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Week 49
A Closer Look - Brazilian Blowout
formaldehyde questions continue
As testers debate the levels of formaldehyde present in the hair straightener, here's
what's at stake for those using it.
A Cup of Coffee can Ease the
Symptoms of Asthma
Caffeine is known more as a pick-me-up than a home remedy, but for years scientists have
wondered whether it may have benefits for people with asthma.
A first-time study in Spain
analyzes gambler perception
The online gambler is an internaut who gambles, not a gambler who bets on the internet.
This is one of the conclusions of a Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) research study
that for the first time in Spain analyzes perceptions about gambling behavior. Another
conclusion of the report is that the amount of money played is underestimated: on average,
a gambler who thinks he has bet 22 euros a month, in reality has bet 40 euros. Regarding
on line gambling, the player stands out more as an internaut than as a gambler. "They
think that they are browsing the net, going into pages of this type and gambling,
believing that they are still browsing. On the other hand, in the case of conventional
gambling, if you are going to make a bet on football scores, playing instant lottery,
buying a lottery ticket, or taking part in a bingo game, you are more aware that you are
gambling”, explained José Ignacio Cases, who has headed and coordinated this
research together with Javier Ruiz, del Instituto de Política y Gobernanza (The Institute
for Policy and Governance) (IPOLGOB) atUC3M.
A Greener Way to Make Plastic
Chemical refineries are great at converting petroleum into gasoline and the building
blocks of plastics and other consumer goods.
A Simple, Inexpensive Trick to Cure
a Cold
Each year Americans catch more than one billion colds, making the cold virus the most
common infectious disease in the United States.
A theoretical model of the
application of RF energy to theairway wall and its experimental validation
Bronchial thermoplasty is a novel technique designed toreduce an airway's ability to
contract by reducing the amount ofairway smooth muscle through controlled heating of the
airway wall.
A Warning by Key Researcher On
Risks of BPA in Our Lives
The synthetic chemical, BPA found in everything from plastic bottles to cash register
receipts is a potent, estrogen-mimicking compound. In an interview with Yale Environment
360, biologist Frederick vom Saal harshly criticizes U.S. corporations and government
regulators for covering up or ignoring the many health risks of BPA.
After years of pain, I’ve
finally got my life back
Severe eczema of her hand made Denise Hyland’s life a misery – until they found
a cure. Jane Kelly reports .
Aged, damaged hearts yield stem
cells that could treat heart failure
Cardiac stem cells - even in elderly and sick patients - could generate new heart muscle
and vessel tissue and be used to treat heart failure, according to research presented at
the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2010 (see also Diabetes). Scientists
surgically removed tissue from the muscular wall of the heart's chambers in 21 patients.
They then isolated and multiplied the cardiac stem cells (CSCs) found there. Most of the
patients had ischemic cardiomyopathy (enlarged and weakened muscle due to coronary artery
disease). Eleven also had diabetes. The average age of patients was about 65.
Air Above Dead Sea Contains Very
High Levels of Oxidized Mercury
The atmosphere over the Dead Sea, researchers have found, is laden with oxidized mercury.
Some of the highest levels of oxidized mercury ever observed outside the polar regions
exist there.
Alcohol consumption decreases with
the development of disease
In a cross-sectional study from the 2004 and 2007 Australian National Drug Strategy
Household (NDSH) surveys, respondents were questioned about their current and past
drinking, the presence of formal diagnosis for specific diseases (heart disease, type 2
diabetes, hypertension, cancer, anxiety, depression) and self-perceived general health
status. The sample sizes for the 2004 and 2007 NDSH surveys were 24,109 and 23,356,
respectively. The authors report that respondents with a diagnosis of diabetes,
hypertension, or anxiety were more likely to have reduced or stopped alcohol consumption
in the past 12 months. The likelihood of having reduced or ceased alcohol consumption in
the past 12 months increased as perceived general health status declined from excellent to
poor (although the authors do not point out that lifetime abstainers were more likely than
moderate drinkers to report less than excellent health status).
Alcohol consumption decreases with
the development of disease
In a cross-sectional study from the 2004 and 2007 Australian National Drug Strategy
Household (NDSH) surveys, respondents were questioned about their current and past
drinking, the presence of formal diagnosis for specific diseases (heart disease, type 2
diabetes, hypertension, cancer, anxiety, depression) and self-perceived general health
status. The sample sizes for the 2004 and 2007 NDSH surveys were 24,109 and 23,356,
respectively. The authors report that respondents with a diagnosis of diabetes,
hypertension, or anxiety were more likely to have reduced or stopped alcohol consumption
in the past 12 months. The likelihood of having reduced or ceased alcohol consumption in
the past 12 months increased as perceived general health status declined from excellent to
poor (although the authors do not point out that lifetime abstainers were more likely than
moderate drinkers to report less than excellent health status).
Amazonian biodiversity much older
than originally thought
Amazonia's huge biodiversity originated with the formation of the Andes and, as such,
dates back further than previously realised, claims an article written by an international
research group, headed by a researcher from the University of Gothenburg, published in the
journal Science. "With the results we present in this article, we've rewritten the
entire history of Amazonia in terms of the development of its biodiversity," says
Alexandre Antonelli from the University of Gothenburg's Department of Plant and
Environmental Sciences, and scientific curator at the Gothenburg Botanical Garden
(Sweden).
Ancient wind held secret of life
and death
The mystery of how an abundance of fossils have been marvellously preserved for nearly
half a billion years in a remote region of Africa has been solved by a team of geologists
from the University of Leicester's Department of Geology. They have established that an
ancient wind brought life to the region – and was then instrumental in the
preservation of the dead. Sarah Gabbott, Jan Zalasiewicz and colleagues investigated a
site near the Table Mountains in South Africa. Their findings are published in the latest
issue of the journal Geology.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar breaks down fatty, mucus, and phlegm deposits within the body.
[Gerrit]
Approval for toxic waste shipment
lands Danish minister in hot water
AUSTRALIA'S decision to allow the chemical firm Orica to begin shipping 6100 tonnes of
hazardous waste held at Botany Bay to Denmark has triggered a political row in Copenhagen.
Are We Killing Ourselves with
Cleanliness? As Number of Allergy Sufferers Soar
Alternative theories abound on why developed countries have such high rates of allergic
reactions.
Asbestos Dangers Known Centuries
Ago, but Battle Continues
Invisible fibers were killing people long before a Roman scholar reported that the slaves
who worked in the asbestos quarries died far younger than those who didn't touch the
wondrous, fireproof mineral.
Australia won't ban 'toxic' BPA
Australia would not ban baby bottles containing the chemical Bisphenol-A over fears it may
harm children's health, despite it being prohibited in both Canada and Europe.
Avoid the mistletoe or yule get
sick
If there wasn't reason already, Canadian health experts are warning that Mommy shouldn't
be kissing Santa Claus underneath the mistletoe this year.
Baby bottle makers urged to ditch
'danger chemical' ahead of EU ban
Baby bottle manufacturers have been urged to act now to remove from their products a
potentially dangerous chemical which will be outlawed from next June.
Being a 'good sport' can be
critical to maintaining lifelong physical activity
It's never fun riding the bench – but could it also make you less likely to be
physically active in the future? That's one of the questions being explored by Mark Eys,
an associate professor of kinesiology and physical education at Wilfrid Laurier University
and the Canada Research Chair in Group Dynamics and Physical Activity. Eys is presenting
his work as part of this week's Canada Research Chairs conference in Toronto. Eys, who
also teaches out of the university's psychology department, is studying group cohesion
– which, in sporting terms, is essentially that sense of camaraderie that often
develops between teammates – and how it affects the willingness of teenagers to take
part in physical activity long-term.
Being fat aged nine can lead to
raised heart disease risk
Children who are overweight by the age of just nine are at a higher risk of going on to
develop heart disease, researchers have found.
Beware breast milk from unknown
sources
There are health risks to giving babies human breast milk obtained online or directly from
individuals, Health Canada says.
Big Polluters Freed from
Environmental Oversight by Stimulus
In the name of job creation and clean energy, the Obama administration has doled out
billions of dollars in stimulus money to some of the nation’s biggest
polluters…..
Bill to Curb Fertilizers
Sidetracked in Assembly
A measure that would have put tight restrictions on fertilizers that homeowners from
Edgewater to Ringwood use on their lawns went into legislative limbo on Monday.
Biological changes in suicidal
patients
Doctor Daniel Lindqvist from the Psychoimmunology Unit at Lund University is presenting
these results in his PhD thesis. He is part of a research group led by Dr Lena Brundin,
which sees inflammation in the brain as a strong contributory factor to depression. This
is a new theory that challenges the prevalent view that depression is only due to a lack
of the substances serotonin and noradrenaline. "However, current serotonin-based
medication cures far from all of the patients treated. We believe that inflammation is the
first step in the development of depression and that this in turn affects serotonin and
noradrenaline", says Daniel Lindqvist.
Blood pressure 'worrisome' in 8% of
kids: study
Up to eight per cent of Canadian children have elevated blood pressure that could be cause
for concern, researchers say.
Buckets of green for painters
Every occupation has its hazards. But it seems as if painters who work indoors face some
of the most serious health and safety problems. Highly concentrated paint fumes combined
with the dust that comes from scraping off old lead paint day after day can damage the
nervous system, liver and kidneys, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
BUSM investigates cellular
mechanisms leading to immune response in airway epithelium
Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have demonstrated that
commensal species of the genus Neisseriae are low inducers of human airway epithelial cell
responses as compared to the pathogenic species. Specifically, the study indicates that a
Neisserial outer membrane component appears to play a differential role in the host
inflammatory responses via interaction with a receptor on the surface of human airway
epithelial cells. Paola Massari, an assistant professor in the section of infectious
diseases at BUSM, is lead author of this study, which is published in the Dec. 2010 issue
of the journal Infection and Immunity. The team focused their research on Neisseria
lactamica, a gram negative organism comprising both commensal and pathogenic bacteria.
