Medical News Today: Potential target for future Huntington's disease treatment discovered

Scientists have discovered that the way DNA sequences are repaired could be critical to the development of Huntington's disease, potentially offering a target for treatment.

Mindfulness meditation may help smokers quit - even those with no willpower

An intention to quit smoking may be less important than targeting self-control mechanisms, according to experts who have reviewed the evidence.

Medical News Today: Prostate cancer can be categorized into five different types

For the first time, scientists have discovered prostate cancer can be categorized into five different types, each with its own genetic fingerprint.

Medical News Today: Coffee drinking habits may influence risk of mild cognitive impairment

Increasing coffee consumption over time to more than one cup daily may raise the risk of mild cognitive impairment, while reducing it may lower risk, according to new research.

Medical News Today: High-frequency spinal cord stimulation 'more effective for chronic pain'

A new form of spinal cord stimulation has been shown to be more effective at alleviating chronic pain than the traditional method, without unwanted side effects.

Medical News Today: 'Leaky vaccines' could spur more dangerous disease

A new study shows how an imperfect vaccine may protect vaccinated individuals but allow the pathogen to evolve and put unvaccinated individuals at risk of more severe illness.

Medical News Today: Study explains why 'eating for two' during pregnancy is not necessary

A new study of flies suggests a hormone released in early pregnancy enlarges the gut so it absorbs more energy from food and stimulates the body to store more fat.

Medical News Today: Death, hospitalization rates have fallen among senior Medicare patients

Researchers analyzing trends among Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and above have found that between 1999-2013, death and hospitalization rates have decreased.

Medical News Today: Cystic fibrosis: new understanding of infections

Lab work on the microorganisms found in sputum unveils secrets of their 'aerobic and anaerobic lifestyles' in cystic fibrosis to help with future studies and clinical testing.

Medical News Today: Anxiety, depression may be triggered by stress-induced changes to gut bacteria

Researchers suggest early-life stress may induce changes in gut bacteria that lead to the development of anxiety and depression later in life.

Medical News Today: Blood marker may help identify women at highest risk for postpartum depression

Researchers have identified a blood marker that they say can identify women who are at highest risk of developing postpartum depression.

Medical News Today: Friend and family approval of e-cigarettes may boost use among teens

Researchers have found that adolescents may be more inclined to use e-cigarettes if their friends and family both use and approve of the devices.

Medical News Today: 8-year-old boy becomes first child to receive double hand transplant

Surgeons have successfully performed the world’s first ever bilateral hand transplant on an 8-year-old child following a 10-hour surgical procedure.

Medical News Today: New blood marker could help identify mothers most at risk of postpartum depression

Researchers have identified a blood marker that they say can identify women who are at highest risk of developing postpartum depression.

Medical News Today: Scientists identify another frequently mutated gene in melanoma

Melanoma arises from gene mutations that activate cancer-causing pathways. Now. researchers have unmasked the identity of the third most frequently mutated gene in melanoma.

Medical News Today: Nasal balloon could treat 'glue ear'

A simple procedure of blowing into a balloon through the nose can be an effective way to improve symptoms and avoid antibiotics in children with a a common middle-ear problem.

Medical News Today: Premature birth associated with introversion in adulthood

Researchers have developed a personality profile for individuals born very prematurely or with a very low birth weight by assessing the personalities of adults.

Medical News Today: Rise in newborns being admitted to intensive care

Newborn babies - including those who are born at full term and normal weight - are increasingly being admitted to neonatal intensive care units, reveals an analysis of the figures.

Medical News Today: Patients with depression, personality disorders most likely to make euthanasia requests

A new study of 100 mentally ill patients in Belgium who made euthanasia requests reveals the majority had depression and/or personality disorders.

Medical News Today: Exercise-mimicking molecule may offer new treatments for obesity, type 2 diabetes

A study reveals how a newly created molecule - called compound 14 - mimicked exercise to improve glucose tolerance and trigger weight loss in obese mice.

Medical News Today: Adolescent e-cigarette use boosted by friend and family approval

Researchers have found that adolescents may be more inclined to use e-cigarettes if their friends and family both use and approve of the devices.

