Articles by Maryanne Moll
New tick test may help diagnose lingering Lyme disease in humans
Researchers have successfully tested xenodiagnosis, or diagnosis with another animal, in humans, and have found that it is a safe method to use in diagnosing Lyme disease.
Shocking: Breast feeding benefits overhyped, new study claims
A new study claims that breast-feeding may not have been the main or only factor in affecting a child's physical, mental, and emotional health. The findings of this new study are important for future health policies.
USDA expands WIC list but leaves spud growers out in cold
The new expanded list of foods available for beneficiaries of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) now includes fresh fruits and vegetables, but has noticeably excluded potatoes. The National Potato Council and several lawmakers from Maine are fighting to get the nutrition-rich spud on the list.
Brain of insomniacs wired differently: Always switched on
A new study has shown that the brains of insomniacs are too active to be turned off at night for sleep. However, it is still unclear whether this hyperactivity of the brain is caused by lack of sleep, or if lack of sleep is caused by the hyperactive brain.
GoPro cam-fitted pelican shows us how to soar above all odds in awe-inspiring video
A GoPro Hero 3 camera was fitted to the beak of a Great White Pelican on its first flight, and it has captured breathtaking footage of the water and mountain of Mahale Mountain National Park. The big bird was washed ashore after it was abandoned by its flock during a storm, and was adopted, cared for, and taught to fly by the staff of the Greystoke Mahale resort.
Hello, Earclip: Japanese scientists develop Google Glass-type contraption for the ear
Japan has joined the fray of wearable technology with a new tiny PC that can be worn on the ear. Still in the prototype stage, its engineer, Kazuhiro Taniguchi, has demonstrated the device over a video that was posted by Japan's by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Chris Brown must undergo anger management rehab for 2 months, fans in shock
After about three months of drug and anger management rehab and 250 hours of community labor, the court has decided that Chris Brown must stay on for another 2 months in rehab while he is being tried for assault for an attack on a man in Washington. Chris Brown still has 750 hours remaining in his community labor program.
Study finds why autism is more common among boys than girls
A new study may have shed light on why autism affects more boys than girls. The key lies in the genes, as girls need more mutations for the autism to take root in.
Egyptian army mocked for claiming to have found AIDS , Hepatitis C cure
The Egyptian Army has unveiled its miracle devices for detecting and curing Hepatitis C and HIV completely in as little as 16 hours, and instead of praise, it has since earned criticism for it.
C-section births linked to higher obesity risk in offspring
A new study has shown that babies born via C-section are more likely to battle obesity as adults, compared to those who were born naturally. While a cause of the link between obesity and mode of childbirth is not yet clear, the researchers said that this should make women think more deeply before deciding on C-section as their mode of delivery.
Algae explosion in Lake Erie is posing danger to fish, tourism and locals
Lake Erie, one of the five Great Lakes that is home to 45 million people in the United States and Canada, is experiencing very high levels of algal blooms, and its water quality has been deteriorating for a decade now. Phosphorus runoffs from diffuse land use have caused the blooms, and the International Joint Commission has issued a report that has outlined recommendations for rehabilitating the lake.
Maryland doctors extract teeth from rare brain tumor in 4-months old infant
Doctors in Maryland were stunned when they operated on a tumor in the brain of a four month-old baby boy. The tumor has been identified as an adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma, and doctors spotted teeth in the tumor. It is rare for such a mass to contain teeth, although medical researchers have always suspected that both craniopharyngioma and teeth are formed from the same cells.
Why FDA-approved Zohydro painkiller may be a bad idea after all
Groups have risen in protest against the FDA's approval of a new opioid painkiller Zohydro, claiming that its hydrocodone levels are lethal. The Coalition to End the Opioid Epidemic has sent a letter to the FDA, and a protest is being organized for September by the group Physicians For Responsible Opioid Prescribing.
New cfDNA test more effective in determining Down Syndrome in fetus, than standard serum screening
A new genetic test that analyzes the free DNA floating in a pregnant woman's blood was proven to be more effective at predicting chromosomal disorders compared with standard screening tests, due to its much smaller incidence of false-positive results. This is significant for women who may no longer have to undergo invasive testing just to confirm the positive results of standard tests.
Body Mass Index is good but Body Shape Index is better predictor of mortality: Study
Better than BMI, a new tool for measuring body fat takes into account where the weight is concentrated. The new tool, called ABSI, has shown itself to be a better predictor of mortality rates as well.
