Health Research: Engineered probiotics detect tumors in liver ♦ Ending Medicaid dental benefit is costly ♦ Very overweight teens risk bowel cancer

'Decoder ring' powers found in microRNA  MicroRNA can serve as a "decoder ring" for understanding complex biological processes, a team of chemists has found. Their study points to a new method for decrypting the biological functions of enzymes and identifying those that drive diseases.

Very overweight teens may double their risk of bowel cancer in middle age Being very overweight in your teens may double the risk of developing bowel cancer by the time you are middle aged, suggests new research.

African-Americans at lower socioeconomic levels have increased risk of heart disease African-Americans, especially women and young adults at lower socioeconomic levels have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The findings underscore the need for increased awareness and education about prevention and early detection and treatment of cardiovascular disease in African-American women and younger adults.

Diagnosing cancer with luminescent bacteria: Engineered probiotics detect tumors in liver Engineers have devised a new way to detect cancer that has spread to the liver, by enlisting help from probiotics -- beneficial bacteria similar to those found in yogurt. Using a harmless strain of E. coli that colonizes the liver, the researchers programmed the bacteria to produce a luminescent signal that can be detected with a simple urine test.

Ending Medicaid dental benefit is costly A study finds states gain little when dropping adult dental coverage. Researchers say adults in California made 1,800 more hospital visits annually for dental care after losing the benefit. California spent $2.9 million each year, 68 percent more before eliminating the benefit.