Rebel News - Independent News and Analysis

While acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine had long been thought to be effective in increasing the chances of conception through IVF, a new study voices doubt about the belief.

Previous studies had reported that acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine improve blood flow and subsequently increase the chance of an embryo implanting. Many infertile couples were therefore advised to use the therapy in different stages of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle.

Following a diet rich in fiber particularly from whole grains lowers the risk of developing chronic lung diseases, a new study finds.

"For COPD prevention, the most important public health message remains smoking cessation," said lead researcher Raphaelle Varraso, adding that the diet is another modifiable factor which might influence one's risk of developing COPD.

Despite the general belief, a new study finds that donating a kidney is not associated with an increased long-term risk of death.

Despite a slightly higher risk of death among kidney donors in the first 90 days after surgery due to its inherent risks, there is no difference in the mortality rate of donors and non-donors in the long run.

Apart from its popular use in smoothing facial wrinkles, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials approve the use of Botox in treating spasms of the elbow, wrist and fingers in adults.

Previously Botox was approved for treating underarm sweating and cervical dystonia, a condition characterized by neck spasms. The drug has also been used for alleviating migraine headaches.

Apart from its various environmental effects, climate change can extend the pollen seasons, making allergy symptoms last longer, a new study finds.

"By studying a well-defined geographical region, we observed that the progressive increase of the average temperature has prolonged the duration of the pollen seasons of some plants and, consequently, the overall pollen load," said lead researcher Walter Canonica.

Sleeping too little or too much can place young adults at an increased risk of putting on weight along their waistlines, a new study finds.

Previous studies had linked insomnia and lack of sleep to weight gain and higher risks of developing diabetes and heart disease in the long run.

While vitamin D had long been known for its influence on the bones, a new study finds its vital role in boosting the immune system and fighting infection.

According to the study published in Nature Immunology, immune systems' killer cells, also known as T cells, rely on vitamin D to become active.

Parkinson's disease sufferers are placed at an increased risk of the most deadly type of skin cancer known as melanoma, a new study finds.

Previous studies had linked Parkinson's disease to melanoma due to the high levels of dopamine — a signaling chemical with many important functions in the brain — produced in their brain cells.

New findings show that pistachios have anticarcinogenic properties and protect cells from damage caused by free radicals that might lead to cancer.

The latest studies by German researchers suggest eating pistachios on a daily basis may reduce the risk of cancer by raising the amount of gamma-tocopherol in the body.

Playing soccer regularly can help protect individuals against falls and bone fractures commonly experienced during old age, a new study finds.

"It is well known that the risk of falls and fractures increases with age as a result of weaker bones, poorer balance and attenuated ability to trigger rapid muscle force, but the present results suggest that soccer - and possibly other ball games - is an effective training method to reduce bone weakening that comes with increasing age," said lead researcher Peter Krustrup.