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Week 53
1 dose of H1N1 vaccine may provide
sufficient protection for infants and children
One dose of vaccine may be effective to protect infants and children and reduce
transmission of the H1N1 virus, according to a study in JAMA, published online today
because of its public health implications. The study will appear in the January 6 print
edition of the journal. Initial reports of 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection in many
countries have largely involved children, especially those attending school. Reports have
also indicated high hospitalization rates of children younger than 5 years of age in the
current pandemic, according to background information provided by the authors. "The
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices also currently recommends that infants and
children aged 9 years or younger receive two doses of H1N1 influenza vaccine at least 21
days apart, based on existing experience with seasonal trivalent influenza vaccines in
this age group." Terry Nolan, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., from the University of Melbourne,
Australia and colleagues assessed the effectiveness and safety of two doses of a 2009
influenza A(H1N1) vaccine in 370 healthy infants and children ages six-months to less than
9 years living in Australia. The children were randomized into groups that received a
two-injection regimen 21 days apart in doses of either 15-micrograms or 30-micrograms of
the vaccine. "Following the first dose of vaccine, antibody titers of 1:40 or greater
were observed in 161 of 174 infants and children in the 15-microgram group (92.5 percent)
and in 168 of 172 infants and children in the 30 microgram group (97.7 percent)," the
authors report. "All participants demonstrated antibody titers of 1:40 or greater
after the second vaccine dose," [which means that every child achieved an antibody
level considered high enough to protect against the H1N1 virus]. The researchers note that
the majority of adverse reactions to the vaccine were mild to moderate in severity. The
immune responses to the vaccine were strong regardless of age, baseline antibody status,
or whether the child had received a seasonal influenza vaccination prior to this study.
"Our findings suggest that a single dose 15-microgram dose vaccine regimen may be
effective and well tolerated in children, and may have positive implications for disease
protection and reduced transmission of pandemic H1N1 in the wider population," the
authors conclude.
2 cancer codes cracked
Researchers have mapped the DNA mutations in skin and lung cancer — findings that one
researcher says will change how cancer is viewed.
About 25 percent of Arabs in
Greater Detroit reported abuse post Sept. 11
One quarter of Detroit-area Arab Americans reported personal or familial abuse because of
race, ethnicity or religion since Sept. 11, leading to higher odds of adverse health
effects, according to a new University of Michigan study.
Acupuncture may ease the itch of
eczema
Eczema is a general term for conditions marked by inflammation and dry, red, itchy patches
on the skin. The most common form, atopic eczema, is seen in people with a predisposition
to allergies, like hay fever or asthma.
Added Sugar in Raisin Cereals
Increases Acidity of Dental Plaque
Elevated dental plaque acid is a risk factor that contributes to cavities in children. But
eating bran flakes with raisins containing no added sugar does not promote more acid in
dental plaque than bran flakes alone, according to new research at the University of
Illinois at Chicago. Some dentists believe sweet, sticky foods such as raisins cause
cavities because they are difficult to clear off the tooth surfaces, said Christine Wu,
professor and director of cariology research at UIC and lead investigator of the study.
But studies have shown that raisins are rapidly cleared from the surface of the teeth just
like apples, bananas and chocolate, she said. In the study, published in the journal
Pediatric Dentistry, children ages 7 to 11 compared four food groups -- raisins, bran
flakes, commercially marketed raisin bran cereal, and a mix of bran flakes with raisins
lacking any added sugar.
Added sugar in raisin cereals
increases acidity of dental plaque
Elevated dental plaque acid is a risk factor that contributes to cavities in children. But
eating bran flakes with raisins containing no added sugar does not promote more acid in
dental plaque than bran flakes alone, according to new research at the University of
Illinois at Chicago. Some dentists believe sweet, sticky foods such as raisins cause
cavities because they are difficult to clear off the tooth surfaces, said Christine Wu,
professor and director of cariology research at UIC and lead investigator of the study.
But studies have shown that raisins are rapidly cleared from the surface of the teeth just
like apples, bananas and chocolate, she said. In the study, published in the journal
Pediatric Dentistry, children ages 7 to 11 compared four food groups -- raisins, bran
flakes, commercially marketed raisin bran cereal, and a mix of bran flakes with raisins
lacking any added sugar. Sucrose, or table sugar, and sorbitol, a sugar substitute often
used in diet foods, were also tested as controls.
Advisers on Vaccines Often Have
Conflicts, Report Says
A new report finds that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did a poor job of
screening medical experts for financial conflicts when it hired them to advise the agency
on vaccine safety, officials said Thursday.
Almost two-thirds of pregnant women
believe they are regularly exposed to physical risk at work
A new study shows the employment and sociodemographic characteristics involved in the
exposure of pregnant women to workplace hazards. Of these, 56 percent say they often work
standing up or have to lift heavy objects, 63 percent are exposed to workplace stress and
62 percent say they are frequently exposed to some physical risk in their place of work.
Americans very concerned about
toxic chemical exposure, according to poll
Lake Research Partners conducted a poll of 1,000 registered voters in August that found
Americans are very concerned about toxic chemicals and how they are regulated for consumer
use in the United States.
An inexpensive 'dipstick' test for
pesticides in foods
Scientists in Canada are reporting the development of a fast, inexpensive
"dipstick" test to identify small amounts of pesticides that may exist in foods
and beverages. Their paper-strip test is more practical than conventional pesticide tests,
producing results in minutes rather than hours by means of an easy-to-read color-change,
they say.
Appetite hormone linked to
Alzheimer's risk
High levels of a hormone involved in appetite control seem to be linked to a lower risk of
developing Alzheimer's.
Are patients losing sleep over
blood pressure monitors?
A widely used test for measuring nighttime blood pressure may interfere with patients'
sleep, thus affecting the results of the test, reports a study in an upcoming issue of
Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
As CDC Issues New Autism Prevalence
Report
In the wake of today's new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stating
that autism now affects 1 in every 110 American children, Autism Speaks, the nation's
largest autism science and advocacy organization, called on the federal government to
immediately step up its efforts – and dramatically increase funding – to address
the growing national autism public health crisis.
Aspartame alert - Diet soda
destroys kidney function
Scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston have revealed results from a study
outlining some of the effects of artificial sweeteners on the body. Conducted on a group
of 3,000 women, the results indicated that those who drank two or more
artificially-sweetened beverages a day doubled their risk of more-rapid-than-normal kidney
function decline.
B-6 & Colon Cancer
In two recent studies, people with higher blood levels of vitamin B-6 had a lower risk of
colorectal cancer.
