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Week 51
15 Dangerous Drugs Big Pharma
Shoves Down Your Throat
Long studies to truly assess a drug's risks just delay profits after all -- and if
problems do emerge after medication hits the market, settlements are usually less than
profits. Remember, Vioxx still made money.
16 minutes of exercise separates
fit, unfit kids
Normal-weight children get 16 more minutes of physical activity a day than their obese
peers, a new study shows. And overall, girls do 20 minutes less physical activity a day
than boys.
A double block of blood vessels to
starve cancerous tumors
A novel strategy of blocking the growth of blood vessels with antibodies should result in
improved treatment of cancerous tumors. The growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing
vasculature is called angiogenesis. In adults, angiogenesis occurs only during wound
healing and menstrual cycling, but is abundant and harmful in cancerous tumors and the
old-age eye disease frequently leading to blindness called age-related macular
degeneration (AMD). Without the formation of new blood vessels, tumors cannot grow beyond
a small size due to lack of oxygen and nutrients. Inhibition of angiogenesis is used in
the treatment of cancer and AMD, but not all cancer patients respond, while others become
refractory to therapy. Academy professor Kari Alitalo and co-workers at the University of
Helsinki, Finland, have previously shown that antibodies directed towards vascular
endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-3, found on the surface of endothelial cells
lining vessels, can inhibit lymphatic metastasis by 50-70% in preclinical tumor models.
Furthermore, antibodies that inhibited the growth factor VEGF-C from binding to the
VEGFR-3 suppressed angiogenesis. However, the trouble with this type of inhibitors is that
they work poorly in high growth factor concentrations, when the growth factor easily
outcompetes the inhibitor. Also the delivery of drugs into tumors is hampered by erratic
blood flow and high tumor pressure, which may prevent sufficient amounts of the inhibitor
from reaching its target within the tumor.
A new threat to Hawaiian monk seals
- Cat parasite carried by runoff, sewage
On the beaches of the Hawaiian islands, monk seals are dying from a pathogen in cat feces
that is carried to the ocean in polluted runoff and sewage. Experts worry that the
disease, toxoplasmosis, will derail efforts to restore the endangered species. With only
about 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals left in the wild, the deaths are “very concerning and
put toxo as one of our primary concerns” for the species, says NOAA scientist Charles
Littnan. Throughout most of Hawai`i, surface water quality ranges from “slightly
impaired to severely impaired,” according to a state assessment. In particular,
runoff from densely populated watersheds on Maui and O`ahu likely contains pathogens that
infect the seals.
A Study Shows Childhood
Maltreatment, High Magnitude Stressors are Stronger Predictors of Psychiatric Symptoms
than Military Sexual Stressors
A study of long-term, active duty military personnel who used Department of Veterans
Affairs’ health services showed that childhood maltreatment and other high magnitude
stressors, such as being in a serious accident or a natural disaster, were more strongly
associated with participants’ current psychiatric symptoms than were their military
sexual experiences, such as sexual harassment. The research, described in issue 44 -16 of
the Journal of Psychiatric Research, was completed by Dr. Maureen Murdoch and colleagues
of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and University of Minnesota Schools of Medicine
and Public Health in collaboration with researchers from Illinois State University,
Normal, IL; North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL; and
Analytic Services, Inc., Arlington, VA. The article is entitled, “The association
between military sexual stress and psychiatric symptoms after controlling for other
stressors”
Acute liver failure after
administration of paracetamol at the maximum recommended daily dose in adults
Malnutrition, starvation, chronic alcohol misuse, and concomitant use of drugs that induce
cytochrome P450 enzymes increase the risk of hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol.
Nevertheless, doctors commonly regard paracetamol 4 g daily as being safe as well as an
effective analgesic.
Advice on avoiding a toxic
Christmas
Children don't ask Santa for a dose of lead in their stockings.
Alarm as one in 20 pregnant women
is severely obese
One in 20 pregnant women in the UK is severely obese, putting herself and her baby at a
greater risk of a series of health problems, according to a study published yesterday.
Alpha-2 integrin - A protein
predictor of tumor spread?
Mary Zutter and colleagues, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, have
generated data that lead them to suggest that decreased expression of the protein alpha-2
integrin is predictive of tumor dissemination to distant sites and decreased survival in
individuals with either breast or prostate cancer.
Altered gene can make boys develop
as girls
An altered gene which causes male embryos to develop female genitalia, has been identified
in humans.
Alzheimer's and heart attacks share
the same genes
Alzheimer and heart attacks have been found to share common genetic basis. The research
leads the way to the first genetic test on developing the risk of the diseases even at a
young age. According to Federico Licastro, an immunologist at the University of Bologna
who coordinated the study published in the scientific journal, Journal of Alzheimer's
Disease, a test is now ready. "They are already selling it in America", he says,
citing the case of a private firm in New Mexico (USA) that collaborated on the study.
"But the tests could easily be also conducted wherever, using a simple blood
test". It comes as no surprise that the prospect of personalised tests is also very
attractive to healthcare companies. Alzheimer and heart attacks are two relatively common
diseases, Alzheimer being the most frequent form of senile dementia: by 85, it affects one
in five women and one in ten men. Heart attacks, along with other cardiovascular problems,
are one of the most widespread diseases and one of the main causes of death, affecting
approximately 12.5 per cent of the population.
Neurologists finally have an answer to one of the most important questions about
Alzheimer's disease: Do rising brain levels of a plaque-forming substance mean patients
are making more of it or that they can no longer clear it from their brains as
effectively? "Clearance is impaired in Alzheimer's disease," says Randall
Bateman, MD, assistant professor of neurology at Washington University School of Medicine
in St. Louis. "We compared a group of 12 patients with early Alzheimer's disease to
12 age-matched and cognitively normal subjects. Both groups produced amyloid-beta (a-beta)
at the same average rate, but there's an average drop of about 30 percent in the clearance
rates of the group with Alzheimer's."
American urban lake pollution
traced to parking lot seal coat
A black sealant sprayed on parking lots, driveways and playgrounds turns out to be the
largest contributor to the rise of a toxic pollutant in urban lakes and reservoirs across
America, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey study.
Analysis: EU biofuels squeezed by
green doubts, tight budgets
The European Union's biofuels industry looks set to struggle to attract funds to expand
with a challenging investment climate made more difficult by complex questions about the
sector's environmental credentials. The eurozone's economic crisis is taking a toll as
biofuels producers face an uphill task as they seek to secure financial incentives as
government budgets are increasingly squeezed.
Animal testing alternatives come
alive in US
In Europe, long-standing public opposition toward animal testing has led to a broad push
to develop alternative means for assessing the potential hazards of drugs. But similar
efforts across the Atlantic have often lagged far behind. Now, with the formation of a new
society dedicated to finding nonanimal testing methods, as well as new government
programs, many experts perceive a sea change in US policy.
Antibiotics largely pass through
body unabsorbed and pollute environment
A Virginia Tech researcher and her colleagues recently discovered that the vast majority
of common antibiotic drugs end up passing through the body without breaking down and
metabolizing. In fact, up to 90 percent of most antibiotics are not absorbed by the body,
and end up being discharged into the natural environment where they cause antibiotic
resistance genes and "superbugs" to emerge.
Are depressed people too clean?
In an effort to pinpoint potential triggers leading to inflammatory responses that
eventually contribute to depression, researchers are taking a close look at the immune
system of people living in today's cleaner modern society. Rates of depression in younger
people have steadily grown to outnumber rates of depression in the older populations and
researchers think it may be because of a loss of healthy bacteria. In an article published
in the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, Emory neuroscientist Charles
Raison, MD, and colleagues say there is mounting evidence that disruptions in ancient
relationships with microorganisms in soil, food and the gut may contribute to the
increasing rates of depression.
Are GM crops Africa's path to food
security?
For decades, Africa has suffered the ravages of an unpredictable climate, repeating cycles
of drought, diminished harvests, hunger and poverty.Now, proponents of genetic engineering
see biotechnology leading the continent to a bountiful and prosperous future by
genetically modifying crops to resist drought and pests, and fend off disease.
Aromatase inhibitors increased risk
of heart disease in postmenopausal women with breast cancer
Postmenopausal women who take aromatase inhibitors as a treatment for breast cancer may be
at an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease, according to the results of a
meta-analysis. These data, presented at the 33rd Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast
Cancer Symposium, indicate that women presenting with breast cancer treatment who have
risk factors for cardiovascular disease should be considered for a shorter duration of use
of aromatase inhibitors. "It appears that aromatase inhibitors have a significant
increase in cardiotoxic side effects, such as heart attack, angina and heart
failure," said Eitan Amir, M.D., a senior fellow in the division of medical oncology
and hematology at the Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Because some cancers,
especially breast cancers, require estrogen to grow and spread, drugs that block estrogen
production are often used to treat the disease. Tamoxifen blocks the effect of estrogen in
breast tissue, whereas aromatase inhibitors prevent the production of estrogen.
Autism breakthrough - Researchers
identify possible treatment for impaired sociability
Eastern Virginia Medical School researchers have identified a potential novel treatment
strategy for the social impairment of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), an
aspect of the condition that has a profound impact on quality of life. "Persons with
Autism Spectrum Disorders are either disinterested in social interactions or find them
unpleasant. They often don't understand what other people are thinking or feeling and
misinterpret social cues," said Stephen I. Deutsch, MD, PhD, the Ann Robinson Chair
and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. "Sadly, persons with autism
spectrum disorders are often painfully aware of their limited sociability, which can lead
to profound feelings of sadness and frustration."
Avon eye shadow recalled over
infection risk
Healthy Makeup Eye Shadows by Avon are being recalled because of a risk of eye irritation
or infection.
Babies' biological clocks
dramatically affected by birth light cycle
The season in which babies are born can have a dramatic and persistent effect on how their
biological clocks function. That is the conclusion of a new study published online on Dec.
5 by the journal Nature Neuroscience. The experiment provides the first evidence for
seasonal imprinting of biological clocks in mammals and was conducted by Professor of
Biological Sciences Douglas McMahon, graduate student Chris Ciarleglio, post-doctoral
fellow Karen Gamble and two undergraduate students at Vanderbilt University. The
imprinting effect, which was found in baby mice, may help explain the fact that people
born in winter months have a higher risk of a number of neurological disorders including
seasonal affective disorder (winter depression), bipolar depression and schizophrenia.
"Our biological clocks measure the day length and change our behavior according to
the seasons. We were curious to see if light signals could shape the development of the
biological clock," said McMahon.
Babies' DNA profiled in the womb
The entire DNA profile of an unborn child has been mapped from the blood of its mother for
the first time in a breakthrough that could allow parents to safely check for a host of
genetic and inherited disorders.
Beekeepers Want Government to Pull
Bayer's Pesticide
Beekeepers and environmentalists Wednesday called on the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency to remove a pesticide that could be linked to colony collapse disorder from the
market and to issue an order to stop its use. The request to EPA Administrator Lisa
Jackson from the American Beekeeping Federation, headed by Florida beekeeper Dave Mendes,
and five other groups follows the leak of a Nov. 2 EPA memo about the product.
Behaviour problems in children
linked to mothers' mobile use
Regular use of mobile phones in pregnancy could increase the chance of youngsters
developing behavioural problems, new research out today suggests.
Bioactive Peptides Found to Promote
Wound Healing
Newly-created bioactive peptides promote wound healing through the growth of new blood
vessels and epithelial tissue, such as skin. These wound-healing peptides, synthesized by
researchers at the Tufts Center for Innovations in Wound Healing Research, increased
angiogenesis in vitro by 200 percent. The discovery, reported online in advance of print
this week in Wound Repair and Regeneration, provides a better understanding of the
mechanisms regulating wound healing and may lead to new therapies for acute and chronic
wound healing.
Biological changes in suicidal
patients
Depressed and suicidal individuals have low levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their
blood and saliva. They also have substances in their spinal fluid that suggest there is
increased inflammation in the brain. These findings could help to develop new methods for
diagnosing and treating suicidal patients. Doctor Daniel Lindqvist from the
Psychoimmunology Unit at Lund University, Sweden is presenting these results in his PhD
thesis. He is part of a research group led by Dr Lena Brundin, which sees inflammation in
the brain as a strong contributory factor to depression.
