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Week 02
1 in 4 patients have lost bone
around their implants
Bone loss around dental implants is far more common than previously realised, reveals a
thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Around a
quarter of patients loose some degree of supporting bone around their implants.
6 U.S. baby bottle firms agree to
stop using BPA
he six major baby bottle makers in the United States have agreed to stop using the toxic
chemical Bisphenol-A.
A Dangerous Spin On The Cancer
Risks Of A Sugar-Free Sweetener
Cancer Prevention Coalition Chairman Dr. Samuel S. Epstein warns that, based on scientific
evidence published in peer-reviewed journals and presented to the U.S. Congress, aspartame
is both toxic and carcinogenic. The coalition is calling upon the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) to ban all dietary uses of aspartame.
A deadly scorpion provides a safe
pesticide
Prof. Michael Gurevitz of Tel Aviv University's Department of Plant Sciences has isolated
the genetic sequences for important neurotoxins in the scorpion venom and developed
methods to produce and manipulate these toxins to restrict their toxicity to certain
insects or mammals.
A Light Switch For The Brain
Some of the most important advances in neuroscience have been made thanks to a pair of
gruesome cases a century apart that left their victims alive, coherent and missing big
portions of their brains.
A new method to measure childhood
stress
Researchers from the University of Malaga have created the 'Inventory of Daily Stressors',
a method aimed at schoolchildren. According to experts, worrying about physical
appearance, taking part in numerous extracurricular activities and being alone a lot are
some of the factors that increase the risk of suffering from childhood stress.
A role for calcium in taste
perception
Calcium may not come to mind when you think of tasty foods, but in a study appearing in
the Jan. 8 issue of JBC, Japanese researchers have provided the first demonstration that
calcium channels on the tongue are the targets of compounds that can enhance taste.
A sonata a day keeps the doctor
away
Dr. Dror Mandel and Dr. Ronit Lubetzky of the Tel Aviv Medical Center affiliated with Tel
Aviv University's Sackler School of Medicine have found that pre-term infants exposed to
thirty minutes of Mozart's music in one session, once per day expend less energy -- and
therefore need fewer calories to grow rapidly -- than when they are not
"listening" to the music.
A year of FDA censorship, Big
Pharma crimes and celebrity drug deaths
2009 has been a crazy year for health and medicine. It was the year that Congress rammed
through a mandatory health “reform” bill that violates the U.S. Constitution in
forcing all Americans to buy government-mandated products and services from greedy
corporations.
Acupuncture Reduces Painful Side
Effects of Breast Cancer Treatments
A new medical study finds that acupuncture, an ancient form of healing that has been
around for thousands of years, is as good as, or better than modern medicine in helping
ease the side effects of breast cancer treatment.
Alternative Explanation for Why
People Get Fat
Taubes offers an alternative explanation -- people don’t get fat because they
overeat; they overeat because their fat tissue is accumulating excess fat. And why does
fat tissue do this? Because dietary carbohydrates, especially fructose, are the primary
source of a substance called glycerol-3-phosphate, which causes fat to become fixed in fat
tissue. At the same time, this diet raises insulin levels, which prevents fat from being
released.
Animals Raised on Genetically
Engineered Feed Are Different
In a landmark ruling, the NZ Commerce Commission has accepted evidence from Prof Jack
Heinemann, from an exhaustive review of the literature and on the basis of his own
extensive professional experience, that animals fed on GM components ARE different from
those which are reared using non-GM feed. This is a direct challenge to EFSA and FSA, who
have maintained consistently that there are no differences between GM- fed and non-GM-fed
animals, and that there is therefore no need for labelling or segregation of feed supplies
to meet consumer demand for GM-free products.
Association between blood lactate
levels and Sequential Organ Failure
Blood lactate levels were strongly related to SOFA scores. This relationship was stronger
during the early phase of intensive care unit stay, which provides additional indirect
support for early resuscitation to prevent organ failure. The results confirm that
hyperlactatemia can be considered as a warning signal for organ failure.
Atrazine getting new scrutiny from
EPA
That means thousands of corn producers are keeping a watchful eye on a new round of EPA
scrutiny of one of their cheapest and most effective weed-killing chemicals.
Autism Speaks again calls upon the
federal government
As JAMA reports US biomedical research funding has declined in 2008, when adjusted for
inflation, Autism Speaks again called on the federal government to dramatically increase
research funding -- to address the growing national autism public health crisis. Just
weeks after the CDC announced the latest prevalence data that autism impacts 1 percent of
children, nowhere is the need for increased research funding more evident than for those
individuals and families whose lives are impacted by autism
Behind Mass Die-Offs, Pesticides
Lurk as Culprit
In the past dozen years, three new diseases have decimated populations of amphibians,
honeybees, and — most recently — bats. Increasingly, scientists suspect that
low-level exposure to pesticides could be contributing to this rash of epidemics.
Belly fat, immune system in
overdrive, and inflammation may keep weight loss at bay
Very large belly fat cells release more toxins/waste products. These waste products which
are tucked in between our internal organs.
Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Come at a Cost, According to UCSB Researchers
For decades, omega-3 fatty acids have been praised for their myriad health benefits.
However, scientists at UC Santa Barbara have found that the benefits of omega-3s —
and DHA in particular — also come at an inevitable cost. Over a lifetime, they can
lead to cellular disease and a significant decrease in cognitive function. The scientists,
the father and son team of Raymond C. and David L. Valentine, have compiled their work in
a new book titled "Omega-3 Fatty Acids and the DHA Principle" (CRC Press, 2009).
Big freeze could signal global
warming 'pause'
The Arctic conditions which have brought Britain to a standstill over the past week could
be the start of a "pause" in global warming, some scientists believe.
Bisphenol A link to heart disease
confirmed
Second study supports an association between the chemical and cardiovascular problems.
Blocking nuclear receptor may cut
off tumor blood supply
A new method of blocking the genesis of blood vessels that feed tumors may start with the
nuclear receptor COUP-TFII, said a pair of Baylor College of Medicine researchers who have
studied the factor for more than 20 years.
Brain imaging may help diagnose
autism
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) process sound and language a fraction of a
second slower than children without ASDs, and measuring magnetic signals that mark this
delay may become a standardized way to diagnose autism. While more work remains to be
done, this pattern of delayed brain response may be refined into the first imaging
biomarker for autism.
Breast cancer multigene test
helping patients avoid chemotherapy
A 21-gene test that predicts whether early stage breast cancer patients will benefit from
chemotherapy is having a big impact on treatment decisions by patients and doctors alike,
according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Can we trust the results of
research done on children?
U of A researcher finds flawed medical research could lead to children receiving treatment
that either doesn't work or is harmful.
Cardiologists Repair the Heart
Through the Wrist
A new approach to common cardiac procedures called transradial angiography might lead to
reduced patient complications and recovery time and decreased hospital costs.
Carnegie Mellon's Philip LeDuc
discovers new protein function
Carnegie Mellon University's Philip R. LeDuc and his collaborators in Massachusetts and
Taiwan have discovered a new function of a protein that could ultimately unlock the
mystery of how these workhorses of the body play a central role in the mechanics of
biological processes in people. "What we have done is find a new function of a
protein that helps control cell behavior from a mechanics perspective," said LeDuc,
an associate professor of mechanical engineering with courtesy appointments in the
Biomedical Engineering, Biological Sciences and Computational Biology departments.
"For over 15 years, researchers have been mainly focusing on a protein called
Integrin to study these cell functions, but our team found that another lesser known
protein called Syndecan-4 is extremely important in cell behavior in a field called
MechanoBiology (a field linking mechanics and biology). Syndecan-4 is known to play an
essential role in a variety of diseases like cancer," LeDuc said.
China a rising star in regenerative
medicine despite world skepticism of stem cell therapies
Chinese researchers have become the world's fifth most prolific contributors to
peer-reviewed scientific literature on clock-reversing regenerative medicine even as a
skeptical international research community condemns the practice of Chinese clinics
administering unproven stem cell therapies to domestic and foreign patients.
Climate expert in the eye of an
integrity storm
After dozens of Mann's personal e-mails were hacked in November, the tenured professor has
been called a fraud, a clown, and worse by columnists and bloggers.
Clinical trial chiefs more likely
tied to industry
Cancer researchers who have the greatest ability to influence research are also the
researchers with the greatest financial ties to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology
industries, according to a report released today.
Coal Is Linked to Cancer in China
Province
Nonsmoking women in an area of China’s Yunnan province die of lung cancer at a rate
20 times that of their counterparts in other regions of the country — and higher than
anywhere else in the world.
Commercial influence on science
All of these companies have a piece of me. I'm getting checks waved at me from Monsanto
and American Cyanamid and Dow, and it's hard to balance the public interest with the
private interest.
Common chemical may affect liver at
low levels
The chemical in question is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is used to make
substances called fluoropolymers. Used in an array of manufacturing processes,
fluoropolymers impart fire-resistance and water, stain and grease repellency to everything
from carpets to cookware.
Comparing Earth's current warming
to the Pliocene
The early Pliocene period might be the best analog for the warmer world scientists expect
in the not-too-distant future.
