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Week 01
1 solution to obesity - Muscles
that act as an energy drain
Many people have traded in their gas-guzzling old "clunkers" for newer and more
efficient models or cut back on energy use at home by opting for Energy Star appliances
and compact fluorescent light bulbs. But, when it comes to our muscles, a little less
efficiency might be just what the doctor ordered, suggests a report in the January Cell
Metabolism, a Cell Press publication.
15 Horrifying Reasons to Never Let
Anyone You Love Near a McDonald's
For those who enjoy sex, take note: erectile dysfunction is connected to endothelial
dysfunction. Morgan Spurlock of Super Size Me commented that his normally healthy sexual
function deteriorated in just one month when he ate only food from McDonald’s. Even
his girlfriend commented on camera that “he’s having a hard time, you know,
getting it up.”
20p lozenge could fight all colds
and flu
The lozenge contains tiny amounts of interferon alpha, a protective protein the body
naturally makes when attacked by a virus. When dissolved in the mouth, the protein is
released tricking the immune system into thinking there is a bug in the body.
A 'fountain of youth' for stem
cells?
Stems cells used for transplantation in the nervous system to provide neural regeneration
are fragile, but can be kept "forever young" during implantation through the use
of self-assembling nanofiber scaffolds (SAPNS), a nanotechnology application for
implanting young cells. By manipulating cell density and SAPNS concentration, researchers
used SAPNS as templates and guides to slow cell growth, differentiation and proliferation,
thereby creating a protective nanoenvironment for a variety of neural cells destined for
implantation.
A burger or fried chicken with a
side of diabetes?
Avoiding "fast food" burgers and fried chicken may cut your risk of developing
type 2 diabetes -- the kind closely linked to obesity, new research hints.
A global breakthrough in the study
of a protein linked to the spread of viruses
Professor Denis Archambault of the Department of Biological Sciences of Université du
Québec à Montréal, and doctoral student Andrea Corredor Gomez have made a major
discovery in the field of molecular biology. They have unlocked some of the secrets of a
viral protein, known as Rev, which is very different from other proteins of the same type
studied to date. The results of their research were recently published in the prestigious
Journal of Virology.
A single atom controls motility
required for bacterial infection
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have discovered that a
single atom -- a calcium, in fact -- can control how bacteria walk. The finding identifies
a key step in the process by which bacteria infect their hosts, and could one day lead to
new drug targets to prevent infection.
A trip to the candy store might
help ward off rare, but deadly infections
As it turns out, children were not the only ones with visions of sugar plums dancing in
their heads over this past holiday season. In a new research report published in the
January 2010 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, a team of scientists show how a
compound from licorice root might be an effective tool in battling life-threatening,
antibiotic-resistant infections resulting from severe burns.
Abuse in childhood linked to
migraine and other pain disorders
Researchers from the American Headache Society's Women's Issues Section Research
Consortium found that incidence of childhood maltreatment, especially emotional abuse and
neglect, are prevalent in migraine patients. Full findings of the study appear in the
January issue of Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, published on behalf of the
American Headache Society by Wiley-Blackwell.
Acupuncture reduces hot flashes,
improves sex drive for breast cancer patients
Not only is acupuncture as effective as drug therapy at reducing hot flashes in breast
cancer patients, it has the added benefit of potentially increasing a woman's sex drive
and improving her sense of well-being, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.
Addictive effects of caffeine on
kids being studied by UB neurobiologist
Caffeine is a stimulant drug, although legal, and adults use it widely to perk themselves
up: Being "addicted" to caffeine is considered perfectly normal. But how strong
is caffeine's appeal in young people who consume an abundance of soft drinks? What impact
does acute and chronic caffeine consumption have on their blood pressure, heart rate and
hand tremor? Furthermore, does consuming caffeinated drinks during adolescence contribute
to later use of legal or illicit drugs?
Air pollution linked to
hospitalizations for pneumonia in seniors
A study found that among older individuals, long-term exposure to traffic pollution
independently increased their risk of hospitalization for pneumonia.
Alert over levels of lead in
children's cosmetics
HIGH levels of lead have been found in several leading brands of children's cosmetics in
the past two years, the Irish Independent can reveal.
Allergy epidemic may start in womb
After years of seeing a dramatic rise in children coming to hospitals with severe
allergies and asthma, researchers believe the environment of expectant mothers may be to
blame for health problems.
Alzheimer's disease may protect
against cancer and vice versa
People who have Alzheimer's disease may be less likely to develop cancer, and people who
have cancer may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study
published in the Dec. 23, 2009, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the
American Academy of Neurology.
Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (Coxibs)
Interfere With Aspirin's Clotting Ability
A new study conducted at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) reveals that Celebrex
and other anti-inflammatory coxib medications may counter the positive effects of aspirin
in preventing blood clots. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences in the United States of America (PNAS) indicates that people who are
taking aspirin and coxibs together are in fact inhibiting the aspirin's effectiveness in
preventing heart attacks and strokes. "This finding strongly suggests that humans who
are consuming coxibs and a low dose of aspirin simultaneously are exposed to a greater
risk of cardiovascular events," said Professor Gilad Rimon, Department of Clinical
Pharmacology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.
Antidepressants, Placebos Near
Equally Effective
Commonly Prescribed Antidepressants Had 'Negligible' Effect on Patients With Mild,
Moderate, Even Severe Depression
April babies 'face higher risk of
MS'
BABIES born in April face the highest risk of suffering from multiple sclerosis in later
life, say scientists at Glasgow University. They think lack of exposure to sunlight may be
to blame.
Arctic could face warmer and
ice-free conditions
There is increased evidence that the Arctic could face seasonally ice-free conditions and
much warmer temperatures in the future. Scientists documented evidence that the Arctic
Ocean and Nordic Seas were too warm to support summer sea ice during the mid-Pliocene warm
period (3.3 to 3 million years ago). This period is characterized by warm temperatures
similar to those projected for the end of this century, and is used as an analog to
understand future conditions.
Assessing Risks from Bisphenol-A
Evaluating human health risks from endocrine disruptors such as BPA is difficult, but
animal studies suggest trouble is afoot.
Autism clusters found in
California, linked to highly educated parents
California scientists have identified clusters of autism, largely in the Los Angeles and
San Francisco areas, where children are twice as likely to have autism as children in
surrounding areas. The 10 clusters were found mostly among children with highly educated
parents, leading researchers to report that they probably can be explained by better
access to medical experts who diagnose the disorder. Because of the strong link to
education, the researchers from University of California at Davis said the new findings do
not point to a localized source of pollution, such as an industry, near the clusters.
“I suspect access to services plays the major role,” said Irva Hertz-Picciotto,
senior author of the study published Tuesday in the journal Autism Research. They added,
however, that there could be other reasons why higher-educated parents lead to more
autism, including environmental exposures, such as chemicals from consumer products.
Before or after birth, gene linked
to mental health has different effects
Scientists have long eyed mutations in a gene known as DISC1 as a possible contributor to
schizophrenia and mood disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder. Now, new
research led by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests that perturbing this gene during
prenatal periods, postnatal periods or both may have different effects in mice, leading to
separate types of brain alterations and behaviors with resemblance to schizophrenia or
mood disorders.
Before You Take That
Antidepressant, Visit This Web Site
With our national love of drugs, sex, celebrities and violence you'd think SSRIstories.com
would be more popular.
Beta Blockers May Increase Risk for
Surgical Anemia Complications
Routinely used to treat patients for heart attack or high blood pressure, beta blockers
are known for their role in helping to protect the heart. A new study in the January issue
of the journal Anesthesiology looks at the effects of beta blockers on surgical outcomes,
revealing that the cardioprotective effects of the medication could be compromised by
acute surgical anemia. Blood loss and anemia are very common in patients during and after
surgery; more than 30 percent of patients undergoing moderate- to high-risk surgery
experience a significant drop in blood levels. The normal response of a patient’s
body during significant blood loss is to increase cardiac output through increased heart
rate to ensure sufficient delivery of oxygen to organs. Beta blockers are used to treat a
variety of conditions, including high blood pressure, heart attack, glaucoma and
migraines. The medication works to reduce the heart rate, reducing blood pressure as a
result. Beta blockers are often prescribed for patients around the time of surgery to
provide protection of the cardiovascular system.
Biodegradable particles can bypass
mucus, release drugs over time
Researchers have created biodegradable nanosized particles that can easily slip through
the body's sticky and viscous mucus secretions to deliver a sustained-release medication
cargo.
Blocking Inflammation Receptor
Kills Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Scientists at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have uncovered an
important link between inflammation and breast cancer stem cells that suggests a new way
to target cells that are resistant to current treatments.
Brain Activity Levels Affect
Self-Perception; “Rose-Colored Glasses” Correlate with Less Frontal Lobe Use
The less you use your brain’s frontal lobes, the more you see yourself through
rose-colored glasses, a University of Texas at Austin researcher says.Those findings are
being published in the February edition of the journal NeuroImage. “In healthy
people, the more you activate a portion of your frontal lobes, the more accurate your view
of yourself is,” says Jennifer Beer, an assistant professor of psychology, who
conducted the research with graduate student Brent L. Hughes. “And the more you view
yourself as desirable or better than your peers, the less you use those lobes.”
Brain Imaging Sheds Light on Social
Woes Related to Autism
The brains of autistic people are less active than expected when they're engaged in
self-reflective thought, a finding that helps explain autism-related social difficulties,
say British researchers.