Boxing -- bad for the brain
Up to 20% of professional boxers develop neuropsychiatric sequelae. But which acute
complications and which late sequelae can boxers expect throughout the course of their
career? These are the questions studied by Hans Förstl from the Technical University
Munich and his co-authors in the current issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International
(Dtsch Arztebl Int 2010; 107[47]: 835-9). Their evaluation of the biggest studies on the
subject of boxers' health in the past 10 years yielded the following results: The most
relevant acute consequence is the knock-out, which conforms to the rules of the sport and
which, in neuropsychiatric terms, corresponds to cerebral concussion. In addition, boxers
are at substantial risk for acute injuries to the head, heart, and skeleton. Subacute
consequences after being knocked out include persistent symptoms such as headaches,
impaired hearing, nausea, unstable gait, and forgetfulness. The cognitive deficits after
blunt craniocerebral trauma last measurably longer than the symptoms persist in the
individual's subjective perception. Some 10-20% of boxers develop persistent
neuropsychiatric impairments. The repeated cerebral trauma in a long career in boxing may
result in boxer's dementia (dementia pugilistica), which is neurobiologically similar to
Alzheimer's disease. With regard to the health risks, a clear difference exists between
professional boxing and amateur boxing. Amateur boxers are examined regularly every year
and in advance of boxing matches, whereas professionals subject themselves to their fights
without such protective measures. In view of the risk for injuries that may result in
impaired cerebral performance in the short or long term, similar measures would be
advisable in the professional setting too.
Brain DNA damage and 70-kDa heat
shock protein expression in CD1 mice exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields
An increase in primary DNA damage was detected in all cerebral areas of the exposed mice
sacrificed at the end of exposure, as compared to controls. DNA damage, as can be
evaluated by the comet assay, appeared to be repaired in mice sacrificed 24 h after a
7-day exposure. Neither a short (15 h) nor long (7 days) MF-exposure induced hsp70
expression, metabolic and behavioural changes. These results indicate that in vivo ELF-MF
induce reversible brain DNA damage while they do not elicit the stress response.
Breast cancer, DNA flaws linked
Early-stage breast cancer tumors of "unknown cause" may not be unknown after
all, according to a University of Pittsburgh study.
Bristol scientists shed light on
blood flow problems in dementia
Scientists in Bristol have uncovered some of the processes responsible for the blood flow
problems connected with Alzheimer’s disease. Their findings could see existing drugs
used for leaky blood vessels trialled as potential Alzheimer’s treatments.
Researchers at the University of Bristol's Dementia Research Group supported by the
Alzheimer’s Research Trust, the UK’s leading dementia research charity,
investigated problems with the function of blood vessels in the brains of people with
Alzheimer’s – a known feature of the disease.
Canadians need way to report Wi-Fi
concerns, says committee report
The federal government should create a way for Canadians to report adverse reactions to
cellphones and look at funding an investigation into the potential health effects of
wireless technology, a committee of MPs has concluded.
Cancer cells can be burned up with
magnetic pulses
Cancer can be "burned up" with a new technique that uses magnetic pulses to heat
tumour cells until they die.
Cell of origin for brain tumors may
predict response to therapy
For patients with glioma, the most common primary brain tumor, new findings may explain
why current therapies fail to eradicate the cancer. A UCSF-led team of scientists has
identified for the first time that progenitor rather than neural stem cells underly a type
of glioma called oligodendroglioma.
Changes in solar activity affect
local climate
Raimund Muscheler is a researcher at the Department of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences at
Lund University in Sweden. In the latest issue of the journal Science, he and his
colleagues have described how the surface water temperature in the tropical parts of the
eastern Pacific varied with the sun's activity between 7 000 and 11 000 years ago (early
Holocene). Contrary to what one might intuitively believe, high solar activity had a
cooling effect in this region. "It is perhaps a similar phenomenon that we are seeing
here today", says Raimund Muscheler. "Last year's cold winter in Sweden could
intuitively be seen to refute global warming. But the winter in Greenland was
exceptionally mild. Both phenomena coincide with low solar activity and the sun's activity
probably influences the local climate variations." Today there is a lot of debate
about whether the sun's activity could have influenced the earth's climate over thousands
or millions of years.
Charting a New Path to Eliminating
Hunger
In just a few short weeks State of the World 2011: Innovations that Nourish the Planet
will be launched! We’re excited to share with you a sneak preview of Chapter 1
entitled, “Charting a New Path to Eliminating Hunger,” authored by co-project
directors Brian Halweil and Danielle Nierenberg.
Children who attend group child
care centers get more infections then, but fewer during school years
Children who attend large group child care facilities before age 2˝ appear to develop
more respiratory and ear infections at that age, but fewer such illnesses during
elementary school years, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of
Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. "Preschool
children in group child care experience more frequent infections than do children cared
for primarily at home, and the risk seems greater when children attend larger group child
care [facilities]," the authors write as background information in the article.
"These findings have created concerns that group child care may compromise the health
of young children and their community. However, few studies have examined the impact of
group child care on infections beyond the preschool years."
Chinese study suggests that alcohol
increases angiographically significant coronary artery disease
Among a large number of Chinese men presenting with chest pain or EKG changes, sequential
subjects undergoing cardiac angiography were evaluated for obstructive coronary artery
disease (CAD) lesions according to their reported recent alcohol intake. The study
population consisted of 1,476 consecutive men 36 to 84 years of age; participants were
categorized as nondrinkers, light drinkers, moderate drinkers, or heavy drinkers. Adjusted
odds ratios for angiographically proved CAD for light, moderate, and heavy drinking were
1.16 (95% confidence interval 0.68 to 1.94), 1.78 (1.35 to 2.27), and 2.18 (1.46 to 3.25).
Compared to non-drinking, adjusted odds ratios were 1.03 (0.54 to 1.87) for drinking 0 to
15 years, 1.61 (1.28 to 2.14) for 16 to 30 years, and 1.98 (1.23 to 3.05) for >30
years. The authors concluded that moderate-to-heavy alcohol consumption increased the risk
of CAD in Chinese men. CAD risk tended to increase with an increase in frequency and
duration of drinking.
Circulating Tumor Cells Predicted
Recurrence, Death in Patients with Early-Stage Breast Cancer
The presence of one to four circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood of early-stage
breast cancer patients almost doubled patient’s risk of cancer relapse and death, and
five or more CTCs increased recurrence by 400 percent and death by 300 percent, according
to Phase III results of the SUCCESS trial. These cells were found in patients after
surgery but before chemotherapy treatment.
Climate Scientist Warns World Of
Widespread Suffering If Further Climate Change Is Not Forestalled
One of the world’s foremost experts on climate change is warning that if humans
don’t moderate their use of fossil fuels, there is a real possibility that we will
face the environmental, societal and economic consequences of climate change faster than
we can adapt to them.
Common genetic influences for ADHD
and reading disability
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and developmental reading disability (RD)
are complex childhood disorders that frequently occur together; if a child is experiencing
trouble with reading, symptoms of ADHD are often also present. However, the reason for
this correlation remains unknown. A new study reported in the latest special issue of
Cortex (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00109452), dedicated to
"Developmental Dyslexia and Dysgraphia", has suggested that the disorders have
common genetic influences, which may also lead to slow processing speed – the brain
taking longer to make sense of the information it receives. The researchers looked at 457
pairs of twins from the Colorado Learning Disabilities Research Center (CLDRC) twin study
– an ongoing study of the causes of reading disabilities, ADHD, and related
disorders. Dr Erik Willcutt and colleagues compared groups of participants with and
without RD and ADHD, using a variety of tests to measure general cognitive ability,
processing speed, reading and language skills, and then analysed results from pairs of
twins within those groups to determine the genetic causes of any correlations. The use of
identical twins, who share all their genes, and non-identical twins, who share only half
their genes, allowed the researchers to distinguish between genetic and environmental
influences on the participants' cognitive abilities.
Common genetic influences for ADHD
and reading disability
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and developmental reading disability (RD)
are complex childhood disorders that frequently occur together; if a child is experiencing
trouble with reading, symptoms of ADHD are often also present. However, the reason for
this correlation remains unknown. A new study reported in the latest special issue of
Cortex (see at the link below), dedicated to “Developmental Dyslexia and
Dysgraphia”, has suggested that the disorders have common genetic influences, which
may also lead to slow processing speed – the brain taking longer to make sense of the
information it receives.
Common uses for H202 Hydrogen
Peroxide
The bodies natural defense mechanism produces hydrogen peroxide via Vitamin C to help
fight infection. When a persons body becomes weak or the immune system is not working
normally, their body is unable to produce enough H202 to fight off infection, and disease
results.
Computer-Based Program May Help
Relieve Some ADHD Symptoms In Children
An intensive, five-week working memory training program shows promise in relieving some of
the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, a new study
suggests. Researchers found significant changes for students who completed the program in
areas such as attention, ADHD symptoms, planning and organization, initiating tasks, and
working memory.
Confirmation studies of Soviet
research on immunological effects of microwaves
This paper presents the results of a replication study performed to investigate earlier
Soviet studies conducted between 1974 and 1991 that showed immunological and reproductive
effects of long-term low-level exposure of rats to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic
fields. The early studies were used, in part, for developing exposure standards for the
USSR population and thus it was necessary to confirm the Russian findings. In the present
study, the conditions of RF exposure were made as similar as possible to those in the
earlier experiments: Wistar rats were exposed in the far field to 2450 MHz continuous wave
RF fields with an incident power density in the cages of 5 W/m˛ for 7 h/day, 5 days/week
for a total of 30 days, resulting in a whole-body SAR of 0.16 W/kg. Effects of the
exposure on immunological parameters in the brain and liver of rats were evaluated using
the complement fixation test (CFT), as in the original studies, and an additional test,
the more modern ELISA test. Our results, using CFT and ELISA, partly confirmed the
findings of the early studies and indicated possible effects from non-thermal RF exposure
on autoimmune processes. The RF exposure resulted in minor increases in formation of
antibodies in brain tissue extract and the exposure did not appear to be pathological. In
addition, a study was conducted to replicate a previous Soviet study on effects from the
injection of blood serum from RF-exposed rats on pregnancy and foetal and offspring
development of rats, using a similar animal model and protocol. Our results showed the
same general trends as the earlier study, suggesting possible adverse effects of the blood
serum from exposed rats on pregnancy and foetal development of intact rats, however,
application of these results in developing exposure standards is limited.
Consumer Reports Warns Pregnant
Women Against Canned Tuna
Consumer Reports tested 42 samples of tuna from cans bought in and around New York and
found that white tuna usually contains far more mercury than light tuna — and that
women and children should be even more cautious about eating the fish.
Controversial chemical BPA found on
paper money
linings in food cans, could be harmful to the development of children's brains and
reproductive organs.
CSHL scientists identify elusive
neuronal targets of deep brain stimulation
Deep brain stimulation of a brain area that controls complex behaviors has proven to be
effective against several therapeutically stubborn neurological and neuropsychiatric
disorders. Now, a new study from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has found that this
technique targets the same class of neuronal cells that are known to respond to physical
exercise and drugs such as Prozac.
CTCs Predict Poor Outcome From
Blood Stem Cell Transplantation Therapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer patients who had circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in their blood
before or after high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) followed by autologous stem cell
transplantation had poor outcomes, according to researchers from the University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center. Patients with CTCs in their blood before chemotherapy treatment
had reduced survival and those with these cells in their blood after the stem cell
transplant recurred faster and died earlier. These findings were presented at the 33rd
Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec 8-12.
Cure Tooth Decay
Ramie Nagel figured he and his partner were eating really well. They ate organic fruits
and vegetables and a natural diet without the health offenders most are aware of.
Dangerous radiation levels endanger
communities
Professor Chris Busby, a world expert in uranium has tested mine dumps around Krugersdorp
and warns that radiation levels are 15 times higher than normal
Dietary Grape Seed Polyphenols
Repress Neuron and Glia Activation in Trigeminal Ganglion and Trigeminal Nucleus Caudalis
Results from our study provide evidence that grape seed extract may be beneficial as a
natural therapeutic option for temporomandibular joint disorders by suppressing
development of peripheral and central sensitization.
Doctor speaks out over
grandmother's 'appalling' treatment
A doctor has told of the "appalling levels of care" he witnessed while visiting
his sick grandmother at scandal-hit Stafford Hospital.
