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Week 04
A gene essential for neuron
development and contextual memory
The birth of new neurons, a process called neurogenesis, is continuously occurring in the
brain, not only during development but also during adulthood within two specialized areas,
the hippocampus and the subventricular zone. Recent researches where the new neurons of
the hippocampus were increased or eliminated by different ways have shown that
neurogenesis is essential for the formation of memories. These studies, however, have not
yet succeeded in explaining how the newborn neurons are integrated in the existing memory
circuits, and, perhaps more important, have not clarified the molecular mechanisms that
coordinately govern in newborn neurons the processes of proliferation, differentiation and
integration into the memory networks. A team of researchers at the European Centre for
Brain Research has given a contribution to this field, demonstrating that the gene
PC3/Tis21 (also known as BTG2) is essential to the process of neurogenesis. In fact, the
neuroscientists coordinated by dr. Felice Tirone of the Institute of Neurobiology and
Molecular Medicine (INMM) of CNR, in collaboration with prof. Vincenzo Cestari of the
Institute of Neurosciences of CNR-LUMSA University, and with dr. Patrizia Longone of the
Foundation S.Lucia, have now identified the essential role of a gene, PC3/Tis21 (known
also as BTG2), for the differentiation of the neuron.
After Awful Swine Flu Fiasco How
Can You EVER Believe the Media About Health Again?
In the early days of the panic, the BBC Today program brought in a WHO 'expert' to predict
that 40 percent of Britons would catch swine flu, while citing another unnamed 'expert' as
predicting that up to 1.2 million could die.
Ambidextrous children 'more likely
to be hyperactive'
Children who write with both hands are more likely to struggle in school and have
hyperactivity disorder symptoms, research suggests.
Antibiotic Resistant Germs Threaten
while Colloidal Silver is Banned in EU
ere's breaking news that's a double barrel blast. A November 2009 Henry Ford hospital
report claims dangerous Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) bacteria are
approaching epidemic status, and so are other antibiotic resistant microbes. And now: As
of January 1, 2009, the EU (European Union) has effectively banned a well known natural
antibiotic, colloidal silver.
Antioxidants aren't always good for
you and can impair muscle function, study shows
Antioxidants increasingly have been praised for their benefits against disease and aging,
but recent studies at Kansas State University show that they also can cause harm.
Researchers in K-State's Cardiorespiratory Exercise Laboratory have been studying how to
improve oxygen delivery to the skeletal muscle during physical activity by using
antioxidants, which are nutrients in foods that can prevent or slow the oxidative damage
to the body. Their findings show that sometimes antioxidants can impair muscle function.
"Antioxidant is one of those buzz words right now," said Steven Copp, a doctoral
student in anatomy and physiology from Manhattan and a researcher in the lab.
"Walking around grocery stores you see things advertised that are loaded with
antioxidants. I think what a lot of people don't realize is that the antioxidant and
pro-oxidant balance is really delicate. One of the things we've seen in our research is
that you can't just give a larger dose of antioxidants and presume that there will be some
sort of beneficial effect. In fact, you can actually make a problem worse." David C.
Poole and Timothy I. Musch, K-State professors from both the departments of kinesiology
and anatomy and physiology, direct the Cardiorespiratory Exercise Laboratory, located in
the College of Veterinary Medicine complex. Researchers in the lab study the physiology of
physical activity in health and disease through animal models. Copp and Daniel Hirai, an
anatomy and physiology doctoral student from Manhattan working in the lab, have conducted
various studies associated with how muscles control blood flow and the effects of
different doses and types of antioxidants.
Autism Speaks responds to recent
publications citing autism clusters in California
Autism Speaks reviewed papers identifying California clusters of autism. UC Davis used
CADDS data (10,000 cases in 2.5 million births, 1996-2000) finding clusters associated
with higher parental education and age. Columbia University identified clusters (11,500
cases among four million births by birthplace) avoiding bias when parents move to access
autism services. Both add to evidence on regional differences in autism cases. Study of
environmental exposures and social factors will provide answers on causes of clusters.
Baby porridge 'can cut asthma'
BABIES fed porridge from an early age are less likely to develop asthma, scientists
claimed yesterday.
Being cold boosts healthy hormone
An Ottawa researcher has found that a little shivering boosts levels of a
cholesterol-lowering and cancer-fighting protein.
Blood pressure control abnormal in
newborns of smoking mothers
Blood pressure control in infants of smoking mothers is abnormal compared to that of
infants from non-smoking parents. The blood pressure response to postural changes --
tilting and changing from upright to lying down -- was opposite in babies of smokers than
in babies of nonsmokers. Blood pressure "reprogramming" in infants of smokers
persisted at least until age 1, and could be an early marker for susceptibility to high
blood pressure later in life.
Blood pressure harm from smoke 'may
explain cot death'
Smoke exposure during pregnancy damages a baby's blood pressure control, which may explain
why such babies' risk of cot death is higher, say experts.
Breast-feeding rates tied to white
women's body mass index
new research suggests that some very obese woman may not breast-feed as much or for as
long as their normal-weight counterparts.
Bypass procedure used during infant
heart surgery does not impair later neurological outcomes
Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common birth defects in humans, affecting 8
per 1000 live births with one third of affected children requiring intervention in early
infancy. Increasing numbers of survivors combined with developmental expectations for
independence, behavioral self-regulation and academic achievement have led to a growing
identification of neurobehavioral symptoms in some survivors. A study now suggests that a
cooling technique often used in heart operations does not impair neurological outcomes.
Congenital heart disease and its treatment were originally thought to potentially increase
neurologic injury in these patients. The technique of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest
(DHCA) is used in order to repair these congenital cardiac defects by providing a
bloodless surgical field, which may facilitate completion of the best physiologic repair,
and decrease the duration of blood exposure to the bypass circuit. However, it involves a
period of reduced blood flow in the brain. Cooling is a protective mechanism to reduce
metabolism of the brain and other organs during periods of low blood flow. Stephanie
Fuller, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia,
presented these research findings yesterday in the prestigious J. Maxwell Chamberlain
Lecture at the annual meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
According to the study, DHCA does not impair language skills, attention, and other
neurocognitive abilities in school-age children.
Canada says G8 to focus on
maternal, child health
Canada will use its presidency of the Group of Eight leading nations to push for
improvements in maternal and child health in poor countries, Prime Minister Stephen Harper
said in an editorial published on Tuesday.
Cancer cell study breakthrough
RESEARCH by British scientists could speed up attempts to wipe out cancer by targeting
tumour stem cells.
Cartilage repair can improve life,
ease burden on health services
Osteoarthritis is one of the 10 most disabling diseases in the developed world and is set
to become more of a financial burden on health services as average life expectancy
increases.
Childhood cancer gene search to
start
Researchers plan to map all the genes in childhood tumours to identify mutations that give
rise to the cancers.
Childhood obesity alone may
increase risk of later cardiovascular disease
By as early as 7 years of age, being obese may raise a child's risk of future heart
disease and stroke, even in the absence of other cardiovascular risk factors such as high
blood pressure, according to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine
Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). "This new study
demonstrates that the unhealthy consequences of excess body fat start very early,"
said Nelly Mauras, MD, of Nemours Children's Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida and senior
author of the study. "Our study shows that obesity alone is linked to certain
abnormalities in the blood that can predispose individuals to developing cardiovascular
disease early in adulthood. These findings suggest that we need more aggressive
interventions for weight control in obese children, even those who do not have the
co-morbidities of the metabolic syndrome." The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of
risk factors that raise the risk of developing heart disease, stroke and diabetes. It is
being increasingly diagnosed in children as being overweight becomes a greater problem.
Although debate exists as to its exact definition, to receive a diagnosis of metabolic
syndrome, one must have at least three of the following characteristics: increased waist
circumference (abdominal fat), low HDL ("good") cholesterol, high triglycerides
(fats in the blood), high blood pressure and high blood glucose (blood sugar). Mauras and
her colleagues wanted to know if obesity could raise cardiovascular disease risk prior to
the onset of the metabolic syndrome. Researchers therefore screened more than 300
individuals ages 7 to 18 years and included only those without features of the metabolic
syndrome. They included 202 participants in the study: 115 obese children and 87 lean
children as controls. Half of the children were prepubertal and the other half were in
late puberty. Obese children had a body mass index (a measure of body fat) above the 95th
percentile for their sex, age and height.
China admits ‘open
attitude’ over warming
China appeared to cast doubts on Sunday on the scientific consensus on the underlying
causes of global warming, with a senior official saying that Beijing had an “open
attitude” towards what he described as “disputes in the scientific
community” on the issue.
Common antidepressant drugs linked
to lactation difficulties in moms
According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of
Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), women taking commonly used forms of
antidepressant drugs may experience delayed lactation after giving birth and may need
additional support to achieve their breastfeeding goals. Breastfeeding benefits both
infants and mothers in many ways as breast milk is easy to digest and contains antibodies
that can protect infants from bacterial and viral infections. The World Health
Organization recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six
months of life. This new study shows that certain common antidepressant drugs may be
linked to a common difficulty experienced by new mothers known as delayed secretory
activation, defined as a delay in the initiation of full milk secretion. "The breasts
are serotonin-regulated glands, meaning the breasts' ability to secrete milk at the right
time is closely related to the body's production and regulation of the hormone
serotonin," said Nelson Horseman, PhD, of the University of Cincinnati and co-author
of the study. "Common antidepressant drugs like fluoxetine, sertraline and paroxetine
are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs and while they can affect
mood, emotion and sleep they may also impact serotonin regulation in the breast, placing
new mothers at greater risk of a delay in the establishment of a full milk supply."
