A procedure called PGD is used to prevent inherited disorders, but can it improve in vitro pregnancy rates? >>

With older kids getting the disease, it appears the vaccine may require at least one booster. >>

If not controlled, neuroticism may lead to premature death. >>

Intestinal gas is a sign of a healthy digestive system. But there are ways to reduce it. >>

Six years ago, when mountain-bike pioneer Gary Fisher came out with a radical new mountain bike with extra-large wheels, most of his own dealers didn't want it. Except for a couple of custom builders in tiny Rocky Mountain towns, no one believed that the heavier 29-inch-wheeled bikes were faster than traditional 26-inchers. But when some endurance riders started winning races on them, word began leaking out: Big wheels roll over objects better, are more stable (because the rider sits deep between the tall wheels) and build noticeably more momentum on descents, flats, pavement and all but the steepest climbs. Now, having flattened the criticism like a two-tire monster truck, the big-wheel revolution is exploding beyond its niche. Longtime riders are dropping their "little wheels" like yesterday's news, and manufacturers are rushing to make big ones, including seven models from Fisher's namesake brand. >>

Smaller multisport events go a fraction of the distance and can be more accessible. Participation continues to increase. >>

Lymphocytes filter bacteria from the blood, but mutations trigger a slow-growing yet difficult cancer. >>

A fictional steroid proves fatal for a ballplayer on 'Numb3rs.' >>

One man sets out to beat George W. Bush's three-mile time. >>

It's difficult — in the United States in the 21st century — to find a group that meets with no other goal than the joy of community singing. >>

As boys grow up and become sexually active, they cut back on regular visits to the doctor, sometimes for reasons of cost and lack of health insurance. But a new study cites another factor: boys' beliefs about what it means to be a man. >>

Authors of a new comprehensive analysis of antidepressants for children and teenagers say the benefits of treatment trump the small risk of increasing some patients' chances of having suicidal thoughts and behaviors. >>

You recently had a question from a person with arthritic fingers who can't use anti-inflammatory drugs. An old man told me of an arthritis cure. He'd had arthritis in his fingers so bad he could hardly move them. He started taking a teaspoon of cayenne a day in a small glass of tomato juice. When I got an arthritis attack in my hip, I started taking cayenne. I found that one-fourth teaspoon a day in a tall glass of orange juice works for me. >>

Shari Roan did a great article on periodontal disease ["When Gums Speak Volumes," April 16]. As a practicing registered dental hygienist for 27 years, I thought it was very accurate. >>

Influenza can trigger deadly heart attacks, researchers have reported in a study that supports what experts have long believed — flu can kill people even if they do not die directly from the flu. >>

Brief interventions by a physician may reduce patients' alcohol consumption, a study finds. >>

U.S. women with health insurance are more likely than men to go without needed care because of higher premiums and related costs, a study has found. A larger percentage of women also have trouble paying their medical bills. >>

After prolonged periods of sitting or standing, this is an excellent way to stretch and release tension from the muscles in your hips and back. You can do this move flat on the floor, but a rolled blanket or yoga mat makes it easier and more comfortable to get into the correct position and hold the position longer. Do this stretch a few times throughout the day. >>

Duh! Of course, the Food and Drug Administration will promote corn products when its cronies are planting corn on millions of acres ["Corn Oil — Good for You?, April 16]. The government did the same thing with the food pyramid — promoting farmers' interests and creating a nation of overweight, corn-fed people. >>

In ["Big Games for Little Athletes," April 16], I did not notice any comments from pediatricians or psychologists about age-appropriate developmental activities. Engaging 3- and 4-year-old children in organized sports is ludicrous. At that innocent age, they need free play, not rules by overbearing adults. >>

Re: ["Her Self-diagnosis: Too Much Googling," April 16], I can relate to the article. I recently diagnosed myself with stomach cancer — until it passed as gas. >>

Insurers and doctors add a stronger emphasis on good oral health as part of an overall wellness plan. >>

Toddler leagues are popular with parents, but childhood development experts have concerns about introducing competition too early. >>

Nutritionists worry that consumers might overlook other risks. >>

Tai chi boosts the immune system -- and may help balance and well-being. >>

Inspired by Hindi dance, classes shimmy, shake and free that inner drama queen. Looking sultry while you sweat? It's good fun. >>