Bacteria make the artificial blood
vessels of the future
The cellulose produced by bacteria could be used for artificial blood vessels in the
future as it carries a lower risk of blood clots than the synthetic materials currently
used for bypass operations, reveals a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the
University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Big Pharma paid $500,000 to Chicago
psychiatrists who used children as guinea pigs
A federal lawsuit has been filed against pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca for its role in
paying Chicago psychiatrist Dr. Michael Reinstein nearly $500,000 over the course of a
decade to conduct research and to promote its anti-psychotic drug, Seroquel. Reinstein is
being accused of wrongfully preying on thousands of mentally-ill patients in order to rake
in profits for AstraZeneca.
Boston University reseachers
develop faster, cheaper DNA sequencing method
Boston University biomedical engineers have devised a method for making future genome
sequencing faster and cheaper by dramatically reducing the amount of DNA required, thus
eliminating the expensive, time-consuming and error-prone step of DNA amplification.
Breakthrough on causes of
inflammatory bowel disease
New research by the University of Adelaide could help explain why some people are more
prone to Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and other autoimmune diseases. A critical
imbalance of the regulatory cells required to control the immune system has been revealed
among people suffering inflammatory bowel disease. In a paper published in the Journal of
Clinical Immunology this month, Pathology researcher Dr Nicola Eastaff-Leung reveals that
people suffering Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have fewer numbers of regulatory
cells and more "attack" cells that cause inflammation. "All the food that
we eat is foreign to our body," Dr Eastaff-Leung says. "In healthy people the
immune system has a mechanism to tolerate these foods and not react. But some people do
not have enough of these regulatory cells and their body overreacts and goes into attack
mode. That is where the inflammation occurs," she says. Dr Eastaff-Leung says the
results of her recently completed PhD at the University of Adelaide could help provide a
diagnostic tool for gastrointestinal diseases, reducing the need for colonoscopies in
future.
Canadian scientists may have found
signal for dangerous H1N1 infection
Canadian and Spanish scientists detected high levels of a molecule in the blood of severe
H1N1 patients that may trigger runaway inflammation in the airways, and potentially
catastrophic lung damage.
Cancer-fighting additive weighed
for junk food
Canada is investigating whether to approve a cancer-fighting additive's use in junk food,
but Health Canada wants consumers to weigh in on the idea first.
Cell phone-cancer link remains
unclear, but some scientists urge caution
Israel's Health Ministry urged parents last year to restrict children's cell phone use
after the study there indicated a rise in salivary gland tumors among heavy cell phone
users — particularly in rural areas where phones must pump out more energy to reach
far-flung cell towers.
Chemotherapy reduces cognitive
function
Commonly used chemotherapy agents can disrupt the cognitive function in cancer survivors
through inhibiting the regeneration of new brain cells.
Compound found to safely counter
deadly bird flu
A study suggests that a new compound, one on the threshold of final testing in humans, may
be more potent and safer for treating "bird flu" than the antiviral drug best
known by the trade name Tamiflu.
Deadly infection more common than
realized
Staphylococcus aureus causes far more serious infections than previously realized, with
more than 3,000 Swedes affected every year, reveals a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy
at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Depression saps endurance of the
brain's reward circuitry
A new study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that depressed patients are
unable to sustain activity in brain areas related to positive emotion. The study
challenges previous notions that individuals with depression show less brain activity in
areas associated with positive emotion. Instead, the new data suggest similar initial
levels of activity, but an inability to sustain them over time. The new work was reported
online this week (Dec. 21) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"Anhedonia, the inability to experience pleasure in things normally rewarding, is a
cardinal symptom of depression," explains UW-Madison graduate student Aaron Heller,
who led the project. "Scientists have generally thought that anhedonia is associated
with a general reduction of activity in brain areas thought to be important for positive
emotion and reward. In fact, we found that depressed patients showed normal levels of
activity early on in the experiment. However, towards the end of the experiment, those
levels of activity dropped off precipitously. "Those depressed subjects who were
better able to sustain activity in brain regions related to positive emotion and reward
also reported higher levels of positive emotion in their everyday experience," Heller
continues.
Diet drinks 'could harm the
kidneys'
Diet fizzy drinks may damage the kidneys, a study suggests.
Drug giant uses libel law to 'gag'
doctor over safety
Drug firm GE Healthcare is using libel laws to prevent a Danish radiologist from repeating
claims about its response to rare but potentially fatal risks in one of its products.
Dyslexia defined - New Yale study
'uncouples' reading and IQ over time
Contrary to popular belief, some very smart, accomplished people cannot read well. This
unexpected difficulty in reading in relation to intelligence, education and professional
status is called dyslexia, and researchers at Yale School of Medicine and University of
California Davis, have presented new data that explain how otherwise bright and
intelligent people struggle to read.
Enzyme may create new approach to
hypertension therapy
New research from Northwestern University has found that an alternative therapy may be
possible for treating some types of hypertension using an enzyme called ACE2.
Enzyme necessary for development of
healthy immune system
Mice without the deoxycytidine kinase enzyme have defects in their adaptive immune system,
producing very low levels of both T and B lymphocytes, the major players involved in
immune response, according to a study by researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive
Cancer Center.
Fake sugar may alter how the body
handles real sugar
Combining artificial sweeteners with the real thing boosts the stomach's secretion of a
hormone that makes people feel full and helps control blood sugar, new research shows.
Fear of lawsuits may prompt some
doctors to overprescribe antibiotics
A new study led by a team of researchers at New York Medical College suggests that that
medical liability concerns may be playing a role in the increase of MRSA in healthcare
settings by encouraging clinicians to prescribe antibiotics more often and more broadly
than clinical circumstances and evidence-based guidelines warrant. The study appeared in
the September-October issue of the American Journal of Therapeutics. The team analyzed
census figures, statistics on population density of attorneys and physicians, and data on
antibiotic utilization for the United States, Canada, and 15 European countries. They
compared this to statistics on the percentage of methicillin resistance among clinical
isolates of S. aureus. They found a strong correlation between the prevalence of
methicillin resistance and density of attorneys in countries in Europe and North America.
They found no correlation between prevalence of methicillin resistance and physician
density. Investigators surveyed 162 healthcare providers to determine whether medical
liability concerns were as important as antibiotic cost and formulary restrictions in
selecting treatment regimens. The surveys also confirmed that physicians were more
concerned about medical liability in cases of under-prescribing antibiotics rather than by
over-prescribing them.
