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Week 50
13 New Stem Cell Lines Released for
Research
The National Institutes of Health announced it will make 13 new embryonic stem cell lines
will be available for federally funded research, and will consider adding 20 more new
embryonic stem cell lines to a national registry on Friday.
5 Shocking Reasons Your Brain Isn't
Worth Twenty Bucks Exposed
To date, hospitals have not found a billing code that insurers will reimburse them for the
$20 cost of the disposable sensor for your brain monitor for 'going under' for surgery.
Anesthesiologists have not told hospitals how important brain monitoring is to avoid
postop dementia from routine anesthesia over-medication. Anesthesiologists have not heard
the 'avoid over-medication' message from their leaders because their organizations vitally
depend upon millions of dollars in support from America's pharmaceutical companies, aka,
'Big Pharma.'
a Unifying Mechanism for Nutrition
and Chemicals as Lifelong Modulators of DNA Hypomethylation
At present, general populations are exposed to a large number of chemicals, each at a very
low dose. Thus, DNA hypomethylation due to chemical exposure may be common in modern
societies and can synergistically interact with nutrition-induced DNA hypomethylation.
Albertans 'too complacent' about
H1N1
Health officials are concerned that Albertans are getting complacent about the H1N1 virus
as only about a quarter of the province's residents have rolled up their sleeves for the
flu shot.
Alcohol companies target youths
with magazine ads, new study shows
Alcoholic beverages popular among youths are more likely to be advertised in magazines
with high youth readership than alcoholic drinks consumed mainly by adults, resulting in
disproportionately high youth exposure to such targeted alcohol ads, according to a new
study. Researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Virtual Media Resources who conducted the study --
published in this month's issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health -- say their findings
present the strongest evidence to date that alcohol companies are targeting youths through
magazine advertising. They note that three major trade associations representing the
alcoholic beverage industry – the Wine Institute, the Beer Institute, and the
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States – have publicly stated that they do
not advertise to underage youths. "Alcohol companies are deceiving us," said Dr.
Michael Siegel, professor of community health sciences at Boston University School of
Public Health and a co-author of the study. "Contrary to their public statements,
they are targeting youths through their advertising. They are saying one thing, but doing
another." The study compared alcohol advertisement placements in 118 magazines from
2002 to 2006, specifically looking at the relationship between a magazine's youth
readership and the probability of youth alcoholic beverage types -- defined as those
consumed by a large proportion of youth -- being advertised in each magazine.
Anti-inflammatories can cause
ringing in ears
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include pain relievers such as aspirin,
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.) and naproxen (Aleve) or prescription drugs such as
Celebrex, diclofenac and meloxicam. Such medications can cause ringing in the ears
(tinnitus) and even hearing loss (Drug Safety, March 1996).
Apple-shaped women face higher risk
of dementia, new study shows
Women shaped more like apples face a greater risk of dementia as well as death from a
stroke or a heart attack, according to the Daily Mail.
Appointment of Pfizer exec to
health funding body criticized
Prominent bioethicists have expressed alarm at the recent appointment of a senior
pharmaceutical executive to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the
government's funding arm for medical research.
As increasingly early puberty ups
breast cancer risk, researchers search environment for clues
Women who reach puberty early have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than those
who reach it late.
Aspirin, Tylenol May Decrease
Effectiveness of Vaccines
With flu season in full swing and the threat of H1N1 looming, demand for vaccines is at an
all-time high. Although those vaccines are expected to be effective, University of
Missouri researchers have found further evidence that some over-the-counter drugs, such as
aspirin and Tylenol, that inhibit certain enzymes could impact the effectiveness of
vaccines. “If you’re taking aspirin regularly, which many people do for
cardiovascular treatment, or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain and fever and get a flu
shot, there is a good chance that you won’t have a good antibody response,” said
Charles Brown, associate professor of veterinary pathobiology.
Asthma Linked to Formaldehyde
Exposure in Clothing and Common Household Items
There is a significant association between formaldehyde exposure and childhood asthma
according to a recent scientific literature review by researchers Gerald McGwin, Jr.,
Jeffrey Lienert, and John I. Kennedy, Jr.
Availability of vaccine no
guarantee public will want it
Just because a vaccine is available doesn't mean people will choose to be inoculated,
according to new UofT research published amid widespread public confusion around the merit
of H1N1 flu shots. The research – which looked at acceptability of potential future
HIV vaccinations among high-risk adults in Los Angeles – shows many factors come into
play when a person is deciding whether or not be vaccinated. "As we can see in the
current climate of confusion around H1N1 flu shots, the availability of a vaccination
alone is not enough to encourage people to be inoculated," says lead author Peter A.
Newman, associate professor at UofT's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and Canada
Research Chair in Health and Social Justice. "Our study shows the same holds true
when it comes to potential HIV vaccines down the road. Even in the case of a safe and
highly effective vaccine, there are a plethora of factors that impact peoples'
decisions." To determine what factors would make a vaccine "acceptable" to
individuals at-risk of contracting HIV, Newman and his team gave each of 1,100
participants a set of nine cards outlining theoretical HIV vaccines. Each card described a
theoretical HIV vaccine with a different combination of characteristics, including vaccine
effectiveness, cost and side effects. Participants were then asked to rate the
"acceptability" of each vaccine according to what vaccine characteristics were
most and least important to them. The team found a moderate level of acceptability for a
future HIV vaccine – 55 on a 100-point scale. But while the moderate level of
acceptability is positive, Newman says their results indicate that not everyone –
including those in high-risk communities – would automatically accept an HIV vaccine
in the event that one was developed.
Bacterial gut symbionts are tightly
linked with the evolution of herbivory in ants
Broadly speaking, ants have two different feeding strategies. A large proportion of all
species are "carnivorous," meaning that they are generalist predators feeding on
other small animals or scavenging on their remains. Some, however, are
"herbivorous". This is not to say that they only eat plants; rather, the bulk of
their diets consist of plant-derived matter. For example, some forage on sticky fluids
produced by plants to attract ants, called extra-floral nectar; others feed on the
processed plant sap excreted by plant-sucking insects such as scale insects and aphids.
Herbivorous ants are likely to be a highly under-estimated component of the global fauna
as there are many tropical forest canopy specialists among them, and the forest canopy
remains to this day surprisingly unexplored. It has long been a mystery how herbivorous
ant species gain all the nutrients they need. Their plant-derived diet comprises
essentially water and sugars; it is deficient in protein and/or the nitrogen-based
compounds that are the building blocks of proteins. Carnivorous ants face few such
nutritional difficulties, as their diet tends to contain all the chemical compounds they
require. Most ants are not renowned for being associated with microbes—the most
famous suite of on-board microbial symbionts in insects is found in termites, whose guts
harbor bacteria that facilitate the digestion of the woody material that constitutes the
termite diet—but it has been recently hypothesized that herbivorous ants might host a
set of indigenous symbionts that provide the missing components of the herbivorous ants'
diets.
Balancing protein intake, not
cutting calories, may be key to long life
Getting the correct balance of proteins in our diet may be more important for healthy
ageing than reducing calories, new research funded by the Wellcome Trust and Research into
Ageing suggests. The research may help explain why 'dietary restriction' (also known as
calorie restriction) – reducing food intake whilst maintaining sufficient quantities
of vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients – appears to have health
benefits. In many organisms, such as the fruit fly (drosophila), mice, rats and the Rhesus
monkey, these benefits include living longer. Evidence suggests that dietary restriction
can have health benefits for humans, too, though it is unclear whether it can increase
longevity. Dietary restriction can have a potentially negative side effect, however:
diminished fertility. For example, the female fruit fly reproduces less frequently on a
low calorie diet and its litter size is reduced, though its reproductive span lasts
longer. This is believed to be an evolutionary trait: in times of famine, essential
nutrients are diverted away from reproduction and towards survival. To understand whether
the health benefits of dietary restriction stem from a reduction in specific nutrients or
in calorie intake in general, researchers at the Institute of Healthy Ageing, UCL
(University College London), measured the effects of manipulating the diet of female fruit
flies. The results of the study are published today in the journal Nature. The fruit flies
were fed a diet of yeast, sugar and water, but with differing amounts of key nutrients,
such as vitamins, lipids and amino acids. The researchers found that varying the amount of
amino acids in the mixture affected lifespan and fertility; varying the amount of the
other nutrients had little or no effect. In fact, when the researchers studied the effect
further, they found that levels of a particular amino acid known as methionine were
crucial to maximising lifespan without decreasing fertility. Adding methionine to a low
calorie diet boosted fertility without reducing lifespan; likewise, reducing methionine
content in a high calorie diet prolonged lifespan. Previous studies have also shown that
reducing the intake of methionine in rodents can help extend lifespan.
Be relieved that warming isn’t
happening
Associated Press reporter Seth Borenstein has a terrible reputation as a runaway alarmist.
Bedridden for 18 years after polio
vaccination
What was meant to be a routine vaccination for school-going children changed her life
forever, leaving her paralysed and unable to do anything.
Bhopal - The victims are still
being born
Twenty-five years on, the world's worst industrial accident continues to kill and blight
many lives. And still there's been no trial.
Binge drinking youths find getting
old a drag
New study identifies link between anticipated unhappiness in old age and young men’s
binge drinking. Young men who believe that happiness declines with age are more likely to
engage in risky health behaviors such as binge drinking. Their misguided negative view of
the aging process may act as a disincentive to behave ‘sensibly’ and encourage
them to make the most of the present in anticipation of ‘miserable’ old age.
These findings¹ by Dr. John Garry and Dr. Maria Lohan from Queen’s University
Belfast, Northern Ireland, are published online in Springer’s Journal of Happiness
Studies.
Binge drinking youths find getting
old a drag
New study identifies link between anticipated unhappiness in old age and young men's binge
drinking. Young men who believe that happiness declines with age are more likely to engage
in risky health behaviors such as binge drinking. Their misguided negative view of the
aging process may act as a disincentive to behave 'sensibly' and encourage them to make
the most of the present in anticipation of 'miserable' old age. These findings¹ by Dr.
John Garry and Dr. Maria Lohan from Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, are
published online in Springer's Journal of Happiness Studies. Although the harmful effects
of excessive drinking, smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise are widely publicized,
significant numbers of young people binge-drink, smoke, and avoid fruit and vegetables as
well as regular exercise. Could it be that young people's risky health behaviors are
linked to their perception of declining happiness with advancing age? Garry and Lohan
analyzed data from face-to-face interviews with over 1,000 citizens of Northern Ireland
aged over 15 years. The participants were asked about their alcohol consumption, their
fruit and vegetable intakes, whether or not they smoked, and how often they took part in
vigorous exercise. The respondents were also asked to report how happy they currently
felt, as well as to estimate how happy they expected to be at the age of 30 and 70. Those
who were over 30 and/or 70 were asked to think back at how happy they were then. The
authors also asked them to indicate how happy the average person of their age at age 30 is
and how happy at age 70.
Boosting Alkali Levels for Bones
ARS-funded scientists have recently reported that compounds in plant foods, which are
alkaliproducing, may help preserve bone and muscle mass. Now, a new ARS-funded study
suggests that reducing the acid load that accompanies the typical high protein diet may be
an important key.
Brain plasticity and chemical
sensitivity
Murray Langdon, a radio host from Canada’s CFAX 1070 station, talks with Annie
Hopper, a former core belief counselor who claims she rewired her brain using neural
plasticity exercises and healed herself from severe chemical and electrical sensitivities,
as well as fibromyalgia.
Brain Scan Study Shows Cocaine
Abusers Can Control Cravings
When asked to inhibit their response to a “cocaine-cues” video, active cocaine
abusers were, on average, able to suppress activity in brain regions linked to drug
craving, according to a new study at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven
National Laboratory. The results, to be published in an upcoming issue of NeuroImage,
suggest that clinical interventions designed to strengthen these inhibitory responses
could help cocaine abusers stop using drugs and avoid relapse.
Brandeis studies evaluate visionary
approach to improving eyesight
Joseph Balboni loves sports. An avid tennis player and golfer, as well as baseball fan,
the 46-year-old insurance agent became increasingly frustrated over time as his eyesight
dimmed due to keratoconus, a degenerative eye disorder. Unable to return the tennis ball
or see the pitch at Red Sox games, he faced the prospect of a corneal transplant to
restore his vision and eye comfort. Then three years ago, Balboni discovered an
alternative treatment. He received a gas permeable scleral lens (covering the white of the
eye) known as the Boston Ocular Surface Prosthesis (BOS-P) from the Boston Foundation for
Sight in Needham, MA. "The scleral lens changed my life," said Balboni. "I
am very fortunate because the corneal transplant is an expensive operation with no
guarantee of lasting results." Balboni's insurance company paid for the lion's share
of the roughly $8,000 for treatment and fitting of the lens, even though insurance
coverage of the lens is not routine. Today, in the December issue of the American Journal
of Ophthalmology Brandeis University researchers published a paper appraising the economic
benefits of the BOS-P, a highly precise scleral lens used to treat severe cornea or ocular
surface disease. A companion paper on the clinical benefits has been published online and
will appear in the journal's January issue. The lens is custom fitted to the eye, vaulting
the cornea while submerging the entire corneal surface in a pool of oxygenated artificial
tears. Designed to improve vision, reduce eye pain, mitigate light sensitivity, and heal
and protect the ocular surface, the lens is used in patients with eye diseases including
keratoconus, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, dry eye syndrome, and chronic graft vs. host
disease. The BOS-P is also useful in patients whose visual acuity is compromised after
many types of eye surgery. The studies were conducted by a team of researchers at the
Heller School of Brandeis University that included William B. Stason, MD, a senior
scientist, Donald Shepard, PhD, a professor and researcher, Moaven Razavi, MS, a research
associate and PhD candidate, and Deborah S, Jacobs, MD, an ophthalmologist at the Boston
Foundation for Sight and Harvard Medical School.
Brown fat cells make 'spare tires'
shrink
Brown adipose tissue is different from white fat pads. It contains loads of mitochondria,
miniature power stations which among other things can 'burn' fat. In doing this, they
normally generate a voltage similar to that of a battery, which then provides energy for
cellular processes. However, the mitochondria of brown fat cells have a short circuit.
They go full steam ahead all the time. The energy released when the fat is broken down is
released as heat. 'This is actually what is intended,' Professor Alexander Pfeifer from
the Bonn PharmaCentre explains. 'Brown fat acts like a natural heating system.' For
example, babies would get cold very quickly without this mechanism. Up to now, it was
thought that brown fat only occurred in newborn babies and was lost with age. However,
this year different groups were able to show that this is not true: even adults have a
deposit of brown fat in the neck area. But with very overweight people this deposit is
only moderately active or is completely absent. The scientists from Bonn, Heidelberg,
Cologne, Martinsried and the Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM,
were now able to show which signals prompt the body to produce brown fat cells. A
signalling pathway which is controlled by the PKG enzyme takes on a key role in this
process. This signalling pathway results in the stem cells of the fatty tissue becoming
brown fat cells. For this it switches on the mass production of mitochondria and ensures
that UCP is formed, the substance that creates the short circuit. 'Furthermore, we were
able to show that PKG makes brown fat cells susceptible to insulin,' Alexander Pfeifer
explains. 'Therefore PKG also controls how much fat is burnt in general.' Mice without PKG
have a lower body temperature, as the researchers were able to show with a thermographic
camera. Above all, animals in the thermal image lack an 'energy spot' between the shoulder
blades, i.e. the place where normally the brown fat is active.
Call to ban BPA baby bottle after
'compelling' breast cancer link
BABY bottles containing the chemical Bisphenol A should be banned because there is
"compelling" evidence linking it to breast cancer risk, British campaigners,
scientists and health charities said.