Signs of possible cardiac damage have been found in some marathoners. More screening may be wise, a researcher says. >>

Long hours on the road are taking a toll on more than our cars. Women are especially hard-hit. >>

Now it's easier to make smarter food choices — like swapping deep-dish pizza for thin crust. >>

I receive a lot of ads in the mail for Flora Source, a probiotic. Will it do everything the ads claim? >>

It took a surprising autopsy and a doctor's leap to discover that cilia tell organs where to go. >>

The possible connection between gum disease and other health problems creates a new responsibility for consumers — to learn the condition of their gums. >>

The excellent article on bicycle seats ["Cycling in the Hot Seat," April 9] addressed the problems endemic with the basic design and offered the latest antidotes, except one — recumbent bicycles. >>

Plain and simple, I am a wannabe doctor. I practice medicine with my family and friends the way real doctors practice a golf swing with theirs. This addiction of mine is a leisure activity and my enabler is Google. >>

Chocoholics rejoice: Foods rich in cocoa appear to reduce blood pressure, a study finds. >>

Reverse move uses control instead of repetition to firm up abs. >>

People from families prone to Parkinson's who drink coffee or smoke are less likely to develop the disease, researchers have reported in a finding that reinforces earlier observations and offers potential paths to treatment. >>

Being older than 70 should not stop patients from getting aggressive treatment of the most malignant form of brain cancer with radiation therapy, French researchers have reported. >>

People who use statin drugs are less likely to die of influenza and chronic bronchitis, according to research that shows yet another unexpected benefit of the cholesterol-lowering medications. >>

Re: ["No Diaper, No Problem," April 2]: Like Dr. Valerie Ulene and Melinda Rothstein, I was initially skeptical of elimination communication. >>

Caught between a love of riding and a disrupted sex life? The latest bike seats might ease the pressure, but shop around. >>

Dogs and humans react similarly to the disease, so a new vaccine approved for the animals may yield insights into treating people. >>

The concept of combating degenerative disease and head trauma with neuroprotection is not new, yet it may now be making headway. >>

They're costly and imperfect, but the scans are now being advised for high risk women. Knowing who doesn't need one can be tricky. >>

Poignant struggles to lose weight are depicted but success stories are lacking. >>

Start by asking a few questions -- of yourself as well as your prospectives. >>

Parents who stock their kitchens with healthful food, limit eating out and ensure that their children stay active may overlook a threat to their efforts to keep kids lean: the television. >>

Cancer isn't the only medical condition in which studies on pet dogs are proving useful. Studies on dogs with naturally occurring spinal cord injuries are also yielding benefits for humans as well as the dogs themselves. >>

Even in a post-apocalyptic world, common sense could have saved Dr. April Green. >>

Tips from a mom and psychotherapist who's been there. >>

My doctor said that I should be taking an aspirin a day, but my pharmacist said it doesn't protect women like men. Who's right? and what's the best dose? >>

Re: your April 2 Healthy Skeptic column on enzyme supplements ["Enzyme Tablet Claims Don't Wash"], as the mother of an autistic boy, I know that many autistics are helped by digestive enzymes. My son had chronic diarrhea and enuresis until the age of 11 when we removed gluten and casein from his diet and began giving him digestive enzymes with every meal. Before this, he would wake up soaking wet every morning and was unable to control his toileting during the day. After we introduced the diet and enzymes, he became toilet trained. >>

Scientists call it the love hormone, the chemical that binds people to one another. Now researchers from the University of Zurich in Switzerland have found that the hormone, released in high amounts in mothers after childbirth, can improve a person's ability to interpret what is going on in another person — by reading information gleaned from their eyes. >>

Amphetamine and cocaine abuse may increase stroke risk. >>

Bending forward while trying to touch the toes is a very common way of stretching the hamstrings, but most people do the move incorrectly. Instead of bending at the hips, they round the back and fold at the waist, which causes undue compression of the spine. Avoid this mistake — and protect your back — by using this move to stretch the hamstrings. >>

Your article on itching captured well the misery and often resigned agony suffered by those of us with chronic itchy spots ["The Relentless Itch," April 2]. >>