Brain training can help improve
specific abilities in older people
Many brain training products claim to be able to keep us mentally fit. Some products even
claim that brain training can prevent dementia in old age. But there is no scientific
proof that games or other brain exercises can have this effect. That is what the German
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care pointed out in information published
today.
British scientists make artificial
arteries
British scientists have developed a strong, flexible, and resistant to blood clotting
artificial artery that pulses rhythmically to match the beat of the heart.
Broken genomes behind breast
cancers
A detailed search has revealed how the human genome is rearranged in 24 cases of breast
cancer. Researchers were astounded by the number and complexity of genomic rearrangements
found in some cases. While some breast cancers are relatively undisturbed, others are
fractured extensively and then reassembled, with more than 200 rearrangements present. The
research highlights that breast cancer is not one but several diseases and could help to
make tumor classification and diagnosis more accurate.
Caffeine consumption associated
with less severe liver fibrosis
Researchers from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
determined that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus who consumed more than 308 mg of
caffeine daily had milder liver fibrosis. The daily amount of caffeine intake found to be
beneficial is equivalent to 2.25 cups of regular coffee. Details of this study are
available in the January 2010 issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell
on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
Can eating carbs make you thin?
Eat Carbs–Nature's Own Appetite Suppressant–to Stop Emotional Overeating and
Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain
Can This Natural Hormone Actually
Heal Brain Injuries & Strokes?
Why do some females recover from brain injury much faster and more completely than males?
Cancer drugs 'treat' aggressive
childhood brain tumours
Aggressive childhood brain tumours could be treatable with a novel combination of two
existing cancer drugs, a study suggests.
Cancer risk increases with blood
sugar
Up to one in six Britons with high blood-sugar levels faces a greater danger of developing
cancer, according to new research.
Car exhaust, factory smoke linked
to pneumonia
Exposure to high levels of pollutants from car exhaust and industrial air pollution over
the long term may be linked to a doubling of risk of hospitalization for pneumonia among
seniors, a Canadian study suggests.
Child risk over passive smoking
CHILDREN who passively smoke have damaged lungs for life and are at greater risk of the
degenerative condition emphysema as adults, new research reveals.
Childhood asthma genetic link
identified
A mutated gene seems to contribute to most cases of childhood asthma, researchers say. The
gene, called DENND1B, affects cells involved in signalling for the immune system, Dr.
Hakon Hakonarson of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and his colleagues report in
Wednesday's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Childhood metabolic measurements
may predict diabetes development years later
A child's blood pressure, body mass index, blood glucose level and other laboratory tests
and simple office measures may predict the risk of developing type 2 diabetes nine and 26
years later, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Pediatrics &
Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Chili as effective as 80-minute
brisk walk
A new slimming pill is reported to be as effective as 80 minutes of brisk walking or 25
minutes of jogging in burning off calories.
Chloride increases response to
pheromones and odors in mouse sensory neurons
How an individual vomeronasal sensory neuron (VSN) transduces chemical signals into
electrical signals has been a mystery. In the January 2010 issue of the Journal of General
Physiology, researchers from the University of Vermont show that chloride acts as a major
amplifier for signal transduction in mouse VSNs, increasing the responsiveness to
pheromones or odorants.
Chlorophylls effective against
aflatoxin
A new study has found that chlorophyll and its derivative chlorophyllin are effective in
limiting the absorption of aflatoxin in humans.
Coal from mass extinction era
linked to lung cancer mystery
The volcanic eruptions thought responsible for Earth's largest mass extinction -- which
killed more than 70 percent of plants and animals 250 million years ago -- is still taking
lives today. That's the conclusion of a new study showing, for the first time, that the
high silica content of coal in one region of China may be interacting with volatile
substances in the coal to cause unusually high rates of lung cancer. The study appears in
ACS' Environmental Science & Technology.
Cola drinking linked to diabetes in
pregnancy
Drinking lots of sugar-sweetened cola may increase women's likelihood of developing
diabetes during pregnancy, a condition known as gestational diabetes, new research shows.
Compared to women who had less than one such beverage a month, women who drank at least
five servings of non-diet cola a week were at greater risk of gestational diabetes, even
after accounting for their body mass index (BMI), level of physical activity, and other
diabetes risk factors, researchers found.
Cold weather misery for arthritis
patients
Carol Cooper, a GP and specialist in rheumatology, said: "While research hasn't
proved a clear link between joint pain and weather, many of my patients find that their
symptoms get worse when it's damp or whenever barometric pressure changes.
Columbia scientists discover 2
genes that drive aggressive brain cancers
A team of Columbia scientists have discovered two genes that, when simultaneously
activated, are responsible for the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. This finding was
made possible by the assembly of the first comprehensive network of molecular interactions
that determine the behavior of these cancer cells, a map so complex and elusive that,
until now, it could not be constructed. The discovery may lead to novel strategies to
diagnose and treat these incurable tumors.
CRN Responds to Ginkgo Biloba Study
CRN - "It is important to put this study into context and to remember that there is a
large body of previously published evidence, which suggests that Ginkgo biloba may help
improve cognitive impairment in older adults.
DCGI asks GSK to withdraw
promotional advertisement
National health regulator Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has asked drug maker
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to withdraw promotional advertisement for cervical cancer vaccine,
after it found the campaign to be violating certain norms.
Deadly animal diseases poised to
infect humans
The world is facing a growing threat from new diseases that are jumping the human-animal
species barrier as a result of environmental disruption, global warming and the
progressive urbanisation of the planet, scientists have warned.
Decoding the food industry,
starting with breakfast
So what happened to cereal? Taking knowledge from Lappé’s book and Michael
Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, the big-business corn industry probably had a
lot to do with it. The rise—and government support—of big farms, or
agribusiness, has led to cheap prices for corn derivatives, enriched grains, and soybean
products, has led food companies to use these ingredients to produce food more cheaply and
make them last longer on the shelf. Cereal, and many other foods, has become more a matter
of economics than a reflection of Dr. Kellogg’s original intent.
Depleting breast cancer-initiating
cells by targeting the protein CXCR1
Recent data suggest that breast cancer is initiated and maintained by a rare population of
cells within the tumor known as cancer stem cells. These cells are thought also to
contribute to tumor spread and recurrence after treatment. New research has now identified
a strategy to target human breast cancer stem cells that decreased tumor growth and spread
in mice xenotransplanted with human breast cancer cells.
Disinfectants may promote growth of
superbugs
Using disinfectants could cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics as well as the
disinfectant itself, according to research published in the January issue of Microbiology.
The findings could have important implications for how the spread of infection is managed
in hospital settings.
DNA inherited from father
beneficial
Icelandic biologists found out that several common diseases like Type 2 diabetes and
cancer’s genetic risk depends on DNA variant is inherited from which parent.
Do Agribusiness Giants Fear
Organics?
Last month, Michael Mack, the chief executive of Syngenta, said organic farming takes up
30 percent more land than non-organic farming for the same yield. Syngenta is a . "If
the whole planet were to suddenly switch to organic farming tomorrow, it would be an
ecological disaster," he said.
Do multivitamins curb kids' allergy
risk?
Giving multivitamins to kids 5 to 8 years old does not seem to alter their overall
likelihood of having allergies, hint findings of a study from Sweden. However, starting
multivitamins at the age of 4 or younger may curb the risk of food allergies and seasonal
or inhaled allergies, the study found.
Drug-resistant urinary tract
infections spreading worldwide
A sudden worldwide increase in an antibiotic-resistant bacterium is cause for concern,
according to a review in f1000 Medicine Reports Faculty of 1000 member Dr. Johann Pitout,
of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, urges the
medical community to monitor the spread of a multidrug resistant bacterium before it
becomes necessary to use more powerful antibiotics as a first response.
DuPont's PFOA may face new rules
The federal government is targeting four types of chemicals, including perfluorinated
chemicals such as PFOA, for potential new restrictions on their manufacture and use.
Earlier bedtimes may help protect
adolescents against depression and suicidal thoughts
A study in the Jan. 1 issue of the journal Sleep found that adolescents with bedtimes that
were set earlier by parents were significantly less likely to suffer from depression and
to think about committing suicide, suggesting that earlier bedtimes could have a
protective effect by lengthening sleep duration and increasing the likelihood of getting
enough sleep.
Early menstruation linked to heart
disease risk
Women who started having menstrual periods before the age of 12 may have a higher risk of
developing or dying of heart disease than other women, a new study suggests.
Eavesdropping on bacterial
conversations may improve chronic wound healing
Listening in on bacterial conversations could be the solution for improving chronic wound
care, says a team of researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York.
Their findings have been published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology.
Eliminate MSG from Your Diet and
Slim Down in the New Year
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) has often been in the news, with the possibility of being
linked to certain health conditions ranging from migraines and anxiety to IBS and reduced
brain function. However, the FDA maintains that MSG is generally safe for people to ingest
and food producers to add to their products. Despite the FDA’s claim, several
scientists and doctors continue to explore the possible links between MSG in the food
supply and its effects on health.
Ethanol burns dirtier than
gasoline, study finds
A recent study conducted by researchers at Stanford University has revealed that ethanol
fuel produces more ozone that regular gasoline. When ethanol is burned through combustion,
it produces emissions that are substantially higher than gasoline in aldehydes, the
carcinogenic precursors to ozone.
European Soil Becoming More
Resistant to Antibiotics
Outbreaks of MRSA, swine flu, and other diseases point directly to a need to improve the
conditions under which we produce food, and an increased scrutiny of what we add back to
the environment.
