Bacterium helps to regulate metabolism in mice. Brian Owens 13 May 2013 The gut is home to innumerable different bacteria — a complex ecosystem that has an active role in a variety of bodily functions. In a study published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences1, a team of researchers finds that [...]

Very informative article on hiring caregivers. By Kristine Kevorkian, Ph.D, Next Avenue Contributor From time to time, when I worked as a social worker in a skilled nursing facility, visiting family members complained to me about certain staff members. Residents too often were worried that if they themselves griped to senior managers, there might be [...]

Do you think YOU will need long-term care when you get older? By Lauran Neergaard and Jennifer Agiesta, Associated Press | Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — We’re in denial: Americans underestimate their chances of needing long-term care as they get older — and are taking few steps to get ready. A new poll examined how [...]

The cause of MS is still a mystery.  One current theory links MS to lack of sunlight exposure. Tampa Bay Times – Annette Funicello, who died last week at age 70 of complications from multiple sclerosis, was diagnosed just as scientific knowledge about the disease was on the brink of expanding. The Food and Drug [...]

Wheelchair cushions are designed for both user comfort and for the prevention of pressure sores. Wheelchair users that do not have feeling in their bottoms must shift their weight often to prevent pressure sores. One possible contributor to pressure sores can be the inhibition of blood flow to the skin. In a wheelchair, this is [...]

Who said eating healthy to control diabetes had to be a tasteless sacrifice?  Today, diabetic recipes abound that are just as delicious as their high-fat and sugar counterparts.  It’s simply a matter of understanding the foods to include and those to eliminate. A healthy eating plan incorporating fiber-rich foods, healthy carbohydrates, heart healthy fish and [...]

Millions of people around the world suffer from severe spinal cord injuries that result in permanent loss of control of their arms or legs, or loss of bladder, bowel or sexual functions. Now, US researchers have developed an oral medication that offers hope that some of these lost functions could be regained. When given to [...]

In order to pay for the Nation’s new healthcare program, the IRS hopes to raise $30 billion and they don’t plan on having a bake sale to get the cash. Under the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (P.L. 111-152) a 2.3% excise tax will be levied on medical equipment starting January 1st, 2013. Amid [...]

The pill canagliflozin raised cholesterol levels in testing, drug reviewers say. Johnson & Johnson’s experimental diabetes drug might bring minor heart risks because it raised cholesterol levels in patient testing, according to federal drug reviewers. In documents released Tuesday, Food and Drug Administration staff experts conclude studies showed J&J’s canagliflozin raised levels of LDL, or [...]

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A new bionic suit is helping paralyzed patients walk. It’s the first time this technology has been available in Southern California. It’s giving one man the use of his legs again. A July 2010 accident left Aaron Bloom, 27, paralyzed from the waist down. “It’s really important that you just get [...]