Scientists are hoping that the first interactive registry for autistic patients younger than 18 will lead to a better understanding of the condition. >>

It's no surprise that those pointy little bike saddles with the long noses can cause problems for many men and women: Their shapes seem designed to impale you. But the obvious solution — changing the shape — isn't a simple, one-size-fits-all proposition. >>

"Informing consumers" has become a buzzword in health care as a panoply of government agencies, quality rating firms, employer coalitions and consumer groups have sought to arm patients with information about hospital quality. >>

The outstanding article "Take Charge of Drug Costs" [March 19] left out one important method. >>

I found the article "The Myth of 8 Glasses a Day" [April 2] very interesting. >>

Water intake: An April 2 My Turn column said a study that found no scientific support for drinking eight glasses of water daily was in the American Journal of Epidemiology. It appeared in the American Journal of Physiology. Also the study was done at Dartmouth College, not Dartmouth University. >>

For most, itching is a bothersome sensation that passes. For others, it's a torment. Scientists are developing new therapies. >>

The goal is always over the horizon for the band of endurance junkies who thrive on such races as triple, quadruple and even quintuple triathlons. >>

Some drugs significantly raise levels of HDL, the 'good cholesterol,' but don't lower the deadly plaque, study finds. One drug even increases the risk of death. >>

Some babies learn to go potty before they learn to walk. But not all parents have the patience. >>

Here's what some LPGA players are doing to amp up their game. >>

Pickles and ice cream are one thing. But why would someone want to eat dirt, or a bag of ice? >>

Vitalzym claims to boost the immune system and ease arthritis pain. The catch: It doesn't, a doctor says. >>

Pinpointing regions responsible for certain personality traits started with a railroad foreman's unfortunate accident. >>

Nutritional beliefs go in and out of style. One of the most tenacious is the fixation on drinking large quantities of water. >>

With strength training, female golfers are quickly catching up to their male counterparts. >>

I have read several columns about how to lower cholesterol. Mine is somewhat high, but my HDL is good (75). Maybe that's because I exercise four times a week, getting my heart rate up to the 130s for at least 20 minutes. My doctor does not think I need to take cholesterol medicine at this time. >>

While we appreciate Jonathan Alpert's effort to assist people in making good choices about therapy [On the Mind: "In Therapy? Here's How to Assess Effectiveness," March 26], we think he has oversimplified the matter and offered something of a cookie-cutter approach. For example, not all modalities of therapy involve homework: psychoanalysis and psychodynamic treatment usually do not. >>

Shoulder replacement is no more dangerous than the same surgery for knees or hips, and it's cheaper, a study finds. >>

Doctors have identified a third type of twins — somewhere between identical and fraternal — after performing extensive genetic tests on two children. >>

Here's a challenging way to work on your balance and strength at the same time. You'll strengthen the muscles of your standing foot and ankle, crucial to maintaining balance, as you strengthen the quadriceps muscles of the opposite leg. >>

Patients with Type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease, although the reasons are unclear, Finnish researchers have reported. >>

I'm a sixtysomething former marathoner and in-line competitive skater whose aches and pains force me to grumble my way to the pool four times a week. >>

As obesity rates climb, fatty livers are emerging as a serious threat to children's health. >>

A lifetime of suppression leads to infection -- and a very unladylike treatment for Lady Windermere Syndrome. >>

So, you've been in therapy for several months and aren't sure if you're improving. >>

The divide is shrinking, but whites still live longer than blacks. One reason: Heart disease. >>

After a slow start, she's out in front -- at 88. >>

At 84, Bell is a man with an iron will. >>

At 94, the Olympian is not one to spin his wheels. >>

She took up races at 66. Now at 84, she just can't stop. >>

"Crossing Jordan," NBC, March 14, 9 p.m. "Isolation." >>

It's hard to imagine anyone in this country hadn't got an inkling, by now, that eating fruits and vegetables is good for us. >>

"Saying Goodbye to Her Hair," written by Marc Silver [March 19], reminded me of the day my sister, Cindy Wilmoth of Temecula, "lost" her hair. Being diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2005 at age 48 was a shock to my sister, her family and friends. However, she faced the treatment regimen with amazing grace. >>

Get the full benefits by choosing the right size and doing exercises that match your fitness level. >>