Medical News Today: CDC warn of edible marijuana dangers following death of 19-year-old student

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examines the case of a student who fell to his death following the consumption of recreational edible marijuana.

Medical News Today: 20% of new mothers are not receiving advice on how to place their baby to sleep

A new study has revealed almost 20% of mothers fail to receive advice about their newborn's sleeping position, increasing the risk for sudden infant death syndrome.

Medical News Today: Risk of death from shaken baby syndrome could be identified with new tool

Researchers have created a tool that they say could help doctors identify children who are at risk of death from abusive head trauma, or shaken baby syndrome.

Medical News Today: FDA approve new daily pill for common skin cancer

The FDA have approved a new drug - sonidegib - for treating locally advanced basal cell carcinoma, an increasingly common cancer that occurs in the top layer of the skin.

Medical News Today: 'Worm spitting' offers insights for heart research

The discovery of a nerve cell that controls spitting behavior in worms could increase our understanding of how our brain and nervous system regulates organs like the heart.

Medical News Today: Salt, sweet, sour... now fat is one of our basic tastes

In a new study, participants grouped cups of taste solution to identify 'fat' taste as a distinct new taste alongside the traditional basic tastes of salt, sweet and so on.

Medical News Today: DNA 'ambulance' discovery may shed light on origins of cancer

Researchers have discovered how severely damaged DNA is transported to sites within cells for repair. They also note that repair is often inaccurate and could lead to cancer.

Medical News Today: Awareness of fertility preservation options among younger cancer patients may be low

Many cancer treatments can affect a patient's fertility. Though fertility preservation options are available, awareness of them may be low, according to new research.

Medical News Today: Aromatase inhibitors 'significantly reduce breast cancer deaths'

A study finds a class of hormonal drugs - aromatase inhibitors - are more effective than tamoxifen for reducing mortality among women with ER-positive breast cancer.

Medical News Today: Avoiding effects of ICU decisions for relatives could lead to PTSD

A new study suggests that the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms experienced by people making decisions for relatives in ICU may depend on their coping strategy.

Medical News Today: Aromatase inhibitors 'more effective than tamoxifen' for reducing breast cancer deaths

A study finds a class of hormonal drugs - aromatase inhibitors - are more effective than tamoxifen for reducing mortality among women with ER-positive breast cancer.

Medical News Today: Chemotherapy for near-death cancer patients 'does not improve quality of life'

A study assessing the impact of chemotherapy for cancer patients who are near death finds the treatment does not improve their quality of life.

Medical News Today: European drugs regulators approve world's first malaria vaccine

The European Medicines Agency recommend the use of the world's first malaria vaccine among children aged 6 weeks to 17 months in Africa - where the disease is most prevalent.

Medical News Today: Physical exercise could improve symptoms of Alzheimer's, dementia

Studies presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference suggest that physical exercise could both protect the brain and alleviate symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Medical News Today: Cataracts may be treatable with eye drops instead of surgery

Researchers have successfully treated cataracts in dogs using eye drops that contain a natural steroid that dissolves the protein clumps that cause the lens to go misty.

Medical News Today: TB may be treatable with common glaucoma medication

Scientists have discovered a compound commonly found in many prescription glaucoma drugs switches off the tuberculosis bacterium's ability to evade the immune system.

Medical News Today: Study sheds light on why the elderly are most vulnerable to West Nile Virus

Elderly people are most vulnerable to West Nile Virus. A new study suggests this may be down to impairments in the early immune response to the virus among older individuals.

Medical News Today: Study links 'successful aging' with greater risk of harmful drinking

Over-50's who are healthy, active, wealthy and sociable may be at greater risk of harmful drinking, finds a new study published in BMJ Open.

Medical News Today: Treating stomach ulcer bacteria could reduce stomach cancer risk

Researchers have found that treatment for a common gut bacteria could have a small benefit in preventing the development of gastric cancer.

