Palliative care: Music to make patients feel better

Music therapy can enhance terminally ill patients' wellbeing and relaxation. This treatment has been known since the 1970s, but there is little scientific research on the subject.

Medical News Today: Registry review shows positive results for novel heart surgery procedure

Four years after the approval of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for aortic stenosis, a review of registry data shows the procedure has improved patient outcomes.

Medical News Today: Women drink almost as much as men, study finds

A new analysis from the National Institutes of Health finds the gender gap for alcohol use in the US is closing, with women drinking almost as much as men.

Medical News Today: How fatty foods could be damaging your brain

A high-fat diet does not only lead to weight gain; a new study finds too much fat in the body may also trigger an autoimmune response that destroys brain cell connections.

Medical News Today: Probiotics 'offer no health benefits' for preterm infants

Probiotic treatment does not benefit preterm babies by preventing sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis or death, says research, which contrasts a previous study.

Medical News Today: Novel arthritis treatment possible with new discovery

Researchers have found that 'microvesicles' - tiny particles released by cells - can penetrate human cartilage, a discovery that could lead to new treatments for arthritis.

Medical News Today: Healthy Thanksgiving: the science of overeating and avoiding food poisoning

Everyone loves a little indulgence over the holidays, but what happens to our body when we overindulge? We find out and look at ways to avoid a food-poisoning catastrophe.

Medical News Today: Does the gut microbiome tell us when we are full?

Proteins produced by the gut microbiome as a reaction to nutrients in the gut may send signals to the brain to tell a person when he or she is full or hungry.

Researchers pinpoint brain's happiness region

Researchers found that people who were happier had larger gray matter volume in a brain region called the precuneus, which they say can be targeted with meditation.

Medical News Today: Women who survive heart attack continue to live with risk

Young women who have suffered a heart attack or a stroke continue to have a higher risk of fatality or further injury than those who have not experienced a cardiovascular event.

Medical News Today: Researchers pinpoint brain's happiness region

Researchers found that people who were happier had larger gray matter volume in a brain region called the precuneus, which they say can be targeted with meditation.

Medical News Today: Study reveals how 'bacterial sex' leads to antibiotic resistance

Researchers looking into horizontal gene transfer have revealed why it can lead to the spread of traits - including antibiotic resistance.

Medical News Today: Scientists create serotonin-releasing neurons from human skin cells

Scientists have successfully turned human skin cells into neurons that signal to each other with serotonin, creating a useful lab tool for studying this essential brain chemical.

Medical News Today: Electrical chip removes nanoparticles from blood

Researchers have found an easy way to remove nanoparticles from blood by exploiting differences in the electrical properties of the particles in the plasma surrounding them.

Medical News Today: Global response to Ebola outbreak slammed by independent panel

A global panel of experts this week released a report on how the Ebola epidemic was handled. The conclusion: things need to be changed, swiftly.

Medical News Today: Virtual reality successfully used in cardiac operation

In a first-in-man operation, a virtual reality device has been used to successfully open up a chronically blocked right coronary artery.

Medical News Today: Children's academic performance predicted with a raisin and a plastic cup

Using a test involving a raisin and a plastic cup, researchers found they could predict a toddler's attention and learning abilities at the age of 8.

Medical News Today: Eat a good breakfast, get better grades

Eating healthily, and especially eating a healthful breakfast, can double test scores, according to research into 5,000 children in the UK.

Medical News Today: Yoga may benefit men with prostate cancer, study finds

Men receiving radiation therapy for prostate cancer may find twice-weekly yoga sessions can help maintain life quality and alleviate some side effects, new research suggests.

Yoga may benefit men with prostate cancer, study finds

Men receiving radiation therapy for prostate cancer may find twice-weekly yoga sessions can help maintain life quality and alleviate some side effects, new research suggests.

Medical News Today: Parasitic worms may influence fertility, study finds

From a study of almost 1,000 women in Bolivia, researchers found roundworm infection increased chances of pregnancy, while hookworm infection reduced it.

Medical News Today: HIV: the ongoing stigma and its impact on testing

In light of actor Charlie Sheen's announcement that he has HIV, we look at the signs and symptoms of the virus and discuss why many people are discouraged from HIV testing.