Caltech scientists find
emotion-like behaviors, regulated by dopamine, in fruit flies
Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have uncovered evidence of
a primitive emotion-like behavior in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Their
findings, which may be relevant to the relationship between the neurotransmitter dopamine
and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are described in the December issue
of the journal Neuron. The Drosophila brain contains only about 20,000 neurons and has
long been considered a powerful system with which to study the genetic basis of behaviors
such as learning and courtship, as well as memory and circadian rhythms. What hasn't been
clear is whether the Drosophila brain also could be used to study the genetic basis of
"emotional" behaviors. "Such studies are important," says David
Anderson, Caltech's Seymour Benzer Professor of Biology and a Howard Hughes Medical
Institute investigator, "because it's believed that abnormalities in these types of
behaviors may underlie many psychiatric disorders." Most of the genes found in the
fruit fly—more accurately referred to as the vinegar fly—are found in humans as
well, including those neurons that produce brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin,
which have been implicated in psychiatric disorders. In their Neuron paper, the Caltech
team—led by postdoctoral fellow Tim Lebestky—found that a series of brief but
brisk air puffs, delivered in rapid succession, caused flies to run around their test
chamber in what Anderson calls a "frantic manner." This behavior persisted for
several minutes after the last of the puffs. "Even after the flies had 'calmed
down,'" he adds, "they remained hypersensitive to a single air puff."
Caltech scientists show how
ubiquitin chains are added to cell-cycle proteins
Researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have been able to view
in detail, and for the first time, the previously mysterious process by which long chains
of a protein called ubiquitin are added by enzymes called ubiquitin ligases to proteins
that control the cell cycle. Ubiquitin chains tag target proteins for destruction by
protein-degrading complexes in the cell. "We found that ubiquitin ligases build
ubiquitin chains very rapidly by transferring ubiquitins one at a time," says Raymond
Deshaies, professor of biology at Caltech and Howard Hughes Medical Institute
investigator. Their findings, and the innovative process by which they were obtained, are
described in this week's issue of the journal Nature. Ubiquitin is one of nature's most
unusual proteins. Unlike most of its protein brethren, ubiquitin has to be physically
attached to other proteins to do its job. "As its name implies, ubiquitin is found in
essentially every kind of eukaryotic cell," says Caltech graduate student Nathan
Pierce, the Nature paper's lead author. In their Nature paper, the Caltech team looked at
the process of ubiquitylation, the method by which ubiquitin and ubiquitin chains are
added to target proteins. The target proteins used in the study, cyclin E and ?-Catenin,
are both involved in controlling the cell cycle.
Cancer or inflammation? New
pancreas test tells
Researchers in Italy said on Wednesday they have developed a test that identifies most
people with autoimmune pancreatitis, which could make it easier for doctors to distinguish
it from pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest types of cancer.
Cells defend themselves from
viruses, bacteria with armor of protein errors
When cells are confronted with an invading virus or bacteria or exposed to an irritating
chemical, they protect themselves by going off their DNA recipe and inserting the wrong
amino acid ito new proteins to defend them against damage, scientists have discovered.
These “regulated errors” comprise a novel non-genetic mechanism by which cells
can rapidly make important proteins more resistant to attack when stressed, said Tao Pan,
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Chicago. A team of 18
scientists from the University of Chicago and the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Disease led by Pan and Jonathan Yewdell published the findings today in the
journal Nature. “This mechanism allows every protein to get some protection,”
Pan said. “The genetic code is considered untouchable, but this is a non-genetic
strategy used in cells to create a bodyguard for proteins.”
Chemicals in Water Alter Gender of
Fish
Something strange is happening to the fish in America's rivers, lakes and ponds. Chemical
pollution seems to be disrupting their hormones, blurring the line between male and
female.
Chemotherapy for testicular cancer
causes long-term neurological damage
The November 25 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute contains a report
about the long-term side effects experienced by men who received cisplatin-based
chemotherapy for testicular cancer. Severe neurological side effects, discoloration of the
hands and feet when exposed to the cold (Raynaud-like phenomena), tinnitus, and impaired
hearing were found to be common in men who received chemotherapy as opposed to those who
did not.
Childhood lead exposure causes
permanent brain damage
A study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to evaluate brain function
revealed that adults who were exposed to lead as children incur permanent brain injury.
The results were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of
North America (RSNA)."What we have found is that no region of the brain is spared
from lead exposure," said the study's lead author, Kim Cecil, Ph.D., imaging
scientist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and professor of radiology,
pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
"Distinct areas of the brain are affected differently." The study is part of a
large research project called the Cincinnati Lead Study, a long-term lead exposure study
conducted through the Cincinnati Children's Environmental Health Center, a collaborative
research group funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. The Cincinnati Lead Study followed prenatal and early
childhood lead exposure of 376 infants from high-risk areas of Cincinnati between 1979 and
1987. Over the course of the project, the children underwent behavioral testing and 23
blood analyses that yielded a mean blood lead level. Lead, a common and potent poison
found in water, soil and lead-based paint, is especially toxic to children's rapidly
developing nervous systems. Homes built before 1950 are most likely to contain lead-based
paint, which can chip and be ingested by children. "Lead exposure has been associated
with diminished IQ, poor academic performance, inability to focus and increased risk of
criminal behavior," Dr. Cecil said.
Children's toys still contain toxic
chemicals
In 2007, a scare about lead paint in toys prompted area county health departments to offer
testing for toys and raised awareness about toys that might be toxic to kids throughout
the country.
Clinical trials launched for
treating most aggressive brain tumour with personalised cell vaccines
The University of Navarra Hospital has launched a series of clinical trials in order to
assess the efficacy of an immunotherapy treatment. This approach involves the application
of personalised vaccines —produced from healthy and tumour cells from the patient him
or herself— and designed to combat glioblastomas, one of the most aggressive and
frequent malignant tumours. The new therapy is administered to participating patients
combined with the standard, first-line treatment involving surgical extirpation of the
tumour followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment with temozolomide. The Hospital
is currently the only centre in Spain undertaking a study of this nature, and for which it
has recently received authorisation from the Medication Agency of the Spanish Health
Ministry. It is planned to involve a sample of 37 patients for the research.
Clumsy kids' brains work
differently
Researchers at the University of British Columbia are shining a new light on a condition
that affects children's ability to print, tie their shoes or play sports.
Combining nanotubes and antibodies
for breast cancer 'search and destroy' missions
Single-walled nanotubes—cylinders of carbon about a nanometer in diameter—have
been highly touted for potential applications such as ultrastrong fibers, electrical wires
in molecular devices, or hydrogen storage components for fuel cells. Thanks to a new
development by researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
and five partners, you can add one more application to the list: detection and destruction
of an aggressive form of breast cancer. HER2 is one of a family of genes that help
regulate the growth and proliferation of human cells. Normal cells have two copies of
HER2, but about 20 to 25 percent of breast cancer cells have multiple copies of the gene,
resulting in the overproduction of a HER2-encoded protein (called HER2 and designated in
Roman type versus italics for the gene) that is associated with particularly fast growing
and difficult to treat tumors. About 40,000 women in the United States are diagnosed
annually with this form of breast cancer. In a recently published paper in BMC Cancer,*
the NIST-led research team bonded an antibody that has been created to attack the HER2
protein, chicken immunoglobulin Y (IgY), to short nanotubes (about 90 nanometers long, or
5,000 times shorter than an amoeba). Both halves of the special combination—the
antibody and the nanotube—have critical roles to play in selectively hunting down the
HER2 tumor cells and eliminating them. First, the broad genetic differences between avian
and human species means that the chicken IgY antibody to HER2 reacts strongly with the
target protein expressed on tumor cells while ignoring normal cells with other human
proteins. The carbon nanotubes attached to the antibodies also become linked to the HER2
tumors.
Constipation - an early sign of
Parkinson's?
People with a history of constipation may be at increased risk of developing Parkinson's
disease down the road, research hints.
Deadly MRSA superbug has 50 percent
mortality rate in hospital patients
A recent Henry Ford Hospital study revealed that a new strain of Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the deadly bacterial "superbug" that becomes
resistant to many antibiotics, is five times more deadly than other previously-seen
strains. Fifty percent of patients who become infected with the new virulent strain die
within 30 days; other MRSA strains kill only about 11 percent.
Depressed women can lose weight as
successfully as others do
Women with major depression were no less likely than were women without it to have
successful results with a weight loss program, according to an article in the Winter 2009
Behavioral Medicine. Group Health Research Institute Senior Research Associate Evette J.
Ludman, PhD, the study leader, concluded that weight loss programs should not exclude
depressed people. Dr. Ludman's study included 190 female Group Health patients age 40 to
65 with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more: 65 with major depressive disorder and 125
without it. The women had not been seeking treatment, but they enrolled in a one-year
behavioral weight loss intervention involving 26 group sessions. The intervention,
developed at the University of Minnesota over the past 20 years, has proven at least as
good as any other currently available non-medical treatment. Some previous research had
hinted that depression might worsen outcomes in behavioral weight loss programs. That's
why trials of weight loss interventions typically exclude people with major depression.
"We expected women with major depression to lose less weight, attend fewer sessions,
eat more calories, and get less exercise than those without depression," Dr. Ludman
said. "We were surprised to find no significant differences between the women who had
depression and those who did not have it." Women had lost around the same amount of
weight at 6 months (8 or 9 pounds) and 12 months (7 or 8 pounds), with no significant
differences between the groups with and without depression. "Instead, what made a
difference was just showing up," she said. Women who attended at least 12 sessions
lost more weight (14 pounds at 6 months, and 11 pounds at 12 months) than did those who
attended fewer sessions (4 pounds at both 6 and 12 months), regardless of whether they had
depression. Being depressed didn't lead them to attend fewer sessions or lose less weight.
Depression may up risk of a leaky
bladder in women
Older women who suffer from major depression are at greater risk of developing urinary
incontinence than women of the same age who are not depressed, new research shows.
Detergent Exposure Hard on Workers'
Lungs
People who work in detergent factories are at increased risk of developing respiratory
problems, including asthma, probably from exposure to chemicals contained in detergent,
two new studies hint.
Detox Your Liver with These Natural
Herbs
In our literally toxic modern society, maintaining liver health is more important than
ever. These natural herbs provide potent results in detoxifying and restoring the liver.
Diabetes cases to double and costs
to triple by 2034
In the next 25 years, the number of Americans living with diabetes will nearly double,
increasing from 23.7 million in 2009 to 44.1 million in 2034. Over the same period,
spending on diabetes will almost triple, rising from $113 billion to $336 billion, even
with no increase in the prevalence of obesity, researchers based at the University of
Chicago report in the December issue of Diabetes Care. The number of those with diabetes
covered by Medicare will rise from 8.2 million to 14.6 million, the researchers predict.
Medicare spending on diabetes will jump from $45 billion to $171 billion. "If we
don't change our diet and exercise habits or find new, more effective and less expensive
ways to prevent and treat diabetes, we will find ourselves in a lot of trouble as a
population," said the study's lead author Elbert Huang, MD, assistant professor of
medicine at the University of Chicago. "Without significant changes in public or
private strategies," the authors wrote, "this population and cost growth are
expected to add a significant strain to an overburdened health care system."
Dirty pigs are healthy pigs
Study finds link between outdoor living and immune health.
Discovery makes brain tumor cells
more responsive to radiation
Duke University Medical Center researchers have figured out how stem cells in the
malignant brain cancer glioma may be better able to resist radiation therapy. And using a
drug to block a particular signaling pathway in these cancer stem cells, they were able to
kill many more glioma cells with radiation in a laboratory experiment. The work builds off
earlier research which showed that cancer stem cells resist the effects of radiation much
better than other cancer cells. The Duke team identified a known signaling pathway called
Notch as the probable reason for the improved resistance. Notch also operates in normal
stem cells, where it is important for cell-cell communication that controls cell growth
and differentiation processes. The study was published in late November by Stem Cells
journal. "This is the first report that Notch signaling in tumor tissue is related to
the failure of radiation treatments," said lead author Jialiang Wang, Ph.D., a
research associate in the Duke Division of Surgery Sciences and the Duke Translational
Research Institute. "This makes the Notch pathway an attractive drug target. The
right drug may be able to stop the real bad guys, the glioma stem cells." Stem cells
in a cancer are the source of cancer cell proliferation, Wang said. Hundreds of cancer
stem cells can quickly become a million tumor cells.
Doctors should reduce use of
pre-surgery stress tests and beta blockers
Physicians should “throttle back” from routinely ordering stress tests and
prescribing beta blockers to patients before non-cardiac surgeries, according to a report
by the University of Michigan Health System. Studies suggest such pre-operative tests and
medications do not save lives and patients can skip them without suffering complications
later
Does a Placebo Gene Exist?
A short time ago, Swedish scientists published a paper suggesting the existence of a
genetic disposition to respond to placebo, thus giving rise to debate in the media about a
possible “placebo gene.” In the current issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt
International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2009; 106[46]: 751–5), Matthias Breidert and Karl
Hofbauer summarize the most recent data about placebos. A placebo is a sham medical drug,
without a pharmacologically active substance, that is externally indistinguishable from
the active drug. The main way in which the placebo effect is brought about is that the
patient is familiar with effective drugs (conditioning) and expects an effect. The way in
which the drug is given, and the patient’s relationship with the doctor, also
influence the effectiveness: for example, red pills suggest a stimulatory effect, whereas
blue pills suggest a calming effect. Furmark et al. of Uppsala University have shown that
two genes that play an important part in serotonin metabolism determine the effectiveness
of placebo treatment in social phobia.
Drop in smoking cuts cancer deaths
in Europe
A decline in smoking in Europe and better screening mean fewer people are dying of cancer,
but lung cancer deaths in women are rising in places like Scotland and Hungary where more
women smoke, doctors said on Monday.
Drug-Resistant Strain of Bacteria
Gains in Africa, With High Death Rates
A new drug-resistant strain of bacteria has emerged in the last decade in Africa and is
causing unusual numbers of deaths there, British and African researchers said on Monday.
Early intervention for toddlers
with autism highly effective, study finds
A novel early intervention program for very young children with autism – some as
young as 18 months – is effective for improving IQ, language ability, and social
interaction, a comprehensive new study has found. "This is the first controlled study
of an intensive early intervention that is appropriate for children with autism who are
less than 2½ years of age. Given that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that
all 18- and 24-month-old children be screened for autism, it is crucial that we can offer
parents effective therapies for children in this age range," said Geraldine Dawson,
Ph.D., chief science officer of Autism Speaks and the study's lead author. "By
starting as soon as the toddler is diagnosed, we hope to maximize the positive impact of
the intervention." The study, published online today in the journal Pediatrics,
examined an intervention called the Early Start Denver Model, which combines applied
behavioral analysis (ABA) teaching methods with developmental 'relationship-based'
approaches. This approach was novel because it blended the rigor of ABA with play-based
routines that focused on building a relationship with the child. While the youngest
children in the study were 18 months old, the intervention is designed to be appropriate
for children with autism as young as 12 months of age. Although previous studies have
found that early intervention can be helpful for preschool-aged children, interventions
for children who are toddlers are just now being tested. Autism is a lifelong
neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors and impairment in verbal
communication and social interaction. It is reported to affect one in 100 children in the
United States.
Ecological speciation by sexual
selection on good genes
Darwin suggested that the action of natural selection can produce new species, but 150
years after the publication of his famous book, 'On the Origin of Species', debate still
continues on the mechanisms of speciation. New research finds sexual selection to greatly
enlarge the scope for adaptive speciation by triggering a positive feedback between mate
choice and ecological diversification that can eventually eliminate gene flow between
species. By means of a mathematical model, former Postdoctoral Fellow at the Santa Fe
Institute and current Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the
University of Bern in Switzerland, Sander van Doorn and fellow colleagues demonstrate that
disruptive ecological selection favors the evolution of sexual preferences for ornaments
that signal local adaptation. Such preferences induce assortative mating with respect to
ecological characters and enhance the strength of disruptive selection. The model predicts
that species can split into specialized ecotypes without the divergence of mating
preferences, avoiding problems that have plagued previous theoretical studies of
speciation by sexual selection. This research study examining the origin of species
through ecological specialization and the simultaneous evolution of mating preferences for
locally adapted mates will be published in the November 26, 2009 issue of Science.
