September 2012 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

Mini-Counseling Sessions Can Curb Problem Drinking

Patients who had multiple counseling sessions lasting 10 to 15 minutes were 12 percent more likely to quit binge drinking a year later, says a federal task force. Those benefits are enough to justify primary care doctors screening all adult patients for...

Published Tue, Sep 25 2012 1:57 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Holy Bat Virus! Genome Hints At Origin Of SARS-Like Virus

Virologists have published the genome sequence of the new coronavirus, which has killed one man and hospitalized another. The mystery virus is most closely related to coronaviruses that infect bats in Southeast Asia. But this doesn't necessarily mean...

Published Fri, Sep 28 2012 11:39 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Doctors Take Aim At Epidemic Kidney Stones With Lasers

A recent study found one in 10 American men and one in 14 women has had a kidney stone. Being obese or diabetic seems to raise the risk of getting them. Now lasers are becoming the treatment-of-choice for kidney stones in academic medical centers. Read...

Published Mon, Sep 10 2012 12:27 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Two New Drugs May Help In Fight Against Obesity

Both the drugs — Belviq and Qsymia — were approved in July. They make you feel satisfied with less food — and not as hungry between meals. There are side-effects from the medications, including dry mouth, constipation and a slight tingling in fingers...

Published Mon, Sep 24 2012 12:21 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Medical Electronics Built To Last Only A Little While

Using silicon, magnesium and a special type of silk, scientists have created electronic circuits that dissolve in liquid. Electronics like these could be useful in future implantable medical devices. Read More...

Published Thu, Sep 27 2012 11:28 AM by Shots - Health Blog

The 'Facebook Effect' On Organ Donation

Between May 1 and the middle of September, around 275,000 Facebook users posted their donor status on the site. Now the social network has rolled out the feature in Canada and Mexico to spur donations. Read More...

Published Thu, Sep 20 2012 8:17 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Tiny Bubbles: Injectable Oxygen Foam Tested For Emergency Care

The experimental treatment, which hasn't been tried in humans, encapsulates pure oxygen in microbubbles made of fat molecules. The bubbles look quite a bit like shaving cream, one of the researchers says. Read More...

Published Wed, Sep 19 2012 1:07 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Ebola's Unlikely Victims: Health Care Workers

The World Health Organization has confirmed 72 cases of the dreaded virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo since May; 23 of them are health care workers. Despite elaborate protective garb and other precautions, it's hard for doctors, nurses and...

Published Wed, Sep 19 2012 12:04 AM by Shots - Health Blog

When Heat Kills: Global Warming As Public Health Threat

Emerging science shows that people respond more favorably to warnings about climate change when it's portrayed as a health issue, rather than an environmental problem. Should the symbol for danger be a child instead of a polar bear? Read More...

Published Mon, Sep 10 2012 12:08 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Whooping Cough Vaccine's Protection Fades Quickly

Young kids who get all their whooping cough shots on time could become susceptible to the disease again when they're between 8 and 11. Researchers say the immune protection conferred by the current vaccine loses its punch. Read More...

Published Thu, Sep 13 2012 8:24 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Branding Health Care Exchanges To Make The Sale

In the process of creating its health insurance exchange, California wants to rename the marketplace. But it's tough to find a name that appeals to all Californians and explains the marketplace at the same time. Read More...

Published Tue, Sep 25 2012 1:57 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Scientists Parse Genes Of *** Cancer's Four Major Types

They found 40 or so key differences — all potential targets for cleverly designed drugs. But the researchers caution that their study is a long way from the outmoded dream of a silver bullet that would knock out *** cancer – or any other kind. The study...

Published Mon, Sep 24 2012 2:54 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Scientists Go Deep On Genes Of SARS-Like Virus

Scientists have partially decoded the genetic sequence of a new virus, which has killed one man and hospitalized another. Advances in sequencing technologies have helped health workers rapidly respond to the virus in ways that they couldn't during...

Published Wed, Sep 26 2012 12:23 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Experimental Drug Is First To Help Kids With Premature-Aging Disease

The new drug reversed changes in blood vessels that usually lead kids with the rare genetic disease progeria to have heart attacks and strokes. Research on the toxic protein responsible for progeria is also changing scientists' understanding of how...

Published Mon, Sep 24 2012 12:19 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Let Sleepless Babies Cry (For A While), If They Want To

Researcher say parents don't need to worry about their babies being emotionally scarred by crying while they're learning to sleep. Techniques like controlled comforting and camping out for managing infant sleep are quite OK, they say. Read More...

Published Mon, Sep 10 2012 11:01 AM by Shots - Health Blog

September 2012 - NPR Health Blog

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