Dolly the sheep did not have early onset osteoarthritis after all, according to new research. Experts at the University of Glasgow and the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom said their findings dispel original concerns about the nature and extent of osteoarthritis in Dolly, the first animal to be cloned from adult cells. In…  read on >

Lots of young children dread getting routine shots, triggering worry among their parents. So what can you do to ease your youngster’s stress? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests: Pack a favorite toy, book or blanket to help calm your child. Distract and comfort your child by cuddling, singing or talking softly.…  read on >

Men who have trouble conceiving may have the air they breathe to blame, a new study by Chinese researchers suggests. Microscopic particles in the air called particulate matter (PM2.5) may affect the quality of sperm, which in turn can make it difficult to fertilize a woman’s egg, the researchers said. PM2.5 stands for particulate matter…  read on >

There’s no evidence to support the notion that people who get the flu vaccine every year somehow “weaken” their immune system over time, researchers say. In fact, annual vaccination seemed tied to stronger immune cell activity, according to the Norwegian research team. That’s even true for years where the flu shot is a poor match…  read on >

Most American women would prefer to get a mammogram to screen for breast cancer every year rather than every two years, a new study finds. Currently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women at average risk for breast cancer be screened every two years, beginning at age 50. The recommendation is based in…  read on >

Diabetes affects about the same number of women and men, but it affects them differently. According to the Office on Women’s Health, women with diabetes have: A higher risk of developing heart disease, the most common complication of diabetes. Lower survival rate and a poorer quality of life after heart attack. An increased risk of…  read on >

Teens who abuse prescription drugs, like opioid painkillers, are prone to initiating or being victims of dating violence, a new study finds. In a nationwide survey of more than 10,000 teenagers who had dated in the past year, the researchers found that non-medical use of prescription drugs by boys was associated with sexual dating violence.…  read on >

Motorcycle crashes are far costlier than car accidents, both in lives lost and in medical expenses, a new study shows. Canadian researchers found that the death rate from motorcycle crashes was five times greater than from car crashes, and the rate of severe injury was 10 times greater. That came with a six times greater…  read on >

Women who are overweight or obese may need to be screened for breast cancer more frequently, new Swedish research suggests. The reason? Overweight or obese women are at greater risk of having breast cancer detected after the tumor has grown large — over 2 centimeters — than their slimmer counterparts, the study found. Heavier women…  read on >

Two-thirds of U.S. parents with young children say it’s difficult to find a childcare or preschool facility that meets their health and safety standards, new survey results show. Researchers questioned more than 300 parents nationwide who had at least one child aged 1 to 5 years. Sixty-two percent said they had trouble finding facilities that…  read on >