Considering the evidence in health
care
Taking a more strongly evidence-based approach to medicine would help the US health care
system recover its ranking among other nations and improve quality, access, efficiency,
equity and healthy lives, according to a report published in the International Journal of
Public Policy this month.
Conspiracy Theory with Jesse
Ventura Profiled Bilderberg Group
Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura is alleging that the Bilderberg Group (along with
seven masterminds above them) wants to wipe out much of humanity through poisoned vaccines
(like H1N1) and food additives (like Aspartame).
Coral can recover from climate
change damage
A study by the University of Exeter provides the first evidence that coral reefs can
recover from the devastating effects of climate change. Published Monday, Jan. 11, in the
journal PLoS One, the research shows for the first time that coral reefs located in marine
reserves can recover from the impacts of global warming.
CSHL scientists uncover role of
protein critical for activating DNA replication
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered how a protein long known to be
an essential activator of DNA replication actually triggers this process in cells. The
protein, called DDK (for Ddf4-dependent protein kinase), is one of two
cell-cycle-regulated protein kinases that facilitate coordination with other processes
during cell division. DDK is now shown to block the inhibitory activity of a domain within
the DNA unwinding enzyme Mcm4, thereby promoting DNA replication.
Debate heats up over IPCC melting
glaciers claim
Glaciologists are this week arguing over how a highly contentious claim about the speed at
which glaciers are melting came to be included in the latest report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Deep brain stimulation successful
for treatment of severely depressive patient
A team of neurosurgeons at Heidelberg University Hospital and psychiatrists at the Central
Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim have for the first time successfully treated a
patient suffering from severe depression by stimulating the habenula, a tiny nerve
structure in the brain.
Disconnect between brain regions in
ADHD
Two brain areas fail to connect when children with attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder attempt a task that measures attention, according to researchers at the UC Davis
Center for Mind and Brain and M.I.N.D. Institute.
Disconnect Between Brain Regions in
ADHD
Two brain areas fail to connect when children with attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder attempt a task that measures attention, according to researchers at the UC Davis
Center for Mind and Brain and M.I.N.D. Institute. "This is the first time that we
have direct evidence that this connectivity is missing in ADHD," said Ali Mazaheri,
postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Mind and Brain. Mazaheri and his colleagues made
the discovery by analyzing the brain activity in children with ADHD. The paper appears in
the current online issue of the journal Biological Psychiatry. The researchers measured
electrical rhythms from the brains of volunteers, especially the alpha rhythm. When part
of the brain is emitting alpha rhythms, it shows that it is disengaged from the rest of
the brain and not receiving or processing information optimally, Mazaheri said.
Discovery at JGH opens door to new
treatments for prostate, brain and skin cancers
Researchers at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research of the Jewish General
Hospital and McGill University in Montreal have discovered a previously unsuspected link
between two different genetic pathways which suppress the growth of cancer tumors. This
breakthrough, they say, could lead to new treatments for some of the deadliest and most
intractable forms of cancer; including prostate cancer, brain cancer and melanoma.
Discovery of a new molecular
mechanism that guides visual nerves towards the brain
The laboratory of Dr. Frederic Charron, a researcher at the Institut de recherches
cliniques de Montreal, has discovered a new molecular mechanism that permits the guidance
of visual nerves towards the brain. Their findings have been published in the current
issue of the Journal of Neuroscience. The research was conducted in collaboration with Dr.
Tomomi Shimogori from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute, in Japan. Pierre Fabre, a
doctoral student in Dr. Charron's research unit, is the article's first author.
Discovery of enzyme activation
process could lead to new heart attack treatments
Researchers at the Indiana University and Stanford University schools of medicine have
determined how a "chemical chaperone" does its job in the body, which could lead
to a new class of drugs to help reduce the muscle damage caused by heart attacks.
Disease-causing bacteria found in
tobacco and smoke
Smokers and those around second-hand smoke are exposed to disease-causing bacteria, a new
study reported in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
Does alcohol lead to breast cancer?
A recent study says the amount of alcohol a woman consumes dictates her chances of getting
breast cancer.
Dr Hildegarde Staniger sprak deze
week op het Health Freedom Congress over de chemtrails
Hildegarde Staninger, PhD presented the documentary videos of Tanker Enemy, an Italian
group which documents the aerial spraying of chemtrails and other toxification of our
skies. She introduced theconcept of "Smart Dust" to the participants and
described nano machines, and their purpose and consequences, none of which are positive
for the ordinary person. In her second presentation, she delved into nano machines dusted
on us through one variety of aerial spraying ("Smart Dust") and the fact that
nano fibers, machines, chips (including edible ones) are already areality within us and
are being used on us and our bodies without either permission or knowledge.
Drug that modifies gene activity
could help some older leukemia patients
Older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) might benefit from a drug that
reactivates genes that cancer cells turn off, according to research at Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis and collaborating institutions. The researchers
say the findings support further investigation of the drug, decitabine, as a first-line
treatment for these patients, who have limited treatment options.
Dual role for immune cells in the
brain
We all have at one time or another experienced the typical signs of an infection: the
fever, the listlessness, the lack of appetite. They are orchestrated by the brain in
response to circulating cytokines, the signaling molecules of the immune system. But just
how cytokines' reach extends beyond the almost impenetrable blood-brain barrier has been
the topic of much dispute.
Dual Role for Immune Cells in the
Brain
We all have at one time or another experienced the typical signs of an infection: the
fever, the listlessness, the lack of appetite. They are orchestrated by the brain in
response to circulating cytokines, the signaling molecules of the immune system. But just
how cytokines' reach extends beyond the almost impenetrable blood-brain barrier has been
the topic of much dispute.In their latest study, researchers at the Salk Institute for
Biological Studies describe how, depending on the nature of the stimulus, resident
macrophages lined up along the blood-brain barrier play opposing roles in the transmission
of immune signals into the brain.
Duke scientists map brain pathway
for vocal learning
Scientists at Duke University Medical Center have identified neurons in the songbird brain
that convey the auditory feedback needed to learn a song. Their research lays the
foundation for improving human speech, for example, in people whose auditory nerves are
damaged and who must learn to speak without the benefit of hearing their own voices. This
work is the first study to identify an auditory feedback pathway in the brain that is
harnessed for learned vocal control.
DuPont says U.S. must curb Monsanto
seed monopoly
The U.S. government needs to rein in Monsanto's anti-competitive behavior, which is
hurting the U.S. seed business and limiting innovation needed to feed a growing world
population, one of the industry's biggest seed companies said in a report filed with
government regulators on Friday.
Dying workers 'robbed of life and
of their compensation'
Victims of industrial diseases such as asbestosis are being denied their full payments, as
benefits are clawed back.
Each pound at birth lowers risk of
developing TB
Just one more pound may help a newborn avoid tuberculosis later in life. Researchers at
the University of Michigan looked at how much protection additional birth weight added
against developing the disease years later. They found that every 1.1 pounds of birth
weight decreases the risk of developing tuberculosis later by 46 percent among identical
twins. The association between birth weight and developing tuberculosis is much stronger
for males than females, with girls only about 16 percent less likely to develop
tuberculosis for every 1.1 pounds (500 grams) of birth weight, said Eduardo Villamor,
study author and associate professor at the U-M School of Public Health. The risk
decreased by 87 percent for infant males with each pound.
Egyptian Eyeliner May Have Warded
Off Disease
Although today we know that lead can cause brain damage and miscarriages, the Egyptians
believed that lead-based cosmetics protected against eye diseases. Now, new research
suggests that they may have been on to something.
Environmentalists and fishing
community can both win, say experts
You can conserve fish and eat them too, according to a fisheries economist at UC Santa
Barbara, along with a team of experts.
EPA announces plan to require
disclosure of secret pesticide ingredients
Reversing a decade-old decision, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced
Tuesday that it plans to require pesticide manufacturers to disclose to the public the
inert ingredients in their products. An inert ingredient is anything added to a pesticide
that does not kill or control a pest. In some cases, those ingredients are toxic, but
companies do not identify them on pesticide labels. For 11 years, EPA denied petitions
seeking disclosure of the chemicals but now the new administration says it plans to draft
a rule that will increase transparency and encourage companies to replace toxic
substances. Manufacturers worry about revealing trade secrets.
Estrogen and inflammation modulate
estrogen receptor alpha expression in specific tissues of the temporomandibular joint
Estrogen is known to play role in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and estrogen
effects can be mediated by ERalpha present in the TMJ.
European activists blast Big Pharma
for pandemic scare
With governments around the world getting stuck with unused supplies of swine flu vaccine,
it was almost a sure bet that at some point Big Pharma would be attacked for orchestrating
a global panic attack in order to sell billions of dollars worth of vaccine.
Even low exposure to lead poses
risk
Recent research shows that lead exposure, long known to be dangerous to children, is also
hazardous for adults and even low-level exposure can cause significant health risks.
Excess protein in urine is
indicator of heart disease risk in whites, but not blacks
The cardiovascular risk that is associated with proteinuria, or high levels of protein in
the urine, a common test used by doctors as an indicator of increased risk for progressive
kidney disease, heart attack and stroke, has race-dependent effects, according to a new
study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Exposure to past plagues gave swine
flu immunity to sixtysomethings
People in their 60s and over are relatively immune to swine flu because it is similar to
H1N1 viruses that circulated before 1943, a group of researchers said Friday.
