http://www.philly.com/r?19=960&32=3796&7=-1&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F Health and science stories on Philly.com en-us Sat, 17 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 2008-05-17T07:01:00Z en-us http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=19038974&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080517_Learning_secrets_of_the__soap_lady_.html She has held the same tortured pose for more than 130 years, her face contorted, her mouth open wide in a scream. Bony hands press against her sides, and strands of strawberry-blond hair fall behind her. Sat, 17 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 5b04b409977fdc2309977fd8d2094d91 2008-05-17T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=19002094&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080516_Vitamin_D_may_curb_breast_cancer.html Breast-cancer patients with low levels of Vitamin D were more likely to die of the disease or have it spread than were patients who got enough of the nutrient, researchers reported yesterday. Fri, 16 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT c116707c671320b6e439ca675ed12cb7 2008-05-16T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=19002289&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080516_Pa__legislator_grills_Rohm___Haas_on_tumors.html A Pennsylvania state representative grilled a senior Rohm & Haas Co. executive during a House committee hearing yesterday, accusing the chemical company of not doing enough to determine the cause of more than 15 brain tumors suffered by current and former employees. Fri, 16 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 6819d3060c02b2fc21b7672387a12d54 2008-05-16T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18965214&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080515_Specialists_call_for_heart-device_guidelines.html People with implanted heart devices need closer follow-up care, an international panel of heart specialists recommended yesterday in the first guidelines for monitoring this rapidly growing group of patients. Thu, 15 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 477aee5cc2db5a7b137d0d9309e279bb 2008-05-15T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18964654&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080515_Kimberly_Garrison__Add_water_workouts_to_your_fitness_routine.html SPRING IS the perfect time to try new things. Why not make a big splash and add water aerobics or swimming to your fitness routine? Thu, 15 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT ffed182649b79f2dc3fee2a004d1f498 2008-05-15T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18922539&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080514_In_rush-hour_battle__the_bike_rolls_on.html The bicyclist won. No surprise there: Pit a bike, a car and a SEPTA bus against one another in a "commuter race" to Center City during rush hour, and the two-wheeler usually wins. Wed, 14 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT ffd5dad2b8f08b5f74b1b63604fe905f 2008-05-14T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18922589&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080514_Wireless_network_nears_scrap_heap_The_vaunted_mission_of_providing_digital_access_to_all_ran_aground_on_lack_of_income_and_the_provider_s_move_to_exit_.html Philadelphia's citywide wireless network, which drew international attention and praise when it was launched, is likely to be scrapped. EarthLink Inc., which built and maintains the system, announced yesterday that it would end service June 12 and begin dismantling the system's physical infrastructure soon after. Wed, 14 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT cff4c8e2506bd270c6731a6565dbd3ce 2008-05-14T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18922324&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080514_Girls_who_exercise_slim_adult_odds_of_breast_cancer.html WASHINGTON - New research shows that exercise during the teen years - starting as young as age 12 - can help protect girls from breast cancer when they are grown. Wed, 14 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 948f83f549554af2cbb676cfc9f0a176 2008-05-14T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18922329&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080514_Einstein_s_view_of_God_is_amplified_in_letter.html LONDON - Albert Einstein: Archrationalist or scientist with a spiritual core? A letter being auctioned in London tomorrow adds more fuel to the long-simmering debate about the Nobel Prize-winning physicist's religious views. In the note, written the year before his death, he dismissed the idea of God as the product of human weakness and the Bible as "pretty childish." Wed, 14 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 6624a155634f8b4d09882aaedb7e8ab0 2008-05-14T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18871439&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080512_ap_geneticallymodifiedhumanembryostirscriticism.html News that scientists have for the first time genetically altered a human embryo is drawing fire from some watchdog groups that say it's a step toward creating "designer babies." Tue, 13 May 2008 13:27:10 GMT 6e6e5a6e8cc91ae63a9c5bd9d9a422a7 2008-05-13T13:27:10Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18886509&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080513_Pilots_resume_battle_with_gypsy_moths.html Pilots in New Jersey and Pennsylvania resumed the battle last week against gypsy moth caterpillars, which last year defoliated more than a million acres of trees in the two states and decimated acres of blueberry and cranberry crops. Tue, 13 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 8e727b59deadaa6bb8d87b62de69aa39 2008-05-13T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18886214&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080513_Insurers_pay_caregivers_to_track_patients.html Today, the region's largest health insurers will start paying more than 150 family doctors and other caregivers to more closely track their patients' care and conditions. Tue, 13 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 0b9dbdcd25bf89b4af7674adb3d2e17b 2008-05-13T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18886559&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080513_Rendell_vows_veto_if_state_bill_preempts_Philadelphia_smoking_ban.html HARRISBURG - Gov. Rendell yesterday said he would veto any legislation to ban smoking in public places statewide if it would weaken Philadelphia's existing law. Tue, 13 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT fd71365ac7fae475b6e803f28a961c35 2008-05-13T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18853744&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080512_Bye-bye_biopsy_.html Take another little piece of my heart now, baby. Marjorie Sprague kept playing those song lyrics in her mind, but not because she was lovelorn. Mon, 12 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 4649266b363726e67d8c0e07c857b830 2008-05-12T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18853734&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080512_Ask_Dr__H__Vasectomies_can_fail_at_some_point.html Question: I recently got married to a man who had a vasectomy 21/2 years ago in a previous marriage. Well, I'm pregnant! My husband initially accused me of cheating on him, but I swore to him that I've not been with another man. It must be that his vasectomy failed. But how can that be? Aren't they permanent? Mon, 12 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 8d5d92b11592b71da7a6cb2f5a8d353b 2008-05-12T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18853739&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080512_Inside_Out__How_depression_can_infect_a_whole_family.html Jane was nearly 40 years old when she came to see me for poor self-esteem. Despite her achievements, she never felt good about herself and was unable to sustain a relationship with a man. Mon, 12 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT da583660b9582911f7a3380f07eca581 2008-05-12T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18853754&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080512_Platypus_genome_offers_insight_into_human_males_.html Several years ago, biologist Jenny Graves caused much consternation among men when she announced that the gender's defining human Y chromosome was going extinct. But to forecast when it would disappear, she said, she had to wait for the complete genetic analysis of the duck-billed platypus. Mon, 12 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 3cae442efa36aff83fe899ca3bcc9d87 2008-05-12T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18836884&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080511_He_shows_no_signs_of_a_Beckian_slip.html Had Tony Soprano been under his care, Aaron Beck says he could have cured his panic attacks in two sessions. Sun, 11 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 050edf8b56739ecdd93b522e8623d877 2008-05-11T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18853759&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080512_Tracking_down_answers_to_combat-stress_illness.html When Joseph Boscarino returned from Vietnam in 1966, it seemed as if the war came home with him. Many of his fellow veterans in his New Jersey hometown battled drug problems and nightmares. Some committed suicide. He says his own twin brother, who went to war the following year, came back a changed person - debilitated by anxiety and delusions. Mon, 12 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 847cb2b41e95e58922165d2ecec48b2a 2008-05-12T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168131&44=18853764&32=3796&7=195537&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fhealth_and_science%2F20080512_Don_t_get_burned_getting_Vitamin_D.html For years, Americans have been taught that they should use sunscreen to protect themselves from a scorching burn - and the skin cancer it might trigger. But new research shows that by covering up, they may be sacrificing important Vitamin D, which is made by the skin when it's exposed to sunlight. Mon, 12 May 2008 07:01:00 GMT 2569c8b98210f174903fe5c4dc5a2390 2008-05-12T07:01:00Z