When a pornographic-film performer tested positive for HIV at a Los Angeles porn clinic last October, it shined a light on the lack of oversight of the porn industry. In December, that clinic, which porn producers used to test …
Medicine
House Watch: The Dangerous Line Between Hypochondria and Illness
It was a dark and stormy House M.D. Last night, Princeton-Plainsboro was in a state of near-dissolution: besieged by a thunderstorm (a slightly odd choice for February in New Jersey), the hospital was home to furious outbursts, …
Study: Weight-Loss Surgery May Change the Shape of the Heart
Gastric bypass surgery not only helps obese people lose weight, but it may also help patients’ hearts return to a healthier state and shape, according to a new study in the Feb. 8 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
A New Project to Track Animal Diseases Before They Infect Humans
Back at the start of 2009, I thought I was sure where the next influenza pandemic would come from: Asia. I’d spent a few years in the region following the steady progression of the H5N1 avian flu virus as it spread from wild and …
Quizzes — But Not Pop Quizzes — Help the Brain Learn
It’s long been known that the brain needs sleep to learn. Sleep has been shown to help the brain consolidate memories after cramming, and even to prime the brain to learn better beforehand. Now a new study looks at how sleep …
Senior Class Project: HIV Tests for All. Is This Really a Good Idea?
The Wall Street Journal reports on an unusual senior class project at a private high school: the entire class of 80 students will be offered free HIV tests at a testing event to be held in the gym. This is apparently the first …
Gardasil Protects Boys and Men From HPV Too
A new trial finds that the Gardasil vaccine protects men against human papillomavirus (HPV) as effectively as it does women. The question is: is widespread vaccination necessary?
Could Mom’s Stroke Predict Her Daughter’s Heart Attack?
A new study, published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics, finds that a mother’s history of stroke may affect her daughter’s chances of having a heart attack.
What Did the Planned Parenthood Sting Really Accomplish?
Over five days in mid-January, men posing as sex traffickers entered 12 Planned Parenthood clinics in six states. They claimed to be pimps seeking medical care, birth control and abortions for prostitutes as young as 14, some in …
The EPA Decides to Regulate Rocket Fuel — In Your Drinking Water
When I was researching a piece last year on chemical regulation — and the lack of it in the U.S. — one of the facts I was most surprised to learn was the existence of perchlorate in the bloodstream of many Americans.
System Failure: Countries Too Slow to Identify and Treat High Cholesterol
We know cardiovascular disease is a global killer but the numbers still have the power to shock. Heart and circulatory illnesses claim more than 17 million lives every year, almost half under the age of 60.
Pet Detective: A Dog that Sniffs Out Colon Cancer
Your pet pooch already lowers your blood pressure and provides emotional support. What if it could also identify your early-stage colon cancer?
Post–Super Bowl Heartbreak: Cardiac Death Risk May Rise for Losing Fans
Steelers and Packers fans may not have much to bond over during this Sunday’s Super Bowl, but after the game they may both experience certain changes of heart.