Neisseria meningitidis, the causative agent of meningococcal meningitis, as well as
Neisseria lactamica, colonize the human nasopharynx, but only Neisseria meningitidis is
pathogenic.
California recyclers find market
for toxic trash
Nearly all TVs and monitors are recycled – at least initially – in California.
That is not true for the towering mountains of other electronic products sold in the
state.
Can traumatic events trigger
inherited depression
While conventional thinking dictates that life events have no inheritable impact on a
person's genes, recent research suggests otherwise, they believe.
Canada to announce world's toughest
lead regulations for kids' products
The federal government is introducing the most stringent rules in the world to effectively
ban lead from toys for young children and other products that kids put in their mouths.
Cancer spikes around Asse nuke dump
In the wake of reports that the community around the Asse atomic waste dump in Lower
Saxony has suffered a rise in cancer cases.
Cervical cancer screening in
Australia
Lengthening the recommended screening interval to 3 years in Australia is not predicted to
result in increases in rates of cervical cancer and is predicted to decrease the number of
women undergoing diagnostic and treatment procedures. These findings are consistent with a
large body of international evidence showing that screening more frequently than every
three years with cervical cytology does not result in substantial gains in screening
effectiveness.
Charging for plastic bags cut bag
consumption by half in China
Research from the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) shows that people in China – the
number one consumers of plastic bags in the world – reduced their consumption of
plastic bags by half when stores were forced to charge consumers for the bags. Use of
plastic bags is a growing global environmental problem. As a result, the bags are becoming
subject to various regulations in an increasing number of countries, with mixed results.
An environmental-economic evaluation of the Chinese ordinance against free plastic bags
from June 2008 shows that people in China – the number one consumers of plastic bags
in the world – reduced their consumption of plastic bags by half when stores were
forced to charge consumers for the bags.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients
Grow Weary of Doubt
Doctors, Patients Roiled By CDC Study Linking Personality Disorders to Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome
Chronic high cholesterol diet
produces brain damage
Research from the Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental Alzheimers Research at the
Medical University Innsbruck (Austria) demonstrated that chronic high fat cholesterol diet
in rats exhibited pathologies similar to Alzheimer's disease. The results were published
in Molecular Cellular Neuroscience (45(4):408-417, 2010) with lead author Dr. Christian
Humpel. The study was co-authored by PhD students, Celine Ullrich and Michael Pirchl, from
the same Laboratory.
Chronic High Cholesterol Diet
Produces Brain Damage
Research from the Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental Alzheimers Research
(http://www2.i-med.ac.at/psychlab/) at the Medical University Innsbruck (Austria)
demonstrated that chronic high fat cholesterol diet in rats exhibited pathologies similar
to Alzheimer’s disease. The results were published in Molecular Cellular Neuroscience
(45(4):408-417, 2010) with lead author Dr. Christian Humpel. The study was co-authored by
PhD students, Celine Ullrich and Michael Pirchl, from the same Laboratory.
Cigarette smoking increases
rheumatoid arthritis risk in African-Americans
A new study determined that African Americans who smoke cigarettes have a higher risk of
developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA risk is more pronounced among individuals
positive for the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope, a genetic risk factor for RA. Findings from this
study—the largest to date examining the impact of smoking on RA risk in an African
American population—are available in the December issue of Arthritis &
Rheumatism, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of
Rheumatology (ACR). RA is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the joint lining
(synovial membrane) and causes pain, swelling and redness in the joints. The ACR estimates
that 1.3 million Americans are diagnosed with RA and 75% of those are women. Prior studies
suggest cigarette smoking may be associated with increased risk of developing RA. A 2009
health report compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that in
the African American population, 26% of men and 17% of women 18 years of age and older
smoke. "RA epidemiology has been largely understudied in the African American
population," explained Ted Mikuls, MD, MSPH, from the University of Nebraska Medical
Center and lead study author. "The aim of our study was to bridge the knowledge gap
by determining whether smoking contributes to RA risk in African Americans and define the
extent to which this association is affected by genetic risk."
Cinnamon can replace harmful
chemicals used to create nanoparticles
Gold nanoparticles, tiny pieces of gold so small that they can't be seen by the naked eye,
are used in electronics, healthcare products and as pharmaceuticals to fight cancer.
City pollution reports eyed
All but the largest sources of Louisville air pollution would get a break on reporting
their emissions under a rewrite of the city's toxic air reduction program.
Clarity in short-term memory shows
no link with IQ
One person correctly remembers four of eight items just seen but is fuzzy on details.
Another person recalls only two of the items but with amazingly precise clarity. So what
ability translates to higher IQ?
Cleaning Without Chemicals: Recipes
for a Toxic-Free Home
The average American uses about 25 gallons of hazardous chemical products in his or her
home -- the majority coming from cleaning products.
Climate change will cost a billion
people their homes, says report
British scientists will warn Cancún summit that entire nations could be flooded.
Clue found to penis birth defect
Scientists have identified a gene which may play a role in a common defect affecting the
genitalia of baby boys. Hypospadias, which affects one in every 375 boys, is the result of
incomplete development in the womb.
Combined consumption of caffeine
and glucose improves the efficiency of brain activity
The combination of caffeine and glucose can improve the efficiency of brain activity,
according to a recent study in which functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to
identify the neural substrate for the combined effects of these two substances. The study,
which was published in the journal Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, is
led by the researchers Josep M. Serra Grabulosa, from the Department of Psychiatry and
Clinical Psychobiology at the UB and a member of the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical
Research Institute (IDIBAPS); Ana Adan, a lecturer from the same department and a member
of the UB’s Institute of Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C); and Carles Falcón, a
member of the Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and
Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN).
Cortisol and arthritis
Cortisol is a hormone product produced by the adrenal gland. It's produced 24 hours a day
and always is in the bloodstream.
Could a massive dam between Alaska
and Russia save the Arctic?
Two years ago a science writer from the Netherlands proposed a radical solution to combat
melting in the Arctic.
Could thermodynamics solve the
problem of sustainability?
Socio-economics, natural capital and other esoteric notions prove themselves to be
inadequate again and again when researchers and economists attempt to quantify the degree
of sustainability. But, what if consumption of resources by a society or other complex
system were simply viewed as a flow of exergy, the useful "work" a system can
do? When approached in this way, the concept of sustainability becomes a question of
thermodynamics where thresholds can be calculated above or below which a system is either
consuming "too much" or "too little" respectively, and so is not in a
self-preserving state of equilibrium.
Crucial sex hormones re-routed by
missing molecule
A hormone responsible for the onset of puberty can end up stuck in the wrong part of the
body if the nerve pathways responsible for its transport to the brain fail to develop
properly, according to research funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences
Research Council (BBSRC).
CSG miners banned from toxic
chemicals
Queensland's parliament has banned mining companies from using four toxic chemicals in the
extraction of coal seam gas.
Danish experts cook high protein
anti obesity diet
Danish researchers have come up with a recipe for preventing and treating obesity: a diet
high in proteins and low in refined starchessuch as white bread and white rice.
Researchers from the Faculty of Life Sciences (LIFE), University of Copenhagen, compared
official Europeandietary recommendations with a diet based on more recent knowledge on the
importance of proteins and carbohydrates for appetite regulation.
Dendritic cell vaccine induces
immune responses in patients
A new process for creating a personalized vaccine may become a crucial tool in helping
patients with colorectal cancer develop an immune response against their own tumors. This
dendritic cell (DC) vaccine, developed at Dartmouth and described in a research paper
published this week in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, was used after surgical
resection of metastatic tumors to try to prevent the growth of additional metastases.
Developing countries often
outsource deforestation, study finds
In many developing countries, forest restoration at home has led to deforestation abroad,
according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The authors say their findings could have significant implications for ongoing efforts to
protect the world's remaining forests, which are disappearing at an annual rate of more
than 32 million acres – an area roughly the size of England. "Reducing
deforestation is an international priority, given its impacts on carbon emissions and
biodiversity," said study co-author Eric Lambin of Stanford University in California
and the University of Louvain in Belgium. "However, our study found that strengthened
forest-conservation policies and economic expansion often increased the demand for
imported timber and agricultural products, which contributed to deforestation
abroad."
Diabetes Drug could work against
Alzheimer’s
Metformin, a drug used in type 2-diabetes might have the potential to also act against
Alzheimer’s disease. This has been shown in a study from scientists of the German
Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), the University of Dundee and the
Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Genetics. The researchers have found out that the
diabetes drug metformin counteracts alterations of the cell structure protein Tau in mice
nerve cells. These alterations are a main cause of the Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover,
they uncovered the molecular mechanism of metformin in this process. “If we can
confirm that metformin shows also an effect in humans, it is certainly a good candidate
for an effective therapy on Alzheimer’s diseases,” says Sybille Krauß from
DZNE. Their results have been published in the scientific journal PNAS on November 22nd.
Diet vs Stress
Instinctively, I’ve always known of the relationship between stress and diet.
Dirty Little Secret in the Natural
Foods Industry: Toxic Chemical Use
Since 2009, when research by The Cornucopia Institute exposed “the dirty little
secret” of the soyfoods industry, vocal concern from consumers over the use of the
toxic solvent hexane has led several prominent food companies to switch to cleaner soy
ingredients in their veggie burgers and nutrition bars.