Experimental drug shows promise
against brain, prostate cancers
An experimental drug currently being tested against breast and lung cancer shows promise
in fighting the brain cancer glioblastoma and prostate cancer, researchers at UT
Southwestern Medical Center have found in two preclinical studies.
Exposure to tobacco smoke in
childhood home associated with early emphysema in adulthood
Children regularly exposed to tobacco smoke at home were more likely to develop early
emphysema in adulthood. This finding by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman
School of Public Health suggests that the lungs may not recover completely from the
effects of early-life exposures to tobacco smoke.
Exxon-funded front groups deny the
urgency of the scientific consensus on global warming
ExxonSecrets is a Greenpeace research project highlighting the more than a decade-long
campaign by Exxon-funded front groups - and the scientists they work with - to deny the
urgency of the scientific consensus on global warming and delay action to fix the problem.
Farmers' asthma tied to pesticide
exposure
Farmers might breathe a little easier after learning that pesticide use does not appear to
increase their risk for developing asthma - as long as they wear protective equipment and
don't have periods of unusually high exposure.
Fat intake does not affect weight
gain
Despite the general belief, the percentage of calories gained by eating fat, as opposed to
protein or carbohydrates, does not influence the weight gain process.
Federal Judge Bans Bayer Pesticide
Threatening Honey Bees
A federal judge banned the sale of a Bayer CropScience pesticide that environmental groups
and commercial beekeepers say is potentially toxic to the nation's threatened honeybee
population.
Feds Take First Steps to Regulate
Drugs in Drinking Water
The Associated Press is reporting this week that federal regulators under President Obama
are taking the first steps toward regulating drugs in the nation's drinking water supply
-- a problem first reported by science writer Elizabeth Royte in "Drugging Our
Waters" in OnEarth's Fall 2006 issue.
Few breast cancer surgeons follow
quality of care standards, U-M study finds
Most breast cancer surgeons' practices do not follow standards associated with the best
quality of care, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Michigan
Comprehensive Cancer Center. These standards include consulting with other specialists and
providing resources and education to help patients make treatment decisions.
Fighting formaldehyde exposure
dangers
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is sponsoring a bill to establish national health
standards for formaldehyde in composite wood. Formaldehyde is a pickle-smelling,
water-soluble gas used in disinfectants, solvents, preservatives, and adhesives. It's
found in products such as particle board, plywood, and other wood products, and is also
produced when burning natural gas, wood, gasoline or tobacco.
Finally, an excuse for pregnant
women to eat bacon and eggs
If you're pregnant and looking for an excuse to eat bacon and eggs, now you've got one - a
new research study published in the January 2010 print issue of the FASEB Journal by a
team of University of North Carolina researchers shows that choline plays a critical role
in helping fetal brains develop regions associated with memory. Choline is found in meats,
including pork, as well as chicken eggs.
First case of highly drug-resistant
TB found in US
Drug-resistant TB is a "time bomb," said Dr. Masae Kawamura, who heads the
Francis J. Curry National Tuberculosis Center in San Francisco, "a manmade problem
that is costly, deadly, debilitating, and the biggest threat to our current TB control
strategies."
Fish Farming Makes Diseases More
Virulent
A 23-year Finnish study has concluded that decades of fish farming have led to the
prevalence of increasingly lethal strains of disease that thrive in an enclosed
environment. Dr. Katja Pulkkinen from the University of Jyvaskyla stressed in his report
that high density conditions where fish are under a lot of tension create a favorable
environment for the outbreak of vicious pathogenic strains.
Free flipper! argues scientist
Dolphins should be treated as “non-human persons” and merit special rights above
other animals because they are so bright, scientists claim.
Further Pig Farming Scandals in
Sweden
With the pig farming outrage in Sweden a few weeks back still in fresh memory, a new
discovery of maltreatment of animals have been discovered.
Genetic causes identified for
disturbances in lipid metabolism
Scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München led by Professor Karsten Suhre have identified
new gene variants associated with disturbances in the lipid metabolism.
Genetic study reveals the origins
of cavity-causing bacteria
Researchers have uncovered the complete genetic make-up of the cavity-causing bacterium
Bifidobacterium dentium Bd1, revealing the genetic adaptations that allow this
microorganism to live and cause decay in the human oral cavity. The study, led by Marco
Ventura's Probiogenomics laboratory at the University of Parma, and Prof. Douwe van
Sinderen and Dr. Paul O'Toole of the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre at University College
Cork, is published Dec. 24 in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics.
Genomic toggle switches divide
autoimmune diseases into distinct clusters, Stanford study shows
Genomic switches can predispose an individual to one set of autoimmune disorders but
protect the same person against another set of them, scientists at Stanford University
School of Medicine have found.
German Physicists Trash Global
Warming “Theory”
For any non-scientist interested in the climate debate, there is nothing better than a
ready primer to guide you through the complexities of atmospheric physics – the
“hardest” science of climatology. Here we outline the essential points made by
Dr. Gerhard Gerlich, a respected German physicist, that counter the bogus theory of
Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW).
Gladstone scientists identify
target that may inhibit HIV infectivity
Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology have discovered a new
agent that might inhibit the infectivity of HIV. The agent, surfen, impairs the action of
a factor in semen that greatly enhances the viral infection. Surfen might be used to
supplement current HIV microbicides to greatly reduce HIV transmission during sexual
contact
Global warming will cause plants
and animals to migrate
A new study estimates that animals and plants will have to migrate, on average, nearly a
quarter of a mile each year to keep up with shifting climate belts caused by global
warming.
Glowing walls could kill off the
light bulb
Light-emitting wallpaper may begin to replace light bulbs from 2012, according to a
government body that supports low-carbon technology.
GM Seeds Threaten World Food Supply
The agribusiness strategy of aggressively promoting genetically modified (GM) and highly
hybridized seeds are placing world food security at risk, according to studies conducted
by researchers from the International Institute of Environment and Development (IIED) and
presented at the World Seed Conference in Rome.
GM wheat is on its way
Five years after scrapping its trials, Monsanto calculates that the time is now ripe for
GM wheat to make a comeback.
GPS bracelets considered for
Alzheimer patients
Montreal authorities are considering a GPS bracelet project to help track people suffering
from Alzheimer's disease.
Groundbreaking plan to tighten
reviews of toxic air pollution stirs debate over development
Under proposed new air-quality guidelines developers would be told to study the health
effects of the freeway pollution on the people who will live in the homes if extra cancer
risk meets a specific threshold.
Half of kids jewelry tested
contains pure lead
Half of the children's jewelry items tested at the government's product safety laboratory
last year were made of almost pure lead.
How amyloid beta reduces plasticity
related to synaptic signaling
The early stages of Alzheimer's disease are thought to occur at the synapse, since synapse
loss is associated with memory dysfunction. Evidence suggests that amyloid beta plays an
important role in early synaptic failure, but little has been understood about A?'s effect
on the plasticity of dendritic spines.
How to build bone - Separate bone
formation from bone destruction
Treatments for osteoporosis need to increase the amount and/or quality of bone. As bone
formation is tightly coupled to bone destruction, researchers looking to develop new
approaches to build bone in individuals with osteoporosis need to identify ways to
separate the two processes. New research has now identified one way to do this in mice.
Insect Cells provide the Key to
Alternative Swine Flu Vaccination
Scientists in Vienna have developed a new technique for producing vaccines for H1N1,
'swine flu', based on insect cells. The research, published today in the Biotechnology
Journal, reveals how influenza vaccines can be produced faster than through the
traditional method of egg-based production, revealing a new strategy for the fight against
influenza pandemics. "Recent outbreaks of influenza highlight the importance of a
rapid and sufficient vaccine supply for pandemic and inter pandemic strains," said
co-author Florian Krammer from the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life
Science in Vienna. "However, classical manufacturing methods for vaccines fail to
satisfy this demand." Traditional influenza vaccines, which are produced in
embryonated chicken eggs, can be manufactured in the quantities needed for seasonal
strains of influenza. Yet because of limited egg supply this method may be insufficient in
a pandemic scenario, such as the current H1 N1 ‘swine flu' pandemic.
Insecticide Exposure May Increase
Childhood Brain Tumor Risk
Epidemiologic data have suggested a link between pesticide exposures and childhood brain
tumors. The link may be specific to insecticides such as organophosphorus and carbamate
compounds, which are known to target the nervous system.
Insecticide Exposure Tied to
Increased Risks for Arthritis and Lupus
Regular or long-term exposure to consumer insecticides may increase the risk of developing
autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. That’s the finding of a new
study presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s annual scientific meeting
in Philadelphia.
Intermittent androgen deprivation
at least as effective as continuous androgen deprivation
"Potential Benefits of Intermittent Androgen Suppression Therapy in the Treatment of
Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature" is the title of an article by
P-A. Abrahamsson in the January issue of European Urology, the official journal of the
European Association of Urology. The author evaluates available evidence regarding the
efficacy and tolerability of intermittent androgen deprivation and assess its value in the
treatment of prostate cancer.
Is Nicotinamide Overload a Trigger
for Type 2 Diabetes?
The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes following worldwide food fortification with
niacin suggests that type 2 diabetes may involve excessive niacin intake.
Israelis’ Cancer Is Linked to
Holocaust
An Israeli study, believed to be one of the first of its kind, has found significantly
higher cancer rates among European Jews who immigrated to Israel after the Holocaust than
among those who left Europe for what is now Israel either before or during World War II.
