Category Archives: News

The Super Bowl and hearing loss

It should come as no surprise that football is loud. If you’re lucky enough to have scored tickets to the big game, you’ll enjoy it in the company of thousands of excited, screaming fans at the stadium. More likely, you’ll be watching at a noisy, crowded bar or on your living room couch surrounded by enthusiastic friends. … Read More »

Epidemic of autoimmune diseases pushes researchers in new direction

The immune system normally defends the body against everything from microscopic viruses to meters-long parasitic worms. But sometimes, it sets its sights on the wrong target: the body’s own cells. Autoimmunity problems cause many different diseases, depending on which cells are targeted. In Type 1 diabetes, it’s beta cells. Beta cells are located in the… Read More »

The development of brain stem cells into new nerve cells and why this can lead to cancer

Ana Martin-Villalba and her research team at the German Cancer Research Center followed stem cells along the path to neurons. The scientists analyzed at every step which genes where switched on and which of them were actually turned into new proteins. They expected to find that stem cells would simply switch their stem cell genes… Read More »

Health and Human Services wants to end 'middlemen kickbacks' in drug pricing by targeting rebates

HHS Secretary Alex Azar The Department of Health and Human Services is proposing to lower the list price of prescription drugs by correcting what it calls the perverse incentive to increase list prices to get higher rebates. The rebates are passed on to health plans, which use them to lower the price of premiums. But… Read More »