Federal study acknowledges links
between breast cancer and abortion, contraception
A study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, concluded in April 2009, showed a
strong correlation between the use of oral contraceptives and a particularly deadly form
of breast cancer. The study found that the connection was highest among women who began
using oral contraceptives while they were teenagers.
Food industry 'too secretive' over
nanotechnology
The food industry has been criticised for being secretive about its use of nanotechnology
by the UK's House of Lords Science and Technology Committee.
Food Industry Secretive over
Nanotechnology
Lord Krebs said that the industry "...got their fingers burnt over the use of GM
crops and so they want to keep a low profile on this issue. We believe that they should
adopt exactly the opposite approach. If you want to build confidence you should be open
rather than secretive."
Friendship may help stem rise of
obesity in children, study finds
Parents are acutely aware of the influence of friends on their children's behavior -- how
they dress, how they wear their hair, whether they drink or smoke. A new laboratory-based
study has shown that friends also may influence how much adolescents eat.
From the ancient Amazonian Indians
- A modern weapon against global warming
Scientists are reporting that "biochar" -- a material that the Amazonian Indians
used to enhance soil fertility centuries ago -- has potential in the modern world to help
slow global climate change. Mass production of biochar could capture and sock away carbon
that otherwise would wind up in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas.
Their report appears in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology, a bi-weekly journal.
Full-body scanner machines do save
and transmit images, secret documents reveal
The TSA has been lying to the American people about full-body scanners. The agency has
insisted that these "digital strip search" machines are incapable of saving,
storing or transmitting the images they take. This, we are told, makes it okay for people
to be digitally strip-searched.
Fury at vaccine scandal
Experts believe the injections caused the health problems, which include chronic fatigue,
muscle pain, weakness and cognitive problems, because illnesses developed soon after
vaccination. In one case Steve Robinson, a previously fit 43-year-old father of three, was
vaccinated six years ago against hepatitis A, B and polio, tetanus and diphtheria as part
of his work as a forensic specialist.
Gas stoves show small effect on
kids' lung function
While some studies have implicated gas appliances in children's risk of respiratory ills,
a new report suggests that gas cooking stoves may have only a small effect on most
children's lung function.
Gastroenterologists study mind/body
techniques for treating celiac disease
For adults and children diagnosed with celiac disease, the only treatment is a gluten-free
diet, which can be very challenging. Gastroenterologists at Rush University Medical Center
are conducting a new study to see if mind/body techniques could help patients with celiac
disease adhere to the very strict diet.
Gastroenterologists Study Mind/Body
Techniques for Treating Celiac Disease
For adults and children diagnosed with celiac disease, the only treatment is a gluten-free
diet, which can be very challenging. Gastroenterologists at Rush University Medical Center
are conducting a new study to see if mind/body techniques could help patients with celiac
disease adhere to the very strict diet. Celiac disease is a lifelong, digestive disease
affecting children and adults. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a
protein found in almost all food products as well as medicines, vitamins and lip balms.
Gluten can damage the small intestine and interfere with absorption of nutrients from
food. “Eating even a small amount of gluten can damage the small intestine,”
said Dr. Ali Keshavarzian, vice chairman of medicine and gastroenterologist at Rush.
“The damage will occur in anyone with the disease, including people without
noticeable symptoms.” Hidden sources of gluten are sometimes additives such as
modified food starch, preservatives and stabilizers made with wheat. Also, many corn and
rice products are produced in factories that also manufacture wheat products, and can be
contaminated with wheat gluten. “The purpose of this study is to determine whether
participation in one of two mind/body courses can help patients cope with the restricted
diet,” said Keshavarzian. “It can be very hard and stressful for people with
celiac disease to stick to a gluten-free diet.”
Gender-biased heart damage
A man's male hormones may ward off heart damage by helping vessels around the heart
regenerate, suggest Australian researchers in a report posted Jan. 13 in the Journal of
Experimental Medicine.
Genetic Variant Associated with
Aggressive Form of Prostate Cancer Identified
Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues have
identified the first genetic variant associated with aggressive prostate cancer, proving
the concept that genetic information may one day be used in combination with other factors
to guide treatment decisions. The research will be reported online next week (Jan. 11-15)
in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “This finding addresses one
of the most important clinical questions of prostate cancer – the ability at an early
stage to distinguish between aggressive and slow-growing disease,” said Jianfeng Xu,
M.D., Dr. P.H., professor of epidemiology and cancer biology. “Although the genetic
marker currently has limited clinical utility, we believe it has the potential to one day
be used in combination with other clinical variables and genetic markers to predict which
men have aggressive prostate cancer at a stage when the disease is still curable.”
Genetic variant associated with
aggressive form of prostate cancer
Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues have
identified the first genetic variant associated with aggressive prostate cancer, proving
the concept that genetic information may one day be used in combination with other factors
to guide treatment decisions.
Girls with prenatal exposure to
bisphenol A more aggressive, hyperactive
Daughters of women who were exposed to a common chemical found in plastics, while they
were pregnant are more likely to show aggressive and hyperactive behaviours as
two-year-olds, a new study shows.
Gladstone scientists identify role
of key protein in ALS and frontotemporal dementia
Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease have identified the reason a
key protein plays a major role in two neurodegenerative diseases. In the current edition
of the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers in the laboratory of GIND Associate Director
Steven Finkbeiner, M.D., Ph.D., have found how the protein TDP-43 may cause the
neurodegeneration associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal
lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusion bodies (FTLDu).
Gluten-free vegan diet helps
rheumatoid arthritis
Elkan AC and colleagues from Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, found the gluten free
vegan diet induced lower their body mass index, and low-density lipoprotein and higher
anti-PC IgM than the control diet.
Got cognitive activity? It does a
mind good
If you don't have a college degree, you're at greater risk of developing memory problems
or even Alzheimer's. Education influences lifelong memory performance and risk for
dementia, and those with a college degree possess a cognitive advantage over their less
educated counterparts in middle and old age. A national study from Brandeis University
published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry shows that those with less
schooling can compensate by doing mental exercises such as word games, puzzles, reading
and lectures.
GPs urged to screen for
statin-induced muscle damage
GPs should actively screen patients taking statins in order to pick up symptoms of
myotoxicity, say primary care researchers.
Green tea could modify the effect
of cigarette smoking on lung cancer risk
Green tea can reduce the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Benefits were also seen in
non-smokers.
H1N1 not as contagious as other
viruses
How contagious is the swine flu? Less than the novel viruses that have caused big world
pandemics in the past, new research suggests.
Heat and moisture from Himalayas
could be a key cause of the South Asian monsoon
Harvard climate scientists suggest that the Tibetan Plateau -- thought to be the primary
source of heat that drives the South Asian monsoon -- may have far less of an effect than
the Himalayas and other surrounding mountains. As the monsoon brings needed rainfall and
water to billions of people each year, understanding its proper origin, especially in the
context of global climate change, is crucial for the future sustainability of the region.
High levels of vitamin D,
low-calorie diet may increase weight loss
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have found that people who have
higher levels of vitamin D while on a low-calorie diet may increase weight loss —
particularly abdominal weight.
How Factory Farms Are Pumping
Americans Full of Deadly Bacteria and Pathogens
We're getting sicker and sicker, thanks to gruesome conditions in animal agriculture
nationwide.
Hypertension linked to dementia in
older women
Older women with hypertension are at increased risk for developing brain lesions that
cause dementia later in life, according to data from the Women's Health Initiative Memory
Study.
Imaging studies help detect
underlying cancers in patients with neurologic symptoms
A combined positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan of the whole
body appears to detect cancer in individuals with related neurologic complications more
accurately than some other commonly used tests, according to a report posted online today
that will appear in the March print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the
JAMA/Archives journals.
In early heart development, genes
work in tandem
Studying genes that regulate early heart development in animals, scientists have solved a
puzzle about one gene's role, finding that it acts in concert with a related gene. Their
finding contributes to understanding how the earliest stages of heart development may go
awry, resulting in congenital heart defects in humans. Occurring in approximately 1 in 200
children, congenital heart defects represent the most common human birth defect.
Inside China's secret toxic
unobtainium mine
The land is scarred with toxic runoffs from the refining process and pock-marked with
craters and trenches left by the huge trucks that transport the rocks across ice and mud.
Rusting machinery lies scattered along the valley floor, giving it the appearance of a war
zone.
Investigators identify gene
mutations in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy
Investigators in the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital have identified
a link between specific modifications of the dystrophin gene and the age of cardiac
disease onset in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD). This information could
help clinicians provide early cardiac intervention for BMD patients based on genetic
testing results performed on a blood sample.
Krill oil – hope or hype for
the omega-3 market?
Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the nutrition industry’s big fish, and an emerging
presence in the market is omega-3 sourced from krill oil. Stephen Daniells casts his net
for opinions on the rise of krill oil.
Lancet urges China to tackle
scientific fraud
The British medical journal the Lancet has urged China's authorities to do more to tackle
scientific fraud.