Don't blame the pill for estrogen
in drinking water
Contrary to popular belief, birth control pills account for less than 1 percent of the
estrogens found in the nation's drinking water supplies, scientists have concluded in an
analysis of studies published on the topic. Their report suggests that most of the sex
hormone — source of concern as an endocrine disruptor with possible adverse effects
on people and wildlife — enters drinking water supplies from other sources. The
report appears in ACS' biweekly journal Environmental Science & Technology. Amber
Wise, Kacie O'Brien and Tracey Woodruff note ongoing concern about possible links between
chronic exposure to estrogens in the water supply and fertility problems and other adverse
human health effects. Almost 12 million women of reproductive age in the United States
take the pill, and their urine contains the hormone. Hence, the belief that oral
contraceptives are the major source of estrogen in lakes, rivers, and streams. Knowing
that sewage treatment plants remove virtually all of the main estrogen — 17
alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) — in oral contraceptives, the scientists decided to pin
down the main sources of estrogens in water supplies.
Dr. Andrew Goldsworthy Witness
Statement April 2010
Many people suffer one or more of a wide variety of symptoms when exposed to weak
non-ionising electromagnetic radiation, including that from cell phones and Wi-Fi. Those
responsible for the radiation deny that these effects exist, saying that there is no
plausible explanation. In this submission I explain just how these effects can arise, and
how virtually all of them share one of two common mechanisms. The pieces of the jigsaw fit
together remarkably well and leave little doubt that the majority of the reported effects
are real and must be taken seriously. Knowledge of the mechanisms makes it possible to
mitigate the worst of these effects and I have made a number of suggestions as to how this
might be done. I have also explained how a simple test, taking just a day or two to
perform, could be used to assess the biological safety of both new and existing wireless
technologies. Until this has been done, it would be wise to halt the roll-out of new
wireless technologies and withdraw from sale particularly hazardous items such as DECT
baby monitors which radiate continuously next to a very young child.
Drug Prevents Post-Traumatic Stress
Syndrome
Post-traumatic stress syndrome – when a severely stressful event triggers exaggerated
and chronic fear – affects nearly 8 million people in the United States and is hard
to treat. In a preclinical study, Northwestern Medicine scientists have for the first time
identified the molecular cause of the debilitating condition and prevented it from
occurring by injecting calming drugs into the brain within five hours of a traumatic
event. Northwestern researchers discovered the brain becomes overly stimulated after a
traumatic event causes an ongoing, frenzied interaction between two brain proteins long
after they should have disengaged.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is
ultimately a stem cell disease
Researchers have long known that the devastating disease called Duchenne muscular
dystrophy (DMD) is caused by a single mutation in a gene called dystrophin. The protein
encoded by that gene is critical for the integrity of muscle; without it, they are easily
damaged. But new findings in mice reported online in the journal Cell on December 9th by
researchers at Stanford suggest that disease symptoms, including progressive muscle
weakening leading to respiratory failure, only set in when skeletal muscle stem cells can
no longer keep up with the needed repairs. "This is not just a disease of dystrophin
deficiency" said Helen Blau of Stanford University School of Medicine, who led the
study. "It's also a disease of stem cells." That means that successful
treatments would likely need to target muscle stem cells, not just muscle fibers, she
says.
Early study analysis suggests
exemestane reduces breast density in high risk postmenopausal women
A drug that shows promise for preventing breast cancer in postmenopausal women with an
increased risk of developing the disease, appears to reduce mammographic breast density in
the same group of women. Having dense breast tissue on mammogram is believed to be one of
the strongest predictors of breast cancer. The preliminary analysis from the small, phase
II study was presented today at the 33rd Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer
Symposium in Texas. The ongoing study at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
and the Center for Cancer Research at the National Cancer Institute examines the effect of
exemestane (Aromasin®) on breast density. Exemestane is in a class of medications called
aromatase inhibitors (AI). It works by decreasing the amount of estrogen produced by the
body. This can slow or stop the growth of some breast tumors that need estrogen to grow.
In this study, a preliminary analysis was conducted for the first 23 participants enrolled
(42 women were enrolled as of June 2010). Mammograms were taken before the women began
exemestane and one year after treatment started. Breast density was compared between the
two mammograms for each woman.
Effect of long-term exposure to a
randomly varied 50 Hz power frequency magnetic field on the fertility of the mouse
A double blind study on BALB/c mice was conducted to examine the effects of extremely
low-frequency electromagnetic fields on fertility. The mice were continuously exposed or
sham-exposed from conception for two generations to magnetic fields varying between 0.5
and 77 muT. Biological parameters related to fertility were evaluated. Serum testosterone
levels and mass of testes and adrenals were determined. No significant difference was
found between the sham-exposed and exposed groups for all the biological endpoints, except
for sperm motility. A significant difference between the two groups was found prior to the
swim-up test with quantitative analysis of sperm motility as well as after the swim-up
test for quantitative and qualitative analysis of sperm motility. ELF-EMFs significantly
decreased the number of living sperm and the quality of movement of sperm, although these
adversities did not impact on the outcome of the other parameters investigated.
Effects of chronic exposure of
power frequency magnetic field on neurobehavior in rats
Compared with controls, no significant difference was found in rats of MF1h group in any
test. Rats in MF4h group showed increased thigmotaxis, more grooming in the open field
test; less time spent in open arms, central part and more time spent in closed arms.
However, no significant difference was observed in the light/dark test in MF1h or MF4h
group. Chronic ELF MF exposure has an anxiogenic effect on rats, which is dependent on the
daily exposure duration.
Effects of extremely low frequency
magnetic field on the parameters of oxidative stress in heart
Increasing production of free radicals in organisms is one of the putative mechanisms by
which a extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) may affect biological systems. The
present study was designated to assess if ELF-MF applied in the magnetotherapy, affects
generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in heart tissue and antioxidant capacity of
plasma according to its working time. The experiments were performed on 3 groups of
animals: group I - control; group II - exposed to 40 Hz, 7 mT, 30 min/day for 14 days
(this field is commonly applied in magnetotherapy); group III - exposed to 40 Hz, 7 mT, 60
min/day for 14 days. Control rats were housed in a separate room without exposure to
ELF-MF. Immediately after the last exposure, blood was taken from the tail vein and hearts
were removed under anesthesia. The effect of the exposure to ELF-MF on oxidative stress
was assessed on the basis of the measurements of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances
(TBARS), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), total free sulphydryl groups (-SH groups) and
reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations in heart homogenates. The total antioxidant
capacity of plasma was measured using ferric reducing ability method (FRAP). Exposure to
ELF-MF (40 Hz, 7 mT, 30 min/day for 2 weeks) did not significantly alter tissue TBARS,
H(2)O(2), total free -SH groups, reduced glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity
of plasma. By contrast, ELF-MF with the same frequency and induction but used for 60
min/day for 14 days caused significant increase in TBARS and H(2)O(2) concentration (P<0.01) and decrease in the concentration of GSH (P<0.05) and total free SH groups in heart homogenates. Moreover, exposure of rats to ELF-MF (40 Hz, 7 mT, 60 min/day for 2 weeks) resulted in the decrease of plasma antioxidant capacity. Our results indicate that effects of ELF-MF on ROS generation in the heart tissue and antioxidant capacity of plasma depend on its working time.
Effects of short-duration
electromagnetic radiation on early postnatal neurogenesis in rats
The immediate effects of whole body electromagnetic radiation (EMR) were used to study
postnatal neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and rostral migratory stream (RMS)
of Wistar rats of both sexes. Newborn postnatal day 7 (P7) and young adult rats (P28) were
exposed to pulsed electromagnetic fields (EMF) at a frequency of 2.45GHz and mean power
density of 2.8mW/cm(2) for 2h. Post-irradiation changes were studied using
immunohistochemical localization of Fos and NADPH-d. We found that short-duration exposure
induces increased Fos immunoreactivity selectively in cells of the SVZ of P7 and P28 rats.
There were no Fos positive cells visible within the RMS of irradiated rats. These findings
indicate that some differences exist in prerequisites of proliferating cells between the
SVZ and RMS regardless of the age of the rats. Short-duration exposure also caused praecox
maturation of NADPH-d positive cells within the RMS of P7 rats. The NADPH-d positive cells
appeared several days earlier than in age-matched controls, and their number and
morphology showed characteristics of adult rats. On the other hand, in the young adult P28
rats, EMR induced morphological signs typical of early postnatal age. These findings
indicate that EMR causes age-related changes in the production of nitric oxide (NO), which
may lead to different courses of the proliferation cascade in newborn and young adult
neurogenesis.
Electromagnetic fields and cancer -
the cost of doing nothing
Everyone is exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from electricity (extremely low
frequency, ELF), communication frequencies, and wireless devices (radiofrequency, RF).
Concern of health hazards from EMFs has increased as the use of cell phones and other
wireless devices has grown in all segments of society, especially among children. While
there has been strong evidence for an association between leukemia and residential or
occupational exposure to ELF EMFs for many years, the standards in existence are not
sufficiently stringent to protect from an increased risk of cancer. For RF EMFs, standards
are set at levels designed to avoid tissue heating, in spite of convincing evidence of
adverse biological effects at intensities too low to cause significant heating. Recent
studies demonstrate elevations in rates of brain cancer and acoustic neuroma only on the
side of the head where individuals used their cell phone. Individuals who begin exposure
at younger ages are more vulnerable. These data indicate that the existing standards for
radiofrequency exposure are not adequate. While there are many unanswered questions, the
cost of doing nothing will result in an increasing number of people, many of them young,
developing cancer.
Elizabeth Edwards joins long list
of victims killed by chemotherapy
Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, died this week
following a six-year chemical assault on her body from cancer doctors. Ravaged by the
effects of toxic poisons known as "chemotherapy," Elizabeth even cursed the
chemotherapy drugs before she died, saying, "Damn these drugs."
Email has turned us into 'lab rats'
Email has turned office workers into no more than lab rats desperately craving
“pellets of social interaction”, a leading expert has claimed.
Extremely low frequency
electromagnetic field exposure affects fertilization outcome in swine animal model
Modern society continuously exposes the population to electromagnetic radiation, the
effects of which on human health, in particular reproduction, are still unknown. The aim
of this research was to assess the effect of acute (1h) exposure of boar spermatozoa to a
50 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on early fertility outcome.
The effect of intensities ranging from 0 to 2 mT on morpho-functional integrity of
capacitated spermatozoa was examined in vitro. The oviducts containing or without
spermatozoa were then exposed to the minimum in vivo, TD(50,) and maximum intensities
determined in vitro, 4h before ovulation. The effects of ELF-EMF on spermatozoa in terms
of early embryo development were evaluated after 12h and 6 days. It was found that in
vitro ELF-EMF > 0.5 mT induced a progressive acrosome damage, thus compromising the
ability of spermatozoa to undergo acrosomal reaction after zona pellucida stimulation and
reducing the in vitro fertilization outcome. These effects became evident at 0.75 mT and
reached the plateau at 1 mT. Under in vivo conditions, the ELF-EMF intensity of 1 mT was
able to compromise sperm function, significantly reducing the fertilization rate. In
addition, the exposure of oviducts to fields > or = 0.75 mT in the absence of
spermatozoa was able to negatively affect early embryo development. In fact, it was found
to cause a slowdown in the embryo cleavage. In conclusion, it was demonstrated how and at
which intensities ELF-EMF negatively affect early fertility outcome in a highly predictive
animal model.
Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic
Field Decreased Calcium, Zinc and Magnesium Levels in Costa of Rat
Electromagnetic field (EMF) can affect cells due to biochemical change followed by a
change in level of ions trafficking through membrane. We aimed to investigate possible
changes in some elements in costa of rats exposed to long-term extremely low-frequency
magnetic field (ELF-MF). Rats were exposed to 100 and 500 ?T ELF-MF, which are the safety
standards of public and occupational exposure for 2 h/day during 10 months. At the end of
the exposure period, the samples of costa were taken from the rats exposed to ELF-MF and
sham. The levels of elements were measured by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry
(AAS) and ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry. Ca levels decreased in the ELF-500 exposure
group in comparison to sham group (p?
FDA to reexamine metal dental
fillings
U.S. health regulators are seeking a second opinion on whether mercury-containing dental
fillings pose a risk to dental patients, especially children and pregnant women.
