Men with the most common type of hernia who are without pain may want to consider "watchful waiting" before opting for surgery, according to the January 18 issue of JAMA.

Promising technology may someday allow doctors to discover the cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 45 minutes, compared to two days using conventional tests. The new diagnostic tool will allow physicians to prescribe targeted treatment without delay.

Intriguing findings from the University of Missouri-Columbia suggest that choosing the right socks may help keep feet healthy—research findings that may certainly benefit diabetics, as well as athletes.

Nonmedical use of prescription drugs is a serious problem among American teens, warns JoBeth McCarthy-Jean, a researcher at the Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University, Bloomington.

A promising treatment option—previously approved to reduce snoring—may also help people with mild to moderate sleep apnea. The minimally invasive "Pillar" Procedure involves placing three small implants in the patient's soft palate located at the back of the roof of the mouth.

New research confirms that brachytherapy, an advanced cancer treatment where radioactive seeds are placed in or near the tumor, is an effective treatment for prostate cancer. The study shows that 96 percent of the participants survived the disease a decade after treatment.

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)—developed by the National Institute on Aging (NIA)—is seeking 800 older adults to participate in a study to help identify biological markers of memory decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Generic forms of some very popular drugs are slated to become available in 2006. Included on the list are Norvasc, Zoloft, Altace, Ambien, Zocor, and Pravachol. Generic drugs have the same active ingredients as their more expensive brand-name counterparts.