Lead damages child kidneys, even
low levels
Tiny amounts of lead are common in the blood of U.S. teenagers and may be damaging their
kidneys, U.S. researchers reported on Monday. They found evidence of early kidney damage
in children with lead levels far below what is normally considered dangerous and said this
could lead to kidney disease in later life.
Lens implant has given me HD vision
Thanks to a revolutionary new type of implanted lens, Fred has gone from needing three
different pairs of glasses to having perfect vision for the first time in decades.
Longer breastfeeding good for kids'
mental health
Children who are breastfed for longer than six months could be at lower risk of mental
health problems later in life, new research from Australia suggests.
Mango effective in preventing,
stopping certain colon, breast cancer cells
Mango. If you know little about this fruit, understand this: It's been found to prevent or
stop certain colon and breast cancer cells in the lab. That's according to a new study by
Texas AgriLife Research food scientists, who examined the five varieties most common in
the U.S.: Kent, Francine, Ataulfo, Tommy/Atkins and Haden.
Melanoma stem cells' evasive
talents
Melanoma, if not detected in its early stages, transforms into a highly deadly,
treatment-resistant cancer. Although the immune system initially responds to melanoma and
mounts anti-tumor attacks, these assaults are generally ineffective, allowing more
advanced melanomas to win the battle and spread beyond the primary site. Now, researchers
at Children's Hospital Boston and Brigham and Women's Hospital shed light on how melanomas
stimulate, yet ultimately evade, a patient's immune system.
Men's testosterone responses to
olfactory ovulation cues
Women around the world spend billions of dollars each year on exotic smelling perfumes and
lotions in the hopes of attracting a mate. However, going "au natural" may be
the best way to capture a potential mate's attention: Men who smelled shirts of ovulating
women subsequently had higher levels of testosterone than men who smelled shirts worn by
non-ovulating women, suggesting that testosterone levels may be responsive to smells
indicating when a woman is fertile.
Migraine and depression may share
genetic component
New research shows that migraine and depression may share a strong genetic component. The
research is published in the Jan. 13, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal
of the American Academy of Neurology.
MIT research finds 'noisiest'
neurons persist in the adult brain
MIT neuroscientists have discovered that when it comes to new neurons in the adult brain,
the squeakiest wheels get the grease.
Molecule repairs alcohol metabolism
enzyme
About 1 billion people worldwide carry a genetic mutation that produces an inactive form
of ALDH2, an important alcohol metabolism enzyme. When individuals with the ALDH2 mutation
drink alcohol, the toxic compound acetaldehyde accumulates in the body. The inactive form
of ALDH2 is linked to increased risk for cancer. Researchers found that an experimental
compound restores the structure and function of the inactive enzyme, which suggests the
possibility of a treatment for the enzyme defect.
Monitoring of high-risk medications
unchanged despite FDA warnings
A new study concludes that many doctors appear to have largely ignored a Food and Drug
Administration warning to screen users of new antipsychotic drugs for high blood sugar and
cholesterol, which poses risks to their health and raises questions about the efficacy of
warning protocols in general.
Monkeys Are Canaries in Lead Mine
In a study in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, researchers showed that
macaques that live side by side with humans in Nepal show elevated lead levels in their
bodies. The human population is thus probably also being exposed to unsafe lead. Cynthia
Graber reports
More accurate diagnosis for leading
cancer killer in children may be possible
Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in children. Now a more accurate
diagnosis of childhood brain cancers may soon be possible, according to researchers at
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. The information is published online
today in the journal Cancer Research.
More evidence emerges that
Americans are drugged out of their minds
Think Americans are maxed out on the number of psychiatric meds that huge numbers of them
are taking? Think again. A new report says U.S. adults are increasingly being prescribed
combinations of antidepressants, anti-anxiety and antipsychotic medications -- and they
could be experiencing serious side effects as a result.
More Sex May Help Damaged Sperm
Daily sex could help men with damaged sperm, some doctors say
Mosquito hunters invent better,
cheaper, DIY disease weapon
Emory researchers believe they have come up with the cheapest, most efficient way yet to
monitor adult mosquitoes and the deadly diseases they carry, from malaria to West Nile
Virus. Emory has filed a provisional patent on the Prokopack mosquito aspirator, but the
inventors have provided simple instructions for how to make it in the Journal of Medical
Entomology.
MRSA diffuses through regional
health-care networks
A new study finds that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
–responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections including blood poisoning and
pneumonia and a particular problem in hospitals – occurs in distinct geographical
clusters across Europe, indicating that MRSA is being diffused by patients moving between
hospitals rather than spreading freely in the community. The study, published in this
week's PLoS Medicine, used an interactive Web tool to map different strains of the S.
aureus bacterium across the continent.
Much of Canadian crop contaminated
with GMO
Canadian exporters will try to cleanse their flax shipments of genetically modified
organisms by requiring farmers to use certified seed, in an effort to reopen trade with
top markets.
Mutations in different cells
cooperate to set the stage for cancer
Cancer biologists have long known that it takes the cooperation of multiple cancer-causing
genes to cause cancer. Now, Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers have shown that
the cooperating mutations can occur in neighboring cells.
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.
Nature fights back against GM crop
technology - study explains development of superweeds
Nature has found a new way to fight back against GM crop technology, according to a recent
study. The study looked at the new superweeds growing in GM crops to find out how they
were resisting the herbicide Roundup (active ingredient glyphosate). Glyphosate works by
preventing the action of a natural plant protein, resulting in death of the plant. But
many GM crops have been manipulated to produce an additional mutated bacterial protein
that can carry out the necessary action in place of the natural protein. This means that
farmers can spray Roundup over GM crops, killing only the weeds. But the superweeds have
adapted and the study, in December, found they have a greatly increased number of genes in
their DNA to code for the natural protein (5 to 160 times). They have dramatically
increased production of the natural protein to a point where they could survive heavy
doses of glyphosate. The study concluded "This occurrence of gene-amplification
[…] is particularly significant because it could threaten the sustainable use of
glyphosate-resistant crop technology."
Neuroimaging may shed light on how
Alzheimer's disease develops
Current Alzheimer's disease research indicates that accumulation of amyloid-beta (AB)
protein plaques in the brain is central to the development of AD. While previously
presence of these plaques could only be confirmed at autopsy. Positron Emission Tomography
provides researchers with an opportunity to test the amyloid hypothesis as it occurs in
living patients. A new study published in Behavioural Neurology summarizes the results of
experiments using the AB tracer Pittsburgh Compound-B.
New biomarkers for predicting the
spread of colon cancer
Scientists in China are reporting discovery of two proteins present in the blood, of
people with colon cancer that may serve as the potential biomarkers for accurately
predicting whether the disease will spread. Their study is in ACS' Journal of Proteome
Research, a monthly publication.
New Compound Improves Cognitive
Decline, Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease in Rodents
A fast-acting compound that appears to improve cognitive function impairments in mice
similar to those found in patients with progressive Alzheimer’s disease has been
identified by scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the Vanderbilt
University Medical Center Program in Drug Discovery. Researchers hope to one day replicate
the result in humans. The compound – benzylquinolone carboxylic acid (BQCA) –
has also been shown in previous rodent studies to lessen the occurrence and severity of
the behavioral disturbances often symptomatic of Alzheimer’s, such as hallucinations,
delusions, paranoia and outbursts. “That makes this compound somewhat novel,”
said Michelle M. Nicolle, Ph.D., an associate professor of gerontology at Wake Forest and
co-researcher on the study, published recently in the Journal of Neuroscience. “We
wanted to see if this very specific acting compound was able to change the way the brain
works and whether or not it improved memory in our ‘Alzheimer’s mice,’
which are experiencing progressive cognitive decline much like a person with
Alzheimer’s does.”
New Compound Improves Cognitive
Decline, Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease in Rodents
A fast-acting compound that appears to improve cognitive function impairments in mice
similar to those found in patients with progressive Alzheimer’s disease has been
identified by scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the Vanderbilt
University Medical Center Program in Drug Discovery. Researchers hope to one day replicate
the result in humans. The compound – benzylquinolone carboxylic acid (BQCA) –
has also been shown in previous rodent studies to lessen the occurrence and severity of
the behavioral disturbances often symptomatic of Alzheimer’s, such as hallucinations,
delusions, paranoia and outbursts. “That makes this compound somewhat novel,”
said Michelle M. Nicolle, Ph.D., an associate professor of gerontology at Wake Forest and
co-researcher on the study, published recently in the Journal of Neuroscience. “We
wanted to see if this very specific acting compound was able to change the way the brain
works and whether or not it improved memory in our ‘Alzheimer’s mice,’
which are experiencing progressive cognitive decline much like a person with
Alzheimer’s does.”
New compound improves cognitive
decline, symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in rodents
A fast-acting compound that appears to improve cognitive function impairments in mice
similar to those found in patients with progressive Alzheimer's disease has been
identified by scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the Vanderbilt
University Medical Center Program in Drug Discovery. Researchers hope to one day replicate
the result in humans.
New hope for therapy in
heartburn-related cancer
A new study published in the journal Disease Models and Mechanisms shows that DBZ, a drug
currently in clinical trials for use in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, is able in
rats to stop the growth of Barrett's esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition which if
unchecked can lead to esophageal (gullet) cancer. This may be a powerful new weapon in the
fight against a common cancer which is hard to treat and usually fatal.