Fight infection by disturbing how
bacteria communicate
Researchers from the University of Groningen have clarified the structure of an enzyme
that disturbs the communication processes between bacteria. By doing so they have laid the
foundations for a new method of tackling bacterial infections such as cystic fibrosis. An
article on the structure and function of the so-called quorum-quenching acylase was
published on 21 December 2009 in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). Although bacteria are simple
single-celled organisms, they are capable of communicating with each other. Bacteria talk
to each other by exchanging tiny hormone-like signal molecules. By means of this process
of ‘quorum sensing’, the activities of a large group of bacteria are
synchronized. Thus bacteria can adapt quickly to changes in their environment such as the
running out of nutrients or the arrival of rival microorganisms. The production of factors
that determine the virulence of a bacterium is also controlled by these signal molecules.
This enables bacteria to remain invisible to the immune system in the early stages of
infection. As soon as the group of informed bacteria – the quorum – is
sufficiently large, the attack on the infected host is initiated by starting up the
production of toxins and other virulence factors.
Food manufacturers using 'smoke and
mirrors' to mislead parents over food
Food manufacturers are using ''smoke and mirrors'' to mislead parents into thinking sugar
and fat-laden snacks are healthy for children, a charity said.
Former head of CDC lands lucrative
job as president of Merck vaccine division
You've heard it before, how the pharmaceutical industry has a giant "revolving
door" through which corporations and government agencies frequently exchange key
employees. That reality was driven home in a huge way today when news broke that Dr. Julie
Gerberding, who headed the CDC from 2002 through 2009, landed a top job with Merck, one of
the largest drug companies in the world. Her job there? She's the new president of the
vaccine division.
Forty years of farmed salmon - and
one genetic mystery
It's known that escaped fish from Norwegian salmon farms can interbreed with wild salmon,
and thus must have changed the genetic and physical makeup of the country's famed wild
salmon stocks. But how much? Biologists at the Norwegian University of Science and
Technology (NTNU) are trying to answer this question by breeding special fish families to
determine the exact genetic differences between farmed and wild salmon stocks. Scientists
at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology are trying to determine the genetic
differences between farmed and wild salmon -- and the effects of those differences -- as a
way to help protec the country's unique wild salmon stocks. Beginning in 1971, aquaculture
researchers combed 40 of Norway’s best wild salmon rivers to find the soundest
genetic stock they could. These fish, selected for their ability to grow rapidly and use
food efficiently, formed the breeding lines for Norway’s wildly successful salmon
aquaculture industry. Nearly 40 years and 10 salmon generations later, the industry has
grown by a factor of more than 600, and had a turnover of roughly $3 billion US in 2007.
Gas heaters can trigger asthma
Use of natural gas-powered heaters, ovens, and cooking stoves in the home may worsen
asthma symptoms in preschool children.
Gene linked to a rare form of
progressive hearing loss in males is identified
A gene associated with a rare form of progressive deafness in males has been identified by
an international team of researchers funded by the National Institute on Deafness and
Other Communication Disorders. The gene, PRPS1, appears to be crucial in inner ear
development and maintenance.
Global temperatures could rise more
than expected, new study shows
The kinds of increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide taking place today could have a
significantly larger effect on global temperatures than previously thought, according to a
new study led by Yale University geologists. The team demonstrated that only a relatively
small rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) was associated with a period of substantial
warming in the mid- and early-Pliocene era, between 3 to 5 million years ago.
Glutamate can play key role in drug
impact on brain
Addiction disorders of various kinds are a major health and social problem, and our
knowledge of how the brain’s reward system functions needs to be enhanced. Uppsala
researchers now shows an unexpected effect of the signal substance glutamate on the
midbrain in mice. The study is published in the Web edition of Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, PNAS. "We have found that a certain part of the brain’s
reward system requires not only the signal substance dopamine, as was previously thought,
but also glutamate" says Åsa Mackenzie, who directed the study at the Department of
Neuroscience, Uppsala University. Among other things, the dopamine nerve cells in the
midbrain are important for the brain’s control of willed movements and for the
brain’s “reward system.” The latter in turn is important for providing us
with a feeling of pleasure and happiness, for example, when we have eaten, worked out, or
been affirmed. The feeling itself is mediated by dopamine released from the
midbrain’s dopamine-producing nerve cells to the brain’s limbic system.
Good cholesterol not as protective
in people with type 2 diabetes
HDL, known as "good cholesterol," helps protect blood vessels and the heart, but
a small European study shows that HDL in men with type 2 diabetes lacks this protective
capacity. However, preliminary results indicate that extended-release niacin may help the
HDL work better in these patients.
Got smell?
As anyone suffering through a head cold knows, food tastes wrong when the nose is clogged,
an experience that leads many to conclude that the sense of taste operates normally only
when the olfactory system is also in good working order. Evidence that the taste system
influences olfactory perception, however, has been vanishingly rare -- until now. In a
novel study this week in Nature Neuroscience, Brandeis researchers report just such an
influence.
Growing Evidence Suggests
Progesterone Should Be Considered a Treatment Option for Traumatic Brain Injuries
Researchers at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, recommend that progesterone (PROG), a
naturally occurring hormone found in both males and females that can protect damaged cells
in the central and peripheral nervous systems, be considered a viable treatment option for
traumatic brain injuries, according to a clinical perspective published in the January
issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology. “Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an
important clinical problem in the United States and around the world,” said Donald G.
Stein, PhD, lead author of the paper. “TBI has received more attention recently
because of its high incidence among combat casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. Current
Department of Defense statistics indicated that as many as 30 percent of wounded soldiers
seen at Walter Reed Army Hospital have suffered a TBI, a finding that has stimulated
government interest in developing a safe and effective treatment for this complex
disorder,” said Stein. “Growing evidence indicates that post-injury
administration of PROG in a variety of brain damage models can have beneficial effects,
leading to substantial and sustained improvements in brain functionality. PROG given to
both males and females can cross the blood-brain barrier and reduce edema (swelling)
levels after TBI; in different models of cerebral ischemia (restriction of blood supply),
significantly reduce the area of necrotic cell death and improve behavioral outcomes; and
protect neurons distal to the injury that would normally die,” said Stein.
Guantanamo Was "Hell On
Earth"
A Somali just home from eight years in the U.S. jail at Guantanamo Bay told AFP the prison
was "hell on Earth," and alleged torture there had scarred some of his fellow
inmates.
Hatchery-raised salmon too crowded
Every year, large amounts of hatchery-raised young salmonids are released into Swedish
rivers and streams to compensate for losses in natural production. Butthese fish generally
survive poorly in the wild. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have discovered
why: the young fish get too crowded at the hatchery.
Headwater stream nutrient
enrichment disrupts food web
Headwater stream nutrient enrichment disrupts food webHuman activity is increasing the
supply of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, to stream systems all over the
world.The conventional wisdom -- bolstered by earlier research -- has held that these
additional nutrients cause an increase in production all along the food chain, from the
tiniest organisms up to the largest predators.A long-term, ecosystem-scale study by a team
of University of Georgia researchers, however, has thrown this assumption into question.