Discovery halts breast cancer stem
cells
Breast cancer stem cells (CSCs), the aggressive cells thought to be resistant to current
anti-cancer therapies and which promote metastasis, are stimulated by estrogen via a
pathway that mirrors normal stem cell development. Disrupting the pathway, researchers
were able to halt the expansion of breast CSCs, a finding that suggests a new drug therapy
target. The study, done in mice, is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences (PNAS) Early Edition this week. "A critical aspect of our work was to
discover that estrogen could promote breast cancer growth by modulating the proportion of
breast CSCs. Since CSCs were not directly sensitive to estrogen, it wasn't clear how
estrogen could affect their numbers. However, we found that hormone-sensitive cancer cells
can communicate with CSCs to regulate their numbers. By disrupting the interaction between
cancer cell populations we were able to prevent tumor growth," said Charlotte
Kuperwasser, PhD, associate professor in the anatomy and cellular biology and radiation
oncology departments at Tufts University School of Medicine, and member of the genetics
and cell, molecular & developmental biology program faculties at the Sackler School of
Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts. "Interestingly, this signaling pathway
involves many of the same players that control normal stem cell biology, raising a more
general possibility that CSCs in other tumors might be regulated by the mechanisms guiding
normal development," said Kuperwasser.
Discovery Halts Breast Cancer Stem
Cells
Breast cancer stem cells (CSCs), the aggressive cells thought to be resistant to current
anti-cancer therapies and which promote metastasis, are stimulated by estrogen via a
pathway that mirrors normal stem cell development.
Do traffic lights in the brain
direct our actions?
In every waking minute, we have to make decisions sometimes within a split second.
Neuroscientists at the Bernstein Center Freiburg have now discovered a possible
explanation how the brain chooses between alternative options. The key lies in extremely
fast changes in the communication between single nerve cells.
Does Tryptophan in turkey cause
sleepiness?
Many people believe tryptophan in turkey may cause sleepiness or tiredness on the
thanksgiving day. But that is not the case.
Drug and cosmetics firms back plan
to cut animal testing
Major drug and cosmetics companies have backed a plan toeliminate animal testing in favour
of more humane approaches. Expertsfrom companies including drug giants AstraZeneca,
Procter & Gamble,Unilever and cosmetics firm L'Oreal endorsed a Europe-wide
initiativedescribed as a road-map towards ending the use of animals in researchand safety
testing.
Early intervention essential to
success for at-risk children
Children living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods are more likely to succeed if they
participate in a community-based prevention program, according to findings released
recently from a multi-year research study based at Queen's University. Children
participating in the Better Beginnings, Better Futures (BBBF) project showed improved
social and academic functioning. The project also impacted positively on families and on
neighbourhoods. "The results from our study indicate that the project has been a
success," says Queen's psychology professor emeritus Ray Peters, the lead researcher
on the study. "The project was designed to prevent young children in low-income,
high-risk neighbourhoods from experiencing poor developmental outcomes, and to decrease
the use of expensive health, education and social services. The study has proven that goal
to be attainable."
Early Urine Test Predicts Pregnancy
Complication
Research led by the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS
Trust has provided a new advance in predicting a potentially serious pregnancy
complication. The team led by Dr Matt Hall, of the Department of Infection, Immunity and
Inflammation at the University of Leicester, conducted a study to see if analyzing the
protein content of pregnant women's urine before the 20th week of pregnancy might predict
a condition known as pre-eclampsia.
Eat more protein to keep weight off
study
Diets high in protein and low in carbohydrates can help overweight adults.
Eating orange and dark green
vegetables linked to longer life
Eating lots of orange and dark green veggies such as carrots, sweet potatoes and green
beans may be tied to less disease and longer life.
Effect of ELF electric field on
some on biochemistry characters in the rat serum
The present study has investigated the potential effects of extremely low frequency (ELF)
electric field exposure on plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels of adult male rats.
Sixty rats have been divided into three independent groups randomly, 20 of which arranged
as controls (without exposure to 50 Hz electric field), 20 of which have been exposed to a
50 Hz electric field for 10 days and 20 of which have been exposed to a 50-Hz electric
field for 30 days. Levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride in plasma samples have
been measured. Total cholesterol concentration of the plasma in group 2 with short-term
exposure and group 3 with long-term exposure to 50 Hz EF (65.33 ± 15.31 mg/dL and 59.55
± 15.01 mg/dL, respectively) has showed significant decrease when compared with control
groups (70.44 ± 19.60 mg/dL). Also, plasma triglyceride showed similar changes (control:
84.44 ± 16.79 mg/dL, 67.33 ± 15.63 and 51.53 ± 14.17 mg/dL in group 1 and 2,
respectively). Fifty Hz electric field may decrease plasma total cholesterol and
triglyceride levels in rodents significantly, especially with long-term exposure.
Environmental Toxin May Play
Important Role in Multiple Sclerosis
Researchers have found evidence that an environmental pollutant may play an important role
in causing multiple sclerosis and that a hypertension drug might be used to treat the
disease.
EPA grant to help identify sources
of PCBs, a potent carcinogen, in San Francisco Bay
Cities around the bay -- particularly San Carlos, San Jose, Oakland and Richmond -- still
contain many hot spots for PCBs, a potent carcinogen that has contaminated the bay and
spurred a health advisory for fish caught there.
Findings in Gentle Wave LED light
study
The Gentle Wave LED light, stronger than the Baby Quasar, shown here, didn't measurably
improve skin in a study.
Findings suggest new cause,
possible treatment for multiple sclerosis
Researchers have found evidence that an environmental pollutant may play an important role
in causing multiple sclerosis and that a hypertension drug might be used to treat the
disease. The toxin acrolein was elevated by about 60 percent in the spinal cord tissues of
mice with a disease similar to multiple sclerosis, said Riyi Shi, a medical doctor and a
professor of neuroscience and biomedical engineering in Purdue University's Department of
Basic Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Paralysis Research and
Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. The research results represent the first concrete
laboratory evidence for a link between acrolein (pronounced a-KRO-le-an) and multiple
sclerosis, he said. "Only recently have researchers started to understand the details
about what acrolein does to the human body," Shi said. "We are studying its
effects on the central nervous system, both in trauma and degenerative diseases such as
multiple sclerosis."
First possible suspected case of
mad cow in humans sounds alarmbells in Brazil
Brazilian health officials said this week that a suspected case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease, a fatal illness that destroys brain tissue, probably wasn t caused by eating beef
of an animal infected with the mad cow sickness.
First-ever covalent irreversible
inhibition of a protease central to hepatitis C infection
Avila Therapeutics™, Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel targeted covalent
drugs, has published research in Nature Chemical Biology demonstrating the first-ever
selective irreversible inhibition of a viral protease using a targeted covalent drug. In
the paper titled "Selective Irreversible Inhibition of a Protease by Targeting a
Non-Catalytic Cysteine", Avila used its proprietary Avilomics™ platform to
design covalent irreversible protease inhibitors that are highly selective, potent and
with superior duration of action as compared to conventional protease inhibitors.
Importantly, the published research demonstrates that covalent drugs can be designed and
targeted to irreversibly and covalently bond to molecular domains specific to proteases.
This is the first report of the irreversible covalent approach being successfully extended
to proteases, a very broad class of proteins that includes many important potential drug
targets.
Fish health benefits may outweigh
mercury concerns
It may be a red herring to worry over whether people who eat lots of fish may lose
whatever heart benefits they might have gained because of an increased exposure to
mercury, a new study shows.
Fuel Lines of Tumors Are New Target
For the last decade cancer drug developers have tried to jam the accelerators that cause
tumors to grow.
Genomic 'markers' may head off
thousands of thyroid surgeries
Doctors at the University of Colorado School of Medicine were concerned recently when they
found a nodule in the thyroid of a 64-year-old Colorado man. They extracted cells from the
nodule, hoping to determine whether the man had cancer. But the biopsy results were
inconclusive. Even a few months ago, such uncertainty would have likely led to surgery to
remove all or part of the thyroid. At least this patient would have faced a tense waiting
period to see if, over time, he developed clear signs of cancer. This time, however, the
CU doctors simply sent the cell sample to a laboratory. There, a test analyzed the cells'
molecular patterns, producing a result that was a relief for the patient: there was a high
level of certainty he didn't have cancer. The CU doctors are helping lead the way
nationally in the use of this genomic approach to evaluating suspicious thyroid nodules.
The test that benefitted the 64-year-old patient could eliminate the need for tens of
thousands of unnecessary thyroid surgeries every year. The patient is willing to talk with
reporters.
Global Warming Skeptics Ascend in
Congress
Cap-and-trade may be just the first casualty of the science-doubters in the House and
Senate.
Glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed
has spread in southern Ontario
Monsanto recently announced that glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed had been identified in
more soybean fields near Windsor. Until a small number of plants had been identified one
field in 2008, Ontario has not had any glyphosate-resistant weeds.
Groups sue EPA over lead ammo,
tackle
Three environmental groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday to force it
to prevent lead poisoning of wildlife from spent ammunition and lost fishing tackle.
Half of Americans facing diabetes
by 2020
More than half of Americans will have diabetes or be prediabetic by 2020 at a cost to the
U.S. health care system of $3.35 trillion if current trends go on unabated, according to
analysis of a new report released on Tuesday by health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc.
Heating Nanoparticles to Kill Tumor
Cells
Magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) is a promising new cancer treatment that essentially
"fries" cells inside tumors. The procedure has been used successfully in
prostate, liver, and breast tumors. Magnetic nanoparticles (each billionths of a meter in
size) are injected into the body intravenously and diffuse selectively into cancerous
tissues. Add a high-frequency magnetic field, and the particles heat up, raising the
temperature of the tumor cells.