The power of music: how it can benefit health

Music has the power to trigger a range of emotions, but increasingly, researchers have suggested it can also offer some amazing health benefits. We investigate.

Medical News Today: Coconut oil effective against Candida fungal infection

A new study demonstrates how mice inoculated with Candida albicans had reduced gastrointestinal colonization after being fed coconut oil.

Bright light treatment efficacious for nonseasonal major depressive disorder

Bright light treatment either alone or combined with an antidepressant was an effective and well tolerated treatment for adults with nonseasonal major depressive disorder (MDD) in a randomized...

Medical News Today: Alcoholism drug could help cure HIV, study finds

Researchers found that a drug used to treat alcoholism - disulfiram - awoke dormant HIV in patients with the virus, bringing a cure one step closer.

Medical News Today: Antibiotic prescribing for UTIs improves with intervention

An intervention aimed at improving antibiotic prescribing for UTIs has been deemed effective and opens new paths for future initiatives.

Medical News Today: Mindfulness meditation reduces pain, study finds

Mindfulness meditation is shown in MRI scans to affect different parts of the brain than placebo cream, and to reduce pain more than a placebo.

Mindfulness meditation reduces pain, study finds

Mindfulness meditation is shown in MRI scans to affect different parts of the brain than placebo cream, and to reduce pain more than a placebo.

Medical News Today: Eat vanilla yogurt, be happy, says research

Psychological tests to measure emotions around food show that vanilla makes people feel happy, and surprising tastes can change a person's mood.

Medical News Today: First clinical trial of uterus transplantation in the US wins approval

The first clinical trial of uterus transplantation in the US will be conducted by Cleveland Clinic, after the hospital received approval from its Institutional Review Board.

Medical News Today: Premature death rates high among youth who get in trouble with the law

Young Americans who become involved in the justice system are more likely to die early, especially if their interactions become complex, involving incarceration.

Medical News Today: Could a commonly prescribed antibiotic worsen MRSA infections?

A new study in mice has found that certain antibiotics worsen MRSA infections, prompting researchers to call for clinical studies.

Medical News Today: Higher suicide risk for those whose parents die when they are young

If a parent dies of suicide, the offspring have a greater risk of committing suicide later; a new study shows that even if the parent died of other causes, the risk is also high.

Medical News Today: New vaccine could offer 'cheaper, more effective' treatment for high cholesterol

A new vaccine that targets a cholesterol-regulating protein called PCSK9 was found to dramatically reduce 'bad' cholesterol in mice and monkeys, suggesting it could work in humans.

Medical News Today: Gene study compiles catalog of biomarkers for multiple cancers

By looking for common genetic alterations in two different data volumes of cancerous versus healthy samples, researchers have compiled a robust catalog of pan-cancer biomarkers.

Medical News Today: Electrical stimulation may offer alternative to antibiotics for wound treatment

Using electrical stimulation to eliminate bacteria biofilms may offer an alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of wounds, researchers say.

Medical News Today: Olokizumab shows potential for tough-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis

Research presented at the 2015 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting shows long-term benefits of using olokizumab to treat RA.

Medical News Today: Antioxidants: Health Benefits and Nutritional Information

Find out more about antioxidants, natural molecules that help neutralize free radicals in our bodies, including how to incorporate more antioxidants into your diet.

Medical News Today: Obese 8-year-olds found with signs of heart disease

With the ever-worsening obesity problem in America, a new study makes some rather worrying and surprising findings: signs of heart disease start younger than expected.

Medical News Today: Post-surgery anti-heartburn med use increases risk of death

Prescribing patients PPIs in the hospital to decrease the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding may increase their chance of life-threatening infections.

Medical News Today: Changes in humor may be early indicator for dementia

Changes in humor - particularly development of a darker sense of humor - may occur at least 9 years before onset of frontotemporal dementia or Alzheimer's, a new study finds.

Medical News Today: Flexible, implantable device could block pain signals

Researchers have created fully implantable, wireless devices that have the potential to block pain that is not currently treatable with other therapies.

Medical News Today: A single energy drink could harm heart health for young adults

Researchers saw a rise in blood pressure and stress hormone responses among young adults just 30 minutes after they consumed one energy drink, which may raise cardiovascular risk.

