Endo-society.org – The growing concern surrounding the release of radiation from an earthquake and tsunami-stricken nuclear complex in Japan has raised fears of radiation exposure to populations in North America from the potential plume of radioactivity crossing the Pacific Ocean. To help Americans understand their radiation-related health risks, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), [...]

Case.edu – If gorillas can do it, maybe people can, too. In the U.S., zoo gorillas have been losing weight substantially while consuming far more calories – by switching to a heart-healthy diet rich in green leafy vegetables and other plant food. “A lot are dying of heart disease, we believe like humans,” said Elena [...]

CHOP.edu – A pilot study in healthy children and adolescents shows that it is feasible to screen children for undiagnosed heart conditions that increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Adding a 10-minute electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) to a history and physical examination identified unsuspected cases of potentially serious heart conditions. Although more research [...]

ACS.org – Scientists are reporting that the controversy surrounding whether the trace mineral selenium can fight cancer in humans might come down to which form of the essential micronutrient people take. It turns out that not all “seleniums” are the same – the researchers found that one type of selenium supplement may produce a possible [...]

Dana-Farber.org – Scientists from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute report they have shrunk or slowed the growth of notoriously resistant pancreatic cancer tumors in mice, using a medication already routinely prescribed for malaria and rheumatoid arthritis – hydroxychloroquine. The pre-clinical results, which will appear in the April 2011 issue of the journal Genes & Development and [...]

A Chinese herbal mixture, Yi-Qi-Zeng-Min-Tang, has recently shown potential in an animal study for treatment of type 2 diabetes. The natural preparation of 10 medicinal herbs (YQZMT) includes components such as astragalus root, cinnamon, mung bean coating, Chinese goldthread, and some portion of a Snowrose bonsai plant. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is dramatically [...]