Medical News Today: Parkinson's disease risk 'lowered by diabetes drug'

Diabetes patients treated with glitazone have a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease, suggesting the target of the drug could be a fruitful target for the condition.

Medical News Today: Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2015: the highlights

As the 2015 Alzheimer's Association International Conference draws to a close, we look at some of the studies leading us closer to prevention and treatment strategies for dementia.

Medical News Today: New study looks at sexual risk-taking for women on vacation

A study investigating women's perceptions and motivations toward sexual risk-taking on vacation suggests that the US may be lagging behind when it comes to sexual health education.

Medical News Today: CPR from bystanders can save lives

A new study suggests people's chances of surviving cardiac arrest are higher when ordinary bystanders promptly intervene and start CPR before emergency services arrive.

Medical News Today: 5 weeks pregnant: your pregnancy week by week

What is happening in week 5 of your pregnancy? You may notice mood swings and breast tenderness. Baby is now the size of a sesame seed.

Medical News Today: Delivery speed of clot-busting drug for stroke often 'overestimated' by hospitals

Less than a third of US hospitals surveyed correctly identified their stroke care performance, with many overestimating the speed at which they administer clot-busting drugs.

Medical News Today: New dads put on weight, while childless men lose weight

Men put on an additional weight of 3.5-4.5 lb on average after becoming a father, finds a new study published in the American Journal of Men's Health.

Medical News Today: PTSD affecting 'a quarter-million' Vietnam war veterans

Four decades on from the end of the Vietnam war and some US ex-servicemen still experience mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress and major depression.

Medical News Today: Bullying, 'rather than misogyny,' explains online abuse of female gamers

Women receive three times as much abuse as men when playing online games. A new study suggests the psychology behind this is rooted in the need to men's desire for social status.

Medical News Today: Transgender children do not have hormone imbalance, study finds

Researchers conducting a prospective study of transgender youth have discovered that transgender youth have hormone levels consistent with their birth-assigned genders.

Medical News Today: Stem cell therapy for liver failure could replace liver transplants

For the first time, researchers have successfully repaired severe liver damage and restored the organ's function in a live mouse using stem cells grown in the lab.

Medical News Today: Aging may protect blood vessels from oxidative stress

Researchers find age may help protect blood vessels against damage by oxidative stress, which has been linked to cardiovascular diseases, some cancers, and Alzheimer's.

Medical News Today: Sugary drink consumption, birth weight and adult lifestyle linked to type 2 diabetes risk

Regular sugary drink consumption and a combination of low birth weight and unhealthy lifestyle in adulthood have been linked to greater risk of type 2 diabetes in two new studies.

Medical News Today: MDMA (Ecstasy): Facts, Effects and Hazards

MDMA is an illegal, psychoactive drug that has stimulant and hallucinogen effects. MDMA works by increasing the brain’s neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

Medical News Today: Acupuncture has 'similar mode of action to psychiatric drugs'

A controlled study in rats finds acupuncture to be effective against chronic stress and reveals clues about how this form of traditional Chinese medicine might work.

Medical News Today: Alzheimer's patients may benefit from early treatment with novel drug

The first ever Alzheimer’s disease clinical trial to use delayed-start methodology has found that patients with a mild form of the disease benefit from beginning treatment early.

Acupuncture has 'similar mode of action to psychiatric drugs'

A controlled study in rats finds acupuncture to be effective against chronic stress and reveals clues about how this form of traditional Chinese medicine might work.

Medical News Today: Does the menstrual cycle affect sporting performance?

We investigate the impact that menstruation can have on the performance of competing sportswomen, both physically and psychologically.

Medical News Today: World first: man with AMD receives bionic eye implant

An 80-year-old man with age-related macular degeneration has become the first in the world to receive a bionic eye implant, leading to a significant improvement in visual function.

Most chronic pain patients use alternative therapies, but many don't tell their doctors

More than half of chronic pain patients in a managed care setting reported using chiropractic care or acupuncture or both, but many of these patients didn't discuss this care with their primary care...