In this study, researchers examined the effects of SSRI drugs on lactation using
laboratory studies of human and animal cell lines and genetically modified mice.
Furthermore, an observational study evaluated the impact of SSRI drugs on the onset of
milk production in postpartum women. In this study of 431 postpartum women, median onset
of lactation was 85.8 hours postpartum for the SSRI-treated mothers and 69.1 hours for
mothers not treated with SSRI drugs. Researchers commonly define delayed secretory
activation as occurring later than 72 hours postpartum.
Computers Do Better than Humans at
Measuring Some Radiology Images
Scientists have automated the measurement of a vital part of the knee in images with a
computer program that performs much faster and just as reliably as humans who interpret
the same images. Having more precise information about wear and tear on this portion of
the knee – a blend of fibrous tissue and cartilage called the meniscus – could
lead to its use as a biomarker in predicting who is at risk for developing osteoarthritis,
researchers say.The meniscus consists of two C-shaped disks that rest between the thigh
and shin bones. It provides cushioning, evens out weight distribution and reduces
friction. Under normal circumstances, radiologists use rulers to measure specific portions
of an image. This new program replaces that method with automated measurements of several
magnetic resonance imaging slices of the meniscus. These measurements can then be used to
determine the total volume of the structure of the meniscus for comparison over time.
Copper pipes could cause heart
disease and Alzheimer's
Copper pipes could cause people over 50 to contract Alzheimer's Disease and heart disease,
a study has found.
CSHL study identifies potential way
to reverse cancer cell metabolism and tumor growth
A team of scientists led by Professor Adrian Krainer, Ph.D., of Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory has discovered molecular factors in cancer cells that boost the production of
an enzyme that helps alter the cells' glucose metabolism. The altered metabolic state,
called the Warburg effect, promotes extremely rapid cell proliferation and tumor growth.
CSHL study identifies potential way
to reverse cancer cell metabolism and tumor growth
A team of scientists led by Professor Adrian Krainer, Ph.D., of Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory has discovered molecular factors in cancer cells that boost the production of
an enzyme that helps alter the cells' glucose metabolism. The altered metabolic state,
called the Warburg effect, promotes extremely rapid cell proliferation and tumor growth.
Discovery of epigenetic memory
during breast cancer
Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine have determined how the
TGFB-Smad signaling pathway, which is over activated in late-stage cancers, is responsible
for the "epigenetic memory" that maintains unique patterns of regulatory DNA
hypermethylation causing silencing of critical genes that facilitate breast cancer
progression.
Do children need both a mother and
a father?
A recent study focused on the importance of gender-specific parents for child rearing.
Don't forget to eat your greens
Not only are the vitamins and minerals good for you, but eating greens could also save
your life, according to a recent study led by the National Nuclear Security
Administration's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists.
Drugs for depression, anxiety tied
to preterm birth
Pregnant women who take certain drugs for depression or anxiety may have heightened risks
of preterm delivery or other birth complications, according to a new study.
Drugs like Tylenol Can Be
Contaminated with Mold and Chemicals
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prescription drugs kill
about 40,000 Americans each year and over the counter drugs (OTC) -- from pain relievers
to cough medicines -- cause thousands of additional deaths. Drugs can sicken, and
sometimes kill, through side effects, allergic reactions, overdoses and interactions. And
now there's another reason to worry about pills you put in your body. A recent recall of
the OTC pain reliever TYLENOL Arthritis Pain Caplets has revealed that drugs can be
contaminated with mold and chemicals when they are transported and stored on
"engineered wood" pallets.
Electro-acupuncture shows promise
for knee arthritis
A modern twist on traditional acupuncture may bring some pain relief to people with knee
arthritis, at least in the short term, a small study suggests.
Emotions should be taken seriously
As much as 10-25 percent of women are at risk of developing serious depression during
their lifetime. How can the health services improve safeguarding women's mental health?
Kristin Akerjordets thesis at the University of Stavanger offers an important clue - By
training health personnel in emotional intelligence, they will be better equipped to
prevent women from developing depressive illnesses.
Engineered maize toxicity claims
roundly rebuffed
MONSANTO, the giant of genetically modified crops, has for the first time been forced to
release raw data from toxicology studies it carried out on three strains of its modified
maize.
Engineering a new way to study
hepatitis C
Researchers at MIT and Rockefeller University have successfully grown hepatitis C virus in
otherwise healthy liver cells in the laboratory, an advance that could allow scientists to
develop and test new treatments for the disease.
Essential Oils Found to Reduce
Inflammation
New research shows that six essential oils—from thyme, clove, rose, eucalyptus,
fennel and bergamot—can suppress the inflammatory COX-2 enzyme.
EU agency urges ban on Meridia diet
drug
European authorities urged a halt to sales of an Abbott Laboratories Inc diet pill on
Thursday after concluding heart-related risks were too great.
EU vitamin level-setting methods
‘fatally flawed’
Models being utilised by European authorities to determine upper safe limits (USLs) for
vitamin and minerals used in food supplements are flawed and should be subject to
“proper scientific validation”, say the authors of a study published in
Toxicology.
Europe cannot keep its promises on
fish stocks
Even with total cessation of fishing, UN target would still be missed.
Even medical students want
conventional medicine to include alternative therapies
Are up-and-coming young doctors going to practice the same kind of mainstream medicine as
their predecessors? Will the next generation of docs turn up their noses at alternative
therapies such as acupuncture, yoga, herbs and vitamins -- just like the majority of the
current crop of docs? In what may come as a surprise to many mainstream physicians, the
answer to those questions may be a resounding "no".
Even small dietary reductions in
salt could mean fewer heart attacks, strokes and deaths
Reducing salt in the American diet by as little as one-half teaspoon per day could prevent
nearly 100,000 heart attacks and 92,000 deaths each year, according to a team of
researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, Stanford University Medical
Center and Columbia University Medical Center.
Exxon Hid Radiation Risk to
Workers, Witness Says
Exxon Mobil Corp., the largest U.S. energy company, “knew or should have known”
that drilling pipes it sent to a Louisiana pipe yard were contaminated with dangerous
radioactive material, a trial witness testified.
Fast Food Menus with Calorie
Information Lead to Lower Calorie Selections for Young Children
In a new study, the amount of calories selected by parents for their child’s
hypothetical meal at McDonald’s restaurants were reduced by an average of 102
calories when the menus clearly showed the calories for each item. This is the first study
to suggest that labeled menus may lead to significantly reduced calorie intake in fast
food restaurant meals purchased for children. Led by researcher Pooja S. Tandon, MD, from
Seattle Children's Research Institute, these findings support nutritional menu labeling
and show that when parents have access to this information they may make smarter meal
choices for their children. “Nutrition Menu Labeling May Lead to Lower-Energy
Restaurant Meal Choices for Children” published online January 25 in Pediatrics.
Fat intake increases prostate
cancer risk
The news on Dennis Hopper losing his battle against prostate cancer has drawn attention
from moviegoers and fans. Prostate cancer is a common cancer diagnosed in an estimated
170,000 men each year in the United States. The disease is not as aggressive as many
others, but it does kill about 30,000 men in the country each year. The risk of the
disease however may be minimized by following a healthy life style including a healthy
diet. It has not been implied that Mr. Hopper follows an unhealthy lifestyle. Numerous
studies have been reported on foodconsumer.org to reveal the association between diet and
the risk of prostate cancer.
Fears grow as study shows
genetically modified crops 'can cause liver and kidney damage'
According to the research, animals fed on three strains of genetically modified maize
created by the U.S. biotech firm Monsanto suffered signs of organ damage after just three
months.
Fears over use of chemicals to
castrate pigs
Food standards agency rejects Improvac drug, fearing public outcry in wake of tainted pork
scandal in Ireland
Female teachers may pass on math
anxiety to girls, study finds
After a year in the classroom with female teachers who say they are anxious about math,
girls are more likely to share that attitude -- and score lower on tests, researchers say.
Filmmaker seeks to temper Al Gore's
message
Titled “Cool It,” this partly completed film, based on the work of the
environmental writer Bjorn Lomborg, aims to quiet the global-warming alarm bells that Mr.
Guggenheim and his narrator, Al Gore, set ringing.
Fluctuating Blood Glucose Levels
May Affect Decision Making
Would you choose to receive a small amount of money today or a larger sum next month? We
know that it is worth it to wait longer for a larger reward, but sometimes the temptation
for the smaller, immediate reward becomes too great and we simply cannot resist it.
Selecting the immediate reward is known as "future discounting" and often
suggests a lack of self-control. Studies have indicated that there may be a link between
blood glucose levels (our body's energy) and thinking. For example, making difficult
choices uses up cognitive resources (or brain power) and these resources can be restored
by increasing blood glucose.