Findings suggest natural and sexual selection can work in concert to achieve local
adaptation and reproductive isolation, even in the presence of substantial gene flow.
Future research involves the development of models to examine interactions between ecology
and mate choice that could help to explain how diversity arises and how reproductive
isolation between species evolves. The ideas presented in the paper may soon be tested in
the field in crossbill birds, sticklebacks and other species where biologists are
currently investigating whether the attractiveness of mates does indeed reflect adaptation
to the local environment.
Elastography Reduces Unnecessary
Breast Biopsies
Elastography is an effective, convenient technique that, when added to breast ultrasound,
helps distinguish cancerous breast lesions from benign results, according to an ongoing
study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America
(RSNA). When mammography yields suspicious findings, physicians often use ultrasound to
obtain additional information. However, ultrasound has the potential to result in more
biopsies because of its relatively low specificity, or inability to accurately distinguish
cancerous lesions from benign ones. Approximately 80 percent of breast lesions biopsied
turn out to be benign, according to the American Cancer Society. "There's a lot of
room to improve specificity with ultrasound, and elastography can help us do that,"
said the study's lead author, Stamatia V. Destounis, M.D., a diagnostic radiologist at
Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, a large, community-based breast imaging center in Rochester,
N.Y. "It's an easy way to eliminate needle biopsy for something that's probably
benign."
Engineers, doctors at UCLA develop
novel material that could help fight arterial disease
A fortuitous discovery that grew out of a collaboration between UCLA engineers and
physicians could potentially offer hope to the nearly 10 million Americans who suffer from
peripheral arterial disease. Also known as hardening of the arteries, peripheral arterial
disease, or PAD, is a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood
flow to the limbs. The condition is considered a red flag for vascular disease, heart
attack and stroke, and its progression can result in the loss of limbs or death.
Fear of anxiety linked to
depression in above-average worriers
Anxiety sensitivity, or the fear of feeling anxious, may put people who are already
above-average worriers at risk for depression, according to Penn State researchers.
Understanding how sensitivity to anxiety is a risk factor for depression may make anxiety
sensitivity a potential target for treating depression in the future. "Anxiety
sensitivity has been called a fear of fear," said Andres Viana, graduate student in
psychology. "Those with anxiety sensitivity are afraid of their anxiety because their
interpretation is that something catastrophic is going to happen when their anxious
sensations arise." Statistical analyses of questionnaire responses showed that
anxiety sensitivity, after controlling for worry and generalized anxiety symptoms in
above-average worriers, significantly predicted depression symptoms. In addition, two of
the four dimensions that make up anxiety sensitivity - the "fear of cognitive
dyscontrol" and the "fear of publically observable anxiety symptoms"
specifically predicted depression symptoms. The third and fourth dimensions, the fear of
cardiovascular symptoms and the fear of respiratory symptoms, were not significant
predictors. "We were interested in examining the relationship between anxiety
sensitivity as a whole and depression," said Viana. "In addition, we looked at
the different dimensions of anxiety sensitivity to see which correlated with depression
symptoms. One of the novel aspects of our study was to look at anxiety sensitivity in a
sample of moderate to high worriers."
Fertility treatment may produce
fewer baby boys
The number of baby boys conceived by a fertility treatment known as ICSI may be lower than
what is produced by Mother Nature, a new study suggests.
First BPA Detection In U.S. Infant
Cord Blood
Study Found More than 200 Chemicals in Cord Blood of African American, Asian and Hispanic
Newborns
First live targeting of tumors with
RNA-based technology
Finding and treating a tumor without disturbing normal tissue presents challenges –
sometimes the most effective therapies can be invasive and harsh. Researchers at Duke
University Medical Center have devised a way they might deliver the right therapy directly
to tumors using special molecules, called aptamers, which specifically bind to living
tumor tissue. They screened a large pool of aptamers in a rodent with liver cancer until
they found the best molecule to bind to a tumor protein. "We are already exploring
attaching chemicals to the aptamers, so the aptamer molecules could deliver tumor-killing
agents where they are needed, which is the next phase of our research," said senior
author Bryan Clary, M.D., chief of the Division of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Oncologic
Surgery.
Fish Populations Reveal
‘Shocking’ Declines
Populations of numerous migratory fish species in the North Atlantic have declined by more
than 95 percent, threatening not only food supplies and economic systems, but also the way
humans perceive the health of the planet’s ecosystems, according to a paper published
today (Dec. 1) in the journal BioScience. "It’s shocking,” said Dr. Karin
Limburg, a fisheries ecologist at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
in Syracuse, N.Y., who is the paper’s lead author. Limburg and her co-author, Dr.
John Waldman of Queens College of the City University of New York, report that a complex
combination of habitat loss (caused largely by the construction of dams that prevent fish
access to traditional spawning areas), urban sprawl, overfishing, pollution and climate
change have led to the precipitous decline. Compounding the problem, they say, is the
evolving knowledge of the humans who make decisions about how natural resources are
managed.
Fish swimming in hormones
Fish are putting up less of a fight on the line when caught - making them less fun for
sport fishing.
For some women, trans fats could be
deadly
For women with heart disease, eating too many artery-clogging trans fats may increase
their risk of dying suddenly from cardiac arrest, a new study suggests.
Force smokers to quit before
surgery
Surgeons should be able to demand that a patient refrains from smoking in the period
before and after an operation, the director-general of the Swedish Welfare Board
(Socialstyrelsen) argued on Friday.
Galician waves are best for
producing energy
The best coastal areas in the Iberian Peninsula in terms of harnessing wave energy are the
Costa da Morte and Estaca de Bares, in La Coruña, Galicia, according to two pioneering
studies by researchers from the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), published this
month in the journals Energy and Renewable Energy. "The Costa da Morte, between
Finisterre and the Sisargas islands, and the Estaca de Bares areas - both of which are on
the coast around La Coruña - have the greatest potential of any coastal areas in the
Iberian Peninsula in terms of installing systems to exploit wave energy", Gregorio
Iglesias, co-author of both studies and an engineer at the Higher Polytechnic School of
the USC, tells SINC. In the research studies, which have just been published in the
journals Energy and Renewable Energy, the engineers say that wave energy along the Costa
da Morte can reach 50 kilowatts per metre of water (more than 400 MW/hm per year) and a
little more than 40 kW/m at Estaca de Bares. "The energy potential in this region in
the north west of the peninsula decreases as one moves eastwards through the Cantabrian
Sea (25 Kw/m in the Basque Country) and through the Atlantic towards the south",
explains Iglesias, "While wave power in the Mediterranean is not strong enough for
efficient energy production". The study analyses the energy potential of Galician
waters, and is the first such study to have focused on this region in detail. The
researchers' data came from maritime climate studies (wave patterns over time) in deep
water at 20 sites along the Galician coast.
Genes rather than stress 'makes
women's hair go grey'
A woman's genes are much more likely than lifestyle factors such as stress or diet to
cause greying hair, a study suggests.
Ginkgo no help for heart, but may
aid leg arteries
The popular herbal supplement ginkgo biloba does not appear to prevent heart attacks and
strokes in older adults, but may help lower their risk of blocked arteries in the legs, a
new study suggests.
Glucose intolerance in pregnancy
associated with postpartum cardiovascular risk
Women who have gestational glucose intolerance (a condition less severe than gestational
diabetes) exhibit multiple cardiovascular risk factors as early as three months after
birth, according to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). Researchers in this study
sought to evaluate the relationship between gestational glucose intolerance and postpartum
risk of metabolic syndrome (defined as the clustering of several cardiometabolic risk
factors including obesity, hypertension and low HDL cholesterol). Metabolic syndrome, like
gestational diabetes itself, is associated with increased risk of developing type 2
diabetes and cardiovascular disease.Researchers followed 487 women who underwent oral
glucose tolerance testing during pregnancy. Each subject was classified as either having
normal glucose tolerance, gestational glucose intolerance or gestational diabetes. At
three months postpartum, researchers evaluated each subject's cardiometabolic
characteristics, such as blood pressure, weight, waist measurement and lipid levels.
Findings support that even mild glucose intolerance during pregnancy predicts an increased
likelihood of the metabolic syndrome at 3 months postpartum. The presence of
cardiovascular risk factors as early as three months postpartum indicates that these risk
factors may be longstanding and contribute to the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease
in this patient population.
Greater risks seen with certain
imaging agents
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration review found the risk of a serious skin disorder is
greater with MRI imaging contrast agents made by GE Healthcare, Bayer AG's and Covidien,
according to an agency memo released on Wednesday.
H1N1 follows ethnic pattern
Alaska natives, asians among groups most hospitalized with swine flu.
Healing food reference
Created by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as a free public service to promote health
freedom and empower consumers with information about the healing power of foods. See
NaturalNews.com and TruthPublishing.com to learn more.
Heart failure linked to gene
variant affecting vitamin D activation
Previous studies have shown a link between low vitamin D status and heart disease. Now a
new study shows that patients with high blood pressure who possess a gene variant that
affects an enzyme critical to normal vitamin D activation are twice as likely as those
without the variant to have congestive heart failure. "This study is the first
indication of a genetic link between vitamin D action and heart disease," says Robert
U. Simpson, professor of pharmacology at the University of Michigan Medical School and one
of the authors of the study in the journal Pharmacogenomics. "This study revealed
that a critical enzyme absolutely required for production of the vitamin D hormone has a
genetic variant associated with the development of congestive heart failure," Simpson
says. "If subsequent studies confirm this finding and demonstrate a mechanism, this
means that in the future, we may be able to screen earlier for those most vulnerable and
slow the progress of the disease." Such a screening test would be years away. Study
co-authors Russel A. Wilke of the Medical College of Wisconsin and Catherine A. McCarthy
of the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation in Marshfield, Wis., analyzed the genetic
profiles of 617 subjects from the Marshfield Clinic Personalized Medicine Project, a large
DNA biobank. They looked for variants in five candidate genes chosen for their roles in
vitamin D regulation and hypertension. One-third of the subjects had both hypertension and
congestive heart failure, one-third had hypertension alone and one-third were included as
healthy controls. The results showed that a variant in the CYP27B1 gene was associated
with congestive heart failure in patients with hypertension. It is already known that
mutations that inactivate this gene reduce the required conversion of vitamin D into an
active hormone.
Heavy metal paradox could point
toward new therapy for Lou Gehrig's disease
New discoveries have been made about how an elevated level of lead, which is a neurotoxic
heavy metal, can slow the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's
disease – findings that could point the way to a new type of therapy. The results
surprised researchers, since lead is also a known risk factor for ALS. This paradox is
still not fully understood, and at this point would not form the basis for a therapy, as
lead is toxic for the nervous system. But scientists say the phenomenon may lead to
promising alternative approaches to the gene therapies that are now a focus of study. The
research was just published in Neurobiology of Disease, a professional journal, by
researchers from the Instituto Clemente Estable and the University of the Republic in
Montevideo, Uruguay, and at Oregon State University. The research has been supported by
the National Institutes of Health. "We know that environmental exposure to lead is a
risk factor for ALS," said Joseph Beckman, holder of the Ava Helen Pauling Chair in
the Linus Pauling Institute and director of the Environmental Health Sciences Center at
OSU. "That's why it's so surprising that, according to studies done with laboratory
animals, higher levels of lead appear to significantly reduce motor neuron loss and
progression of ALS." Research will continue to explore the underlying mechanisms that
may be causing this, Beckman said. But the findings also raise immediate questions about
the wisdom of chelation therapy in efforts to treat ALS, which many people have tried
despite no evidence that it works. Chelation therapy tries to remove heavy metals from the
body, including lead. "Many people have spent thousands of dollars on chelation
therapy to treat ALS, despite a lack of scientific evidence that heavy metals are causing
the disease," Beckman said. "These findings about the potential protective
mechanism of lead now raise concerns about the rationale for chelation therapy in treating
ALS."
Homicide rates linked to trust in
government
When Americans begin routinely complaining about how they hate their government and
don’t trust their leaders, it may be time to look warily at the homicide rate. In
researching the new book American Homicide (Harvard University Press, 2009), an Ohio State
University historian tried to make sense of changing homicide rates by sifting through
records of tens of thousands of homicides in the United States and western Europe over the
past four centuries. He concluded that people’s views about the legitimacy of
government and how much they identify with their fellow citizens play a major role in how
often they kill each other – much more so than the usual theories revolving around
guns, poverty, drugs, race, or a permissive justice system
Hormone ghrelin can boost
resistance to Parkinson's disease
Ghrelin, a hormone produced in the stomach, may be used to boost resistance to, or slow,
the development of Parkinson's disease, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in a
study published in a recent issue of the Journal of Neuroscience. Parkinson's disease is
caused by a degeneration of dopamine neurons in an area of the midbrain known as the
substantia nigra, which is responsible for dopamine production. Reduced production of
dopamine in late-stage Parkinson's causes symptoms such as severe difficulty in walking,
restricted movements, delays in moving, lack of appetite, difficulty eating, periods of
remaining motionless (known as "freezing") and head and limb tremors. When the
dopamine cells get sick and die, Parkinson's can develop. Yale researcher Tamas Horvath
and colleagues found that ghrelin is protective of the dopamine neurons. "We also
found that, in addition to its influence on appetite, ghrelin is responsible for direct
activation of the brain's dopamine cells," said Horvath, chair and professor of
comparative medicine and professor of neurobiology and obstetrics & gynecology at Yale
School of Medicine. "Because this hormone originates from the stomach, it is
circulating normally in the body, so it could easily be used to boost resistance to
Parkinson's or it could be used to slow the development of the disease." Horvath and
colleagues conducted the study in mice that received ghrelin supplementation and in mice
that were deficient in ghrelin hormone and in the ghrelin receptor. When compared to
controls, mice with impaired ghrelin action in the brain had more loss of dopamine.
Horvath said the results could be easily translated to human use because the ghrelin
system is preserved through various species.
Human brains emulated in the
computer world
Researchers at Luleå University of Technology have created a computer-based architecture
that mimics a pair of human brain functions. System that detects and compensates for their
own shortcomings is a possible application, another is to reduce the impact of noise. The
research takes a significant step forward because the research group has recently doubled.
We have developed a model of how the various sources of information that complement each
other, can get a better idea of what is happening. Better to the extent that we may see
more than what the different parts look, "says Tamas Jantvik researcher at Luleå
University of Technology. The architecture that the researchers at LTU has built, broadly
consists of three modules representing different senses. With one, a part of the brain
that deals with visual information is modelled, with another, a part which deals with
auditory information is modelled and with the help of the third a fusion of the first two
is modelled. The plan is to use results from tests of how the brain combines information
such as sight and hearing and use them in engineering applications. We have a model, that
in important respects, has the same behaviour that is measured by researchers that are
investigating the nervous system, said Tamas Jantvik.
Important New Vitamin D Research
Papers
If you didn't get a chance to attend the high level Canadian vitamin D conference earlier
this year, the important new papers shared there are now posted online. By clicking the
link below, you can look at PDFs of crucial research by leading experts in the field,
including:
Interests of 'Big Pharma' don't
coincide with those of medical researchers
As noted in my book Tomorrow's Cures Today? (2000), and despite massive advertising to the
contrary, the interests of industry and those who seek progress in medical research do not
coincide.