Federal lab not testing for
oilsands chemicals
For years, development of the Alberta oilsands has been plagued by controversy over
whether the project is releasing deadly chemicals into the vast Athabasca River system.
Fighting flu in newborns begins in
pregnancy
A three-year study by Yale School of Medicine researchers has found that vaccinating
pregnant women against influenza is over 90 percent effective in preventing their infants
from being hospitalized with influenza in the first six months of life. Published in the
Dec. 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, the study builds on preliminary data the
research team presented last year at the Infectious Disease Society of America in
Philadelphia.
Forget your previous conceptions
about memory
Research may shed light on why dementia sufferers have memory difficulties. Memory
difficulties such as those seen in dementia may arise because the brain forms incomplete
memories that are more easily confused, new research from the University of Cambridge has
found. The findings are published today in the journal Science.
Frequent sex protects marital
happiness for neurotic newlyweds
People who are neurotic often have more difficulty with relationships and marriage. But if
neurotic newlyweds have frequent sexual relations, their marital satisfaction is every bit
as high as their less neurotic counterparts, according to a study in the current Social
Psychological and Personality Science (published by SAGE). Neuroticism is the tendency to
experience negative emotion, and people who are high in it get upset and irritated easily,
change their mood often, and worry frequently. People who score high in neuroticism are
less satisfied in romance and relationships, and when they get married they are more
likely to divorce. "High levels of neuroticism are more strongly associated with bad
marital outcomes than any other personality factor," said Michelle Russell and James
McNulty of the University of Tennessee, authors of the study. But sex in marriage seems to
make people happy—other research has shown that sexual interactions improved the next
day's mood. Russell and McNulty wanted to know if frequent sexual activity would erase the
negative effects of neuroticism. They followed 72 newlywed couples over the first four
years of their marriage; both spouses reported—separately and privately—on their
marital satisfaction and sexual frequency every six months.
Gene That Causes Some Cases of
Familial ALS Discovered
Finding could lead to new insight in understanding, treating more common forms of this
fatal neurological disease. Using a new gene sequencing method, a team of researchers led
by scientists from Johns Hopkins and the National Institutes of Health has discovered a
gene that appears to cause some instances of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The finding could lead to novel ways to treat the more common form of this fatal
neurodegenerative disease, which kills the vast majority of the nearly 6,000 Americans
diagnosed with ALS every year. Researchers don’t know exactly what causes ALS, which
destroys the motor neurons that control the movement of all the body’s muscles,
including those that control breathing. However, studies into the familial form of the
disease, which affects 5 percent to 10 percent of those diagnosed with the disease, could
shed some light on why motor neurons die in all types of ALS, says study leader Bryan J.
Traynor, M.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine and chief of the Neuromuscular Diseases Research Group at
the National Institutes of Health.
Ginseng just got better -- not as
bitter
University of Illinois scientists have learned to mask the bitterness of ginseng, a common
ingredient of energy drinks. "Consumers like to see ginseng on a product's ingredient
list because studies show that it improves memory, enhances libido and sexual performance,
boosts immunity, and alleviates diabetes. But the very compounds that make ginseng good
for you also make it taste bitter," said Soo-Yeun Lee, a U of I associate professor
of food science and human nutrition. In an earlier study, Lee and U of I professor of food
chemistry Shelly J. Schmidt found that ginseng contributes more to the bitter perception
in energy drinks than caffeine, an indispensable component of these beverages and the very
compound that sensory scientists use as their reference for bitter perception.
Girl gone primal
A friend of mine is currently keen to follow in my paleo footsteps, but finds the
'extremes' of the lifestyle a little hard to tackle. She asked me to create an
ease-of-entry plan for her, and I figured it would make sense to share it here for anyone
who needed to get back on the wagon, or wanted a list to send to loved ones to help them
with their transition.
Global warming could double food
prices
Even if we stopped spewing global warming gases today, the world would face a steady rise
in food prices this century. But on our current emissions path, climate change becomes the
“threat multiplier” that could double grain prices by 2050 and leave millions
more children malnourished, global food experts reported Wednesday.
GM canola contaminates organic farm
A West Australian organic farmer has found genetically manipulated (GM) canola seeds
contaminating nearly two thirds of his arable land. Australian organic standards mandate
zero tolerance for any GM so he will consider suing for financial loss, the first case of
its kind in Australia.
GM Crops Threaten to Replace
Natural Seeds
It is alarming that the biotechnology industry and the governments that support them are
pushing for Genetically Modified (GM) crops and food into Uganda without due regard to
local communities’ livelihoods, bio-safety and democratic rights. GMOs such as
genetically engineered maize, cotton and soya are rapidly finding their entry into
agriculture, due to the growing influence of a handful of transnational agro-companies who
are now controlling 30 per cent of the multibillion-dollar global seed market.
GMO, Higher Risks for Children
Children's bodies develop at a fast pace and are more likely to be influenced and show the
effects of genetically modified (GM) foods. That is why independent scientists used young
adolescent rats in their GM feeding studies.
Government tells judges it's too
late to sue over St. Lucie River pollution
A government attorney told a three-judge federal panel Monday it is too late for 22
property owners along the St. Lucie River to claim $50 million in damages because she said
the Army Corps of Engineers has been polluting the river since at least the 1950s.
Half of Europeans are overweight, a
report shows
Over half of adults living in the European Union countries are now overweight or obese
according to a report.
Health body denies mad-cow cover-up
Former health minister Yeh Ching-chuan became the target of criticism yesterday from
opposition lawmakers and in part by his successor for not reporting Taiwan's first
possible human case of mad-cow disease. According to a report by the Department of
Health's Center for Disease Control (CDC) Wednesday, a man died in May apparently from the
human form of mad-cow disease.
Heavy pollution takes a toll on
residents in Tehran
The Iranian capital is experiencing what officials say is the worst pollution in its
history, prompting the government to shutter offices and consider placing air purifiers
across the city as it seeks to combat the brown blanket of smog.
Hicks keeps women informed on
incontinence
When one thinks of the urgency to urinate, they may think of someone in their elder years,
but, in fact, Dr. Janet Harris-Hicks has treated patients in their 30s. Hicks was at
Sandhills Regional Medical Center in Hamlet this month informing women on incontinence.
She is a gynecologist at Sandhills Gynecology located at 108 Endo Lane, Suite 1 in Hamlet.
"This is not a normal part of aging," she said.
High blood pressure cut by whole
grain diet
EATING oats and wholemeal bread can lower dangerous high blood pressure as effectively as
taking an anti-hypertension drug, according to a Scottish study published today. Aberdeen
University researchers monitored more than 200 volunteers and found that eating three
portions a day of wholegrain oats or wheat - in ordinary supermarket-bought products - cut
blood pressure by as much as six points a day, reducing the risk of heart attacks by 15
per cent and strokes by 25 per cent.
How inhibition of emotion may
affect disease development
Alexithymia is inversely related to mentalization and is associated with insecure
attachment styles and emotional trauma, which influence the capacity to regulate affects
induced by stressful events. Alexithymia and intrapsychic conflicts may both contribute to
the pathogenesis of panic attacks.
How the Oligarchs Took Over America
Creating a country of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich.
Human umbilical cord blood cells
found to enhance survival and maturation of key brain cells
In vitro studies examining the activity of human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCB) on
experimental animal models of central nervous system aging, injury and disease, have shown
that HUCBs provide a "trophic effect" that enhances survival and maturation of
hippocampal neurons, benefiting aging adult hippocampal neurons by increasing their
survival, growth, differentiation, maturation and arborization.
Illegal file sharers ‘Robin
Hoods of the digital age’
Many illegal file sharers believe they are the ‘Robin Hoods of the digital age’
and are motivated by altruism and a desire for notoriety, according to new research which
analyses why people illegally download digital media. The research by Joe Cox, from the
University of Portsmouth Business School, is the first study to distinguish between the
characteristics, motivations and behaviours of different types of file sharers. It is
published in the academic journal, Information Economics and Policy.
Immune system changes linked to
inflammatory bowel disease revealed
Scientists at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech have discovered some
of the key molecular events in the immune system that contribute to inflammatory bowel
disease. The results, which help researchers move one step further in their efforts to
develop new drugs to treat inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases, are reported in the
November 2010 edition (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21068720) of the journal Mucosal
Immunology from the Nature Publishing Group. Inflammatory bowel disease starts when the
gut initiates an abnormal immune response to some of the one hundred trillion or so
bacteria that come into contact with the colon of the human body.
Industry, government push GMO
oranges as solution to pest problem
Problem, reaction, solution - that's the name of the game in the U.S., and it's how
sweeping changes that would otherwise never happen end up coming to pass. Currently, a
widespread pest problem among citrus plants known as "greening" allegedly
threatens the continued existence of orange fruit production, and the only way to fix it,
say some, is to genetically-alter orange trees to resist the pest.
Infected prosthetic knees cause
problems
The number of people that undergo an operation to have a prosthetic knee joint is
increasing. One reason is that the population is getting older, another is that people are
also getting heavier, which is a factor in the development of osteoarthritis. The number
of knee replacement operations has increased by 9 per cent a year in recent years.
"So if 1-2 per cent of the operations lead to bacterial infection, then the need for
revision – re-operation – will also increase", says Anna Stefánsdóttir.
Inhaling Tobacco Smoke Causes
Immediate Harm
This report explains in detail how tobacco smoke causes disease. It describes the ways
tobacco smoke damages every organ in the body and causes disease and death.
Interview with a Kitavan
Kitava is a Melanesian island that has maintained an almost entirely traditional,
non-industrial diet until very recently. It was the subject of a study by Dr. Staffan
Lindeberg and colleagues, which I have written about many times, in which they
demonstrated that Kitavans have a very low (undetectable) rate of heart attack, stroke,
diabetes and overweight. Dr. Lindeberg described their diet as consisting mostly of yam,
sweet potato, taro, cassava, coconut, fruit, fish and vegetables. Over the seven days that
Dr. Lindeberg measured food intake, they ate 69% of their calories as carbohydrate, 21% as
fat (mostly from coconut) and 10% as protein.
Is Santa Claus toxic?
The exact location of Santa’s Workshop has long been kept secret, but one thing every
child knows is that he lives somewhere up by the North Pole. It’s a place that has
seen great changes in recent years with melting sea ice and warmer summer temperatures
attributed to global warming. But climate change isn’t the only bad news facing the
world’s favorite jolly old elf: research from the Norwegian University of Science and
Technology (NTNU) shows that if he’s eating anything that lives in the Arctic,
chances are that he himself is loaded with toxic chemicals. In a series of recent
publications, NTNU biologist and professor Bjřrn Munro Jenssen and colleagues have
reported on high levels of contaminants in a range of Arctic animals and fish, including
polar bears, ivory gulls and most recently, Greenland sledge dogs.
It all begins in the gut
Most of modern medicine denies a connection between what we eat and how we feel or what
diseases we end up with.
Just 1 Cigarette Can Cause Serious
Damage, Surgeon General Says
Any exposure to tobacco–even a single cigarette or second-hand smoke–can cause
immediate damage to the body, according to a report released Thursday by U.S. Surgeon
General Regina Benjamin, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Key protein discovered that allows
nerve cells to repair themselves
A team of scientists led by Melissa Rolls, an assistant professor of biochemistry and
molecular biology at Penn State University, has peered inside neurons to discover an
unexpected process that is required for regeneration after severe neuron injury. The
process was discovered during Rolls's studies aimed at deciphering the inner workings of
dendrites -- the part of the neuron that receives information from other cells and from
the outside world. The research will be published in the print edition of the scientific
journal Current Biology on 21 December 2010. "We already know a lot about axons --
the part of the nerve cell that is responsible for sending signals," Rolls said.
"However, dendrites -- the receiving end of nerve cells -- have always been quite
mysterious." Unlike axons, which form large, easily recognizable bundles, dendrites
are highly branched and often buried deep in the nervous system, so they have always been
harder to visualize and to study. However, Rolls and her team were able to get around
these difficulties. They looked inside dendrites in vivo by using a simple model organism
-- the fruit fly -- whose nerve cells are similar to human nerve cells. One of the first
mysteries they tackled was the layout of what Rolls referred to as intracellular
"highways" -- or microtubules.
