California Lawmakers Advance Bill Requiring School Children Vaccinations

Medicine & Technology Apr 10, 2015

California lawmakers have advanced a bill that would require school children in the state to be vaccinated despite the pleas of both parents and doctors.

New HIV Treatment Could Pave the Way for Vaccine

Apr 10, 2015

When a person is infected with HIV, a battle begins to rage between the virus and the immune system. As the body produces new antibodies for the virus, the infection mutates always managing to stay a few steps ahead. Now, a team of scientists at Rockefeller University in New York believe that using synthetic antibodies that attach to the surface of proteins on the outer membrane of the virus offer an alternative treatment to anti-retroviral drugs currently used and could one day lead to new therapeutic vaccines.

Untested Stimulant Found in Many Dietary Supplements

Apr 09, 2015

You may get more than you bargained for in that batch of dietary supplements you just picked up from your local health store. Researchers are warning consumers to look closely at the labels of their supplements as they have discovered an amphetamine like stimulant in many of the dietary supplements.

Study Finds Most Commercial Weight Loss Programs Not Backed by Science

Apr 08, 2015

The commercial weight loss industry has grown by leaps and bounds as more and more Americans seek to drop the pounds in any way they can. Today, the industry is worth about $2.5 billion. But, according to a new study, many of these programs are actually backed by any scientifically sound studies.

Bubonic Plague Reported in Arizona

Apr 07, 2015

The Black Death, that was thought to have disappeared hundreds of years ago is back and it has chosen Flagstaff, Arizona as its most recent home.

Could A Life-Saving Blood Transfusion Leave You With Allergies Instead?

Apr 07, 2015

While you might think that a blood transfusion may save your life in a serious situation, there may be a few added drawbacks to the life-saving procedure. One of these drawbacks, in fact, can be the development of new allergic reactions to things that never bothered you before. In a new study published this week Canadian doctors revealed that a young 8-year-old boy went into anaphylactic shock from uncommon allergens, merely days after a platelet transfusion. And they fear now that it had everything to do with the platelet donor, whose severe food allergies had not been taken into account before the transfusion took place.

Does Your Insurance Cover Mental Health Conditions?

Apr 06, 2015

In the US, insurance companies are already required to provide coverage for mental health disorders and mental care needs, much like they must provide cancer or diabetes care. But according to a new study there seems to be a gap in how people suffering from a mental health condition are covered.

Breast Milk Purchased Online May Contain Cow's Milk

Apr 06, 2015

If you purchase breast milk online for your infant, you may be getting more than you bargained for in the package. According to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics, ten percent of breast milk samples purchased on the Internet have added cow's milk or baby formula.

Secondhand Smoke Linked to Childhood ADHD

Apr 05, 2015

Children exposed to tobacco smoke in the home are up to three times more likely to have attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) compared to children from smoke free homes according to a new study from Spain.

Iced Tea Caused Kidney Failure in Arkansas Man

Apr 04, 2015

America has long had a love affair with iced tea. Whether you talk about sweet tea in the south or lemon flavored tea found all over the country, Americans love their tea. However, this relationship was strained once the news broke about a man in Arkansas who passed away due to kidney failure from drinking iced tea.

Too Salty: CDC Warns Packaged and Processed Food Contain Too Much Salt

Apr 03, 2015

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning about the salt content found in packaged and processed food, saying that food producers are knowingly and dangerously ignoring the long-standing salt content guidelines.

Facts You Should Know About Autism

Apr 03, 2015

April is Autism Awareness Month and April 2 was the annual World Autism Awareness Day. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by challenges in communicaton whether verbal or non-verbal, social interaction and propensity for repetitive behavior. There are many signs and facts about autism that everyone should be aware.

Glow in the Dark Tampons Could Shed Light on Water Pollution

Apr 03, 2015

While it may not be the most glamorous of scientific instruments, engineers believe that tampons could actually help clean up polluted rivers and streams.

Johns Hopkins University Faces Lawsuit Over STD Study

Apr 02, 2015

Johns Hopkins University is facing a $1 billion lawsuit stemming from experiments done by the US government over 60 years ago. According to the lawsuit, the university is responsible for creating and designing the experiment so many years ago, and they are now being held liable for the results.

Ancient Remedy Could Be the Key to Defeating Superbugs

Apr 02, 2015

While many scientists are trying to develop new, more powerful drugs to fight the antibiotic resistant superbugs, the solution may actually rest in the past. A 1,000 year old treatment for eye infections could be the key to fighting these resistant strains of bacteria.