Style in a small outdoor space

Design magazines and home decorating catalogs tend to feature sprawling backyards with big wooden decks and room for everything from decorative fountains to artificial ponds. But few of us have that much outdoor space. Still, with a few strategic choices, you can create something truly special out of even the smallest yard or porch, says Los Angeles-based designer Brian Patrick Flynn. Incoming... 

Sleep problems linked to prostate cancer

WASHINGTON – Men who have sleep problems, including difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, have up to a twofold increased risk for prostate cancer, according to a new study published Tuesday in the U.S. journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.  Read More »

Oil falls to nearly $93

BANGKOK (AP) – The price of oil fell to near $93 a barrel Friday ahead of quarterly growth figures from the world’s biggest economy. Benchmark oil for June delivery was down 62 cents to $93.02 per barrel at midday Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $2.21 to close at $93.64 on Thursday after the U.S. Labor Department said... 

Childhood meningitis tied to lower achievement

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Kids who have had bacterial meningitis are less likely to finish high school and to be economically self-sufficient as adults, a new study suggests. The findings are consistent with past research showing that meningitis – inflammation around the brain and spinal cord - increases long-term risks of mental retardation and other disabilities stemming... 

Beware of diagnoses by medical apps, doctor warns

While medical apps for smartphones are often useful, and the range is rapidly growing, those that are diagnostic or prescriptive should be avoided, a German doctor has warned. ”There are simply too many possible sources of error,” said Urs-Vito Albrecht. ”A hearing test with a smartphone depends on the quality of the headphones, and evaluating the colour scale of a urine... 

Epilepsy drug in pregnancy tied to autism risk

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Women who take the epilepsy drug valproate during pregnancy are three times more likely to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder, suggests new research based on close to 700,000 babies born in Denmark. Previous studies have found more birth defects and lower intelligence among children of mothers who took valproate, but the new work represents... 

Don’t take the cinnamon challenge – MDs

CHICAGO (AP) – Don’t take the cinnamon challenge. That’s the advice from doctors in a new report about a dangerous prank depicted in popular YouTube videos which has led to hospitalizations and a surge in calls to U.S. poison centers. The fad involves daring someone to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon in 60 seconds without water. But the spice is caustic, and trying... 

BRAIN SCANS CAN ‘SEE’ PAIN

Scientists reported Wednesday in a provocative new study that they were able to “see“ pain on brain scans and, for the first time, measure its intensity and tell whether a drug was relieving it. Though the research is in its early stages, it opens the door to many possibilities. Incoming search terms:drug addiction and the brain (1)pain research OR treatment OR therapy (1) Read More »

Study finds gene that may raise Alzheimer’s risk in blacks

CHICAGO (Reuters) – The largest study to date looking for genetic causes of Alzheimer’s in African Americans may offer new clues about why blacks in the United States are twice as likely as whites to develop the deadly, brain-wasting disease. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Tuesday, show that mutations in two genes that play a... 

Study: More pollution means more air turbulence

LONDON (AP) – Buckle up. Researchers say that more pollution is likely to mean bumpier flights for trans-Atlantic travelers, explaining that models show increased turbulence over the north Atlantic as carbon dioxide levels rise. University of East Anglia climate expert Manoj Joshi says that scientists have long studied the impact of the carbon-heavy aviation industry on climate...