Lab Report: Health, Science and Medicine

Kevin Loewke / Auxogyn
Human embryos at various stages, on day 5 of development.

(2 of 2)

Measuring plaque buildup within the blood vessels of the heart is the best way to identify who is at greatest risk of having a heart attack, but the most reliable test to date is an invasive angiogram. Now a study finds that a simple blood test can forecast with 83% accuracy how much plaque is present. More research will determine the test's validity.

Turning Off Food Allergies

Allergic reactions to food occur when the immune system can no longer distinguish safe foods from potential toxins. Working with mice, researchers turned off this reaction by feeding the animals a gut protein that quieted immune cells and trained the body to accept rather than reject common food allergens such as milk and nuts.

SLEEP TO LOSE WEIGHT

It sounds too good to be true, but catching some z's may actually help you lose weight. A small study of 10 dieters found that those who slept an average of 8.5 hours a night for two weeks lost 56% more body fat than those who slept only 5.5 hours. Changes in sleep-and-wake cycles, experts believe, may trigger hormonal changes that signal sleep-deprived bodies to feel hungry.