Gastric ulcer bacteria turn immune
defense inwards
Despite a strong response from our immune defence, the body is unable to rid itself of the
bacterium Helicobacter pylori. One reason for this is that this bacterium encourages
elements of the immune response to remain in tissue, activating the wrong immune cells.
Research results that pave the way for a future vaccine are now being published by the
Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Gene family found to play key role
in early stages of development
Scientists have identified a gene family that plays a key role in one of the earliest
stages of development in which an embryo distinguishes its left side from the right and
determines how organs should be positioned within the body. The finding in mice likely
will lead to a better understanding of how certain birth defects occur in humans.
Genetic Contribution to Risk for
Pituitary Tumors Identified
University of Utah researchers have found strong evidence that some people may be
genetically susceptible to tumors of the pituitary gland, according to a study published
in the journal Pituitary.
Genital herpes reactivates
throughout genital tract
Genital herpes caused by a reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is
generally treated as a lesion in one specific area of the genital region. A new study,
however, finds that the virus can frequently reactivate throughout the genital tract, an
important new concept that could help guide both HSV-2 treatment and prevention. The study
appears in the Feb. 15 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases. In the study,
Christine Johnston, MD, MPH, and colleagues at the University of Washington and the Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle collected daily samples during a 30-day
period from seven separate genital sites in four women infected with HSV-2. HSV-2 was
detected from more than one anatomic site on 56 percent of days when there was viral
shedding—and on genital surfaces on both sides of the participants’ bodies on
most days when virus was detected at more than one site.
German scientists develop
fast-acting germ killer
A new fast-acting disinfectant that is effective against bacteria, viruses and other germs
could help stop the spread of deadly infections in hospitals, German scientists said on
Wednesday.
Getting down to the core of the
problem - Microbiota and diseases of the modern world
Warm, moist, dark and nutrient-rich…it’s no wonder that our gastrointestinal
tract is filled with microorganisms. We don’t just tolerate their presence, we
benefit from our microbial flora (microbiota) in many ways. Advances in molecular biology
have recently enabled eye-opening views into microbiota in the gut as well as on skin and
other mucosal surfaces. There is increasing evidence that many health problems that have
arisen in the developed world may be linked to changes in the microbial world within us,
and there is hope that new scientific approaches such as metagenomics - the genomic
analysis of all microorganisms present in a specific habitat – will give us important
information about the role of our microbiota in human disease.
Global tobacco report outlines 21
challenges for 21st century
A new American Cancer Society report outlines 21 challenges and needs for global tobacco
control, covering the wide range of issues to be addressed and expertise needed to reduce
the rising tide of tobacco use worldwide, particularly in the low- and middle-income
nations that are the target of the multinational tobacco industry.
Got Milk? A Disturbing Look at the
Dairy Industry
Most dairy enthusiasts would be horrified to know the conditions cows endure and how
closely dairies are tied to veal operations and the rest of the meat industry.
Groundbreaking research shows
platelets can reproduce in circulation
University of Utah researchers led an international team of scientists that is the first
to report on the previously undescribed ability of platelets to reproduce themselves in
the circulation. Their revolutionary findings were published online Jan. 19, 2010, in the
journal Blood. Platelets develop from precursor cells found in the bone marrow, a process
that is called thrombopoiesis. During the final stages of thrombopoiesis, platelets are
shed from the cytoplasm of their precursors and then enter the bloodstream. Because they
lack nuclei, circulating platelets are often referred to as "cytoplasts."
Because DNA resides in the nucleus, platelets were previously considered incapable of
reproducing themselves. However, according to this new study led by Hansjörg Schwertz,
M.D., and Andrew S. Weyrich, Ph.D., both of the U of U School of Medicine, platelets are
actually capable of giving rise to new platelets.
H1N1 swine flu hoax falls apart at
the seams
The great swine flu hoax of 2009 is now falling apart at the seams as one country after
another unloads hundreds of millions of doses of unused swine flu vaccines. No informed
person wants the injection anymore, and the entire fear-based campaign to promote the
vaccines has now been exposed as outright quackery and propaganda.
Herbal use common among pregnant
women in U.S.
Roughly 1 in 10 pregnant women in the U.S. expose their unborn baby to herbal products,
according to a new study.
Herbicide-Tolerant Cotton Creates
Growing Weed-Control Issues for Farmers
Farmers who use herbicide-tolerant crops face a growing challenge from herbicide-tolerant
and herbicide-resistant weeds, which are evolving and spreading across cropland. In the
southeastern United States, weeds that can tolerate or resist the popular herbicide
glyphosate are threatening cotton crops. In the article “Loss of Glyphosate Efficacy:
A Changing Weed Spectrum in Georgia Cotton,” (Weed Science Volume 58, Issue 1, 73-79)
Theodore M. Webster and Lynn M. Sosnoskie examine how the use of glyphosate-tolerant
cotton (GTC)—created through genetic modification—has affected weed control
issues since its introduction in 1997. The article is featured in the
January–February 2010 issue of Weed Science, published by the Weed Science Society of
America.
His or Hers Jealousy? Study Offers
New Explanation for Sex Differences in Jealousy
When South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford was caught red-handed returning from a tryst
with his Argentine mistress last June, he told the Associated Press that he had met his
“soul mate.” His choice of words seemed to suggest that having a deep emotional
and spiritual connection with Maria Belen Chapur somehow made his sexual infidelity to his
wife Jenny Sanford less tawdry. What the two-timing governor didn’t understand is
that most women view emotional infidelity as worse, not better, than sexual betrayal. This
may explain why Hillary Clinton stayed with Bill Clinton and seemed unconcerned about his
sexual affair with Monica Lewinsky. Research has documented that most men become much more
jealous about sexual infidelity than they do about emotional infidelity. Women are the
opposite, and this is true all over the world. The prevailing theory is that the
difference has evolutionary origins: Men learned over eons to be hyper-vigilant about sex
because they can never be absolutely certain they are the father of a child, while women
are much more concerned about having a partner who is committed to raising a family. New
research now suggests an alternative explanation. The new study does not question the
fundamental gender difference regarding jealousy—indeed it adds additional support
for that difference. But the new science suggests that the difference may be rooted more
in individual differences in personality that result from one’s relationship history
but that can fall along gender lines.
HIV infection prematurely ages the
brain
HIV infection or the treatments used to control it are prematurely aging the brain,
researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of
California, San Diego have found. Blood flow in the brains of HIV patients is reduced to
levels normally seen in uninfected patients 15 to 20 years older.
Household chemicals linked to
reduced fertility
In a study published today, a decreased likelihood of pregnancy is linked to
flame-retardant chemicals in foam furniture, electronics, fabrics and more. Californians
may have higher exposures compared with residents of other states.
How herpes simplex virus gets rid
of the cell's security guards
A viral infection is like an uninvited, tenacious houseguest in the cell, using a range of
tricks to prevent its eviction. Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies
have identified one of the key proteins allowing herpes simplex virus DNA to fly under the
radar of their hosts' involuntary hospitality.
How Much Food Do You Waste?
a recent study of food waste in the U.S. estimated that 1,400 calories of food per person
is wasted every day. These wasted calories represent 39 percent of the available U.S. food
supply. Wasted food means wasted resources.
How to live your life twice
Prof. Carlo Strenger of Tel Aviv University says the myth of the mid-life crisis has been
disproved by recent empirical studies and field research.
How to shoot the messenger
EMBL scientists shed light on cellular communication systems involved in
neurodegeneration, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cells rely on a range of signalling
systems to communicate with each other and to control their own internal workings.
Scientists from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Hamburg, Germany, have
now found a way to hack into a vital communications system, raising the possibility of
developing new drugs to tackle disorders like neurodegeneration, cancer and cardiovascular
disease. In a study published today in Science Signaling, they have pieced together the
first snapshot of what two of the system’s components look like while interacting.
One way these signalling systems work is by triggering a flood of calcium ions inside the
cell. These get picked up by a receiver, a protein called calmodulin which turns this
calcium signal into action by switching various parts of the cell’s machinery on or
off. Calmodulin regulates a set of proteins called kinases, each of which controls the
activity of specific parts of the cell, thus altering the cell’s behaviour.
Humidity, rain linked to kids'
headaches
Many people with chronic headaches believe that weather changes trigger their woes.
Identification of the gene
responsible for a new form of adult muscular dystrophy
A study published in today's online edition the American Journal of Human Genetics allowed
the first identification of a new form of adult onset muscular dystrophy. The research
team led by Dr. Bernard Brais, neurogeneticist at the Research Centre of the Centre
hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and associate professor, Université de
Montréal, in collaboration with European collaborators, demonstrated that recessive ANO5
mutations will lead to abnormal membrane repair of muscle fibers.
Indian makes molecule suck carbon
dioxide
A 29-year-old Indian scientist in the Netherlands has helped develop a molecule that sucks
carbon dioxide from the air and could open a new line of research to combat global warming
Industrial Chemicals Lurking In
Your Bloodstream
Everyone has heard about BPA. How many other potentially nasty chemicals may be in your
body?
Industrial Chemicals Lurking In
Your Bloodstream
Everyone has heard about BPA. How many other potentially nasty chemicals may be in your
body?