Killer in the Attic
The Environmental Protection Agency turned 40 years old this month, and public health and
safety experts say the agency has set a new low in failing to protect millions of people
at risk from the cancer-causing, asbestos-tainted insulation detailed in last week's AOL
News series, "A Killer in the Attic."
Kjell Hansson Mild -
Electromagnetic fields
Kjell Hansson Mild, associate professor in medical physics, is coming from the former
National Institute for Working Life, and his research is on electromagnetic fields (EMF)
and effects on humans. He has mainly been working on occupational exposure to EMF. Of
special interest are the studies on chromosomal damage in engine drivers and high voltage
switchyard workers, as well as different health aspects among RF-sealer workers. The
problem being addressed today is mobile phone exposure and the risk for brain tumours. He
has published several scientific papers on this in collaboration with professor Lennart
Hardell, Oncology Dept., Örebro University Hospital. One of the big questions today is
the new EU directive on occupational exposure to EMF and the consequences for working
life. One of the groups that will be affected is the personnel working near a magnetic
resonance imaging scanner. Hansson Mild and co-worker have surveyed the exposure near MRI
machines and now experiments are ongoing to see if the exposure in the scanner can affect
the DNA integrity.
Lack of vitamin D makes kids fat
Why are American kids so often overweight and even downright fat to the point many are
developing type 2 diabetes, a disease that used to be unheard of except among middle-aged
folks? Is it all due to junk food diets and lack of exercise? Those factors no doubt
contribute to the epidemic of childhood obesity, but now scientists have found another
reason why countless youngsters may be too chubby -- a lack of vitamin D.
Leaked cables reveal GMO, agrofuel
agendas
The U.S. is targeting African officials to push genetically modified crops on Africa, and
promoting agrofuels appears to be a significant item on the State Department’s
agenda.
Leaked Memo Reveals Culprit Behind
Bee Die-Offs
Looks like the culprit is a kind of pesticide that the EPA has allowed on the market
despite the fact that the company which makes the pesticide has failed to prove it is
safe.
Let’s Not Sleep On It
We commonly think of sleep as a healing process that melts away the stresses of the day,
preparing us to deal with new challenges. Research has also shown that sleep plays a
crucial role in the development of memories. An important component of anxiety disorders,
including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is the formulation of memories associated
with fear.
Lithium Batteries Pose Deadly
Threat to Kids
Hazel Donovan was a happy, healthy 9-month-old when she developed cold symptoms and
wheezing that just wouldn't go away. Her mother quickly turned to her pediatricians.
Lost civilization under Persian
Gulf?
A once fertile landmass now submerged beneath the Persian Gulf may have been home to some
of the earliest human populations outside Africa, according to an article published today
in Current Anthropology. Jeffrey Rose, an archaeologist and researcher with the University
of Birmingham in the U.K., says that the area in and around this "Persian Gulf
Oasis" may have been host to humans for over 100,000 years before it was swallowed up
by the Indian Ocean around 8,000 years ago. Rose's hypothesis introduces a "new and
substantial cast of characters" to the human history of the Near East, and suggests
that humans may have established permanent settlements in the region thousands of years
before current migration models suppose. In recent years, archaeologists have turned up
evidence of a wave of human settlements along the shores of the Gulf dating to about 7,500
years ago. "Where before there had been but a handful of scattered hunting camps,
suddenly, over 60 new archaeological sites appear virtually overnight," Rose said.
"These settlements boast well-built, permanent stone houses, long-distance trade
networks, elaborately decorated pottery, domesticated animals, and even evidence for one
of the oldest boats in the world."
Low and high vitamin D levels in
older women associated with increased likelihood of frailty
A recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) found that lower and higher vitamin D levels were
associated with an increased likelihood of frailty in older women. Women with vitamin D
levels between 20.0 and 29.9 ng/ml were at the lowest risk of frailty. Vitamin D
deficiency and frailty are common with aging. Dimensions of frailty, including weakness
and slowness are potential outcomes of vitamin D deficiency and many experts have
recommended measuring vitamin D levels in older adults and prescribing vitamin D
supplementation if levels are less than 30 ng/ml to prevent adverse health outcomes. This
new study however found a U-shaped relationship between vitamin D levels and frailty;
older women with vitamin D levels higher than 30 ng/ml and those with levels lower than 20
ng/ml were more likely to be frail. "Vitamin D supplementation has grown in
popularity, yet the association between vitamin D status and risk of adverse health
outcomes in older adults is uncertain," said Kristine Ensrud, MD, professor of
medicine and epidemiology, Minneapolis VA Medical Center and the University of Minnesota
and lead author of the study. "Our study did not find that higher vitamin D status
was associated with lower subsequent risks of frailty or death. In fact, higher levels of
vitamin D were associated with increased likelihood of frailty."
Manchester scientists discover new
way of seeing
University of Manchester scientists have found that a new type of light sensitive cell in
the eye helps the brain measure brightness. This mechanism, which works alongside the rod
and cone cells in the eyes, may be particularly important to people with some sorts of
blindness. Professor Rob Lucas and Dr Tim Brown, whose work is oublished in PLoS Biology
today, hope their findings will lead to a new understanding of how we perceive the world,
and may eventually even lead to technical applications in artificial lighting, visual
display unit and television screen design.
Marmite clue to heart attack
recovery
A KEY vitamin found in Marmite and Quorn could hold the clue to recovery following a heart
attack, experts said.
Mayo Clinic finds seizure
generation in brain is isolated from surrounding brain regions
Mayo Clinic researchers found that the part of the brain generating seizures in
individuals with epilepsy is functionally isolated from surrounding brain regions. The
researchers hope this finding could be a clinical biomarker to help identify individuals
with abnormal brain function. This study was presented at the American Epilepsy Society's
annual meeting in San Antonio on Dec. 4.Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by the
occurrence of two or more seizures. It affects almost 3 million Americans. "The
synchronization of local and distributed neuronal assemblies underlies fundamental brain
processes like perception, learning and cognition," says Gregory Worrell, M.D.,
Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic epileptologist and an author of this study. "In neurological
disease, neuronal synchrony can be altered, and in epilepsy the synchrony plays an
important role in the generation of seizures."
Mechanism that controls cell
movement linked to tumors becoming more aggressive
Researchers at the University of Georgia have discovered a central switch that controls
whether cells move or remain stationary. The misregulation of this switch may play a role
in the increased movement of tumor cells and in the aggressiveness of tumors themselves.
"Malignant cancer arises when cancer cells acquire the ability to move away from
their primary tissue location," said Natalia Starostina assistant research scientist
in the UGA department of cellular biology and lead author of the research. "The
control of cell movement is a fundamental aspect of animal development, and defects in
cell movements can have devastating results ranging from tumor metastasis to vascular
disease."
Medicaid-funded ADHD treatment for
children misses the mark
The enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 expands Medicare
benefits to scores of previously uninsured individuals including many of our nation's
children. While access to treatment is laudable, the quality of such treatment is the
subject of an article in the December issue of the Journal of the American Academy of
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In the article titled "Quality of Care for Childhood
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a Managed Care Medicaid Program,"
Dr. Bonnie Zima and colleagues report on the treatment of ADHD in 530 children aged 5 to
11 years receiving ADHD care in primary care or specialty mental health clinics from
November 2004 through September 2006 in a large, countywide, managed care Medicaid
program. 1 The investigators used a set of longitudinal analyses drawn from Medicaid
service and pharmacy claims data, parent and child interviews, and school records, to
characterize the mental health care and clinical outcomes of children across three 6-month
time intervals.
Metabolism Models may Explain Why
Alzheimer's Disease Kills Some Neuron Types First
Bioengineers from the University of California, San Diego developed an explanation for why
some types of neurons die sooner than others in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s
disease. These insights, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology on November 21,
come from detailed models of brain energy metabolism developed in the Department of
Bioengineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.
Mindfulness meditation found to be
as effective as antidepressants to prevent depression relapse
A new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has found that
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy--using meditation—provides equivalent protection
against depressive relapse as traditional antidepressant medication. The study published
in the current issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry compared the effectiveness of
pharmacotherapy with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) by studying people who
were initially treated with an antidepressant and then, either stopped taking the
medication in order to receive MBCT, or continued taking medication for 18
months."With the growing recognition that major depression is a recurrent disorder,
patients need treatment options for preventing depression from returning to their
lives." said Dr. Zindel Segal, Head of the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Clinic in the
Clinical Research Department at CAMH.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy appears to be similar to maintenance antidepressant
medication for preventing relapse or recurrence among patients successfully treated for
depression, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry,
one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Mothers' diets have biggest
influence on children eating healthy
As health professionals search for ways to combat the rise in obesity and promote healthy
eating, new research reveals a mother's own eating habits -- and whether she views her
child as a "picky eater" -- has a huge impact on whether her child consumes
enough fruits and vegetables.
Mutation linked to protein
degradation underlies inherited ALS
A new study identifies a previously unrecognized mutation that causes an inherited form of
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The research, published by Cell Press in the December
9th issue of the journal Neuron, implicates defects in a cellular pathway linked with
degradation of unwanted proteins in the underlying pathology of ALS and provides new
insight into this incurable and fatal neurodegenerative disease. ALS, also known as Lou
Gehrig's disease, is a devastating disease that causes destruction of the neurons in the
brain and spinal cord that control voluntary movement. There is no cure for ALS, which is
characterized by a progressive paralysis that often leads to death from respiratory
failure within three to five years of diagnosis. It is estimated that about 5% of ALS
cases are inherited and a few genetic mutations linked with these familial cases of ALS
have been identified.
Mycoplasma Infections
For years we in the CFS/FMS/MCS community have been watching the reports of Gulf War
Illness (GWI) knowing, instinctively, that we all had something in common. Not only do we
all have common symptoms, but we may also be infected with common pathogenic organisms.
That pathogen is a Mycoplasma. Various pathogenic strains have been identified including
the fermentans (incognitus), penetrans, genitalium, hominis, and pneumoniae. And, we may
be infected with several of these strains at one time. Following is a simple overview of
the information I have gathered about this Mycoplasma pathogen and how it affects us.
Net neutrality, the FCC, Wikileaks
and the future of internet freedom
Regardless of what you think about the Wikileaks release of state secrets, there's no
debating the astonishing fact that the internet made these leaks possible. Without the
internet, no single organization such as Wikileaks would have been able to so widely
propagate secret government information and make it public. In the old model of
information distribution -- centralized mainstream media newspapers and news broadcasts --
such information would have been tightly controlled thanks to government pressure.
New Book Reveals Human Face of
Climate Change in the Arctic
Revealing the human face of climate change is the focus of a new book co-authored by
University of Guelph geography professor Barry Smit. Community Adaptation and
Vulnerability in Arctic Regions paints a picture of the impact of rising temperatures on
Arctic communities across the North and how these communities are struggling to adapt.
“Essentially the message is that the world has to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
slow down climate change because it is having serious consequences for people living in
the Arctic,” said Smit, who wrote the book with Grete Hovelsrud of the Centre for
International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo, Norway. “These people are
bearing the brunt of a problem that was not brought on by them.”
New Concerns for Antibiotic
Resistance, Pollution Identified
When an antibiotic is consumed, researchers have learned that up to 90 percent passes
through a body without metabolizing. This means the drugs can leave the body almost intact
through normal bodily functions. In the case of agricultural areas, excreted antibiotics
can then enter stream and river environments through a variety of ways, including
discharges from animal feeding operations, fish hatcheries, and nonpoint sources such as
the flow from fields where manure or biosolids have been applied. Water filtered through
wastewater treatment plants may also contain used antibiotics.
New ground broken on aggression
research
Questionnaire results and DNA samples volunteered by a group of University of Alberta
students has broken new ground in the study of aggression. U of A Psychology researcher
Peter Hurd was looking at the link between an individual's sensitivity to testosterone and
aggressive behaviour. "I looked at the gene that makes the body's testosterone
detector to determine if variations in this detector's sensitivity to the chemical causes
people to be more or less aggressive," said Hurd. Hurd came across a previously
published study in India that found violent criminals had genes that made receptors that
were very sensitive to the presence of testosterone, so he decided to conduct a similar
experiment with volunteers at the U of A.