Iraq sees alarming rise in cancers,
deformed babies
Incidences of cancer, deformed babies and other health problems have risen sharply, Iraqi
officials say, and many suspect contamination from weapons used in years of war and
accompanying unchecked pollution as a cause.
It takes 2 to infect
Two so-called invasion proteins are crucial for infection. Each binds a specific receptor
on the surface of human cells, which stimulates the host cell to take up the pathogen.
Normally, these receptor molecules exert a different function, for example the regulation
of cell growth and wound healing. The group's results have now been published in the
current issue of the "Journal of Molecular Biology". Spoiled meat is one of the
sources for Listeria infections leading to listeriosis. Pregnant women, newborns and
immune compromised people are susceptible for a severe progression of this disease.
Firstly, the pathogen breaches the intestinal barrier and thus enters the body. The key
for further spreading is the invasion protein internalin B that is located on the
bacterial surface. On human cells, internalin B activates a receptor molecule called
"Met", thereby signaling the host cell to take up the pathogen. Inside the cell,
Listeria uses the host cell's nutrients and is somehow sheltered from an immune response.
Kangaroos could hold key to new sun
cream
Kangaroos may provide the key to a new type of sun cream that could prevent skin cancer,
scientists claim.
Keeping Holiday Stress at Bay
for many people the holidays can exacerbate anxiety, depression, and negative feelings
toward certain family members.
Killing Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Researchers at the Broad Institute and Whitehead Institute (both in Cambridge,
Massachusetts) have discovered a chemical that kills breast cancer stem cells in mice.
Knockouts in human cells point to
pathogenic targets
Whitehead researchers have developed a new type of genetic screen for human cells to
pinpoint specific genes and proteins used by pathogens, according to their paper in
Science. In most human cell cultures genes are present in two copies: one inherited from
the father and one from the mother. Gene inactivation by mutation is therefore inefficient
because when one copy is inactivated, the second copy usually remains active and takes
over. In yeast, researchers have it easier: they use yeast cells in which all genes are
present in only one copy (haploid yeast). Now Carette and co-workers have used a similar
approach and used a human cell line, in which nearly all human chromosomes are present in
a single copy. In this rare cell line, Carette and co-workers generated mutations in
almost all human genes and used this collection to screen for the host genes used by
pathogens. By exposing those cells to influenza or to various bacterial toxins, the
authors isolated mutants that were resistant to them. Carette then identified the mutated
genes in the surviving cells, which code for a transporter molecule and an enzyme that the
influenza virus hijacks to take over cells.
Leading Experts Give Advice on How
to Reduce Your EMF Risk
ElectromagneticHealth.org founder Camilla Rees presents an overview of an emerging public
health issue -- excessive exposures to microwave radiation from wireless technologies.
Legal marijuana scares Big Pharma
Except that we already allow the doctor-prescribed use of highly addictive opiates,
sedatives and stimulants. Why is this plant — and the people who can benefit from its
use — being discriminated against?
Lobbyists pushed off advisory
panels
Hundreds, if not thousands, of lobbyists are likely to be ejected from federal advisory
panels as part of a little-noticed initiative by the Obama administration to curb K
Street's influence in Washington, according to White House officials and lobbying experts.
Loneliness can be contagious
Loneliness, like a bad cold, can spread among groups of people, research at the University
of Chicago, the University of California-San Diego and Harvard shows. Using longitudinal
data from a large-scale study that has been following health conditions for more than 60
years, a team of scholars found that lonely people tend to share their loneliness with
others. Gradually over time, a group of lonely, disconnected people moves to the fringes
of social networks. “We detected an extraordinary pattern of contagion that leads
people to be moved to the edge of the social network when they become lonely,” said
University of Chicago psychologist John Cacioppo, one member of the study team and one of
the nation’s leading scholars of loneliness. “On the periphery people have fewer
friends, yet their loneliness leads them to losing the few ties they have left.”
Other members of the study team were James Fowler, Associate Professor of Political
Science at the University of California-San Diego, and Nicholas Christakis, Professor of
Medicine and Professor of Medical Sociology in the Harvard Medical School. Before
relationships are severed, people on the periphery transmit feelings of loneliness to
their remaining friends, who also become lonely. "These reinforcing effects mean that
our social fabric can fray at the edges, like a yarn that comes loose at the end of a
crocheted sweater," said Cacioppo, the Tiffany & Margaret Blake Distinguished
Service Professor in Psychology. Because loneliness is associated with a variety of mental
and physical diseases that can shorten life, Cacioppo said it is important for people to
recognize loneliness and help those people connect with their social group before the
lonely individuals move to the edges. The scholars' findings were published in the
article, "Alone in the Crowd: The Structure and Spread of Loneliness in a Large
Social Network," published in the December issue of the Journal of Personality and
Social Psychology. For the study, the team examined records of the Framingham Heart Study,
which has studied people in Framingham, Mass. since 1948. The original group, including
more than 5,209 people, was originally studied for the risks of cardiovascular disease.
Mammogram screening - What you need
to know
Recent Danish studies have found that those early studies are flawed or poorly designed or
executed. One study reported this year found that the screening method does not save lives
at all, particularly the lives of patients who have advanced or aggressive breast cancer.
Breast cancer in younger women tend to be more aggressive than those found in older women.
Mammography May Increase Breast
Cancer Risk in Some High-Risk Women
Low-dose radiation from annual mammography screening may increase breast cancer risk in
women with genetic or familial predisposition to breast cancer, according to a study
presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
"For women at high risk for breast cancer, screening is very important, but a careful
approach should be taken when considering mammography for screening young women,
particularly under age 30," said Marijke C. Jansen-van der Weide, Ph.D.,
epidemiologist in the Department of Epidemiology and Radiology at University Medical
Center Groningen in the Netherlands. "Further, repeated exposure to low-dose
radiation should be avoided." Women who are at high risk for breast cancer need to
begin screening at a younger age, because they often develop cancer earlier than women at
average risk. However, according to Dr. Jansen-van der Weide and colleagues, young women
with familial or genetic predisposition to the disease may want to consider alternative
screening methods to mammography, because the benefit of early tumor detection in this
group of women may be offset by the potential risk of radiation-induced cancer.
Marker of oxidative stress predicts
heart disease outcomes
Doctors at Emory University School of Medicine have identified a substance in the blood
that may be useful in predicting an individual's risk for heart disease. The substance is
cystine, an oxidized form of the amino acid cysteine and an indirect measure of oxidative
stress (see also Emory University).
Markets lie about chemical-laden
Chinese produce
Produce at city markets is chock full of dangerous additives, and while the label might
say “made in the USA,” it probably comes from China.
Mayo, state researchers release
paper on illness caused by pig-brain tissue
Affected workers' immune systems attacked the airborne pig-brain tissue as a foreign
invader. However, their immune systems also attacked their bodies' nervous systems because
human and pig tissue are similar, said Lachance, a co-author of the paper. The chance of
developing symptoms increased in proportion to how close someone worked to the
brain-harvest area, he said.
Meat grown in laboratory in world
first
Scientists have managed to grow a form of meat in a laboratory for the first time,
according to reports.
Meat processors turn animal parts
into profit
Tapping into the global marketplace is just one example of how meat producers are finding
new ways to sell animal parts that can't be sold on supermarket shelves.
Melting Glaciers Release Frozen
Toxicants
The melting of glacial ice that formed in the middle of the twentieth century may be a
source of a cocktail of persistent, bioaccumulative toxic substances that can threaten
human health and the environment, according to a study by Christian Bogdal, a postdoctoral
research fellow at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich, and colleagues in
the 1 November 2009 issue of Environmental Science & Technology.
Men eat more processed meat but
don't understand cancer risk
Men eat almost twice as much processed meat as women but are less likely to know it can
cause cancer, research suggests.
Mercury Induces an Unopposed
Inflammatory Response in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Vitro
Low concentrations of HgCl2 affect immune function in human cells by dysregulation of
cytokine signaling pathways, with the potential to influence diverse health outcomes such
as susceptibility to infectious disease or risk of autoimmunity.
Mexico's Transgenic Maize Under
Fire
Mexico doesn't have an adequate system to monitor or protect natural maize (corn)
varieties from transgenes, say prominent scientists concerned about the experimental
planting of genetically modified crops.
Michael Moore - An Open Letter to
President Obama on Afghanistan
You still have the opportunity to save thousands of lives and live up to your campaign
promises. Don't become the next war president, Mr. Obama.
Misleading Research Links Vitamin
Supplements to Cancer
A recent study linking folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements with higher risks of cancer
is misleading, claim two trade associations representing dietary supplement manufacturers
and ingredient suppliers.
Monsanto's dominance draws
antitrust inquiry
Patented seeds are go-to for farmers, who decry their fast-growing price.
More worrisome mammogram news
Young women at high risk for breast cancer actually may be increasing their chances of
contracting the disease by getting annual mammograms.
MRI helps detect life-threatening
pregnancy complication
A study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America
(RSNA) revealed that MRI is a highly accurate means of identifying placenta accreta, a
potentially life-threatening and increasingly common condition that is the leading cause
of death for women just before and after giving birth."Due to the increase in
cesarean sections and other surgeries that leave scarring on the uterine wall, coupled
with women giving birth later in life, the incidence of accreta has increased dramatically
over the past 20 years," said lead researcher Reena Malhotra, M.D., a radiologist at
the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in La Jolla. Placenta accreta, in which the
placenta surrounding a fetus attaches too deeply to a woman's uterus, is most dangerous
when the condition is not detected until the time of delivery. When a placenta that is
deeply attached to the uterus is delivered along with a baby, it pulls with it parts of
the blood-rich uterine wall, rupturing blood vessels that can lead to severe hemorrhaging
in the mother, as well as complications for the baby. Severe cases, particularly when
undiagnosed, may lead to massive hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion, hysterectomy or
death of the mother. While routine prenatal ultrasound is often able to identify the
presence of placenta accreta, it is not always able to definitively diagnose subtle cases.
To evaluate the accuracy of MRI in diagnosing placenta accreta, 108 patients underwent MRI
evaluation at UCSD between 1992 and 2009. The women were referred for MRI based on a
suspicious prenatal ultrasound or clinical examination or significant risk factors for the
condition. Risk factors for placenta accreta include placenta previa (placenta covers all
or part of the cervix), uterine scarring, prior cesarean births and, in some cases,
pregnancies after the age of 35. The researchers were able to compare the MR images with
surgical and/or pathology results in 71 of 108 cases. When correlated with surgical and
pathology findings, MRI had a 90.1 percent accuracy rate in detecting the presence of
accreta. MRI does not expose the mother or fetus to ionizing radiation.
MRI Helps Detect Life-Threatening
Pregnancy Complication
A study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America
(RSNA) revealed that MRI is a highly accurate means of identifying placenta accreta, a
potentially life-threatening and increasingly common condition that is the leading cause
of death for women just before and after giving birth. "Due to the increase in
cesarean sections and other surgeries that leave scarring on the uterine wall, coupled
with women giving birth later in life, the incidence of accreta has increased dramatically
over the past 20 years," said lead researcher Reena Malhotra, M.D., a radiologist at
the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in La Jolla. Placenta accreta, in which the
placenta surrounding a fetus attaches too deeply to a woman's uterus, is most dangerous
when the condition is not detected until the time of delivery. When a placenta that is
deeply attached to the uterus is delivered along with a baby, it pulls with it parts of
the blood-rich uterine wall, rupturing blood vessels that can lead to severe hemorrhaging
in the mother, as well as complications for the baby. Severe cases, particularly when
undiagnosed, may lead to massive hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion, hysterectomy or
death of the mother. While routine prenatal ultrasound is often able to identify the
presence of placenta accreta, it is not always able to definitively diagnose subtle cases.
Multiple sclerosis 'blood blockage
theory' tested
Dr Zamboni, of the University of Ferrara, believes the blockages are the cause rather than
the consequence of MS and that they allow iron from the blood to leak into the brain
tissue, where it causes damage.
Nanoparticles in Some Vitamins,
Cosmetics, Sunscreens and Paint Cause Genetic Damage
Until recently, TiO2 nanoparticles have been labeled non-toxic because they do not cause
chemical reactions. But new research just published in the journal Cancer Research
demonstrates that it is the surface interaction the nanoparticles produce inside a body
that causes genetic damage. Bottom line - the study conducted by researchers at UCLA's
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has revealed for the first time that TiO2
nanoparticles induce single and double-strand DNA breaks and cause chromosomal damage, as
well as inflammation, all of which increase the risk of cancer.
Nations will vanish and millions
lose their homes to rising seas
A rise in sea levels of 1.4m predicted today in a major climate report would result in the
loss of entire nations and the displacement of about ten per cent of the world’s
population, according to scientists.
New data on highly effective
treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
OptiNose is pleased to announce the publication of results from its Phase II clinical
study investigating the efficacy and tolerability of its novel, intranasal drug/device
product for the topical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in
Rhinology, the official journal of the International and European Rhinologic Societies.
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is a chronic disease that can significantly
reduce a patient's quality of life, causing facial pressure and pain, nasal obstruction
and reduced sense of smell. The novel OptiNose device delivers drugs to target sites deep
in the nose, including the sinus openings where nasal polyps emerge. These targets are
often difficult to reach with traditional nasal sprays. In the Phase II study conducted by
OptiNose, patients in the active treatment group experienced highly significant reductions
in polyp size compared to placebo with corresponding significant and progressive
improvements of all symptom scores including rhinitis symptoms, nasal discomfort and sense
of smell. At the conclusion of the study, the polyps had disappeared in 10 out of 54
patients in the active group, whereas polyps were still present in all patients in the
control group. The multicenter, placebo-controlled study, conducted in 109 patients with
mild-to-moderate bilateral nasal polyposis, assessed the efficacy, safety and tolerability
of 400 micrograms of fluticasone propionate delivered twice daily with OptiNose's liquid
nasal drug delivery device over a 12 week period. Reduction in polyp size was measured
using Lildholdt's Scale, a 4-point scale used to rate the size of nasal polyps. A
significantly greater percentage of subjects using the OptiNose product showed a reduction
in polyp size greater than or equal to 1 on the Lildholdt's Scale when compared to placebo
at 4, 8 and 12 weeks (22% vs 7%, p = 0.011; 43% vs 7%, p <0.001; 57% vs 9%, p < 0.001). The summed polyp score was reduced by 35% in the OptiNose treatment group after 12 weeks, compared to an increase in polyp score in the placebo group (-0.98 vs +0.23, p < 0.001). The peak nasal inspiratory airflow (PNIF) of subjects in the active group increased progressively during treatment (p < 0.001) and 76% of subjects treated were improved or very much improved after 12 weeks of treatment (p < 0.001).
New safety concern related to
antipsychotic treatment
Overall, antipsychotic medications are reasonably effective, and fairly well tolerated
treatments for mood and psychotic disorders. However, treatment with a number of
antipsychotic medications is associated with weight gain, and for some, hyperglycemia and
hyperlipidemia. In the current issue of Biological Psychiatry, published by Elsevier,
researchers discuss this cluster of metabolic side effects and how it may contribute to
the risk for diabetes, hypertension, and other medical disorders associated with heart
disease. This is of particular concern because there is a higher cardiovascular mortality
among the severely mentally ill compared to the general population. Researchers already
know that differences exist between antipsychotics in their effect on clinical measures
associated with cardiovascular risk, namely weight, lipids and glucose. Systemic
inflammation has recently emerged as an important marker of cardiovascular risk, but the
effects of antipsychotics on inflammatory markers in the blood have not been extensively
studied until now. Using data from the multi-center CATIE (Clinical Antipsychotic Trials
of Intervention Effectiveness) study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health,
Jonathan Meyer and colleagues examined the impact of multiple antipsychotic therapies on
changes in systemic inflammation. Their findings provide evidence that antipsychotic
medications, particularly olanzapine (Zyprexa®, Eli Lilly and Co.) and quetiapine
(Seroquel®, AstraZeneca), increase the levels of inflammation markers. The markers
implicated include C-reactive protein, E-selectin, and intercellular adhesion molecular-1
(ICAM-1). Increased levels of C-reactive protein in particular are associated with
increased risk for the development or progression of many illnesses including heart
disease, and stroke. "This analysis provides the most compelling evidence to date
that differences in antipsychotic metabolic liability are also seen with markers of
systemic inflammation," explained Dr. Meyer. "It also provides an impetus for
monitoring cardiovascular risk markers in antipsychotic treated patients."