Johns Hopkins scientists discover a
controller of brain circuitry
By combining a research technique that dates back 136 years with modern molecular
genetics, a Johns Hopkins neuroscientist has been able to see how a mammal's brain
shrewdly revisits and reuses the same molecular cues to control the complex design of its
circuits.
Knockdown of E2F1 reduces invasive
potential of melanoma cells
Inhibition of transcription factor E2F1 reduced epidermal growth factor receptor
expression and reduced the invasive potential but not proliferation of metastatic melanoma
cells, according to a brief communication published online Dec. 23 in the Journal of the
National Cancer Institute.
Labeling standards for caffeine
Because of caffeine's potential effects on the body, and the explosion of caffeinated
products on the market, labeling standards are needed, experts say.
Ladder-walking locusts show big
brains aren't always best
Scientists have shown for the first time that insects, like mammals, use vision rather
than touch to find footholds. They made the discovery thanks to high-speed video cameras
-- technology the BBC uses to capture its stunning wildlife footage -- that they used to
film desert locusts stepping along the rungs of a miniature ladder. The study sheds new
light on insects' ability to perform complex tasks, such as visually guided limb control,
usually associated with mammals.
Large Hadron Collider failure will
leave science back in the 'wilderness'
Science will be left back in a "nightmarish wilderness" if the Large Hadron
Collider fails to find the elusive Higgs Boson, warns a rebel physicist.
Lead poisoning hits 44 children in
factory town
At least 44 children in a south China economic development area thick with chemical
factories have been sickened by elevated lead levels -- the latest of many lead poisonings
cases in China to raise concerns about the impact of economic growth on the environment.
Leptin-controlled gene can reverse
diabetes
Researchers have found that even a very little bit of the fat hormone leptin goes a long
way when it comes to correcting diabetes. The hormone controls the activity of a gene
known as IGFBP2 in the liver, which has antidiabetic effects in animals and could have
similar therapeutic effect in humans, according to a report published by Cell Press in the
January issue of Cell Metabolism.
Lice alert for Norwegian salmon
Norwegian salmon is a must-have for many during the holidays, but the pink delicacy is
increasingly threatened by a small parasite spreading rapidly among farmed salmon, and,
more alarmingly, their wild cousins.
Liver stiffness measurements
identify patients with rapid or slow fibrosis
A recent study by doctors from the Hospital Clínic in Barcelona, Spain, determined that
repeated liver stiffness measurements in the first year following liver transplant (LT)
could discriminate between slow and rapid "fibrosers." Determining those at risk
for a recurrence of hepatitis C virus allows for early-stage administration of therapies
that could prevent LT or graft failure. Full findings are published in the January 2010
issue of Hepatology.
Lose Sleep, Gain Weight
Several studies have linked weight gain associated with short sleep to changes in
appetite-regulating hormones such as leptin and ghrelin.
Low blood sugar may impair
diabetics' driving
Bouts of low blood sugar can lead to unsafe driving among people with diabetes, new
research shows.
Low hormone levels in pregnancy
linked to hard birth
Expectant mums who are low in a hormone made by the thyroid gland in the neck are more
likely to struggle in labour, findings suggest.
Low selenium tied to throat,
stomach cancers
People with the highest levels of this antioxidant mineral were at the lowest risk of
developing squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, Dr. Jessie Steevens of Maastricht
University Medical Center in The Netherlands and her colleagues found.
Lp(a) found to be new bad
cholesterol
While many consider LDL as the main culprit for most health conditions, a new study points
out the role of another bad type of cholesterol in heart disease.
Maine to consider putting warnings
on cellphones
Maine legislators this month will take up the question of whether cellphones sold in the
state must contain warnings that they may cause brain cancer, despite a lack of scientific
consensus on the issue.
Making New Enzymes to Engineer
Plants for Biofuel Production
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory
have created a new enzyme and demonstrated its potential ability to interfere with the
production of lignin, a key cell-wall component in plants. This approach to enzyme
engineering, described in the January 1, 2010, issue of the Journal of Biological
Chemistry, could be used to further understand the mechanisms of lignin biosynthesis, and
may lead to the production of plants that are easier to convert to biofuels.
“Increasing the ‘digestibility’ of plant matter is one main approach to
making plants a viable alternative energy source,” said Brookhaven biochemist
Chang-Jun Liu, lead author on the paper. “Our group has been working to achieve that
goal by elucidating the catalytic mechanisms of plant enzymes, and then using that
knowledge and the tools of molecular biology and protein engineering to influence the way
plant cell walls are constructed.” Their main targets have been enzymes that
synthesize key cell-wall components, such as lignin. Plants with less lignin in their cell
walls are easier to break down and convert to fuel products.
Many ignorant on 'waist fat' risk
Almost nine in 10 people are not aware of the risks of carrying extra fat around their
waistline.
Mayo researchers find obesity key
Mayo researchers collaborating with investigators at the University of Iowa, University of
Connecticut and New York University (NYU) have discovered a molecular mechanism that
controls energy expenditure in muscles and helps determine body weight. Researchers say
this could lead to a new medical approach in treating obesity. The findings appear in the
journal Cell Metabolism. The energy-saving mechanism is controlled by ATP-sensitive
potassium (KATP) channels. ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, is the "energy
currency" utilized by cells in the body. These particular channels can sense ATP
pools and regulate heart and skeletal muscle performance accordingly. Animals lacking this
energy-saving mechanism burn more stored energy by dissipating more heat when at rest or
when normally active. As in humans, excess energy from food is stored as glycogen or fat
that could be converted into ATP according to energy demand. Eliminating the KATP channel
forces the body to use energy less efficiently, consuming more and storing less gaining
low weight, even when on a high-calorie "Western" diet. "While mechanisms
that preserve energy are naturally protective — in times of food shortage or
environmental stress — they promote obesity in a sedentary, modern society,"
says Alexey Alekseev, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic electrophysiologist and first author of the
study. "Our findings suggest that therapeutic targeting of the KATP channel function,
specifically in muscle, could offer a new option for obese patients with lower capacity
for exercise."
Meditation decreases risk of death
by stroke, heart attack, and death in general
A study conducted by two universities found that those who meditated saw a 47% decrease in
strokes, heart attacks, and death.
Mega Giant Corporations Are Very
Bad for America
Wal-Mart delivers at least 30% and sometimes more than 50% of the entire U.S. consumption
of products. Why the monopolization of our economy should scare you.
Mercury levels considered safe pose
a risk to the heart
People who ate enough contaminated fish to raise methylmercury levels in their bodies to
levels still considered "safe" had subtle changes to their heart rhythm that may
affect their long-term health. Researchers in Japan have found that eating fish tainted
with methylmercury – at levels currently considered safe for human exposure –
can lead to a slightly unstable resting heart rate. Over time, these types of changes are
associated with an elevated risk of developing coronary heart disease.
Michael Chertoff's Pushing
"Full-Body Scanners" for Airports but He Has a Conflict of Interest
Since the attempted bombing of a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day, former Homeland Security
secretary Michael Chertoff has given dozens of media interviews touting the need for the
federal government to buy more full-body scanners for airports.What he has made little
mention of is that the Chertoff Group, his security consulting agency, includes a client
that manufactures the machines.
Millions of needless deaths
Convincing today’s medical establishment about proven methods to save lives may be
less daunting than what Dr. Lister encountered, but it is still nonetheless challenging.
Minute organs in the ear can alter
brain blood flow
Minute organs hidden deep within the ear appear to directly alter blood flow to the brain,
scientists have revealed.
Molecules and synapses cement
memories, say scientists
US scientists believe they have uncovered one of the mechanisms that enables the brain to
form memories.
Monsanto to Allow Use of Seed After
Patent
Facing antitrust scrutiny over its practices in the biotechnology seed business, Monsanto
has said it will not stand in the way of farmers eventually using lower cost alternatives
to its genetically modified soybeans.
More children to be checked for
lead poisoning
The local government has pledged to check more children living near an industrial park in
Qingyuan, Guangdong province, after 25 children were confirmed to have lead poisoning.
More evidence on benefits of high
blood pressure drugs in diabetic eye disease
Scientists in Massachusetts are reporting new evidence that certain high blood pressure
drugs may be useful in preventing and treating diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of
vision loss in people with diabetes. The study, the largest to date on proteins in the
retina, could lead to new ways to prevent or treat the sight-threatening disease, they
say. The findings are in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research, a monthly publication
Music therapy can assist toddlers'
communication rehabilitation process
Music therapy can assist in the speech acquisition process in toddlers who have undergone
cochlear implantation, as revealed in a new study by Dr. Dikla Kerem of the University of
Haifa. The study was carried out in Israel as a doctoral thesis for Aalborg University in
Denmark (supervised by Prof. Tony Wigram) and presented at a "Brain, Therapy and
Crafts" conference at the University of Haifa.
Natural compound blocks hepatitis C
infection
Researchers have identified two cellular proteins that are important factors in hepatitis
C virus infection, a finding that may result in the approval of new and less toxic
treatments for the disease, which can lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis.
Natural compounds in pomegranates
may prevent growth of hormone-dependent breast cancer
Eating fruit, such as pomegranates, that contain anti-aromatase phytochemicals reduces the
incidence of hormone-dependent breast cancer, according to results of a study published in
the January issue of Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for
Cancer Research.