Infant swimming in chlorinated
pools and the risks of bronchiolitis, asthma and allergy
Recent studies suggest that swimming in chlorinated pools during infancy may increase the
risks of lower respiratory tract infection. To assess the influence of swimming in
chlorinated pools on the risks of bronchiolitis and its late consequences. We examined 430
children (47% of girls, mean age 5.7 years) in 30 kindergarten schools. Parents completed
a questionnaire about the child's health history, swimming practice and potential
confounders.Swimming pool attendance during infancy is associated with a higher risk of
bronchiolitis with ensuing increased risks of asthma and allergic sensitization.
Infant swimming tied to lung
infection, asthma
Children who start swimming before the age of 2 may be at increased risk of a common
infant lung infection, and possibly asthma and respiratory allergies later in life, a new
study suggests.
Inflammation 'on switch' also
serves as 'off switch'
In a surprising finding, researchers at North Carolina State University have discovered
the critical importance of a protein previously believed to be a redundant "on
switch" for certain immune-system responses.
Iraq littered with high levels of
nuclear and dioxin contamination, study finds
More than 40 sites across Iraq are contaminated with high levels or radiation and dioxins,
with three decades of war and neglect having left environmental ruin in large parts of the
country.
Is Aluminum the New Thimerosal?
Vaccines have become the most controversial parenting topic of the decade. When parents
are considering whether or not to vaccinate their children, one of the things that must be
considered is aluminum toxicity.
Is the Environment to Blame for the
Rise in Autism Cases?
Autism rates have gone up tenfold in recent decades and some leading researchers think the
causes are environmental.
Is your “natural” cat
food truly natural?
"There is no evidence that supports that a natural product is better or safer than,
let's say, a traditional product. But I'm not saying that it's worse. It's a personal
choice … another feeding option."
Keep house clean and chemical-free
Over eighty thousand new chemicals have been created since the time of our grandfathers
and eventually they all get into the water supply, warns Lyn Garling of Penn State's
College of Agricultural Sciences
Lack of cellular enzyme triggers
switch in glucose processing
A study investigating how a cellular enzyme affects blood glucose levels in mice provides
clues to pathways that may be involved in processes including the regulation of longevity
and the proliferation of tumor cells. In their report in the Jan. 22 issue of Cell,
researchers describes the mechanism by which absence of the enzyme SIRT6 induces a fatal
drop in blood sugar in mice by triggering a switch between two critical cellular
processes.
Large medical center reduces CT
scans and patient radiation exposure through a simple, educational intervention
A large New York medical center reduced the number of CT scans and radiation dose
delivered to emergency department patients with suspected pulmonary emboli by holding
collaborative educational seminars for staff and routing patients to CT pulmonary
angiography or ventilation perfusion scanning based solely on their chest X-ray results,
according to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of
Roentgenology.
Lead Found in Women's Handbags
A landmark agreement involving two big retail chains establishes, for the first time,
limits on lead in women's handbags and wallets.
Leafy Greens Reverse Toxic Effects
LLNL researchers Graham Bench and Ken Turteltaub found that giving someone a small dose of
chlorophyll (Chla) or chlorophyllin (CHL) — found in green leafy vegetables such as
spinach, broccoli and kale — could reverse the effects of aflatoxin poisoning.
Leeds DVD shows how to ease the
pain
Health professionals and patients can now go online for help and tips from a
groundbreaking pain clinic, which halved referrals to hospital. Researchers from the
University of Leeds in partnership with Leeds Primary Care Trust have produced the DVD to
share their successful pilot project to help patients live with and manage neuropathic
pain. The community based pain clinic in Leeds, led by a nurse and a pharmacist, has
reduced pain, increased patient satisfaction rates and cut referrals to the main hospital
pain clinic. Over 12 months the clinic received 120 new referrals – half of all
chronic pain referrals within the PCT. Of these only 13 were referred on to hospital care.
Researchers recorded the intensity of patients’ pain scores on referral to the
service and on discharge. The average score on referral was eight and on discharge this
average dropped to six.
Lighter sedation for elderly during
surgery may reduce risk of confusion, disorientation after
A common complication following surgery in elderly patients is postoperative delirium, a
state of confusion that can lead to long-term health problems and cause some elderly
patients to complain that they "never felt the same" again after an operation.
But a new study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests that simply limiting the depth of
sedation during procedures could safely cut the risk of postoperative delirium by 50
percent.
Low Level Arsenic Impairs
Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic Beta-Cells
Chronic exposure of humans to inorganic arsenic, a potent environmental oxidative
stressor, is associated with incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). A key driver in the
pathogenesis of T2D is impairment of pancreatic beta-cell function, with the hallmark of
?-cell function being glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Reactive oxygen species
(ROS) derived from glucose metabolism serve as one of the metabolic signals for GSIS.
Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a central transcription factor
regulating cellular adaptive response to oxidative stress.
Low vitamin D levels associated
with greater risk of relapse in childhood-onset multiple sclerosis
Low vitamin D blood levels are associated with a significantly higher risk of relapse
attacks in patients with multiple sclerosis who develop the disease during childhood,
according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of California, San
Francisco.
Low-carb diet effective at lowering
blood pressure
In a head-to-head comparison, two popular weight loss methods proved equally effective at
helping participants lose significant amounts of weight. But, in a surprising twist, a
low-carbohydrate diet proved better at lowering blood pressure than the weight-loss drug
orlistat, according to researchers at Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Duke University
Medical Center.
Magnetic activity in brain
'diagnoses stress disorder'
A one-minute test appears to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder with an accuracy of
90%.
Man biologically capable of running
at 40mph
Humans could one day be able to run at 40 miles per hour - more than 12mph quicker than
the world's fastest man Usain Bolt, according to scientists.
Managing ecosystems in a changing
climate
Global warming may impair the ability of ecosystems to perform vital services—such as
providing food, clean water and carbon sequestration—says the nation's largest
organization of ecological scientists. In a statement released today, the Ecological
Society of America (ESA) outlines strategies that focus on restoring and maintaining
natural ecosystem functions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. "Decision-makers
cannot overlook the critical services ecosystems provide," says ESA President Mary
Power. "If we are going to reduce the possibility of irreversible damage to the
environment under climate change, we need to take swift but measured action to protect and
manage our ecosystems." ESA recommends four approaches to limiting adverse effects of
climate change through ecosystem management: Prioritize low-alteration strategies. Many
ecosystems sequester a sizable amount of carbon—simply allowing them to function
naturally can significantly help mitigation efforts. Deforestation, for example, has a
two-fold impact: removing agents of carbon sequestration—trees in this
instance—while simultaneously releasing stored carbon. Therefore, preserving forests
is a straightforward way to both reduce and offset emissions. Critically evaluate
management-intensive strategies. Management strategies that seek to increase carbon
sequestration above natural levels should undergo thorough life-cycle analysis and
evaluation prior to implementation. For example, increasing carbon uptake on agricultural
lands—one approach to enhancing the sequestration potential of
ecosystems—typically requires more fertilizer than standard processes; the tradeoff,
therefore, is higher emissions and pollution associated with fertilizer production.
Mango prevents and halts growth of
colon and breast cancer cells
this research initiative has turned up an unexpected and groundbreaking discovery: in
laboratory experiments in Texas A&M University's AgriLife Research department mango
fruit prevented or stopped cancer growth in certain breast and colon cell lines.
Maturation disorders of nerve
terminals may spark off autism
A new German study has found that maturation disorders of nerve terminals may trigger
autism.
Mayo Clinic and IBM Advance Early
Detection of Brain Aneurysms
Preventing deadly ruptures of the blood vessels in the brain is the aim of a new Mayo
Clinic project to help radiologists detect aneurysms with far greater speed and accuracy.
The new method uses analytics technology developed by the Mayo and IBM collaboration,
Medical Imaging Informatics Innovation Center and has proven a 95 percent accuracy rate in
detecting aneurysms, compared with 70 percent for manual interpretation. Project findings
were reported in the Journal of Digital Imaging (published online Nov. 24, 2009).
Men feel less guilt
Although changing social and cultural contexts mean guilt has less power today than it
once did, a new study has shown that in the West this emotion is "significantly
higher" among women. The main problem, according to the experts, is not that women
feel a lot of guilt (which they do), but rather that many males feel "too little
Mercury pollution a global problem
Concern about global mercury pollution has been mounting for decades and a recent expert
report for the United Nations Environment Programme warned that mercury now appears to be
present all over the world in concentrations that may affect people and wildlife.
More melamine-tainted milk products
found in China
Melamine-tainted dairy products were pulled from convenience store shelves in southern
China more than a year after hundreds of thousands of children had been sickened in a
massive milk safety scandal, a government spokeswoman said Monday.
MRSA evolution and transmission
Researchers have developed a remarkable new method to precisely track transmission of MRSA
from one person to another in a hospital setting. The method "zooms" from
large-scale inter-continental transmission events to person-to-person infection of MRSA
within a single hospital. The technique, which harnesses the latest high-throughput DNA
sequencing technologies, helps researchers understand how strains spread so rapidly, and
should lead to novel infection control strategies, not only for MRSA but also for other
emerging superbugs.