Medical News Today: First case of prolonged remission in HIV-infected child reported

Clinicians in France report on the case of an 18-year-old patient who has been in virological remission despite not receiving antiretroviral treatment for the past 12 years.

Medical News Today: Too much TV, low physical activity may worsen cognitive function

A new study finds low physical activity and high TV viewing between the ages of 18 and 30 may be associated with poorer cognitive function later in life.

Medical News Today: Firstborn children have 'infinitesimally small' IQ lead over siblings

The age-old debate of whether birth order makes a difference to personality or IQ is addressed in the largest study ever to investigate the issue.

Medical News Today: Eczema successfully treated with arthritis drug

Researchers describe how an approved arthritis drug successfully treated 6 patients with moderate to severe eczema that was not responding to conventional treatments.

Medical News Today: Antimalaria treatment that targets a blood protein shows promise

Treatment that disables a blood protein the malaria parasite needs to survive in the host's body wipes out the disease in humanized mice in 3 days, reveals a new study.

Medical News Today: Poorer children develop 'smaller brains'

MRI brain scans and mental tests of children living below the poverty line show that key parts of their brains are smaller in volume and test scores are lower.

Medical News Today: Implantation: your pregnancy week by week

What is happening in week 4 of your pregnancy? Your baby is measuring 0.078 inches - the size of a poppy seed. You may experience mild spotting called implantation bleeding.

Medical News Today: Study identifies prescription practices as major player in antibiotic overuse

New research reveals 10% of doctors write antibiotic prescriptions for at least 95% of patients who visit them with acute respiratory infections, such as cold, flu and bronchitis.

Medical News Today: Higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest among black people

A new study of the residents of Portland, OR, has reported that the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest may be twice as high among black people than white people.

Medical News Today: Doctors testified against dying cancer patients for tobacco companies

A new study sheds light on the actions of a small pool of expert witnesses testifying against dying cancer patients filing lawsuits against tobacco companies.

Medical News Today: Marijuana 'helps bones to heal'

In a study of rats with mid-femoral fractures, the nonpsychotropic cannabidiol component of marijuana was associated with improved bone healing.

Medical News Today: Promising drug candidate tackles malaria in a new way

A breakthrough study identifies a promising antimalaria drug that acts in a new way against several stages of the Plasmodium parasite's life cycle.

Medical News Today: Aggressive lymphoma linked to disruption in cell energy production

Researchers find a gene that codes for an enzyme that is involved in energy production in cells is mutated in a fast growing cancer called diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.

Medical News Today: Young women increasingly attracted to social smoking

Cigarette manufacturers have targeted young women emerging into adulthood, who are more likely to be very light smokers, finds a study.

Medical News Today: Key protein pathways critical to Ebola virus can be blocked, according to new study

By focusing on the host cell than the virus, scientist have successfully blocked the protein pathways the Ebola virus relies on to infect cells.

Medical News Today: Child antibiotic exposure linked to juvenile arthritis

Researchers have found that children prescribed courses of antibiotics had twice the risk of developing juvenile arthritis than children who did not receive these drugs.

Medical News Today: Couch potato toddlers at risk of future bullying

Researchers from the University of Montreal have found that spending large amounts of time watching TV as a toddler can increase the risk of being bullied at school.

Medical News Today: Could a simple saliva test detect Alzheimer's?

The results of a new study show promise for a simple saliva test that could predict a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Medical News Today: Exercise 300 minutes a week 'to cut postmenopausal breast cancer risk'

Exercising 300 minutes a week, compared with half that amount, has benefits for body fat and postmenopausal breast cancer, suggests trial.

Medical News Today: Could electromagnetic pulses be used to treat tinnitus?

Researchers have found delivering electromagnetic pulses to patients with tinnitus could be an effective method of treating this disruptive symptom.

Medical News Today: Restaurant food 'just as unhealthy as fast food'

Eating out at restaurants and fast-food outlets alike results in consuming around 200 more calories a day than eating at home, according to the results of a new study.

Homeopathy: harmful and unscientific or misunderstood?

Two doctors have taken to The BMJ to debate the merits or otherwise of homeopathy, arguing whether it helps patients or could be harmful.