High risk of colorectal,
endometrial and Lynch syndrome cancers for MSH6 mutation carriers
People carrying the germ-line MSH6 mutation are at high risk by age 80 years for
colorectal and endometrial cancers and any cancer associated with Lynch syndrome,
according to a new study published online Dec. 22 in the Journal of the National Cancer
Institute.
High-sugar diet alters intestinal
bacteria, making losing weight more difficult
A report published in the new journal Science Translational Medicine has made an
interesting discovery concerning the relationship between sugar intake and the balance of
intestinal flora. Researchers have discovered that a diet high in sugar and fat
substantially alters the bacterial composition in the gut, making it difficult to maintain
a healthy weight.
Imaging tests identify role of
allergies in chronic sinus disease
Exposing patients with chronic sinus disease to allergens and then obtaining repeated
images by X-ray or ultrasound reveals that nasal allergies may be involved in some cases
of chronic sinus disease, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of
Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Impact of Menu-Labeling - Yale
Study Shows People Eat Less When They Know More
The restaurant industry has lobbied hard against mandatory menu labeling in restaurants,
highlighting the importance of a new study from Yale University measuring the impact of
such regulations. Yale scientists found that calorie labels result in the consumption of
significantly fewer calories. The study appears online in the American Journal of Public
Health. Researchers from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale studied 303
adults in the New Haven community, dividing them into groups that saw a menu with no
calorie labels, a menu with calorie labels, or a menu with calorie labels plus information
on the recommended daily caloric intake for an average adult. Participants in the two
groups that saw calorie labels ate 14 percent fewer calories than the group that did not
see calorie labels. Furthermore, when after-dinner eating was factored in, the group that
saw menu labels as well as recommended calorie guidelines consumed an average of 250 fewer
calories than those in the other groups. “This shows that adding a label about daily
caloric needs to menu labeling positively impacts people’s food choices, driving them
to eat fewer calories,” says lead author Christina Roberto, a Ph.D. student in
Clinical Psychology and Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale.
Is nicotinamide overload a trigger
for type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a major global health problem. Although the underlying mechanism of the
pathogenesis is not clear, generally it is accepted that type 2 diabetes is a result of
gene-environment interactions. A research group from China investigated the relationship
between the metabolism of nicotinamide and diabetes and found that nicotinamide overload
may be involved in the development of diabetes.
Is only Christmas which makes
children happier? Psychological well-being can be improved with school interventions
A new study which has been conducted at the University of Bologna shows that brief
psychological interventions in school may increase well-being among adolescents and these
results persist after 6 months During the holiday season there is emphasis on happiness
and well-being, particularly in children. But while happiness is a fleeting mood,
psychological well-being underlies it. A new study which has been conducted at the
University of Bologna and is published in the current issue of the Journal of Behavior
Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry shows that brief psychological interventions in school
may increase well-being and these results persist after 6 months.
Jailtime For Pregnant Soldiers? The
Army Has Made Getting Pregnant a Punishable Offense
Under a new policy enacted by Major Gen. Anthony Cucolo, troops expecting a baby face
court martial and possible prison -- and so do the men who made them pregnant.
Jefferson researchers identify
possible imaging method to stratify breast cancer without biopsy
Scientists from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson have discovered a possible way for
malignant breast tumors to be identified, without the need for a biopsy. The findings were
published online ahead of print in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
Leprosy-linked genes identified
Seven genes increase the susceptibility to leprosy, researchers have found.
Low omega-3 linked to schizophrenia
risk
Deficiencies in omega-3 fatty acids may be a factor in mental illnesses, U.S. researchers
suggest.
Major breakthrough may pave the way
for therapeutic vaccines
It should be possible to use therapeutic vaccines to create both cheap and effective drugs
for diseases like cancer and allergies. One problem in developing such vaccines has
previously been the lack of adjuvants, substances that make vaccines more effective.
However, there has now been a major breakthrough in this area. The study, led by
scientists at Uppsala University, is published in the December issue of the journal
Vaccine.
Metastasis formation revealed in
detail and real time
Up to 25% of cancer patients develop metastases in the brain – often long after
successful treatment of the primary tumor. In almost all such cases, the prognosis is
poor. The mechanisms responsible for the appearance of brain metastases have long been
mysterious. Now a research team led by neurologist Dr. Frank Winkler of LMU Munich has
followed, in real time, the steps that lead some tumor cells to establish metastases,
while others fail to form new tumors. The team also discovered that, by blocking formation
of new blood vessels, the anti-cancer drug Avastin can suppress the emergence of
metastases. "We hope that our results will help to optimize existing therapies and
allow us to develop new agents that can be targeted against specific stages in the process
of metastasis", says Winkler. (Nature Medicine online, 20. Dezember 2009) It is not
the primary tumor that kills most cancer patients, but the metastases which arise from it.
Metastases in the brain are associated with a particularly dismal prognosis. These
secondary tumors frequently appear in patients who have, or have had, lung, breast or skin
cancers. They are very difficult to treat, as existing therapies can only slow, not cure,
the disease. Brain metastases are also very distressing for patients, often causing
headaches and nausea, but also serious neurological symptoms such as paralysis and loss of
the ability to speak. "Unfortunately, brain metastases are now being seen more often
than in the past", says Dr. Frank Winkler, who leads the Neurooncology Research Group
at the LMU's Neurological Clinic in Munich. "Improvements in the treatment of
malignancy have enhanced survival times. But this also means that more patients are at
risk of developing brain metastases." Exactly how metastases arise has been unclear.
In close cooperation with Professor Jochen Herms of the LMU's Center for Neuropathology
and Prion Research and scientists at the Max-Planck Institute for Neurobiology in nearby
Martinsried, Winkler and his collaborators Yvonne Kienast and Louisa von Baumgarten have,
for the first time, been able to follow the fate of single cancer cells, in real time,
over periods long enough to allow the development of large metastases in the brain. The
study used two-photon microscopy, which allows one to look deeper into tissues than is
possible with conventional fluorescence microscopy. The technique can visualize, at high
resolution, structures that lie hundreds of micrometers below the surface of the living
brain. "Essentially, we were able to monitor the stages of metastasis formation
live", remarks Yvonne Kienast.
Microcephaly genes associated with
human brain size
A group of Norwegian and American researchers have shown that common variations in genes
associated with microcephaly -- a neuro-developmental disorder in which brain size is
dramatically reduced --may explain differences in brain size in healthy individuals as
well as in patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders.