New Jersey passes medical marijuana
bill
New Jersey's legislature approved a bill on Monday that would make it the 14th U.S. state
to allow chronically ill patients access to marijuana for medical reasons.
New mechanism underlying cocaine
addiction discovered
Researchers have identified a key epigenetic mechanism in the brain that helps explain
cocaine's addictiveness, according to research funded by the National Institute on Drug
Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health.
New Safety Concern Linked to
Seroquel Side Effects
A new study of antipsychotics, including Seroquel, notes that the medications are
reasonably effective and well-tolerated treatments for mood and psychotic disorders, but
they do have a dark side—side effects that cause diabetes and hyperglycemia, among
other adverse reactions.
New solvent technologies to replace
use of harmful toxic acids
Scientists at the University of Leicester are spearheading the development of new ways to
replace harmful, carcinogenic, toxic acids and electrolytes which are currently used in
many commercial metal finishing and energy storage processes. A team of academics, PhD
students and PostDoc researchers from the University of Leicester’s Department of
Chemistry has received over €1 million funding to develop and apply environmentally
friendly solvents. The researchers have developed ionic liquids solvents which provide a
safe, non-toxic, environmentally friendly alternative to harmful solutions. These new
liquids can act as “drop-in” replacement technology, and perform as well as, or
even better than, existing processes.
New stroke therapy successful in
rats
People with impaired mobility after a stroke soon may have a therapy that restores limb
function long after the injury, if a supplemental protein works as well in humans as it
does in paralyzed rats.
New studies question FDA's medical
approval process
Two independent studies were published that are critical of the agency's approval process
for medical devices.
New study raises the possibility
that some antiviral drugs could make diseases worse
A team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin raises concerns about an
emerging strategy for stopping viral infections. According to research appearing this
month in Genetics, medications that cause viruses to die off by forcing their nucleic acid
to mutate rapidly might actually, in some instances, cause them to emerge from the process
even more virulent than before drug treatment.
New target discovered for treatment
of cancer
Researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new
way of blocking the formation of blood vessels and halting the growth of tumors in mice. A
substance that exploits this mechanism could be developed into a new treatment for cancer.
New target discovered for treatment
of cancer
Researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new
way of blocking the formation of blood vessels and halting the growth of tumours in mice.
A substance that exploits this mechanism could be developed into a new treatment for
cancer. For a cancer tumour to be able to grow larger than the size of a pea, the cancer
cells need to stimulate the formation of new blood vessels that can supply the tumour with
oxygen and nutrients, a process known as angiogenesis. A number of medicines which inhibit
angiogenesis have been developed, but their effect has been limited, and there is still a
major need for better medicines. The new results concern a receptor on the surface of
blood vessel cells called ALK1. When the researchers blocked ALK1 in tumours in mice,
angiogenesis was inhibited and the tumours stopped growing. The ALK1 receptor is activated
by a family of signalling proteins called TGF-? proteins that are very important for
communication between different types of cell in a wide range of key processes in the
body. The study indicates that two members of the TGF-? family (TGF-? and BMP9) work
together to stimulate angiogenesis in tumours.
New Treatment for Hyperactivity in
Children
A new thought-operated computer system which can reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children will be rolled out across the UK this month.
Professor Karen Pine at the University of Hertfordshire’s School of Psychology and
assistant Farjana Nasrin investigated the effects of EEG (Electroencephalography)
biofeedback, a learning strategy that detects brain waves, on ten children with an
attention deficit from Hertfordshire schools They used a system called Play Attention,
supplied by not-for-profit community interest company, Games for Life, three times a week
for twelve weeks. The system involves the child playing a fun educational computer game
whilst wearing a helmet similar to a bicycle helmet. The helmet picks up their brain
activity in the form of EEG waves related to attention. As long as the child concentrates
they control the games, but as soon as their attention waivers the game stops. The
researchers found at the end of the study that the children’s impulsive behaviour was
reduced, compared to a control group who had not used the system.
New Univeristy of Waterloo study
finds CFCs, not CO2, to be the cause of recent global warming
The man-made cause of global warming is not CO2 and the international treaty that saved
the planet is not the Kyoto Protocol. Rather, says Dr. Lu, the true cause of global
warming has been CFCs, or chlorofluorocarbons, a class of chemicals that was once widely
used in aerosol cans and refrigeration.
NIST Scientists Quantify
Nanoparticle-Protein Interactions
A research team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has
quantified the interaction of gold nanoparticles with important proteins found in human
blood, an approach that should be useful in the development of nanoparticle-based medical
therapies and for better understanding the physical origin of the toxicity of certain
nanoparticles. Nanoparticles show promise as vehicles for drug delivery, as medical
diagnostic tools, and as a cancer treatment agent in their own right. Gold nanoparticles,
spheres that vary in size between 5 and 100 billionths of a meter in diameter, are
especially useful because of the many ways their metal surfaces can be
“functionalized” by attaching tailored molecules to perform different tasks in
the body. However, treatments require a large number of particles to be injected into the
bloodstream, and these could be hazardous if they interact with the body in unforeseen
ways.
Nursing students twice as likely to
smoke as the general population
Urgent steps are needed to reduce the number of healthcare professionals who smoke. A
survey of 812 new nursing students found that more than half were current or former
smokers. 44 percent were still smoking -- twice as many as in the general population --
and a further 12 percent were former smokers. Three-quarters of the smoking students had
at least one parent who smoked and almost half had at least one brother or sister who
smoked.
NY scientists to study affect of
everyday toxins
New York scientists have been awarded a $5 million federal grant to study long-term human
exposure to chemicals in the environment.
Observation about how nervous
system learns and encodes motion could improve stroke recovery
Bioengineers have taken a small step toward improving physical recovery in stroke patients
by showing that a key feature of how limb motion is encoded in the nervous system plays a
crucial role in how new motor skills are learned. The Harvard-based study about the neural
learning elements responsible for motor learning may help scientists design rehabilitation
protocols in which motor adaptation occurs more readily, potentially allowing for a more
rapid recovery.
Of medicines, marketing, ethics and
consumers
The Drug Controller General of India has swung into action against GlaxoSmihKline’s
mass media campaign to allegedly create awareness about cervical cancer prevalence in
India.
Ongoing human evolution could
explain recent rise in certain disorders
Evolutionary pressures could explain the seeming rise of disorders such as autism and
autoimmune diseases, researchers write in the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences. The scientists also suggest that evolutionary perspectives should be integrated
into medical school curricula, to help future physicians consider health problems from an
evolutionary perspective.
Ontario reconsiders funding of
popular vitamin D tests
New research indicates 5 per cent of Canadians are so deficient in 'sunshine vitamin' that
they are at risk of getting bone diseases.
Padma awardee criticises
introduction of GM crops
Noted biotechnologist and Padma awardee Pushp Bhargava has vehemently opposed the
introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops in the country.
Pain relief through tanning
Believe it or not, tanning may be the best way for some people to fight chronic pain.
Parkinson's patients shed light on
role of reward bias in compulsive behaviors
New research unravels the brain mechanisms that underlie the ability of a standard drug
treatment for Parkinson's to elicit compulsive behaviors in some patients with the
disease. The study, published by Cell Press in the Jan. 14 issue of the journal Neuron,
provides fascinating new insight into the brain mechanisms that underlie a predisposition
to behavioral addictions, such as pathological gambling and shopping.
PCBs found in soon-to-be-dredged
Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal
University of Iowa researchers have confirmed that sediments of the Indiana Harbor and
Ship Canal (IHSC) in East Chicago, Ind., are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs). The IHSC, part of the Calumet River tributary of Lake Michigan, will begin being
dredged in the next few years to maintain the proper depth for ship traffic, with
uncertain environmental impacts in regard to PCBs.
Peers criticise food industry
secrecy on nanotechnology
Lord committee calls for more checks on use of nanomaterials in food and the dangers posed
to the human body.
Perchlorate May be in Your Farming
Future
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken an unprecedented step under the mobile
source section of the Clean Air Act and issued an "endangerment" finding for a
number of greenhouse gases including CO2, paving the way for regulations that will for the
first time declare a naturally occurring substance in the air is an indirect danger to
human health.
Periodic paralysis study reveals
gene causing disorder
Scientists have identified a gene underlying a disease that causes temporary paralysis of
skeletal muscle. The finding, they say, illustrates how investigations of rare genetic
diseases can drive insights into more common ones.
Periodontitis Found to be
Associated With Cognitive Impairment Among Older Adults
Exposure to the common pathogen causing periodontitis is linked to poor performance on
cognitive tasks among older individuals, according to a study offering preliminary
evidence that periodontitis is a potential risk factor for dementia. This association has
been found in a new research study led by James Noble, M.D., assistant professor of
clinical neurology at the Columbia University Medical Center Affiliation at Harlem
Hospital, in collaboration with physicians at Columbia University Medical Center.
Phthalates may play a role in ADHD
symptoms
A new study finds that exposure to phthalate chemicals may be linked to
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in school-aged children
Plans for British 'GM food
revolution' come under fire
Hi-tech vision of food production advocated by the UK government's chief scientific
adviser is unnecessary and potentially damaging, says conference of farmers, academics and
environmental groups
Plastic not fantastic
Shaw, who is a member of NZFSA's Food Safety Academy, disagrees. He believes there are
good reasons to be limiting exposure to BPA even at low levels.
Pollution linked to uncontrolled
asthma
People living in highly polluted areas and who suffer from asthma are more likely to have
an uncontrolled form of the condition, new research has revealed.
Pomegranate 'can combat MRSA and
other superbugs'
Scientists have discovered that the fruit can be combined with vitamin C and metal salts
to fight hospital superbugs.
Popular kids’ trinkets loaded
with toxic metal
Barred from using lead, Chinese makers using more dangerous cadmium.
Prenatal and Postnatal Tobacco
Exposure and Behavioral Problems in 10-Year-Old Children
In a prospective cohort study of considerable size we were able to demonstrate a strong
association of in utero exposure to smoking with several dimensions of abnormal behavioral
development as assessed by the SDQ, an established and standardized test. Our data gave no
indication for similarly strong associations with only postnatal exposure to tobacco
smoke.
Proteins May Be Key To Early
Detection Of Ovarian Cancer
According to new research, certain proteins may be the key to early detection of ovarian
cancer.
Regulatory network balances stem
cell maintenance, differentiation
While much of the promise of stem cells springs from their ability to develop into any
cell type in the body, the biological workings that control that maturation process are
still largely unknown.
Renewed criticism over Swedish bank
bonuses
Bonus payments increased at Sweden’s four largest banks last year, despite a sharp
drop in the banks’ results, according to an ongoing review by the Swedish Financial
Supervisory Authority.
Research adds to evidence that
autism is a brain 'connectivity' disorder
Studying a rare disorder that also causes autism in 25-50 percent of affected patients,
new research at Children's Hospital Boston supports the emerging idea that autism results
from disrupted brain "connectivity" causing improper information flow. These
abnormalities might be reversible with rapamycin or rapamycin-like drugs, which the
studies researchers will be bringing to clinical trial later this year.
Researchers discover genetic
differences between lethal and treatable forms of leukemia
A tumor's genetic profile is often useful when diagnosing and deciding on treatment for
certain cancers, but inexplicably, genetically similar leukemias in different patients do
not always respond well to the same therapy. Weill Cornell Medical College researchers
believe they may have discovered what distinguishes these patients by evaluating the
"epigenetic" differences between patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
Researchers discover molecular
security system that protects cells from potentially harmful DNA
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered a molecular security system in
human cells that deactivates and degrades foreign DNA. This discovery could open the door
to major improvements in genetic engineering and gene therapy technologies.
Researchers identify an immune cell
linked to inflammation and scarring in Graves' eye disease
A cell type that causes significant scarring in lung disease appears to have a similar
effect in Graves' disease, researchers have found. The cells, called fibrocytes, are
present at a higher than normal frequency in patients with Graves' disease, according to a
new study, the first to associate fibrocytes with this autoimmune disease.
Scientist finding many negative
impacts of Roundup Ready GM crops
Robert Kremer is a microbiologist with the US Department of Agriculture’s
Agricultural Research Service and an adjunct professor in the Division of Plant Sciences
at the University of Missouri. He is co-author of one of five papers published in the
October 2009 issue of The European Journal of Agronomy that found negative impacts of
Roundup herbicide, which is used extensively with Roundup Ready genetically modified
crops. Kremer has been studying the impacts of glyphosate, the primary ingredient in
Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, since 1997.
Scientists Figure out the Cause of
Brain Farts
A “brain fart” is a term for an inexplicably stupid error in a straightforward
task made by someone with abundant skill and experience. Everyone is prone to them.
Neuroscientists call these episodes “maladaptive brain activity changes.”
Scientists put psoriasis drugs to
the test
Clinical trials to test the effectiveness of two prescription drugs for the debilitating
skin condition psoriasis have revealed significant differences that should help inform
physicians treating patients with the condition. Researchers at The University of
Manchester compared the drugs etanercept and ustekinumab – relatively new biological
therapies that have proved effective in the management of moderate to severe psoriasis.
Little research has been done to test the benefit-risk profiles of these new biological
agents or compare their relative effectiveness. The Manchester-led international study
tested the two drugs on 903 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis over a 12-week
period. The team, headed by world-renowned dermatologist and psoriasis expert Professor
Chris Griffiths, found that there was at least a 75% improvement in the severity of
psoriasis symptoms in 56.8% of patients who received twice-weekly 50mg sub-cutaneous
injections of etanercept after 12 weeks. Ustekinumab was given to patients in two doses
– 45mg and 90mg – and involved just two sub-cutaneous injections over the
12-week period. A 75% improvement in symptoms was observed in 67.5% of patients taking the
45mg dose and 73.8% receiving the 90mg dose.
Scientists Target East Coast Rocks
for CO2 Storage
Scientists say buried volcanic rocks along the heavily populated coasts of New York, New
Jersey and New England, as well as further south, might be ideal reservoirs to lock away
carbon dioxide emitted by power plants and other industrial sources. A study this week in
the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences outlines formations on land as well as
offshore, where scientists from Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory say
the best potential sites may lie. Underground burial, or sequestration, of globe-warming
carbon dioxide is the subject of increasing study across the country. But up till now,
research in New York has focused on inland sites where plants might send power-plant
emissions into shale, a sedimentary rock that underlies much of the state. Similarly, a
proposed coal-fired plant in Linden, N.J. would pump liquefied CO2 offshore into
sedimentary sandstone. The idea is controversial because of fears that CO2 might leak. By
contrast, the new study targets basalt, an igneous rock, which the scientists say has
significant advantages.
Screening and Treating Girls
Doesn’t Reduce Prevalence of Chlamydia in Teens
Frequent testing and treatment of infection does not reduce the prevalence of chlamydia in
urban teenage girls, according to a long term study by Indiana University School of
Medicine researchers published in the January 1, 2010 issue of the Journal of Infectious
Diseases. Despite the fact they were screened every three months and treated when
infected, the proportion of infected girls did not change over the course of the study. On
entering the study, 10.9 percent of the young women were infected. After 18 months of
participation, 10.6 percent were infected; 10.4 percent were infected at the four-year
mark. Eighty-four percent of repeated infections were reinfections. In spite of being so
highly motivated that they kept diaries of their sexual encounters and interacted at least
quarterly with the study staff, some of the young women had unprotected sex with either an
untreated partner or a new partner and subsequent infection occurred. The researchers
determined that 13 percent of repeated infections were due to failure of antibiotics to
cure an earlier infection; considering all infections, antibiotic treatment was 92.1
percent effective. “The rate of infection we found in the 365 Indianapolis girls we
followed is similar to the rates reported by other researchers for girls in Denver and
Baltimore, so it is likely that our important new findings on reinfection can be
generalized to urban teenage girls in other cities,” said Byron E. Batteiger, M.D.,
professor of medicine at the IU School of Medicine, an infectious disease specialist who
is the first author of the study.
Scripps Research scientists find
cancer cells co-opt fat metabolism pathway to become more malignant
An enzyme that normally helps break down stored fats goes into overdrive in some cancer
cells, making them more malignant, according to new findings by a team at the Scripps
Research Institute.
Secrets In The Soil Remain Untold
In some yards of homeowners in the Durrs section of Fort Lauderdale, is contaminated with
some of the most potentially deadly toxins in the world.
Sedentary TV time may cut life
short
A study found that every hour spent in front of the television per day brings with it an
11 percent greater risk of premature death from all causes, and an 18 percent greater risk
of dying from cardiovascular disease. The findings apply to both obese and overweight
people as well as people with a healthy weight because prolonged periods of sitting have
an unhealthy influence on blood sugar and blood fat levels.
Sepsis campaign improving treatment
of major killer
A reduction in hospital mortality from severe sepsis and septic shock was associated with
participation in the Surviving Sepsis Campaign performance improvement initiative. The
researchers found the unadjusted hospital mortality rate decreased from 37 percent to 30.8
percent over two years. The adjusted odds ratio for mortality improved the longer a site
participated in the Campaign resulting in an adjusted drop of 0.8 percent per quarter and
5.4 percent over two years.
Serum vitamin D and prostate cancer
risk
According to available evidence from longitudinal studies, serum 25(OH)D is not associated
with PC incidence.
Silent killer Radon 2nd leading
cause of lung cancer
The Environmental Protection Agency and others are trying to shine a spotlight on an
unknown killer that takes more lives a year in the United States than house fires or
automobile accidents involving drunk drivers.
Silver migrates from treated
fabrics
Silver nanoparticles used as antimicrobials in fabric can leach out of clothes as they are
being washed. One brand lost over half of its silver content from the fabric with just two
washings. The discovery raises questions about potential affects of human and
environmental exposures.
Sleeping Beauty hooks up with
herpes to fight brain disease
Neuroscientists have forged an unlikely molecular union as part of their fight against
diseases of the brain and nervous system, bringing together the herpes virus and a
molecule known as Sleeping Beauty to improve gene therapy. The work has allowed scientists
to reach a long-sought goal: shuttling into brain cells a relatively large gene that can
remain on for an extended period of time.
Small amounts of lead may damage
children's kidneys
Small amounts of lead in the bodies of healthy children and teens -- amounts well below
the levels defined as "concerning" by the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention -- may worsen kidney function, according to a Johns Hopkins Children's Center
study published in the Jan. 11 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Sniffing out terrorists
A new intelligent system has been developed to help identify terrorists carrying
explosives. Sensitive electronic noses capture the smell of the explosives; the system
processes the acquired data, correlates it with individuals' movements … and
ultimately tracks down the suspects.
Solar bear droppings advance
superbug debate
Scientists investigating the spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs have gone the extra
mile for their research – all the way to the Arctic.
Spinal cement may provide real
support for cancer patients
New technologies used to repair spinal fractures could soon be helping patients suffering
from the bone marrow cancer multiple myeloma. A research project led by engineers at the
University of Leeds will focus on the disease – an incurable cancer of the bone
marrow that causes destructive lesions in bones and makes them more susceptible to
fracture. The study will analyse whether techniques such as injecting cements into the
spine to stabilise the bone, or using plates to fix fractures can be adapted for affected
patients. Although incurable, improvements in treatment mean that patients with multiple
myeloma are surviving for longer, with up to a third surviving for at least five years.
However, a better prognosis means that secondary symptoms, such as painful bone
deterioration, have more time to take effect. “Our aim is to give people suffering
from this disease a better quality of life. If the spine becomes weakened or fractures,
patients can do little more than stay in bed and try to deal with the pain,” said
Professor of Spinal Biomechanics, Richard Hall, who is leading the research at Leeds’
Faculty of Engineering. “The majority of multiple myeloma patients are in their
sixties or older, but even simple things that we take for granted, such as sitting your
grandchild on your knee, can become impossible for them.”
Stable climate and plant
domestication linked
Sustainable farming and the introduction of new crops relies on a relatively stable
climate, not dramatic conditions attributable to climate change. Basing their argument on
evolutionary, ecological, genetic and agronomic considerations, Dr. Shahal Abbo, from the
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, and colleagues, demonstrate why climate change is
not the likely cause of plant domestication in the Near East. Their thesis is published
online in Springer's journal Vegetation History and Archaeobotany.
Stashing Carbon Dioxide In Rocks
Basalt formations off the East Coast of the U.S. could suck up a billion tons of carbon
dioxide, according to a new study.
Sticking to diets is about more
than willpower -- complexity matters
Cognitive scientists from Indiana U. and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development
compared the dieting behavior of women following two radically different diets. The more
complicated people found their diet plans, the sooner they were likely to bail. "For
people on a more complex diet that involves keeping track of quantities and items eaten,
their subjective impression of the difficulty of the diet can lead them to give up on
it," said one researcher.
Story on phytoestrogen cancer risk
misses important point
A story filed via Reuters reports on a new study that concludes dietary phytoestrogens
have little impact on the risks of developing hormone-sensitive cancers. But the study and
the story miss the main public health concern about phytoestrogens entirely: The role that
exposure during fetal life and infancy may play to disease – including cancer –
later in life.
Streamlined chemical tests rebuffed
Europe's chemical regulator is threatening to stall safety studies that toxicologists say
could prevent millions of animals being used in tests over the next eight years.
Stress triggers tumor formation,
Yale researchers find
Stress induces signals that cause cells to develop into tumors, Yale researchers have
discovered. The research, published online Jan. 13 in the journal Nature, describes a
novel way cancer takes hold in the body and suggests new ways to attack the deadly
disease.
Study casts doubt on caffeine link
to tinnitus
New research has found giving up caffeine does not relieve tinnitus and acute caffeine
withdrawal might add to the problem. This is the first study of its kind to look at the
effect of caffeine consumption on tinnitus.
Study explains why light worsens
migraine headaches
Scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have identified a new visual pathway
that underlies sensitivity to light during migraine in both blind individuals and in
individuals with normal eyesight.
Study finds a negative Phys Ed
teacher can cause a lifetime of inactivity
When looking back at childhood experiences in Phys Ed class, many people remember the
anxiety of being picked last or embarrassed by a teacher. According to a University of
Alberta researcher this can have lifelong effects. Billy Strean says humiliation in
physical education class as a child can turn people off sports for good. "The
findings are a great reminder of the power and importance we hold as coaches and physical
educators. It is crucial that we remember to make learning fun," said Strean, a
professor in the U of A's Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation.
Study finds increased presence,
severity of coronary artery plaques in HIV-infected men
A Massachusetts General Hospital study has found that relatively young men with
longstanding HIV infection and minimal cardiac risk factors had significantly more
coronary atherosclerotic plaques -- some involving serious arterial blockage -- than did
uninfected men with similar cardiovascular risk.
Study investigates immune system
alterations in the brain
Using laboratory mice that had been bred to have brain changes similar to Alzheimer's
disease, scientists were able to reduce two characteristic features of the disease by
modifying the mice's immune systems with a special peptide related to the myelin sheath
that insulates nerve cells and nerve fibers. As a result, anti-inflammatory cells were
recruited from the blood into the brain, dampening the local inflammatory response.
Study reveals how one form of
natural vitamin E protects brain after stroke
Blocking the function of an enzyme in the brain with a specific kind of vitamin E can
prevent nerve cells from dying after a stroke, new research suggests. In a study using
mouse brain cells, scientists found that the tocotrienol form of vitamin E, an alternative
to the popular drugstore supplement, stopped the enzyme from releasing fatty acids that
eventually kill neurons.
Study sees little dust risk for
subway workers
In a new study, published this month in the journal Environmental Research, scientists
tracked steel dust exposure in 39 subway workers and measured biological responses to
three metals found in steel dust: iron, chromium and manganese. The pilot study found no
strong or consistent evidence of a biological response that might indicate elevated risk
of dust-related disease.
Study sheds light on role of stem
cells in children's brain tumor
New research from scientists at Queen Mary, University of London, shows how the most
common type of children's brain cancer can arise from stem cells.
Study shows key role environment
plays in developing reading skills
While genetics play a key role in children's initial reading skills, a new study of twins
is the first to demonstrate that environment plays an important role in reading growth
over time. The results give further evidence that children can make gains in reading
during their early school years, above and beyond the important genetic factors that
influence differences in reading, said Stephen Petrill, lead author of the study and
professor of human development and family science at Ohio State University.
Study shows that delivering stem
cells improves repair of major bone injuries in rats
A new study published in PNAS shows that delivering stem cells on a polymer scaffold to
treat large areas of missing bone leads to improved bone formation and better mechanical
properties compared to treatment with scaffold alone.
Supermarket News Forecasts Non-GMO
Uprising
The coming year promises to bring about a greater, more pervasive awarenes" of the
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our food supply, wrote Group Editor Robert
Vosburgh, in a trade publication that conventional food executives and retailers use as a
primary source of news and trends in the industry
Surplus of serotonin receptors may
explain failure of antidepressants in some patients
An excess of one type of serotonin receptor in the center of the brain may explain why
antidepressants fail to relieve symptoms of depression for 50 percent of patients, a new
study from researchers at Columbia University Medical Center shows. The study is the first
to find a causal link between receptor number and antidepressant treatment and may lead to
more personalized treatment.a
Tendonitis can cause hand pain
What do politicians, massage therapists, musicians, card dealers, carpenters, cooks and
painters sometimes have in common? They use their thumbs and twist their wrists a lot and
commonly have pain at the base of the thumb or on the side of the wrist caused by
tendonitis.
TGen-Scottsdale Healthcare
researchers make breakthrough in lung cancer
Researchers for TGen Clinical Research Services at Scottsdale Healthcare have identified a
way to predict which patients with small-cell lung cancer may be resistant to first-line
chemotherapy.
The Case for Giving Eli Lilly the
Corporate Death Penalty
Eli Lilly & Company's rap sheet as a public menace is so long that for Lilly watchers
to overcome the "banality-of-Lilly-sleaziness" phenomenon, the drug company must
break some type of record measuring egregiousness. Lilly obliged earlier this year,
receiving the largest criminal fine ever imposed on a corporation.
The future of flying
As climate-change concerns intensify, the aviation industry is ramping up its effort to
create cleaner – and cheaper – aircraft
The Gates Foundation and Monsanto
Working Hand-in-Hand
Gates Foundations = Monsanto now even more than ever. I should refine that statement.
Gates Foundation = in favor of a pro-biotech, for-profit, unsustainable, scary, powerful
approach to "feeding the world" (a.k.a. lining corporate pockets). And they have
many ties to Monsanto including a brand new one. They just filled Rajiv Shah's old job
with Sam Dryden.
The mini ice age starts here
The bitter winter afflicting much of the Northern Hemisphere is only the start of a global
trend towards cooler weather that is likely to last for 20 or 30 years, say some of the
world’s most eminent climate scientists.
The Planet Versus Monsanto
It is absolutely ridiculous and yet predictable that Forbes Magazine has named Monsanto
the Company of the Year for 2009. Monsanto has been a bit more high profile in the last
year, I'll give them that, but it's because the public is finally getting educated about
Monsanto's role in ruining our world by its company contributions to climate change,
pollution and injustice.
