Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus: the latest lethal germ

In 2003 a brand new virus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) caused an outbreak of serious illness in Asia. The outbreak sickened over 8,000 people and killed over 700. Many of the infected were healthcare workers. In February of last year a similar but distinct virus was identified in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Since that time about 200 people have been sickened by MERS, all linked to six countries in or near the...
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Knee Surgery Ineffective for Many Cases of Torn Cartilage

With minor variation, the following is an extremely common sequence of events. A man notices slowly worsening nagging knee pain that persists over months. He sees an orthopedist who examines him and orders an MRI. The MRI shows a tear in the medial meniscus. (The lateral and medial menisci are the cartilage pads that cushion the knee joint.) Pain medicine and physical therapy are prescribed but the pain persists. So the orthopedist recommends surgery and performs an arthroscopic partial meni...
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