Articles by Rhodi Lee
Want smart kids? Read to them aloud every day
The American Academy of Pediatrics' new policy urges parents to read to their children aloud daily from infancy. The recommendation is an effort by the pediatricians' group to promote early literacy education and reduce academic disparities between children from poor and affluent families.
Veterans Affairs lags behind care for women veterans of Iraq, Afghan military operations
Female veterans are more likely to receive medications that cause birth defects than women who get treated from a private HMO. The VA continues to fall short of caring for women veterans despite their percentage is projected to increase by nearly 18 percent in 2040.
Las Vegas doctor offers free surgery to girl attacked by dog, kicked out by KFC
Victoria Wilcher's scars caused her to be kicked out from a KFC restaurant but after learning of her story, a plastic surgeon from Las Vegas offered her his services for free.
World Cup travelers might bring back 'chik-v' to U.S., says NY senator
Travelers who went to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup may be subjected to more thorough inspections at U.S. ports of entry as senator Charles Schumer warned that they may be bringing with them a contagious mosquito borne disease.
Evidence of parasite affecting 240 million today found in ancient graveyard
Schistosomiasis, which currently affects about 240 million people worldwide, may have been spread because of ancient farmers wading through parasite-infested water. Scientists found evidence in a 6,200 grave in Syria.
California female prison inmates sterilization violated law, shocking state audit reveals
Female prison inmates in California get sterilized without their lawful consent. Although some may be unaware of the sterilization protocols, former inmates claim coercion from prison medical staff takes place.
Pope Francis: 'No room for illicit drugs, other forms of addiction'
Even with his liberal views on sensitive issues, Pope Francis has strong stand against use of illicit drugs. He also described drug addition as an evil with no room for compromise.
New York close to legalizing medical marijuana... but with certain conditions
New York will join the league of states in the U.S. that authorize the use of medical marijuana. The program, however, have several strict conditions.
Thousands welcome summer solstice in Times Square with yoga
Solstice, the longest day of the year that marks the beginning of summer, is the perfect time to do yoga at Times Square in New York City. Thousands participated in the 2014 Solstice in Times Square event.
Boring office meeting? Be more productive, stand
A possible solution to boring and unproductive meetings is to get everyone standing while brainstorming ideas. Study finds people working together while standing tend to be more collaborative, more engaged and more creative.
CDC scientists exposed to anthrax. Here's what happened
Erring CDC staff may face disciplinary measures for committing a mistake that may have possibly exposed as many as 75 researchers to anthrax bacteria.
FDA requires testosterone products to have blood clot risk warning on labels
Manufacturers of testosterone products are now required to include a general warning on labels to inform users of blood clot risks. FDA's investigation on stroke, heart attack and death risks linked with testosterone therapy is currently ongoing.
Kraft recalls Velveeta cheese products in 12 states due to insufficient preservatives
As precautionary measure, Kraft is voluntarily recalling 260 cases of its Velveeta cheese products. Affected products contained low levels of a food preservative which could cause premature spoiling and food-borne diseases.
British scientists find weak spot in superbug's armor
A team of scientists identified a way to penetrate the protective outer wall that protects superbugs and make them difficult to kill. The findings could lead to drugs that bacteria cannot build resistance from.
UK's David Cameron joins battle against dementia
UK Prime minister David Cameron will attend a summit of financial and health leaders to speak about the urgent need to find a treatment for dementia which affects about 800,000 individuals in Britain.
Canadian woman having stroke takes selfie video, aids diagnosis and treatment
The videos Stacey Yepes took of herself while experiencing a sudden slurring of speech and numbness allowed doctors to better diagnose her condition. She had transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as mini stroke.
Teen suicides in U.S. up 22 percent as usage of antidepressants drops
FDA's warning about the risks of suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents taking antidepressants appeared to have backfired. The drop in antidepressant use in recent years correlated with an increase in suicide attempts among young people.
FDA gives thumbs up for Sapien XT heart valve by Edwards Lifesciences
The FDA has given its nod to Edwards Lifesciences' second generation heart valve replacement system for aortic stenosis patients who are too weak to undergo open heart surgery. The device is set to compete with Medtronic's CoreValve.
Senators grill Dr. Oz for promoting miracle products for weight loss on TV
Senators questioned "The Dr. Oz Show" host Mehmet Oz for promoting on his show weight loss products that lack scientific merits and for his role in the perpetuation of diet scams.
Vitamin A derivative may help treat Type 2 diabetes
A potential treatment for diabetes and obesity may be on its way as researchers observed promising results in obese and insulin-resistant mice treated with retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A.
California legislators reject sugary drink labels bill. Long live calories!
A bill that would have made California the first state in the U.S. to require warning labels on sugary drinks was junked by legislators. The labels would have warned consumers that drinking sugary drinks could contribute to diabetes and obesity risks.
Boy finds leathery corpse hanging for five years in Ohio home
A 12-year old boy explored what is believed to be an abandoned house and found a body hanging by the neck. Authorities said the body belonged to the home owner who died unnoticed five years ago.
Unglue yourself from the chair, lower the risk of cancer, heart disease
Warning: Prolonged sitting is dangerous to your health. Researchers found an association between sedentary lifestyles and risks for endometrial, lung and colon cancers.
Beta blockers do not guarantee improved bypass surgery outcome: Study
Study finds use of beta blockers a day before bypass surgery does not improve outcome. It is also associated with abnormal and rapid heart rate.
Sanofi, Medtronic partner to battle diabetes with new drugs, devices
Sanofi, maker of Lanus, and medical device company Medtronic are teaming up to develop a drug-device combination aimed to provide diabetes patients with an improved disease management solution.
It's not the sorting hat from Hogwarts but this helmet can detect stroke
A team of researchers from Sweden have come up with a microwave helmet that can detect both a blood clot induced stroke and a hemorrhagic stroke. The device may help speed up treatments and reduce disability risks of stroke patients.
Diversity of Mexican genes may explain variety of health risks
Why Latinos of Mexican descent respond differently to medications and have different illness risks and prevalence is apparently because of the significant variations in their genetic makeup.
Actelion's Selexipag for pulmonary arterial hypertension lowers mortality risks during Phase III study
Actelion's experimental drug selexipag for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension shows promising result in the phase III study GRIPHON, which involved over 1,000 PAH patients from 39 countries.
Painful economics: Arthritis forces Britons to take more days off from work
Rheumatoid arthritis has its financial toll on sufferers as it causes severe pain that leads to frequent absences at work and even unemployment.
Bionic pancreas will be lifesaver for people with Type 1 diabetes
Researchers develop an artificial pancreas that monitors blood sugar and automatically dispenses the needed amount of insulin or glucagon. Study finds the device lowers blood sugar to levels that reduce risks for diabetes-related complications.