Neuroscientists at Case Western
Reserve University store information in isolated brain tissue
Ben W. Strowbridge, Ph.D., associate professor of neuroscience and physiology/biophysics,
and Phillip Larimer, Ph.D., a M.D./Ph.D. student in the neurosciences graduate program at
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, are the first to create
stimulus-specific sustained activity patterns in brain circuits maintained in vitro.
Neuroscientists at Case Western
Reserve University store information in isolated brain tissue
Ben W. Strowbridge, Ph.D., associate professor of neuroscience and physiology/biophysics,
and Phillip Larimer, Ph.D., a M.D./Ph.D. student in the neurosciences graduate program at
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, are the first to create
stimulus-specific sustained activity patterns in brain circuits maintained in vitro.
New brain scan better detects
earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease in healthy people
A new type of brain scan, called diffusion tensor imaging, appears to be better at
detecting whether a person with memory loss might have brain changes of Alzheimer's
disease, according to a new study published in the Jan. 6, 2010, online issue of
Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
New discovery by Harvard scientists
aims to correct cellular defects leading to diabetes
A new research discovery published online in the FASEB Journal may change the perception
and treatment of diabetes. That's because scientists have moved closer toward correcting
the root cause of the disease rather than managing its symptoms. Specifically researchers
identified a protein and its antioxidant product that both prevent the death and promote
the growth of cells which produce and release insulin in the pancreas.
New finding may help baby boomers
get buff
If you're an aging baby boomer hoping for a buffer physique, there's hope. A team of
American scientists from Texas and Michigan have made a significant discovery about the
cause of age-related muscle atrophy that could lead to new drugs to halt this natural
process. This research is published online at the FASEB Journal's Web site.
New insights into mushroom-derived
drug promising for cancer treatment
A promising cancer drug, first discovered in a mushroom commonly used in Chinese medicine,
could be made more effective thanks to researchers who have discovered how the drug works.
The research is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and
was carried out at The University of Nottingham. In research to be published in the
Journal of Biological Chemistry, Dr Cornelia de Moor of The University of Nottingham and
her team have investigated a drug called cordycepin, which was originally extracted from a
rare kind of wild mushroom called cordyceps and is now prepared from a cultivated form. Dr
de Moor said "Our discovery will open up the possibility of investigating the range
of different cancers that could be treated with cordycepin. We have also developed a very
effective method that can be used to test new, more efficient or more stable versions of
the drug in the Petri dish. This is a great advantage as it will allow us to rule out any
non-runners before anyone considers testing them in animals."
New key factor identified in the
development of Alzheimer's disease
A new study published online by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences identifies
ßCTF, a small protein found in the gene- ß -amyloid precursor protein, APP, as a novel
factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease related endosome abnormalities, which
have also been tied previously to the loss of brain cells in Alzheimer's disease.
New pathway discovered that may
prevent tissue damage resulting from inflammation
Interferon gamma is a protein secreted by lymphocytes that is used to fight the bacteria
in white blood cells that cause tuberculosis. In a study published this week in Immunity,
scientists at NYU Langone Medical Center have discovered that in addition to white blood
cells, other cells such as epithelial and endothelial cells, also respond to interferon
gamma and also protect mice from uncontrolled tuberculosis infection.
New research findings may help stop
age-related macular degeneration at the molecular level
Researchers at University College London say they have gleaned a key insight into the
molecular beginnings of age-related macular degeneration, the No. 1 cause of vision loss
in the elderly, by determining how two key proteins interact to naturally prevent the
onset of the condition.
New research suggests fat mass
helps build bone mass in girls
According to a new study accepted for publication in the Endocrine Society's Journal of
Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), fat mass is important in increasing bone
size and thickness, but this effect appears to be stronger in girls than boys.
New Study Shows Lychee Extract May
Trim Belly Fat
There is big news for those that can not seem to shed that spare tire around the middle. A
new Japanese study suggests that an extract from lychees might reduce abdominal fat in
those with metabolic syndrome and cause overall health improvements.
New study shows rise in drug
resistance of dangerous infection in US hospitals
A new study in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology reports a surge in
drug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter, a dangerous type of bacteria that is becoming
increasingly common in US hospitals. This study is being posted online today and will
appear in the journal's February print edition.
New year, new vitamin C discovery -
It 'cures' mice with accelerated aging disease
A new research discovery published in the January 2010 print issue of the FASEB Journal
suggests that treatments for disorders that cause accelerated aging, particularly Werner's
syndrome, might come straight from the family medicine chest. In the research report, a
team of Canadian scientists show that vitamin C stops and even reverses accelerated aging
in a mouse model of Werner's syndrome, but the discovery may also be applicable to other
progeroid syndromes.
Nitric oxide-releasing wrap for
donor organs and cloth for therapeutic socks
Scientists in Texas are reporting development of a first-of-its-kind cloth that releases
nitric oxide gas -- an advance toward making therapeutic socks for people with diabetes
and a wrap to help preserve organs harvested for transplantation. The study is in ACS'
Chemistry of Materials, a bi-weekly journal.
No evidence to support
psychological debriefing in schools
There is no evidence to support psychological debriefing in schools after traumatic events
such as violence, suicides and accidental death, which runs counter to current practice in
some Canadian school jurisdictions, according to a commentary in CMAJ.
NY considers list of 85 chemicals
to avoid buying
New York is poised to create a list of 85 chemicals for state agencies to avoid buying, a
measure short of a ban but which could still drive industry to produce fewer products with
toxins and carcinogens.
Obesity heart risk underestimated
The risk of dying from heart disease because of excess weight may be higher than thought.
Operation 'may cure high blood
pressure'
A ONE-HOUR operation that could cure high blood pressure has been carried out in Britain
for the first time, it was announced yesterday.
Otto Warburg’s Low-Carb Cancer
Treatment Legacy Lives On Through Professor Brian Peskin
If you reduce the sugar/carbohydrates and replace it with more fat, then you can stop the
spread of this terrible disease, reduce tumors, and do it all naturally without the use of
dangerous drugs and chemotherapy.
Pain management failing as fears of
prescription drug abuse rise
Millions of Americans with significant or chronic pain associated with their medical
problems are being under-treated as physicians increasingly fail to provide comprehensive
pain treatment -- either due to inadequate training, personal biases or fear of
prescription drug abuse.
Parents warned on children's safety
risk from alcohol
Parents in England are being warned not to under-estimate the "dangerous
consequences" of under-age drinking.
Pediatrics GI recommendations --
first step to guidelines for children with autism
The consensus statement and recommendations for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of GI
disorders in children with ASD represents long-sought mainstream medical community
recognition that treatment of GI problems in children with autism requires specific,
specialized approaches. Autism Speaks continues efforts to create evidence-based
guidelines to develop a comprehensive care model to guide physicians in addressing a wide
range of medical issues, including GI problems, through the work of its Autism Treatment
Network.
Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care
Products Found in New York City Water Supply
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has issued support for a proposed law that would
require the Department of Environmental Protection in New York City to test the city's
drinking water supply for personal care product and pharmaceutical residue. Citing
numerous studies that have found measurable levels of such contaminants in water supplies
around the nation, EWG is encouraging support for measures that would investigate and
report contaminant levels to the public.
Prenatal Exposure to PBDEs and
Neurodevelopment
This epidemiologic study demonstrates neurodevelopmental effects in relation to cord blood
PBDE concentrations. Confirmation is needed in other longitudinal studies.
Prenatal ultrasonography has
increased 55 percent for pregnant women, even in low-risk pregnancies
Current use of prenatal ultrasounds in women with singleton pregnancies is 55 percent
greater than in 1996, even in low-risk pregnancies. More than one-third (37 percent) of
pregnant women now receive three or more ultrasound tests in the second and third
trimesters of a given pregnancy, found an article in CMAJ.
Prions show evolution without DNA
Infectious proteins that cause brain-wasting diseases such as BSE can evolve, even though
they contain no genetic information, researchers say.
Procedural issues lead to ban of
Bayer pesticide
A federal judge banned the sale of a Bayer CropScience pesticide that environmental groups
and commercial beekeepers say is potentially toxic to the nation's threatened honeybee
population.
Protein central to being male plays
key role in wound healing
A molecular receptor pivotal to the action of male hormones such as testosterone also
plays a crucial role in the body's ability to heal. In studies in mice, scientists found
that the androgen receptor delays wound healing. When scientists used an experimental
compound to block the receptor, wounds healed much more quickly.
Protein linked to leukemia
'bookmarks' highly active genes during cell division
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory scientists have discovered how some epigenetic instructions
get stably transferred from one generation of cells to the next. They report that newly
formed cells learn which genes need to become highly active right away thanks to a helpful
protein that "bookmarks" these genes during the division of their parent cell.
Putting limits on vitamin E
A research group from Tel Aviv University has done the most comprehensive and accurate
study of clinical data on vitamin E use and heart disease to date, and it warns that
indiscriminate use of high-dose vitamin E supplementation does more harm than good.
Radiofrequency ablation safe and
effective for reducing pain from bone metastases
Image-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a minimally invasive cancer treatment which
can be performed in the outpatient setting, significantly reduced the level of pain
experienced by cancer patients with bone (osseous) metastases, limiting the need for
strong narcotic pain management, and supporting improved patient frame of mind, according
to results of an American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) study published
online in the journal Cancer.