Augmented reality may help amputees deal with phantom limb pain
Amputees suffering from phantom limb pain may see relief with the help of an augmented reality game that utilizes the muscle signals from the patient´s stump and translates it into actual limb action that the patient can see and control on the screen. Ture Johanson, who has lived with phantom limb pain for 48 years, has tried out this system and said that his pain has been significantly alleviated.
Strenuous physical activity may trigger heart attacks and strokes
An analysis of data gathered from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which covered the deaths that occurred while firefighters were on duty during the years 1998 to 2012, has shown that firefighters who died of a heart attack while on the job, were doing vigorous physical activity right before the attack happened.
'Microbial Pompeii' on 1000-year-old skeletons gives scientists a peek of ancient diet and oral hygiene
Researchers have studied the plaque buildup on the teeth of 1,000 year-old skeletons and have found that the same bacteria that cause periodontal disease in modern man has caused the same disease in ancient humans. The study has also given researchers evidence that ancient humans hardly cleaned their teeth, and that they also ate vegetables.
Funny bunnies on Japan's 'Rabbit Island' chasing tourist video goes viral
A video showing a female tourist being attacked by a large group of bunnies on Japan's Rabbit Island goes viral, and further causes a spike in visitors to the island.
Apple buys Burstly, yanks beta testing app TestFlight and app monetization service SkyRocket from Android
Apple has acquired Burstly, the maker of TestFlight and SkyRocket. TestFlight has already announced that it will pull Android support by March 21, and TestFlight SDK will no longer allow new users to upload their builds.
Twitter decoded: Study classifies tweets into six types...which type are you?
A new study has identified the six basic conversational archetypes that make up all of Twitter, namely, Polarized Crowd, Tight Crowd, Brand Clusters, Community Clusters, Broadcast Network, and Support Network.
Early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) possible because of antibody
A new study has shown that an antibody that can be detected in the blood before the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) can be the key to inhibiting the onset of the disease.
Obese women's deepest secret revealed: 1 hour of exercise per year
A new study has revealed the startling fact that obese men get less than four hours worth of exercise a year, and women only one hour, because people now live lives that are very sedentary.
E-cigarette lobbyists face uphill battle against FDA regulations
Manufacturers, distributors, and advocates of electronic cigarettes continue to fight against an ongoing review of the FDA to include the product under its jurisdiction. Should the proposed move by the FDA push through, e-cigarettes will be regulated, and shall be subject to the standards and requirements that tobacco products are also subject to.
Girl scout cookie sale hits record high...with a lot of help from pot heads
A 13 year-old Girl Scout achieved high cookie sales selling Dulce de Leche and Tagalong cookies outside a medical marijuana dispensing facility in San Francisco, California. Marijuana has been legal for medical use in California since 1996, and the Girl Scout's mother explains that she wanted the opportunity to talk to her two daughters about drugs.
Thyroid cancer epidemic? No. Overdiagnosis epidemic? Yes.
A new study has revealed that there is an epidemic of overdiagnosis in cases of thyroid cancer, as the incidence of the cancer has tripled between 1975 and 2009. The overdiagnosis usually results in over treatment.
FDA bans US sale of 4 bidis...which weren't being sold for years, anyways
Four different bidi variations under the Sutra line of bidis, manufactured by Jash International, have been banned from the shelves by the FDA's Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009, because the manufacturer has failed to provide information on its ingredients. This development came in light of the Surgeon General's report that modern cigarettes are more likely to cause lung cancer compared to the ones manufactured decades back.
Anti-choking hero Dr. Henry Heimlich pens his memoir
Dr. Henry Heimlich, who came up with the popular and very easy to do Heimlich maneuver that expels foreign objects from a choking victim's windpipe, has written a memoir. In the book he tells the story of how he devised the maneuver, and the journey that it took to become standard first-aid procedure today.
Flu season not yet over, especially for vulnerable groups, warns CDC
The flu season has shown that young people, even the healthy ones, and pregnant women need to be especially careful so that they don't get the flu this year. People of age between 18 and 64 comprise 61 percent of all hospitalization caused by the current flu strain going around.
Well-being Index 2013 is out: The best states to live in the U.S. are...
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index for 2013 is out. North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Montana are the top five best states to live in the US, while Mississippi, Kentucky, and West Virginia are the three worst. What about your state?