New Source Discovered for the
Generation of Nerve Cells in the Brain
The research group of Professor Magdalena Götz of Helmholtz Zentrum München and
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich has made a significant advance in
understanding regeneration processes in the brain. The researchers discovered progenitor
cells which can form new glutamatergic neurons following injury to the cerebral cortex.
Particularly in Alzheimer’s disease, nerve cell degeneration plays a crucial role. In
the future, new therapeutic options may possibly be derived from steering the generation
and/or migration mechanism. These findings have been published in the current issue of the
renowned journal Nature Neuroscience. Until only a few years ago, neurogenesis – the
process of nerve cell development – was considered to be impossible in the adult
brain. The textbooks asserted that dead nerve cells could not be replaced. Then
researchers discovered regions in the forebrain in humans in which new nerve cells can be
generated throughout life. These so-called GABAergic cells use gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA), a neurotransmitter of the central nervous system.
New stem cell technology developed
at Hebrew University
A novel technology involving use of stem cells, developed by Hebrew University of
Jerusalem researchers, has been applied to provide better and rapid healing for patients
suffering from complicated bone fractures.. The technology, involving isolation of the
stem cells from bone marrow, was developed by Dr. Zulma Gazit, Dr. Gadi Pelled, Prof. Dan
Gazit and their research team at the Skeletal Biotechnology Laboratory at the Hebrew
University Faculty of Dental Medicine and was given public exposure in an article that
appeared in the prestigious journal Stem Cells. The technology has now successfully been
used to treat complicated fractures in seven patients at the Hadassah University Hospital
in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem. To date, in clinical orthopedics, standard treatment for severe
bone loss has involved either amputation or a prolonged period of disability. The use of
prosthetic implants tends to fail in the long term. Excessive bone loss may result in
non-uniting fractures, which are observed in more than one million new cases per year in
the US alone. In recent years, the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs, or multipotent
stem cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types) has been claimed to be a
promising biological therapy that could be used to treat complicated fractures and other
disorders in the skeleton. These cells constitute a unique population of adult stem cells
that can readily be isolated from various sites in the human body, especially from bone
marrow and adipose (fat) tissues. Following isolation, MSCs can be utilized to repair a
variety of injured tissues including bone, cartilage, tendon, intervertebral discs and
even the heart muscle.
New stress-related gene modulates
high blood pressure in mice and men
Does stress increase blood pressure? This simple question has been the focus of intense
research for many years. New Stress-related gene Modulates High Blood Pressure in Mice
& Men Does stress increase blood pressure? This simple question has been the focus of
intense research for many years. Now new research has for the first time established a
link between a novel gene, phosducin, and the blood pressure response to stress in mice as
well as humans. The studies were directed by scientists at the University of Freiburg and
Muenster in Germany, and the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, in collaboration
with other institutions in Europe and Canada. The results are published online in the
Journal of Clinical Investigation in advance of the print publication. The German team,
led by Lutz Hein M.D., in collaboration with Monika Stoll, Ph.D., generated mice lacking
the phosducin gene and compared them with normal mice. The mice lacking this gene
developed high blood pressure under various conditions of stress. The mechanism of this
gene's action appears to be directly involved with specific sympathetic nerve cells The
cells show a distinct increase in their activity translating into an increase in blood
pressure. The findings were then tested using DNA from 342 African Americans enrolled in
an ongoing high blood pressure study at the Medical College, and 810 French Canadians at
the University of Montreal. The volunteers were then asked to perform certain standardized
stress-related activities which confirmed the beneficial action of the gene in humans. In
African Americans as well as French Canadians, certain phosducin DNA variants serve as
markers and can identify patients with an increase blood pressure response, for example
when taking a math test. Additional cohorts from Europe also confirm this relationship
with regard to blood pressure.
New study finds men and women may
respond differently to danger
Researchers using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study brain activation
have found that men and women respond differently to positive and negative stimuli,
according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of
North America (RSNA)."Men may direct more attention to sensory aspects of emotional
stimuli and tend to process them in terms of implications for required action, whereas
women direct more attention to the feelings engendered by emotional stimuli," said
Andrzej Urbanik, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Radiology at Jagiellonian University Hospital in
Krakow, Poland. For the study, Dr. Urbanik and colleagues recruited 40 right-handed
volunteers, 21 men and 19 women, between the ages of 18 and 36. The volunteers underwent
fMRI while viewing pictures from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS), a
widely used, standardized testing system comprised of several thousand slides of various
objects and images from ordinary life designed to evoke defined emotional states. The
images were displayed in two runs. For the first run, only negative pictures were shown.
For the second run, only positive pictures were shown. While viewing the negative images,
women showed decidedly stronger and more extensive activation in the left thalamus, which
relays sensory information to and from the cerebral cortex, including the pain and
pleasure centers. Men exhibited more activation in the left insula, which gauges the
physiological state of the entire body and then generates subjective feelings that can
bring about actions. Information from the insula is relayed to other brain structures
involved in decision making. "The brain activation seen in the women might indicate
stronger involvement of the neural circuit, which is associated with identification of
emotional stimuli," Dr. Urbanik said. "The more pronounced activation of the
insular cortex in the men might be related to the autonomic components, such as elevated
heart rate or increased sweating, that accompany watching emotional material."
New tools for prediction of disease
progression in acute childhood leukemia
Researchers at Uppsala University and University Children’s Hospital in Uppsala have
devised powerful new tools for typing cells from children with acute lymphatic leukemia
and for prediction of how children with leukemia will respond to chemotherapy. The study
was recently published in electronic form by the prestigious hematological journal Blood.
Acute leukemia is the most common form of childhood cancer. The new study shows that DNA
methylation is a promising tool for predicting disease progression. DNA methylation is a
so-called epigenetic change in the genome. Epigenetic changes are alterations of the
genomic DNA that do not affect the DNA sequence – as opposed to hereditary mutations.
The present study analyzed DNA methylation of the DNA of bone marrow cells from 400
children with acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL) from the Nordic countries. These samples are
unique in an international perspective. During many years pediatric oncologists in the
Nordic countries have collected detailed information about the patients and documented it
in a Nordic database. On the basis of a preliminary analysis of 8,000 human genes, the
scientists selected 400 genes for analysis of DNA methylation. Methylation analysis of
only 40 genes allowed subtyping of leukemic cells from the patients with a similar
accuracy as is achieved by cytogenetic methods routinely used today. The researchers also
identified groups of genes whose DNA methylation levels correlated with the treatment
response in ALL patients.
Newly explored bacteria reveal some
huge RNA surprises
Yale University researchers have found very large RNA structures within previously
unstudied bacteria that appear crucial to basic biological functions such as helping
viruses infect cells or allowing genes to "jump" to different parts of the
chromosome. These exceptionally large RNA molecules have been discovered using DNA
sequence data available within the past few years. The findings, reported in the December
3 issue of the journal Nature, suggest many other unusual RNAs remain to be found as
researchers explore the genes of more species of bacteria, said Ronald Breaker, senior
author of the paper and professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
"Our work reveals new classes of large RNAs exist, which would be akin to protein
scientists finding new classes of enzymes," said Breaker, a Howard Hughes Medical
Institute investigator. "Since we have only scratched the surface when it comes to
examining microbial DNA that is covering the planet – there will certainly be many
more large RNAs out there to discover and these newfound RNAs are also likely to have
amazing functions as well." The RNA molecules rank among the largest and most
sophisticated RNAs yet discovered and may act like enzymes or carry out other complex
functions in bacteria. The RNAs are found in bacteria which have yet to be grown in labs
and so have been difficult to study. RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a chemical related to
DNA. (Move definition up) RNA molecules are best known for carrying information from genes
encoded in DNA to ribosomes, which are the protein-manufacturing machines of cells.
However, some RNAs are not passive messengers, but form intricate structures that function
like enzymes. For example, ribosomes are constructed using the two largest structured RNAs
in bacteria that together function as the chemical factory for producing proteins. Yale
University's Thomas Steitz won the 2009 Nobel Prize for his work to solve the
atomic-resolution structure of ribosomes from bacterial cells. His work helped prove that
ribosomes stitch together amino acids to make proteins using large RNAs like enzymes.
NY Times Blows The Whistle On Drug
Industry's Dirty Tricks
As a sobering example of how members of Congress can be spoon-fed the views and even the
exact words of high-powered lobbying firms, consider remarks inserted into the
Congressional Record after the debate and vote on health care reform in the House.
Oil Sands Threaten Our Survival, Al
Gore Warns
Extracting oil from Alberta's tar sands jeopardizes the survival of our species, says Al
Gore.
OSU researcher releases book on
environmental struggles in China
Oregon State University anthropologist Bryan Tilt’s new book, “The Struggle for
Sustainability in Rural China: Environmental Values and Civil Society,” documents one
rural Chinese community’s battle with environmental contamination, and what local
residents are doing to fight pollution. Tilt’s book, released Dec. 11 through
Columbia University Press, sheds light on a growing movement in one of the world’s
largest economies to come to grips with its environmental impact. Though China’s
economy is projected to become the world’s largest within the next 20 years,
industrial pollution threatens both the health of the country's citizens and the natural
resources on which their economy depends. Capturing the consequences of this reality, Tilt
conducts an in-depth, ethnographic study of a rural community in Sichuan Province reeling
from pollution. Three local factories — a zinc smelter, a coking plant, and a
coal-washing plant — produce air and water pollution that far exceeds the standards
set by the World Health Organization and China’s Ministry of Environmental
Protection. Interviewing state and company officials, factory workers, farmers, and
scientists, Tilt shows how residents cope with this pollution and how they view its
effects on health and economic growth.
Out of Plumb When Water Treatment
Causes Lead Contamination
In September 2009, parents, school staff, and politicians were unsettled to learn that
children in many U.S. schools are quaffing not just water but lead and other
contaminants when they quench their thirst at the school drinking fountain.
Pancreatic tumors are marked for
immunotherapy
Pancreatic tumors can be identified by a readily detectable marker that shows promise as a
basis for immune therapy against the disease, according to research at Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The marker is mesothelin, a protein normally
found on mesothelial cells that line the body cavities. Several types of cancer cells make
large amounts of mesothelin, which then circulates in the blood. Mesothelin levels in the
blood were shown in earlier studies to predict survival in patients with ovarian cancer
and mesothelioma (a cancer of mesothelial cells). The researchers wanted to know if
elevated blood levels of mesothelin could be used as a biological indicator for pancreatic
disease. The study, published this month in Clinical Cancer Research, also examined
whether the protein could be useful for immune-based cancer treatments. "All
pancreatic tumor specimens we tested displayed mesothelin on them, and the protein could
be detected in the blood of 99 percent of our study patients with pancreatic cancer,"
says co-senior author Peter Goedegebuure, Ph.D., research associate professor of surgery.
"Other studies suggest that mesothelin plays an essential role in the development and
growth of cancer, making it an ideal target for therapy." Pancreatic adenocarcinoma,
the most common type of pancreatic cancer, strikes about 40,000 Americans per year.
However, it is often not diagnosed until advanced stages of the disease because symptoms
are non-specific or completely absent. Fewer than five percent of patients will survive
more than five years after diagnosis. "If we can turn on the immune system to attack
cells that have mesothelin, that might become an important part of pancreatic cancer
therapy," says co-senior author William G. Hawkins, M.D., a pancreatic cancer surgeon
with the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University.
"Because mesothelin aids tumor growth, loss of mesothelin could make cancer cells
behave more like normal cells. That means even if immunotherapy only knocked out the
mesothelin in pancreatic cancer cells instead of killing the cells, it could still be
effective. That's what's so exciting about mesothelin as a therapeutic target." The
study showed that mesothelin in the blood was significantly higher in 73 of 74 patients
with pancreatic adenocarcinoma when compared to healthy people. There was no relationship
between stage of disease or tumor volume and level of circulating mesothelin.
Additionally, five patients with benign pancreatic disease who were tested had high levels
of circulating mesothelin.
Parent Training Key to Improved
Treatment of Behavior Problems in Children With Autism
The serious behavior problems that can occur in children with autism and related
conditions can be reduced with a treatment plan that includes medication combined with a
structured training program for parents, according to Yale University researchers and
their colleagues. Published in the December 2009 issue of the Journal of the American
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the study was conducted by the National
Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP)
Autism Network. The 24-week, three-site trial was conducted at Yale, Ohio State University
and Indiana University. Lawrence Scahill, professor at Yale School of Nursing and the Yale
Child Study Center, is principal investigator at the Yale site. Results from a 2002 RUPP
report showed that the antipsychotic medication risperidone (Risperdal) reduced such
behavioral problems as tantrums, aggression and self-injury in children with autism.
However, most children’s symptoms returned when the medication was discontinued after
six months of effective treatment. Also, risperidone is associated with adverse effects
such as weight gain, which can lead to obesity and related health problems. In this new
study, the RUPP group tested the benefits of medication alone compared to medication plus
a parent training program that actively involves parents in managing their children’s
severely disruptive and noncompliant behaviors. In a series of 14 sessions over six
months, parents were taught to reduce their children’s challenging behavior and to
enhance daily living skills.
Past regional cold and warm periods
linked to natural climate drivers
Intervals of regional warmth and cold in the past are linked to the El Niño phenomenon
and the so-called "North Atlantic Oscillation" in the Northern hemisphere's jet
stream, according to a team of climate scientists. These linkages may be important in
assessing the regional effects of future climate change. "Studying the past can
potentially inform our understanding of what the future may hold," said Michael Mann,
Professor of meteorology, Penn State. Mann stresses that an understanding of how past
natural changes have influenced phenomena such as El Niño, can perhaps help to resolve
current disparities between state-of the-art climate models regarding how human-caused
climate change may impact this key climate pattern. Mann and his team used a network of
diverse climate proxies such as tree ring samples, ice cores, coral and sediments to
reconstruct spatial patterns of ocean and land surface temperature over the past 1500
years. They found that the patterns of temperature change show dynamic connections to
natural phenomena such as El Niño. They report their findings in today's issue (Nov. 27)
of Science. Mann and his colleagues reproduced the relatively cool interval from the 1400s
to the 1800s known as the "Little Ice Age" and the relatively mild conditions of
the 900s to 1300s sometimes termed the "Medieval Warm Period." "However,
these terms can be misleading," said Mann. "Though the medieval period appears
modestly warmer globally in comparison with the later centuries of the Little Ice Age,
some key regions were in fact colder. For this reason, we prefer to use 'Medieval Climate
Anomaly' to underscore that, while there were significant climate anomalies at the time,
they were highly variable from region to region." The researchers found that 1,000
years ago, regions such as southern Greenland may have been as warm as today. However, a
very large area covering much of the tropical Pacific was unusually cold at the same time,
suggesting the cold La Niña phase of the El Niño phenomenon.
