 4:27 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The absence of a certain brain protein may play a role in the development of “autistic savants”—patients who exhibit the socio-cognitive impairments of autism but possess exceptional aptitude in highly specific areas, Live Science reports. Researchers found mice lacking the Shank1 protein, used for building synapses, learned one spatial memory task faster and better than normal mice despite having somewhat shriveled brains. More »
- Sequencer Can Map Genome in 4 Minutes
  
  Reuters | Feb 12, 08 3:54 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Blinding-fast new machines will be able to sequence a human genome in 4 minutes for just $1,000, potentially revolutionizing medical research. "It will change health care forever if it works," the CEO of the manufacturer tells Reuters. By comparison, the federally funded Human Genome Project, which wrapped up in 2000, took 5 years and cost $300 million. More »
- Docs ID Prostate Cancer Gene Markers
  
  Guardian (UK) | Feb 11, 08 12:00 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Seven genetic markers that increase a man's risk of developing prostate cancer have been identified, the Guardian reports. A test to screen for the affected genes should be ready within 3 years, British researchers say, leading to more effective early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The newly identified genes, each of which raises the risk of prostate cancer by around 60%, may lead to new drug therapies. More »
- Snorer Slept 14 Minutes A Night
  
  Guardian (UK) | Feb 8, 08 11:38 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - After 17 years of getting only minutes of sleep per night, a British man is finally getting some quality sack time. Doctors say it's one of the worst cases of sleep apnea on record, the Guardian reports. The man thought he slept 12 hours a night and couldn't figure out why he was constantly exhausted. Turns out, that 12 hours was closer to 15 minutes. More »
- Docs Shelve Diabetes Study After Deaths
  
  New York Times | Feb 6, 08 10:16 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Researchers have abruptly tabled a major study measuring the effects of lowering diabetics' blood sugar after a surprising number of deaths among participants. The results come as a shock to the medical community, which has long held that lowering blood sugar through diet and medication is the only way for diabetics to stave off heart disease, the New York Times reports. More »
- Lasers Able to Zap Viruses
  
  LiveScience | Feb 6, 08 2:05 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Laser pulses tuned to the right frequency can be used to zap viruses, researchers have found, the way a soprano can shatter a wine glass, LiveScience reports. Scientists have developed computer models to determine a virus's lowest resonant frequency, and then destroy it with a laser pulse. "Like pushing a child on a swing from rest, one impulsive push gets the virus shaking," one says. More »
- Of Mice and Men, and a Cure for Colds
  
  Independent (UK) | Feb 4, 08 9:16 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Scientists have managed to give a mouse a cold. May not sound like a huge deal, but it is: One reason a cure for the common cold has been so elusive is that until now, only primates have been infected with rhinoviruses, which cause them. Now a team at Imperial College, London, has succeeded in infecting genetically modified mice with rhinoviruses, the Independent reports. More »
January 2008
- Folic Acid May Help Prevent Premature Birth
  
  Guardian (UK) | Jan 31, 08 1:44 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Taking folic acid supplements could cut the risk of premature birth by 70%, a study has found, giving women one more reason to seek out the synthetic B9 vitamin. Since one in three premature babies dies, the findings could save thousands of lives. The catch is that the acid should be taken a year ahead of conception, the Guardian reports. More »
- Midlife Crisis Is Real—and International
  
  USA Today | Jan 29, 08 2:55 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Just being middle-aged may lead to depression, with sufferers most vulnerable at age 44, USA Today reports. Studying more than 2 million people over 35 years led British and American economists to conclude that middle age is the nadir of lifetime happiness. "If you are finding life tough in your 40s, maybe it's useful to know this is completely normal," said one of the lead researchers. More »
- Visually Impaired May Soon Watch TV
  
  MIT Technology Review | Jan 28, 08 6:01 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Macular degeneration, the disease which causes most age-related sight loss, can make it impossible for patients who suffer even only mild sight loss to watch TV. But help is on the way for these people, Technology Review reports, as Harvard researchers have developed an image-processing algorithm which allows the sight-impaired to see fine detail. More »
- Dutch Pharma Firm Preps Pot Pill
  
  Reuters | Jan 27, 08 1:31 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Why smoke pot when you can pop a pill? Echo Pharmaceuticals is jumping into Phase II trials for a new cannabis pill that could snag 20%-30% of the booming medical marijuana market, Reuters reports. The Dutch firm plans to sell the pill within 5 years, giving medical marijuana users a healthier way to take the drug. More »
- Religious Belief Linked to Loneliness
  
  LiveScience | Jan 24, 08 8:05 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Most people can't stomach loneliness, and they're more prone to believing in the supernatural or creating strong bonds with pets and household objects to compensate, a new study finds. It's a throwback to our ancestors, who relied on group living to survive, LiveScience reports. "Being socially isolated is just not good for you," said the lead scientist. More »
- New Virus Linked to Virulent Skin Cancer
  
  New York Times | Jan 18, 08 1:55 PM CST