Researcher links diabetic
complication, nerve damage in bone marrow
A research team led by a Michigan State University professor has discovered a link between
diabetes and bone marrow nerve damage that may help treat one of the disease's most common
and potentially blindness-causing complications. The key to better treating retinopathy -
damage to blood vessels in the retina that affects up to 80 percent of diabetic patients -
lies not in the retina but in damage to the nerves found in bone marrow that leads to the
abnormal release of stem cells, said Julia Busik, an associate professor in MSU's
Department of Physiology. "With retinopathy, blood vessels grow abnormally in the
retina, distort vision and eventually can cause blindness," said Busik, whose
research appears in a recent issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine. "There
has been a lot of progress in treating the complication, but most treatments use a laser
that is painful to the patient and destroys parts of the retina."
Researchers decipher parts of the
neuronal code
The human brain works at a far higher level of complexity than previously thought. What
has been given little attention up to now in the information processing of neuronal
circuits has been the time factor. “Liquid computing” – a new theory about
how these complex networks of nerve cells actually work from computer scientists at Graz
University of Technology – has just passed its first test. An interdisciplinary
co-operation with neuroscientists from the Max-Planck Institute (MPI) for Brain Research
in Frankfurt managed to show that early processing stages in the brain pool information
over a longer period. For the evaluation of the experiments, the researchers also had to
crack the neuronal code. The scientists published the new findings of their research work,
which is funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF in Austria, in the current edition of
“PLoS Biology”, one of the most prestigious journals in this field. The idea
that the brain processes information step by step appears out of date. “The human
brain does not work on the principle of the assembly line. In processing information, it
is possible that time is treated much more flexibly than previously thought“,
explained Wolfgang Maass, head of the Institute for Theoretical Computer Science at Graz
University of Technology.
Researchers develop 'nano cocktail'
to target and kill tumors
A team of researchers in California and Massachusetts has developed a "cocktail"
of different nanometer-sized particles that work in concert within the bloodstream to
locate, adhere to and kill cancerous tumors.
Researchers find clues to why some
continue to eat when full
New research in mice by UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists suggest that ghrelin
might also work in the brain to make some people keep eating "pleasurable" foods
when they're already full.
Researchers find clues to why some
continue to eat when full
New research in mice by UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists suggest that ghrelin
might also work in the brain to make some people keep eating "pleasurable" foods
when they're already full.
Researchers pin down long-elusive
protein that's essential to 'life as we know it'
A team of researchers is being recognized for devising a new way to study a human protein
that long has evaded close scrutiny by scientists investigating its role in the
communication of important genetic messages inside a cell's nucleus to workhorse molecules
found elsewhere.
Researchers study microbes in
cattle to unlock metabolic disease mysteries
Switching from warm-season grasses to cool-season forages can give livestock a belly ache,
in some cases a deadly one, according to Texas AgriLife Research scientists. Dr. Bill
Pinchak, Texas AgriLife Research animal nutritionist at Vernon, is leading a team of
scientists who are using state-of-the-art technology -- metagenomics -- to determine how
changes in diest affect microbial communities in the digestive tract of cattle and how
these changes may increase risk of disease
Resistance to antibiotics can be
drawback for bacteria
Neisseria meningitidis, the meningococcus, is a bacterium that can cause diseases with
high fatality rates, and there has therefore been considerable concern that, like other
bacteria, it might become resistant to antibiotics. But now a study from Örebro
University and Örebro University Hospital in Sweden shows that there has not been any
increase in resistant meningococci in Sweden over the last 15 years. According to
researcher Sara Thulin Hedberg, the reason for this may be that it is not especially
advantageous for bacteria to develop resistance. Meningococci are usually harmless
bacteria, and about one person in ten carries them in their throats or airways without
knowing it. But they can also make their way into the blood and through the blood-brain
barrier and cause blood poisoning and/or meningitis, and then the fatality rate is high,
about 10 percent.
Restaurant and packaged foods can
have more calories than nutrition labeling indicates
Since people who are trying to reduce their weight are encouraged to choose meals labeled
as "lower in calories" or "reduced energy" in restaurants and
supermarkets, it is essential that the listed data are accurate. In a study published in
the January 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers
from Tufts University found that some commercially prepared foods contained more calories
than indicated in nutritional labeling.
Ritalin Linked With Sudden Death of
Children
Research from The National Institute of Mental Health has revealed that popular Attention
Deficit Disorder (ADD) drugs like Ritalin are responsible for causing sudden death in many
children. Study numbers indicate a 500 percent increased risk in childhood death from
taking such mental health drugs.
Rochester Neurologist Takes a Lead
Role Tackling Charcot-Marie-Tooth
Neurologist David Herrmann, MBBCh, associate professor of Neurology and of Pathology and
Laboratory Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center, is taking part in a
newly funded nationwide study focusing on a condition known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth
disease, a painful nerve condition that affects more than 100,000 Americans.
Routine screening for postnatal
depression not cost effective
Routine screening for postnatal depression in primary care - as recommended in recent
guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) - does not
appear to represent value for money for the NHS, researchers at the University of York
have concluded. The results of a study by academics in the University's Department of
Health Sciences, Hull York Medical School and the Centre for Health Economics suggest that
both the NICE recommendation and widespread current practice should be reviewed. The
research is published on bmj.com today. More than one in 10 women suffer from postnatal
depression six weeks after giving birth, yet fewer than half of cases are detected in
routine clinical practice. Screening strategies using brief depression questionnaires have
been advocated but have attracted substantial controversy. Furthermore, guidelines issued
by NICE in 2007 recommend the use of specific questions to identify possible postnatal
depression, but the effectiveness and value for money of this strategy is uncertain. The
researchers at York used a computer model to evaluate the cost effectiveness of screening
for postnatal depression in primary care.
Running shoes may cause damage to
knees, hips and ankles
Running, although it has proven cardiovascular and other health benefits, can increase
stresses on the joints of the leg. In a study published in the December 2009 issue of
PM&R: The journal of injury, function and rehabilitation, researchers compared the
effects on knee, hip and ankle joint motions of running barefoot versus running in modern
running shoes. They concluded that running shoes exerted more stress on these joints
compared to running barefoot or walking in high-heeled shoes.
Schizophrenia mouse model should
improve understanding and treatment of the disorder
Scientists have created what appears to be a schizophrenic mouse by reducing the
inhibition of brain cells involved in complex reasoning and decisions about appropriate
social behavior.
Scientists Find an Antibody Which
Hunts and Kills Prostate Cancer
Researchers have discovered an antibody which, when injected into mice, will bond with
prostate cancer tissue and "initiate direct cell death" in it.
Seeing with your hands? Hand
amputation may result in altered perception around the hands
The space within reach of our hands -- where actions such as grasping and touching occur
-- is known as the "action space." New research indicates that amputation of the
hand results in distorted visuospatial perception (i.e., figuring out where in space
objects are located) of the action space. These findings suggest that losing a hand may
shrink the action space on the amputated side, leading to permanent distortions in spatial
perception.
Selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors in pregnancy and congenital malformations
SSRIs, particularly citalopram or sertraline, were associated with an increased prevalence
of congenital septal heart defects. The largest prevalence was found after redemptions of
more than one type of SSRI in the exposure window, and simultaneous use of different SSRIs
or change in type of SSRI during early pregnancy might be problematic. Our results suggest
a class effect of the SSRI on heart defects, and the equivocal results from existing
studies could represent differences in doses or study population. The associations, if
causal, represent limited risks of an exposed child having congenital heart defects.
Serious Vaccine Reactions to Now Be
Called 'Coincidence'?
The most tragic cases of vaccine injury occur when vaccine reaction symptoms are dismissed
as a 'coincidence" and more vaccines are given that result in more severe symptoms --
and sometimes end with permanent brain and immune system damage or death.
Setting the record straight on
weight loss
It's time to set the record straight. The only reliable way to lose weight is to eat less
or exercise more. Preferably both. So why bother to state the obvious? Because a body of
scientific literature has arisen over recent years, suggesting that fat oxidation –
burning the fats we eat as opposed to the carbohydrates – is enough to promote fat
loss. It isn't. Sydney scientists have demonstrated that mice genetically altered to burn
fats in preference to carbohydrates, will convert the unburned carbohydrates into stored
fat anyway, and their ultimate weight and body composition will be the same as normal
mice. It all comes down to an enzyme known as ACC2 (acetyl-CoA carboxylase), which
controls whether cells burn fats or carbohydrates. When it was shown that 'blocking' ACC2
will force cells to burn fats in preference to carbohydrates, many assumed that such 'fat
burning' could make fat stores evaporate, and make people thin without changing food
intake or energy expenditure.
Severity of H1N1 influenza linked
to presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae
The presence of the Streptococcus pneumoniae in samples that can be easily obtained in
clinics and emergency rooms may predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza.
Reports that H1N1 pandemic influenza in Argentina was associated with higher morbidity and
mortality than in other countries led investigators in the Center for Infection and
Immunity at the Mailman School of Public Health to look for viral mutations indicative of
increased virulence and for co-infections that could contribute to disease.
Sexual responses differ for women
and men, new Queen's study shows
New research led by Queen's University Psychology professor Meredith Chivers finds that
men's reports of feeling sexually aroused tend to match their physiological responses,
while women's mind and body responses are less aligned.
Sharing a hospital room increases
risk of 'super bugs'
Staying in a multi-bed hospital room dramatically increases the risk of acquiring a
serious infectious disease, Queen's University researchers have discovered.
Silencing brain cells with yellow
and blue light
Neuroscientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a powerful new
class of tools to reversibly shut down brain activity using different colors of light.