Patients say 'no thanks' to risky
medical treatments
A recent study suggests that increasing patient responsibility for making medical
decisions may decrease their willingness to accept risky treatment options. Details of
this proof-of-concept study appear in the December issue of Arthritis Care & Research,
a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nearly 1.1 billion
visits to physician offices and hospital outpatient and emergency departments were made in
the U.S. in 2006. A noval approach to doctor-patient interactions has emerged where both a
patient and health care professional share information and jointly decide on course of
treatment for the patient. This approach called shared-decision making (SDM) has been used
in clincical settings to improve the quality of care for patients. Past studies have shown
that increasing patient participation in decision-making decreases utiliztion of risky
procedures. Other studies indicate that risk perception is increased under conditions that
emphasize choice. Liana Fraenkel, M.D., M.P.H., from Yale University School of Medicine
and Ellen Peters, Ph.D., from Decision Research enrolled 216 participants in their medical
decision making study. A demographic profile of the subjects showed that 70% were
Caucasian, 62% were female, and the mean age was 59 years. Participants attending
outpatient clinic appointments were asked to view a video in which a physician described
the availability of a new medication associated with a rare risk of a serious side effect.
Phthalates soften both plastics and
boys' behaviors
Exposure of pregnant women to what makes plastics soft can feminize boys, according to a
new study in the International Journal of Andrology.
Physician-scientist proves stem
cells heal lungs of newborn animals
Dr. Bernard Thébaud lives in two very different worlds. As a specialist in the Stollery
Children's Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, he
cares for tiny babies, many of whom struggle for breath after being born weeks before they
are due. Across town, in his laboratory in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the
University of Alberta, Dr. Thébaud dons a lab coat and peers into a microscope to examine
the precise effect of stem cells on the lungs. Today, with his scientific research being
published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Dr. Thébaud
has made a significant leap to bridge the gap between those two worlds. An international
team of scientists led by Dr. Thébaud has demonstrated for the first time that stem cells
protect and repair the lungs of newborn rats. "The really exciting thing that we
discovered was that stem cells are like little factories, pumping out healing
factors," says Dr. Thébaud, an Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
Clinical Scholar. "That healing liquid seems to boost the power of the healthy lung
cells and helps them to repair the lungs." In this study, Thébaud's team simulated
the conditions of prematurity – giving the newborn rats oxygen. The scientists then
took stem cells, derived from bone marrow, and injected them into the rats' airways. Two
weeks later, the rats treated with stem cells were able to run twice as far, and had
better survival rates. When Thébaud's team looked at the lungs, they found the stem cells
had repaired the lungs, and prevented further damage.
Plasma produces KO cocktail for
MRSA
MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) and other drug-resistant bacteria could
face annihilation as low-temperature plasma prototype devices have been developed to offer
safe, quick, easy and unfailing bactericidal cocktails. Two prototype devices have been
developed: one for efficient disinfection of healthy skin (e.g. hands and feet) in
hospitals and public spaces where bacteria can pose a lethal threat; and another to shoot
bacteria-killing agents into infested chronic wounds and enable a quicker healing process.
Two papers published today, Thursday 26 November, as part of a selection of papers on
Plasma Medicine in New Journal of Physics (co-owned by the Institute of Physics and German
Physical Society), demonstrate how far the design of equipment to harness the
bacteria-killing power of low-temperature plasma has come. Plasma, oft called the fourth
state of matter after solid, liquid and gas, is defined by its ionized state. In space,
stars are made up of high-energy plasma and, on Earth, it is researchers in high-energy
plasma that are making significant strides towards limitless energy from nuclear fusion.
The high energy of plasma stems from some atoms or molecules in a gas being stripped of
their electrons, resulting in a mix of ionized and neutral species. Also on Earth,
scientists have been working on low-temperature and atmospheric-pressure plasma and have
found applications in a range of industries, from plastic bag production to the
manufacturing of streetlamps and semiconductor circuits. In a low-temperature plasma,
unlike its high-temperature counterparts, the temperature of ions and neutral particles
stays low. The 'recipe' for producing such plasmas is simple: the fraction of atoms
(molecules) that are ionized – and therefore are hot – is so low that collisions
with cold neutral atoms (molecules) quickly reduce their temperature again. The analogy of
adding a drop of hot water to a bucket of cold water gives a sense of how low-temperature
plasma physicists are able to create plasmas without dramatically increasing the
temperature of the overall molecules. In medicine, low-temperature plasma is already used
for the sterilization of surgical instruments as plasma works at the atomic level and is
able to reach all surfaces, even the interior of hollow needle ends. Its ability to
disinfect is due to the generation of biologically active bactericidal agents, such as
free radicals and UV light, which can be delivered to specific locations. It is research
into how and why these biologically active agents are generated that has led to the
construction of medically invaluable devices.
Plastics chemical phthalate may
shorten pregnancy
Pregnant women who are exposed to higher levels of an increasingly controversial chemical
in certain plastics may deliver their babies slightly earlier than women with less
exposure, results of a study hint.
Polyphenols May Reduce Risk of
Alzheimer’s Disease
A diet rich in plant nutrients known as polyphenols, as well as polyunsaturated fatty
acids, may delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Prenatal Bisphenol A Exposure and
Early Childhood Behavior
These results suggest that prenatal BPA exposure may be associated with externalizing
behaviors in 2-year-old children, especially among female children.
Prenatal Exposure to
Organohalogens, Including Brominated Flame Retardants, Influences Motor, Cognitive, and
Behavioral Performance at School Age
Our results demonstrate for the first time that transplacental transfer of
polybrominated flame retardants is associated with the development of children at school
age. Because of the widespread use of these compounds, especially in the United States,
where concentrations in the environment are four times higher than in Europe, these
results cause serious concern.
Prince Charles urges government to
protect alternative medicine
Prince Charles is lobbying the Government to protect the future of alternative medicine
from new EU rules and ensure the safety of its patients.
Professional pesticide use ups risk
of nasal woes
hen people think about pesticides and health, cancer and birth defects probably come to
mind. But new research shows pesticide exposure may contribute to a much more common
affliction = itchy, runny, stuffy noses.
Protein level could aid ectopic
pregnancy test - study
Ectopic pregnancies put the mother at risk because of the possibility that the area where
it is growing - usually the fallopian tube but sometimes the cervix or ovaries - can
rupture, causing potentially fatal internal bleeding.
Pumpkin Skin Useful In Killing
Germs
Researchers have found that the proteins found in pumpkin skin can kill microbes that
cause infection.
Quest for new anti-tumour
prognostic and pharmaceutical markers for melanoma patients
The constant increase in the rate of cutaneous melanoma over recent years and its
resistance to anti-tumour pharmaceutical drugs has meant that the study of cutaneous
melanoma is one of the greatest scientific challenges in the field of cancer. The Human
Melanoma research team at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) is focusing on
this study. The identification of prognostic markers susceptible to melanoma and the
development of new pharmaceutical drugs against cell tumours are the two main lines of
research of the Human Melanoma Research Team at the University of the Basque Country
(UPV/EHU). The Human Melanoma Research Team is part of the Department of Cell Biology and
Histology and the persons responsible are Ms María Dolores Boyano and Ms Aintzane
Asumendi. The team has clinical specialists such as Dr. José Luís Díaz Pérez and Dr.
Careaga from the Dermatology Services at the Cruces and Basurto Hospitals respectively.
The two previously mentioned lines of research are two ways of making progress in research
into cancer. Melanoma is a tumour which, if diagnosed at early stages of its development,
generally has a good prognosis. However, on occasions, the behaviour of the tumour is very
aggressive and gives rise to metastasis which causes death amongst patients. This is why
it is very important to undertake early diagnosis of melanoma. In this vein, the UPV/EHU
team has focused its research on prognostic markers and the identification of proteins
directly related to this tumour process.
Rat stem cell study may help
premature babies
Stem cells have helped to heal the lungs of newborn rats, a finding that could someday
help premature babies, researchers in Alberta say.
Rectal cancer tumour destroyed by
ultrasound is a first
A patient with rectal cancer has become the first to have part of their tumour destroyed
by ultrasound, say UK doctors.
Red wine 'good for your teeth'
Red wine could be good for your teeth and help ward off tooth decay, according to new
research.
Research calls for regulation of
non-exhaust emissions
Research carried out at the University of Hertfordshire by a PhD student calls for the
introduction of legislation related to non-exhaust emissions (from road surface wear,
brakes or tyres), after sampling atmospheric particles within the Hatfield Tunnel. Dr
Samantha Lawrence, aged 27 from Enfield, who was a PhD student under the supervision of
Professor Ranjeet Sokhi (principle supervisor), Dr Hongjun Mao and Dr Ravindra Khaiwal at
the University’s Centre of Atmospheric and Instrumentation Research (CAIR), received
her PhD award last week at the University of Hertfordshire’s graduation ceremonies at
St Alban's Cathedral for a thesis entitled: Tunnel Measurements and Source Apportionment
Modelling to Quantify Atmospheric Particle Emissions from Non-Exhaust Sources.
Research sheds light on workings of
anti-cancer drug
The copper sequestering drug tetrathiomolybdate (TM) has been shown in studies to be
effective in the treatment of Wilson disease, a disease caused by an overload of copper,
and certain metastatic cancers. That much is known. Very little, however, is known about
how the drug works at the molecular level. A new study led by Northwestern University
researchers now has provided an invaluable clue: the three-dimensional structure of TM
bound to copper-loaded metallochaperones. The drug sequesters the chaperone and its bound
copper, preventing both from carrying out their normal functions in the cell. For patients
with Wilson disease and certain cancers whose initial growth is helped by copper-dependent
angiogenesis, this is very promising. This knowledge opens the door to the development of
new classes of pharmaceutical agents based on metal trafficking pathways, as well as the
further development of more efficient TM-based drugs. The study will be published in
Science Express Nov. 26. "Essential metals are at the center of many emerging
problems in health, medicine and the environment, and this work opens the door to new
biological experiments," said Thomas V. O'Halloran, the study's senior author and the
Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor of Chemistry in the Weinberg College of Arts and
Sciences at Northwestern. He and geneticist Valeria Culotta of Johns Hopkins University
discovered the first copper chaperone function in 1997.
Researchers discover biological
basis of 'bacterial immune system'
Bacteria don't have easy lives. In addition to mammalian immune systems that besiege the
bugs, they have natural enemies called bacteriophages, viruses that kill half the bacteria
on Earth every two days. Still, bacteria and another class of microorganisms called
archaea (first discovered in extreme environments such as deep-sea volcanic vents) manage
just fine, thank you, in part because they have a built-in defense system that helps
protect them from many viruses and other invaders. A team of scientists led by researchers
at the University of Georgia has now discovered how this bacterial defense system works,
and it could lead to new classes of targeted antibiotics, new tools to study gene function
in microorganisms and more stable bacterial cultures used by food and biotechnology
industries to make products such as yogurt and cheese. The research was published today in
the journal Cell. "Understanding how bacteria defend themselves gives us important
information that can be used to weaken bacteria that are harmful and strengthen bacteria
that are helpful," said Michael Terns, a professor of biochemistry and molecular
biology in UGA's Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. "We also hope to exploit this
knowledge to develop new tools to speed research on microorganisms."
Salmon as transport vectors for
mercury
Some of the mercury adult salmon import to freshwater systems from the ocean goes back out
to sea again with their offspring.
Scientists Believe Your Cell Phone
Is a Death Trap
ElectromagneticHealth.org founder Camilla Rees presents an overview of an emerging public
health issue -- excessive exposures to microwave radiation from wireless technologies.
Scientists gain new understanding
of disease-causing bacteria
A team of scientists from The Forsyth Institute, the University of Connecticut Health
Center, the CDC and the Wadsworth Center, have used state-of-the-art technology to
elucidate the molecular architecture of Treponema pallidum, the bacterium which causes
syphilis. The previously unknown detailed structure of the bacteria can now be shown in
three dimensions. This provides the first real image of the pathogen and reveals
previously unknown features, which may help fight the spread of syphilis. Cryo-electron
tomography (CET) is a type of microscope that is used to obtain a three-dimensional
reconstruction of a sample from two dimensional images at extremely low temperatures.
Using CET, the research team has clarified the fundamental differences between Treponema
pallidum and other gram-negative bacteria. This research will be featured as the cover
story in the December 15th issue of the Journal of Bacteriology.
(http://jb.asm.org/content/vol191/issue24/cover.dtl) According to lead author Jacques
Izard, Ph.D., this work provides a clear snapshot of a cell in real time. Added Izard,
"This changes how we study this bacterium. Having an accurate architecture of the
cell provides important insight for understanding how it becomes invasive in the human
body. With this information we may learn how to stop disease progression." After a
sharp decrease in the rate of primary and secondary syphilis cases in the 90s, since the
year 2000 the CDC has observed a steady increase in prevalence. The over 36,000 cases
recorded annually affect both men and women as well as newborns with congenital syphilis.
Scientists identify possible
therapy target for aggressive cancer
UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found that a naturally occurring protein
— transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-ß1) — which normally suppresses the
growth of cancer cells, causes a rebound effect after a prolonged exposure. Cancer cells
go into overdrive and become even more aggressive and likely to spread, the researchers
report. The mechanism for this reversal is unknown, but UT Southwestern researchers and
their colleagues in Indiana suspect that cancerous cells activate a defense mechanism in
response to the lethal protein. This mechanism turns on a cascade of cancer-promoting
genes.But clinicians may be able to exploit this rebound for better treatments, said Dr.
David Boothman, co-senior author of the study, available online today and appearing in the
January issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation. “These genetic changes would
start prior to metastases, so if we detect them early, we might be able to tailor
treatment in anticipation of a more aggressive cancer,” said Dr. Boothman, a
professor of radiation oncology and pharmacology and associate director of translational
research in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern.
Scripps research study describes
new tool in the fight against autoimmune diseases, blood cancers
A study led by a Scripps Research Institute scientist describes a new, highly pragmatic
approach to the identification of molecules that prevent a specific type of immune cells
from attacking their host. The findings add a powerful new tool to the ongoing search for
potential treatments for autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as
blood cancers, such as myeloid leukemia. The study by Thomas Kodadek, a professor in the
Chemistry and Cancer Biology Departments at Scripps Florida, and colleagues was published
in the November 25, 2009 issue (Volume 16, issue 11) of the journal Chemistry &
Biology. In the new study, Kodadek and his colleagues used samples from an animal model of
multiple sclerosis to screen for T cells—a type of white blood cell that plays a
central role in the immune system—with a heightened presence in the disease. The
screen also identified molecules that interfere with these T cells'
"autoreactivity," in other words, their attack on the body itself rather than a
foreign invader such as virus or bacteria. "Our technique simultaneously uncovers and
isolates autoreactive T cells as well as inhibitors to them," Kodadek said.
"It's a double whammy. At the heart of this is a comparative screening process of
normal T cells versus disease-causing T cells. While the process is technically
complicated and difficult, the thinking behind it is not. We wanted to simplify the
process of identifying compounds that could inhibit autoreactive T cells with exceptional
specificity, and we succeeded." The scientists used a model of MS, an autoimmune
inflammatory disease affecting the brain and spinal cord, for the study. In MS, the immune
system attacks the myelin sheath covering and protecting nerve cells, leading to a variety
of symptoms depending on which part of the nervous system is affected. Common symptoms of
the condition include fatigue; numbness; walking, balance, and coordination problems;
bladder and bowel dysfunction; vision problems; dizziness and vertigo; sexual dysfunction;
pain; cognitive problems; emotional changes; and spasticity.
Seeing family for the holidays?
Scientists discover how the stress might kill you
If you ever thought the stress of seeing your extended family over the holidays was slowly
killing you—bad news; a new research report in the December 2009 print issue of the
Journal of Leukocyte Biology (http://www.jleukbio.org) shows that you might be right.