New hope for Parkinson's,
Huntington's, Alzheimer's
Investigators at Southern Methodist University and The University of Texas at Dallas have
discovered a family of small molecules that shows promise in protecting brain cells
against nerve-degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's,
which afflict millions. Dallas-based startup EncephRx, Inc. was granted the worldwide
license to the jointly owned compounds. A biotechnology and therapeutics company, EncephRx
will develop drug therapies based on the new class of compounds as a pharmaceutical for
preventing nerve-cell damage, delaying onset of degenerative nerve disease and improving
symptoms.
New mechanism links cellular stress
and brain damage
A new study uncovers a mechanism linking a specific type of cellular stress with brain
damage similar to that associated with neurodegenerative disease. The research, published
by Cell Press in the December 9 issue of the journal Neuron, is the first to highlight the
significance of the reduction of a specific calcium signal that is directly tied to cell
fate. Body cells are constantly exposed to various environmental stresses. Although cells
possess some natural defenses, excessive stress can lead to a type of cell death called
apoptosis. "It is thought that excessive stress impacts brain function by inducing
neuronal apoptosis and may play a role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's
disease and Huntington's disease (HD)," explains senior study author, Dr. Katsuhiko
Mikoshiba, from the Laboratory for Developmental Neurobiology at RIKEN Brain Science
Institute.
New study shows radiation exposure
in middle age causes cancer
Here's a riddle with a dangerous answer: what do routine dental x-rays, mammograms, CT
scans and body scanners at the airport have in common? They expose your body to radiation,
a form of energy known to raise the risk of cancer. Despite the fact that ionizing
radiation is known to trigger mutations and other genetic damage and cause normal cells to
become malignant, mainstream medicine has long discounted a serious risk from the
accumulated radiation exposure from these tests -- especially for middle-aged folks.
New UCLA study raises questions
about genetic testing of newborns
Mandatory genetic screening of newborns for rare diseases is creating unexpected upheaval
for families whose infants test positive for risk factors but show no immediate signs of
the diseases, a new UCLA study warns. "Although newborn screening undoubtedly saves
lives, some families are thrown on a journey of great uncertainty," said UCLA
sociology professor Stefan Timmermans, the study's lead author. "Rather than
providing clear-cut diagnoses, screening of an entire population has created ambiguity
about whether infants truly have a disease — and even what the disease is."
Nicotine exposure in pregnant rats
puts offspring at risk for learning disabilities
Exposure to nicotine during pregnancy leads to a decrease in adult stem cells and a change
in synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of the offspring, according to new research from
the University of Alabama at Birmingham presented at Neuroscience 2010, the annual Society
for Neuroscience meeting in San Diego in November. Researchers say this could be a
possible cause for behavioral problems such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) seen in children whose mothers smoked.
Nitrate-Induced Iron Deficiency in
Soybean Varieties with Varying Iron-Stress Responses
Our results strongly suggest that N should not be applied when Fe-inefficient Vs are grown
on Fe chlorosis-prone soils.
No-Poo? Alternatives to Shampoo and
Deodorant
I found something that really worked - Soap Nuts. I highly recommend them! They are
actually the dried, de-seeded fruit of a tree, are naturally full of saponin, and they've
been used for thousands of years in India.
Not Only Skin Deep - Penn Study on
Skin Formation Suggests Strategies to Fight Skin Cancer
In a study published in the journal Developmental Cell, Sarah Millar PhD, professor of
Dermatology and Cell & Developmental Biology at the University of Pennsylvania School
of Medicine, and colleagues demonstrate that a pair of enzymes called HDACs are critical
to the proper formation of mammalian skin.
On... Off... On... Off... The
Circuitry of Insulin-Releasing Cells
A myriad of inputs that report on a body’s health bombard pancreatic beta cells
continuously, and these cells must consider all signals and “decide” when and
how much insulin to release to maintain balance in blood sugar, for example. Reporting in
Nature Chemical Biology last month, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of
Medicine have teased out how these cells interpret incoming signals and find that three
proteins relay signals similar to an electrical circuit. “Pancreatic beta cells are
influenced by hormonal, metabolic and electrical signals and something must be integrating
all of these inputs to determine how to generate the cell’s output,” says Jin
Zhang, Ph.D., an associate professor of pharmacology and molecular sciences at Johns
Hopkins. “We have discovered a tunable circuit that may control the behavior of the
cell.”
Our brains are wired so we can
better hear ourselves speak, new study shows
Like the mute button on the TV remote control, our brains filter out unwanted noise so we
can focus on what we're listening to. But when it comes to following our own speech, a new
brain study from the University of California, Berkeley, shows that instead of one
homogenous mute button, we have a network of volume settings that can selectively silence
and amplify the sounds we make and hear.
Over-reactive immune system kills
young adults during pandemic flu
On November 19, Jason Martin returned to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at
Vanderbilt University Medical Center for the first time since he nearly died there during
last year's H1N1 flu pandemic. The tall and burly Warren County, TN, ambulance worker
– a 30-year-old, father of three young children – broke down and hugged some of
the nurses he recognized. "I got sick on September 12 and didn't come out of it for
the next 20 days. I am just so grateful I came through," Martin said, wiping his
eyes. Martin was among the first wave of critically ill middle Tennesseans, hit hard by
the H1N1 flu pandemic in late 2009. A hallmark of pandemic flu throughout history,
including the H1N1 pandemic, has been its ability to make healthy young and middle-aged
adults seriously ill and even kill this population in disproportionate numbers.
Panorama - Wi-fi a warning signal
Parasites may protect against
allergies
Children infected with hookworm or other intestinal parasites may be less likely than
uninfected children to have allergies, a new research review finds.
Parents' Influence On
Children’s Eating Habits is Limited
As primary caregivers, parents are often believed to have a strong influence on
children’s eating behaviors. However, previous findings on parent-child resemblance
in dietary intakes are mixed. Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health reviewed and assessed the degree of association and similarity between
children and their parents’ dietary intake based on worldwide studies published since
1980. The meta-analysis is featured in the December issue of the Journal of Epidemiology
and Community Health. “Contrary to popular belief, many studies from different
countries, including the United States, have found a weak association between parent-child
dietary intake,” said Youfa Wang, MD, PhD, MS, lead author of the study and an
associate professor with the Bloomberg School’s Department of International Health.
“This is likely because young people’s eating patterns are influenced by many
complex factors, and the family environment plays only a partial role. More attention
should be given to the influence of the other players on children’s eating patterns
such as that of schools, the local food environment and peer influence, government
guidelines and policies that regulate school meals, and the broader food environment that
is influenced by food production, distribution and advertising.” He added,
"Parents need to be better empowered to be good role models and help their children
eat a healthy diet."
PDF - Electromagnetic environment
in Electrical Hypersensitives homes and workplaces
E and B fields in homes and offices are no longer pure 50 Hz sinusoidal, but have
harmonics and transients. There is an increase in our everyday environment of low level RF
signals from different communication devices. EHS cases do not have an EMF environment
different from others.
People who believe in justice also
see a victim's life as more meaningful after tragedy
Seeing bad things happen to other people is scary. One way to respond to this is to blame
the victim -- to look for some reason why it happened to them. But there's another common
response, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the
Association for Psychological Science. The researchers found that people who believe in
justice in the world also believe that a tragedy gives the victim's life more meaning.
People with severe mental illness
12 times more likely to commit suicide
People with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, are 12 times
more likely to commit suicide than average, according to research released today by King's
Health Partners. The research found that the rate of suicide was highest in the first year
following diagnosis (12 times national average) and that high risk persisted –
remaining four times greater than the general population ten years after diagnosis, a time
when there may be less intense clinical monitoring of risk.
Physicians Warn Some Toy Choices
are Hazardous to Children
The right toy can make the Christmas season the most wonderful time of the year for
children and their parents. But the wrong toy can make this season a time of pain, grief
and regret for families with children who suffer severe injuries or death from toys they
never should have been given in the first place, according to medical experts at Loyola
University Health System in Maywood, Ill.
Plants Bite Back
Mother Nature put a surprising number of all-natural anti-nutrients and toxins in grains,
nuts, seeds and beans. Phytates, for example, block seeds from sprouting prematurely.
Protease inhibitors, saponins, lectins and phytoestrogens harm insects, animals and other
predators that would otherwise eat too many of them. If evolutionary theories are correct,
wounded plants produce extra inhibitors and other anti-nutrients to save the plant
species.
Pooled analysis of recent studies
on magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia
Our results are in line with previous pooled analyses showing an association between
magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia. Overall, the association is weaker in the most
recently conducted studies, but these studies are small and lack methodological
improvements needed to resolve the apparent association. We conclude that recent studies
on magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia do not alter the previous assessment that
magnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic.
Pooled analysis of recent studies
on magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia
Our results are in line with previous pooled analyses showing an association between
magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia. Overall, the association is weaker in the most
recently conducted studies, but these studies are small and lack methodological
improvements needed to resolve the apparent association. We conclude that recent studies
on magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia do not alter the previous assessment that
magnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic.
Potent anti-obesity effect of
enteric-coated lactoferrin
Lactoferrin (LF), a multifunctional glycoprotein in mammalian milk, is reported to exert a
modulatory effect on lipid metabolism. The aim of the present study was to elucidate
whether enteric-coated LF (eLF) might improve visceral fat-type obesity, an underlying
cause of the metabolic syndrome. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled design, Japanese
men and women (n 26; aged 22-60 years) with abdominal obesity (BMI>25 kg/m2, and
visceral fat area (VFA)>100 cm2) consumed eLF (300 mg/d as bovine LF) or placebo
tablets for 8 weeks. Measurement of the total fat area, VFA and subcutaneous fat area from
computed tomography images revealed a significant reduction in VFA ( - 14·6 cm2) in the
eLF group, as compared with the placebo controls ( - 1·8 cm2; P = 0·009 by ANCOVA).
Decreases in body weight, BMI and hip circumference in the eLF group ( - 1·5 kg, - 0·6
kg/m2, - 2·6 cm) were also found to be significantly greater than with the placebo (+1·0
kg, +0·3 kg/m2, - 0·2 cm; P = 0·032, 0·013, 0·041, respectively). There was also a
tendency for a reduction in waist circumference in the eLF group ( - 4·4 cm) as compared
with the placebo group ( - 0·9 cm; P = 0·073). No adverse effects of the eLF treatment
were found with regard to blood lipid or biochemical parameters. From these results, eLF
appears to be a promising agent for the control of visceral fat accumulation.
Pregnancy may be impetus for
degenerative back disease
Researchers from Michigan State University are studying whether pregnancies, specifically
cesarean-section deliveries, are linked to a degenerative back disease that affects women
three to nine times more often than men. Degenerative spondylolisthesis, a condition in
which a vertebra slips forward onto a bone below it, can cause lower back pain, muscle
tightness and nerve damage, said Jacek Cholewicki of the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Prenatal and postnatal exposure to
cell phone use and behavioral problems in children
Exposure to cell phones prenatally-and, to a lesser degree, postnatally-was associated
with behavioral difficulties such as emotional and hyperactivity problems around the age
of school entry. These associations may be noncausal and may be due to unmeasured
confounding. If real, they would be of public health concern given the widespread use of
this technology.
Rationalization measures are the
main cause of poor work environment
Managers in the private and public sectors must consider work environment when
rationalizing production to obtain sustainable systems. A research study published in the
journal Applied Ergonomics reveals that rationalization measures often have a major
negative impact on both the physical and psychosocial work environment. "However, the
review also presents scientific evidence on how to reduce this problem," says one of
the researchers, at the University of Gothenburg.
Recycling and depolluting the
phosphorus in livestock waste
Phosphorus is an ingredient in agricultural and household products such as fertiliser,
detergents, etc. When released in excessive quantities to the environment, this mineral
contributes to the development of algae and micro-organisms that pollute water, thus
impacting on fishing, fish farms, swimming areas and drinking water. At Cemagref,
scientists are developing a means to recycle the phosphorus present in animal effluents
and limit water pollution. The new process may represent a solution for the future, given
the depletion of natural phosphorus and the resulting increase in farm operating costs.
Reindeer 'cruelty' slammed by
rights group
Reindeer are being tormented when slaughtered, according to the animal rights organisation
World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA).
