medicine

'Catastrophic' Super Gonorrhea Threatens American Genitals

Maureen O'Connor · 04/26/11 11:31AM

According to the CDC, close to a quarter of strains of gonorrhea in America were resistant to penicillin and other commonly used antibiotics in 2009. In 2010, some strains were also resistant to all drugs doctors have to treat the clap. Will a great clap plague kill us all? Here's the New York Daily News' summary of the "catastrophic" possibilities:

Curse Words Help Numb Pain

Max Read · 04/18/11 10:53PM

Cursing, as everyone knows, is awesome. But it's more than that! It's also, according to a new study, a painkiller.

Catherine Zeta-Jones Checks Into Mental Hospital

Maureen O'Connor · 04/13/11 01:11PM

After weathering husband Michael Douglas' battle with cancer, Catherine Zeta-Jones has checked into a mental hospital to treat her bipolar disorder. Says her publicist:

It's Official: Flip-Flops Are Evil

Brian Moylan · 04/06/11 12:40PM

Personally, I think everyone's favorite warm-weather and beach footwear, the flip-flop, is disgusting. Not only is there now someone to back up my claim with medical evidence, but it appears that the rubbery soles are horrible for your body as well.

The Shocking Treatment for Girl Who Can't Close Her Mouth

Brian Moylan · 04/05/11 11:22AM

The BBC show Bizarre ER featured a college student named Holly whose jaw got dislocated after a very vigorous yawn. While being stuck with your mouth agape is pretty horrifying, you'll never believe how doctors got it closed.

A Complete Face Transplant Is Now Possible

Brian Moylan · 03/21/11 03:19PM

Doctors at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston completed a complete face transplant on Dallas Wiens, a construction worker who suffered severe burns to his face in 2008 when his head came into contact with an electric wire during an accident.

How To Avoid the Upcoming Plague of Male Depression

Max Read · 03/01/11 03:31AM

According to a new article in the British Journal of Psychiatry, the rate of depressive disorders among men in Western countries is likely to increase greatly—possibly catching up with that of women, who are are currently twice as likely to be diagnosed with a depressive disorder. Are you a man? Don't worry! We have solutions for you.

New 'Cure' for Cold: Zinc

Max Read · 02/16/11 02:00AM

A review of existing studies undertaken by the nonprofit Cochrane Collaboration seems to show that zinc, of all things, can help reduce the length of, and ward off, the common cold. And! The study comes after another Cochran Collaboration review that found that Vitamin C supplements are more or less useless when it comes to colds. So! Zinc it is. Now, because the amount of zinc taken in the studies varied, the Cochrane researchers don't have any specific dosage recommendations, so don't get too excited. And, uh, also, "some zinc formulations had side effects including nausea, bad taste and diarrhoea." Still. Zinc! Who knew? [Telegraph; image via Shutterstock]

Is Weed Making You Sexually Dysfunctional?

Max Read · 02/14/11 02:40AM

Is smoking marijuana making you bad at sex? "Recent research—including the finding that the penis contains receptors for marijuana's active ingredient—suggests that young men may want to think about long-term effects before rolling a joint," writes LiveScience. Dr. Rany Shamloul of the University of Ottawa, Queen's University in Canada and the University of Cairo (Wow! Good for him!) tells the website, "it's a strong message to our younger generations and younger men." Indeed!

Successful Tests for Universal Flu Vaccine

Max Read · 02/07/11 03:45AM

Doctors in Great Britain have successfully tested a flu vaccine that—by targeting proteins common to all flu viruses—works against all strains of influenza. So, we might not all get wiped out by some mutant bird flu after all!

Spray-On Skin: A Demonstration

Maureen O'Connor · 02/02/11 02:54PM

Military scientists have invented spray-on skin: By applying a thin film of stem cells over a burn victim's wound, they can regrow skin in a matter of days. National Geographic documents one man's recovery.

Obama's Diet Secret: Tapeworms

Maureen O'Connor · 01/19/11 11:24AM

The National Enquirer knows why President Obama is "scary skinny": He's "secretly battling stomach parasites." Worms slurping at the lining of your stomach: hot new D.C. diet craze! We hear Joe Biden swears by the festering maggot cleanse. [Previously]

The Testicle Pictures That Got an Editor Fired

Maureen O'Connor · 01/13/11 05:55PM

Philadelphia magazine fired editor Larry Platt for giving a framed photo of his testicle to a female employee. Now he's been named editor of the Philadelphia Daily News—but staff emails about his testicle are still circulating. Here's one!