Heavy metals in seafood -
Satisfactory results of interlaboratory comparison
Fifty-seven laboratories from 29 countries volunteered to put their measuring competence
to the test. Each laboratory received a sample without knowing the levels of heavy metals
present, and was asked to measure and report the values back to the JRC. The good results
should enhance consumers' confidence, as maximum levels of lead, cadmium and total mercury
in seafood are regulated by EU law and it has been proven that most participants are able
to correctly measure them. In addition, this comparison has highlighted other issues, such
as the apparent dependency of the measurements of inorganic arsenic on the type of food
tested. Excessive intake of heavy metals may lead to a decline in mental, cognitive and
physical health. A particular concern is potential developmental defects in children
exposed in utero. From a toxicological point of view, the chemical form in which the metal
is ingested plays a significant role. For example, methylmercury is much more toxic than
inorganic mercury compounds, whilst inorganic arsenic is more toxic than the organic
species of arsenic.
Hexane Soy
The prohibition of hexane in the processing of organic foods, contrasting with its
widespread use in non-organic veggie burgers, meat alternatives, nutrition bars and other
“natural” foods, is a perfect example of the importance of the organic label.
Hormone's crucial role in 2 anemic
blood disorders
A hormone made by the body may be a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of two
anemic blood disorders -- beta-thalassemia and hemochromatosis. The new research was led
by scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College and published in the Journal of Clinical
Investigation and the journal Blood. Commonly known as Cooley's anemia, beta-thalassemia
affects nearly 1,000 individuals in the United States; worldwide, approximately 300,000
children are born each year with thalassemias. The conditions cause excessive iron
absorption in the body's organs, with symptoms including fatigue, liver disease, heart
failure, growth impairment, diabetes and osteoporosis. Standard treatment involves regular
blood transfusions, which are often ineffective, or bone marrow transplants, which can
help to replace and repair the broken blood production of the body. Hepcidin, a hormone
found naturally in the bloodstream and acting at the level of the digestive tract, has
been known to be at low-levels in patients with beta-thalessemia. Now, the researchers
have evidence that boosting levels of hepcidin may actually have a direct effect in
relieving anemic patients of their body's iron overload, potentially relieving the ravages
of these conditions.
How animals overcome fear to obtain
food
When crossing a street, we look to the left and right for cars and stay put on the
sidewalk if we see a car close enough and traveling fast enough to hit us before we're
able to reach the other side. It's an almost automatic decision, as though we
instinctively know how to keep ourselves safe.
How pathogens hijack host plants
Infestation by bacteria and other pathogens result in global crop losses of over $500
billion annually. A research team led by the Carnegie Institution's Department of Plant
Biology developed a novel trick for identifying how pathogens hijack plant nutrients to
take over the organism. They discovered a novel family of pores that transport sugar out
of the plant. Bacteria and fungi hijack the pores to access the plant sugar for food. The
first goal of any pathogen is to access the host's food supply to allow them to reproduce
in large numbers. This is the first time scientists have a direct handle on controlling
the food supply to pathogens and thus a new means to prevent a wide range of crop diseases
and losses.
Impact of oral vitamin D
supplementation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in oncology
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is the major circulating form of vitamin D and a
standard indicator of vitamin D status.
Important mechanism in
hormone-sensitive breast cancer uncovered
Two thirds of breast cancers are ERalpha-positive, i.e., many estrogen receptors of the
ERalpha- type are found in their cells. "These molecules can interact with the
estrogen hormone and, thus, even lead to cancer," explains Dr. Joerg Hoheisel;
molecular biologist at DKFZ. "The connection between the levels of the estrogen
receptor alpha and the occurrence of breast cancer has been known for some time now.
Early-stage breast cancer cells already produce too many of these receptors. This is
associated with increased cell division, which is ultimately responsible for tumor
development," says Hoheisel. Jointly with his coworkers, Dr. Yasser Riazalhosseini
and Pedro de Souza Rocha Simonini, Joerg Hoheisel has now been able to show that a tiny
little nucleic acid, a microRNA known as miR-375, causes the high receptor levels which,
in many cases, lead to cancer. MicroRNAs are important intracellular signal mediators,
which have a substantial influence on the effectiveness of genes. The DKFZ group
discovered that miR-375 blocks the production of an enzyme which influences the production
of ERalpha-receptors. Thus, high levels of miR-375 lead to production of many estrogen
receptors. At the same time, elevated ERalpha-levels lead to production of more miR-375.
This feedback loop further boosts the multiplication of cancer cells.
Indonesia's billion-dollar forest
deal in danger
Greenpeace on Tuesday warned that a billion-dollar deal between Norway and Indonesia to
cut carbon emissions from deforestation is in danger of being hijacked by timber and oil
palm companies.
Industry and Government Were
Unprepared for BP Spill, Study says
Government and the oil industry were both thoroughly unprepared for a deepwater blowout
and oil spill like the one that occurred this year in the gulf, leading to significant
delays in capping the well and major environmental damage, the staff of the presidential
spill commission concluded in two reports published on Monday.
Influenca of Chlorella powder
intake during swimming stress in mice.
We used the forced swimming test to investigate theinfluence of Chlorella powder intake
during muscle stress training inmice. After day 14, swimming time was about twofold longer
forChlorella intake mice than for control swimming mice.
International Research Study
Focuses On Human Health Effects Of 'E-Waste'
A new international population study, led by the University of Cincinnati, will be the
first to examine the human developmental effects of environmental exposure to the complex
metal mixture found in electronic waste (e-waste). Url:
IOF and ESCEO issue position paper
on atypical femoral fractures and long-term bisphosphonate use
Calls for further study of these rare fractures; studies show clear benefit of treatment
versus minor risk; patients and doctors to be aware of possible warning signs.
Iron Compounds Synthesized to
Combat Tuberculosis
A team of researchers from Spain and Latin America have synthesized two iron compounds
that inhibit the in vitro growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes
tuberculosis. Due their low level of toxicity in mammel cells, the compounds could be used
in the future as therapeutic agents and hospital disinfectants.
Junking Junk Food
Can Michelle Obama make field greens and strawberries as comforting, satisfying, and
heartwarmingly American as apple pie? She has her work cut out for her.
Kiwi apples - Aussies' forbidden
fruit
The World Trade Organization [WTO] is set to announce its verdict, on Monday, on an appeal
by Australia to uphold its long-running ban on apples from New Zealand. Australia has
refused to let any foreign apples in to the country since 1919, over fears of disease. New
Zealand says Australia's policy is anti-competitive, and the WTO ruled in its favour. Al
Jazeera's Gerald Tan gets to the core of the issue in Hastings, the heart of New Zealand's
apple industry.
Lab animals and pets face obesity
epidemic
Animals in human care are fatter than they were 20 years ago.
Lavender, pumpkin pie boost your
sexual desire
A new study led by Drs. Alan Hirsch and Jason Gruss of The Smell and Taste Treatment and
Research Foundation in Chicago found the smell of lavender and pumpkin pie can boost a
man's sexual desire as measured by the increase in penile blood flow by up to 40 percent.
Making sure old electronics don't
cause harm means asking the right questions
Across the country, 23 states now have e-waste laws that ban disposal in landfills, or put
the burden on manufacturers to take back their own electronics for recycling.
Male reproductive problems may add
to falling fertility rates
Reduced male fertility may be making it even harder for couples to conceive and be
contributing to low birth rates in many countries, reveals a new European Science
Foundation (ESF) report launching at a meeting in Paris. More than 10% of couples
worldwide are infertile, contributing to the growing demand for assisted reproduction
techniques such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for which Robert G. Edwards won the Nobel
Prize in Medicine last month.
Maternal smoking, passive smoking
boost risk of neural tube defects
Smoking cigarettes causes more than lung cancer. A new study in the Nov 15, 2010 issue of
Birth Defects Research. Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology suggests that passive
smoking during pregnancy can boost risk of having a baby with neural tube defects or NTDs.
Mayo Researchers Find
Drug-Resistant HIV Patients With Unimpaired Immune Cells
Mayo Clinic researchers have shown why, in a minority of HIV patients, immune function
improves despite a lack of response to standard anti-retroviral treatment. In these cases,
researchers say, the virus has lost its ability to kill immune cells. The findings appear
in the online journal PLoS Pathogens.
Melamine-tainted drinks emerge
again in China
Authorities in central China are searching for a batch of dairy products containing high
levels of melamine, the chemical that killed six babies and sickened 300,000 others in
2008, state media said Monday.
Metabolomic Analysis of Plasma
Metabolites That May Mediate Effects of Rye Bread on Satiety and Weight Maintenance in
Postmenopausal Women
The evidence of the beneficial health effects of dietary fiber and whole grain consumption
is strong, but the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Here, we
investigate how the consumption of high-fiber rye bread (RB) or white-wheat bread (WB)
modifies the plasma metabolomic profiles in postmenopausal women. The study was a
randomized crossover trial consisting of 8-wk intervention periods and an 8-wk washout
period. The study included 39 postmenopausal women with elevated serum total cholesterol
(5.0-8.5 mmol/L) and BMI 20-33 kg/m(2). During the intervention periods, the study breads
contributed to least 20% of total energy intake. Two analytical platforms for metabolomics
were applied. Lipidomic analysis was performed using ultra performance liquid
chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization MS and the other metabolites, including
sterols, organic acids, and alcohols, were analyzed by 2-dimensional GC coupled to
time-of-flight MS. Altogether, 540 metabolites were profiled. Ribitol (P <0.001), ribonic acid (P < 0.001), and indoleacetic acid (P < 0.001) increased during the RB consumption period. Ribonic acid correlated positively with tryptophan (r="0.40;" P="0.003)," which is a precursor for the biosynthesis of hunger-depressing serotonin. There were no changes in plasma lipidomic profiles during the RB or WB intervention periods. The results suggest that 8-wk consumption of high-fiber rye bread increases metabolites that might mediate positive effects of rye bread on satiety and weight maintenance.
