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In a world dominated by the click of a button, where bad news seemingly travels at the speed of light, while science-based good news barely makes it into the media at all, it should come as no surprise that an article titled "Eight

Dr. Brad Rodu, one of the world's greatest experts on tobacco harm reduction, has published an overview of what might save millions of smokers this century.

Seems there is another reason to like Facebook: A recent study shows last year s initiative to add organ donation as an option on the popular social media site proved quite successful a

In contrast to the results of other screening tests that don t seem to improve survival or early-stage disease progression (mammography and PSA, for example), a recent study reported in

Yesterday’s Sunday Times column by former chief food critic Frank Bruni discusses, somewhat ruefully, the accelerating trend toward posting calorie counts more or less everywhere food can be purchased. (This “trend” will be accelerated when the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented, maybe next year, requiring chains of 20 or more locales to post the [...]
The post The Times’ Frank Bruni on calorie counts appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

Because intensive control of blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetes can have negative side effects — such as repeated bouts of low-blood sugar (hypoglycemia) — it is important to evaluate whether such tight control is worth the risk. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) was a major clinical study conducted over a period [...]
The post Strict glycemic control has long-term benefits in type 1 diabetes appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is both a major cause of cervical cancer and the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, has been cut in half among teenage girls. Because the United States has such a low HPV vaccination rate in comparison to other countries, the reports came as a [...]
The post Some progress against HPV thanks to the vaccine appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

Will wonders never cease? The British newspaper The Guardian has reported the sobering news that crop yields will be inadequate to feed the burgeoning world population by 2050. But that’s not the amazing thing — that news has been around for a while. No, what’s both surprising and encouraging is that the British environment minister, [...]
The post Some sanity on genetically engineered foods appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

Here’s some good news. A report released Tuesday by the CDC found that the rate of smoking among adults in the United States has fallen to 18 percent. Although the rate of smoking has been falling over the past few decades, it had stalled at about 20 percent for the past seven years. The report [...]
The post Smoking rates falling among adults in the US appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

Researchers have found a test that could be a useful indicator of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer — a cancer that affects the back portion of the throat near the tonsils. Scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), found that when antibodies against one [...]
The post Antibodies could be useful in detecting HPV-related oral cancer appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

The Boston School Committee is set to vote tonight on a controversial health policy that would make condoms available in high schools in the district. The policy, which aims to counteract the spread of H.I.V./AIDS and other STIs, prevent unwanted pregnancy and encourage healthier sexual activity, proposes that students be counseled by trained staff members [...]
The post Boston school board to vote on condom policy appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

Following their annual meeting, the American Medical Association has decided to classify obesity as a disease. This has the potential to affect the way society views obesity, although the influence of the AMA ends there, as they do not have any official say in this matter. Among the supporters of this declaration are the American [...]
The post AMA declares obesity a disease appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

Although it was released just yesterday, Dr. Paul Offit’s masterpiece “Do You Believe in Magic” is already having quite an impact, as demonstrated by a very comprehensive article by Liz Szabo in yesterday’s USA today. Dr. Offit, who is the Chief of Infectious Disease at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (and one of our trustees [...]
The post Paul Offit’s “Do You Believe in Magic?” already making a splash. appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

We have certainly advised on multiple occasions that everyone keep their vaccinations up to date, but it’s important enough to repeat — especially in light of a new survey on adult pertussis vaccination. Dr. Matthew Davis, director of the University of Michigan National Poll on Children’s Health, points out that only 20 percent of adults [...]
The post Protect the most vulnerable: Get your pertussis vaccine! appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

Today’s New York Times had a pair of letters which contained some of the most brazen misinformation bordering on plain deception that we here at ACSH have ever witnessed. The first one came from a John S. Shaw, the Executive Director and Chief Executive of the Natural Products Association, writing from D.C. In an attempt [...]
The post Deceptive letter day at the New York Times appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

In an extensive re-analysis of data from three large observational trials, Dr. An Pan and colleagues from the National University of Singapore and the Harvard School of Public Health, reported that increased intake of red meat (beef, lamb, or pork) over time increased the risk of type 2 diabetes, while decreasing intake slightly decreased the [...]
The post Will reducing red meat intake decrease diabetes risk? Not so much appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

You may want to think about hopping into bed a little earlier tonight. In a column published in The New York Times today, Jane E. Brody discusses the risks associated with not getting enough sleep. She argues that most people actually need seven or eight hours of sleep to function and that sleep deprivation can [...]
The post How much sleep do you really need? Probably more than you’re getting appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

Last month Indian generic drug giant Ranbaxy Inc. was hit with a $500 million fine—the largest penalty ever against any generic company— after reaching an agreement with the Department of Justice. The penalty resulted from the sale of several common drugs which Ranbaxy knew were of substandard quality. As part of the agreement, the company [...]
The post Not pretty: Derek Lowe’s interview on the Ranbaxy generic drug scandal appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

Routine injuries have been a health risk for athletes in high impact sports such as football and boxing. However, concerns for player safety also extend to all other contact sports, such as hockey, soccer and lacrosse. The biggest concern being blows to the players’ heads which are very common in the competitive world of sports. [...]
The post New technology helps detect head injuries in sports appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

If it hasn t already, the subject of bullying has hit closer to home nay, at home now more than ever.

Every so often a really ingenious idea pops up that ends up making a real difference.

A few weeks ago, ACSH was a co-signer of the Culture of Alarmism letter sponsored by the Independent Women’s Forum (IWF). As you may recall, this letter was intended to counter the efforts of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition, an environmental organization that is trying to pressure the top ten retailers into removing a [...]
The post Mind your own business: IWF to enviros — We agree appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) have been a mainstay of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases. Such treatment is not without risk for some sufferers, however, says a new, preliminary study covered by MedPage Today. People with rheumatoid arthritis have an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, and NSAIDS have been shown to also [...]
The post Caution advised for NSAID arthritis treatment appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

At first glance, a ‘major peer-reviewed study’ making waves in the mainstream media may sound intriguing, to say the least. The bold claim here: A genetically modified diet fed to pigs caused digestive system problems. But ACSH experts say that in this case, as is in the case with other grossly deficient studies, researchers skewed [...]
The post Friday Funnies: GMOs and pigs study– More junk science, oink oink appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.

Dr. Gilbert Ross' op-ed in Canada s Financial Post, "Who's been planting illicit wheat in an Oregon farm?"