Tag Archives: Researchers

Smoking a small amount of pot may boost sperm and testosterone, surprised researchers find

When Dr. Jorge Chavarro’s team started investigating marijuana’s effects on sperm, they had every reason to believe weed would prove detrimental to “testicular function,” because other studies had said it to be so. Instead, they found the opposite. Men who had ever smoked marijuana had significantly higher sperm concentrations and sperm counts, as well as… Read More »

Cancer researchers come to Harvard to share findings, launch center for early detection

Amid alarming projections that global cancer rates will skyrocket, researchers from around the country gathered at Harvard on Monday to share their latest findings and to launch a center whose aim is to boost early detection and prevention. By 2040, deaths due to cancer are expected to rise 60 percent in the U.S., 79 percent… 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 »

Researchers identify genes associated with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects one in 10 women of reproductive age. It is characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, facial hair or acne and an increased number of eggs arrested in development. Many women also suffer from weight gain, Type 2 diabetes and depression. While first characterized by the medical community in the mid-1930s, few… Read More »