Mussel-inspired 'glue' for fetal
membrane repair
A sealant inspired by mussels' ability to stick to surfaces under wet conditions has shown
promise in the repair of defects in human fetal membranes, according to a Northwestern
University study. During a pregnancy, such defects -- ruptures or holes -- can lead to the
leakage of amniotic fluid, resulting in premature labor or termination of the pregnancy.
In tests, the Northwestern sealant was found to be biocompatible and effective at sealing
the tiny holes.
Natural form of vitamin E protects
the brain after stroke
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly blocked by a blood
clot or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, driving blood into the spaces surrounding
brain cells, or neurons. The result can be brain damage that leaves stroke survivors with
disabilities ranging from one-sided paralysis or weakness to problems with thinking,
attention, memory and learning. But new research by Ohio State University scientists set
for publication in an upcoming edition of the Journal of Neurochemistry concludes a
specific type of vitamin E known as tocotrienol (TCT) could prevent brain cells from dying
after a stroke.
New Anti-Smog Restrictions Could
Warm Planet
The Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to tighten the ozone standard for smog will
have an unfortunate side effect - Because of a quirk of atmospheric chemistry, those
measures will hasten global warming.
New evidence links humans to
megafauna demise
A new scientific paper co-authored by a University of Adelaide researcher reports strong
evidence that humans, not climate change, caused the demise of Australia's megafauna --
giant marsupials, huge reptiles and flightless birds -- at least 40,000 years ago.
New evidence shows selenium and
omega-3s prevent colon cancer
When scientists gathered in Houston recently for the American Association for Cancer
Research (AACR) Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, they heard
groundbreaking evidence about how colon cancer can be prevented. The new data wasn't about
drugs or surgery, either. Instead, two separate research groups concluded natural
substances appear to protect from often deadly colon malignancies.
New measurement technique will help
in fight against cancer
A new technique to catch cancer early has taken an important step forward thanks to the
National Physical Laboratory (NPL). NPL's 'phantoms' will ensure an exciting new screening
technique can be relied upon by hospitals to identify early signs of cancer. The
technique, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), is an increasingly popular method for
looking beneath the surface of certain materials, notably human tissue. It is higher
resolution and much quicker than techniques such as MRI or ultrasound, with no ionising
radiation, making it ideal for detecting changes in tissue structure which can indicate
the early stages of cancer. However creating such images requires high precision, and any
inaccuracy can lead to incorrect assumptions about cell disruption. This can mean missing
opportunities for early, potentially life-saving treatment. A new NPL product, called a
'point-spread phantom', will eliminate the risk of such errors. The phantoms are
translucent cylinders of resin containing specially arranged particles designed to reflect
light in a very specific way. By viewing the phantom with an OCT machine and analysing the
image with NPL software, users can be certain the machine is producing accurate images,
which they can rely on for important medical decisions.
New sensor could help treat, combat
diabetes, other diseases
A tiny new sensor could provide fresh, inexpensive diagnosis and treatment methods for
people suffering from a variety of diseases.
New Study Confirms Electrical
Pollution from Cell Phones and WiFi is Hazardous
An increasingly alarmed army of international scientists have to a controversial
conclusion: The "electrosmog" that first began developing with the rollout of
the electrical grid a century ago and now envelops every inhabitant of Earth is
responsible for many of the diseases that impair or kill them.
New study links C8 to thyroid
disease
A report released this week by the journal Environmental Health Perspectives said a study
by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found an association between C8
and thyroid disease in adults.
New study shows driving hinders
talking
It is well known that having a conversation (for example on a cell phone) impairs one's
driving. A new study indicates the reverse is also true: Driving reduces one's ability to
comprehend and use language.
New therapeutic approach identified
for kidney disease associated with lupus
Investigators led by Hospital for Special Surgery have identified a new disease mechanism
and therapeutic approach for a type of advanced kidney disease that is a common cause of
complications in patients with lupus.
Nutrition Has a Direct Influence on
the Immune System
Bonn researchers have discovered an elementary mechanism which regulates vital immune
functions in healthy people.
NYSCF Fellow lead author on study
that creates blood vessel cells from stem cells
New York Stem Cell Foundation-Druckenmiller Fellow, Daylon James, Ph.D., of Weill Cornell
Medial College, is lead author on a study defining conditions for generating a plentiful
supply of endothelial (vessel lining) cells that are suitable for therapeutic use. Dr.
James and his colleagues created a human embryonic stem cell "reporter" line
that can be used to measure endothelial cell production and activity.
Obesity Now A Growing Problem For
Babies
Research from Harvard University shows infant obesity has risen more than 70 percent since
1980.
Obesity ups cancer risk, and here's
how
Obesity comes with plenty of health risks, but there's one that's perhaps not so well
known: an increased risk of developing cancer, and especially certain types of cancer like
liver cancer. Now, a group of researchers reporting in the January 22 issue of the journal
Cell, a Cell Press publication, have confirmed in mice that obesity does indeed act as a
"bona fide tumor promoter." They also have good evidence to explain how that
happens.
Opioid painkillers up fracture risk
in elderly
Seniors regularly taking moderately high doses of powerful painkillers known as opioids
are placed at a higher risk of experiencing bone fractures, a new study finds.
Organic Family Dairies Being
Crushed by Rogue Factory Farms
Family farmers from around the country, who produce organic milk, are petitioning
president Obama, and the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for the
swift adoption of new strict rulemaking that will rein in the abuses of a handful of
factory farms they claim are violating both the spirit and letter of the federal organic
law.
Pesticide Exposure across the
Agricultural Season among Latino Farmworkers in North Carolina
These data demonstrate that workers are experiencing pesticide exposure. Greater
enforcement of existing safety regulations or strengthening of these regulations may be
warranted. This study demonstrates that serial measurements of cholinesterase activity
across an agricultural season can detect exposure to pesticides among field workers.
Physical activity associated with
healthier aging
Physical activity appears to be associated with a reduced risk or slower progression of
several age-related conditions as well as improvements in overall health in older age,
according to a commentary and four articles published in the January 25 issue of Archives
of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Plasma 'could cut dentist pain'
People who live in fear of the dentist's drill could be in for a more comfortable future -
as new plasma technology arrives.
Preoperative CT useful for younger
women with suspected appendicitis
Preoperative computed tomography (CT) may help reduce unnecessary surgeries in women of
reproductive age with suspected acute appendicitis, according to a new study appearing in
the February issue of the journal Radiology. "We found that rising utilization of
preoperative CT over the past decade, along with advances in CT technology, coincided with
a significant decrease in negative appendectomies among women 45 years and younger,"
said Courtney A. Coursey, M.D., a radiologist at Emory University in Atlanta, who
co-authored this study while a radiology fellow at Duke University Medical Center in
Durham, N.C. Acute appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a fingerlike organ
attached to the large intestine in the lower right area of the abdomen. An inflamed
appendix can perforate, resulting in a life-threatening infection. While surgical removal
of the appendix is the common treatment for acute appendicitis, diagnosis is not always
clear clinically. Prior to the advent of CT, in inconclusive cases, physicians would often
remove the appendix as a precaution. Historically, this resulted in a high rate of
negative appendectomies with negative appendectomy rates of 20 percent to 25 percent and
as high as 40 percent in women considered acceptable. Negative appendectomy rates are
generally higher in women due to gynecologic pathology that can confound appendicitis
diagnosis. For instance, symptomatic ovarian cysts can cause lower abdominal pain similar
to that from appendicitis. CT is now often used in the evaluation of suspected
appendicitis and has the potential to reduce the negative appendectomy rate. An acutely
inflamed appendix appears thick-walled on CT, and adjacent inflammatory changes are often
visible. If the appendix is perforated, fluid next to the appendix may be visible on CT.
There have been contradictory reports in the medical literature regarding whether or not
the increased use of CT has resulted in a lower negative appendectomy rate. To determine
the impact of CT on negative appendectomy rates, Dr. Coursey and colleagues reviewed a
surgical database of 925 patients who underwent urgent appendectomy at Duke between
January 1998 and September 2007.
Prions 'may keep nerves healthy'
Experiments on mice may help scientists understand the workings of the prion protein
linked to brain disease vCJD.
Prospective multicenter performance
evaluation of the second-generation colon capsule compared with colonoscopy
The new second-generation colon capsule endoscopy is a safe and effective method for
visualizing the colon and detecting colonic lesions. Sensitivity and specificity for
detecting colorectal polyps appear to be very good, suggesting a potential for improved
accuracy compared with the first-generation system. Further prospective and comparative
studies are needed.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy brings
lasting benefits, new study finds
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is effective for a wide range of mental health symptoms,
including depression, anxiety, panic and stress-related physical ailments, and the
benefits of the therapy grow after treatment has ended, according to new research
published by the American Psychological Association.
PVC, the poison in your home
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic, commonly referred to as vinyl, is one of the most
hazardous consumer products ever created. PVC is dangerous to human health and the
environment throughout its entire life-cycle, at the factory, in our homes, and in the
trash.
Radiation dose less with digital
mammograms
Newer digital mammograms may deliver significantly lower radiation doses than conventional
film mammograms, especially for women with larger and denser breasts, U.S. researchers
said on Thursday.
