Nicoletta Lanese

Nicoletta Lanese

Channel Editor, Health

Nicoletta Lanese is the health channel editor at Live Science and was previously a news editor and staff writer at the site. She holds a graduate certificate in science communication from UC Santa Cruz and degrees in neuroscience and dance from the University of Florida. Her work has appeared in The Scientist, Science News, the Mercury News, Mongabay and Stanford Medicine Magazine, among other outlets. Based in NYC, she also remains heavily involved in dance and performs in local choreographers' work.

Articles by: Nicoletta Lanese

two boxes of the medication "ozempic" sit on a wooden table in a pharmacy

Watch out for Ozempic copycats containing unauthorized active ingredients, FDA warns

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Some compounding pharmacies are using unauthorized active ingredients to make copycat versions of Ozempic and Wegovy.

close up of an analog bathroom scale on a light wood floor

Weight-loss surgery is becoming more common among US teens

By Nicoletta Lanese published

A study suggests that more U.S. teens with obesity are getting weight-loss surgeries, in line with official guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

close up photo of a light brown brown recluse spider on a black background

In rare case, man develops painful deep vein blood clots following brown recluse spider bite

By Nicoletta Lanese published

A man in Michigan developed deep vein thrombosis after reportedly being bitten by a brown recluse spider.

illustration of the amoeba Naegleria fowleri against a light blue background

'Brain-eating' amoebas are a new concern in northern US states, health officials advise

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Ohio public health officials raise concern about brain-eating amoeba in northern states.

photo shows the gloved hands of a nurse wrapping a child's foot in gauze and bandages; the child's exposed ankle has patches of discoloration and skin wounding

New gene therapy gel is the 1st approved treatment for rare and painful 'butterfly disease'

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a gene therapy for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, also known as butterfly disease.

Frontal x-ray image of a human skull shows red lines where several electrodes have been implanted into the person's brain

Brain signals underlying chronic pain could be 'short-circuited,' study suggests

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Scientists uncovered a "biomarker" for chronic pain in the brains of four patients and are using the data to develop a new brain stimulation therapy.

photo of a labeled vial of the jynneos mpox and smallpox vaccine on a metal tray next to a syringe with a protective cap over its tip

Mpox could surge again this summer, CDC warns doctors

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert urging doctors to refamiliarize themselves with mpox symptoms and encourage vaccination for at-risk patients.

a school age girl with dark brown skin presents a simplified diagram of the human body to a teacher. the diagram depicts various organ systems and is labelled with yellow sticky ntoes

What are the heaviest organs in the human body?

By Anna Gora published

Which of the body's organs weigh the most? The answer may surprise you.

A middle aged woman with cropped black hair sits on a couch and wipes her face with a small towel, as if overheated. A small electrical fan is in the foreground and is pointed at the woman.

1st-of-its-kind menopause drug targets brain misfiring behind hot flashes

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new pill for moderate to severe hot flashes.

a black woman with short straightened hair wears a hospital gown and is facing away from the camera. A white woman wearing scrubs is helping position the patient for a mammogram

Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, expert task force says

By Nicoletta Lanese published

A task force of experts recommended that female patients be screened for breast cancer starting at age 40.

A woman lying in bed with covers pulled over her. She holds the back of one hand up to her face as if just waking up, and her expression looks tired

Can the menstrual cycle affect people's sleep and dreams?

By Lou Mudge published

Reproductive hormones may interfere with sleep quality and affect dreaming at different stages of the menstrual cycle.

illustration of two measles virus particles depicted in reds and pinks against a black background

Maine sees its 1st measles case in four years

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Maine reported a potential measles case in a child and is awaiting confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Two images shown side by side. Left image shows an Ultrasound of a healthy baby in-utero. Right image shows a 3D diagram of blood vessels in a human baby's brain, showing a malformation known as the a "vein of Galen malformation"

Doctors perform 1st-of-its-kind brain surgery on a fetus in the womb

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Doctors performed a first-of-its-kind brain surgery on a fetus in the womb to repair a malformed blood vessel.

an older woman with white hair sits in a doctor's office with her sleeve rolled up to show a bandage on her arm, as if she'd received a vaccine. She and a doctor, seen in the foreground of the image, are both wearing surgical masks

FDA approves 1st RSV vaccine

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for use in people ages 60 and older.

an ambulance parked outside an emergency department. Two paramedics are wheeling a patient on a stretcher away from the ambulance and towards the hospital

Fentanyl overdose death rates 'more than tripled' in recent years, CDC report shows

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The rate of fatal overdoses involving fentanyl skyrocketed in the U.S. between 2016 and 2021, new data show.

photo shows a large sign outside of a multistory brick and cement building that reads: FDA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration

Smelling salt products promise an 'energy boost,' but have reportedly caused seizures, FDA warns

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The Food and Drug Administration warned that unapproved inhalant products containing ammonia may pose health risks.

image shows a still from an animated video. The still shows a human brain and skull; a small, flat device implanted in the top of the skull emits a pulse of energy into the brain

New ultrasound device helps powerful chemo reach deadly brain cancers, human trial shows

By Nicoletta Lanese published

An implanted ultrasound-emitting device helped chemotherapy drugs safely pass into the brains of cancer patients.

conceptual illustration shows a cross section of the small and large intestine arranged as they would be in the human body. The large intestine is shown in cross section and colorful, confetti like bacterial cells can be seen inside

FDA approves 1st pill made from human poop

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The Food and Drug Administration approved the second-ever medical treatment made from donated human feces.

close up of a man's eye as he's squeezing a generic eye drop dropper near his face, pushing out a drop of clear liquid

Don't use 'amniotic fluid' eye drops, FDA warns

By Nicoletta Lanese published

"Amniotic fluid" eye drops aren't approved and could be harmful, the Food and Drug Administration warned.

woman with dark brown skin sits in a doctor's office and receives chemotherapy. She is wearing a white head scarf, white undershirt and jean button up, as well as a blue surgical mask

Does it matter what time of day you get cancer treatment?

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The emerging field of "cancer chronotherapy" hints that it may be best to receive cancer treatment at a particular time of day.

a medical provider's hand can be seen in silouette pointing to a mammogram displayed on a light board

Black patients may need breast cancer screenings earlier than what many guidelines recommend

By Nicoletta Lanese published

A study suggests that Black patients might benefit from breast cancer screenings starting at age 42, rather than age 50.

illustration of Enterococci bacteria depicted in bright pink against a black background

Scientists invent 'shape-shifting' antibiotic to fight deadly superbugs

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Scientists have developed a new "shape-shifting" antibiotic to fight drug-resistant bacteria, but it hasn't been tested in humans yet.

illustration of the spiral shaped bacteria that cause syphilis

As syphilis levels hit 70-year high, sexually transmitted infection epidemic shows 'no signs of slowing'

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis rose in the U.S. between 2020 and 2021.

close up illustration of the surface of an influenza virus

China reported 1st human death from H3N8 bird flu, WHO says

By Nicoletta Lanese published

A woman in China was the first person to die of the bird flu subtype H3N8.

illustration of Blastomyces fungal spores growing against blue background

'Exceedingly rare' fungal infection sickens dozens at Michigan paper mill

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Health officials have reported 19 confirmed cases and 74 probable cases of blastomycosis linked to a paper mill.

Other versions of this page are available with specific content for the following regions: