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Week 39
18% drop in asthma children taken
to hospital since public smoke ban
The study by Glasgow University found that the rate of hospitalisations for children has
dropped by more than 18 per cent year-on-year since the ban came into force in 2006.
6 Little Known Signs of Adrenal
Fatigue
Caffeine and sugar consumed in excess amounts will sucker punch your adrenal glands faster
than just about anything else, no doubt about it.
925 million people undernourished
The estimated number of chronically hungry people in the world has dipped considerably
below the one billion mark, thanks to good harvests and a drop in food prices from the
spikes that sparked rioting just a few years ago, according to figures released Tuesday by
the United Nations.
A Disease-Fighting UN Backed by Big
Pharma
Richard Bergström of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and
Associations (EFPIA) called for a UN-like compact making all stakeholders responsible. A
big pharma guy wants UN-like cooperation? This could be interesting.
A missing link from obesity to
infertility found
Obesity and infertility frequently go hand in hand. Now, researchers reporting on studies
of mice in the September issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, might have
figured out why that is, and the results come as something of a surprise. "There was
a sense that the reproductive dysfunction was due to insulin resistance," said Andrew
Wolfe of Hopkins Children's. "What we propose is a fundamentally new model showing
that different tissues respond to obesity differently and that while cells in the liver
and muscle become insulin resistant, cells in the pituitary remain sensitive to
insulin." Infertility arises when those insulin-sensitive pituitary cells get flooded
with the rising insulin levels that are so common in obesity, the new research shows. The
pituitary is a gland found at the base of the brain. Special cells inside the pituitary
known as gonadotrophs produce hormones (specifically gonadotropin-releasing hormone and
luteinizing hormone, or LH) that control ovulation and fertility. It appears that insulin
overstimulation in those cells sets off a kind of hormonal chain reaction that leads to
infertility. The researchers earlier discovered that gonadotrophs harbor insulin
receptors, but no one really knew what the effect of insulin on those receptors was. In
the new study, the researchers investigated by creating mice lacking insulin receptors
only in the gonadotroph. When healthy and lean, those mice appeared to do just fine. The
researchers asked what might happen if they made the mice obese by feeding them an
unhealthy, high-fat diet for three months.
A new role for insulin in cell
survival, cell metabolism and stress response
Researchers at the Buck Institute for Age Research have discovered a novel way in which
insulin affects cell metabolism and cell survival. Surprisingly the insulin signaling
pathway, which is involved in aging, diabetes and stress response, is active at a deeper
level of cell activity than scientists expected. The study appears in the September 8th
issue of Cell Metabolism. Insulin is vitally involved in many cell functions. Buck
Institute faculty and lead author Gordon Lithgow, PhD, says scientists have known for
years that insulin is involved at the level of cell activity called transcription, where
DNA produces RNA. Lithgow said the new research, in the nematode worm C. elegans, revealed
that insulin is also active at the level known as translation, where RNA specifies protein
synthesis. Lithgow says the discovery of this new level of regulation opens a host of
opportunities. "We are desperate to understand why aging is a risk factor for
disease, we want to know why diabetes is associated with aging," said Lithgow.
"Here we have a insulin signaling pathway involved in aging, diabetes and stress
response. This gives us more precise avenues to explore how we might intervene in
disease," he said.
Acne Triggers Angst, Depression in
Teens
A Norwegian study suggests that acne medications may have gotten a bad rap; for several
years, the medical community has assumed these medications may lead to depression and
suicidal ideation in teens.
Adopting a vegan diet will improve
our health – and the planet's
Meat-eating apologists fail to address the effects of intensive animal agriculture.
Aerosols Control Rainfall in the
Rainforest
A team of environmental engineers, who might better be called "archeologists of the
air," have, for the first time, isolated aerosol particles in near pristine
pre-industrial conditions. Working in the remote Amazonian Basin north of Manaus, Brazil,
the researchers measured particles emitted or formed within the rainforest ecosystem that
are relatively free from the influence of anthropogenic, or human, activity.
Africa may survive climate change
better than expected
Adaptation to climate change could be easier for African nations because of rapid changes
– particularly urbanization – happening across the continent.
After Adverse Effects, Roche Ends
Trials of Diabetes Drug
The drug maker Roche has stopped giving patients its experimental diabetes treatment
taspoglutide in late-stage clinical trials because of a high rate of adverse reactions, a
major blow to a drug once expected to have $2 billion-a-year potential.
Air pollution linked to deadly
cardiac arrests
Breathing in soot and other fine particles from the urban air may increase the risk of
suffering a deadly heart stoppage, suggests a new study of more than 8,000 cardiac arrests
in New York City.
Alcohol consumption after breast
cancer diagnosis may increase recurrence risk
In the Life After Cancer Epidemiology (LACE) study, 1,897 participants diagnosed with
early-stage breast cancer between 1997 and 2000 and recruited on average 2 years
post-breast cancer diagnosis were evaluated for the association between alcohol intake and
breast cancer recurrence and death. The women, who were generally light drinkers, were
followed for an average of 7.4 years. The study reported an increase in risk of breast
cancer recurrence and breast cancer death, but no effect on total mortality, to be
associated with consumption of 3 to 4 or more drinks per week when compared with women not
drinking following their cancer diagnosis.
Americans still not tolerant of the
mentally ill
While more and more Americans regard mental illness as a disease rooted in the brain, that
doesn't mean they are getting more tolerant of those who suffer from it.
An ill wind blows for Denmark's
green energy revolutionole model for green activists, but now it has become one of the
first countries to turn against the turbines.
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Ancient seeds in Mexico help fight
warming effects
More than 500 years after Spanish priests brought wheat seeds to Mexico to make wafers for
the Catholic Mass, those seeds may bring a new kind of salvation to farmers hit by global
warming.
Anti-piracy law test case sent to
EU Court
The first case tried since the passage of Sweden's anti-file sharing law (Ipred) in April
2009 is heading for the EU Court of Justice after a ruling by the Supreme Court.
Are Scanners Worth the Risk?
THE next time you go through security at the airport, you might be told to empty your
pockets, put your hands over your head and stand still while an X-ray machine looks for
anything hidden under your clothing.
Asthma and cavities both common in
kids but not linked
There is no apparent link between asthma and tooth decay, according to a study published
in the September 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association. "Is
There a Relationship between Asthma and Dental Caries?: A Critical Review of the
Literature" examined the 27 separate studies which looked for a link between asthma
and cavities that were reported in 29 papers published between 1976 and March 2010.
"The notion that there is a link between asthma and tooth decay may have its origin
in anecdotal statements by emergency room workers who see children with poorly managed
asthma. These children could also be more likely to have poorly managed dental conditions,
and therefore tooth decay. It's reasonable to believe that poor clinical management may be
associated with both conditions, not the asthma that is causing the cavities," said
Gerardo Maupomé, B.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D., professor of preventive and community dentistry at
the Indiana University School of Dentistry and a Regenstrief Institute affiliated
scientist, who is the first author of the new JADA study.
Bacteria identified that may lead
to inflammatory bowel disease in certain individuals
Certain bacteria that inhabit the intestine provide the environmental trigger that
initiates and perpetuates chronic intestinal inflammation in individuals who are
genetically susceptible to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a study led by Harvard School
of Public Health researchers has found. Inflammatory bowel disease results from a loss of
homeostasis, or balance, between the immune system and the microbes that inhabit the
intestine. "In this study, we identified two microbes that instigate gut inflammation
that leads to inflammatory bowel disease in mice," said lead investigator Wendy
Garrett, assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases at HSPH. "We show
using both metagenomic and conventional culture techniques that an individual's genetic
background influences what bacteria reside within his or her intestine. Several studies
are currently underway examining the intestinal microbial communities of patients with IBD
and we are looking forward to exploring the role of the Enterobacteriaceae we have
identified in patients with IBD."
Being lonely 'can kill you',
research shows
Being surrounded by family and friends makes you live longer, scientists have said.
Better marker for breast cancer may
reduce need for second surgeries
A new material could help surgeons more accurately locate breast cancers, reduce the need
for second surgeries and minimize pre-surgical discomfort for patients. Microscopic
gas-filled spheres of silica, a porous glass, can mark the location of early-stage tumors
to show their position using ultrasound imaging in the operating room.
Blood test to predict diabetes 10
years earlier
A blood test that could predict those at risk of getting diabetes 10 years earlier than
current diagnosis has been developed by scientists.
Bone-Loss Drugs Linked to Thigh
Break, Report Says
Drugs to prevent bone loss, including Merck & Co.’s Fosamax, Roche Holding
AG’s Boniva and Novartis AG’s Reclast, may be linked to an increased risk of
fractures to the thigh bone, researchers said.
BPA and a common phthalate may
contribute to obesity, predicts a cell test
Two widely used chemicals are implicated in obesity after they reacted with specially-made
cells and influenced fat cell development and fat storage – two underlying factors in
weight gain.
BPA and a common phthalate may
contribute to obesity
Two widely used chemicals are implicated in obesity after they reacted with specially-made
cells and influenced fat cell development and fat storage – two underlying factors in
weight gain.
Brain Cancer Trial May Influence
Science on Toxic Chemical
Freund, 49, has brain cancer, which he blames on careless practices at a chemical plant
just north of his home.
Brain matter linked to
introspective thoughts
A specific region of the brain appears to be larger in individuals who are good at turning
their thoughts inward and reflecting upon their decisions, according to new research
published in the journal Science. This act of introspection—or "thinking about
your thinking"—is a key aspect of human consciousness, though scientists have
noted plenty of variation in peoples' abilities to introspect.
Caffeine kills
Caffeine is in coffee, black tea, green tea, oolong tea (wu-yi tea), 'decaffeinated'
coffee and tea, chocolate, colas, chuppa-chups, many sodas, some drugs, most 'energy'
drinks and guarana.
Can Exercise Make Kids Smarter?
Previous studies found that fitter kids generally scored better on such tests. And in this
case, too, those children performed better on the tests. But the M.R.I.’s provided a
clearer picture of how it might work.
Canadian Doctors Seek to Curb
Antibiotics in Feed
The Canadian Medical Association is pressuring the federal government to investigate the
human health impacts of feeding antibiotics to healthy beef cattle, poultry and hogs.
Cancer incidence and adverse
pregnancy outcome in registered nurses potentially exposed to antineoplastic drugs
Female RNs having had potential exposure to antineoplastic drugs were not found to have an
excess risk of leukemia, stillbirth, or congenital anomalies in their offspring, with the
exception of congenital anomalies of the eye, based on only three cases; however, elevated
risks of breast and rectal cancer were observed.
Carbohydrate claims can mislead
consumers
Food manufacturers advertise a variety of foods on grocery store shelves by using nutrient
claims on the front of packaging. A study in the September/October issue of the Journal of
Nutrition Education and Behavior evaluates how consumers are interpreting certain
carbohydrate-related content claims and the effects of claims on consumer perceptions of
food products. Findings from this study reveal that consumers misinterpret low
carbohydrate claims to have health benefits and weight loss qualities beyond their
nutrition facts. In the early 2000s, low-carbohydrate claims gained huge popularity in
response to such books as Dr. Atkin's New Diet Revolution and The South Beach Diet. In a
study published in AC Nielsen Consumer Insights, it was noted that there was a 516% sales
increase in low-carbohydrate food products from 2001 to 2005 showing that front of package
claims can play a large part in consumer decisions.
Children’s brain development
is linked to physical fitness
Researchers have found an association between physical fitness and the brain in 9- and
10-year-old children: Those who are more fit tend to have a bigger hippocampus and perform
better on a test of memory than their less-fit peers.
Chronic drinking increases levels
of stress hormones, leading to neurotoxicity
Both drinking and withdrawal from chronic drinking can raise circulating glucocorticoid
levels, known as cortisol in humans and corticosterone in rodents. Prolonged and high
concentrations of glucocorticoids can have damaging effects on neuronal function and
cognition. Evidence shows that glucocorticoids are associated with neurotoxicity during
abstinence after withdrawal from alcohol dependence (AD), and that glucocorticoid receptor
antagonism may represent a pharmacological option for recovery.
Climate change to cause more freak
weather
Climate change was behind the wild weather fluctuations in the first half of this year,
the Korean Meteorological Administration said Sunday.
Cognitive skills in children with
autism vary and improve, study finds
People with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are thought to have a specific profile of
cognitive strengths and weaknesses—difficulties appreciating others' thoughts and
feelings, problems regulating and controlling their behavior, and an enhanced ability to
perceive details—but few studies have tracked children's cognitive skills over time.
Now new longitudinal research provides clues that can inform our understanding of ASD.
Compound boosts marijuana-like
chemical in the body to relieve pain at injury site
American and Italian researchers have found that a novel drug allows anandamide – a
marijuana-like chemical in the body – to effectively control pain at the site of an
injury.
Consumers hate 3D glasses, says
Nielsen study
According to a new consumer study by Nielsen, users who have experienced 3D HDTVs, ones
that require special glasses, are less interested in buying a 3D set than those that have
not.
Cornwashing - Corn Refiners
Association Wants to Rename HFCS
If you can't beat 'em ... confuse them. That seems to be the new motto of our good friends
at the Corn Refiners Association, the lobbying group and manufacturing association that
represents makers of high-fructose corn syrup.
Cortisol has a strong influence on
health
Insulin and cortisol work in opposing ways to maintain blood glucose levels. Insulin aims
to decrease blood sugar levels by helping our liver and muscles to put glucose into
storage. Cortisol, on the other hand, helps to maintain glucose levels mainly by
stimulating the liver to use amino acids and fats to make glucose (a process called
gluconeogenesis).
Could Estimating Risk of Industrial
Chemicals Soon Be a Click Away?
Researchers from Europe propose a new computer model to predict the risk of toxicity,
persistence and bioaccumulation of new and existing chemicals. While promising, the
approach has limitations.
D3 Improves Bone Markers in Teens
High-dose vitamin D supplementation in can elevate serum D levels and favorably affect
bone markers in adolescents, but failed to completely correct vitamin D deficiency.
Researchers from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences investigated the efficacy
and safety of vitamin D3 doses in Iranian high school students and published their results
Sept. 8 online ahead of print in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Danish scientists discover genes
that cause acne bacteria subset
Two Danish scientists have found two genes that cause acne bacteria subsets, Danish daily
Berlingske Tidende reported Tuesday.
Discovery of key pathway
interaction may lead to therapies that aid brain growth and repair in children and adults
Researchers at the Center for Neuroscience Research at Children’s National Medical
Center have discovered that the two major types of signaling pathways activated during
brain cell development—the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway and the Notch
pathway—operate together to determine how many and which types of brain cells are
created during growth and repair in developing and adult brains. This knowledge may help
scientists design new ways to induce the brain to repair itself when these signals are
interrupted, and indicate a need for further research to determine whether disruptions of
these pathways in early brain development could lead to common neurodevelopmental
disorders such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, and intellectual
disabilities.
Do the math, say UCLA researchers
Based on a mathematical model, the study suggested a "test-and-treat" strategy.
This would involve, among other steps, testing the entire population of South Africa for
HIV and immediately beginning anti-retroviral therapy for all who tested positive. The
current standard of care calls for waiting until symptoms appear after diagnosis.
Doctors’ Group Attacks
McDonald’s in TV Ad
A new TV ad that singles out McDonald’s for obesity-related deaths is causing quite
the stir.
Does 'Corn Sugar' Sound Healthier
Than 'High Fructose Corn Syrup'?
"High fructose corn syrup" sounds industrial and kind of nasty. Doesn't
"corn sugar" sound friendlier? Healthier, even?
Does it matter where cancer
patients die?
In many cases, where cancer patients die may be as important as when they die, at least
when it comes to alleviating suffering in patients and the loved ones they leave behind, a
new study suggests.
Does It Matter Who Writes Medical
News Stories?
The media can influence health literacy and health seeking behaviours, but few studies
have looked at the quality of news stories. We examined whether experienced specialist
health reporters write better stories than other categories of journalists.
Eating broccoli could guard against
arthritis
Scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) are launching a groundbreaking new
project to investigate the benefits of broccoli in the fight against osteoarthritis.
Initial laboratory research at UEA has found that a compound in broccoli called
sulforaphane blocks the enzymes that cause joint destruction in osteoarthritis – the
most common form of arthritis. Broccoli has previously been associated with reduced cancer
risk but this is the first major study into its effects on joint health.
Effects of N-acetylcysteine on
Clara cells in rats with cigarette smoke exposure.
One-week cigarette smoke exposure decreased the number of Clara cells and the expression
of CC16 in bronchioles in rats. NAC might provide protection of the Clara cells from
oxidative damage and possibly through the elevation of the synthesis and secretion of
CC16. These data indicate that NAC decreases airway inflammation induced by CS via
induction of CC16.
EU legislation puts herbal medicine
under threat
With strict European legislation due to come into force next April, will some age-old
herbal remedies on sale in health food stores today become, quite literally, a thing of
the past?
Fallout Continues for Arkansas Rice
Farmers Contaminated by GMOs
Three Northeast Arkansas rice farmers say that despite nearly five years that have gone by
since the Liberty Link genes were found in commercially-grown long-grain rice in several
states in August 2006, they are still feeling the effects.
False promises of GM rice research
The Centre for Plant Functional Genomics has not applied to the Office of Gene Technology
Regulator for a licence to research or trial salt tolerant rice.+ Yet the centre wildly
claims that genetically manipulated (GM) rice 'offers hope for the global food supply'.
Fat stem cells safe for breast
reconstruction when cancer is dormant, says Pitt team
Fat-derived stem cells can be safely used to aid reconstruction of breast tissue after
mastectomy as long as there is no evidence of active cancer, according to researchers at
the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Their findings are available in Tissue
Engineering Part A. Plastic surgeons have long moved fat from one part of the body into
the breasts for reconstruction, but with some complications and a varying success rate,
explained senior author Vera S. Donnenberg, Ph.D., assistant professor of surgery, Pitt
School of Medicine. More recently, they have considered adding stem cells derived from
adipose, or fat, tissue (ADSC) or the bone marrow to the transferred fat with the aim of
supporting graft integration by enhancing new blood vessel formation.
Father absence linked to earlier
puberty among certain girls
Girls in homes without a biological father are more likely to hit puberty at an earlier
age, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California,
Berkeley's School of Public Health. The findings, to be published Sept. 17 in the Journal
of Adolescent Health, found that the absence of a biologically related father in the home
predicted earlier breast and pubic hair development, but only for girls in higher income
households. The findings held even after the girls' weight was taken into account.
FDA finds link between pioglitazone
and bladder cancer
Actos (pioglitazone), the widely prescribed diabetes drug, is under investigation for
possible associations with heightened risk of bladder cancer, U.S. health officials said
Friday.
Female Athletes with Higher
Estrogen Levels May Have Higher Injury Risk
In female athletes with chronically higher estrogen levels, differences in the mechanical
properties of tendons may lead to a higher risk of injury, according to a study in The
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, official research journal of the National
Strength and Conditioning Association. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams
& Wilkins , a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and
business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing,
allied health, and pharmacy.
Fewer than half of U.S. moms
breastfeed enough
Fewer than half of U.S. mothers breastfeed their newborns for even half as long as advised
and just 22 percent still do so at one year, government researchers reported on Monday.
Finding a bargain feels as good as
sex
Retail therapy is often said to make up for a poor love life – and now new research
has shown why.
Florida Evidence Shows Groundwater
Contamination by Methyl Iodide
Confirming concerns that the controversial toxic strawberry pesticide methyl iodide could
contaminate groundwater if used in agricultural fields, new evidence from Florida shows
one of the pesticide’s breakdown products present in groundwater at levels that pose
threats to children. Air monitoring demonstrated the presence of the parent methyl iodide
at levels far exceeding those that many scientists deem even marginally safe. The
California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is currently considering whether or
not to approve the strawberry pesticide for widespread use in California in the coming
weeks.
Flu vaccine does not reduce risk of
severe complications
Italian researchers have discovered that the influenza vaccine does NOT reduce risk of
severe complications from influenza viral infections that result in hospital death,
influenza or pneumonia admission among the elderly population.
Folk medicine used to heal malaria
in Calabria
In Italy, malaria was an endemic disease that was eradicated by the mid-20th century. This
paper evaluates the prophylactic and therapeutic remedies used by folk medicine to cure
malaria in Calabria (southern Italy). The data has been collected by analysing works of
physicians, ethnographers, folklorists and specialists of the study of Calabrian history
between the end of the 19th century and the 20th century. The data collected have allowed
us to describe the most common cures used by the Calabrian people to treat malaria and the
most evident symptoms of this disease, such as intermittent fever, hepato-spleenomegaly,
asthenia and dropsy. This approach uncovered a heterogeneous corpus of empirical, magical
and religious remedies, which the authors have investigated as evidences of past
"expert medicine" and to verify their real effectiveness in the treatment of
malaria.
Fountain of youth in bile?
Longevity molecule identified
The human quest for longer life may be one step closer, thanks to research from Concordia
University. Published in the journal Aging, a new study is the first to identify the role
of a bile acid, called lithocholic acid (LCA), in extending the lifespan of normally aging
yeast. The findings may have significant implications for human longevity and health, as
yeast share some common elements with people.
Function found for Alzheimer's
protein
In people with Alzheimer's, the brain becomes riddled with clumps of protein, forming what
are known as amyloid plaques. Now, a report appearing in the September 17th print issue of
Cell appears to have found a function for the amyloid precursor protein (APP for short)
that yields the prime ingredient in those plaques.
Gene limits learning and memory in
mice
Deleting a certain gene in mice can make them smarter by unlocking a mysterious region of
the brain considered to be relatively inflexible, scientists at Emory University School of
Medicine have found.
Gene network reveals link between
fats and heart disease signs
A gene network behind hardening of the arteries and coronary heart disease has been
identified by a team of scientists from Australia, Europe and the United Kingdom. Their
findings expose potential targets for the treatment of heart disease.
Global Small Farmers Denounce Gates
Foundation Purchase of 500,000 Monsanto Stock Shares
Since 2006, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has collaborated with the Rockefeller
Foundation, an ardent promoter of GE crops for the world's poor, to implement the Alliance
for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which is opening up the continent to GE seed and
chemicals sold by Monsanto, DuPont and Syngenta.
Groundbreaking study shows Roundup
link to birth defects
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in the world's best-selling weedkiller Roundup, causes
malformations in frog and chicken embryos at doses far lower than those used in
agricultural spraying and well below maximum residue levels in products presently approved
in the European Union. This is reported in research (1) published by a group around
Professor Andrés Carrasco, director of the Laboratory of Molecular Embryology at the
University of Buenos Aires Medical School and member of Argentina's National Council of
Scientific and Technical Research.
Gulf oil spill - After it hit
beaches, where did it go?
Some crude from the Gulf oil spill has seeped into the sand. It may be altering ecosystems
– 'for all time,' one expert says.
Health benefits of gluten-free diet
helped make it mainstream
A mere decade ago, most people likely had no idea what gluten even was. Today, the protein
is widely known for causing digestive and other health problems in certain people that
requires them to eat only gluten-free foods. And many otherwise healthy individuals are
also going gluten-free because they believe it will improve their overall health.
High Protein, Meat-Based Diets Mean
Higher Mortality Rate, Study Says
The study found that men and women who eat a high protein diet which consisted of a high
percentage of meat and cheese, had a higher risk of early death.
High-Dose Fish Oil Emerges as New
Treatment for Brain Trauma From Concussions in Study by Dr. Sears
The Journal of Neurosurgery reports a new study by Dr. Barry Sears, a leading authority in
anti-inflammatory nutrition and creator of the Zone Diet, indicates treatment of
high-purity fish oil for brain trauma induced by concussion.
How a Key Brain Hormone Might
Explain Whether You're Generous or Not
Researchers have found that oxytocin, which promotes human bonding, plays a powerful role
in shaping how generous people are.
How Connecticut Schools are Dealing
with a Ban on Synthetic Pesticide Use
Next time a grassy schoolyard in Connecticut starts going bald from an infestation of
grubs or billbugs, or crabgrass starts to supplant the turf and clover, groundskeepers
will have to put some new techniques to work to combat the problems.
How doctors rationalize acceptance
of industry gifts
Despite heightened awareness about the undue influence that gifts from pharmaceutical
companies can have on doctors' prescribing practices, and despite expanding institutional
conflict-of-interest policies and state laws targeted at preventing such practices,
companies continue to reward doctors for prescribing their drugs with gifts ranging from
pens and paper, to free dinners and trips. A new study by two researchers at Carnegie
Mellon University, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, helps to
explain how doctors rationalize acceptance of such gifts, which author George Loewenstein,
the Herbert A. Simon Professor of Economics and Psychology, describes as "barely
described bribes." The study found that physicians rationalize acceptance of these
gifts as a form of reward for the sacrifices they made obtaining their education.
How Palestinian and Israeli
children are being psychologically scarred by exposure to war
Palestinian and Israeli children not only suffer the direct physical consequences of
violence, they are also being psychologically scarred by the high levels of violence they
witness, according to the study, presented earlier this summer at the International
Society for Research on Aggression.
Illegal GM maize destroyed in
Paraguay
The federal agricultural agency's dramatic destruction of more than 100 acres of
transgenic corn a couple of weeks ago has provoked a fiery new round here in the debate
about genetically modified crops.
In pregnancy, a large waistline and
high triglycerides
A large waistline and high triglyceride levels in pregnant women could be an early
screening tool for gestational diabetes, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian
Medical Association Journal)
Increased brain protein levels
linked to Alzheimer's disease
Elevated levels of a growth protein in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients is
linked to impaired neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons are generated, say
researchers at the University of California, San Diego in today's edition of The Journal
of Neuroscience. Eliezer Masliah, MD, professor of neurosciences and pathology in the UC
San Diego School of Medicine and colleagues report that increased levels of BMP6 –
part of a family of bone morphogenetic proteins involved in cell signaling and growth
– were found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and in mouse models of the
disease.
Interfering with a double-edged
sword - novel anti-inflammatory functions for interferons
Animals react to infections in a number of ways. Among the first is the production of cell
factors such as interferons and IL-1beta. Interferons have several functions, including
activating a series of intracellular signals such as Tyk2 (Tyrosine kinase 2), while
IL-1beta is important for the induction of inflammation, which helps directly to protect
the body against attack. However, inflammation must be kept tightly in check as it may
also harm the body. Cells control IL-1beta activity in a number of ways, regulating not
only the amount of messenger RNA (mRNA) that encodes the IL-1beta protein but also the
processing and release of "mature" IL-1beta protein. Surprisingly, interferons
may also inhibit the production of IL-1b protein and thus suppress inflammation. This
conclusion comes from Marta Radwan and Rita Stiefvater in Birgit Strobl's group at the
University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna and is published in the current issue of the
Journal of Immunology.
Iowa State study finds corn bred to
contain beta-carotene is a good source of vitamin A
A new Iowa State University study has found that corn bred to contain increased levels of
beta-carotene is a good source of vitamin A. The discovery gives added support to the
promise of biofortified corn being developed through conventional plant breeding as an
effective tool to combat vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. Beta-carotene is
converted in the body to vitamin A. The researchers found that the beta-carotene in the
corn was converted to vitamin A at a higher rate than what's predicted for corn, and
higher than the rate for beta-carotene in vegetables - including spinach and carrots,
among others.
Iran finds Hypnosis treatment for
asthma
The founder of Iran's first hypnotherapy clinic says her team has made significant
improvements in reducing the force of asthma attacks.
Is BPA making you fat?
New study finds BPA and other chemicals may control the body's uptake and storage of fat.
Kids and Diabetes Risk - Do
Chromosomes Hold New Clues?
Children who have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes might be identified earlier by
way of tell-tale genetic indicators known as biomarkers. Some of those new biomarkers
might be pinpointed in research led by Nancy F. Butte and funded by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's National
Institutes of Health.
Leaks reveal Big Tobacco's $5m
blitz
ONE of the biggest leaks against Big Tobacco in Australian history has revealed cigarette
companies have funnelled over $5 million into a campaign against plain cigarette
packaging.
Less acid equals stronger bones
Osteoporosis causes about 1.5 million fractures annually in people age 50 and over in the
U.S. There are many reasons someone has bone loss, but a lack of calcium pills isn't among
the biggest.
Let there be light! LED treatments
claiming to cure acne are now available as home kits - but are they safe?
When you’ve got acne or wrinkles, the last thing you want is for someone to come
along and shine a light on your imperfections.
Link to autism in boys found in
missing DNA
New research from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and The Hospital for
Sick Children (SickKids), both in Toronto, Canada provides further clues as to why Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects four times more males than females. The scientists
discovered that males who carry specific alterations of DNA on the sole X-chromosome they
carry are at high risk of developing ASD. The research is published in the September 15
issue of Science Translational Medicine. ASD is a neurological disorder that affects brain
functioning, resulting in challenges with communication and social interaction, unusual
patterns of behaviour, and often, intellectual deficits. ASD affects one in every 120
children and a startling one in 70 boys. Though all of the causes of ASD are not yet
known, research has increasingly pointed towards genetic factors,. In recent years,
several genes involved in ASD have successfully been identified.
Low EPA/DHA Daily Dose May Have
Influenced Recent Omega 3 Study – GOED
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that daily
consumption of an omega-3-enriched margarine spread containing roughly 400 mg of EPA/DHA
showed no benefit in preventing cardiovascular events for those having suffered a heart
attack more than four years ago.
Low vitamin D again linked to
higher mortality in heart patients
Low levels of vitamin D have again been linked with reduced survival rates in patients
with heart failure.
Manganese in drinking water - Study
suggests adverse effects on children's intellectual abilities
A team of researchers led by Maryse Bouchard, adjunct professor at the Center for
Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Health, Environment and Society (CINBIOSE) of the
Université du Québec à Montréal and a researcher at Sainte-Justine University
Hospital, and Donna Mergler, professor emerita in the Department of Biological Sciences
and a member of CINBIOSE, recently completed a study showing that children exposed to high
concentrations of manganese in drinking water performed worse on tests of intellectual
functioning than children with lower exposures. Their results are published in the
prestigious scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives, in an article entitled
"Intellectual Impairment in School-Age Children Exposed to Manganese from Drinking
Water".
Many avoid factory farms by buying
local
The responses to this summer’s well-publicized accounts of eggs making people sick
range from a demand for more and better government inspections to increased attention to
handling and cooking food at home.
Mayo Clinic study finds mild
cognitive impairment is more common in men
A new Mayo Clinic study found that the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment was 1.5
times higher in men than in women. The research, part of the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging,
also showed a prevalence rate of 16 percent in the population-based study of individuals
aged 70-89 without dementia who live in Olmsted County, Minn. The study will be published
in the September issue of Neurology. "The finding that the frequency of mild
cognitive impairment is greater in men was unexpected, since the frequency of Alzheimer's
disease is actually greater in women. It warrants further study," says Ronald
Petersen, M.D., Ph.D., neurologist and director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease
Research Center. "If we consider the 16 percent prevalence of mild cognitive
impairment in individuals without dementia, then add the 10-11 percent of individuals who
already have dementia or Alzheimer's disease, we're looking at 25 percent or more of the
population aged 70 or older who have dementia or are at risk of developing dementia in the
near future. With the aging of America, these numbers are staggering and the impact on the
health care economy, as well as on individuals and their families, is quite impressive.
The need for early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention is increasingly important."
Mechanism behind demethylation
pinpointed in APC gene mutants
Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States and causes more than
50,000 deaths each year. It has been known for some time that mutations in the APC gene
occur in more than 85 percent of all sporadic colon cancers. Now researchers at Huntsman
Cancer Institute at the University of Utah demonstrate in a study featured today in Cell
the mechanism by which mutation of the APC gene affects a cellular process known as DNA
methylation. DNA methylation is a chemical modification made to DNA that plays an
important role in dictating how DNA is read and interpreted by a cell.
Med school burnout linked to
unprofessional behavior
A Mayo Clinic study involving seven major medical schools shows a majority of medical
students surveyed suffer from burnout and that those students were more likely to cheat or
be dishonest in relation to patient care. The findings appear in this week's issue of
JAMA.
Medications Used to Treat
Neurologic and Psychiatric Conditions Increase Smokers’ Nicotine Metabolism
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School researchers have determined that carbamazepine
and oxycarbamazepine, medications commonly used to treat neurologic and psychiatric
conditions, increase nicotine metabolism in smokers. As nicotine metabolism increases,
cravings for nicotine return more quickly which could lead to more frequent cigarette
consumption among individuals who also take these medications.
Millions with voice problems don't
know treatment available
Two-thirds of Americans with voice problems don't seek medical care either because they
don't know treatment is available or because they think the problem will just go away,
according to a new study conducted at the Duke Voice Care Center.
MIT researchers discover an
unexpected twist in cancer metabolism
In a paper appearing in the Sept. 16 online edition of Science, Matthew Vander Heiden
assistant professor of biology and member of the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative
Cancer Research at MIT and researchers at Harvard University report a previously unknown
element of cancer cells' peculiar metabolism. They found that cells can trigger an
alternative biochemical pathway that speeds up their metabolism and diverts the byproducts
to construct new cells. The finding could help scientists design drugs that block
cancer-cell metabolism, essentially starving them of the materials they need to grow and
spread. Vander Heiden has just begun tests in mice of several such drugs.
Monsanto and Blackwater's black ops
Internal company documents show Monsanto paid a Blackwater entity (Total Intelligence)
over $200,000 to scan "activist blogs and websites", and suggest the issue of
infiltration also arose.
Mother's missing gene linked to
Autism predisposition
Researchers are moving in closer to an overall understanding of the genetic factors
responsible for autism. Research in Toronto and research done at the University of
California in San Diego have both identified genetic links responsible for Autism Spectrum
Disorder.
Nanomaterials May Soon be in Your
Sportswear and Underwear
EPA announced last month it was considering the application of the Swiss company HeiQ
Materials Ag to market the coating, called HeiQ AGS-20, as an antimicrobial treatment to
help control odor in clothing, including children’s athletic wear. EPA proposed to
give the Swiss company a “conditional” approval, lasting four years, while the
agency explores nanosilver’s possible implications for human health and environmental
harm.
New CU-Boulder Research Sheds Light
on Why Our Brains Get Tripped Up When We're Anxious
A new University of Colorado at Boulder study sheds light on the brain mechanisms that
allow us to make choices and ultimately could be helpful in improving treatments for the
millions of people who suffer from the effects of anxiety disorders.
New evidence on how cranberry juice
fights bacteria that cause urinary tract infections
Scientists reported new evidence on the effectiveness of that old folk remedy —
cranberry juice — for urinary tract infections at the ACS' 240th National Meeting.
"A number of controlled clinical trials — these are carefully designed and
conducted scientific studies done in humans — have concluded that cranberry juice
really is effective for preventing urinary tract infections," said Terri Anne
Camesano, Ph.D., who led the study. "That has important implications, considering the
size of the problem and the health care costs involved."
New options for enteral nutrition
in patients with severe acute pancreatitis
Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) requires an adequate nutritional support. Enteral
nutrition (EN) should be preferred to total parenteral nutrition in patients with SAP, as
it is associated with reduced mortality and complications. However, in clinical practice
EN is employed far less frequently than it should. The main obstacle to EN diffusion is
that it is considered complicated, as to ensure full pancreatic rest, nutrition tubes
should be placed in the jejunum, requiring often troublesome procedures. In the past few
years, it has been proposed that EN through nasogastric (NG) tubes may be a simple, safe
and equally valid alternative to nasojejunal tubes.
New Pathway Identified in
Parkinson’s Through Brain Imaging
A new study led by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center has identified a
novel molecular pathway underlying Parkinson’s disease and points to existing drugs
which may be able to slow progression of the disease. The pathway involved proteins –
known as polyamines – that were found to be responsible for the increase in build-up
of other toxic proteins in neurons, which causes the neurons to malfunction and,
eventually, die. Though high levels of polyamines have been found previously in patients
with Parkinson’s, the new study – which appeared in an early online edition of
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – is the first to identify a
mechanism for why polyamines are elevated in the first place and how polyamines mediate
the disease.
New pathway identified in
Parkinson's through brain imaging
A new study led by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center has identified a
novel molecular pathway underlying Parkinson's disease and points to existing drugs which
may be able to slow progression of the disease. The pathway involved proteins – known
as polyamines – that were found to be responsible for the increase in build-up of
other toxic proteins in neurons, which causes the neurons to malfunction and, eventually,
die. Though high levels of polyamines have been found previously in patients with
Parkinson's, the new study – which appeared in an early online edition of Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences – is the first to identify a mechanism for why
polyamines are elevated in the first place and how polyamines mediate the disease.
New pathway regulates immune
balance and offers promising drug development target
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists uncover a novel pathway for regulating T
lymphocytes that play very different roles in inflammation; mechanism offers a promising
target for new drugs against autoimmune disorders.
New Research Technology to Target
Human Gut Bacteria
The National Institutes of Health has awarded a three-year, $1.1 million grant to a team
of scientists at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory to develop a
technology for studying the link between human health and disease and the microorganisms
that reside in or on the human body.
New Study Reconciles Conflicting
Data on Mental Aging
A new look at tests of mental aging reveals a good news-bad news situation. The bad news
is all mental abilities appear to decline with age, to varying degrees. The good news is
the drops are not as steep as some research showed, according to a study published by the
American Psychological Association.
New York To Force Household Cleaner
Giants To Reveal Chemical Ingredients
For the first time, the State of New York will begin requiring household cleaning
companies to reveal the chemical ingredients in their products and any health risks they
pose. The move was triggered by public health and environmental advocates, who urged New
York’s Department of Environmental Conservation to enforce disclosure requirements
dating back more than 30 years. Independent studies show a link between many chemicals
commonly found in cleaning products and health effects ranging from nerve damage to
hormone disruption. With growing concern about the potential hazards of chemicals in these
products, the advocates mounted a campaign pressing the State to uphold consumers’
right to know and begin enforcing the 33-year-old law.
NIH study shows how insulin
stimulates fat cells to take in glucose
Using high-resolution microscopy, researchers at the National Institutes of Health have
shown how insulin prompts fat cells to take in glucose in a rat model. The findings were
reported in the Sept. 8 issue of the journal Cell Metabolism. By studying the surface of
healthy, live fat cells in rats, researchers were able to understand the process by which
cells take in glucose. Next, they plan to observe the fat cells of people with varying
degrees of insulin sensitivity, including insulin resistance–considered a precursor
to type 2 diabetes [http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov]. These observations may help identify
the interval when someone becomes at risk for developing diabetes. "What we're doing
here is actually trying to understand how glucose transporter proteins called GLUT4 work
in normal, insulin-sensitive cells," said Karin G. Stenkula, Ph.D., a researcher at
the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and a lead
author of the paper. "With an understanding of how these transporters in fat cells
respond to insulin, we could detect the differences between an insulin-sensitive cell and
an insulin-resistant cell, to learn how the response becomes impaired. We hope to identify
when a person becomes pre-diabetic, before they go on to develop diabetes."
No pain in the hospital -- wishful
thinking or reality?
More than 80% of hospitalized patients suffer more severe pain than necessary. This is the
conclusion of Christoph Maier (Bochum University Hospital, Bochum, Germany) and his
coauthors in their interim report of the Pain-Free Hospital Project ("Schmerzfreies
Krankenhaus"), which appears in the current issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt
International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2010; 107[36]: 607-14). The project, which was initiated
in 2003, has the goal of improving pain management in hospitals across Germany.
Outsmarting Killer Bacteria
Antibiotics can work miracles, knocking out common infections like bronchitis and
tonsillitis. But according to the Center for Disease Control, each year 90,000 people in
the U.S. die of drug-resistant "superbugs" — bacteria like Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA), a deadly form of staph infection resistant to normal antibiotics. Although
hospital patients are particularly susceptible as a result of open wounds and weakened
immune systems, the bacteria can infect anyone.
People can overcome their
addictions, but not quickly, UCLA psychologist says
Millions of Americans suffer from severe addictions that can ruin lives and are extremely
difficult to control. Nearly 2 million enter roughly 12,000 addiction treatment programs
in the U.S. each year. And each month, some 15,000 people turn to Adi Jaffe's All About
Addiction websites at www.allaboutaddiction.com and at Psychology Today, which provide
information, the latest research and answers to readers' questions.
Pollution takes its toll on the
heart
The fine particles of pollution that hang in the air can increase the risk for sudden
cardiac arrest, according to a new study conducted by a team from Long Island Jewish (LIJ)
Medical Center and The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. Robert A. Silverman, MD,
and his colleagues have been interested in the effects of ambient fine particulate matter
on a number of medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease and asthma. The US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) keeps tabs on air pollution through dozens of
strategically placed pollution sensors in cities and towns throughout the country. This
data allowed the researchers to collect data on average 24-hour values of small
particulates and other gaseous pollutants around New York City during the summer (when
pollution is higher) and winter months. They then compared that data to the 8,216
out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that occurred between 2002 and 2006. Most people in the
throes of a cardiac arrest do not survive in time for emergency medical service teams to
save them.
Popular Asian spice can cure
Alzheimer's disease
Nature is full of various herbs and spices that protect against disease and even treat and
cure it. And according to Chris Kilham, an ethnobotanist and Fox News' "Medicine
Hunter", turmeric root -- also known in its extract form as curcumin -- is one such
powerful spice that appears to both prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease and even cure
it.
Preserving nerve cells in motor
neuron disease
A team of researchers, led by Scott Oakes, at the University of California, San Francisco,
has identified a way to prevent symptom onset, weight loss, and paralysis and extend
survival in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; also known as Lou
Gehrig's disease), providing a new avenue of research for the development of therapeutics
for ALS and other motor neuron diseases. ALS and other motor neuron diseases are
neurological disorders that selectively affect nerve cells that control voluntary muscle
activities such as speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing, and general movement of the
body. A key feature of these diseases is that the affected nerve cells (which are known as
motor neurons) die by a process known as apoptosis. Determining whether this death
contributes to disease or occurs after the nerves have stopped functioning is important to
establishing whether blocking apoptosis would have therapeutic benefit. In the study,
genetically eliminating activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in a mouse model
of ALS was shown to preserve motor neuron viability and function, thereby preventing
symptom onset, weight loss, and paralysis and extending survival. The authors therefore
suggest that inhibiting activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway might provide a
way to preserve motor neurons in individuals with ALS and other motor neuron diseases.
Protein behind development of
immune system sentinels identified
A protein called PU.1 is essential for the development of dendritic cells, the sentinels
of the immune system, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers in Melbourne, Australia,
have shown. Dendritic cells (DC) are immune cells that present proteins from foreign
invaders, such as viruses, to the killer T cells of the immune system, allowing a full
immune response to be mounted against the invaders. Researchers from the Immunology
division have been studying dendritic cells and how different molecules regulate their
development.
Protein clamps tight to telomeres
to help prevent aging and support cancer
The number of times our cells can divide is dictated by telomeres, stretches of DNA at the
tips of our chromosomes. Understanding how telomeres keep our chromosomes – and by
extension, our genomes – intact is an area of intense scientific focus in the fields
of both aging and cancer. Now, scientists at The Wistar Institute have published the first
detailed report on the structure and function of a crucial domain in the protein known as
Cdc13, which sustains telomeres by clamping to DNA and recruiting replicating enzymes to
the area. While the nature of this portion of Cdc13 had previously eluded scientists, the
Wistar researchers found that two copies of the protein bind together to form what is
called a “dimer,” and how that dimer physically interacts with DNA, regulating
how enzymes called telomerases access and lengthen the telomeres. The study was performed
using the yeast gene, however, this essential life process has changed little through
evolution, and evidence suggests that the human equivalent of this protein may make a good
target for future anticancer drugs. They present their findings in the journal Molecular
and Cellular Biology, available online now, ahead of print.
Protein Released in Arthritis
Reverses Alzheimer’s
A protein released in rheumatoid arthritis has been found to significantly reduce the
progression of Alzheimer’s and actually reverse memory problems in mice engineered to
develop symptoms of the disease, reports a new study by the University of South Florida.
Psychiatry is going too far with
children
Further concerns have been raised about the practice in schools of labelling children and
adolescents as having special educational needs (SEN).
Psychological pain of Holocaust
still haunts survivors
Holocaust survivors show remarkable resilience in their day-to-day lives, but they still
manifest the pain of their traumatic past in the form of various psychiatric symptoms,
according to an analysis of 44 years of global psychological research. Jewish Holocaust
survivors living in Israel also have higher psychological well-being than those who live
in other countries, which suggests living in that country could serve as a protective
factor, according to researchers in Israel and the Netherlands. Their findings are
reported in Psychological Bulletin, which is published by the American Psychological
Association. The studies chosen for this analysis focused on Holocaust survivors of Jewish
ancestry.
Public deprived of data on cancer
links to toxins - film maker
Director of 'The Idiot Cycle' claims people are being kept in the dark over the dangers
posed by toxins in everyday life - and questions the murky links between UN, WHO and
chemical companies
Ramiel Nagel Says You Can Heal
Dental Decay With Nutrition
Rami is a fan of the work of the great Dr. Weston A. Price and has had the opportunity to
observe how a healthy, natural and lower-carb dietary approach has healed dental caries in
himself and his family. What do you need to eat to regrow healthy dental material that has
been eaten away by the Cavity Creeps? Listen in for all this and more in today’s
fascinating episode!
Recovery from autism
A University of Connecticut expert says early intervention can help some children recover
from autism.
Research could improve detection of
liver damage
The team used paracetamol as the basis for the study - research indicates that paracetamol
can place temporary stress on the liver in around a third of people who take a normal dose
(4g per day) but the liver returns to normal when the drug has left the system. Overdoses
of the drug are a major cause of liver failure in both the UK and US. Scientists have
discovered that the presence of specific proteins in the blood are indicative of early
liver cell damage and can determine the point at which cell death occurred, the type of
cell death, and the extent of any damage. This could lead to liver damage being assessed
faster and more accurately in the future – information which could prove valuable
when treating people following drug overdoses. The current blood test used by clinicians
to assess liver function simply indicates whether liver enzymes leaking from dying cells
can be detected in the blood. The test is not always reliable because positive results are
often, but not always, an indicator of serious underlying liver problems.
Research Team Assesses
Environmental Impact of Organic Solar Cells
Solar energy could be a central alternative to petroleum-based energy production. However,
current solar-cell technology often does not produce the same energy yield and is more
expensive to mass-produce. In addition, information on the total effect of solar energy
production on the environment is incomplete, experts say.
Researchers at Children's Hospital
Los Angeles find diet-induced obesity accelerates leukemia
The first study to demonstrate that obesity can directly accelerate the progression of
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been conducted at The Saban Research Institute of
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and will be published in Cancer Prevention Research, on
October 5, 2010. Obesity has been associated with an increased incidence of many cancers,
including leukemia, but it has been unknown whether the increase in incidence was a direct
effect of obesity or associated with genetic, lifestyle, health, or socio-economic
factors.
Researchers identify genetic marker
of aggressive Alzheimer’s disease
An international team of Alzheimer’s disease experts, led by Washington University
School of Medicine in St. Louis, has uncovered a gene variation that appears to predict
the rate at which Alzheimer’s disease will progress.
Researchers raise concerns over the
increasing commercialization of science
The increasing commercialisation of science is restricting access to vital scientific
knowledge and delaying the progress of science, claim researchers on bmj.com today. aruni
de Silva and Raveen Hanwella from the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka argue that
copyrighting or patenting medical scales, tests, techniques and genetic material, limits
the level of public benefit from scientific discovery. For example, they found that many
commonly used rating scales are under copyright and researchers have to pay for their use.
Rheumatoid arthritis IV drug risks
severe reaction
An elderly patient died from a severe allergic reaction after taking an intravenous
medication for rheumatoid arthritis, Health Canada said Friday.
Rogue protein 'may spark diabetes'
Shedding light on how a malfunctioning protein helps trigger type 2 diabetes could one day
offer the chance to halt the damage, say scientists.
SafeMinds Comments on Pediatrics
Study on Thimerosal and Vaccines
This study was funded by CDC and conducted by several parties with an interest in
protecting vaccine use.
Scientists find gene for high
cholesterol in blood
Scientists at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (SFBR) in San Antonio have
found a gene that causes high levels of bad cholesterol to accumulate in the blood as a
result of a high-cholesterol diet. Researchers studied a strain of laboratory opossums
developed at SFBR that has normal blood levels of "bad" low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) cholesterol when fed a standard low-cholesterol diet, but extremely elevated levels
of LDL cholesterol when fed a high-cholesterol diet. These high-responding opossums are
used to identify the genes and the underlying mechanisms that control response to dietary
cholesterol. "This research will improve our understanding of cholesterol metabolism
and may shed light on why some people have high levels of bad cholesterol in blood while
others do not when they consume cholesterol-enriched diets," said John L. VandeBerg,
Ph.D., SFBR's chief scientific officer and senior author on the paper. Published in the
October issue of the Journal of Lipid Research, the work was funded by the National
Institutes of Health and the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation.
Scientists Find Thick Layer Of Oil
On Seafloor
Scientists on a research vessel in the Gulf of Mexico are finding a substantial layer of
oily sediment stretching for dozens of miles in all directions. Their discovery suggests
that a lot of oil from the Deepwater Horizon didn't simply evaporate or dissipate into the
water — it has settled to the seafloor.
Scientist’s Emails Bring
Controversial Herbicide to Light
The above ll cool j-inspired lyrics were part of one of the many emails that biology
professor Dr. Tyrone Hayes wrote to Syngenta, a company that makes herbicides to protect
corn crops from weeds.
Seaweed Could Help in Acne Fight
Based on reports online, it seems that the shift towards organic personal care products
just got a big boost. This is due to a study which shows that seaweed could be beneficial
in battling acne outbreaks.
Serious Hockey Injuries Among Young
Children Skyrocketing, Study Finds0
The incidence of hockey-related injuries among children aged 9 to 14 leading to emergency
department visits more than doubled between 1990 and 2006, according to a new nationwide
study.
Severe nightmares could be a
warning sign of Parkinson's
Severe nightmares could be an early sign of Parkinson’s disease, a study has
suggested.
Should the Doctor Hold a
Patient’s Hand?
Jordan M. Gutovich, a Philadelphia medical student, was standing at a patient’s
bedside when the man began to cry, an experience he writes about in a recent essay in The
Journal of the American Medical Association.
Small study suggests electrical
stimulation of the brain can ease migraine pain
A small pilot study suggests that electrical stimulation of the occipital nerve, which
connects the spinal cord to the back of the brain, can ease chronic migraine in some
patients for whom other forms of treatment are unsuccessful.
Smokeless tobacco products linked
to heart attack risk
The American Heart Association released a policy statement today saying that long term use
of smokeless tobacco products increases the risk of suffering a fatal heart attack or
myocardial infarction.
Society should wake up to harmful
effects of internet
Society should be aware of the potentially harmful effects of the internet, networking
sites and computer games on the brain, leading neuroscientist and peer Baroness Susan
Greenfield has said.
Stand up to the cancer industry and
its celebrity-powered hucksterism
If there's one thing to be learned from the recent "Stand Up To Cancer" telethon
that gathered top Hollywood celebrities to raise money for the cancer industry, it's that
you probably shouldn't get your health advice from actors.
Stress accelerates breast cancer
progression in mice
Chronic stress acts as a sort of fertilizer that feeds breast cancer progression,
significantly accelerating the spread of disease in animal models, researchers at UCLA's
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have found. Researchers discovered that stress is
biologically reprogramming the immune cells that are trying to fight the cancer,
transforming them instead from soldiers protecting the body against disease into aiders
and abettors. The study found a 30-fold increase in cancer spread throughout the bodies of
stressed mice compared to those that were not stressed.
Study decries pollution from coal
Reduced pollution from coal-fired power plants in recent years has saved lives and reduced
health-care costs, but further reductions are necessary.
Study finds that sorghum bran has
more antioxidants than blueberries, pomegranates
Researchers measured polyphenolic compounds, which naturally occur in plants to help fight
against pests and disease, and found that the black and sumac varieties of sorghum have
significant levels of antioxidants.
Study gets measure of how best to
prevent blood clots
Treating hospital patients with thigh-length surgical stockings, rather than knee-high
socks, can reduce life threatening blood clots, a new study suggests. Researchers found
that knee-high stockings, which are similar to flight socks, do little in stroke patients
to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a life threatening form of blood clot that can
travel up into the heart and lungs, .
Study into the booby traps of
breastfeeding in the UK
Australian researchers are embarking on a study of mums in the United Kingdom to discover
if "guilt-tripping women" into breastfeeding is effective in persuading them to
opt for breast over bottle.
Study Suggests Link Between A Type
Of Virus, Obesity In Children
A new study released Monday provides additional evidence supporting a link between obesity
and a type of virus known to cause common respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.
Successful periodontal therapy may
reduce the risk of preterm birth
A collaboration led by a periodontal researcher from the University of Pennsylvania School
of Dental Medicine has found a possible link between the success of gum-disease treatment
and the likelihood of giving birth prematurely, according to a study published in the
journal BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. While a number of
factors are associated with an increased rate of preterm birth, such as low body-mass
index, alcohol consumption and smoking, the study adds to the body of research that
suggests oral infection may also be associated with such an increase. The study looked at
322 pregnant women, all with gum disease. Half the group was given oral-hygiene
instruction and treated with scaling and root planning, which consists of cleaning above
and below the gum line. The second half received only oral-hygiene instruction.
Swimming in chlorinated pools can
lead to cancer
Researchers found indicators of an increase in cancer risk in healthy subjects as well as
potential respiratory effects from the cholorine used as a disinfectant, the statement
said.
Teasing about weight can affect
pre-teens profoundly
Schoolyard taunts of any type can potentially damage a child's sense of self-confidence.
But a new study suggests that a particular kind of teasing – about weight – can
have distinctive and significant effects on how pre-teens perceive their own bodies. The
research, among the first to specifically examine the impact of weight-based criticism on
pre-adolescents, also hints that the practice can cause other health and emotional issues
for its victims. "We tend to think of adolescence as the time when kids become
sensitive about their body image, but our findings suggest that the seeds of body
dissatisfaction are actually being sown much earlier," said Timothy D. Nelson,
assistant professor of psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the study's
lead author. "Criticism of weight, in particular, can contribute to issues that go
beyond general problems with self-esteem." For the study, Nelson and his colleagues
surveyed hundreds of public school students whose average age was 10.8 years. They
collected participants' heights and weights and calculated their Body Mass Index, then
examined the relationships between weight-related criticism and children's perceptions of
themselves. Their results showed that overweight pre-teens who endured weight-based
criticism tended to judge their bodies more harshly and were less satisfied with their
body sizes than students who weren't teased about their weight.
Testosterone may be screwing up the
economy
While boys are being boys, could they be screwing up the economy?
The Arctic oil rush
Greenland is a land apart – where many people welcome global warming, dislike
Greenpeace, and hope the arrival of Big Oil will transform their lives. But at what price
to this pristine wilderness?
The effect of extract of ginkgo
biloba addition to olanzapine on therapeutic effect and antioxidant enzyme levels in
patients with schizophrenia
It has been suggested that the extract of gingko biloba (EGb) may enhance the efficiency
of the classic antipsychotic haloperidol in patients with chronic schizophrenia,
especially on positive symptoms, and reduce serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels.
Therefore, we decided to evaluate the therapeutic effect of EGb and to examine the effect
of it on the levels of antioxidant enzymes in schizophrenic patients on olanzapine
treatment. We hypothesized that EGb would have the beneficial effects on schizophrenic
symptoms and might cause reductions in antioxidant enzymes. The subjects were randomly
assigned to the two groups: olanzapine plus EGb (group I) (n=15) and olanzapine alone
(group II) (n=14). The patients were evaluated at baseline and at week 8 with respect to
the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), serum SOD, catalase (CAT), and
glutathion peroxidase (GPX) levels. At baseline, no statistically significant difference
regarding the mean total PANSS scores between treatment groups was found. At the
evaluation of week 8, a significant difference in mean Scale for the Assessment of Postive
Symptoms (SAPS) scores but not in Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms scores
between groups was found. Total patients had statistically significant higher serum SOD,
CAT and GPX levels compared to control groups at baseline. At 8 weeks, there were
significant differences in the mean decrease in SOD and CAT levels but not in GPX levels
between treatment groups. The changes in SOD and CAT levels were correlated with the
change in SAPS in group I, but not in the group II. The present study supported the
findings of the previous study demonstrating that EGb might enhance the efficiency of
antipsychotic in patients with schizophrenia, particularly on positive symptoms of the
disorder.
The nontoxic natural compound
Curcumin exerts anti-proliferative, anti-migratory, and anti-invasive properties against
malignant gliomas
Curcumin is part of the diet of millions of people every day and is without known toxic
side effects. Our data show that Curcumin bears anti-proliferative, anti-migratory, and
anti-invasive properties against GBM cells in vitro. These results warrant further in vivo
analyses and indicate a potential role of Curcumin in the treatment of malignant gliomas.
Thimerosal accumulates in rats'
brains
According to the findings, Thimerosal injected into suckling and adult rats impairs
sensitivity to pain due to activation of the opioid system that controls pain, reward and
addictive behaviors.
Think twice before taking ibuprofen
The latest news from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2010 Congress points out
that some of our most popular over-the-counter drugs are not abiding by the principle of
“Primum non nocere” — first do no harm. They are, in fact, causing stroke
and heart attacks!
Too Much of This in Your Blood
Increases Your Risk of Alzheimer's by 65%
To sum it all up, research has determined that people with diabetes or insulin resistance
have a significantly increased risk of developing Alzheimer's–as high as 65% higher
risk.
Traces of cosmetics, medications
create concerns for water supplies
Colorado and federal authorities are ramping up efforts to control increasing pollution of
waterways by "emerging contaminants" — antidepressants, antibiotics,
birth-control pills, cosmetics and caffeine.
Two Studies Find New Genetic Links
to Ovarian Cancer Risk
An international consortium of scientists has discovered new genetic variants in five
regions of the genome that affect the risk of ovarian cancer in the general population,
according to two separate studies published today (Sunday), online in Nature Genetics.
Type D personality associated with
higher future heart risk
Heart patients with the "distressed" (Type D) personality profile may face a
higher risk of future cardiovascular problems, according to a summary article published in
the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
U.S. Meat Farmers Brace for Limits
on Antibiotics
Dispensing antibiotics to healthy animals is routine on the large, concentrated farms that
now dominate American agriculture. But the practice is increasingly condemned by medical
experts who say it contributes to a growing scourge of modern medicine.
U.S. scientist finds the sleep
switch in our brain
Researchers have discovered the mechanism that causes the brain to switch from being awake
to sleeping, according to a study from Washington State University.
UC Davis scientists find link
between arthritis pain reliever and cardiovascular events
A research team from the University of California, Davis and Peking University, China, has
discovered a novel mechanism as to why the long-term, high-dosage use of the well-known
arthritis pain medication, Vioxx, led to heart attacks and strokes. Their groundbreaking
research may pave the way for a safer drug for millions of arthritis patients who suffer
acute and chronic pain.
UN Scientists Say Ozone Layer
Depletion Has Stopped
The protective ozone layer in the earth's upper atmosphere has stopped thinning and should
largely be restored by mid century thanks to a ban on harmful chemicals, UN scientists
said on Thursday.
Unraveling how parvovirus B19
causes disease
Parvovirus B19 causes a wide spectrum of human diseases, including fifth disease in
children and pure red cell aplasia in patients with a compromised immune system. The
mechanisms by which parvovirus B19 causes disease are largely unknown, as there are no
cell lines in which the virus can grow and no experimental animals susceptible to
infection. But now, Ning Zhi and colleagues, at the National Institutes of Health,
Bethesda, have used a recently developed system for culturing parvovirus B19 to identify
factors in the infected cells that are exploited by parvovirus B19 to cause disease.
Specifically, parvovirus B19 modulates the expression of gene regulatory proteins known as
E2Fs to cause the infected cells (human red blood cell progenitors) to stop dividing.
These data provide new insight into the mechanisms by which parvovirus B19 causes disease.
USDA sued over side stepping GM
beet ban
Today, the Center for Food Safety, Organic Seed Alliance, High Mowing Organic Seeds, and
the Sierra Club, filed a lawsuit in federal district court for the Northern District of
California in San Francisco, challenging the issuance by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of permits purporting to
allow the immediate planting of a genetically engineered (GE) sugar beet seed crop.
Using Landsat satellite data to
support pesticide exposure assessment in California
We found the combination of Landsat 5 and 7 image data would clearly benefit pesticide
exposure assessment in this region by 1) providing information on crop field conditions at
or near the time when pesticides are applied, and 2) providing information for validating
the CDWR map. The Landsat image time-series was useful for identifying idle, single-, and
multi-cropped fields. Landsat data will be limited during the winter months due to cloud
cover, and for years prior to the Landsat 7 launch (1999) when only one satellite was
operational at any given time. We suggest additional research to determine the feasibility
of integrating CDWR land use maps and Landsat data to derive crop maps in locations and
time periods where maps are not available, which will allow for substantial improvements
to chemical exposure estimation.
UT veterinary professor mixes
Chinese and Western medicines
Dr. Christine Egger has combined the ideas of Western and Chinese medicine into a unique
method of treatment - using acupuncture and herbal medicine with small animals.
Vitamin D health warning for the
children who shun the sun
Paranoia about sun exposure and indoor lifestyles are causing life-threatening health
problems for children due to vitamin D deficiency, a new study claims.
Vitamin D health warning for the
children who shun the sun
Paranoia about sun exposure and indoor lifestyles are causing life-threatening health
problems for children due to vitamin D deficiency, a new study claims.
Watercress may ‘turn off’
breast cancer signal
New scientific research from the University of Southampton has revealed that a plant
compound in watercress may have the ability to suppress breast cancer cell development by
'turning off' a signal in the body and thereby starving the growing tumour of essential
blood and oxygen.
What Doctors Don’t Know About
Nutrition
Some of the most common questions patients ask their doctors focus on the link between
diet and health. But as Dr. Pauline Chen explains this week in her Doctor and Patient
column, many of the nation’s medical schools are failing to provide new doctors with
adequate nutrition education.
What's New and Beneficial About
Garlic
Whole books have been written about garlic, an herb affectionately called "the
stinking rose" in light of its numerous therapeutic benefits. A member of the lily or
Allium family, which also includes onions and leeks, garlic is rich in a variety of
powerful sulfur-containing compounds including thiosulfinates (of which the best known
compound is allicin), sulfoxides (among which the best known compound is alliin), and
dithiins (in which the most researched compound is ajoene). While these compounds are
responsible for garlic's characteristically pungent odor, they are also the source of many
of its health-promoting effects.
Why the craving for cocaine won't
go away
People who have used cocaine run a great risk of becoming addicted, even after long
drug-free periods. Now researchers at Linköping University and their colleagues can point
to a specific molecule in the brain as a possible target for treatment to prevent
relapses. Drugs are addictive because they "hijack" the brain's reward system,
which is actually intended to make it pleasurable to eat and have sex, behaviors that are
necessary for survival and reproduction. This "hijacking" is extremely
long-lived and often leads to relapses into abuse, especially when the individual is
exposed to stimuli in the surroundings that are associated with the drug. In an article in
the prestigious Journal of Neuroscience the research team can now show that a receptor for
the signal substance glutamate (mGluR5), in a part of the brain called the striatum, plays
a major role in relapses.
Women with diabetes having more
C-sections and fetal complications
Nearly half of women with diabetes prior to pregnancy have a potentially-avoidable
C-section and their babies are twice as likely to die as those born to women without
diabetes, according to the POWER study.
World War II Dutch famine babies'
brains 'aging faster'
People who were still developing in the womb at the time of severe World War II food
shortages did worse than others of similar ages at mental tests almost 60 years later,
researchers say.
WSU researchers discover key
mechanism behind sleep
Washington State University researchers have discovered the mechanism by which the brain
switches from a wakeful to a sleeping state. The finding clears the way for a suite of
discoveries, from sleeping aids to treatments for stroke and other brain injuries.
"We know that brain activity is linked to sleep, but we've never known how,"
said James Krueger, WSU neuroscientist and lead author of a paper in the latest Journal of
Applied Physiology. "This gives us a mechanism to link brain activity to sleep. This
has not been done before."
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