When targeted to specific neurons, they could potentially lead to new treatments for
abnormal brain activity associated with disorders including chronic pain, epilepsy, brain
injury and Parkinson's disease.
Six Reasons Why Earth Won't Cope
for Long
AS WORLD leaders arrive in Copenhagen for the crunch phase of the climate conference, the
focus turns to what kind of deal is likely to emerge. Pre-eminent climate scientist Prof
James Hansen of the Nasa Goddard Institute has already given the entire process the kiss
of death. Any political deal cobbled together is, he believes, likely to be so profoundly
flawed as to lock humanity on to "a disaster track", writes JOHN GIBBONS
Sleeping off childhood?
Prof. Avi Sadeh of Tel Aviv University's department of psychology suggests that changes in
children's sleep patterns are evident just before the onset of physical changes associated
with puberty. He counsels parents and educators to make sure that pre-pubescent children
get the good, healthy sleep that their growing and changing bodies need.
Smacked children more successful
later in life, study finds
Children who are smacked by their parents may grow up to be happier and more successful
than those spared physical discipline, research suggests.
Small changes in protein chemistry
play large role in Huntington's disease
Investigators studying the toxic protein at the root of Huntington's disease have found
that small biochemical changes to the protein have a large effect on its toxicity. These
changes could be exploited or mimicked to develop a drug treatment for Huntington's. The
findings appear in two new studies supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Smoking cessation may actually
increase risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Cigarette smoking is a well-known risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but new research from
Johns Hopkins suggests that quitting the habit may actually raise diabetes risk in the
short term.
Smoking in cars with kids ban
effective Friday
A ban on smoking in vehicles containing children comes into effect across New Brunswick on
Friday.
Smoking ups gastric cancer risk
Corroborating with previous studies, a new research stresses that smoking places
individuals at an increased risk of developing stomach and esophageal cancers.
Smoking, leading cause of blindness
Smoking not only places individuals at an increased risk of various health conditions but
also increases the pace of age-related macular degeneration.
Soil studies reveal rise in
antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance in the natural environment is rising despite tighter controls over
our use of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture, Newcastle University scientists have
found. Bacterial DNA extracted from soil samples collected between 1940 and 2008 has
revealed a rise in background levels of antibiotic resistant genes. Newcastle
University’s Professor David Graham, who led the research, said the findings suggest
an emerging threat to public and environmental health in the future. “Over the last
few decades there has been growing concern about increasing antibiotic resistance and the
threat it poses to our health, which is best evidenced by MRSA,” explained Professor
Graham, who is based in the School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at Newcastle
University.
Solar-powered irrigation
significantly improves diet and income in rural sub-Saharan Africa
Solar-powered drip irrigation systems significantly enhance household incomes and
nutritional intake of villagers in arid sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new Stanford
University study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Solution to Killer Superbug Found
in Norway
Twenty-five years ago, Norwegians were also losing their lives to this bacteria. But
Norway's public health system fought back with an aggressive program that made it the most
infection-free country in the world. A key part of that program was cutting back severely
on the use of antibiotics.
Sprookjesbacterie eet metaal en
geeft energie
Een bacterie die in het binnenste van de aarde leeft, blijkt brokken metaal te kunnen
verslinden en kan zichzelf aansluiten op batterijen. Dat was langer bekend, maar nu
begrijpen onderzoekers voor het eerst hoe de bacterie, Shewanella oneidensis genaamd, dat
precies doet. Met die kennis kun je twee dingen: de bacterie metaalafval laten ruimen en
ermee elektriciteit opwekken uit landbouwafval.
Statins don't curb colorectal
cancer risk
Taking a cholesterol-lowering statin will lower your cholesterol but it won't cut your
risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Studies Find Heavy Heating Oil Has
Severe Effect on Air Quality
The study found the highest levels of fine particles, sulfur dioxide and other pollutants
in neighborhoods where many residential and commercial buildings burn No. 4 or No. 6 oil.
Study examines calorie information
from restaurants, packaged foods
A Tufts University study analyzes the calorie content of 18 side dishes and entrees from
national sit-down chain restaurants, 11 side dishes and entrees from national fast food
restaurants and 10 frozen meals purchased from supermarkets. Researchers compared their
results to the calorie content information provided to the public by the restaurants and
food companies.
Study identifies a protein complex
possibly crucial for triggering embryo development
Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine have discovered a protein complex that appears
to play a significant role in erasing epigenetic instructions on sperm DNA, essentially
creating a blank slate for the different cell types of a new embryo to develop.
Study links C8 exposure to liver
damage
Those with increased levels of the chemical C8 in the blood are more likely to exhibit
early signs of liver disease, a new scientific study reports.
Study links restless leg syndrome
with erectile dysfunction in older men
A study in the Jan. 1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that erectile dysfunction was more
common in older men with restless leg syndrome (RLS) than in those without RLS, and the
magnitude of this association increased with a higher frequency of RLS symptoms.
Study provides insight into pathway
linked to obesity
A new study involving the University of Iowa, Mayo Clinic and two other institutions
provides insight on weight control, suggesting that a ATP-sensitive potassium channel
critical to survival and stress adaptation can contribute to fat deposition and obesity.
The investigation reveals how the ATP-sensitive potassium channel in the heart and
skeletal muscles affects the balance between food intake and energy used. The study, which
was done in animal models, appears in the January issue of the journal Cell Metabolism.
The collaborative study involved lead author Alexey Alekseev, Ph.D., assistant professor
at Mayo Clinic, as well as scientists from the University of Connecticut and New York
University School of Medicine. The findings point to a potential pathway through which to
manage and prevent obesity, said Leonid Zingman, M.D., senior study author and assistant
professor of internal medicine at the University of Iowa, who began the research while at
Mayo Clinic in the laboratory of Andre Terzic, M.D.
Study shows a key protein helps
control blood pressure
University of Iowa researchers have shown that a protein channel helps nerve sensors in
blood vessels keep blood pressure in check. Without the protein channel, known as ASIC2,
the sensors are unable to send the brain the signals it needs to properly control blood
pressure.
Study Shows Key Protein Helps
Control Blood Pressure
University of Iowa researchers have shown that a protein channel helps nerve sensors in
blood vessels keep blood pressure in check. Without the protein channel, known as ASIC2,
the sensors are unable to send the brain the signals it needs to properly control blood
pressure. The finding, which was based in animal models, is important because it could be
used to create new treatments to prevent high blood pressure (hypertension). The study
results appear in the Dec. 24 print issue of the journal Neuron. "Sensors in your
body's blood vessels sense when your blood pressure goes up, for instance, when you get
mad at someone," said the study's principal investigator Frank Abboud, M.D.,
professor of internal medicine and molecular physiology and biophysics and director of the
Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Iowa. "These built-in sensors
perceive the change and trigger a nearly instantaneous adjustment by sending signals to
the brain, which in turn tells the blood vessels how to adjust.
Sugar May Be Bad, But This
Sweetener Is Far More Deadly
Scientists have proved for the first time that fructose, a cheap form of sugar used in
thousands of food products and soft drinks, can damage human metabolism and is fueling the
obesity crisis.
Swedish research puts stomach
cancer vaccine in sight
New research at Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg in western Sweden might be an important
step towards creating a vaccine against ulcers and stomach cancer.
Switching off hunger hormone
affects desire to drink
A Faculty of 1000 evaluation examines how a stomach-produced hormone that influences the
desire to eat and consume alcohol could be switched off to control drinking problems.
Targeting cancerous vessels
By lowering the level of a neuronal protein, researchers halted the growth of blood
vessels that tumors rely on for survival. The findings are reported online in the Journal
of Experimental Medicine (www.jem.org) on Jan. 4. Formerly known for its effects on
neuronal growth, the team found that the protein {delta}-catenin is also produced by cells
in human blood vessels. By diminishing {delta}-catenin expression, the team disrupted
vessel development, or angiogenesis, associated with inflammation in tumors and wounds. As
expected, samples of human lung tumors expressed more {delta}-catenin than the surrounding
tissues. And normal angiogenesis remained the same regardless of {delta}-catenin. Because
blocking {delta}-catenin stunts only inflammation-induced angiogenesis, the protein may be
a promising anti-cancer target, says Charles Lin, an author on the study at Vanderbilt
University Medical Center in Tennessee.
Targeting Factory Farms in Indiana
Neighbors who are fed up living next door to factory farms have found three high-powered
trial lawyers who vow to make Randolph County "ground zero" in a courtroom food
fight over how Indiana produces pork and milk.
Team finds link between
stomach-cancer bug and cancer-promoting factor
Researchers report that Helicobacter pylori, the only bacterium known to survive in the
harsh environment of the human stomach, directly activates an enzyme in host cells that
has been associated with several types of cancer, including gastric cancer. Chronic
infection with H. pylori is a well-documented risk factor for several forms of gastric
cancer, but researchers have not yet determined the mechanisms by which specific bacterial
factors contribute to cancer development. Nearly one-half of the world’s population
is infected with H. pylori, and gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of
cancer-related death.
Technology new gateway into
treatment for problem alcohol users
A recent evaluation by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health shows that online
interventions for problem alcohol use can be effective in changing drinking behaviors and
offers a significant public health benefit. In the first evaluation of its kind, the study
published in Addiction found that problem drinkers provided access to the online screener
www.CheckYourDrinking.net, reduced their alcohol consumption by 30 percent -- or six to
seven drinks weekly -- rates that are comparable to face-to-face interventions.