MIT Researchers Think
America’s Obesity Epidemic Can Be Reversed Via ‘Foodsheds’
MIT researchers think America’s obesity epidemic can be reversed via
‘foodsheds,’ in which healthier, more affordable food is produced and consumed
regionally.
Monsanto Stumbles into Antitrust
Trouble
GMO seed giant Monsanto stumbles in the face of a storm building over a report from the
Organic Center showing that the company's core Round Up Ready products have sparked a
veritable monsoon of herbicide use and the Department of Justice's investigation into its
marketing practices.
Monsanto's Ever-Stronger
Stranglehold on the Seed Industry
A new investigative report by the Associated Press, based on a series of confidential
licensing contracts, reveals that not only are Monsanto-patented genes in 95% of the
soybeans and 80% of the corn grown in the U.S., but that the company's control over the
seed industry is so ironclad, prices are sure to rise precipitously in the next several
years.
More families suing the farming
industry
Two families whose young children became deathly ill in July 2008 from virulent E. coli
bacteria in raw milk produced by a Simsbury dairy are suing the dairy and Whole Foods
Market Inc., whose store in West Hartford sold the tainted milk.
More herbicide use reported on
genetically modified crops
A report has found that farmers are using more herbicides on genetically engineered
soybeans, corn, and cotton because of resistant weeds.
More pharmaceutical advertising is
associated with publishing fewer articles about dietary supplements
It may be the worst-kept secret in medicine - pharmaceutical money buys journal influence.
What the public has so long suspected has now been demonstrated in a recently published
peer-reviewed study. Researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the
University of Florida found that “in major medical journals, more pharmaceutical
advertising is associated with publishing fewer articles about dietary supplements.”
Further, they found that more pharmaceutical company advertising resulted in the journal
having more articles with “negative conclusions about dietary supplement
safety.”
Moving from Nanotechnology to
Nanotoxicity?
In its new report on the hazards of nanotechnology, released to coincide with the proposal
for a Framingnano governance platform at the European Commission, Food & Water Europe
believes that basic human needs such as food and water should remain nanotechnology-free,
as potential harms may be much greater than the alleged benefits.
Nanoscale changes in collagen are a
tipoff to bone health
Using a technique that provides detailed images of nanoscale structures, researchers at
the University of Michigan and Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital have discovered changes in
the collagen component of bone that directly relate to bone health.
Naturally occurring lipid blocks
RSV infection in lungs
Researchers at National Jewish Health have discovered that a naturally occurring lipid in
the lung can prevent RSV infection and inhibit spread of the virus after an infection is
established. RSV is the major cause of hospitalization for children in the first two years
of life. These are early studies, but several characteristics of POPG suggest that it has
real potential as both an antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatment.
Near and Not-So-Dear TRI Facilities
Prenatal Proximity and Later Brain Cancer
The most clearly established environmental risk factor for childhood brain cancer is
therapeutic radiation exposure (not including diagnostic X-rays). New research now
suggests that children of mothers who lived near an EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)
facility while pregnant may be more likely to later develop brain cancer, especially if
the site released carcinogens.
Nearly 100 percent of women reject
tamoxifen drug despite claims that it prevents breast cancer
A study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment has found that women
overwhelmingly reject the breast cancer prevention drug tamoxifen even when given a
thorough, personalized analysis of its risks and benefits. University of Michigan
researchers administered the information about the drug to 632 women and found that only
one percent of participants actually ended up taking it.
Negative emotions outweigh intent
to exercise at health clubs
With only 30 percent of Americans trying to lose weight meeting the National Institutes of
Health exercise guidelines of 300 minutes/week, a study in the January/February 2010 issue
of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior explores the paradox that exists -- an
antidote for obesity and its comorbidities is exercise, but the majority of obese
Americans do not exercise. Investigators explore and compare the barriers associated with
regular exercise in health clubs between overweight and normal weight individuals.
New compounds may control deadly
fungal infections
An estimated 25,000 Americans develop severe fungal infections each year, leading to
10,000 deaths despite the use of anti-fungal drugs. The associated cost to the US health
care system has been estimated at $1 billion a year. Now two Syracuse University
scientists have developed new brominated furanones that exhibit powerful anti-fungal
properties.
New human reproductive hormone
could lead to novel contraceptives
Nearly 10 years after the discovery that birds make a hormone that suppresses
reproduction, UC Berkeley neuroscientists have established that humans make it too,
opening the door to development of a new class of contraceptive and possible treatments
for cancer or other diseases. The hormone, gonadotropin inhibitory hormone, puts a brake
on the reproductive system and on release of gonadotropin releasing hormone.
New insight in nerve cell
communication
New nano research gives important insights in nerve cell communication that will help the
fight against nerve pain following amputation and diabetes. Researchers from the
University of Copenhagen have studied, with nanotechnology techniques, the way proteins
recognize the small membrane vesicles that transmit signaling molecules from one nerve
cell to another.
New Study Explores Role of Sexual,
Social Behaviors in Seniors’ Well-Being
Researchers and the general public have a new resource for information on the health and
intimate relationships of older people, thanks to a new supplemental issue of The Journals
of Gerontology Series B: Psychological and Social Sciences (Volume 64B, Supplement 1).
Based on the groundbreaking National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), the
supplement’s 14 articles focus on demographic characteristics; social networks;
social and cultural activity; physical and mental health, including cognition, well-being,
illness, medications, and alternative therapies; history of sexual and intimate
partnerships; and patient-physician communication. "The NSHAP represents an
extraordinary contribution to the study of aging, and published findings from it have
already shed new light on critical issues in social gerontology — from abuse to
sexuality, said Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences Editor Kenneth F. Ferraro, PhD, of
Purdue University. “A truly distinctive feature of the study is the collection of
several biomeasures on a national sample.”
New UAB study finds gender divide
in children's use of cell phone features
A recent study by University of Alabama at Birmingham sociologist Shelia Cotten, Ph.D.,
finds that the way the kids will use their new phones depends on their gender.
New, virulent strain of MRSA poses
renewed antibiotic resistance concerns
The often feared and sometimes deadly infections caused by MRSA -- methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus -- are now moving out of hospitals and emerging as an even more
virulent strain in community settings and on athletic teams, and raising new concerns
about antibiotic resistance.
Obama's Pick for Head of USAID -
Forcing GMO's on the World's Poor
After a short stint at USDA, Rajiv Shah has been picked by the Obama Administration to
head up the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). With his confirmation
pending, one wonders why Mr. Shah, a candidate with limited international development
experience and just six months of government service under his belt, was chosen for such
an important post.
One percent of U.S. children have
autism
Autism, a brain disorder that interferes with communication and social skills, affected an
estimated one in 110 American 8-year-olds in 2006, according to a federal study released
Friday.