Here's the good news: results from the same study might lead to entirely new treatments
that help keep autoimmune diseases like lupus, arthritis, and eczema under control. That's
because researchers from the University of Connecticut Health Center have found that the
same part of our nervous system that is responsible for the fight-or-flight response
(called the sympathetic nervous system) also controls regulatory T cells, which are used
by the body to end an immune response once a foreign invader has been removed or
destroyed. "We show for the first time that the nervous system controls the central
immune police cells, called regulatory T cells," said Robert E. Cone, Ph.D., a senior
researcher in whose laboratory the work was done at the University of Connecticut Health
Center. "This further shows that it is imperative to concentrate on the neuro-immune
interactions and to understand how these two different systems, the immune and nervous
systems, interact."
Smokeless tobacco called 'moist
snuff' is contaminated with harmful substances
A new study on the smokeless tobacco product called moist snuff — placed between lip
and gum — has led scientists in Minnesota to urge the tobacco industry to change
manufacturing practices to reduce snuff's content of carcinogens. Their study is published
online in ACS' monthly journal Chemical Research in Toxicology. It reports that this
category of tobacco products contains surprisingly high levels of certain toxic and
cancer-causing substances. Called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), they may
contribute to carcinogenic effects associated with smokeless tobacco use. Irina Stepanov
and colleagues note that use of moist snuff increased by almost 80 fold between 1986-2003,
partially because of the notion that it is safer then cigarettes. While smokeless tobacco
use is indeed associated with lower risk of cancer as compared to cigarette smoking, it
can lead to precancerous oral lesions and oral, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer. Only
trace amounts of one of the PAHs has been reported to be present in smokeless tobacco
prior to the recent discovery by Stepanov and colleagues that at least eight PAHs are
present in smokeless tobacco. This finding inspired the new research. The scientists
analyzed the PAHs in 23 moist snuff samples that included various flavors of the most
popular brands sold in the U.S. They identified 23 different PAHs in the samples, of which
9 are classified as carcinogens. They conclude that PAHs are one of the most abundant
groups of cancer-causing substances in moist snuff. "Urgent measures are required
from the U.S. tobacco industry to modify manufacturing processes so that the levels of
these toxicants and carcinogens in U.S. moist snuff are greatly reduced," the article
notes.
Special ultrasound accurately
identifies skin cancer
High-frequency ultrasound with elastography can help differentiate between cancerous and
benign skin conditions, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the
Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). "High-frequency ultrasound with
elastography has the potential to improve the efficiency of skin cancer diagnosis,"
said lead author Eliot L. Siegel, M.D., vice chairman of the Department of Radiology at
the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSM) in Baltimore. "It successfully
delineated the extent of lesions and was able to provide measurable differentiation among
a variety of benign and malignant lesions." There are more than one million cases of
skin cancer diagnosed in the U.S. every year, according to the American Cancer Society.
Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for about 68,720 cases of
skin cancer and 11,590 deaths in 2009, despite the fact that with early detection it is
highly curable. Suspicious skin lesions are typically diagnosed by dermatologists and
biopsied based on their surface appearance and characteristics. Unfortunately, even to
experienced dermatologists, benign and malignant lesions often appear similar visually and
on physical examination, and some malignant lesions may have a benign appearance,
especially in their early stages. It is not uncommon for patients to have one or more
lesions that appear concerning.
Stem cell scientists share concerns
Some stem cell scientists in Australia and the U.K. are worried they might not be able to
live up to some of the promises made about their work, new research has found.
Stop Eating Processed and Fried
Foods and You'll Restore the Body's Natural Defenses
There's a drugless and side effect-free way to reduce inflammation in the body, restore
the body's natural defense system, lose weight, possibly increase lifespan and improve or
prevent diabetes, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. What's more, you can get the
benefits from this natural health strategy no matter what your age or whether you already
have a serious disease. So who's behind these "wild" health declarations? It's
not a supplement maker or natural health group. Instead, the claims come from mainstream
science -- researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, to be exact.
Study explains how exercise helps
patients with peripheral artery disease
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects 5 million individuals in the U.S. and is the
leading cause of limb amputations. Doctors have long considered exercise to be the single
best therapy for PAD, and now a new study helps explain why. Led by researchers at Beth
Israel Deaconess Medical Center and published in this week's Online Early Edition of the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the findings demonstrate that a
protein called PGC-1alpha plays a key role in the process. "Exercise is a staple of
healthy living," notes senior author Zoltan Arany, MD, PhD, an investigator in
BIDMC's Cardiovascular Institute and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical
School. "One of the many benefits of exercise, endurance exercise in particular, is
the generation of new blood vessels in leg muscles." Known as angiogenesis, this
naturally occurring process comes to the rescue when an injury or artery blockage leaves
normal tissue starved for blood. PAD is a common circulatory problem in which narrowed
arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. The end result is leg pain primarily encountered
while walking. More seriously, PAD is also likely to be a sign of widespread accumulation
of fatty deposits in the arteries, which may be reducing blood flow to the heart and brain
as well as to the legs. The PGC-1alpha molecule was first identified more than 10 years
ago. Last year, Arany was part of a research team that discovered that when body parts are
jeopardized by poor circulation, PCG-1alpha senses dangerously low levels of oxygen and
nutrients and, in response, spurs the growth of new blood vessels. Knowing that muscle
adapts to endurance-type exercise by triggering angiogenesis, Arany and his coauthors set
out to better understand the mechanisms behind this orchestrated process, and to determine
if PGC-1alpha had a hand in the outcome. The researchers studied mice in cages equipped
with electronically monitored running wheels. As predicted, voluntary exercise was found
to lead to robust angiogenesis in mouse skeletal muscle. The investigators also found that
the mice that were lacking PGC-1alpha failed to grow new blood vessels in response to
exercise. Ultimately, their experiments demonstrated that exercise activates
beta-adrenergic signaling, which leads to a robust induction of PGC-1alpha.
Study finds logging effects vary
based on a forest's history, climate
A Smoky Mountain forest's woodland herb population has shown that climate may play a role
in how forest understories recover from logging, according to Purdue University research.
Despite heavy logging in portions of the forest nearly 80 years ago, the distribution of
trillium plants on the secondary forest floor was similar to that of undisturbed areas.
Michael Jenkins, a Purdue assistant professor of forestry and natural resources, said that
contrasts with a study by other researchers of an Oregon forest in which trillium didn't
recover after logging. Jenkins said the findings, reported in a November issue of the
journal Forest Ecology and Management, suggest that climate and history play a role in a
forest's ability to rebound from logging. The study was done in collaboration with
Christopher R. Webster, an associate professor of forest resources at Michigan
Technological University. "There's still a lot of controversy about the effects of
logging," Jenkins said. "There is an effect on a forest, but there is also
recovery as we've seen."
Study reveals the impact of
recessions on productivity
A comprehensive study by economists at the University of Kent and Panteion University
shows that while there are channels through which recessions can induce positive
productivity effects, these generally appear to be outweighed by forces inducing lower
productivity growth. The study, which was conducted by Dr Miguel Leon-Ledesma (Kent) and
Dr Dimitris Christopoulos (Panteion), examined productivity in the aftermath of 309
recessions across 70 countries between 1960 and 2000. Although it demonstrated that while
recessions can have positive (though not necessarily desirable) ‘cleansing
effects’, they also have larger and significant negative productivity effects. These
include decreases in productivity gains through drops in R&D investment and learning,
and the loss of on-the-job skills. These effects appear to be stronger for deep and
long-lasting recessions, such as the global recession experienced today. The positive
productivity effects of recessions include firms using downturn periods to restructure
their production processes (since the opportunity cost of giving up normal production is
lower). Recessions can also destroy the less efficient firms in the economy, generating
increases in economic efficiency through the liquidation of older, less productive,
technologies.
Study sheds light on brain's fear
processing center
Breathing carbon dioxide can trigger panic attacks, but the biological reason for this
effect has not been understood. A new study by University of Iowa researchers shows that
carbon dioxide increases brain acidity, which in turn activates a brain protein that plays
an important role in fear and anxiety behavior. The study, published in the Nov. 25 issue
of the journal Cell, offers new possibilities for understanding the biological basis of
panic and anxiety disorders in general and may suggest new approaches for treating these
conditions. The researchers focused on a brain protein known as acid-sensing ion channel
1a (ASIC1a). This protein is abundant in the amygdala -- the region deep in the brain that
processes fear signals and directs fear behavior. The UI team previously found that
blocking or removing ASIC1a reduces innate fear and alters fear memory in mice. "As
long ago as 1918, scientists learned that carbon dioxide triggers abnormal responses in
patients with anxiety disorders, but our study provides the first molecular evidence for a
mechanism that explains how carbon dioxide can trigger fear and anxiety," said John
Wemmie, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry and neurosurgery at the UI Carver
College of Medicine and a staff physician and researcher at the Iowa City Veterans Affairs
Medical Center. "The findings are a foundation for saying that ASIC proteins in the
amygdala might play a key role in sensitivity to carbon dioxide."
Study shows antibiotic unsuccessful
in preventing preterm labor
The antibiotic, called azithromycin, is effective in treating infections such as syphilis,
Chlamydia and Ureaplasma urealyticum – a bacterial infection thought to play a
significant role in causing preterm labour. Recent studies have also shown that the drug
is effective in reducing the risk of miscarriage following amniocentesis, a medical test
for infection and foetal abnormalities. The drug is currently used to treat infection in
patients all over the world, but has not been previously tested on pregnant women at high
risk of preterm labour. Scientists at Liverpool investigated how effective the antibiotic
could be in women in Southern Malawi, where one in five babies are born prematurely. Women
living in this region are also at high risk of sexually transmitted infections and other
diseases, which may have a significant impact on labour and the long-term development of a
foetus. In a study of 2,000 pregnant women, half were treated with the oral antibiotic and
half were treated with placebo drugs. They found that the antibiotic made no significant
difference to the outcome of the pregnancies between the two groups of women. The drug was
effective in treating infection, but a high number of women still went on to experience
preterm labour. The findings suggest that infection may not be the primary cause of
preterm birth and other treatments should be investigated. A high number of women with
infection still went on to experience preterm labour. The study suggests that it is
important to investigate other factors, beside infection, to determine the cause of
preterm labour.
Study Shows Link between Influenza
Virus and Fever
One feature of the 'new influenza' is a sudden rise in temperature. Up to now it was not
exactly understood how this reaction occurs. Scientists at the University of Bonn and the
Technical University of Munich together with scientists at LMU Munich have been able to
shed light into the dark. They have identified a new signalling pathway via which certain
viruses can trigger inflammatory reactions and fever. Their results will be published in
the forthcoming issue of the journal 'Nature Immunology'. Viruses are microscopically
sized parasites. They plant their genes in the cells of their victim in order to
'reprogram' them. The infected cells then no longer produce what they need to live, making
lots of new viruses instead.
Study shows new brain connections
form rapidly during motor learning
New connections begin to form between brain cells almost immediately as animals learn a
new task, according to a study published this week in Nature. Led by researchers at the
University of California, Santa Cruz, the study involved detailed observations of the
rewiring processes that take place in the brain during motor learning. The researchers
studied mice as they were trained to reach through a slot to get a seed. They observed
rapid growth of structures that form connections (called synapses) between nerve cells in
the motor cortex, the brain layer that controls muscle movements. "We found very
quick and robust synapse formation almost immediately, within one hour of the start of
training," said Yi Zuo, assistant professor of molecular, cell and developmental
biology at UCSC. Zuo's team observed the formation of structures called "dendritic
spines" that grow on pyramidal neurons in the motor cortex. The dendritic spines form
synapses with other nerve cells. At those synapses, the pyramidal neurons receive input
from other brain regions involved in motor memories and muscle movements. The researchers
found that growth of new dendritic spines was followed by selective elimination of
pre-existing spines, so that the overall density of spines returned to the original level.
"It's a remodeling process in which the synapses that form during learning become
consolidated, while other synapses are lost," Zuo said. "Motor learning makes a
permanent mark in the brain. When you learn to ride a bicycle, once the motor memory is
formed, you don't forget. The same is true when a mouse learns a new motor skill; the
animal learns how to do it and never forgets."
Sugary cola drinks linked for first
time to higher risk of gestational diabetes
Researchers from LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health, Eunice
Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Harvard
School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, have
found for the first time that drinking more than 5 servings of sugar- sweetened cola a
week prior to pregnancy appears to significantly elevate the risk of developing diabetes
during pregnancy. Liwei Chen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at LSU Health
Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health, is the lead author of the paper, A
Prospective Study of Pre-Gravid Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and the Risk of
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, that will be published in the December 2009 issue of
Diabetes Care and is available online now at http://diabetes.org/diabetescare. The
research team studied a group of 13,475 women from the Nurses' Health Study II. During 10
years of follow-up, 860 incident GDM cases were identified. After adjustment for known
risk factors for GDM including age, family history of diabetes, parity, physical activity,
smoking status, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, alcohol intake, prepregnancy BMI, and
Western dietary pattern, intake of sugar-sweetened cola was positively associated with the
risk of GDM. No significant association was found for other sugar-sweetened beverages or
diet beverages. "Compared with women who consumed less than 1 serving per month,
those who consumed more than 5 servings per week of sugar-sweetened cola had a 22% greater
GDM risk," notes Dr. Chen. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), defined as glucose
intolerance beginning during pregnancy, is one of the most common pregnancy complications.
Women with GDM are at increased risk for complications and illness during pregnancy and
delivery, as well as post-pregnancy type 2 diabetes. Children of mothers with GDM are at
increased risk for obesity, glucose intolerance, and early onset diabetes.
Swedish Meats chair quits over pig
scandal
Lars Hultström has resigned as chair of Swedish Meats and all other leadership positions.
Hultström owns one of the pig farms at the heart of an animal rights scandal.
Swine Flu Vaccine - Physicians'
Rejection of the Injection
One senior physician at Pediatric Village is refusing to recommend H1N1 shots or nasal
spray to any of her patients. She is one of a small cadre of outliers who remain skeptical
about the government's unprecedented immunization campaign, citing doubts about the risks
presented by the H1N1 virus or the safety of the vaccine.
Targeted breast ultrasound can
reduce biopsies for women under 40
Targeted breast ultrasound of suspicious areas of the breast, including lumps, is a safe,
reliable and cost-effective alternative to invasive biopsies for women under age 40,
according to the findings of two studies presented today at the annual meeting of the
Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). "By performing high-quality breast
ultrasound, we can reduce the number of expensive and avoidable invasive diagnostic
procedures in young women," said senior author Constance D. Lehman, M.D., Ph.D.,
professor and vice chair of radiology at the University of Washington and director of
imaging at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. "We don't want to be overly aggressive
with this population." The researchers conducted two studies in which targeted
ultrasound was used to distinguish between potentially cancerous masses and benign
findings in young women who had detected breast lumps or other focal (specific) areas of
concern in their breasts. The first study included 1,123 ultrasound examinations of women
under age 30, while the second included 1,577 ultrasound examinations of women ages 30 to
39. Across both studies, all instances of cancer at the site of the clinical concern were
positively identified through targeted ultrasound. In addition, all negative ultrasound
findings correctly identified benign changes in the breast. The only malignant mass not
identified by ultrasound was an unsuspected lesion outside of the targeted examination
area. That cancer was identified by a full breast mammogram. The incidence of malignancy
among women in their 30s was 2 percent. The incidence of malignancy among women younger
than 30 was 0.4 percent.
The pill' for him - Scientists find
a hormonal on-and-off switch for male fertility
A new research report published in the December 2009 print issue of The FASEB Journal
could one day give men similar type of control over their fertility that women have had
since the 1960s. That's because scientists have found how and where androgenic hormones
work in the testis to control normal sperm production and male fertility. This opens a
promising avenue for the development of "the pill" for men. The discovery also
offers hope to those who cannot have children because of low sperm counts. Although the
research was conducted in mice, a similar effect is likely to obtain in other mammals,
such as humans. "This study provides a new opportunity to identify how androgens
control sperm production, which could provide new insight for the development of new
treatments for male infertility and perhaps new male contraceptives," said Michelle
Welsh, Ph.D., co-author of the study, from the Centre for Reproductive Biology at The
Queen's Medical Research Institute in Edinburgh, UK.