Minimization of Free Radical Damage
by Metal Catalysis of Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplements
Multivitamin/multimineral complexes are the most common dietary supplements.
Mining pollution may be hurting
Minn's wild rice
High levels of sulfates released from Minnesota's mining industry are suspected of
diminishing Minnesota's native wild rice beds. The state is reconsidering its current
standard for sulfate in wild rice waters, but until recently it hasn't been enforcing the
existing standard.
Missing Oil Spill Commission
Document Shows BP Made Risky Decisions in Gulf to Save Time
The companies involved in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill made several risky decisions to
save time -- and consequently money -- ahead of the disaster.
MIT biologists find that restoring
the gene for cancer protein p53 slows spread of advanced tumors
In a new study to be published in the Nov. 25 issue of Nature, MIT cancer biologists show
that restoring the protein p53's function in mice with lung cancer has no effect early in
tumor development, but restoring the function later on could prevent more advanced tumors
from spreading throughout the body. Cancer researchers have known since the 1980s that p53
plays a critical role in protecting cells from becoming cancerous. P53 is defective in
about half of all human cancers; when it functions correctly, it appears to suppress tumor
formation by preventing cells with cancer-promoting mutations from reproducing. Knowing
p53's critical role in controlling cancer, researchers have been trying to develop drugs
that restore the protein's function, in hopes of reestablishing the ability to suppress
tumor growth. One such drug is now in clinical trials.
N.B. will fund MS vein-opening
treatment
The New Brunswick government will set up a fund to help people to pay for a controversial
multiple sclerosis treatment despite the death of an Ontario man who travelled outside of
Canada for the procedure.
N.L. Zamboni study enrolling MS
patients
Newfoundland and Labrador researchers are enrolling multiple sclerosis patients in an
observational study of a controversial treatment for the disease.
Neurological protein may hold the
key to new treatments for depression
Neuroscientists at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) have developed a
protein peptide that may be a novel type of highly targeted treatment for depression with
a low side-effect profile. Depression affects one in ten Canadians at some time in their
lives and is a leading cause of disability worldwide. The study published in this month's
Nature Medicine found that coupling between two dopamine receptors was significantly
elevated in the brains of people who had been diagnosed with major depression. "We
identified a potential therapeutic target for development of novel anti-depressants."
said Dr. Fang Liu, Principal Investigator and Senior Scientist in CAMH's Neuroscience
Program and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Working from
this discovery, researchers sought to find a way to disrupt coupling between the two
receptors in hopes that it would have an anti-depressant effect.
New approach traces cancer’s
path toward drug resistance
When Cory Johannessen was a graduate student at Harvard Medical School, he started getting
very exciting results. The anti-cancer drug he and his colleagues were testing in mice was
working well, and was on the path toward clinical trials in people. But Johannessen’s
excitement gave way to frustration. As he finished up graduate school, the cancer came
back in the mice. The clinical trial hadn’t even started, and already Johannessen
could see what might happen in patients: some would get better at first, but eventually
their cancer would find a way to mutate and become resistant.
New bandage splint designed to make
life easier for hip surgery patients
The result of innovative and unique collaboration between hospitals, private enterprises
and a university. The new splint can reduce the need for large external support structures
to fixate the hip following hip surgery. The secret behind the fast development is
collaboration between a research scientist, an enterprise and a full-time student using
this case for her bachelor project.
New biodegradable foam could
replace oil-based plastics
Scientists from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, have developed a new
biodegradable foam material that has the potential to replace a number of commonly-used
plastic foams made from petroleum. The new material -- which is made from a type of milk
protein, simply clay, and a reactive enzyme -- is extremely lightweight and seems to work
very well even in heavy-use commercial applications, which makes it a viable alternative
to many currently-used plastic and foam products..
New imaging technique accurately
finds cancer cells, fast
A team of Illinois researchers developed an imaging technique that uses laser light to
identify cancer cells.
New prostate cancer imaging shows
real-time tumor metabolism
A UCSF research collaboration with GE Healthcare has produced the first results in humans
of a new technology that promises to rapidly assess the presence and aggressiveness of
prostate tumors in real time, by imaging the tumor's metabolism. This is the first time
researchers have used this technology to conduct real-time metabolic imaging in a human
patient and represents a revolutionary approach to assessing the precise outlines of a
tumor, its response to treatment and how quickly it is growing. Data on the first four
patients will be presented on Dec. 2 at the Radiology Society of North America's weeklong
annual conference. The initial results validate extensive preclinical research that has
linked the speed at which tumors metabolize nutrients to the aggressiveness of their
growth. The new imaging technique also has been used to show early biochemical changes in
animal tumors in real time as they respond to medication therapy, long before a physical
change occurs.
New study claims FDA review of GM
salmon incomplete
The process used by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review genetically modified
(GM) salmon presents "an incomplete picture" of the risks and benefits of what
could be the first GM animal food approved for human consumption, according to a recent
Duke University study.
Nicotine feeds growth of breast
cancer tumors
Tobacco products are known to contain at least 60 chemicals that cause cancer, but up
until now nicotine had not been classified as one of them. Nicotine, the chemical that
makes tobacco products addictive, is produced by plants as a natural insecticide.
No link between mould growth and
development of asthma and allergy
A recent PhD study shows that there is no link between mould-spore concentrations in the
indoor air and development of asthma and allergy among children. Many studies around the
world have concluded that moisture-related problems in buildings increase the risk of
health effects such as respiratory symptoms, asthma and allergy in both adults and
children. However, there is only limited knowledge on which agents in indoor air or dust
that cause the reported negative health effects. Biological pollutants such as moulds has
been suggested.
Norway's minister of agriculture
says GM not needed
Climate change is threatening the living conditions of farmers, fishers and forest-
dependent people who are already vulnerable and food insecure. More extreme and
unpredictable weather, drought and flood changes the conditions for food production. Rural
communities, particularly those living in already fragile environments, face an immediate
and growing risk of crop failure and loss of livestock.
Omega-3 - food for (happy) thought
Omega-3s are a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid. “These are the most interesting
nutrients. Fatty acids are very powerful in terms of health effects,” says Bonnie
Beezhold, a professor of nutrition in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation at
ASU’s Polytechnic Campus. Fatty acids are components of most of the fat in your body.
Although people often think of fats as something to avoid, everyone needs a certain amount
of fat to stay healthy. The human brain, for example, is about 60 percent fat. The next
time someone calls you a “fathead,” consider it a compliment!
Omega-3 fatty acids prevent and may
reverse gum disease naturally
Periodontitis is an extremely common, and often painful, inflammatory disease of the gums.
It causes tissue to separate from teeth, resulting in the accumulation of bacteria and
potential bone and tooth loss.
One scientist's hobby - recreating
the ice age
Wild horses have returned to northern Siberia. So have musk oxen, hairy beasts that once
shared this icy land with woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats.
Overweight children show signs of
heart disease aged just 15
CHILDREN who are overweight are likely to exhibit the early signs of heart trouble by the
time they are teenagers, a study has found.
Oxytocin 'polarises men's opinions
of their mothers'
But oxytocin, which is produced in the brain, makes men with bad memories of their mothers
even more critical of them, psychiatrists found.
Passive smoking causes more heart
disease deaths than lung cancer deaths
A new study led by World Health Organization researchers found passive smoking or
secondhand smoke kills about 600,000 peopleworldwide each year.
People who donate to religions are
more likely to punish selfish behaviour, new study finds
When subconsciously exposed to religious ideas and concepts, religious people are far more
likely to actively punish those they believe are acting selfishly and unfairly, a new
study has revealed. The research, led by Dr Ryan McKay from Royal Holloway, University of
London, is published today (24 November) in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Pharma researchers working on drug
to erase your memories
Drug researchers are working on a mind-altering chemical that could erase your memories.
Plant-derived scavengers prowl the
body for nerve toxins
The brain is forever chattering to itself, via electrical impulses sent along its
hard-wired neuronal "Ethernet." These e-messages are translated into chemical
transmissions, allowing communication across the narrow cleft separating one neuron from
another or between neurons and their target cells. Of the many kinds of molecules involved
in this lively chemical symposium, acetylcholine is among the most critical, performing a
host of functions in the central and peripheral nervous system. This delicate cholinergic
design however is highly vulnerable. It can fall victim to inadvertent or deliberate
poisoning by a class of compounds known as organophosphates—chemicals found in a
range of pesticides as well as weaponized nerve agents. Now Tsafrir Mor, a biochemist in
the Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona
State University has shown that human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a so-called
bioscavenging molecule, can be produced synthetically—from plants. Further, Mor and
his colleagues have demonstrated the effectiveness of plant-derived BChE in protecting
against both pesticide and nerve agent organophosphate poisoning.
Playing with building blocks of
creativity help children with autism
In an attempt to help children with autism learn the building blocks of creativity,
researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) tapped a toy box staple
for help – legos. By building lego structures in new and unique ways, children with
autism spectrum disorders (ASD) learned to use creativity, an important skill that they
had seen as very challenging prior to the study.
Pollution causes shutdown in Tehran
The authorities in Iran say schools, offices and factories will be closed in the capital,
Tehran, on Wednesday because of high air-pollution levels.
Pollution on Top of the World
Nearly one-fifth of the earth’s surface is comprised of mountains that play a role in
the storage and distribution of fresh water, with one-tenth of the world’s population
relying on that mountain snowpack as their sole source of fresh water.