The Environmental Consequences of
War
Why militaries almost never clean up the messes they leave behind.
The Search for an Endangered
Mushroom That Could Cure Smallpox, TB and Bird Flu
IN THE OLD-GROWTH forests of the Pacific Northwest grows a bulbous, prehistoric-looking
mushroom called agarikon. It prefers to colonize century-old Douglas fir trees, growing
out of their trunks like an ugly mole on a finger. When I first met Paul Stamets, a
mycologist who has spent more than three decades hunting, studying, and tripping on
mushrooms, he had found only two of these unusual fungi, each time by accident-or, as he
might put it, divine intervention.
The Severity of Autism Is
Associated with Toxic Metal Body Burden and Red Blood Cell Glutathione Levels
Children with higher levels of metals – such as lead and antimony – in their
urine had more severe autism, suggesting that metal levels in their bodies may contribute
to its seriousness. The severity of a child's autism coincided with the levels of toxic
metals excreted in their urine after treatment with a metals removal therapy, finds a
study published in the Journal of Toxicology. The higher the levels of lead, antimony and
other metals excreted, the more severe was the child's autism. The findings hold true
across four independent tools used to assess autism severity.
There’s obviously something
going on
30 blaming brain and pituitary cancers on air and groundwater pollution from the Rohm and
Haas manufacturing plant in neighboring Ringwood.
To nap or not to nap
It’s safe to conclude that most people would not take issue with a requirement that
they take a nap at some point during their workday. The United States Institute of
Medicine even urges that a five-hour snooze should be made “mandatory” for all
medical interns and residents who are putting in 16 hours of work.
Toxicants detected in Asian monkey
hair may warn of environmental threats to people and wildlife
Testing hair from Asian monkeys in dense urban areas may provide early warnings of toxic
threats to humans, especially children, and wildlife. A study of young macaques at the
Swoyambhu Temple in Nepal revealed lead exposure. The monkeys live in close proximity to
people in a location with discarded lead batteries, flaking lead paint, and soil
contaminated by leaded fuel. Like toddlers, monkeys are curious explorers who put found
objects in their mouths.
Trans fat cuts slow at cafeterias
Trans fats are still too common in foods, the Heart and Stroke Foundation said Tuesday in
response to a Health Canada report.
Trans fat rules needed, groups say
Strict federal rules against trans fats are needed in Canada, health and restaurant groups
say.
Troubleshooters that block cancer
Scientists have shown how a family of "limpet-like" proteins play a crucial role
in repairing the DNA damage which can lead to cancer.
Tumors can re-seed themselves,
study finds
Tumors can not only spread through the body by sending out tiny cells called seeds, but
they can re-seed themselves, researchers said in a report on Thursday that may help
explain why tumors grow back even after they are removed.
Two Genes That Drive Aggressive
Brain Cancers Discovered
A team of Columbia scientists have discovered two genes that, when simultaneously
activated, are responsible for the most aggressive forms of human brain cancer. This
finding was made possible by the assembly of the first comprehensive network of molecular
interactions that determine the behavior of these cancer cells, a map so complex and
elusive that, until now, it could not be constructed. The discovery may lead to completely
novel strategies to diagnose and treat these incurable tumors.The findings will be
published in an advanced online edition of Nature on Dec. 23, 2009, by a team of Columbia
scientists led by Antonio Iavarone, M.D., associate professor of neurology in the Herbert
Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Andrea Califano, Ph.D., director of the Columbia
Initiative in Systems Biology.
Two of three California homes had
excessive formaldehyde levels
Two-thirds of single-family homes built in California in recent years had substandard
indoor air quality and excessive formaldehyde levels, partly because residents didn't open
their windows for ventilation, according to a new state report.
U.S. judge upholds most limits on
tobacco marketing
A U.S. judge upheld much of a sweeping federal law limiting the marketing of cigarettes
through sponsorships and on merchandise, in a ruling tobacco opponents claimed as a
victory.
UCLA Study Says Drinking Soda
Causes Obesity
Regular soda consumption significantly increases a person's risk of obesity, according to
a study conducted by researchers from the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA).
UCSB scientists discover how the
brain encodes memories at a cellular level
Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have made a major discovery in how the brain encodes
memories. The finding, published in the Dec. 24 issue of the journal Neuron, could
eventually lead to the development of new drugs to aid memory.
Uniform method to interpret autism
spectrum disorders is defined at Ben-Gurion University
The main criterion defining autism spectrum disorders is difficulty in emotional-social
behavior. Nevertheless, many people with ASD have some difficulties in three other domains
-- memory, perception and motor behavior." In her theoretical model, BGU researcher
Dr. Ben Shalom recommends a uniform way to think about these four types of difficulties,
which she believes are linked by a common brain structure/brain function connection
involving the medial prefrontal cortex.
Unraveling kidney cancer
Scientists have searched for mutations in more than 100 kidney cancer samples, the largest
number of samples from a single tumor type to be sequenced to date. They looked for
mutations in 3,544 genes to investigate the complexity within this cancer type, which is
typically associated with mutations in a gene called VHL. Despite this prevalent genetic
signature, the team revealed substantial genetic heterogeneity, suggesting that a complex
machinery contributes to the development of cancer.
URMC study links vitamin D, race
and cardiac deaths
Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to a higher number of heart and stroke-related deaths
among black Americans compared to whites, according to a University of Rochester Medical
Center study. The journal Annals of Family Medicine is publishing the study in the
January-February edition, which goes online Jan. 11, 2010. Researchers sought to
understand the well-documented disparity between blacks and whites in cardiovascular
deaths. They turned to vitamin D because growing evidence links low serum levels of D to
many serious illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, kidney and heart disease.
Use of potentially harmful
chemicals kept secret under law
Of the 84,000 chemicals in commercial use in the United States -- from flame retardants in
furniture to household cleaners -- nearly 20 percent are secret, according to the
Environmental Protection Agency.
Using CT scans to see plaque in
coronary arteries
The test, called, coronary artery calcium scoring, is meant to reveal patients at risk for
heart attack but may prompt some to get unnecessary surgery.
Using waves to generate energy is
coming, but slowly
Energy companies are trying to take advantage of what surfers have known for years —
there’s a lot of energy in the waves pounding the shores of California.
UV LED therapy shows promising
results in preventing focal seizures
Researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School discovered that light from an
ultraviolet diode (UV LED) reduced "seizure-like" activity in a rat epilepsy
model. Results of this study have considerable potential in treating focal epilepsy in
humans. Details of this study are available in the January 2010 issue of Epilepsia, a
journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the International League Against
Epilepsy.
Virus may chauffeur useful
'packages' into plants
This time of year, the word "virus" conjures up a bedridden stint with coughs
and chills -- something everyone goes to great lengths to avoid. But a new study shows
that plant viruses may work like a trucking service loaded to carry freight to its
destination. The idea is to have a virus do something good for us, like express a foreign
protein and carry genetic information into a cell.
Vitamin C boosts the reprogramming
of adult cells into stem cells
Famous for its antioxidant properties and role in tissue repair, vitamin C is touted as
beneficial for illnesses ranging from the common cold to cancer and perhaps even for
slowing the aging process. Now, a study published online on Dec. 24 by Cell Press in the
journal Cell Stem Cell uncovers an unexpected new role for this natural compound:
facilitating the generation of embryonic-like stem cells from adult cells.
Vitamin C is key to creating stem
cells
Vitamin C could be used to overcome hurdles in creating stem cells for treating human
diseases, scientists believe.
What is to blame for child obesity?
When Dr. Sadaf Farooqi and colleagues discovered a genetic abnormality that caused severe
obesity in a handful of children, she had no cure. Yet the scientist transformed four
families' lives nonetheless.
Whistleblower allegations prompt
Manitoba pathology probes
A “toxic and hostile” work environment is affecting the quality of the work at
Diagnostic Services Manitoba, the provincial agency that oversees publicly-funded
laboratories, stated Pathologist Dr. David Grynspan in a report released to the health
critic from the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party. It was subsequently made public
in early December.
Women 'can sense attraction in
men's sweat'
Women can sense if men are attracted to them by the smell of his sweat, a new study has
revealed.
Women Put 515 Chemicals on Their
Faces Every Day
A study published by Bionsen, a company in the United Kingdom that sells aluminum-free
body products, found that the average woman applies 515 chemicals to her face a day.
Makeup, perfumes, lotions, mascara, and other beauty products all contribute to the toxic
brew that is causing health problems for many women.
Women twice as likely to get
whiplash
Women run twice the risk of men of whiplash injuries during a car accident. Furthermore,
whiplash prevention measures in new cars are much less effective for women than for their
male counterparts, according to a new study.
Women's bodies and minds agree less
than men's on what's sexy
Women's minds and genitals respond differently to sexual arousal, whereas in men, the
responses of the body and mind are more in tune with each other, according to Assistant
Professor Meredith Chivers, from Queen's University in Kingston, Canada, and her
international collaborators. Their meta-analysis of the extent of agreement between
subjective ratings and physiological measures of sexual arousal in men and women is
published online this week in Springer's journal Archives of Sexual Behavior.
Young Swedish women more likely to
have sex with each other
Young Swedes have ever more fluid definitions of sex and sexuality, according to a new
study from Mälmö University in southern Sweden. Women in particular are more likely to
pursue sexual activities with others of the same gender.
Young Swedish women more likely to
have sex with each other
Young Swedes have ever more fluid definitions of sex and sexuality, according to a new
study from Malmö University in southern Sweden.
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