Report attacks Canada’s
exports of asbestos to poor nations
Despite virtually banning the use of asbestos in Canada, the government regularly exports
the lethal substance to poor countries, according to a new report published today.
Reproductive scientists create mice
from 2 fathers
Using stem cell technology, reproductive scientists in Texas, led by Dr. Richard R.
Berhringer at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, have produced male and female mice from two
fathers. The achievement of two-father offspring in a species of mammal could be a step
toward preserving endangered species, improving livestock breeds, and advancing human
assisted reproductive technology (ART). It also opens the provocative possibility of
same-sex couples having their own genetic children, the researchers note.
Republicans Block U.S. Health Aid
for 9/11 Workers
Republican senators blocked Democratic legislation on Thursday that sought to provide
medical care to rescue workers and others who became ill as a result of breathing in toxic
fumes, dust and smoke at the site of the World Trade Center attack in 2001.
Researcher develops accurate method
for detecting dangerous fluoride
Used in the proper amounts, it can make teeth stronger and aid in the treatment of
osteoporosis. When excessive amounts are consumed, however, it can be a killer — a
carcinogen that causes bone, lung and bladder cancers. The "it" is fluoride, a
common additive in most American communities' drinking water and an ingredient in the vast
majority of commercially produced adult toothpastes. Determining the level of fluoride, be
it in water, consumer products or the human body, is an important and attractive challenge
for scientists. To address that, a Florida State University researcher has developed a
molecular sensor that changes color when a sample containing fluoride is added to it.
Researcher explores link between
bodily rhythm, breast cancer
All living entities have a circadian clock that is an important part of maintaining
optimal health. The circadian rhythm is a roughly 24-hour cycle in the biochemical,
physiological, or behavioral processes.
Researchers discover how natural
drug fights inflammation
Researchers at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech have discovered how
abscisic acid, a natural plant hormone with known beneficial properties for the treatment
of disease, helps fight inflammation. The results
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/210882970), which are published in the November 2010
Journal of Biological Chemistry, reveal important new drug targets for the development of
treatments for inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases. The scientists had reported some
of the key molecular events in the immune system of mice that contribute to
inflammation-related disease, including the involvement of a specific molecule found on
the surface of immune cells involved in the body's fight against infection
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21068720). They have now gone one step further and
revealed the mechanism by which the natural drug abscisic acid interacts with this
protein, known as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, to block inflammation
and the subsequent onset of disease.
Researchers discover new signaling
pathway linked to inflammatory disease
Scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have described
for the first time a key inhibitory role for the IL-1 signaling pathway in the human
innate immune system, providing novel insights into human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
and potential new treatments.
Researchers Grow Insulin-Producing
Cells From Testes
New research suggests it may be possible for people with type 1 diabetes to grow their own
insulin-producing cells -- an advancement that could lead to a cure for this form of
diabetes.
Researchers track the impacts of
depression during pregnancy
The cocktail of hormones cascading through depressed mothers’ bodies may play an
important role in the development of their unborn children’s brains. A higher level
of depression in mothers during pregnancy was associated with higher levels of stress
hormones in their children at birth, as well as with other neurological and behavioral
differences, a University of Michigan-led study found.
Researchers Warn of Potential
Dangers Posed by Cell Phone Towers
Cell phone towers have become ubiquitous near residential areas in the U.S. and abroad,
but precautions should be taken in siting the towers because of possible health risks,
according to a report in the Canadian journal Environmental Reviews.
Rice physicists help unravel
mystery of repetitive DNA segments
With new tools that can grab individual strands of DNA and stretch them like rubber bands,
Rice University scientists are working to unravel a mystery of modern genomics. Their
latest findings, which appear in Physical Review Letters, offer new clues about the
physical makeup of odd segments of DNA that have just one DNA base, adenine, repeated
dozens of times in a row.
Scientists discover brain's
inherent ability to focus learning
Medical researchers have found a missing link that explains the interaction between brain
state and the neural triggers responsible for learning, potentially opening up new ways of
boosting cognitive function in the face of diseases such as Alzheimer's as well as
enhancing memory in healthy people. Much is known about the neural processes that occur
during learning but until now it has not been clear why it occurs during certain brain
states but not others. Now researchers from the University of Bristol have been able to
study, in isolation, the specific neurotransmitter which enhances learning and memory.
Acetylcholine is released in the brain during learning and is critical for the acquisition
of new memories. Its role is to facilitate the activity of NMDA receptors, proteins that
control the strength of connections between nerve cells in the brain.
Scientists find gene linked to
congenital heart defect
A gene that can cause congenital heart defects has been identified by a team of
scientists, including a group from Princeton University. The discovery could lead to new
treatments for those affected by the conditions brought on by the birth defect.
Scottish doctors now warning people
to get more sunshine and vitamin D
The Scottish government has begun distribution information urging people to get enough
vitamin D in an effort to reduce rates of rickets, cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Second-hand smoke increases risk of
invasive meningococcal disease in children
Second-hand smoke increases risk of invasive meningococcal disease in children. Children
exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to get invasive meningococcal disease than
children who are not exposed, reports a study from Chien-Chang Lee at the Harvard School
of Public Health (Boston, USA) and colleagues published in this week's PLoS Medicine. The
authors also found a possible association of second-hand smoke exposure with invasive
pneumococcal disease and Haemophilus influenzae type b. By reviewing and analysing
published studies (30 case-control and 12 cross-sectional studies, mostly conducted in
high income countries with good vaccination policies), the authors used the findings of
all studies that had compared the occurrence of invasive bacterial disease in children
exposed to second-hand smoke with its occurrence in children not exposed to second-hand
smoke. The authors found that exposure to second-hand smoke doubled the likelihood of
invasive meningococcal disease (with a total odds ratio for second hand smoke exposure of
2.02) and although there was an increase in the risk of developing invasive pneumococcal
disease and Haemophilus influenzae type b, this increase could not be distinguished from
chance finding, perhaps because a relatively small number of studies were available.
However, nasal carriage of N. meningitidis (which causes meningitis) and S. pneumoniae in
children exposed to second-hand smoke was significantly increased compared to those who
were not exposed. The effects were generally stronger in the youngest children, those
below 6 years of age, who are more vulnerable.
See off Alzheimer's with the color
purple
Ground-breaking research from Professor Douglas Kell, published in the journal Archives of
Toxicology, has found that the majority of debilitating illnesses are in part caused by
poorly-bound iron which causes the production of dangerous toxins that can react with the
components of living systems. These toxins, called hydroxyl radicals, cause degenerative
diseases of many kinds in different parts of the body.
Serving "Children's"
Cereals Increases Total Sugar Consumption; Research Shows Children Will Eat More
Nutritious Offerings
Serving cereals marketed as “children’s cereals” increases children’s
total sugar consumption and reduces the nutritional quality of breakfast compared to
serving low-sugar cereals, according to a new study conducted by the Rudd Center for Food
Policy and Obesity at Yale University. The study, however, also reveals that children will
eat breakfast cereals containing low amounts of sugar when that is the only option
offered. The paper is published in Pediatrics.
Sinus Problems Message Board
I have found a simple, inexpensive way to flood my sinuses with anti-infectives. It
effectively either heals my sinus infections, or prevents my sinus infections from
re-occurring, while at the same time it cleans infected garbage out of my sinuses.
Small molecule may disarm enemy of
cancer-fighting p53
A pioneering clinical trial is testing the effectiveness in leukemia of a small molecule
that shuts down MDM2, a protein that can disable the well-known tumor suppressor p53.
Michael Andreeff, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Medicine and chief of Molecular Hematology and
Therapy in the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer
Center, presented preliminary results of this ongoing Phase I study at the 52nd Annual
Meeting of the American Society of Hematology. The clinical trial is under way at MD
Anderson and five other sites in the United States and United Kingdom. The first-in-class
drug has shown clinical activity in some patients and been well-tolerated, Andreeff said.
Andreeff has been researching the interaction between MDM2 and p53 for five years. He says
he believes this study may lead to an effective new way to fight some types of cancer with
fewer side effects. "P53 can be activated by chemotherapy or radiation, but both of
these therapies carry risks of causing secondary tumors," he said. "If we can
activate this tumor-suppressor with a method that is non-genotoxic and does not cause
damage to a patient's DNA, we may be able to help avoid secondary tumors caused by other
treatments."
Social stress leads to
atherosclerosis
Studies on genetically engineered mice show that social stress activates the immune system
and accelerates the development of atherosclerosis. Commonly used drugs to reduce blood
pressure, however, may stop this process. This is the conclusion of a thesis presented at
the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Several large studies have clearly shown that there
is a correlation between psychosocial stress and the risk of developing cardiovascular
disease. However, little is known about why this is the case.
Spiritual healing can now be
measured
This study describes a psychometrically sound healing impact questionnaire that is
acceptable to healees, healers and researchers for use in future evaluations of spiritual
healing. A group of researchers of the University of Southampton has developed a new
method for measuring spiritual healing and is presented in the current issue of
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.
Stem Cell Advance a Step Forward
for Treatment of Brain Diseases
Scientists have created a way to isolate neural stem cells – cells that give rise to
all the cell types of the brain – from human brain tissue with unprecedented
precision, an important step toward developing new treatments for conditions of the
nervous system, like Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases and spinal cord
injury.
Stress and neck pain more common in
women than men
Neck pain is more common in women than men, irrespective of occupation or age. Stressed
young women develop more neck pain than their male counterparts. Women also perceive
everyday life to be more stressful, reveals a thesis from the University of Gothenburg,
Sweden. "There is an ongoing debate amongst researchers as to why muscle and joint
pain, such as neck pain, are so common, and why this seems to be more prevalent among
women than men," says Anna Grimby-Ekman, postdoctoral student and statistician at the
Sahlgrenska Academy's Department of Public Health and Community Medicine. "We know
that physical work with heavy lifting or assembly work that involves a lot of arm-raising
above shoulder height can lead to neck pain. By looking at a group whose work is less
physically demanding, we can more readily identify other factors that could be implicated
and perhaps explain the generally high incidence of neck pain."
Study reveals how taking an active
role in learning enhances memory
Good news for control freaks! New research confirms that having some authority over how
one takes in new information significantly enhances one's ability to remember it. The
study, in the journal Nature Neuroscience, also offers a first look at the network of
brain structures that contribute to this phenomenon. "Having active control over a
learning situation is very powerful and we're beginning to understand why," said
University of Illinois psychology and Beckman Institute professor Neal Cohen, who led the
study with postdoctoral researcher Joel Voss. "Whole swaths of the brain not only
turn on, but also get functionally connected when you're actively exploring the
world." The study focused on activity in several brain regions, including the
hippocampus, located in the brain's medial temporal lobes, near the ears. Researchers have
known for decades that the hippocampus is vital to memory, in part because those who lose
hippocampal function as a result of illness or injury also lose their ability to fully
form and retain new memories. But the hippocampus doesn't act alone. Robust neural
connections tie it to other important brain structures, and traffic on these data highways
flows in both directions. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, which
track blood flow in the brain, show that the hippocampus is functionally connected to
several brain networks – distinct regions of the brain that work in tandem to
accomplish critical tasks.
Study reveals new possibility of
reversing damage caused by MS
Damage caused by multiple sclerosis could be reversed by activating stem cells that can
repair injury in the central nervous system, a study has shown. Researchers from the
Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh have identified a mechanism essential for
regenerating insulating layers – known as myelin sheaths – that protect nerve
fibres in the brain. In additional studies in rodents, they showed how this mechanism can
be exploited to make the brain's own stem cells better able to regenerate new myelin. In
multiple sclerosis, loss of myelin leads to the nerve fibres in the brain becoming
damaged. These nerve fibres are important as they send messages to other parts of the
body.
Study Reveals ‘Secret
Ingredient’ in Religion that Makes People Happier
While the positive correlation between religiosity and life satisfaction has long been
known, a new study in the December issue of the American Sociological Review reveals
religion’s “secret ingredient” that makes people happier.
Synchrotron study shows how nitric
oxide kills
Nitric oxide is a toxic pollutant, but the human body also creates it and uses it to
attack invading microbes and parasites. A new study by researchers at UC Davis, the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research
Institute (JASRI) shows how nitric oxide attacks an important group of proteins critical
to cell survival.