Twenty of so years ago, my friend Marilyn and I decided we did not want to die young. Not that we were so young at the time, but in our mid-40s we figured we might be able to add a few good years to whatever our lifespan would be, by taking up walking. >>

I am a power walker, and have been diagnosed twice by two orthopedic surgeons as having a leg hernia. I have a quarter-sized lump between my knee and ankle. The pain radiates to the instep and is so debilitating that it gets painful to pick up my leg. Sometimes I have to just sit down somewhere to allow the reddened foot to become less painful. There is nothing more frustrating than aborting one's walk due to pain. >>

A three-month supply of maintenance drugs via mail order is "often" the same co-pay as a one-month supply at a drugstore? I wish somebody would tell that to my HMO. Its mail-order plan offers me a whopping $5 reduction from the usual co-pays for each three-month supply of medication. That's $5 total, or $20 a year. >>

I am a diet-controlled diabetic. Is a water-extract product of cinnamon (Cinnulin PF) safe and effective for lowering blood sugar? >>

FIRST-TIME antidepressant users might want to consider Ma Bell for therapy. >>

Here are two simple exercises to relax and stretch your neck muscles. Practicing them on a regular basis will help circulation in that area and, over time, contribute to improved posture. Neck stretches should not create pain, so remember to move gently and slowly. >>

People who have survived childhood leukemia appear much more prone to develop other types of cancer in the decades after their original cancer treatment. >>

More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, a 10% increase since the last Alzheimer's Assn. estimate five years ago — and a count that supports the long-forecast dementia epidemic as the population grays. >>

Laser treatments do not permanently remove birthmarks known as port-wine stains, researchers have found. >>

New models include ones with claws and dial-up laces. >>

Just 15 minutes a day of kicking around a ball or swimming might be enough to keep children from becoming obese, British and U.S. researchers said last week. >>

Jacqueline Stenson's article "Making the Case for Steroids" [March 19] should be titled "Making Excuses to Use Steroids." People continue to get caught up in this image-conscious society and forget that true fitness is a component of overall good health. A cavalier attitude toward the use of steroids is sending a poor message to today's young: Steroids will make you look better and perform better because without it you are not good enough. >>

Many people are unaware of money-saving options, and doctors often don't think to discuss it. So ask. >>

Exercisers and nonprofessional athletes who use the drugs just to bulk up think risks are exaggerated. There's little evidence to dispute their claim. >>

As I move from preschool to grocery store to a night on the town, I long to dazzle with dangerous glamour, projecting a steely don't-mess-with-me attitude. I want to look as if I could take you down if you set me off in a parking lot. >>

Human papillomavirus is common in men too. Studies are underway to determine if a male vaccine is needed. >>

The variety of symbols and claims on food products has become confusing for consumers, they say. >>

Young athletes have less anxiety if their coaches emphasize having fun and mastering skills. >>

Some microbes can treat or prevent health problems -- at least in the lab. >>

I appreciated the push for walking exercise programs in the paper ["Special Issue: Walking in L.A.," March 12]. I understand that the Health section diligently works to promote better health, so I assume that the photos of good-looking Anglos in beautiful settings which accompanied the articles were designed to make walking more attractive. >>

LipoZap promises to whittle away inches without surgery. But the technique hasn't been subjected to scientific scrutiny. >>

The Greeks used honey water. The Egyptians, a beer binge. A barley urine test led to the hormone discovery. >>

My wife buzzed her hair way before the pop star did. She had cancer. >>

Does adding hand weights or ankle weights while doing my cardio burn more calories? >>

I had to put in my two cents on dry, cracked hands. My father and I used to compare how many bandages we would be wearing each week because our hands were in such bad shape. >>

People with longer legs burn slightly fewer calories during motion, a study finds. >>

Merck's chickenpox vaccine Varivax not only loses its effectiveness after a while, but it also has changed the profile of the disease in the population, U.S. researchers reported Wednesday. >>

Doctors warn that a few obesity surgery patients have developed a serious neurological condition, with symptoms of confusion and poor coordination, linked to a lack of vitamin B1. >>

