Viruses, Infections & Disease, features and articles | Educational Science

Sep 30, 2011

Alzheimer's May Be Transmissible, Study Suggests

In some cases, Alzheimer's disease may in fact be the result of an infection, and may be even be transmissible, a new study in mice suggests. In the study, mice injected with human brain tissue from Alzheimer's patients developed Alzheimer's disease. The mice developed brain damage characteristic of Alzheimer's disease,...

Aug 31, 2011

Viruses Could Target Hard-to-Kill Cancer Cells

For the first time, researchers have shown viruses can be delivered through a person's bloodstream to infect cancer cells without infecting other tissues, according to a new study. Once inside a tumor cell, the genetically engineered virus can replicate and spread to other cancer cells while it leaves normal cells...

Aug 31, 2011

Top 10 Cancer-Fighting Foods

Foods Associated with a Lower Cancer Risk (Image credit: Tom Tomczyk | shutterstock)The countless books and news articles about cancer-fighting foods might lead you to think you can ward off this dreaded disease simply by eating better. Alas, it's not that simple. Anytime you see a headline stating Cure...

May 31, 2011

FAQ: The FDA and Avastin

There's been a lot of back-and-forth regarding the use of Avastin for breast cancer. Here are answers to some questions you may have about the cancer drug: Why is Avastin getting so much attention right now? In 2008 the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Avastin to treat...

Mar 31, 2011

Brain Scans Predict Alzheimer's Risk in Some Patients

Brain scans may help identify which individuals with a mild decline in their mental abilities will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. The research focused on patients with mild cognitive impairment, a condition in which people experience noticeable declines in their cognitive function, including memory...

Mar 31, 2011

New Blood Test Could Detect Spread of Melanoma

Researchers have found seven proteins that, when at high levels in the blood, can predict the spread of a certain type of cancer to other parts of the body, according to a new study. The seven proteins — CEACAM, ICAM-1, osteopontin, MIA, GDF-15, TIMP-1 and S100B — were seen at...

Mar 31, 2011

Lack of Sunlight and Mono Infection Combine to Raise MS Risk

Little exposure to sunlight paired with an infection of the common virus mononucleosis may put people at risk for multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study suggests. The study, conducted in England, found that the amount of sunlight in a particular area combined with the number of cases of mononucleosis in...

Jan 31, 2011

Teens View Oral Sex as Safer, but It Brings Cancer Risks

WASHINGTON, D.C – Teens tend to view oral sex as less risky than real sex, but it's far from inconsequential, researchers say. There is growing evidence that oral sex increases the risk of some head and neck cancers. Studies have shown that the more oral sex partners a person has,...

Nov 30, 2012

Alzheimer's Muddles Memory of How Things Work

Which is bigger, a key or an ant? That question might be easy for you to answer quickly, but it could be a little more confusing for a person with Alzheimer's. The most obvious trait of the mind-ruining disease is memory loss, with patients forgetting once-familiar people, places and experiences....

Jul 31, 2012

Hantavirus Deaths in Yosemite: More Mice May Be to Blame

Two people have died from the rodent-borne disease called hantavirus after staying in Yosemite National Park, suggesting that the California park hosts many rodents, especially mice, infected with the virus. The virus kills 38 percent of infected people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, filling its victims'...

Mar 31, 2012

Cancer-Causing Chemical Found in Smokeless Tobacco

A chemical in smokeless tobacco products has been found to cause cancer, according to a new study in animals. The chemical was a strong inducer of oral tumors, the study showed. While use of smokeless tobacco products has been strongly linked to the development of cancer, no specific chemical in...

Mar 31, 2012

Parkinson's Personality: Disease More Likely to Strike Cautious People

Some personality traits appear to be linked with the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, a new study suggests. The results show patients with Parkinson's disease are more likely to be cautious and avoid taking risks compared with people who don't have Parkinson's. Moreover, the tendency to avoid taking risks appears...

Feb 29, 2012

How Chlamydia Evolves into New Strains

The bacteria that cause Chlamydia, the world's most common sexually transmitted disease, seems to be sneakier than once thought, as a new study suggests it frequently exchanges DNA between different strains to form entirely new strains. Chlaymydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, and though its symptoms are often...

Feb 29, 2012

Daily Aspirin Linked to Reduced Cancer Risk

Taking aspirin once a day may help prevent cancer, and perhaps even in some cases treat it, a growing body of research suggests. A new study finds that people who took a low-dose aspirin daily for at least three years were 25 percent less likely to develop cancer than people...

Jan 31, 2012

Treatable STD Scarier Than Fatal Flu, Study Finds

Passing someone a sexually transmitted infection is viewed as worse than giving them the flu — even if the flu turns out to be fatal, a new study finds. The research points to an irrational stigma of sexually transmitted diseases, according to study researcher Amy Moors, a graduate student in...