The LouseBuster returns
Four years after the LouseBuster prototype made headlines when research showed the
chemical-free, warm-air device wiped out head lice on children, a new study reveals that a
revamped, government-cleared model is highly effective. "For a louse, it's like
sticking your head out a window at 100 miles an hour; they're going to get dried
out," says University of Utah biology Professor Dale Clayton, senior author of the
study and a founder of Larada Sciences, a university spinoff company that sells or leases
the LouseBuster to schools, camps, medical clinics and delousing businesses.
The promise and pitfalls of the
internet for cognitive behavioral therapy
Internet-administered cognitive behavior therapy is a promising new way to deliver
psychological treatment. There are an increasing number of controlled trials in various
fields such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders and health conditions such as headache
and insomnia. Among the advantages for the field of cognitive behavior therapy is the
dissemination of the treatment, being able to access treatment from a distance, and
possibilities to tailor the interventions. To date, studies in which large effects have
been obtained have included patient support from a clinician. Recent trials suggest that
this support may come from non-clinicians and that therapist effects are minimal. Since
studies also suggest that internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy can be equally
effective as face-to-face cognitive behavior therapy, this is a finding that may have
implications for CBT practitioners.
The relation between amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis and inorganic selenium in drinking water
A community in northern Italy was previously reported to have an excess incidence of
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis among residents exposed to high levels of inorganic selenium
in their drinking water. Based on these results, coupled with other epidemiologic data and
with findings from animal studies that show specific toxicity of the trace element on
motor neurons, we hypothesize that dietary intake of inorganic selenium through drinking
water increases the risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The shifting river that is making
Uganda smaller
Local farmers lose out as increased flooding rerouts Semliki river and robs them of their
land.
Therapy May Reverse Stroke Damage
by Jump-starting Growth of Nerve Fibers
A new technique that jump-starts the growth of nerve fibers could reverse much of the
damage caused by strokes, researchers report in the Jan. 7, 2011, issue of the journal
Stroke. "This therapy may be used to restore function even when it's given long after
ischemic brain damage has occurred," senior author Gwendolyn Kartje, MD, PhD, and
colleagues write.
This Vilified Daily Food Slashes
Heart Attack Risk in Half
Are you still shunning butter from your diet? You can stop today because butter can be a
very healthy part of your diet.
Tidbits from Wise Traditions 2010
Don’t cook or heat honey – Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. Dr. Natasha
Campbell-McBride mentioned this during one of her sessions. Her logic was that bees will
do everything they can to keep the hive from overheating to protect the honey. Thing is,
they mostly do this because warm honey will be more liquid and might drip out of the hive.
So that alone is not a reason to not cook honey for eating purposes. Raw honey does have
beneficial enzymes and antimicrobial properties, so it’s best to eat it raw, but I
see no evidence of eating heated honey to be harmful. I have had more success removing
cooked nuts from my diet than cooked honey.
Toddlers with autism show improved
social skills following targeted intervention
Targeting the core social deficits of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in early
intervention programs yielded sustained improvements in social and communication skills
even in very young children who have ASD, according to a study funded by the National
Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study
was published online December 8, 2010, in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
TSA workers, experts worry about
radiation exposure
When investigators with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's workplace safety
team visited a dozen airports in 2003 and 2004, what they found was disturbing — at
least to federal airport workers.
Twin Study Helps Scientists Link
Relationship Among ADHD, Reading, Math
Children with ADHD can sometimes have more difficulties on math and reading tests compared
to their peers. A new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the
Association for Psychological Science, used identical and fraternal twins to look at the
genetic and environmental influences underlying ADHD behaviors, reading, and math skills
in children in an attempt to better understand the relationship among them.
UCI researchers find novel
memory-enhancing mechanism in brain
UC Irvine researchers have identified a novel mechanism in the brain that boosts memory.
UCLA researchers find that
Medicaid-funded ADHD treatment for children is failing
Whatever its final incarnation, the recently enacted landmark Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act will expand Medicaid eligibility and is expected by 2013 to provide
coverage, including mental health care, to an estimated 4.1 million children currently
uninsured. That's a good thing. But what will the quality of care be, especially for
vulnerable children with special health care needs? Poor, according to a new report in the
current online edition of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry. In cooperation with LA Care, one of the nation's largest public health plans,
and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH), UCLA researchers looked at
how well one of the most vulnerable groups of young patients were faring in the
managed-care Medicaid system — children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder, or ADHD.
UCSB Scientists Report Study of
‘Brain Maps' for How Humans Reach; Robotics and Machine-Brain Interface for
Paraplegics May Benefit
A ballet dancer grasps her partner's hand to connect for a pas de deux. Later that night,
in the dark, she reaches for her calf to massage a sore spot. Her brain is using different
"maps" to plan for each of these movements, according to a new study at UC Santa
Barbara. In preparing for each of these reaching movements, the same part of the dancer's
brain is activated, but it uses a different map to specify the action, according to the
research. Planning to hold hands is based on her visual map of space. Her second plan, to
reach for her calf, depends on the dancer's mental body map. Two UCSB scientists studied
the brains of 18 individuals who made 400 distinct arm reaches as they lay in an MRI
scanner. The researchers found clear differences in brain planning activity with regard to
the two types of reaching behavior. Their discovery is reported in the journal Neuron.
UCSF team develops “logic
gates” to program bacteria as computers
A team of UCSF researchers has engineered E. coli with the key molecular circuitry that
will enable genetic engineers to program cells to communicate and perform computations.
The work builds into cells the same logic gates found in electronic computers and creates
a method to create circuits by “rewiring” communications between cells.
UK rejects Roche's Avastin as U.S.
verdict looms
Britain's healthcare cost agency NICE has rejected Roche's Avastin as a treatment for
advanced breast cancer and given a poor assessment of the drug ahead of a decision soon on
its status in the key U.S. market.
Untangling the Myths About
Attention Disorder
As recently as 2002, an international group of leading neuroscientists found it necessary
to publish a statement arguing passionately that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
was a real condition.
Upside Down Sinus Flooding
My chronic Sinus infection ( sinusitis ) problems were cured by flooding my nasal passages
with peroxide, baking soda and kosher salt after first using antibiotics to get rid of my
Sinus infection. I don't believe that flooding is effective against established infection,
but it is effective against the germs that cause infections.
Video - Healing Tooth Cavities
Television Interview
View from the Bay Television interview, healing tooth decay naturally with good food.
Vioxx harmful even after patients
stopped taking it
Merck's withdrawn painkiller Vioxx may have continued to cause blood clots and perhaps
deaths even after patients dropped it, U.S. researchers said Monday.
Vitamin D in health and disease
Despite the numerous reports of the association of vitamin D with a spectrum of
development, disease treatment and health maintenance, vitamin D deficiency is common.
Originating in part from the diet but with a key source resulting from transformation by
exposure to sunshine, a great deal of the population suffers from vitamin D deficiency
especially during winter months. It is linked to the treatment and pathogenesis and/or
progression of several disorders including cancer, hypertension, multiple sclerosis,
rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness and diabetes. This widespread
deficiency of Vitamin D merits consideration of widespread policies including increasing
awareness among the public and healthcare professionals.
Warning Lights Mark Shellfish That
Aren't Safe To Eat
Red tides and similar blooms can render some seafood unsafe to eat, though it can be
difficult to tell whether a particular batch harbors toxins that cause food poisoning. A
new kind of marker developed by chemists at the University of California, San Diego, and
reported in the journal ChemComm makes it easier to see if shellfish are filled with
toxin-producing organisms.
Water Well Tests Show More Towns
with Elevated Arsenic in Maine
Potentially harmful arsenic levels have been found in private water wells in towns across
Maine where elevated arsenic risks were not previously suspected. Arsenic levels in some
private wells exceeded the federal safety standard for public drinking water by ten to
one-hundred times or more, according to findings released today by the U.S. Geological
Survey. The study is the largest of its kind in Maine. “We found large differences in
concentrations from well to well, even at the town level, so residents need to test their
wells to know their arsenic level,” said USGS scientist Martha Nielsen, who led the
study in cooperation with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “We
are working with the Maine CDC to identify towns throughout the state where elevated
arsenic levels are common but have gone mostly unnoticed.”
Weekend sunshine 'can protect
against skin cancer'
Regular doses of sunshine at the weekends can help protect against skin cancer, a new
study has revealed.
What Zen meditators don't think
about won't hurt them
Zen meditation has many health benefits, including a reduced sensitivity to pain.
According to new research from the Université de Montréal, meditators do feel pain but
they simply don't dwell on it as much. These findings, published in the month's issue of
Pain, may have implications for chronic pain sufferers, such as those with arthritis, back
pain or cancer. “Our previous research found that Zen meditators have lower pain
sensitivity. The aim of the current study was to determine how they are achieving
this,” says senior author Pierre Rainville, researcher at the Université de
Montréal and the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal. “Using
functional magnetic resonance imaging, we demonstrated that although the meditators were
aware of the pain, this sensation wasn't processed in the part of their brains responsible
for appraisal, reasoning or memory formation. We think that they feel the sensations, but
cut the process short, refraining from interpretation or labelling of the stimuli as
painful.”
Whey supplements lower blood
pressure
Beverages supplemented by whey-based protein can significantly reduce elevated blood
pressure, reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease, a Washington State University
study has found. Research led by nutritional biochemist Susan Fluegel and published in
International Dairy Journal found that daily doses of commonly available whey brought a
more than six-point reduction in the average blood pressure of men and women with elevated
systolic and diastolic blood pressures. While the study was confined to 71 student
subjects between the ages of 18 and 26, Fluegel says older people with blood pressure
issues would likely get similar results. "One of the things I like about this is it
is low-cost," says Fluegel, a nutritional biochemistry instructor interested in
treating disease through changes in nutrition and exercise. "Not only that, whey
protein has not been shown to be harmful in any way."
Who Will Pay for the Environmental
Mess We’re in?
Cancun's white beaches and resort hotels provide a fitting setting for a global argument
over the rich world's responsibility for damaging the Earth's environment and the extent
of its “climate debt” to poorer nations.
Why married men tend to behave
better
Researchers have long argued that marriage generally reduces illegal and aggressive
behaviors in men. It remained unclear, however, if that association was a function of
matrimony itself or whether less “antisocial” men were simply more likely to get
married.
WikiLeaks Cables Reveal How US
Manipulated Copenhagen Climate Accord
Hidden behind the save-the-world rhetoric of the global climate change negotiations lies
the mucky realpolitik: money and threats buy political support; spying and cyberwarfare
are used to seek out leverage.
Winter brings woes to eczema
sufferers
The estimated 15 to 20 per cent of Canadians living with eczema often dread winter.
Wireless and clueless
The studies are out, the jury is in. It’s time we looked more carefully at the matrix
of radiation we play with every day, in the guise of communication
Women smokers shocked into giving
up habit
Seeing the effect smoking will have on their faces shocks women into giving up the habit,
research from Staffordshire University has revealed. A paper on the research, entitled
'Women Smokers' Experiences of an Age-appearance Anti-smoking Intervention: A Qualitative
Study' has been published today, Monday, December 6, in the British Journal of Health
Psychology, published by BPS Journals in partnership with Wiley-Blackwell. Using
state-of-the-art morphing technology, researchers have been able to produce images of how
smokers will age if they continue to smoke and if they stop.
World's Greatest Challenge - Food
Shortages
Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF), a British Columbian biotechnology company, is petitioning
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to approve a genetically-modified (GM) variety
of apple that the company says does not brown after being sliced. The company licensed the
technology from Australian researchers who have already used it in potatoes to eliminate
the browning enzyme. The current request marks the first time a company has sought
approval for GM apples.
Yale scientists find molecular glue
needed to wire the brain
Yale University researchers have found that a single molecule not only connects brain
cells but also changes how we learn. The findings, reported in the December 9 issue of the
journal Neuron, may help researchers discover ways to improve memory and could lead to new
therapies to correct neurological disorders. The junctions between brain cells over which
nerve pulses pass — called synapses — are crucial for regulating learning and
memory and how we think. Aberrations in the structure and function of synapses have been
linked to mental retardation and autism, while synapses are lost in the aging brains of
Alzheimer's patients. However, the mechanisms that organize synapses in the living brain
remain a puzzle. Yale scientists identified one critical piece of this puzzle, a molecule
called SynCAM 1 that spans across synaptic junctions.
