Health

A team of researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke have taken a step forward in targeting diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's. Scientists studied parts of human cells called mitochondria, which produce a cell's energy. The study found a protein linked to cancer causes mitochondria to divide. Duke Medicine doctor David Kashatus says that division can cause cancer cells to form under the right conditions.

After childbirth, most new moms will experience some form of what doctors call the “baby blues.” That’s the low feeling after childbirth that comes from a dramatic drop in hormones. But for some women, those feelings persist and turn into post partum depression. In the most severe cases, these women need to be hospitalized.

A new state hotline aims to help consumers who have questions about their health insurance.

State officials, physicians, patient advocates and Medicaid recipients attended a public forum earlier today about big changes to one of the state's largest entitlement programs. In June, lawmakers at the General Assembly directed state health officials to cut more than 350 million dollars from Medicaid spending. Jessica Jones reports officials hope forums like this will help them decide where to cut costs.

State officials, healthcare providers, and patient advocates will gather at N-C State today for a public forum on cuts to the state's Medicaid program.

The state budget passed in June requires the Department of Health and Human Services to cut 354 million dollars from its Medicaid budget. It's one of the largest reductions to health programs in state history, according to the head of the department, Secretary Lanier Cansler. He says it's going to require a group effort to decide exactly what to cut.

UNC Chapel Hill is partnering with the state's community colleges in an effort to fight cancer. Public health researchers will work with all 58 of the state's community colleges to identify cancer prevention programs that work and implement them in the schools. Laura Linnan is a professor at UNC's Gillings School of Global Public Health and the project's principal investigator.

Creative people are more likely to cheat and lie. That's according to a new study out of Duke University. Dan Ariely is a Professor of Behavioral Economics at Duke and co-author of the study. He says the research shows the ability to think creatively makes someone more likely to use that ability for personal gain.