Paints are dangerous to children
research
Lead-studded paints have been described as dangerous chemicals that can cause mental
illness to unborn and children aged below six years.
Persistent Organic Pollutants
POPs are highly stable compounds that circulate globally through a repeated process of
evaporation and deposit, and are transported through the atmosphere and the oceans to
regions far away from their original source. They accumulate in the tissue of living
organisms, which absorb POPs through food, water, and air. The effects of POPs exposure
include birth defects, cancers, and dysfunctional immune and reproductive systems. POPs
are also a threat to biodiversity, and even have the potential to cause disruption at the
ecosystem level.
Poor face greater health burden
than smokers or the obese
The average low-income person loses 8.2 years of perfect health, the average high school
dropout loses 5.1 years, and the obese lose 4.2 years, according to researchers at
Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Tobacco control has long been one
of the most important public health policies, but the nation's huge high school dropout
rate and poverty rates are typically not seen as health problems.
Pores finding reveals targets for
cancer and degenerative disease
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute scientists have identified a key step in the biological
process of programmed cell death, also called apoptosis.
Potential new heart attack
biomarker uncovered
Though they remain a leading killer, heart attacks can be effectively treated provided
they can be rapidly diagnosed following initial onset of symptoms. In a study appearing in
this month's Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, researchers have identified cardiac
myosin-binding protein C (cMyBP-C) as a potential new diagnostic biomarker for heart
attacks, one that may be particularly valuable for mild attacks in which traditional
diagnostic proteins may not be abundant enough. Currently, one of the gold-standards for
diagnosis of heart attacks, or acute myocardial infarctions, is scanning for the presence
of the proteins troponin I and troponin T, as they are produced specifically in the heart
and are almost completely absent in the blood in healthy individuals.
Premature birth tied to later
behavioral problems
Children who were born prematurely and at a very low weight may have an increased risk of
certain behavior problems and symptoms of depression and anxiety, research suggests.
Protein Examined for Role in Liver
Cancer
Better understanding of TAK1 could lead to new treatments for liver disease, researchers
say
Rain or Shine? Computer Models How
Brain Cells Reach a Decision
Yale University researchers have devised a computer model to explain how the brain makes
decisions based on statistical probabilities—as, for instance, when a doctor makes a
diagnosis based on several conflicting test results. In a study published online December
13 in the journal Nature Neuroscience, Xiao-Jing Wang, professor of neurobiology at Yale
School of Medicine and at the Kavli Institute of Neuroscience, proposes that
synapses—the connections between neurons—are capable of computing probabilities
from observed cues in order to make a statistical inference.
Research project yields better
understanding of the defective protein that causes cystic fibrosis
A team of researchers studying the protein that, when defective or absent, causes cystic
fibrosis has made an important discovery about how that protein is normally controlled and
under what circumstances it might go awry.
Research suggests link between
infertility, low egg reserve, and breast/ovarian cancer gene (BRCA1)
A New York Medical College physician who specializes in restoring or preserving fertility
in female cancer patients has discovered a possible link between the presence of breast
cancer genes and infertility. In a paper published last week in the Journal of Clinical
Oncology, Kutluk Oktay, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology and principal
investigator on the study, concluded that mutations in the BRCA1 gene, which have been
linked with early onset breast cancer, are also associated with an early loss of egg
reserves. This finding may help to explain why women who carry a mutated BRCA1 gene have
greater rates of infertility as well as a greater risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Dr.
Oktay's team performed ovarian stimulation in 126 women with breast cancer for the purpose
of fertility preservation by embryo or oocyte cryopreservation. The results showed that of
the 82 women who met the inclusion criteria, 47 women (57 percent) had undergone BRCA
testing, with 14 having a mutation in BRCA genes. In BRCA mutation-positive patients, the
low ovarian response rate was significantly greater than for patients who did not show
BRCA gene mutations, nor for women who had not been tested for the gene at all. If
fertility drugs are not as effective in stimulating egg production in the ovaries of
patients who carry BRCA1 mutations, this establishes a link between infertility and the
risk of getting breast or ovarian cancer, Dr. Oktay concludes.
Researchers design a tool to induce
controlled suicide in human cells
Researchers at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine have designed a new tool to study
rescue signaling pathways and cell suicide in depth.
Researchers develop drug interface
to save lives
Two University of Alberta researchers say that, as one's health begins to fail, so does
the chances of taking the wrong combination of pills. But they have found a solution to
this very common age-related and potentially fatal problem.
Researchers discover new ways to
treat chronic infections
Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York, have identified three
key regulators required for the formation and development of biofilms. The discovery could
lead to new ways of treating chronic infections. Biofilms — communities of bacteria
in self-produced slime — may be found almost anywhere that solids and liquids meet,
whether in nature, in hospitals or in industrial settings. Biofilms are implicated in more
than 80 percent of chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases caused by bacteria,
including ear infections, gastrointestinal ulcers, urinary tract infections and pulmonary
infections in cystic fibrosis patients, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Biofilms are difficult to eradicate with conventional antimicrobial treatments since they
can be nearly 1,500-fold more resistant to antibiotics than planktonic, free-floating
cells. Biofilms also pose a persistent problem in many industrial processes, including
drinking water distribution networks and manufacturing.
Researchers find human protein that
prevents H1N1 influenza infection
Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers have identified a naturally occurring human
protein that helps prevent infection by H1N1 influenza and other viruses, including West
Nile and dengue virus. The new study shows that human cells respond to infection by the
H1N1 influenza virus by ramping up production of proteins that have unexpectedly powerful
antiviral effects.
School classroom air may be more
polluted with ultrafine particles than outdoor air
The air in some school classrooms may contain higher levels of extremely small particles
of pollutants -- easily inhaled deep into the lungs -- than polluted outdoor air,
scientists in Australia and Germany are reporting in an article in ACS' semi-monthly
journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Scientists take a step towards
uncovering the histone code
DNA's packaging can be just as important and intricate as the information in the DNA
itself. A "histone code" is thought to lie behind the pattern of chemical
modifications on histones, the spool-like proteins around which DNA is wound inside the
cell. The structures of two enzymes that modify histones give clues towards an
understanding of the histone code.
Scientists take important step
toward the proverbial fountain of youth
Going back for a second dessert after your holiday meal might not be the best strategy for
living a long, cancer-free life say researchers from the University of Alabama at
Birmingham. That's because they've shown exactly how restricted calorie diets --
specifically in the form of restricted glucose -- help human cells live longer. This
discovery, published online in the FASEB Journal could help lead to drugs and treatments
that slow human aging and prevent cancer.
