Effectiveness of Laser Spine Surgery for Pain Relief Remains Unproven
H. Gordon Deen, M.D., Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic

Spine surgery can be performed using several different tools, including a laser. Laser spine surgery has been around since the 1980s but it has never been studied in a controlled clinical trial to determine its effectiveness. Most neurosurgeons don't use lasers for spine surgery because there are no clear benefits to laser surgery over more well-established spine surgery techniques

Hybrid Hearts for Transplant: Could Stem Cells Solve Rejection Problems
Andy Coghlan, New Scientist Magazine

Human organs for transplant are scarce. One option is to engineer organs from scratch in the lab, using artificial scaffolds. While bladders and skin can be grown in the lab, growing more complex organs and their intricate blood-vessel networks, has proved tricky.

Surgery Not Only Option for Treating Spinal Stenosis
Mark Dekutoski, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery

Spinal stenosis is a common condition that results from changes to the spine as aging occurs. Symptoms vary in character and magnitude but can most often be effectively treated with nonsurgical therapies, such as medication and physical therapy. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

By the Way, Doctor: Can Ginkgo Biloba Slow Dementia
Anthony Komaroff, M.D. - Harvard Health Letters

Ginkgo is prescribed in many parts of the world as a memory remedy and is readily available in the United States as an over-the-counter herbal supplement. It does have some antioxidant properties

Tai Chi Health Benefits

This gentle form of exercise can prevent or ease many ills of aging and could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life.

Tai chi is often described as meditation in motion, but it might well be called medication in motion.

Food Chain: The Gift of Garlic

Garlic is prized as a culinary ingredient and herbal remedy by virtually every culture. The written and unwritten record of its virtues reaches back thousands of years.

Medical Memo - Hearty Humor

Mark Twain may have exaggerated a bit when he claimed that "Humor is mankind's greatest blessing." Still, a chuckle a day may help keep the doctor away and perhaps help stave off heart attacks and strokes.

Food Sources the Best Choices for Antioxidants
Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic

It is true that antioxidants -- such as vitamins C and E, carotene, lycopene, lutein and many other substances -- may play a role in helping to prevent diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and macular degeneration. However, research indicates that simply taking antioxidant supplements is not the best way to go about getting what your body needs

Vegetarian Diets & Potential Health Benefits

Most people who choose vegetarian diets are motivated by their personal philosophies, ethical beliefs, or religious convictions. But health certainly is a factor, and if a vegetarian eating plan is constructed properly, it can be an asset to health.

Vitamins and Supplements: Do They Work?
Health & Wellness - Katherine Hobson

Some researchers maintain that the diets of many Americans still fall short on several essential nutrients -- not enough to cause debilitating deficiency diseases, but perhaps enough to miss out on their benefits without extra help from supplements. While experts say you should be skeptical of most claims about the disease-preventing power of vitamins, minerals and suuplments, some evidence does support taking a few as a hedge.

Make Food Your First Medicine
Naturally Savvy, John La Puma, M.D.

Food can be and should be your first choice of medicine. With the right recipes and the best quality food, you can actually look forward to filling your prescriptions. Why not spend your hard-earned dollars at the grocery rather than at the hospital?

The best research shows that when measured against prescription pharmaceuticals, some foods and recipes work pretty well. In fact, learning how to cook can save your life.

By the Way, Doctor: A Very Fishy Diet
Seafood Diet Benefits & Risks - Bruce Bistrain, M.D.

I read in an earlier issue of the Harvard Health Letter that one of your nutrition experts eats five servings of fish a week. Why so much? And isn't there a risk from the contaminants?

Tiny tech sparks cell signal find
Tiny metal particles have been shown to cause damage to DNA across a cellular barrier - without having to cross it

Babies 'cry in mother's tongue'
German researchers say babies begin to pick up the nuances of their parents' accents while still in the womb.

Experts map the body's bacteria
Scientists have developed an atlas of the bacteria that live in different regions of the human body.

Foetal heart rate monitor warning
Doctors are warning expectant parents that at-home foetal heart rate monitors can give false reassurance.

Tackle work stress, bosses told
Employers need to pay more attention to the levels of stress and anxiety in the workplace, key NHS advisers say.

Breast cancer changes with spread
Nearly 40% of breast cancer tumours change form when they spread, a study shows.

Tributes paid to TB cure doctor
The man who pioneered life-saving treatment for tuberculosis sufferers dies in Edinburgh at the age of 97.

X-ray machine voted top invention
The public votes the X-ray machine as the best invention over the Apollo 10 space capsule and Stephenson's rocket.

Aspirin 'only for heart patients'
Using aspirin to ward off heart attacks and strokes in those not suffering cardiovascular disease should stop, research says.

Ugandan girls give birth and go straight back to school for exams
News two schoolgirls went into labour during exams, gave birth and continued with exams in the afternoon shocks Ugandans.

