Rob Stein appears in the following:
FDA To Food Companies: This Time, Zero Means Zero Trans Fats
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
The agency is giving food companies a hard deadline to stop using trans fats in processed foods. It has determined that partially hydrogenated oils are not "generally recognized as safe" for food.
The Hard Work Of Waiting For A Hand Transplant
Tuesday, June 09, 2015
Kevin Lopez was born missing the fingers on his right hand. Now 20, Lopez has been on a waiting list for a hand transplant since turning 18.
Advisers To FDA Recommend Agency Approve Drug To Boost Female Libido
Thursday, June 04, 2015
Proponents claim the Food and Drug Administration is applying a double standard to its review of a drug some call the female Viagra. Critics say flibanserin hasn't been proved safe or effective.
Seasons May Tweak Genes That Trigger Some Chronic Diseases
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Genes linked to inflammation are more active in winter, a study hints. That might partly explain why some diseases, including Type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, are more likely to start then.
DNA 'Printing' A Big Boon To Research, But Some Raise Concerns
Thursday, May 07, 2015
Companies are assembling and churning out tailored stretches of DNA faster and more cheaply than ever before. The tool speeds research into diseases of plants and people. But what about eugenics?
Some Very Premature Babies Can Survive With Aggressive Treatment, Report Finds
Thursday, May 07, 2015
A new study from the New England Journal of Medicine says some very premature babies can survive if doctors treat them aggressively in an effort to try to save them.
Feds Say It's Time To Cut Back On Fluoride In Drinking Water
Monday, April 27, 2015
Excess fluoride consumption is leading to tiny white marks on many people's teeth. It's mainly a cosmetic problem, but one that could be solved by lowering the fluoride in drinking water.
Critics Lash Out At Chinese Scientists Who Edited DNA In Human Embryos
Thursday, April 23, 2015
They tried a technique for editing DNA to change the genes in a human embryo. This is very controversial. The scientists say they did it to see if they could fix a gene that causes a blood disorder.
Why Do Mosquitoes Like To Bite You Best? It's In Your Genes
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Researchers set hungry mosquitoes loose on identical and fraternal twins. They found that inherited genes do play a role in making you a mosquito magnet.
Screening Tests For Breast Cancer Genes Just Got Cheaper
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
A company has priced its test for mutations linked to breast and ovarian cancer at $249 — far less than the thousands of dollars another firm charges. But is there a downside for the worried well?
FDA Ponders Putting Homeopathy To A Tougher Test
Monday, April 20, 2015
Homeopathy's popularity has exploded in recent years. Now the Food and Drug Administration is considering whether homeopathic remedies should have to be proven safe and effective.
Use Of E-Cigarettes Triples Among U.S. Teens
Thursday, April 16, 2015
A national survey confirms earlier indications that e-cigarettes are now more popular among teenage students than traditional cigarettes and other forms of tobacco, federal health officials reported Thursday.
The findings prompted strong warnings from Dr. Tom Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about the effects ...
Why Knuckles Crack
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
A little MRI video seems to settle the decades-old debate about that loud pop of the joints: It's all about bubbles. But imagine an air bag inflating, not the bursting of a balloon.
Will A Transplanted Hand Feel Like His Own? Surgery Raises Questions
Monday, April 06, 2015
A 20-year-old man born without fingers on one hand hopes a transplanted hand will give him more confidence. He knows the risks of such a visible transplant, but says, "It's something I always wanted."
Can Tobacco be Relatively Safe?
Friday, April 03, 2015
Should warning labels on tobacco products take into account varying degrees of harm?
Arizona Requires Doctors To Say Abortion Pill Is Reversible
Wednesday, April 01, 2015
Arizona is requiring doctors to tell women using the "abortion pill" that it can be reversed. NPR takes a look at whether that's true.
Tobacco Firm Seeks Softer Warning For Cigarette Alternative
Wednesday, April 01, 2015
The product is called snus — a tiny bag of smokeless tobacco that users slip between the lip and gum. A Swedish maker claims the product is safer than cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco.
Angelina Jolie Pitt's Surgeries Will Reduce Cancer Risk, Doctors Say
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
In a New York Times op-ed Tuesday, Angelina Jolie Pitt revealed that she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed because of cancer fears. Doctors say it will reduce her risk by almost 90 percent.
Scientists Urge Temporary Moratorium On Human Genome Edits
Friday, March 20, 2015
Researchers who helped develop powerful techniques warn that tweaking the genome is now easy. More public debate's needed, they say, before making changes in genes passed from parent to child.
Breast-Feeding Boosts Chances Of Success, Study In Brazil Finds
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
A study that followed more than 3,000 babies into adulthood found those who were breast-fed had slightly higher IQ test scores, stayed in school longer and earned more money as adults.