Scott & White Healthcare
researcher finds success with new anti-cancer drug
A study conducted at Scott & White Healthcare in Temple, Texas, found that a new drug
stopped the growth of breast tumors in mice. This drug is unique in that it works both by
stopping the cancer cells from growing and metastasizing to other organs, and by
stimulating the immune system to destroy breast cancer cells and keeps them from coming
back. This is the only drug that's able to work in both ways, while all other treatments
work in one way or another. And, this research initiative not only involves physicians and
biologists working together to bring treatments from the laboratory to the bedside, but a
unique third component – agriculturalists. Researcher Alexzander Asea, Ph.D., the
Effie and Wofford Cain Endowed Chair in Clinical Pathology, and division chief of
investigative pathology at Scott & White Healthcare and the Texas A&M Health
Science Center, said "we found that some of the mice were essentially cured."
"All anti-cancer drugs broadly fall into two categories; either directly killing
cancer cells (often healthy cells as well), or vaccines that help sick patients by
boosting the immune system to better fight off cancer. This new drug works both ways, as a
vaccine by taking away the cancer cell ability to grow, multiply and spread to distant
organs, and by educating the immune system to recognize the breast cancer cells as
'foreign invaders' that need to be attacked and destroyed — and to continue that
process over time," Dr. Asea said. Dr. Asea went on to say "breast cancer cells
fly under the radar of the immune system, by turning off the machinery that normally puts
recognition structures on the surface of cancer cells which the immune system uses to
recognize and destroy them. To overcome this problem, this injectable drug turns on this
machinery within the cancer cells allowing the immune system to recognize the cancer cells
and kill them. The unique thing is that the revved-up immune cells will continue
patrolling for any hidden cancer cells months and years after the last cancer cells have
been killed," Dr. Asea said.
Self-monitoring with blood glucose
test strips inefficient use of health-care resources
Routine self-monitoring of blood glucose levels by people with type 2 diabetes who are not
taking insulin is an ineffective use of health resources as the modest benefits are
outweighed by the significant cost of test strips, suggest 2 studies in CMAJ (Canadian
Medical Association Journal). In Ontario, blood glucose test strips are the third largest
cost for the Ontario Public Drug Programs in 2007/08, accounting for $100 million or 3.3%
of drug expenditures. Usage of test strips increased by almost 250% from 76,320 people in
1997 to 263,513 people in 2008. Almost 53% of people aged 65 and over with diabetes
received diabetes test strips by 2008. Sixty-three per cent of patients not receiving
insulin used blood glucose test strips in 2008. "In light of the overall costs and
questionable benefits of blood glucose self-monitoring in many patients, more focused
policy decisions regarding test strips have been proposed in several jurisdictions,"
write Muhammad Mamdani of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto and coauthors in a study on
options to reduce test strip usage. They project that expenditures associated with blood
glucose self-monitoring will exceed $1 billion in Canada and suggest policy changes could
lead to cost reductions.
Sex in university may be better for
mature audiences
New university students might be thinking about exploring another rite of passage when
they get to campus: the joy of sex. However, depending on their level of maturity, some
students may find less joy than others.
Sex toys may pose health risk, says
Liberal MP
A Toronto MP is asking the federal health minister to regulate the adult toy industry
after learning some of the chemicals found in the products pose a potential health risk.
Shift working aggravates metabolic
syndrome development among middle-aged males
Metabolic syndrome management is an important health issue in modern workplaces. In terms
of workplace health management, both hazard exposures and the baseline health condition of
workers should be evaluated. A five-year follow-up study for metabolic syndrome
development was conducted in Taiwan for male workers. A significant association between
shift work exposure and development of metabolic syndrome was found among male workers.
Single Dose of Adult Stem Cells
Regenerates Damaged Pancreas
Single Dose of Proprietary Adult Stem Cells Regenerates Damaged Pancreas and Reduces Blood
Glucose Levels in Diabetes
Skull bone may hold the key to
tackling osteoporosis
Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have uncovered fundamental differences
between the bone which makes up the skull and the bones in our limbs, which they believe
could hold the key to tackling bone weakness and fractures. It is well know that bones in
the arms and legs become weak and vulnerable to breaks when they are not maintained by
weight bearing exercise. However skull bone, which bears almost no weight remains
particularly resistant to breaking. The new research published in PLoS ONE* offers an
explanation for this phenomenon for the first time. The researchers say that their new
understanding of the differences between the two types of bone could lead to new ways to
treat or prevent osteoporosis. People who develop osteoporosis have fragile bones which
are prone to breaking. The condition becomes more common as we age, especially in
post-menopausal women when levels of oestrogen fall dramatically. In the over 50s it
affects half of all women and a fifth of all men. The researchers wanted to understand why
the skull bones are resistant to bone thinning as they age, even in post-menopausal women.
Some airborne particles pose more
dangers than others
A growing body of research -- much of it in New York City -- suggests that breathing
nickel and other metals may put acute stress on the lungs and heart, resulting in
illnesses and deaths at particulate levels below national standards. Environmental Health
News.
Study casts doubt on provocative
tuberculosis theory
A new study is casting doubt on a provocative theory that explains why tuberculosis can
lie dormant in some patients for many years.
Study links the ingredient
Thimerosal in H1N1 vaccine to brain injury
A research team at the University of Pittsburgh found that infant macaque monkeys
receiving a single Hepatitis B vaccine containing the mercury-based preservative
thimerosal showed significant delays in developing critical reflexes controlled by the
brainstem. This was in sharp contrast to the control group who developed normally but did
not receive the vaccines.
Study Proves Three Monsanto Corn
Varieties Pose Health Hazard
A study published in the International Journal of Biological Sciences demonstrates the
toxicity of three genetically modified corn varieties from the American seed company
Monsanto, the Committee for Independent Research and Information on Genetic Engineering
(Criigen, based in Caen), which participated in that study, announced Friday, December 11.
Tamiflu efficacy studies under fire
Possible profound impact on treatment options, stockpiling policies during pandemic.
Teen marijuana use affects brain
permanently
Regular marijuana use takes a worse toll on the teenage brain than thought, say
researchers in Montreal who studied the effects of cannabis in rats.
Teenagers use violence to boost
their social standing
A new study looks in depth at the social relationships between male and female teenagers,
relational violence, and psycho-social adjustment factors such as loneliness, self-esteem
and satisfaction with life. The results show that young people who want to be better
appreciated and respected within their group are the most likely to be violent.
Thalidomiders win payout 50 years
on
The government has agreed a historic deal to give annual payments of up to £8m to the
surviving victims of the drug thalidomide while also publicly apologising for their
suffering over the past 50 years.