In a bad mood? According to research, it's good for you
In a bad mood? Don't worry. According to research, it's good for you.

A medic's tale
Losses lead to "sombre mood" at Camp Bastion

Sex jokes
Vietnamese use humour to discuss a taboo subject

Ski accident
How teenager Chas recovered from devastating injuries

Holy water
Ghana spa hopes to spark health tourism boom

Medical notes
A comprehensive guide to clinical conditions

From BBC Health
Coping with anxiety, panic attacks or a phobia

Memory test 'spots pre-dementia'
Memory and language tests can reliably reveal "hidden" early dementia, says a British team of experts.

Smoking mums have 'problem kids'
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of having a child with behavioural problems, according to researchers.

Child obesity 'is levelling off'
Forecasts of a huge rise in obesity among children in England have been significantly downgraded following a new analysis of data.

Depression link to processed food
Eating a diet high in processed food increases the risk of depression, research suggests.

Sierra Leone link to India medics
Sierra Leone's president launches a satellite link-up so doctors in his country can seek advice from their colleagues in India.

Drug 'can kill leukaemia cells'
Scientists at Trinity College Dublin working with Belfast City Hospital claim their new drug kills leukaemia cells.

Lung cancer care 'inadequate'
Key areas of lung cancer care in the UK are still "woefully inadequate", a report by leading specialists says.

Obese 'struggle to earn living'
Obese people in the UK are struggling to earn above the national average income, according to a survey.

Pregnancy timeline
From fertilisation to birth, an outline guide to a typical pregnancy and how the baby develops inside the womb.

Heart disease and stroke

Cancer: The facts
Information and statistics on common types of cancer

Patient Money: In Anxious Times, Medical Help for the Mind as Well as the Body
A new law requires that next year big group plans provide the same level of care for mental health as for medical ones.

Regarding Tamiflu, Doctors and Patients Face a Question of When to Act
There has been some confusion among doctors about whether to prescribe the antiviral drug Tamiflu for less severe cases.

Official Endorses Workplace Clinics for Vaccine Distribution
The official said swine flu vaccine should be distributed through many outlets, to get it to high-risk people quickly.

Research Shows Neighborhoods Where AIDS Treatments Lag
The San Francisco heath department is mapping the city to show where the sickest AIDS patients live, part of an effort to identify where care should be focused.

Recipes for Health: Puree of Chickpea Soup
This delicate, velvety soup is a surprising departure from the hearty stews in which chickpeas often appear.

Readers Ask: Ulcers
Dr. Neena S. Abraham answers readers' questions about ulcers.

After Setbacks, Small Successes for Gene Therapy
Three recent successes, though small, prompted hopes among scientists that a still-experimental idea for correcting genetic disorders might be back.

F.D.A. Fighting False Online Claims About Swine Flu Treatments
The Food and Drug Administration has identified 140 different dubious products sold online and has sent letters to 75 manufacturers.

Political Memo: On Health Care, Democrats Play Down Election Results
Even politically vulnerable Democrats in Congress said the party’s losses in two governor’s races this week were not big influences on their decision on health care.

Pelosi Faces Competing Pressures on Health Care
Speaker Nancy Pelosi raises funds in part to help re-elect her most vulnerable members, many from Republican-leaning districts leery of liberal health care proposals.

House Democrats Seek Allies for Health Care Vote
Vote counters say they are confident they will have the numbers when the House floor vote begins Saturday.

The Work-Up: Costs Surge for Medical Devices, but Benefits Are Opaque
Medical devices may seem an inviting target to better control Medicare spending, but plans for a health care overhaul do not address the quality or the cost of the products.

Questioning a Test for Cancer
Scaring people into quitting is the marketing rationale for a new genetic test, which purports to identify which smokers have the highest risk of developing lung cancer.

New Drug for H1N1 Flu Offers Hope
Peramivir might also be a life saver for its developer, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, an unprofitable biotechnology company in Birmingham, Ala.

Officials Defend Distribution of Flu Vaccine to Companies
Citigroup received 1,200 doses and Goldman Sachs got 200, as shortages have continued and hospitals have not received the supplies they have requested.

House Haggles Over Abortion in Health Care Bill
The issue is a political land mine on the path to a vote, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, on the overhaul bill in the House.

Vital Signs: Screening: Many Doctors Do Unneeded Pap Smears, Study Finds
A survey of 1,212 primary care doctors found that most had overused cervical cancer screening.

Skin Deep: Surgery at a Spa? Buyer Beware.
Medical spas are rapidly growing, and coming under increased scrutiny.

Can Pets Get Swine Flu?
Several readers recently asked the Consults blog whether cats, dogs and other pets can get sick from the H1N1 virus that causes swine flu.

Jeremy Morris, Proved Exercise Is Heart-Healthy, Dies at 99 ½
Mr. Morris was a British epidemiologist whose heart-attack research laid the scientific groundwork for the modern aerobics movement.

