Health & Medicine : Science World Report

Mar 26, 2012 06:53 AM EDT

Analysis: Cheney Waited Longer than Average for Heart Transplant

At 71, former Vice President Dick Cheney was older than average for a heart transplant and had to wait longer than the typical patient as well -- 20 months compared with a year or less.

Mar 25, 2012 04:59 PM EDT

UCLA Scientists Identify Novel Pathway for T-cell Activation in Leprosy

UCLA researchers pinpointed a new mechanism that potently activates T-cells, the group of white blood cells that play a major role in fighting infections.

Mar 25, 2012 04:40 PM EDT

Researchers Discover First-ever Link Between Tiny Genetic Structures, Imminent Heart Attack Risk

Researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute have, for the first time ever, made a connection between tiny genetic molecules called microRNAs and the imminent threat of a heart attack, according to a new study.

Mar 25, 2012 12:15 PM EDT

Study Examines Treatment of Heart Failure with Bone Marrow Cells

Use of a patient's bone marrow cells for treating chronic ischemic heart failure did not result in improvement on most measures of heart function, according to a study appearing in JAMA. The study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at the American College of Cardiology...

Mar 24, 2012 08:21 AM EDT

Embryonic Stem Cells Shift Metabolism in Cancer-like Way Upon Implanting in Uterus

Shortly after a mouse embryo starts to form, some of its stem cells undergo a dramatic metabolic shift to enter the next stage of development, Seattle researchers report today. These stem cells start using and producing energy like cancer cells.

Mar 23, 2012 03:10 PM EDT

Sleeping After Processing New Info Most Effective, New Study Shows

Nodding off in class may not be such a bad idea after all. New research from the University of Notre Dame shows that going to sleep shortly after learning new material is most beneficial for recall,

Mar 23, 2012 01:53 PM EDT

The Lithium Battery as a Source of Hope

The future belongs to electric vehicles - the experts are convinced of this. But there are a few challenges to overcome before quietly whirring electric cars can completely replace the combustion engine. One such challenge is the power supply: batteries have to be safe, reliable and reasonably price...

Mar 23, 2012 01:28 PM EDT

'Bed-of-nails' Breast Implant Deters Cancer Cells

One in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer. Of those, many will undergo surgery to remove the tumor and will require some kind of breast reconstruction afterward, often involving implants. Cancer is an elusive target, though, and malignant cells return for as many as one-fift...

Mar 23, 2012 01:23 PM EDT

Research Sheds New Light on Extra Help for Smokers Trying to Quit

A major research trial to test whether extra support for smokers calling an NHS quitline - on top of what is already offered by the service - has found the additional help does not improve success rates for quitting the habit.

Mar 23, 2012 11:17 AM EDT

Antidepressants Give Drugmakers the Blues

The development of a novel antidepressant ground to a halt this week when researchers found it did not make patients feel any better than the pills they were already taking.

Mar 23, 2012 10:56 AM EDT

Study Finds Electrotherapy Dampens Brain Connections

Scientists have discovered how electroconvulsive or electric shock therapy - a controversial but effective treatment - acts on the brains of severely depressed people and say the finding could help improve diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.

Mar 23, 2012 09:16 AM EDT

Ultrasound-guided Surgery is Best Way to Remove Breast Tumours

The use of ultrasound-guided surgery to remove tumours from women who have palpable breast cancer is much more successful than standard surgery in excising all the cancerous tissue while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible, according to the results of a randomised controlled trial.