Potential health-promoting effects
of astaxanthin
The ketocarotenoid astaxanthin can be found in the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis,
Chlorella zofingiensis, and Chlorococcum sp., and the red yeast Phaffia rhodozyma. The
microalga H. pluvialis has the highest capacity to accumulate astaxanthin up to 4-5% of
cell dry weight. Astaxanthin has been attributed with extraordinary potential for
protecting the organism against a wide range of diseases, and has considerable potential
and promising applications in human health. Numerous studies have shown that astaxanthin
has potential health-promoting effects in the prevention and treatment of various
diseases, such as cancers, chronic inflammatory diseases, metabolic syndrome, diabetes,
diabetic nephropathy, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, liver diseases,
neurodegenerative diseases, eye diseases, skin diseases, exercise-induced fatigue, male
infertility, and HgCl(2)-induced acute renal failure. In this article, the currently
available scientific literature regarding the most significant activities of astaxanthin
is reviewed.
Predicting sea level rise -
Understanding how icebergs form could lead to better forecasts
In an effort to understand how fast sea level could rise as the climate warms, a
University of Michigan researcher has developed a new theory to describe how icebergs
detach from ice sheets and glaciers.
Pregnant women, children most
likely to be impacted by perchlorates
The risk of adverse health effects of perchlorate water contamination at levels recently
found in Barstow is not certain, but public health officials and experts agree that
pregnant women and young children are most at risk.
Problems with Monsanto's "new
generation" of GM soybeans, RR2 Yield
Problems are already emerging with Monsanto's new generation of Roundup Ready soybeans,
RR2 Yield. It seems they are turning yellow in the field. The study below found that the
reason for this is that glyphosate (Roundup) herbicide interferes with photosynthesis (the
process by which plants use energy from sunlight to produce sugars).That's on top of all
the other problems glyphosate causes to plant and soil health.
Protect Your Heart and SO Much More
With the Vitamin
Best known for years as “the sunshine vitamin” vitamin D is certainly a hot
topic these days. For example, if you Google “vitamin D” right now you'll get
about 6.5 million search results.
Public awareness is crucial for the
uptake of CO2 capture and storage technology
In a joint conference, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the European
Commission's Directorate-General for Energy explored ways of increasing public awareness
of the CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technology, and looked at grounds for stronger civil
society involvement in further discussions on this emerging technology.
Reliable culture of human embryonic
stem cells
Human embryonic stem cells have enormous potential for use in pharmaceutical development
and therapeutics; however, to realize this potential there is a requirement for simple and
reproducible cell culture methods that provide adequate numbers of cells of suitable
quality.
Researchers identify a molecular
switch that controls neuronal migration in the developing brain
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators have identified key components of a
signaling pathway that controls the departure of neurons from the brain niche where they
form and allows these cells to start migrating to their final destination. Defects in this
system affect the architecture of the brain and are associated with epilepsy, mental
retardation and perhaps malignant brain tumors.
Researchers identify a molecular
switch that controls neuronal migration in the developing brain
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators have identified key components of a
signaling pathway that controls the departure of neurons from the brain niche where they
form and allows these cells to start migrating to their final destination. Defects in this
system affect the architecture of the brain and are associated with epilepsy, mental
retardation and perhaps malignant brain tumors.
Researchers say uncover HIV,
insulin resistance link
Researchers at the Washington of Medicine say they have uncovered why so many people with
the HIV virus develop a dangerous insulin resistance that leads to diabetes and heart
disease.
Researchers shine light on how some
melanoma tumors evade drug treatment
The past year has brought to light both the promise and the frustration of developing new
drugs to treat melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Early clinical tests of a
candidate drug aimed at a crucial cancer-causing gene revealed impressive results in
patients whose cancers resisted all currently available treatments. Unfortunately, those
effects proved short-lived, as the tumors invariably returned a few months later, able to
withstand the same drug to which they first succumbed. Adding to the disappointment, the
reasons behind these relapses were unclear. Now, a research team led by scientists at the
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT has unearthed one
of the key players behind such drug resistance. Published in the November 25 issue of the
journal Nature, the researchers pinpoint a novel cancer gene, called COT (also known as
MAP3K8), and uncover the signals it uses to drive melanoma. The research underscores the
gene as a new potential drug target, and also lays the foundation for a generalized
approach to identify the molecular underpinnings of drug resistance in many forms of
cancer.
Revealed - The glyphosate research
the GM soy lobby doesn't want you to read
Andres Carrasco's research linking a controversial herbicide with birth defects
highlighted the potential health dangers posed by GM crop-spraying in Argentina and led to
violence and intimidation for those behind the study.
Saving their skins - tanning bed
ban for under-30s
People under 30 or with skin classed as burning easily and tanning minimally will be
banned from using solariums in NSW under plans to tighten regulation of the cancer-causing
sun beds.
Saying No to Monsanto in Manitoba
Monsanto has invited Manitoba Agricultural Minister Stan Struthers along with other
government and industry representatives to a free lunch to celebrate the opening of the
Monsanto Canada's new $12 million Canola Breeding Centre at One Research Road at the
University of Manitoba. Not everyone was invited to the table. A group of citizens
gathered outside the facility Tuesday morning to raise concerns about the risks of
genetically engineered (GE) crops to farmers, human health, and the environment.
Science and the safety of BPA part
1 - Of mice and men.
New evidence comparing how mice, monkeys and humans metabolise BPA suggests that not only
does it take longer for the body to excrete it than EU regulators currently believe, human
exposure to BPA may also be much higher than currently thought, and non-dietary exposure
more important than currently suspected.
Scientists discover new mechanism
for controlling blood sugar level
Medical scientists at the University of Leicester have identified for the first time a new
way in which our body controls the levels of sugar in our blood following a meal. They
have discovered the part played by a particular protein in helping to maintain correct
blood sugar levels. The breakthrough was made in the University of Leicester by a team led
by Professor Andrew Tobin, Professor of Cell Biology, who is a Wellcome Trust Senior
Research Fellow. The research is published online ahead of print in the prestigious
international scientific journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Secrets of Sharks' Success
New research from the University of South Florida suggests that one of the evolutionary
secrets of the shark's success hides in one of its tiniest traits -- flexible scales on
the bodies of these peerless predators that make them better hunters by allowing them to
change directions while moving at full speed.
Seeds of Gulf Dead Zones Are
Draining from U.S. Farms
If you want to grow a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, you first need to plant a seed in
the rich farmland of the upper Mississippi River basin.
Seems sugar makes us sweeter
A cupcake can't save the world, but groundbreaking new research suggests it's a start.
Across multiple studies, a consistent link was identified between glucose levels and
aggression, with sugar consumption making people less prone to unprovoked hostility toward
strangers. Additionally, researchers found that U.S. states with higher rates of diabetes
a disorder characterized by low glucose, and poor glucose tolerance were plagued by higher
rates of violent crime, even after factoring for poverty.
Severe asthma more prevalent than
thought, related to pronounced nasal symptoms
People with multi-symptom asthma more often have night-time awakenings due to
asthma-symptoms, a sign of severe asthma. Researchers writing in BioMed Central’s
open access journal Respiratory Research have shown that asthma with multiple symptoms is
more highly prevalent than previously suggested, comprising 20- 25% of all asthmatics.
Sewage water bacteria fills
‘missing link’ in early evolution of life on earth
A common group of bacteria found in acid bogs and sewage treatment plants has provided
scientists with evidence of a ‘missing link’ in one of the most important steps
in the evolution of life on earth - the emergence of cells with a nucleus containing DNA
(eukaryotic cells). For billions of years, bacteria (single celled organisms without a
nucleus) were the only cellular life form on earth. Then, about 1.6 – 2.1 billion
years ago, eukaryotic cells emerged. These cells (with a nucleus) heralded the evolution
of multi-cellular life on earth including: plants, insects, animals and humans.
Sex hormones link to brain power
boost
HORMONE therapy can make the brain "younger" and could protect against strokes,
scientists have revealed.
Silent thyroid problems linked to
fractures in men
Elderly men with mild thyroid dysfunction - most of whom are unaware of it - are
significantly more likely to develop hip fractures, a new study reports.
Simultaneous exposure of
non-diabetics to high levels of dioxins and mercury increases their risk of insulin
resistance.
Insulin resistance and the defective function of pancreatic ?-cells can occur several
years before the development of type 2 diabetes.
Smoking among morbidly obese
patients
In this sample, while the frequency of smokers diminished in normal weight subjects as the
BMI increased, such a trend was reversed in overweight, obese, and morbidly obese
patients. In the latter group, the prevalence of smokers was significantly higher compared
to the other groups. A patient with morbid obesity had a 2-fold increased risk of becoming
a smoker. We speculate that these finding could be a consequence of various overlapping
risk behaviors because these patients also are generally less physically active and prefer
a less healthy diet, in addition to having a greater alcohol intake in relation to their
counterparts. The external validity of these findings must be confirmed.
Soda pop industry branded baby
bottles with soft drink logos
We've been covering the soft drink industry lately, publishing articles on soda pop
marketing to children that seem so bizarre, many people are simply unable to believe them.
Soil microbes define dangerous
rates of climate change
The rate of global warming could lead to a rapid release of carbon from peatlands that
would further accelerate global warming. Two recent studies published by the Mathematics
Research Institute at the University of Exeter highlight the risk that this 'compost bomb'
instability could pose, and calculate the conditions under which it could occur. The same
Exeter team is now exploring a possible link between the theories described in the studies
and last summer's devastating peatland fires in Russia.
South Beach Diet Beats Others in
Keeping Weight Off
Many diets can take the weight off -- but when it comes to keeping it off, not all
regimens are created equal, according to new research. A diet consisting of high-protein
foods and ones with a low glycemic index is best for maintaining weight loss, said a large
European study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Sporadic breast cancers start with
ineffective DNA repairsystems, Pitt researchers find
Breast cancers that arise sporadically, rather than through inheritance of certain genes,
likely start with defects of DNA repair mechanisms that allow environmentally triggered
mutations to accumulate.