Medical News Today: Odds of losing weight are stacked against obese people, study says

The odds of severely obese people achieving normal weight are as great as 1 in 1,290, say the authors of a new study, concluding that current weight-loss programs are ineffective.

Medical News Today: 'More hospitalization' in areas of high fracking

Across three counties in Pennsylvania, areas with high fracking density also had higher rates of hospitalization, according to the results of a study.

Medical News Today: Miniature brains grown from skin cells 'provide autism insights'

Miniature brains grown in the lab by stem cell scientists have provided a new approach toward understanding brain development and disorders like autism and schizophrenia.

Medical News Today: Parkinson's disease may be treatable with antimalaria drugs

Breakthrough study shows existing malaria drugs directly activate the brain receptor Nurr1 and significantly reduce Parkinson's behavior in rats without inducing dyskinesia.

Medical News Today: Special part of brain registers screaming, scientists find

Screams have a special acoustic property that draws the attention of the brain's fear response, scientists have found by analyzing a series of recordings.

Medical News Today: Eating the wrong wild mushroom can destroy your liver

Misidentification of edible wild mushrooms is common say researchers who describe a case of a woman whose liver failed after eating foraged wild mushrooms she thought were edible.

Medical News Today: Homeopathy: harmful and unscientific or misunderstood?

Two doctors have taken to The BMJ to debate the merits or otherwise of homeopathy, arguing whether it helps patients or could be harmful.

Medical News Today: Night Sweats: Facts, Causes and Treatments

People who suffer night sweats or sleep hyperhidrosis will often wake in the night to find their sleepwear and sheets drenched. Although annoying, night sweats are often harmless.

Medical News Today: Alzheimer's traits 'vary across races'

Researchers found variations between African-American and European-American patients in how Alzheimer's disease makes changes in the brain.

Medical News Today: An AIDS-free generation is 15 years away, according to new report

A new report has revealed HIV/AIDS may be fully eradicated by 2030. United Nations 'Millennium Development Goals' set 15 years ago have been achieved 9 months ahead of schedule.

Acupuncture can improve outcomes in dermatological conditions

Medical evidence supports the potential for acupuncture to be significantly more effective in the treatment of dermatologic conditions such as dermatitis, pruritus, and urticaria than alternative...

Medical News Today: Noninvasive prenatal testing could detect maternal cancer

Researchers have discovered that the findings of noninvasive prenatal screening could detect maternal cancer as well as chromosomal abnormalities in fetuses.

Medical News Today: Localized prostate cancer: treatment strategies 'have improved'

The management of prostate cancer has changed over recent years, moving toward more conservative treatment of lower-risk cases instead of going straight to more aggressive options.

Medical News Today: Neutralizing antibodies investigated for HIV vaccine

Two studies published this month explore the importance of neutralizing antibodies for HIV/Aids vaccine. Researchers focus on superinfected and cell-to-cell transmission.

Medical News Today: Food container plastics linked to rising blood pressure

Plastic food containers and wraps containing phthalates were associated with hypertension and insulin resistance in two new studies investigating the chemicals.

Medical News Today: Social workers should be more understanding of vampires

A new study examines the problems faced by people that identify themselves as vampires and how helping professionals can improve care for people with alternative identities.

Partnership developing self-care tool for MSK pain

A new tool that helps people manage chronic pain brought on by musculoskeletal disorders (MSK) will draw on the expertise of an alliance of leading organisations in the field of rheumatology and...

Medical News Today: How do sexuality and gender affect friendships?

Purportedly the 'most inclusive ever study of friendship,' new research finds that different groups have slightly different investments in the types of friendships they have.

Medical News Today: Organ rejection can be overcome, shows mouse study

The immune system's 'memory' of rejecting a first organ transplant is not necessarily permanent, suggest the results of a new study.

Medical News Today: West Nile Virus vaccine to enter safety trials in humans

A vaccine to protect people from West Nile Virus is to enter safety trials after lab tests showed it protected mice against lethal doses of the virus.

