*Many parents want to know the sex of their unborn child* A test is being sold on the internet that enables parents to check the sex of their unborn baby at just six weeks. The kit, sold by DNA Worldwide for £189, is controversial. Critics claim it may prompt parents to abort if they are [...]
Scientists have identified a gene which helps to explain how drastically reducing food intake can extend lifespan. The discovery suggests that calorie restriction, which has been shown to work in animals, may also be beneficial to humans. It also opens the door for the development of drugs which could mimic the advantages of eating less [...]
Green tea is good for you, but only if drunk in moderation. While the polyphenols in green tea are credited with preventing heart disease and cancer, it seems they can cause liver and kidney damage if consumed in very large quantities, a review of studies into the toxicity of polyphenols has shown. “People shouldn’t be [...]
SATURDAY, May 5 (HealthDay News) — Fathers’ parenting styles have a major influence on children’s weight, says an Australian study that looked at almost 5,000 children, ages 4-5, and their parents. The researchers found that fathers with permissive (no limits on their children) or disengaged parenting styles were more likely to have overweight or obese [...]
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Users of marijuana (also called cannabis) who vaporize the drug have fewer lung symptoms than those who smoke it, researchers report. Based on his research, Dr. Mitch Earleywine said: “The argument that the medical use of cannabis is inappropriate because of its potential to create (lung) problems is now clearly [...]
In 1998, a panel of doctors at the National Institutes of Health surmised that Joseph Merrick’s affliction may have been caused by a condition known as Proteus syndrome. Find out what it is and what causes it: Q: What are the signs of Proteus syndrome (PS)?
*Mandy says she is determined to lead an adventurous life* A woman is campaigning to raise awareness of a rare condition which has left her with 11 stone (70kg) legs. Mandy Sellars, 32, from Lancashire, suffers from Proteus syndrome, a condition also thought to have affected the “Elephant Man”, Joseph Merrick. Although she was born [...]
A good night’s sleep may be as simple as flipping a switch, say scientists. By sending magnetic pulses through the skulls of sleeping volunteers, US researchers were able to stimulate the slow brain waves seen in deep sleep. Such a machine-generated “power nap” could one day be an insomnia treatment, the Proceedings of the National [...]
6-week-old died of starvation after being fed diet of soy milk, apple juice The parents of a baby that died of starvation after being fed a vegan diet have been found guilty of malice murder, felony murder and first degree cruelty to children. Jade Sanders, 27, and Lamont Thomas, 31, will get an automatic life [...]
Postmenopausal women who like barbecued and smoked meat would be wise to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables too, a new study suggests. Dr. Susan E. Steck of the University of South Carolina in Columbia and her colleagues found that postmenopausal women who consumed the most grilled, barbecued or smoked red meat over their lifetime [...]