Stem cell therapy -- a future
treatment for lower back pain?
Lower back pain affects many people and may be caused by degeneration of the discs between
the vertebrae. Treatment for the condition using stem cells may be an alternative to
today's surgical procedures. This is the conclusion of a thesis presented at the
University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The cells in a degenerated intervertebral disc (which
are mainly made of cartilage) no longer work normally. This leads to the disc drying out,
which impairs its function and leads to lower back pain."It is generally believed
that cartilage has no, or very little, capacity to heal, and knowledge about how cell
division takes place in intervertebral discs is limited", says scientist Helena
Barreto-Henriksson of the Institute of Clinical Sciences and the Institute of Biomedicine
at the Sahlgrenska Academy.
Storage and allogeneic
transplantation of peripheral nerve using a green tea polyphenol solution in a canine
model
Successful nerve regeneration was observed in the polyphenol-treated nerve allografts when
transplanted in association with a therapeutic dose of FK506. The data indicate that
polyphenols can protect nerve tissue from ischemic damage for one month; however, the
effects of immune suppression seem insufficient to permit allogeneic transplantation of
peripheral nerves in a canine model.
Strawberry pesticide targeted by
environmentalists, farmworkers
A coalition of environmental and farmworker groups is urging California's Gov.-elect Jerry
Brown to cancel the imminent approval of a controversial agricultural pesticide after he
takes office, citing evidence that it is linked to cancer.
Study finds that the same face may
look male or female
Neuroscientists at MIT and Harvard have made the surprising discovery that the brain sees
some faces as male when they appear in one area of a person's field of view, but female
when they appear in a different location. The findings challenge a longstanding tenet of
neuroscience — that how the brain sees an object should not depend on where the
object is located relative to the observer, says Arash Afraz, a postdoctoral associate at
MIT's McGovern Institute for Brain Research and lead author of a new paper on the work.
"It's the kind of thing you would not predict — that you would look at two
identical faces and think they look different," says Afraz. He and two colleagues
from Harvard, Patrick Cavanagh and Maryam Vaziri Pashkam, described their findings in the
Nov. 24 online edition of the journal Current Biology.
Study reveals vitamin divide
Four times as many women living in north-east Scotland are deprived of vitamin D because
of a lack of sunlight compared with women in Surrey, according to a new study.
Study shows that blood stem cells
are influenced by their offspring
A new study by researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, Australia,
has shown that mature blood cells can communicate with, and influence the behaviour of,
their stem cell 'parents'. The discovery of a blood cell 'feedback loop' in the body opens
up new avenues of research into diseases caused by stem cell disorders, and the potential
for new disease treatments. Dr Carolyn de Graaf and Professor Doug Hilton from the
Molecular Medicine division and Professor Warren Alexander from the Cancer and Haematology
division led the research.
Study suggests that being too clean
can make people sick
Young people who are overexposed to antibacterial soaps containing triclosan may suffer
more allergies, and exposure to higher levels of Bisphenol A among adults may negatively
influence the immune system, a new University of Michigan School of Public Health study
suggests. Triclosan is a chemical compound widely used in products such as antibacterial
soaps, toothpaste, pens, diaper bags and medical devices. Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in
many plastics and, for example, as a protective lining in food cans. Both of these
chemicals are in a class of environmental toxicants called endocrine-disrupting compounds
(EDCs), which are believed to negatively impact human health by mimicking or affecting
hormones. Using data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,
U-M researchers compared urinary BPA and triclosan with cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody
levels and diagnosis of allergies or hay fever in a sample of U.S. adults and children
over age 6. Allergy and hay fever diagnosis and CMV antibodies were used as two separate
markers of immune alterations.
Suicide Warnings Have Led to
Decreased Use of Antidepressants in Children
An FDA warning regarding increased suicide risk in children and teens taking
antidepressant drugs has led to an overall decrease in antidepressant prescribing for
young patients, reports a study in the November issue of Medical Care.
Superantigens could be behind
several illnesses
Superantigens, the toxins produced by staphylococcus bacteria, are more complex than
previously believed, reveals a team of researchers from the University of Gothenburg in an
article published today in the scientific journal Nature Communications. Their discovery
shows that the body’s immune system can cause more illnesses than realised.
Tai Chi really works to alleviate
fibromyalgia
The gentle Chinese martial art of Tai Chi is more effective at relieving the symptoms of
fibromyalgia than simple stretching could account for, according to a study conducted by
researchers from Tufts University and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
TAU researcher takes an unorthodox
route to understanding the human neurosystem
In the human brain, mechanical stress — the amount of pressure applied to a
particular area — requires a delicate balance.
Teach your children to be wary of
cellphones
Devra Davis recalls the moment six years ago when the seeds of her cellphone safety
campaign were laid. She was visiting her son and daughter-in-law, enjoying the sight of
her grandson crawling on the floor.
Teenage girls face greater violence
threat from poverty
Living in a deprived area increases the risk of violence more sharply for girls than boys,
according to a Cardiff University study of former industrial areas. The new results
suggest violence prevention strategies need to focus more on local inequalities,
especially to protect vulnerable adolescent girls.
The association between hip
fracture and hip osteoarthritis
There have been reports both supporting and refuting an inverse relationship between hip
fracture and hip osteoarthritis (OA). We explore this relationship using a case-control
study design. The results of our study support an inverse relationship between hip
fractures and hip OA.
The cloned animals that caused
controversy
From Dolly the sheep to Prometea the horse, cloning has progressed dramatically in the
past 15 years.
The farmer who put cloned meat into
the food chain
Callum Innes was at the centre of a Food Standards Agency investigation in August after it
emerged that 96 of the young cows on his farm in Scotland had been bred from the offspring
of a clone cow.
The glyphosate research the GM soy
lobby doesn't want you to read
Carrasco was due to speak about his research, which found that glyphosate, an agrochemical
used on genetically modified soy and rice in Argentina, causes birth defects in animal
embryos at levels far below those frequently used in agricultural spraying. A delegation
of public officials and residents from the nearby community of Resistencia also came to La
Leonesa to hear the talk.
The Green Cage
After the financial crisis, female leaders walk a fine line between economic recovery and
green activism.
The most aggressive forms of breast
cancer elude the cellular control mechanisms in order to expand
About 30% of breast cancer patients have tumours that show rapid growth and invasion
through the body. A common denominator in all of these cases is the presence of a large
number of Her2 proteins in tumour cellular membranes. Consequently, these aggressive
tumours are referred to as HER2+. Scientists working in the Metastasis Laboratory (MetLab)
at IRB Barcelona headed by ICREA researcher Roger Gomis, have described the molecular
mechanism that induces HER2+ tumours to ignore the signals that protect cells from
excessive growth. The study is published this week in the specialized journal Cancer
Research.
The painkiller ziconotide could
increase suicidal ideation
The active agent ziconotide, the synthetic toxin of the cone snail (Conus magus), was
acclaimed a safe alternative to morphine when it was introduced six years ago. Now it is
increasingly suspected of causing patients to commit suicide. Researchers working under
the auspices of Prof. Christoph Maier (Director of the Pain Clinic Bergmannsheil at the
Ruhr University in Bochum) presume that ziconotide not only suppresses the transmission of
pain stimuli, but also deteriorates the frame of mind and could simultaneously reduce
anxiety and impulse control. These mechanisms could promote suicidal tendencies in
vulnerable patients. The research scientists thus advise careful diagnosis and monitoring
of the psychic condition of patients treated with ziconotide. They have published their
findings in the Medical Journal Pain.
The Tobacco Lobby Goes Global
Multinational tobacco companies for years have been battered by politicians and lawyers in
the United States and other developed nations like Australia and France.
The world's largest wind farms
With the UN climate conference about to open in Cancun, BBC environment correspondent
David Shukman samples opinion in Texas, home to the world's largest wind farms.
Thermotherapy Introduced as a
Chemotherapy Alternative
Using hyperthermia, Virginia Tech engineering researchers and a colleague from India
unveiled a new method to target and destroy cancerous cells.
This Environmental Toxin Could
Promote Obesity – And It Begins In the Womb
A new and ongoing study in Spain reports one quarter of babies born to normal weight moms
with high levels of a DDT breakdown product circulating in their blood grew much faster
during the first year of life.
Tiny RNA shown to cause multiple
types of leukemia
Whitehead Institute researchers have shown in mouse models that overexpression of the
microRNA 125b (miR-125b) can independently cause leukemia and accelerate the disease's
progression. Their results are published in this week's online edition of the Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). "MicroRNAs are elevated in many cancers,
but in humans and mice, can upregulation of a microRNA actually cause the cancer? That's
the question," says Whitehead Institute Founding Member Harvey Lodish. "This 22
nucleotide RNA, one of the smallest RNAs in the body, apparently causes leukemia when it's
overexpressed." According to estimates from the National Cancer Institute, more than
43,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with some form of leukemia in 2010
and approximately 22,000 will die from the disease. In leukemia, one type of blood cell
divides in an uncontrolled fashion in the bone marrow, crowding out other blood cells and
frequently causing lowered immunity, anemia, and organ damage.
Tobacco - Out of sight, out of
mind?