Bellevue Natural-Birth Center, Haven for Poor Women, Closes
The closing has provoked complaints about a lack of public notice that it was being considered, as well as about the declining number of natural-birth options in the city.

Truck Carrying Flu Vaccine Supply Is Stolen
The vaccine was recovered, and the thieves may not have even known it was in the truck, but is no longer considered usable.

World Briefing | Asia: Taiwan: Swine Flu Vaccination Program Begins
The Taiwanese government announced that by starting vaccinations against the H1N1 virus this week, it had begun the largest immunization program in Taiwan’s history.

Older Bypass Method Is Best, a Study Shows
A rigorous evaluation of bypass operations with and without heart-lung machines found that outcomes were better in cases using the machines.

Nation Is Facing Vaccine Shortage for Seasonal Flu
Experts said the situation was unavoidable, given how the global swine flu pandemic raised demand for all flu shots.

Premature Births Are Fueling Higher Rates of Infant Mortality in U.S., Report Says
A detailed analysis by government researchers offered insight into a longstanding problem for the American population.

A Powerful Identity, a Vanishing Diagnosis
Experts want to remove an autism label from a diagnostic manual, but people with the disorder are divided.

Second Opinion: Quandary With Mammograms: Get a Screening, or Just Skip It?
Research suggesting that mammography examinations do not help women leaves many in a treatment quandary.

Fathers Gain Respect From Experts (and Mothers)
Having a father help with the child-rearing is important. Having a mother back him is more important.

Flu Shots for Students Begin Saturday
Middle and high school students will be able to get the shots free in clinics that will be held throughout New York City over the next five weekends.

Giving Sight by Therapy With Genes
Once clinging to his mother and father, now playing Little League and riding go-carts, an 8-year-old benefited from a new technique.

Vital Signs: Regimens: A Supplement Didn’t Help Heart Patients
A supplement of omega-3 fatty acid did not show any effect in treating depression in heart patients.

Vital Signs: Awareness: On Drug Labels, Vital Facts May Be Missing
Researchers said important information about medications often did not reach the physicians prescribing them.

Lupus Drug Shows Promise in New Trial
Human Genome Sciences said early Monday that its experimental drug to treat lupus was effective in its second big clinical trial.

Vital Signs: Patterns: For Heart Attacks, Shifts in Gender Gap
Recent surveys showed an increase for women and a decrease for men, which a study’s author said reflected an “ominous trend.”

How Posted Calories Affect Food Orders
One study said an effort had no effect on residents in poor neighborhoods, while another saw modest changes citywide.

Pushing Past the Pain of Exertion
No matter how fast they run or how much experience they have, most runners can experience fear of exertional pain and concern about what to do when it hits during a race.

Practical Traveler: Theme Parks Confront Flu Jitters
With crowded conditions, theme parks are being viewed as the perfect petri dishes for the H1N1 virus by some worried travelers.

Health Care Debate Focuses on Legal Immigrants
Latino leaders, worried that Congress might quietly cut back benefits for legal immigrants, have started an 11th-hour campaign to eliminate proposed waiting periods.

G.O.P. Counters With a Health Plan of Its Own
The bill would reward states for reducing the number of uninsured and limit malpractice awards. It has no chance of passing.

House Bill Would Assure Workers Paid Sick Days
Legislation introduced in Congress on Tuesday would guarantee five paid sick days for workers sent home by their employers with a contagious illness.

Personal Health: A Breathing Technique Offers Help for People With Asthma
An alternative technique developed by a Russian doctor more than a half-century ago has been found effective in some trials.

Really?: The Claim: A Person Can Pay Off a Sleep Debt by Sleeping Late on Weekends
Studies have found that, even after increasing sleep, it can take a week or more for the cognitive and physiological consequences of too little rest to wear off.

Q & A: A Shot in the Arm
Why do some people get a sore arm at the site of a flu vaccine injection while others do not?

Well: A Marathon Run in the Slow Lane
Marathons around the country are getting slower as more charity runners and run-walkers take part.

Cases: A Life Apart, Without a Home, Friends or Regrets
A man at a homeless shelter was described as filled with thought but empty of feeling.

Doctor and Patient: Bending the Rules of Clinical Trials
Doctors often deviate from study rules if doing so might improve a patient’s care, a new survey found.

Economic View: Supply-Side Ideas, Turned Upside Down
The Obama health plan would discourage taxpayers from working to their full potential by making their efforts less rewarding, N. Gregory Mankiw says.

Battling Addiction With Those Who Know It Best
Recovering drug addicts in Philadelphia are joining with experts in a broad network to help those still struggling with substance abuse and depression.

Economic View: How an Insurance Mandate Could Leave Many Worse Off
How government-mandated health insurance could be detrimental to many people it was intended to help.