As we approach the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, there s no doubt that those who were most closely involved are still grappling with the aftermath. However, determining who was actually affected by those events and what s more how much they should be compensated, remains an open question.

Nerve cells, or neurons, process and transmit information. Skin cells, by contrast, don t have that capacity. It s quite exciting, then, that researchers from Columbia University have discovered a way to transform skin cells into fully functioning neurons. This method, reported in the journal Cell, is also notable because it avoids the controversial use of embryonic stem cells.

A new study published in the Journal of Toxicology lays to rest any claims about toxic pesticide residues that the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publicized with their annual Dirty Dozen list. This compilation of tainted fruits and vegetables would have everyone scared to touch the majority of produce in the average grocery store.

In yesterday s Huffington Post, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) writes how she was shocked to learn that regulators have been prevented from testing all of the 70,000 chemicals found in everyday home products.

The adverse health effects associated with smoking have been well documented, but now a new study from The Lancet suggests that the outcomes could be even worse for women. Led by researchers from the Division of Epidemiolgy at the University of Minnesota and Johns Hopkins University, the results of a meta-analysis on a total of 2.4 million subjects reveals that the risk for coronary heart disease is 25 percent higher among female smokers than among male smokers.

It seems that clinicians need to learn not to judge the proverbial book solely by its cover. According to a new study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, patients who are leaner than others are less likely to have their hypertension treated.

Speaking of how the media is prone to broadcasting flawed observational studies, an article in yesterday s The New York Times reports on research claiming that eating even a little daily meat may increase a person s risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Gary Gutting, a professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, is tired of opening the paper only to read about yet another new study describing the purported health benefits of various vitamins, supplements, or lifestyle habits. In an article for The New York Times, Dr. Gutting explains to readers the differences between observational studies and randomized controlled trials.

On Monday, we reported that, while heavy smoking among teenagers has dropped from 18 percent to below 8 percent between 1991 and 2009, those who smoke occasionally now comprise close to 80 percent of the teenage population a significant increase. We ourselves were stunned by not to mention a bit skeptical of the latter figure, and it turns out that the report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires a bit of clarification.

Too many patients entering hospitals because of a heart attack may be leaving with anemia, a new study finds. The cause, it seems, is not vampires in the ICU, but an excess of blood drawn for laboratory tests.