Putting tobacco out of sight in shops can change the attitude of young people to smoking,
while not hitting retailers in the pocket, researchers at The University of Nottingham
have discovered. Academics from the University's UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies
looked at the effect of the removal of tobacco displays in the Republic of Ireland, ahead
of similar legislation which is due to come into force in the UK. The findings are
published today in the journal Tobacco Control. In one study the research team found that
the number of teenagers who recalled tobacco displays dropped from 81 per cent to only 22
per cent, after July 1 when the displays were removed. After they were removed, fewer
young people believed smoking is widespread among their peers — before this 62 per
cent thought that more than one in five children their own age smoked, which fell to 46
per cent afterwards. After displays were covered up, 38 per cent of teenagers thought the
measure would make it easier for children not to smoke and 14 per cent of adults thought
the law made it easier to quit smoking. The research also showed support for putting
tobacco out of sight rose from 58 per cent to 66 per cent after the measure came into
force.
Tobacco firms bypass marketing
restrictions with clever web campaigns
Tobacco companies may be bypassing marketing bans by secretly posting promotional videos
online, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Otago, New
Zealand, and published in the journal Tobacco Control. "Tobacco companies stand to
benefit greatly from the marketing potential of Web 2.0, without themselves being at
significant risk of being implicated in violating any laws or advertising codes," the
researchers wrote.
Top 10 Food Additives to Avoid
Food additives find their way into our foods to help ease processing, packaging and
storage. But how do we know what food additives is in that box of macaroni and cheese and
why does it have such a long shelf life?
Toxic water rising below
Johannesburg
Mining below the South African city left a huge pit now rapidly filling with blood red
water.
Traffic at 30 mph is too fast for
children’s visual abilities, scientists reveal
To coincide with Road Safety Week (22-28 November) new research is published today (23
November) revealing primary school children cannot accurately judge the speed of vehicles
travelling faster than 20mph. A study by researchers at Royal Holloway, University of
London reveals that primary school children cannot accurately judge the speed of vehicles
travelling faster than 20 mph. The researchers measured the perceptual acuity of more than
100 children in primary schools, and calculated the speed of approach that they could
reliably detect. The results suggest that while adult pedestrians can make accurate
judgments for vehicles travelling up to 50mph, children of primary school age become
unreliable once the approach speed goes above 20mph, if the car is five seconds away.
Professor John Wann, from the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, who led the
research, says: “This is not a matter of children not paying attention, but a problem
related to low-level visual detection mechanisms, so even when children are paying very
close attention they may fail to detect a fast approaching vehicle.”
Two proteins involved in powdery
mildew infection in plants also play an important role in fertilisation
Mildew infections not only cause unsightly vegetable patches, they can also result in
extensive crop failure. Interestingly, the processes involved in infections with this
garden pest are similar to those involved in fertilisation. Scientists from the Max Planck
Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne and the University of Zurich have
identified two proteins in the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana that are necessary
for both fertilisation and infection with powdery mildew. This explains why
mildew-resistant plants, in which these genes are mutated, are infertile.
UK to boost vaccination rates by
pumping babies with six vaccines at once
Apparently drug companies are no longer satisfied with a tiered vaccine schedule, and
would rather have babies receive their shots all at the same time in order to ensure full
compliance. A recent announcement by the U.K. Department of Health insists that babies
should receive a six-in-one "super-vaccination" when they turn age one, for the
primary purpose of increasing vaccination rates.
UMDNJ Researchers Propose
Comprehensive Tobacco Recovery Model for Smokers with Mental Illness
Researchers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), following
10 years of studying tobacco use among smokers with mental illness, have developed a
comprehensive strategy for recovery from smoking addiction that could serve as a
nationwide model.
University of the Basque Country
PhD thesis describes 35 hitherto unknown families of endogenous retroviruses, after
analysing cattle and horses
Retroviruses are viruses made up of RNA genetic material. Endogenous retroviruses (ERV)
are those sequences derived from retroviral infections introduced into the germinal line
cells that, being incorporated in the genome, are transmitted from generation to
generation. According to a number of investigations, the expression of ERV can benefit the
host if it is controlled; it can help, for example, in the protection of the embryo.
However, given its pathogenic nature, ERV also tends to be linked to cancer, schizophrenia
and autoimmune diseases.
US Government seizure of the
internet has begun; DHS takes over 76 websites
As part of a new expansion of government power over information, the Department of
Homeland Security has begun seizing and shutting down internet websites (web domains)
without due process or a proper trial. DHS simply seizes web domains that it wants to and
posts an ominous "Department of Justice" logo on the web site.
Vitamin C And The Law
As a patient, you have the right to any therapy that is not prohibitively expensive,
established to be effective, and not prohibitively toxic. Any physician, or panel of
hospital-based physicians, claiming that vitamin C is experimental, unapproved, and/or
posing unwarranted risks to the health of the patient, is really only demonstrating a
complete and total ignorance or denial of the scientific literature. A serious question as
to what the real motivations might be in the withholding of such a therapy then arises.
Vitamin D Announcement - help
prevent 1000 children from remaining vitamin D deficient
Help prevent 1,000 children from remaining vitamin D deficient.
Vitamin D deficiency and diseases
Nimitphone H and Michael Holick of Boston University published an article in the Nov 23,
2010 issue of Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care saying that
children and adults should take at least 400 IU and 2000 IU of vitamin D per day
respectively to prevent vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency.
Voices of acid mine drainage
From the Northern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, from Gauteng to Mpumalanga, millions of South
Africans must cope with mine dumps, shafts, dust, and polluted water left in the wake of
decades of uncapped mining.
Warning issued over winter coughs
A cold weather cough that will not clear up could be the first sign of more serious
illness, say experts.
We need to shut kids' booze
loophole
CALLS are being made to close a loophole in the law which allows adults to get away with
buying drink for under-age children.
What future for biodiversity?
Scenarios for action
The loss of biodiversity will continue in the 21st Century. Global-scale extinctions will
increase strongly, the average species abundance1 will decline and their distribution will
be disturbed. Scientists thought until recently that the complexity of biodiversity made
it unfeasible to predict future trends. Now, however, like the climatologists, life
science specialists are able to predict future situations. A group of international
experts2, including several IRD researchers, have just published a compilation of
global-scale quantitative scenarios depicting possible changes in biodiversity. In spite
of a degree of uncertainty in the models elaborated, the possible trends converge. If the
processes of human and economic development do not change radically, the Earth is heading
for disaster. With changes in land use, in climate and overexploitation of natural
resources, humans activities are central to the major threats to biodiversity. The
scenarios developed nevertheless point to possible lines of action.
When depression and burn-out affect
psychiatrists
This study addresses depression and burn-out among a sample of psychiatrists collected at
a professional congress. Within several constraints, the results indicate an high
self-rated lifetime prevalence of depression of 41.6% among the sample. Also noteworthy is
that a fifth (20.3%) of the sample showed evidence of acute depressive symptoms.
Why Are We Getting Fatter?
Researchers Seek a Mysterious Culprit
So, why are we fat? And getting fatter? Most people would say it’s simple: We eat too
much and exercise too little. But University of Alabama at Birmingham obesity researcher
David B. Allison, Ph.D., says that answer, while valid, may be a little too simple.
Allison and colleagues think the more relevant question is this: Why do we eat too much
and expend too little energy? And like good detectives, they’ve set out to identify a
suspect, or suspects, that may be contributing to the obesity epidemic. The game, as they
say, is afoot.
Why do people behave badly? Maybe
it's just too easy
Many people say they wouldn't cheat on a test, lie on a job application or refuse to help
a person in need. But what if the test answers fell into your lap and cheating didn't
require any work on your part? If you didn't have to face the person who needed your help
and refuse them? Would that change your behaviour? New research out of the University of
Toronto Scarborough shows it might. In two studies that tested participants' willingness
to behave immorally, the UTSC team discovered people will behave badly – if it
doesn't involve too much work on their part. "People are more likely to cheat and
make immoral decisions when their transgressions don't involve an explicit action,"
says Rimma Teper, PhD student and lead author on the study, published online now in Social
Psychological and Personality Science. "If they can lie by omission, cheat without
doing much legwork, or bypass a person's request for help without expressly denying them,
they are much more likely to do so." In one study, participants took a math test on a
computer after being warned there were glitches in the system. One group was told if they
pressed the space bar, the answer to the question would appear on the screen. The second
group was told if they didn't press the enter key within five seconds of seeing a
question, the answer would appear.
Why Religious Believers Are So
Desperate for the Atheist Seal of Approval
Many religious believers are intent on getting atheists' approval for their beliefs. If
you're hoping for that -- don't hold your breath. >
Why the secrecy over GM salmon?
Today in a letter PEI groups asked Premier Ghiz to insist that Environment Canada disclose
that they have begun an environmental assessment of production of genetically engineered
(GE) Atlantic salmon eggs on the Island.
World 'Dangerously Close' to Food
Crisis, U.N. Says
Global grain production will tumble by 63 million metric tons this year, or 2 percent over
all, mainly because of weather-related calamities like the Russian heat wave and the
floods in Pakistan, the United Nations estimates in its most recent report on the world
food supply. The United Nations had previously projected that grain yields would grow 1.2
percent this year.
World Bank-funded biofuel corp
massacres six Hondurans
Policies supposedly intended to stop climate change are in reality fueling climate change.
The world must invest in a renewable way of life, not destructive "renewable
energy". Scientists have analyzed that biofuel industry together with the climate
change prevention mechanisms currently promoted could actually result in the destruction
of half of the planets forests.
Worm study leads to crucial cancer
clues
His case is strong, given that his research on C. elegans in the 1990s has led to the
development of a drug that seems promising in the treatment of leukaemia and lymphoma.
Yoga may combat fibromyalgia
symptoms
Yoga that includes gentle stretches and meditation may help alleviate the symptoms of
fibromyalgia, a small study finds.Twenty-five women diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic
pain syndrome, were enrolled in a two-hour yoga class that met once a week for eight
weeks. Another group of28 women diagnosed with the condition were put on a waiting list
and told to continue their normal routine for dealing with fibromyalgia.