Radiation Offers New Cures, and
Ways to Do Harm
Ms. Jn-Charles and Mr. Jerome-Parks died a month apart. Both experienced the wonders and
the brutality of radiation. It helped diagnose and treat their disease. It also inflicted
unspeakable pain.
Raw milk - magic elixir or health
hazard?
For believers, unpasteurized milk is a magic elixir responsible for boosting the immune
system and curing many ailments, including irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance,
asthma and eczema. But to health authorities, drinking raw milk is inherently dangerous,
possibly lethal - and should be avoided at all costs.
Rejuvenating the old immune system
By comparing the immune responses of both, young and old mice, to bacterial infection they
found that the number of macrophages, one of the major cell populations involved in the
elimination of infecting bacteria, decreases rapidly in aged mice. This decline in the
number of fighters and the associated weakness of the immune defense may be responsible
for the age-associated increase in susceptibility to infections. The HZI researchers have
succeeded to enhance the resistance to an infection in aged mice by treating them with a
macrophage-specific growth factor. This treatment increases the amount of macrophages in
aged mice and improves their capacity to fight the infection. This study has been
published in the current issue of the scientific magazine "Journal of
Pathology". The main task of the immune system is to protect the body against
invading pathogens. For this purpose, a variety of different cell types and molecular
factors work together in a complex network. Together, they compose a highly effective
defense front line. As we are getting older, our immune system changes: infections are
more frequent and more severe, some immune cell types lose certain properties and their
functionality declines – in short: the immune system grows old. "Since the
immune system protects our body against infections, to keep the immune system young and
functional is a crucial factor for a healthy aging," says Eva Medina, head of the HZI
research group "Infection Immunology".
Research at UCSB points to
potential treatment for kidney disease
Research performed at UC Santa Barbara points to the drug rapamycin as a potential
treatment for kidney disease. The study builds on past research and shows that studies
performed on mice are more likely to translate to humans than previously thought. The
results are published in the current online issue of the Journal of the American Society
of Nephrology.
Researcher suspects BPA/baby
obesity link
Local researchers believe it a common household chemical may be to blame. "Research
has shown since 2001 that being exposed to BPA during development changes your body
weight," explained Tufts University Scientists, Dr. Laura Vandenberg.
Researcher's labour of love leads
to MS breakthrough
New way of thinking about debilitating disease has yielded stunning new treatments –
but MS societies urge sufferers to be cautious before experimenting
Researchers correct the record
about behavior of important human protein tied to cancer
In a study to be published this week, a research team is challenging a prevailing belief
about the behavior of a human protein linked to the formation of cancer, possibly
breathing new life into the search for therapies that will inhibit that protein from
"turning on" genes involved in abnormal cell proliferation.
Researchers identify universal
emotions
Here's a piece of research that might leave you tickled - laughter is a universal
language, according to new research. The study, conducted with people from Britain and
Namibia, suggests that basic emotions such as amusement, anger, fear and sadness are
shared by all humans.
Researchers in Philadelphia are
among those seeking to expand the use of lasers to target tumors and curtail side effects
photodynamic therapy, the technique represents part of medicine's continuing quest for
treatments that target tumors while sparing the rest of the body from unpleasant side
effects. Though far more common in Europe, this light-based therapy is gaining proponents
in the United States, where it has long been approved for treating certain lung and skin
cancers.
Researchers zoom in on superbug
Scientists have found a way to track minutely-differing strains of the
"superbug" MRSA as they spread between people and across the globe, a finding
that could aid efforts to control the deadly bacteria.
Review Finds Few Benefits from
Mammogram Screening
A review study by Peter C Gotzsche and Margrethe Nielsen from the Nordic Cochrane Centre
in Copenhagen, Denmark suggests that mammogram screening does not reduce the risk of death
from breast cancer. The perceived benefits, the study claims, come from bias.
Scientists achieve first rewire of
genetic switches
Researchers in Manchester have successfully carried out the first rewire of genetic
switches, creating what could be a vital tool for the development of new drugs and even
future gene therapies.
Scientists discover cells critical
to childhood leukemia
Scientists at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the University of Melbourne in Australia
have discovered the cells that cause a common type of childhood leukemia -- T cell Acute
Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Targeting of these cells may lead to improved treatments for this
disease and help prevent relapse.
Scientists shed new light on
walking
Researchers at the medical university Karolinska Institutet have created a genetically
modified mouse in which certain neurons can be activated by blue light. Shining blue light
on brain stems or spinal cords isolated from these mice produces walking-like motor
activity. The findings, which are published in the scientific journal Nature Neuroscience,
are of potential significance to the recovery of walking after spinal cord injury.
Scientists track MRSA around the
world's hospitals
Using new genome-sequencing techniques, researchers have tracked the drug-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus bacterium known as MRSA as it has spread around the world over the
last four decades. This research and the method behind it could help researchers trace the
routes by which MRSA is transmitted between countries, from one healthcare setting to
another, and between individuals in a single location such as a hospital ward. The work
may also be useful for determining where infection-control strategies need to be modified
or strengthened in order to reduce the number of MRSA infections that occur, and for
improving surveillance strategies for detecting emerging new strains and controlling their
spread.
Scripps research team finds stress
hormone key to alcohol dependence
A team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute has found that a specific stress
hormone, the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), is key to the development and
maintenance of alcohol dependence in animal models. Chemically blocking the stress factor
also blocked the signs and symptoms of addiction, suggesting a potentially promising area
for future drug development.
Silver is a potent nerve cell
toxicant
A study finds that silver has the potential to cause problems with nerve cell development
at concentrations five times less than that of the pesticide chlorpyrifos, a known nerve
cell toxicant. The findings call into question the widespread and increasing use of
nanoparticles of silver in consumer products. Silver is a good antiseptic agent and is
added to some products to reduce the growth of disease-causing microbes
Simple steps prevent
life-threatening bloodstream infections in children
Pediatric hospitals can significantly decrease the number of bloodstream infections from
central venous catheters by following some low-tech rules: insert the catheter correctly
and, above all, keep everything squeaky clean after that.
Sitting too long raises fatality
risk, experts say
After four hours of sitting, the body starts to send harmful signals," Ekblom-Bak
said. She explained that genes regulating the amount of glucose and fat in the body start
to shut down.
Smooth and integrated movement
patterns can help individuals with back pain
Many people with back pain do not know what is causing it and they do not receive
effective treatment, but learning to move in a more integrated way makes a big difference,
reveals research from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Soldiers Are Being Forced to Choose
Between Their Children And the Military, And They're Paying the Price In Jailtime
Soldiers who face unexpected parenting hardships and are unable to deploy are supposed to
be honorably discharged. Instead they are being slapped with criminal charges.
Some Lip Gloss May Promote Cancer
Some dermatologists have said that the translucent sheen helps ultraviolet rays penetrate
the already fragile skin of the lips -- thereby increasing your risk.
Stain repellent chemical linked to
thyroid disease in adults
A study by the University of Exeter and the Peninsula Medical School for the first time
links thyroid disease with human exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFOA is a
persistent organic chemical used in industrial and consumer goods including nonstick
cookware and stain- and water-resistant coatings for carpets and fabrics. Published in the
journal Environmental Health Perspectives, The study revealed that people with higher
concentrations of PFOA in their blood have higher rates of thyroid disease. The
researchers analysed samples from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Tamara Galloway, a professor Ecotoxicology at the University of Exeter and the
study’s senior author, says: “Our results highlight a real need for further
research into the human health effects of low-level exposures to environmental chemicals
like PFOA that are ubiquitous in the environment and in people’s homes. We need to
know what they are doing.” “There have long been suspicions that PFOA
concentrations might be linked to changes in thyroid hormone levels,” adds study
author, David Melzer, a professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Peninsula
Medical School. “Our analysis shows that in the ‘ordinary’ adult population
there is a solid statistical link between higher concentrations of PFOA in blood and
thyroid disease.” PFOA is a very stable man-made chemical that excels at repelling
heat, water, grease, and stains. It is used during the process of making common household
and industrial items including nonstick pots and pans, flame-resistant and waterproof
clothing, wire coatings, and chemical-resistant tubing. PFOA can also be formed by the
break-down of certain other highly fluorinated chemicals used in oil and grease-resistant
coatings on fast-food containers and wrappers and in stain-resistant carpets, fabrics, and
paints.
Stress peptide and receptor may
have role in diabetes
The neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) makes cameo appearances throughout
the body, but its leading role is as the opening act in the stress response, jump-starting
the process along the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Researchers at the Salk
Institute for Biological Studies have found that CRF also plays a part in the pancreas,
where it increases insulin secretion and promotes the division of the insulin-producing
beta cells.
Stressed parents risk having
burnt-out children, study finds
Parents who suffer work stress risk passing on their worries to their children, causing
them to burn out as well, a study indicates.
Stroke's 'death signal' discovered;
may aid drug development
Biomedical scientists from the University of Central Florida and Louisiana State
University have identified a way to block a "cell death signal" that they
believe triggers brain damage during strokes.
