THE GOOD NEWS
-- Researchers have identified a protein responsible for cell death in mammals. When the protein goes awry, it may be a factor in Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and even forms of cancer. In separate studies, scientists have inhibited the protein's function, raising hopes for new treatments for these illnesses.
-- A newly developed vaccine promises to protect sick and premature infants against respiratory syncytial virus, which causes 4,500 deaths each year in the U.S.
-- Scientists are developing testing procedures that will allow doctors to screen unborn infants for genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome by isolating fetal...