Medical News Today: Ride public transport to work rather than drive to improve health

Riding a bus or train to work rather than driving may lower the risk of high blood pressure, overweight and diabetes, according to new research from Japan.

Medical News Today: Sleepwalkers 'feel no pain' in accidents

People who sleepwalk are more likely to suffer from headaches and migraines while awake, but they may not feel pain during injuries that occur while sleepwalking, new study says.

Medical News Today: Right side of brain compensates for speech loss after stroke, study finds

Contrary to previous research, a new study suggests the right hemisphere of the brain does not hinder speech recovery after stroke - it helps improve it.

Vitamin D levels can be compared across studies and countries

Knowledge about the vitamin D level of a population is important in order to assess the proportion that is vitamin D deficient or is at risk of becoming deficient, and to develop food strategies that...

Medical News Today: 300 oranges' worth of vitamin C impairs cancer cells

The equivalent of 300 oranges' concentration of vitamin C impairs growth of KRAS- or BRAF-type colorectal cancer cells through a process of oxidization, a new study finds.

Medical News Today: Beating the winter blues with cognitive behavioral therapy

Research has shown that CBT may be more effective in the long term than light therapy in alleviating seasonal affective disorder, a condition that affects 6% of Americans.

Doctors warn of accidental overdosing on herbal medicines

In BMJ Case Reports this week, doctors warn of the dangers posed by herbal remedies after a trained herbalist accidentally overdosed on the "deadly nightshade" herbal medicine.

Medical News Today: Sleep well to avoid insulin resistance

A study shows that one night's missed sleep can cause impairment to insulin sensitivity equal to 6 months on a high-fat diet, emphasizing a need for healthy sleeping habits.

Medical News Today: New guidelines for pediatric pulmonary hypertension

The American Heart Association and American Thoracic Society have produced guidelines to help doctors, health workers and parents care for children with pulmonary hypertension.

Find way to focus on dietary supplement safety, experts say

Pre-market registration, clearer disclaimers, better standards for identifying substances are good first steps to a safer market for supplements.A former principal deputy commissioner of the U.S.

Medical News Today: Anti-vaccine websites are misinforming parents, study says

Analysis of anti-vaccine websites reveals that many contain misinformation, pseudoscience and anecdotes; understanding how they work may help to counter their negative messages.

Medical News Today: Death rates on the rise for middle-aged white Americans

Death rates rose for white Americans aged 45-54 between 1998-2013, which researchers have attributed to suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.

Medical News Today: Health apps are widely downloaded, but are they used?

A new study shows that health apps are frequently used by Americans, but there are challenges to keeping users engaged. Researchers suggest areas for more engagement.

Medical News Today: Scientists developing model that predicts drug side effects in different patients

Scientists are developing a model to predict how different patients may respond to a drug based on their genetic and metabolic profiles.

Medical News Today: Protein discovery promises to improve mapping of brain tumors

Tests on rats show it is possible to better identify the edges of brain tumors on scans using a protein. If successful in humans, it could improve tumor removal and save lives.

Medical News Today: Consumption of sweetened drinks now linked to heart failure

Sweetened drinks have been linked to numerous ailments over the years. Recent research looks to add heart failure to the ever-growing list of negative health outcomes.

Medical News Today: 17 weeks pregnant: your pregnancy week by week

What is happening in week 17 of your pregnancy? Your baby is now the size of a turnip and may react to loud noises in your environment.

Medical News Today: Study sheds light on link between PCOS and mental health

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome may be at greater mental health risk, due to hormonal imbalances during fetal growth, suggests a new study.

Medical News Today: Better American diets save lives, but more can be done

Research shows that slight improvements in the American diet have helped save lives and reduce health costs, but there is still a long way to go, and more regulations are needed.

Medical News Today: Rise in US prescription drug use

Use of most prescription drugs increased in the US from 1999-2012, prompting a call for regular assessment of such data, to inform approaches to common issues in health care.

Trial reveals evidence of long-term benefits for people with chronic neck pain

A large scale investigation by researchers at the University of York found that the use of Alexander Technique or acupuncture can significantly relieve chronic neck pain.

Medical News Today: Emotional support through marital problems frustrates husbands, study finds

While a wife likes to receive emotional support from her husband, a husband is more likely to become frustrated when giving and receiving such support, a new study finds.