Massachusetts
Same-sex marriage laws reduce doctor visits and health care costs for gay men
Gay men are able to lead healthier, less stress-filled lives when states offer legal protections to same-sex couples, according to a new study examining the effects of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. The study, “Effect of Same-S…
Mindfulness meditation training changes brain structure in 8 weeks
Participating in an 8-week mindfulness meditation program appears to make measurable changes in brain regions associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress. In a study that will appear in the January 30 issue of Psychiatry Research: Ne…
UMass Medical School study points to genetic link in apnea of prematurity
WORCESTER, Mass. — A potentially life-threatening challenge characterized by pauses in breathing that can last for more than 20 seconds, apnea of prematurity (AOP) affects more than 50 percent of premature infants and is almost universal in the sm…
Link between 2 forms of ALS suggests drug target
For the first time, researchers have discovered a disease mechanism that links hereditary amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to the more common “sporadic” form of ALS — and points to a possible therapeutic target.
The findings are reported online in a…
Cement, the glue that holds oyster families together
Oyster reefs are on the decline, with over-harvesting and pollution reducing some stocks as much as 98 percent over the last two centuries.
With a growing awareness of oysters’ critical roles filtering water, preventing erosion, guarding coasts …