Thirsty? Bacteria linked to feces
found on soda fountains
A team of microbiologists from Hollins University found that 48% of the sodas they tested
from fast food soda fountains had coliform bacteria.
Thyme oil can inhibit COX2 and
suppress inflammation
Researchers have found that six essential oils -- from thyme, clove, rose, eucalyptus,
fennel and bergamot -- can suppress the inflammatory COX-2 enzyme, in a manner similar to
resveratrol, the chemical linked with the health benefits of red wine. They also
identified that the chemical carvacrol was primarily responsible for this suppressive
activity.
Toward a less expensive version of
the anti-flu drug Tamiflu
Scientists have developed an alternative method for producing the active ingredient in
Tamiflu, the mainstay for fighting H1N1 and other forms of influenza. The new process
could expand availability of the drug by reducing its cost, which now retails for as about
$8 per dose. Their study is in ACS' Organic Letters, a bi-weekly journal.
Toxic cadmium taints kids' jewelry
U.S. and Canadian product safety authorities will investigate the presence of cadmium in
children's jewelry imported from China, and Wal-Mart has pulled the items from shelves
after lab tests showed some were made almost entirely of the toxic metal.
U of Alberta researchers find
mechanism that could prevent or treat deadly peroxisome diseases
University of Alberta medical researchers have made a major breakthrough in understanding
a group of deadly disorders that includes the disease made famous in the movie
"Lorenzo's Oil."
U of M Moment - Vitamin D-eficiency
Researchers have long been aware of the link between obesity and vitamin D deficiency. But
in a new study, researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have discovered
that levels of the vitamin may be an accurate predictor of the ability to lose weight.
UCF Alzheimer's discovery could
lead to long-sought preventive treatment
A new discovery by University of Central Florida researchers has revealed a previously
unknown mechanism that may drive the early brain function deterioration of Alzheimer's
victims, thus opening a new exploratory path in the quest for an Alzheimer's cure. The
research, published Jan. 8 in the PLoS ONE science and medicine journal, also demonstrates
how the unique application of an existing cell research technique could accelerate the
discovery of treatments to exploit the new findings.
UCSF study finds African-Americans
bear disproportionate burden of smoking costs in California
African Americans comprise six percent of the California adult population, yet they
account for over eight percent of the state's smoking-attributable health-care
expenditures and 13 percent of smoking-attributable mortality costs, according to a new
analysis by UCSF researchers.
UNICEF program failed to save
children
A UNICEF program in West Africa that spent $27 million US to decrease child deaths from
disease has failed, according to a study that found a higher survival rate in some regions
that weren't included in the program.
US FDA warnings target four drug
companies
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked Bayer AG, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Eli
Lilly, and Cephalon to stop using "misleading" promotions for some drugs,
according to letters released by the agency on Tuesday.
US GAO finds
"extraordinary" increases in drug prices
Prices for hundreds of brand-name drugs have soared since the beginning of the decade,
especially those that treat depression, infections and heart disease, according to a U.S.
government report on Monday.
UT rheumatologists advance genetic
research related to disabling form of arthritis
Work done in part by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at
Houston has led to the discovery of two new genes that are implicated in ankylosing
spondylitis (AS), an inflammatory and potentially disabling disease. In addition, the
international research team pinpointed two areas along stretches of DNA that play an
important role in regulating gene activity associated with the arthritic condition.
UW-Madison scientists create
super-strong collagen
A team of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers has created the strongest form of
collagen known to science, a stable alternative to human collagen that could one day be
used to treat arthritis and other conditions that result from collagen defects.
Viral link to chronic fatigue
syndrome questioned
A virus recently found in US chronic fatigue syndrome patients doesn't appear in their UK
counterparts, but this may not be the end of the story.
Vit B12 deficiency at birth raises
diabetes risk
city-based KEM Hospital has found in a study that Indians are more prone to Type-2
diabetes due to Vitamin B12 deficiency at birth.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency is a Common
Cause for Chronic Coughing
A recent study done by the University of Turin and Mauriziano Hospital in Italy showed a
significant correlation between vitamin B12 deficiency and unexplained chronic cough. This
study, which was presented at the World Allergy Organization XXI World Allergy Congress,
discussed the impact of this new finding in the world of allergies and immunology.
Vitamin E May Help to Shrink
Tumours
AN extract of vitamin E could be used to shrink cancerous tumours, say researchers from
Strathclyde and Glasgow universities.
Warmer climate could stifle carbon
uptake by trees, says CU-Boulder study
Contrary to conventional belief, as the climate warms and growing seasons lengthen
subalpine forests are likely to soak up less carbon dioxide, according to a new University
of Colorado at Boulder study.
What came first in the origin of
life? A study contradicts the 'metabolism first' hypothesis
Research published in Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences rejects the theory that
the origin of life stems from a system of self-catalytic molecules capable of experiencing
Darwinian evolution without the need of RNA or DNA and their replication. The research,
which was carried out with the participation of Mauro Santos, researcher of the Department
of Genetics and Microbiology at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
What is the Genetic Engineering
Action Network?
GEAN is a network of almost 100 organizations from across the US working to resist genetic
engineering in agriculture.
When it comes to soy, don't blame
the bean; blame the processing
One of the strangest behaviors I've ever seen in the natural health crowd is something I
call "Soy Rage." It's an angry reaction that wells up in some people every time
they hear me recommend natural, non-GMO, home-made soy milk.
WHO to examine its H1N1 response
The World Health Organization will review accusations it overstated the risks of the H1N1
virus.
Why Antarctica isn't melting much
– yet
Antarctica is warming, but not melting anything like as much as expected. In fact, during
the continent's summer this time last year, there was less melting than at any time in the
30 years that we have had reliable satellite measurements of the region.
Why do people 'play the longshot'
and buy insurance? It's in our genes
Why do some people like to take risks by playing "longshot" payoffs while, on
the other hand, taking the opposite tack by buying insurance to reduce risks? A team of
economists and molecular geneticists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and two Asian
universities say the answer can be found in our genetic makeup.
Why some brains are more vulnerable
to stress and resistant to antidepressants
A new study provides insight into the molecular characteristics that make a brain
susceptible to anxiety and depression and less likely to respond to treatment with
antidepressant medication. The research, published by Cell Press in the Jan. 14 issue of
the journal Neuron, may lead to more effective strategies for treating depression, a major
health concern throughout the world.
Why those fat thighs may help you
live longer
People with fat in their thighs and backsides may live longer because the fat traps
harmful fatty particles and actively secretes helpful compounds, according to a report
published on Tuesday.
Window Cleaning Chemical Injected
Into Fast Food Hamburger Meat
If you're in the beef business, what do you do with all the extra cow parts and trimmings
that have traditionally been sold off for use in pet food? You scrape them together into a
pink mass, inject them with a chemical to kill the e.coli, and sell them to fast food
restaurants to make into hamburgers.That's what's been happening all across the USA with
beef sold to McDonald's, Burger King, school lunches and other fast food restaurants
Women with breast cancer may
benefit from autologous stem cell transplantation
Compared to conventional chemotherapy, autologous stem cell transplantation can extend
"event-free survival" for breast cancer patients. Clinical trials provide proof
of this for breast cancer with and without distant metastases. However, there are
indications that this type of stem cell transplantation can more frequently give rise to
severe complications affecting almost all organ systems. This is the conclusion of IQWiG's
final report published in December 2009 and for which an English-language summary is now
available.
Yale team finds neural thermostat
keeps brain running efficiently
Our energy-hungry brains operate reliably and efficiently while processing a flood of
sensory information, thanks to a sort of neuronal thermostat that regulates activity in
the visual cortex, Yale researchers have found.
Yoga reduces cytokine levels known
to promote inflammation
Regularly practicing yoga exercises may lower a number of compounds in the blood and
reduce the level of inflammation that normally rises because of both normal aging and
stress, a new study has shown. The study, done by Ohio State University researchers and
just reported in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, showed that women who routinely
practiced yoga had lower amounts of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in their blood.
Yoga Reduces Cytokine Levels Known
to Promote Inflammation
Regularly practicing yoga exercises may lower a number of compounds in the blood and
reduce the level of inflammation that normally rises because of both normal aging and
stress, a new study has shown.
You can't bank sleep
Sleeping in to recover after chronic sleepless nights won't work, a new study suggests.
Young men consuming an alarming
amount of salt
Young Swedish men are consuming at least double the recommended amount of salt according
to a study carried out by the Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
"It's alarming that young Swedish men are consuming so much salt, and something needs
to be done about it. We can really only speculate on the consequences of such a high salt
intake later on in life, in the form of cardiovascular diseases and stroke," says
Lena Hulthén, Professor in Clinical Nutrition at the Sahlgrenska Academy. The study
included almost a hundred men in their twenties. Urine samples from all participants were
analysed over a 24-hour period. The participants also answered questions about their
eating habits. The urine samples showed that the young men were consuming at least two
times the World Health Organisation's recommended daily intake of six grams.
Zinc blamed for denture-wearers'
problems
Zinc in denture adhesives has been blamed in dozens of cases of nerve damage, including
that of a North Carolina man who says 20 years of using the glues caused him to become
disabled.
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