Health and Medical

Scientists are using new screening techniques to isolate the genes needed to make effective vaccines. --by Richard Harth

Whether your companions are overweight or skinny and how much they put on their plates can greatly influence how much you eat. --by Debbie Freeman

Not everyone who suffers extreme trauma suffers from post-traumatic-stress-disorder. Martha Kent is learning how some people avoid PTSD, and using the same tools to help others overcome it. --by Diane Boudreau

Single DNA mutations can make the difference between robust health and debilitating illness, but how do we know which mutations are which? Current tests aren't very reliable, but ASU scientists are helping find better ways to decipher our genetic codes. --by Richard Harth

Scientists and public officials are studying the features of past pandemics in order to deal with the current swine flu and potential future outbreaks. --by Diane Boudreau

Public health officials have to make daunting decisions about disease epidemics. Who should get limited supplies of vaccine? What is the cost of closing schools, businesses or transportation networks? Fortunately, a group of researchers working behind-the-scenes offers some answers. --by Diane Boudreau

The work of a nurse is connected to the life of a patient. Researchers at ASU and Mayo Clinic Hospital are helping nurses manage stress. Their work will help both nurses and the patients they care for. --by Diane Boudreau

Edible fungi, particularly the white button mushroom, may help boost the immune system and reduce inflammation, especially in the colon. --by Christine Lambrakis

Heart rate variability, the measure of beat-to-beat changes in heart rate, may play a key role in reducing stress and improving well-being. by Diane Boudreau

ASU bioengineering professors are designing electrical stimulation devices that interact with the nervous system to contract paralyzed muscles. Such devices can help the nervous system recover after devastating spinal cord injury. --by Melissa Crytzer Fry