June 2012 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

Scientists Tackle The Geography Of Nature Vs. Nature In Maps Of U.K.

Genes and the environment both shape health and development. But their effects are not always equal. Researchers in the U.K. say they've mapped hotspots where nature has a stronger influence, and others where nurture dominates. Read More...

Published Thu, Jun 14 2012 7:05 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Surgery Restores Sexual Function In Women With Genital Mutilation

French researchers report in a new paper that a reconstructive surgery they used to try and repair the genitalia of women circumcised at a young age has helped many of them experience sexual pleasure one year after the surgery. Read More...

Published Wed, Jun 13 2012 1:48 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Finally, A Map Of All The Microbes On Your Body

The human body contains about 100 trillion cells, but only maybe one in 10 of those cells is actually human. The rest are from bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. Now, scientists have unveiled the first survey the "human microbiome,"...

Published Wed, Jun 13 2012 12:48 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Disabled Woman Dies While Awaiting Second Chance At Kidney Transplant

A woman with intellectual disabilities who was denied a kidney transplant in 2006 died Tuesday in her sleep. The Oklahoma transplant center that turned her down said a woman with a mild intellectual disability did not have the mental competency to make...

Published Wed, Jun 13 2012 8:13 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Traces Of Virus In Man Cured Of HIV Trigger Scientific Debate

Researchers have found traces of HIV virus in the cells of a man who was the first to be cured of the infection with bone marrow transplants. The findings raise fresh questions about how to define a cure for HIV/AIDS. Read More...

Published Wed, Jun 13 2012 1:41 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Putting Fear In Your Ears: What Makes Music Sound Scary

Young animals' cries for help and the soundtracks of spine-tingling movies have something in common: An irregular, scratchy sound signals something scary is afoot. Read More...

Published Tue, Jun 12 2012 5:30 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Panel Questions Benefits Of Vitamin D Supplements

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded in draft recommendations released Tuesday that taking vitamin D and 1,000 milligrams of calcium every day doesn't reduce the risk for bone fractures among postmenopausal women. So the group is taking...

Published Tue, Jun 12 2012 9:38 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Doctors Have Trouble Keeping Up With Painkiller Abusers

More than 40 states have systems in place to monitor prescription drugs, but budget strains and unwieldy databases have hindered their use by doctors and pharmacists to curb drug abuse. Read More...

Published Tue, Jun 12 2012 7:55 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Thaw At Brain Bank Deals Setback To Autism Research

A freezer that went on the fritz damaged about one-third of the brains from autistic people being stored at a research depository near Boston. The malfunction, whose cause remains under investigation, could slow research into the disorder. Read More....

Published Mon, Jun 11 2012 1:46 PM by Shots - Health Blog

UnitedHealthcare Pledges To Keep Popular Coverage, Regardless Of Supreme Court

One of the largest private health insurers said it will continue to allow young adults up to age 26 to stay on their parents' plans and will end lifetime dollar caps on claims, no matter what the Supreme Court decides. It's the first major insurer...

Published Mon, Jun 11 2012 6:35 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Doctors Deploy Shots And Drugs Against Whooping Cough Outbreak

Some 338 people have been infected with whooping cough in Oregon this year. But that's just a small fraction of the number of cases the state of Washington is reporting. Health experts say the booster shot is not 100 percent effective at preventing...

Published Mon, Jun 11 2012 1:34 AM by Shots - Health Blog

To Sniff Out Childhood Allergies, Researchers Head To The Farm

Soaring rates of allergies among children in recent decades have researchers puzzled. One theory says we're too clean, so kids' immune systems never learn how to deal with foreign invaders - even the harmless ones. Researchers now hope they'll...

Published Mon, Jun 11 2012 1:31 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Taking The Sting Out Of Jellyfish Isn't Easy

Your best bets? Carefully remove the tentacles and their stinging cells stuck in your skin. Then wash with hot water, or use saltwater if you're away from a bathroom or shower. Read More...

Published Fri, Jun 08 2012 1:34 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Tips For A Healthy Summer With Your Kids

Earlier this week, we led a chat on Twitter with Dr. Robert Block, a pediatrician who is president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, about some tips for a healthier summer. He tackled questions ranging from how to pick a sunscreen to how to get kids...

Published Fri, Jun 08 2012 10:18 AM by Shots - Health Blog

New Fetal Genetics Test: Less Risk, More Controversy

Scientists have deciphered the entire genetic code of a fetus, taking a sample from the mother's blood. While less risky than current alternatives, it also leaps into the abortion debate, with parents eventually having the option to test for all kinds...

Published Thu, Jun 07 2012 5:52 PM by Shots - Health Blog

June 2012 - NPR Health Blog

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