Medical News Today: Stroke may accelerate long-term cognitive decline

A new study suggests that stroke survivors may be at risk from accelerated and persistent decline in cognitive function during the years following their stroke.

Medical News Today: Hormonal factors 'lower endometrial cancer risk' for women with Lynch syndrome

New research has identified some hormonal factors linked to reduced risk of endometrial cancer for women with Lynch syndrome - a genetic condition that increases cancer risk.

Medical News Today: Breast cancer deaths are not reduced by mammography, study finds

An analysis of more than 16 million women across the US suggests that mammography screening for breast cancer does not reduce deaths from the disease and may lead to overdiagnosis.

Medical News Today: Diabetes drug proves effective weight-loss aid

Compared with placebo, a diabetes drug recently given approval for weight loss - liraglutide (Saxenda) - produced an average loss of 5.6 kg at a daily dose of 3.0 mg.

Medical News Today: Weight-loss surgery 'highly effective' for type 2 diabetes remission

A new study suggests weight-loss surgery combined with low-level lifestyle interventions is highly effective for type 2 diabetes remission in obese patients with the condition.

Medical News Today: Can playing Tetris reduce intrusive memories?

A new study finds playing Tetris after reactivating emotional memories could reduce the occurrence of intrusive memories - a common symptom in people with PTSD.

Medical News Today: Breath analysis by laser 'could one day screen for diabetes, cancer'

Researchers are working on a fast, noninvasive, on-site, laser system that could one day screen for all kinds of disease including diabetes, cancer and infections.

Medical News Today: Combination of stroke, diabetes and heart attack 'significantly reduces life expectancy'

A new study finds people with a history of stroke, diabetes and heart attack may have a death rate eight times higher than those without a history of these conditions.

Medical News Today: Mammography 'does not reduce breast cancer deaths'

An analysis of more than 16 million women across the US suggests that mammography screening for breast cancer does not reduce deaths from the disease and may lead to overdiagnosis.

Medical News Today: WHO: countries must raise tobacco tax to 75% of retail price

A new report from the World Health Organization makes a case for increasing tobacco taxation as the cheapest and most effective way to reduce smoking-related deaths worldwide.

Medical News Today: Rate of aging can be tracked in early adulthood, not just later in life

A new study indicates that it might be possible to map an aging trajectory in young adults, potentially making interventions to prevent age-related diseases possible.

Medical News Today: Drug combo shows promise against rare bone cancer

Tests on cells and mice suggest a combination of the anti-cancer drugs Trabectedin and Olaparib offers a promising treatment for children with Ewing sarcoma - a rare bone cancer.

Medical News Today: Two potential biomarkers for severe heart disease in insulin resistance found

People who become insulin resistant and diabetic are more likely to develop severe heart disease. Now, a new study of pigs finds two biomarkers that accompany such a development.

Medical News Today: Epilepsy 'increases risk of death' among pregnant women

Pregnant women with epilepsy may be at 10 times greater risk of maternal death and adverse complications during delivery than those without the disorder, a new study finds.

Medical News Today: Many women - especially smokers - drink alcohol while pregnant

Smokers were the expectant mothers most likely to risk drinking alcohol during their pregnancy, in a large survey of women in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Medical News Today: Why are doctors so guilty of working while sick?

Although 95% of clinicians agree that working while sick puts patients at risk, 83.1% admit that they do so themselves. A new study investigates why.

Medical News Today: Novel DNA repair mechanism could lead to new Alzheimer's treatments

Scientists have a discovered a new mechanism through which breaks in strands of DNA long believed to be inaccessible are repaired.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia with psychiatric, medical conditions

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a widely used nonpharmacologic treatment for insomnia disorders and an analysis of the medical literature suggests it also can work for patients whose insomnia is...

Medical News Today: Could playing computer games reduce unwanted memories?

A new study finds playing Tetris after reactivating emotional memories could reduce the occurrence of intrusive memories - a common symptom in people with PTSD.

Medical News Today: Traders' testosterone 'makes them take financial risks'

Scientists measure the effects of stress on risk-taking behavior in the financial markets, finding a link between risky behavior and the hormones cortisol and testosterone.