The Seed Industry Has Grown 'Out of
Hand'
Over the last generation, a very few companies have gotten a stranglehold on the seed
industry — raising prices and reducing innovation in the process.
Tomato gel better than aspirin?
A natural ingredient found in tomato seeds can help maintain a healthy blood circulation
by preventing blood from clotting, new clinical trials have found.
Trace of toxin in ornaments
Research conducted by Utah State University and Hill Air Force Base engineers shows the
compound is present in some polyresin Christmas tree ornaments.
Transplant guide highlights daily
infection risks from factors like pets and food
People who have had solid organ transplants need to think carefully about a wide range of
infection risks in their daily lives, long after the initial post-transplant period. These
include pet ownership, food safety, safe sex, sporting activities, work and even leisure
pursuits like gardening or using a hot tub.
Twin Study Identifies Factors
Associated With Skin Aging
Smoking, being heavier, not using sunscreen and having had skin cancer appear to be
associated with sun damage and aging of skin on the face, according to report based on a
study of twins in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives
journals. Long-term exposure to the sun causes physical and structural changes to the
skin, resulting in photodamage, according to background information in the article. Unlike
typical skin aging, which is characterized by the development of fine wrinkles and skin
growths, photodamage includes characteristics such as coarsely wrinkled skin, spots of
extra pigment or lost pigment and dilated blood vessels on the face. Sun damage also has
been associated with the development of cancerous growths. Up to 40 percent of
aging-related changes are due to non-genetic factors. To identify some of these
environmental factors, Kathryn J. Martires, B.A., of Case Western Reserve School of
Medicine, Cleveland, and colleagues studied 65 pairs of twins attending the 2002 annual
Twin Days Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio. A total of 130 individuals completed surveys
collecting information about skin type, history of skin cancer, smoking and drinking
habits and weight. Clinicians assigned each participant a photodamage score, graded by
such characteristics as wrinkling and change in pigmentation. Photodamage scores were
highly correlated among both monozygotic (identical) and dizygotic (fraternal) twins.
Other factors associated with higher levels of photodamage included a history of skin
cancer, heavier weight and smoking, whereas alcohol consumption was associated with lower
photodamage scores.
U of A led team makes breakthrough
demonstration of pH-regulating protein
Researchers have identified the protein mechanism that senses bicarbonate fluctuations and
adjusts blood pH levels. A Canadian/US research team led by University of Alberta
biological sciences professor, Greg Goss and his graduate students Martin Tresguerres and
Scott Parks achieved the first demonstration of the process in a whole animal. The
researchers found that the protein adenylyl cyclase sensed and then regulated the pH blood
levels in a dogfish shark following feeding.
UAB Researchers Link Calorie Intake
to Cell Lifespan, Cancer Development
Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have discovered that
restricting consumption of glucose, the most common dietary sugar, can extend the life of
healthy human-lung cells and speed the death of precancerous human-lung cells, reducing
cancer's spread and growth rate. The research has wide-ranging potential in age-related
science, including ways in which calorie-intake restriction can benefit longevity and help
prevent diseases like cancer that have been linked to aging, said principal investigator
Trygve Tollefsbol, Ph.D., D.O., a professor in the Department of Biology. "These
results further verify the potential health benefits of controlling calorie intake."
Tollefsbol said. "Our research indicates that calorie reduction extends the lifespan
of healthy human cells and aids the body's natural ability to kill off cancer-forming
cells."
Ultrasound-guided cortisone
injections may help treat severe hip pain
Ultrasound-guided cortisone injections may be an effective treatment method for gluteus
medius tendinopathy, a common, painful condition caused by an injury to the tendons in the
buttocks that typically affects middle-aged to elderly women and young active individuals,
according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of
Roentgenology.
Umbilical cord could be new source
of plentiful stem cells, say Pitt researchers
Stem cells that could one day provide therapeutic options for muscle and bone disorders
can be easily harvested from the tissue of the umbilical cord, just as the blood that goes
through it provides precursor cells to treat some blood disorders, say University of
Pittsburgh researchers in the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology.
UR study reveals chemo's toxicity
to brain, possible treatment
Researchers have developed a novel animal model showing that four commonly used
chemotherapy drugs disrupt the birth of new brain cells, and that the condition could be
partially reversed with the growth factor IGF-1.
Urinary tract cancer associated
with Chinese herbal products containing aristolochic acid
The carcinogen aristolochic acid, which was found in many prescribed Chinese herbal
products including Guan Mu Tong, is associated with an increased risk of urinary tract
cancer, according to a new study published online December 21 in the Journal of the
National Cancer Institute.
Video - Evaluation of Case Studies
of Patients who Adamantly Refuse Chemotherapy
Evaluation of Case Studies of Patients who Adamantly Refuse Chemotherapy and Other
Extremely Toxic Cancer Protocols: Poly-MVA and an Update on IV Vitamin C - American
Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
We now know that the brain controls
the formation of bone
The brain acts as a profound regulatory center, controlling myriad processes throughout
the body in ways we are only just beginning to understand. In new findings, Australian
scientists have shown surprising connections between the brain and regulation of bone
mass.
What's warming us up? Human
activity or Mother Nature?
A major analysis of the climate debate concludes that the majority of scientists agree
that global warming is primarily man-made, although a vocal minority of skeptics is
holding onto the idea that Mother Nature is the cause. The cover story of current issue
Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), ACS' weekly newsmagazine, appears at the
conclusion of the much-publicized United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
That conference sought to seal a comprehensive international agreement on dealing with
global warming. C&EN Senior Correspondent Stephen K. Ritter notes in the article that
global warming believers and skeptics agree on a cluster of core points. These points
include the following: That the Earth's atmospheric load of carbon dioxide has increased
since the Industrial Revolution began in the late 1700s; that this increase largely
results from the burning of coal and other fossil fuels; and that the average global
temperatures have been rising since 1850, with most of the warming occurring since 1970.
"But here is where the cordial agreements stop," Ritter writes. "At the
heart of the global warming debate is whether warming is directly the result of increasing
anthropogenic CO2 levels, or if it is simply part of Earth's natural climatic
variation." The article presents a sweeping panorama of global climate change science
from the point of view of those who support both scenarios. The story notes that the
debate is growing ever more contentious in light of the recent disclosure of e-mail
messages suggesting that some scientists supporting the human activities scenario tried to
suppress publication of opposing viewpoints.
Winter Back Pain? Low Vitamin D May
Be to Blame
Is it possible that your chronic winter backache could be due to the lack of sun exposure
during the fall and winter months?
Wounded soldier's diabetes is
`cured' with cells
A 21-year-old service member who might have faced a lifetime of severe diabetes got a
chance at better health after a collaboration between military surgeons and experts at the
University of Miami.
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