Study Discovers Wide Variation in
Calorie Content Among “Low Calorie” Pet Foods
Dog and cat owners buying weight-control diets for their overweight pets are faced with a
confusing two-fold variation in calorie density, recommended intake, and wide range cost
of low-calorie pet foods, according to a study by the Cummings School of Veterinary
Medicine at Tufts University. The study, published this month in the Journal of the
American Veterinary Medical Association, examined nearly 100 commercially available diets
with weight management claims. Among their findings is that dry dog foods range in calorie
density from 217 to 440 kilocalories per cup (kcal/cup) and a recommended intake that
ranged from 0.73 to 1.47 times the dog’s resting energy requirement. The diets also
varied wildly in price—from 4 cents to more than $1.10 per kilocalorie.
Study documents reaction rates for
three chemicals with high global warming potential
A study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
(PNAS) provides new information about the rates at which three of the most powerful
greenhouse gases are destroyed by a chemical reaction that takes place in the upper
atmosphere. The three compounds are potentially important because they absorb infrared
energy in the so-called "atmospheric window" region – at wavelengths where
other major greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide allow radiation to pass freely out
into space. Though these long-lived compounds now exist in relatively low concentrations,
their ability to absorb energy at these wavelengths means their contributions to global
warming could increase if their levels continue to rise. Because the compounds are
relatively inert chemically, information on how they react with electronically excited
atomic oxygen – known as O(1D) – will help improve the accuracy of global
climate models by providing a better estimate of how long these absorbers remain in the
atmosphere. The information could also inform public policy debate about whether the
chemicals, now used in industrial applications, should be replaced with compounds that
have less climate change impact. "This study will contribute to an understanding of
the long-term effect of these compounds on climate," said Paul Wine, a professor in
the Schools of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the
Georgia Institute of Technology. "There is significant interest in trying to
establish the role of these heavy absorbers of infrared radiation, especially the
compounds that absorb in the window region where other greenhouses gases are not
factors."
Study Explores Alternative Medicine
Use in Children
An estimated 8.7 million American adolescents and children used complementary and
alternative medicine (CAM) in 2007, according to research published online Jan. 25 in
Pediatrics.
Study focuses on biodiversity in
freshwater ecosystems
Biodiversity in freshwater systems is impacted as much or more by environmental change
than tropical rain forests, according to University of Oklahoma Professor Caryn Vaughn,
who serves as director of the Oklahoma Biological Survey. “When we think about
species becoming extinct, we don’t necessarily think of the common species in
freshwater systems, many of which are declining,” says Vaughn. “We need to be
concerned about these declines, because these common species provide many goods and
services for humans,” she states. “Factors underlying these declines include
water pollution, habitat destruction and degradation, and environmental changes, such as
overexploitation of water and aquatic organisms, all of which are linked to human
activities. Freshwater biodiversity is also threatened by climate change which is
predicted to alter species ranges and abundance.” Vaughn studies freshwater mussels,
or clams, that live in Oklahoma’s rivers. North America contains the highest
diversity of freshwater mussels in the world with over 300 species, but over 50 percent of
these species are declining. Oklahoma contains 55 mussel species, mainly in rivers in the
eastern portion of the state.
Study links depression with fatty,
sugary diet
A study from the University of Melbourne in Australia indicates that a diet characterized
by vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and high-quality meat and fish may also help prevent
mental illness, specifically depression and anxiety.
Study links reduced fertility to
flame retardant exposure
Women with higher blood levels of PBDEs, a type of flame retardant commonly found in
household consumer products, took longer to become pregnant compared with women who have
lower PBDE levels, according to a new study by researchers at the University of
California, Berkeley. The study, to be published Jan. 26 in the journal Environmental
Health Perspectives, found that each 10-fold increase in the blood concentration of four
PBDE chemicals was linked to a 30 percent decrease in the odds of becoming pregnant each
month. "There have been numerous animal studies that have found a range of health
effects from exposure to PBDEs, but very little research has been done in humans. This
latest paper is the first to address the impact on human fertility, and the results are
surprisingly strong," said the study's lead author, Kim Harley, adjunct assistant
professor of maternal and child health and associate director of the Center for Children's
Environmental Health Research at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health. "These
findings need to be replicated, but they have important implications for regulators."
PBDEs, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers, are a class of organobromine compounds that
became commonplace after the 1970s when new fire safety standards were implemented in the
United States. The flame retardants are used in foam furniture, electronics, fabrics,
carpets, plastics and other common items in the home. Studies have found widespread
contamination of house dust by PBDEs, which are known to leach out into the environment
and accumulate in human fat cells. Studies also suggest that 97 percent of U.S. residents
have detectable levels of PBDEs in their blood, and that the levels in Americans are 20
times higher than in their European counterparts. According to the researchers, residents
in California are among those experiencing the highest exposures, most likely due to the
state's relatively stringent flammability laws. The researchers measured PBDE levels in
blood samples from 223 pregnant women enrolled in a longitudinal study at the Center for
the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) that examines
environmental exposures and reproductive health.
Study Recommends Universal Re-entry
Preparedness, New Spending Priorities to Prepare Inmates for Re-entry to Society
While re-entry and skill-building programs offered by the New Jersey Department of
Corrections (NJDOC) at its 11 prisons are heavily used and generally viewed favorably by
inmates, many anticipate a difficult return to society due to their underlying health
conditions and concerns about finances and support systems. To improve their chances for
success in the community, a Rutgers researcher recommends that NJDOC adopt a policy of
universal re-entry preparedness during each inmate’s mandatory minimum term and a
reallocation of funding to increase skill-building capacity on-site rather than in
ultimately more costly halfway house programs.
Study shows genital herpes virus
reactivates widely throughout genital tract
Genital herpes caused by a reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is
generally treated as a lesion in one specific area of the genital region. A new study,
however, finds that the virus can frequently reactivate throughout the genital tract, an
important new concept that could help guide both HSV-2 treatment and prevention. Now
available online, the study appears in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of Infectious
Diseases.
Study Shows Kids Tethered to
Technology
Kids Ages 8 to 18 Spend More Than 7 Hours a Day With Gadgets
Study suggests link between nuclear
power plants, thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer rates in Pennsylvania soared in recent decades and radiation from nuclear
power plants might be the cause, a study released Thursday said.
Sumbody founder reads into skin
care labels
Many skin-care products, with labels claiming "natural" and "organic"
are, in fact, what cosmetologist Deborah Burnes calls Vitamin J - junky, dangerous
chemicals she believes are potentially poisoning us and polluting the planet.
Sunflower DNA map could produce
plants for fuel
A $10.5 million research project aimed at mapping the DNA sequence of sunflowers could one
day yield a towering new variety for both food and fuel.
Sweet success for sustainable
biofuel research
Scientists have found a way to increase fermentable sugar stores in plants which could
lead to plant biomass being easier to convert into eco-friendly sustainable biofuels.
Their research is highlighted in the latest issue of Business, the quarterly highlights
magazine of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
Team finds childhood clues to adult
schizophrenia
Years before adults develop schizophrenia, there is a pattern of cognitive difficulties
they experience as children, including problems with verbal reasoning, working memory,
attention and processing speed.
Technique for Preserving
Pre-Transplant Livers Promises to Improve Patient Outcomes and Expand the Organ Pool
Preserving organs on ice prior to transplantation, an approach known as cold storage or
CS, has been the standard practice in liver transplant for 20 years. Now there is new
evidence that a technique called hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) may offer an
improvement, according to the first-ever study comparing the impact of the two techniques
on transplant outcomes. The phase I study was carried out by Dr. James V. Guarrera and his
colleagues at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. The
researchers found that HMP is at least as good as CS in preserving donor livers -- and
that it most likely constitutes an advance over the traditional method. Improving
preservation, they emphasize, could expand the availability of organs for transplantation.
Teen Drinking May Cause
Irreversible Brain Damage
For teenagers, the effects of a drunken night out may linger long after the hangover wears
off.
The sea level has been rising and
falling over the last 2,500 years
"Rising and falling sea levels over relatively short periods do not indicate
long-term trends. An assessment of hundreds and thousands of years shows that what seems
an irregular phenomenon today is in fact nothing new," explains Dr. Dorit Sivan, who
supervised the research.* The sea level in Israel has been rising and falling over the
past 2,500 years, with a one-meter difference between the highest and lowest levels, most
of the time below the present-day level. This has been shown in a new study supervised by
Dr. Dorit Sivan, Head of the Department of Maritime Civilizations at the University of
Haifa. "Rises and falls in sea level over relatively short periods do not testify to
a long-term trend. It is early yet to conclude from the short-term increases in sea level
that this is a set course that will not take a change in direction," explains Dr.
Sivan. The rising sea level is one of the phenomena that have most influence on humankind:
the rising sea not only floods the littoral regions but also causes underground water
salinization, flooded effluents, accelerated coastal destruction, and other damage.
According to Dr. Sivan, the changing sea level can be attributed to three main causes: the
global cause – the volume of water in the ocean, which mirrors the mass of ice sheets
and is related to global warming or cooling; the regional cause – vertical movement
of the earth's surface, which is usually related to the pressure placed on the surface by
the ice; and the local cause – vertical tectonic activity. Seeing as Israel is not
close to former ice caps and the tectonic activity along the Mediterranean coast is
negligible over these periods, it can be concluded that drastic changes in Israel's sea
levels are mainly related to changes in the volume of water.
