Cases of the severe form of West Nile virus rose in 2010, says a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were 1,021 cases of West Nile infections reported in the U.S. last year, and 629 of these were neuroinvasive, meaning the infected person developed the severe form of the disease. Overall, 718 people were hospitalized for West Nile infections, and 57 died, including 54 who had neuroinvasive infections, the report said. The... 

A recommended 5,000 to 8,000 steps a day can seem like a daunting quota to fulfill, especially if these steps are painful ones. But saying good-bye to foot pain might be easier than you think. Contrary to popular belief, the answer doesn’t lie in expensive shoes or insoles. By exercising barefoot, you can actually promote your sense of balance, improve muscle alignment, reduce orthopedic pains, and lessen the chance of injury. Dr. Emily Splichal, podiatrist... 

The death of a Las Vegas woman who died after receiving a buttocks enhancement injection in a makeshift medical office was accidental, according to an autopsy. Clark County Coroner P. Michael Murphy told The Associated Press Thursday that 42-year-old Elena Caro died from an adverse drug reaction. He said the autopsy does not preclude criminal charges. Ruben Matallana-Galvas, 55, and Carmen Torres-Sanchez, 47, face charges of murder and practicing medicine... 

An anti-seizure drug commonly used to treat epilepsy could put the brakes on Alzheimer’s, according to a new U.S. study. Scientists from John Hopkins University in Baltimore said Wednesday that the drug levetiracetam can improve the memory of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a form of dementia that can lead to Alzheimer’s. It also reduced excess activity in the patients’ hippocampus, the part of the brain that is essential for... 

A new study from West Africa suggests that supplementing pregnant women’s diets with extra calories and protein doesn’t protect their kids against risk factors for heart disease once they’re teenagers. But researchers unconnected to the new work suggest that it might take more time for those extra prenatal calories to show up in the form of lower cholesterol and blood pressure among adult children. “There’s still such a big question...