Researchers used a small genetic patch to partially restore hearing and balance in deaf mice with Usher syndrome, according to a new report published in Nature Medicine. The animal study, which is still in its early stages, could eventually develop into new treatments for Usher syndrome, a congenital hearing disorder which usually goes hand-in-hand with blindness as well...

Just as some mutations in the genome of cancer cells actively spur tumor growth, it would appear there are also some that do the reverse, and act to slow it down or even stop it, according to a new US study led by MIT...

People who have higher physical fitness levels during middle age have a significantly lower risk of developing all-cause dementia later in life. The finding came from a new study conducted by Laura F. DeFina, MD, of The Cooper Institute in Dallas, and her team, and was published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine...

One of the main reasons for the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa is the sheer number of heterosexual couples having intercourse with people outside their partnership. A study published in The Lancet indicates that current anti-HIV strategies which focus solely on couples in which one member is infected with HIV, might not be enough to decrease the prevalence of HIV in the region...

By interfering with their cellular metabolism, scientists in the US have found a way to weaken antibiotic-resistant bacteria, in this case E. coli, so that they are once again susceptible to existing antibiotics...

Men who have a high intake of calcium supplements appear to have a greater risk of CVD (cardiovascular disease) death, researchers from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md., reported in JAMA Internal Medicine. The authors noted that women do not appear to be affected in the same way...

Routine exposure to the sun, especially ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, may decrease the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, according to a new study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases...

Approximately 1 in every 10 teenagers with mental health problems drinks alcohol, smokes tobacco and uses cannabis, Australian researchers reported in the journal BMJ Open. The authors believe these behaviors contribute to poor mental and physical health...

Over recent years, the overall quality of semen has declined, which is most likely due to the increase in sedentary lifestyles among young men, according to a recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship of physical activity with sperm count...

Electronic cigarettes are becoming more widely used by people to either help them quit smoking, or reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke each day, researchers from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, reported in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Electronic cigarettes are also known as e-cigarettes or ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems)...

The newest tuberculosis (TB) vaccine choice, that had previously shown success in increasing levels of immune response in adults, has now demonstrated that it does not have this effect in babies. The authors of this study, which was published in The Lancet, suggest that the findings are 'disappointing' and imply a critical roadblock in furthering the study of tuberculosis...

The Cuban government has made a substantial investment in biotechnology in a drive to battle cancer, the country's second leading cause of death, after cardiovascular disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 31,000 new cancer diagnoses are made in Cuba each year, and that 21,000 patients die of the disease annually...

The past decade in the UK has seen a sharp fall in the number of children diagnosed with epilepsy, reflecting a trend seen in other countries, according to a study published recently in the Archives of Diseases in Childhood...

A new study describes how "fearless" patients with damage to the brain's amygdala or "fear centre" experienced terrifying panic in a suffocation experiment, suggesting other brain circuits that do not involve the amygdala can also produce a fear response in reaction to potential threats...

The CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) announced a long-awaited rule which will raise public awareness of the financial relationships between medical device and pharmaceutical companies and doctors and teaching hospitals...

Fraudulent flu products are on the rise and many places have begun selling supposed cures and treatments for the flu which do not actually work. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently issued a warning to the public about online and retail shops that are selling such products, advising people to steer clear of them...

The USDA (US Department of Agriculture) released its long-awaited nutritional guidelines for snacks that are sold in schools, in an effort to address the growing problem of obesity and overweight among American school-age children...

Malala Yousafzai, 15, the Pakistani schoolgirl who received a bullet wound in the head, has undergone surgery at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, England. A hospital spokeswoman said that the medical team was "very pleased" with her progress after the operation, which lasted five hours. At that time the patient was said to be awake and talking to staff and family members...

Consumer reports evaluated eleven cancer screening tests, and has found that most of us should avoid eight of them. The non-profit consumer's organization says that most preventive cancer screenings are oversold and may confuse rather than clarify. In a new report, the authors say that not all cancer screening tests are helpful. In fact, they added that some of them may be harmful...

Low magnesium levels have been found to be the best predictor of heart disease, contrary to the traditional belief that cholesterol or saturated fat play the biggest roles. Research scientist Andrea Rosanoff, PhD., and her colleagues conducted a detailed review of cardiovascular disease research, using studies dating back to 1937...