The Surprising Link Between
Constipation and Parkinson’s
In a recent study, conducted at the world famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota,
researchers have found what they believe to be a link between an increased risk of
developing Parkinson’s disease and those who suffer from constipation. The study,
conducted by Mayo’s Dr. Walter A. Rocca and colleagues, found that a history of
constipation indicated a roughly two times more frequent connection with Parkinson’s
disease down the road.
Thinking Outside the Block in
Disease Gene Studies
In the decade since the Human Genome Project produced the first map of DNA sequences in
the human genome, scientists throughout the world have combed through genome data to
identify genes and gene variants that cause human disease. A new study suggests that
researchers may need to broaden their search farther afield to pinpoint rare but powerful
disease-causing mutations. Researchers from two large genome research centers at The
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and at Duke University published a study today in the
online journal Public Library of Science Biology (PLoS Biology), describing what they call
"synthetic genome-wide associations." "We believe our analysis will
encourage genetics researchers to reinterpret findings from genome-wide association
studies, which will also enable all of us to generate more meaningful diagnostic results
for patients," said co-author Hakon Hakonarson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center
for Applied Genomics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Three proteins may lead to
Alzheimer's
Researchers from the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Phoenix have identified
three kinases -- or proteins -- that dismantle connections within brain cells.
Too much choice leaving us
bewildered and depressed
Modern life is making us miserable because we have too much choice, claims new research.
Traffic fumes increase the risks of
child pneumonia
Children who live near a main road are in greater danger of catching pneumonia because
pollution from passing traffic damages their lungs. A leading expert in childhood
breathing difficulties has made the link between exposure to particles from vehicle
exhausts and a child's susceptibility to the chest infection, which can be fatal.
Trauma patients safe from mortality
risks associated with so-called 'weekend effect'
People who are in car crashes or suffer serious falls, gunshot or knife wounds and other
injuries at nights or on weekends do not appear to be affected by the same medical care
disparities -- the so-called "weekend effect" -- as patients who suffer heart
attacks, strokes, cardiac arrests and other time-sensitive illnesses during those
"off hours," according to new research from the University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine.
Trauma patients safe from mortality
risks associated with so-called 'weekend effect'
People who are in car crashes or suffer serious falls, gunshot or knife wounds and other
injuries at nights or on weekends do not appear to be affected by the same medical care
disparities -- the so-called "weekend effect" -- as patients who suffer heart
attacks, strokes, cardiac arrests and other time-sensitive illnesses during those
"off hours," according to new research from the University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine.
Treadmill helps Parkinson's
patients walk better
Treadmill training can help Parkinson's patients to walk more normally, according to a new
review of the medical literature.
Treating depression by stimulating
the pleasure center
Even with the best of available treatments, over a third of patients with depression may
not achieve a satisfactory antidepressant response. Deep brain stimulation (DBS), a form
of targeted electrical stimulation in the brain via implanted electrodes, is now
undergoing careful testing to determine whether it could play a role in the treatment of
patients who have not sufficiently improved during more traditional forms of treatment. A
major challenge of this work is determining the best region of the brain to stimulate.
Some researchers stimulate the subgenual prefrontal cortex, a brain region implicated in
depressed mood states, while others stimulate a region called the "anterior limb of
the internal capsule", a nerve pathway that passes through the basal ganglia, a lower
brain region. Physicians publishing a new report in Biological Psychiatry now describe
findings related to the stimulation of the nucleus accumbens, a brain region the size of a
hazelnut associated with reward and motivation that is implicated in processing
pleasurable stimuli, sometimes referred to as the "pleasure center" of the
brain. The inability to experience pleasure is a key symptom of depression and previous
studies have shown that functioning of the nucleus accumbens is impaired in depressed
individuals. Bewernick and colleagues administered DBS treatment in ten patients with
severe long-term depression who had not responded to multiple other antidepressant
treatments, including psychotherapy, drug treatments and electroconvulsive treatment.
After one year of DBS, all patients showed some improvement, and half of them experienced
significant improvement in their symptoms of depression, astonishing considering they had
not responded to any prior antidepressant treatment. In addition, the patients showed
reduced ratings of anxiety and had only minor side effects. Importantly, none of their
overall brain functioning was impaired by the DBS treatment.
Ultrasound + Proteomic Blood
Analyses May Help Physicians Diagnose Early-Stage Ovarian Cancer
Noninvasive contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging, combined with proteomic analyses of
blood samples may help physicians identify early-stage ovarian cancer and save the lives
of many women, according to an article published in the February issue of the American
Journal of Roentgenology. Proteomics is the study of proteins, particularly their
structure and function. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death.
More than 21,500 women annually are diagnosed with the disease. Each year, nearly 15,000
women die from ovarian cancer. More than two-thirds of these patients (67 percent) are
diagnosed at an advanced-stage. If early-stage ovarian cancer is detected, survival is
greater than 90 percent (compared to 30 percent for advanced-stage disease). “The
fact that so many women are not diagnosed until their disease is advanced confirms the
inadequacy of pelvic examinations and standard ultrasound in detecting early-stage ovarian
cancer and the dire need for a validated screening method for the detection of early-stage
disease,” said David A. Fishman, MD, lead author of the article. “The ability to
detect ovarian cancer by a simple blood test has long been the holy grail of screening
tests. Although a single biomarker blood test would be ideal and simple, it is not
possible at present,” said Fishman. The study of proteomics and new analytical
techniques using mass spectrometry has led to the discovery of hundreds of unique proteins
that may serve as biomarkers and aid in the detection of early-stage cancer. “This
new discovery sheds light on the possibility that highly discriminatory proteins may be
used for the detection of ovarian cancer. However it is necessary to verify any
information found by proteomic analysis with an imaging technique,” said Fishman.
UVa engineers find significant
environmental impacts with algae-based biofuel
With many companies investing heavily in algae-based biofuels, researchers from the
University of Virginia's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering have found
there are significant environmental hurdles to overcome before fuel production ramps up.
They propose using wastewater as a solution to some of these challenges.
Vaccine approach extends life of
metastatic prostate cancer patients
In a newly published clinical trial, patients with metastatic prostate cancer who received
a vaccine of harmless poxviruses engineered to spur an immune system attack on prostate
tumor cells lived substantially longer than patients who received a placebo vaccine,
report researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and affiliated organizations.
Virtual colonoscopy an effective
colorectal cancer screening exam in Medicare age patients
Computed tomographic colonography (CTC), also known as virtual colonoscopy, remains
effective in screening older patients for colorectal cancer (CRC), produces low referral
for colonoscopy rates similar to other screening exams now covered by Medicare, and does
not result in unreasonable levels of additional testing resulting from extracolonic
findings, according to a study published in the February issue of Radiology. CT
colonography employs virtual reality technology to produce a three-dimensional
visualization that permits a thorough and minimally invasive evaluation of the entire
colon and rectum. Previous CTC trials have demonstrated excellent performance in average
risk individuals. However, concerns remained that such results may not be applicable to
older Medicare beneficiaries. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of
Medicine and Public Health analyzed various CTC performance and program outcome measures
for screening individuals aged 65-79. "These results confirm that CTC is a safe and
effective colorectal cancer screening tool for the older individual. There is no
significant difference in the way CTC performs in older patients as opposed to younger
patients," said David H. Kim, MD, associate professor of radiology, University of
Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and principal investigator of the study.
In the study, for this older screening group, the advanced neoplastic prevalence was 7.6
percent (44 of 577). There was no statistically significant difference between older
patients and the general screening population in terms of the characteristics of advanced
neoplasia ? including mean size, histologic type and morphology ? indicating similar
accuracy to that found in other trials involving younger patients.
Why Alzheimer's is called `type 3
diabetes'
While both can be age-related diseases, a growing body of research is showing an even
stronger link that connect the two = Insulin.
Why America's Favorite Seafood Is a
Health and Environmental Nightmare
The environmental impact of shrimp can be horrific. But most Americans don't know where
their shrimp comes from or what's in it.
Why your sofa may harm your health
Manufacturers use PFOA to make fluoropolymers, used in thousands of products. It is turned
into non-stick coatings for cookware, flame retardants in furnishings, stain protection
treatments for carpets, wire coatings and waterproof clothing such as Gore-Tex.
Widespread antibiotic use in 1960s
sparked MRSA
Early use of antibiotics in the 1960s may have given birth to one of the most common
strains of MRSA, a study has found.
Wooden toilet seats may irritate
kids' skin
Wooden toilet seats, especially those cleaned with harsh chemicals, can take their toll on
children, leading to skin rashes that can become infected, a small study suggests.
Younger mothers' breast milk has
highest levels of flame retardants
Breast milk from young women – rather than from women older than 35 – has the
highest measured levels of commonly used flame retardants known as PBDEs.
Zero deaths caused by vitamins,
minerals, amino acids or herbs
To hear opponents of natural medicine say it, vitamins and herbs are extremely dangerous
for your health. They should be regulated, we're told, because they're so dangerous!
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