Using tools to help modify exercises is an excellent way to progress with your fitness program. We all tend to have tightness in various parts of our bodies, and tools help support us in movements that would otherwise be too uncomfortable to maintain. In this pose, yoga blocks (or sturdy shoe boxes) can keep you from dropping too deep if your hips are tight. >>

Less than 1% of Medicaid spending went to healthcare for illegal immigrants, according to a study that the researchers said defied a common belief that they are a bigger drain on taxpayer money. >>

A simple, brisk stroll has more benefits than you might think, and it's an easier sell than the high-velocity programs of the '70s. >>

Cartilage won't heal itself, but it can be replaced in a variety of new methods >>

Exactly how much good does that daily stroll do? For starters, it's terrific for the heart, studies show. >>

Although the early development concerns parents, health experts warn that obesity is the real problem. >>

It's easy. And with fitness clubs and races, keeping up the routine will be doable. >>

This just in: The high-protein Atkins diet tops the charts as far as weight loss is concerned, according to a yearlong study from Stanford University School of Medicine. The study, published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Assn., compared the Atkins program with three others (Zone, Ornish and the LEARN diet, which follows the government's food pyramid) that are heavier on carbs. >>

My arms ache and my legs feel as if each weighs a ton; they refuse to move faster. But, I gotta keep truckin' and not collapse in the middle of the street as happened to Jim Fixx, my hero. A recent study in Modern Maturity reveals that for those of us over the hill, the key to good health is a good night's sleep, one hour of exercise a day, a diet of fruits and vegetables. Plus vitamin supplements. Plus, plus. Mas, mas. >>

For millions of years, we've been ambulating about on two legs. At this late stage, how could walking possibly offer up any out-of-the-ordinary thrills? Here's a sampler: >>

Along with the cold and flu season, old-time beliefs and adages come around every year too. >>

Re: "Early Sex, Later Troubles" [March 5], I haven't read the study in last month's Journal of Youth and Adolescence, but I think it's important to be careful about confusing cause and effect with mere correlation. >>

IF all babies were born weighing at least 5.5 pounds, the prevalence of later adolescent depression among girls would drop by 18%, suggests a new study published in the March issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. >>

If you have a stroke, try to have it between Monday and Friday. A Canadian study released Thursday found that patients hospitalized for the most common kind of stroke on weekends had a higher death rate than those admitted on weekdays. >>

Just as the smell of watermelon might trigger a recollection of a childhood picnic, the release of odors during deep sleep can help people form new memories, a new study found. >>

The March 5 article by Jeannine Stein ["Put Off That Workout"] suggests that everyone, based on circadian rhythms, would benefit from exercising in the evening. However interesting the study, this conclusion would at best be useful only for the elite athlete, not the majority of adults. >>

Eve Zibart's "Negative Training" article speaks to an important workout principle: A muscle loaded when it is lengthening is a powerful way to achieve fitness ["Negative Training: A Positive Move for Your Muscles," March 5]. >>

Many of us spend more time focusing on lower-body strength than on upper-body strength. This can cause the lower half of our bodies to overwork as a way of compensating for a weak upper body. >>

Tendons, ligaments lose elasticity over time, flattening the feet. Good footwear — the right fit, ample cushioning — can help. >>

YOUR NEW NIKE+IPOD SPORT KIT — YOUR new Nike+iPod Sport Kit — a disc that fits in your running shoes and beams workout information to your nano — might do more than whisper sweet workout data into your ear. It could help a third party, such as a jealous spouse, spy on you. >>

Can cycling (indoor or outdoor) be a weight-bearing exercise? When I do Spinning classes in the gym, we pedal in a standing position much of the time. I have been diagnosed with osteopenia and have been told weight-bearing exercises may help slow down the loss of bone tissue. And I wonder whether cycling works in this way. >>

To improve your running, you don't necessarily have to work harder — just more efficiently. >>

Does having a relatively rapid resting pulse rate (say 90 beats or so per minute) make aerobic exercise more stressful on the heart and respiratory system than having a slower resting pulse rate? >>

Q: I have human papilloma virus. Can I still get the shot that just came out — even though I already have the virus? >>

Why do my muscles shake involuntarily during certain exercises, especially abdominal ones? Is this a bad sign (perhaps of fatigue, weakness in specific muscle groups or poor nutrition)? Or does this indicate that the muscles are being worked and strengthened? >>