The Therapeutic Benefits of the
Human-Animal Bond
A pet owner knows the enormous joy and comfort that an animal can provide, especially in
troubled times. Most pets are considered important members of the family and irreplaceable
companions. A growing body of research now documents the value of the human-animal bond in
child development, elderly care, mental illness, physical impairment, dementia, abuse and
trauma recovery, and the rehabilitation of incarcerated youth and adults. In two articles
in a recent issue of Family Process, titled “Human-Animal Bonds I,” (focused on
the benefits of companion animals) and “Human-Animal Bonds II,” (focused on
their role in couple and family dynamics and family therapy), Dr. Froma Walsh reviews and
distills the essence of this cutting-edge research. She examines how a bond with a pet can
strengthen human resilience through times of crisis, persistent adversity, and disruptive
transitions, such as relocation, divorce, widowhood, and adoption.
Tiny magnetic discs could kill
cancer cells
Tiny magnetic discs just a millionth of a metre in diameter could be used to used to kill
cancer cells, according to a study published on Sunday.
Tiny Pesticide Exposure During
Pregnancy Can Have Long-Term Impact on Female Offspring
A new animal study accentuates the risk of ultra-low levels of the common pesticide
chlorpyrifos to cause long-lasting birth defects in female offspring of exposed mothers.
The daughters exhibited learning delays, disturbed brain function and altered thyroid
levels. Significantly, these symptoms resulted from low toxicity exposure during late
gestation-an impact route not even part of current regulatory pesticide testing.
To keep muscles strong, the
'garbage' has to go
In order to maintain muscle strength with age, cells must rid themselves of the garbage
that accumulates in them over time, just as it does in any household, according to a new
study in the December issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press journal. In the case of
cells, that waste material includes spent organelles, toxic clumps of proteins, and
pathogens.The researchers made their discovery by studying mice that were deficient for a
gene required for the tightly controlled process of degradation and recycling within cells
known as autophagy. Those animals showed profound muscle atrophy and muscle weakening that
worsened with age. "If there is a failure of the system to remove what is damaged,
and that persists, the muscle fiber isn't happy," said Marco Sandri of the University
of Padova in Italy. Damaged and misfolded proteins pile up along with dysfunctional
mitochondria, distended endoplasmic reticulum, free radicals, and other aberrant
structures. Eventually, some of those muscle cells die, and "the muscles become
weaker and weaker with age." The muscle wasting observed in the mice seems to bear
some resemblance to certain forms of muscle-wasting diseases, Sandri said. He now suspects
that this kind of mechanism may offer insight into some of those still-unexplained
conditions, as well as the muscle weakening that comes with normal aging (a condition
known as sarcopenia). Researchers knew before that excessive autophagy could also lead to
muscle loss and disease. The new findings highlight the importance of maintaining a normal
level of autophagy to clear away the debris and keep muscles working properly. Although
the discovery seems to make perfect sense in retrospect, it wasn't what Sandri's team had
initially anticipated.
Too much physical activity may lead
to arthritis
Middle-aged men and women who engage in high levels of physical activity may be
unknowingly causing damage to their knees and increasing their risk for osteoarthritis,
according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of
North America (RSNA). "Our data suggest that people with higher physical activity
levels may be at greater risk for developing knee abnormalities and, thus, at higher risk
for developing osteoarthritis," said Christoph Stehling, M.D., research fellow in the
Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San
Francisco (UCSF) and radiology resident in the Department of Clinical Radiology,
University of Muenster, Germany. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that
causes pain, swelling and stiffness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and affects an estimated
27 million American adults. The UCSF study involved 236 asymptomatic participants who had
not reported previous knee pain and were enrolled in the National Institutes of Health
Osteoarthritis Initiative. Study participants included 136 women and 100 men, age 45 to
55, within a healthy weight range. The participants were separated into low-, middle-, and
high-activity groups based on their responses to the Physical Activity Scale for the
Elderly (PASE) questionnaire. PASE is a standard test that scores an older individual's
physical activity level, based on the type of activity and the time spent doing it.
Several factors contribute to the final PASE score, but a person whose activity level is
classified as high typically might engage in several hours of walking, sports or other
types of exercise per week, as well as yard work and other household chores.
Toxic Vaccines
To most people, vaccines sound medically harmless. “They’re good for you!”
say the doctors and drug companies, but they never really talk about what’s in those
vaccines. There’s a good reason for that: If people knew what was really in those
vaccines, they would never allow themselves to be injected with them.
Toxichip system may replace animal
testing
An international research team including scientists from the Tyndall National Institute
have developed a highly sensitive toxicity testing system. They believe it could provide a
replacement for animal testing in toxicity screening.
Toxicity often cause of pain
In order to separate corn starch from the kernel, a caustic soda often contaminated with
mercury is used. Half of all HFCS products tested are found to contain mercury. The starch
is then mixed with genetically modified enzymes that were products of bacterial and fungal
processes.
Treatments for asthma and pre-term
labor may increase risk of autism in developing fetus
Commonly prescribed beta 2 adrenergic agonist drugs for the treatment of asthma in
pregnant women as well as pre-term labor may increase the incidence of autism-spectrum
disorders, psychiatric pathology, cognitive problems and poor school performance in their
children, according to a new study published in the December 2009 issue of the American
Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Beta 2 adrenergic agonist drugs as a class are
widely used in obstetrics as tocolytics to inhibit or slow down labor and bronchodilators,
but may act as functional and behavioral teratogens when given continuously in the mid to
late second or early third trimesters. By correlating the basic science and clinical data,
investigators observed that when given prenatally, these drugs can cause functional and
behavioral disorders by permanently altering the balance of sympathetic and
parasympathetic tone in the individual. Animal studies support the concept that in humans
prenatal exposure to continuous high doses of beta 2 adrenergic agonists can permanently
dysregulate signaling from the beta 2 adrenergic receptor. Researchers show how
sympathetic overactivity and disease are correlated, citing studies that show the
association between in utero exposure to beta 2 adrenergic agonists in humans and later
development of these conditions. The authors also offer recommendations for safe practice
in obstetrics in light of the teratogenic risk posed by beta 2 adrenergic agonists.
Tumor-attacking virus strikes with
'one-two punch'
Ohio State University cancer researchers have developed a tumor-attacking virus that both
kills brain-tumor cells and blocks the growth of new tumor blood vessels. Their research
shows that viruses designed to kill cancer cells – oncolytic viruses – might be
more effective against aggressive brain tumors if they also carry a gene for a protein
that inhibits blood-vessel growth. The protein, called vasculostatin, is normally produced
in the brain. In this study, an oncolytic virus containing the gene for this protein in
some cases eliminated human glioblastoma tumors growing in animals and significantly
slowed tumor recurrence in others. Glioblastomas, which characteristically have a high
number of blood vessels, are the most common and devastating form of human brain cancer.
People diagnosed with these tumors survive less than 15 months on average after diagnosis.
"This is the first study to report the effects of vasculostatin delivery into
established tumors, and it supports further development of this novel virus as a possible
cancer treatment," says study leader Balveen Kaur, associate professor of
neurological surgery and a researcher with the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer
Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. "Our
findings suggest that this oncolytic virus is a safe and promising strategy to pursue for
the treatment of human brain tumors. "This study shows the potential of combining an
oncolytic virus with a natural blood-vessel growth inhibitor such as vasculostatin. Future
studies will reveal the potential for safety and efficacy when used in combination with
chemotherapy and radiation therapy," she says.
Unindicated CT series result in
unnecessary radiation exposure for patients
A large proportion of patients who undergo abdominal/pelvic computed tomography (CT)
receive unindicated and unnecessary additional image acquisition resulting in excess,
avoidable radiation exposure, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting
of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). "It is the responsibility of all
physicians who work with ionizing radiation to ensure that the dosage is as low as
reasonably achievable without compromising the patient's well being," said Kristie
Guite, M.D., radiology resident at the University of Wisconsin (UW) in Madison. "Our
study found that this principle is not being followed in many practices." A CT
examination consists of imaging the patient using a CT scanner and sometimes involves the
injection of an intravenous contrast agent. Imaging can be performed at multiple time
points before and/or after the injection of the contrast material. Each image acquisition
is referred to as a "series." Although having multiple series can be helpful for
some conditions, they are not generally necessary. Because it provides valuable diagnostic
information, CT use has risen rapidly. In recent years, a number of reports have
highlighted the increasing radiation exposure to patients through the use of medical
imaging, particularly CT. While these reports have often focused on general and screening
uses, little attention has been paid to radiation from additional series, including
routine non-contrast or delayed-phase CT, which may or may not be indicated by the
patient's condition but are sometimes performed so that nothing is overlooked. To
determine the frequency of unindicated additional scanning and the resultant excess
radiation exposure to patients, the researchers reviewed the appropriateness and radiation
dose of abdomen and pelvis CT exams for 500 patients performed at outside institutions and
submitted to UW – Madison for interpretation. The patients ranged in age from nine
months to 91 years, with most between 30 and 50 years old.
Vaccine Adjuvant Alters
Neurological Function in Rat Experiment, Symptoms Identical to Autism
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability characterized by social withdrawal,
communication deficits, and repetitive behaviors. Both genetic and environmental factors
have been implicated as causes of autism, moreover a high body burden of mercury and other
toxic metals from vaccinations and environmental exposures has been increasingly given
more attention.
Vitamin D Doubles Colon Cancer
Survival Rates
One of the most deadly cancers in the United States is colon cancer. The Center for
Disease Control has recently reported that in 2005 141,400 Americans received a diagnosis
of colon cancer.
Vitamine d and breast cancer
At this time, much about the relationship between vitamin D and breast cancer remains
unknown. Relatively few epidemiologic studies have addressed the association, and only a
handful of these have been prospective, used biochemical measurements of vitamin D, or
been large enough to permit analyses stratified by other factors. Despite many
inconsistencies, the potential exists that vitamin D may modestly reduce the risk of
breast cancer. Many questions clearly remain, including those concerning the utility of
assessing vitamin D through diet and sunlight exposure, the most appropriate timing of
assessment, the relationship between the two important plasma metabolites, and potential
modifyingeffects of factors such as age, menopausal status, and tumor characteristics.
Given that vitamin D status is fairly easily modifiable through increased sunlight
exposure and/or dietary modification, further study is necessary to determine if vitamin D
may have important potential for breast cancer prevention.
Waking Memories While You Sleep
They were in a deep sleep, yet sounds, such as a teakettle whistle and a cat's meow,
somehow penetrated their slumber. The 25 sounds presented during the nap were reminders of
earlier spatial learning, though the Northwestern University research participants were
unaware of the sounds as they slept. Yet, upon waking, memory tests showed that spatial
memories had changed. The participants were more accurate in dragging an object to the
correct location on a computer screen for the 25 images whose corresponding sounds were
presented during sleep (such as a muffled explosion for a photo of dynamite) than for
another 25 matched objects. "The research strongly suggests that we don't shut down
our minds during deep sleep," said John Rudoy, lead author of the study and a
neuroscience Ph.D. student at Northwestern. "Rather this is an important time for
consolidating memories."
What do you do when swine flu
vaccine no longer works on the mutated virus?
Do you turn to nutrition-based solutions plus mask and goggles when and if the latest flu
vaccines no longer work against mutated viruses? A new mutation of the swine flu, H1N1, a
variant, in which the virus uses D225G as a receptor binding domain, causes bleeding in
the lungs.
When perfume becomes a nuisance
Perfume may be a pleasure to those who wear it, but its over-application is often a
nuisance to others.
Why I'm ashamed to be a vet
A shocking exposé of the profession that puts pets through 'painful and unnecessary
treatments to fleece their trusting owners'
Will copper keep us safe from the
superbugs?
Three papers scheduled for publication in the January issue of the Journal of Hospital
Infection
(http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/623052/description#description),
published by Elsevier, suggest that copper might have a role in the fight against
healthcare-associated infections. In a busy Birmingham teaching hospital, researchers
swapped a conventional toilet seat, tap-handles and a ward door push-plate for similar
items made from 70% copper. They compared the number of microbes on the copper surfaces
against the number of bacteria on the same items from another ward and found that the
copper surfaces had 90-100% fewer live bacteria than the non-copper surfaces. Similar
findings were reported from a primary healthcare facility in the Western Cape, South
Africa. Researchers there found 71% fewer microbes on frequently touched surfaces overlaid
with copper sheets (a desk, trolley, cupboard and window sill) compared with corresponding
items made with conventional materials. In addition to copper surfaces, cleaners have been
using a copper-based disinfectant along with microfibre mops in Dumfries and Galloway,
Scotland. Microfibre products are widely used in UK hospitals since they attract bacteria
from surfaces and reach into places that other cleaning materials do not; however, they
are difficult to disinfect. The copper-based disinfectant (CuWBO) cleaned the microfibre
as well as the environment. Then, it appeared to continue killing germs for the rest of
the day.
Wind turbines beginning to energize
Alaska
A wind turbine at Sherrod Elementary School is one of two wind turbines recently installed
in Palmer and both have agreements to sell power back to Matanuska Electric Association.
Wistar-led research team discovers
genetic pattern that indicates early-stage lung cancer
Wistar Institute researchers and collaborators from the University of Pennsylvania and New
York University have identified immune system markers in the blood which indicate
early-stage lung tumors in people at high risk for developing lung cancer. The findings,
published online December 1 in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for
Cancer Research, could lead to a simple blood test to detect lung cancer in its earliest
phases, when it can be most successfully treated. Wistar investigators Louise C. Showe,
Ph.D., and Michael K. Showe Ph.D., and colleagues examined gene expression profiles in
blood samples from more than 200 patients with lung cancer or other, non-malignant, lung
diseases. Focusing on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and the large at-risk population
of smokers and ex-smokers, the researchers sought to determine whether lung
tumors—even at the earliest stages—leave a gene expression signature in
circulating blood cells. Recent studies have shown that in some late-stage cancers, an
immune system response can be detected in the blood which can contain information on
responsiveness to therapy or identify markers associated with prognosis. For the study,
peripheral blood was drawn from lung disease patients at the University of Pennsylvania
Medical Center (Penn) and the New York University School of Medicine from 2003 through
2007, and the gene expression patterns in the samples were analyzed at Wistar. The team
was able to identify a 29-gene "signature" that separated 137 patients with
NSCLC tumors from 91 patient controls with non-malignant lung conditions, with 86 percent
accuracy. Immune cells, which normally function to fight tumors, showed certain changes in
the patients with malignant tumors that distinguished them from those of patients with
other lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema and
patients with benign lung nodules.
Women who smoke risk having
seizures
Women who smoke may have a higher risk of developing seizures than non-smokers do, a new
study suggests.
Working Intensely Early on May Help
Autistic Kids
Language, social skills improve with specially designed program, study finds.
Young adults who exercise get
higher IQ
Young adults who are fit have a higher IQ and are more likely to go on to university,
reveals a major new study carried out at the Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska
University Hospital. The results were published today in the prestigious Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study involved 1.2 million Swedish men doing
military service who were born between 1950 and 1976. The research group analysed the
results of both physical and IQ tests when the men enrolled. The study shows a clear link
between good physical fitness and better results for the IQ test. The strongest links are
for logical thinking and verbal comprehension. But it is only fitness that plays a role in
the results for the IQ test, and not strength. “Being fit means that you also have
good heart and lung capacity and that your brain gets plenty of oxygen,” says Michael
Nilsson, professor at the Sahlgrenska Academy and chief physician at the Sahlgrenska
University Hospital. “This may be one of the reasons why we can see a clear link with
fitness, but not with muscular strength. We are also seeing that there are growth factors
that are important.”
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