Health
Infertile cancer patient has baby using frozen lab-matured egg: study
In a world first, a woman rendered infertile by cancer treatment gave birth after one of her immature eggs was matured, frozen, and then -- five years later -- thawed and fertilised, researchers in France reported. A study in the journal Annals of Oncology describes how the baby boy was… Read
U.S. researchers use AI to develop powerful new antibiotic
In a first, U.S. researchers have used artificial intelligence to identify a powerful new antibiotic capable of killing several drug-resistant bacteria. Antibiotics have been a cornerstone of modern medicine since the discovery of penicillin, but their effectiveness has seriously diminished in recent years as overuse has led to bacteria becoming… Read
How deadly is new coronavirus? It's still too early to tell
Scientists can’t tell yet how deadly the new virus that’s spreading around the globe really is — and deepening the mystery, the fatality rate differs even within China. As infections of the virus that causes COVID-19 surge in other countries, even a low fatality rate can add up to lots… Read
Coronavirus monitoring systems strained to the extreme
Under-reporting, competing recommendations on how long those infected should be isolated, doubts on detection tests -- the rapid climb in coronavirus cases outside China highlights weaknesses in the methods used to spot and track the deadly virus. Under-detection? To stop the new coronavirus outbreak from becoming a full-blown pandemic, it… Read
Mediterranean diet boosts good bacteria, curbs harmful ones
Switching in old age from a bland, unvaried diet to a Mediterranean mix of fresh veggies, fruits and fish restores a balance of intestinal bacteria linked to good health, researchers say. In a clinical trial with 612 volunteers aged 65 to 79 across five European countries, those who adopted a… Read
FDA approves drug that lowers cholesterol in a new way
U.S. regulators have approved a new type of cholesterol-lowering drug aimed at millions of people who can't tolerate — or don't get enough help from — widely used statin pills like Lipitor and Crestor. The Food and Drug Administration approved Esperion Therapeutics Inc.’s Nexletol for people genetically predisposed to have… Read
Body work: Russia's 'biohackers' push boundaries
Gripping a scalpel, Vladislav Zaitsev makes an incision in the fold of skin between his client's thumb and index finger and pushes in a small glass cylinder. Alexei Rautkin, a 24-year-old programmer in a hoodie, is having a chip inserted in his hand so he can open the door to… Read
Speed science: The risks of swiftly spreading coronavirus research
One scientific post suggests links between the new coronavirus and AIDS, a second says it may have passed to people via snakes, while a third claims it is a pathogen from outer space. The emergence in China of a new human coronavirus that is causing an epidemic of flu-like disease… Read
Can AI flag disease outbreaks faster than humans? Not quite
Did an artificial-intelligence system beat human doctors in warning the world of a severe coronavirus outbreak in China? In a narrow sense, yes. But what the humans lacked in sheer speed, they more than made up in finesse. Early warnings of disease outbreaks can help people and governments save lives.… Read
Patients often puzzled by medical test reports
Even the most educated, take-charge individuals may have a hard time deciphering the test results they can access after a doctor visit, two new studies suggest. "The benefits of improving patient access to their own medical information are fairly clear: patient empowerment and engagement in their own health care, and… Read