Medical News Today: Cystic fibrosis gene therapy trial offers hope of treatment

A trial to test the safety and effectiveness of a therapy that replaces a faulty gene in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis has shown encouraging results.

Medical News Today: 'Artificial pancreas' holds promise for easier control of type 1 diabetes

An artificial pancreas that tracks blood glucose levels and delivers insulin as needed could help patients with type 1 diabetes manage their condition more easily, say researchers.

Medical News Today: New study of human memory is 'a major achievement'

Using pictures of celebrities and famous landmarks, researchers have been able to pinpoint which neurons encode memories in participants with electrodes implanted in their brains.

Medical News Today: Testosterone therapy: the hormone debate rages on

In this Spotlight, we examine the debate surrounding testosterone therapy for aging-related hypogonadism, looking at the arguments for and against its use.

Medical News Today: Major depression tied to smaller hippocampus

The hippocampus - an area of the brain involved in forming new memories - is significantly smaller in people with major depression, says a large international study.

Medical News Today: Faulty cellular 'garbage disposal' implicated in Alzheimer's

A new study reports that lysosomes - the garbage disposal systems of cells - that accumulate near amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's are faulty and possibly contribute to the disease.

Medical News Today: Child development may be affected by early antibiotic use, study finds

Researchers found mice exposed to antibiotics commonly used in early childhood experienced changes to gut bacteria, as well as increased weight gain and larger bone development.

Medical News Today: Adolescent women 'more likely to have unsafe sex' if obese

Obese adolescent women were found less likely to use contraception than their peers with healthy weights, with those that did use contraception less likely to use it consistently.

Medical News Today: Cuba eliminates mother-to-child HIV and syphilis, WHO report

Following a regional initiative to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, Cuba becomes the first country to receive WHO validation for reaching the goal.

Medical News Today: Fish poisoning rates in Florida 'underestimated'

A new report has found that incidences of rare food-borne toxin are higher in Florida than previously estimated from public health reports.

Medical News Today: One small bacterial change 'caused Black Death'

How did Yersinia pestis bacteria transform from a simple GI infection to causing history-changing respiratory plague pandemics? A new study says it took just one gene.

Medical News Today: Summer vacation: the health risks for travelers

Are you traveling abroad this summer? In this Spotlight feature, we take a look at the health risks that come with a summer vacation and what you can do to prevent them.

Medical News Today: Engineered particles 'may become antibiotics of the future'

Using synthetic biology, researchers have engineered particles called phagemids that cause harmful bacteria to malfunction and cease replicating without bursting open.

Medical News Today: Neighborhood facilities 'have an influence on levels of diabetes'

Neighborhood resources for physical activity have an effect on the risk of diabetes, shows 10-year study. Local stores offering healthier food choices were also influential.

Medical News Today: Ruxolitinib is useful for long-term treatment of polycythemia vera

From the 20th Congress of the European Hematology Association, we report on evidence for ruxolitinib as a long-term polycythemia vera treatment.

Medical News Today: 'Only drink when thirsty to avoid health risks'

New guidelines suggest that athletes should only drink when they feel thirsty in order to prevent a potentially lethal condition known as exercise-associated hyponatremia.

Medical News Today: Skin cancer risk linked with grapefruit and orange juice

Consuming large amounts of grapefruit and orange juice may increase the risk of melanoma - the deadliest form of skin cancer - according to new research led by Brown University.

Medical News Today: Statins 'lower aggression in men but increase it in women'

Women who take the cholesterol-lowering drugs statins may experience increased aggression, a new study suggests, while men who take them may have reduced aggression.

Medical News Today: Rise in numbers of teenagers given antipsychotics

Teenagers between 13 and 18 are being treated more with antipsychotics, and mostly for conditions that do not involve psychosis, study suggests.

Medical News Today: Placebos 'relieve symptoms, improve treatments'

A new research paper hails the medical benefits of the placebo effect, describing how 'dummy pills' can relieve symptoms and make other treatments more effective.