Small Intestine Can Sense And React To Bitter Toxins In Food (October 10, 2008) -- Toxins in food often have a bad, bitter taste that makes people want to spit them out. New research finds that bitterness also slows the digestive process, keeping bad food in the stomach longer and increasing the chances that it will be expelled. ... > full story
Better Insights Needed Into Failure Mechanisms Of Hip Replacements (October 10, 2008) -- If a hip prosthesis implanted to replace a worn-out joint itself fails, then what are the reasons? Until now this problem has been little understood: partly due to incomplete records, partly due to insufficient knowledge of the forces acting on the hip replacement. Computation models developed by the University of Twente and UMC St. Radboud can make an important contribution to our understanding in this field, says Prof. Nico Verdonschot in his inaugural lecture as Professor of Implantation Biomechanics at the University of Twente. Such models can, for instance, predict the strength of a bone much better than a specialist can do visually using an X-ray image. ... > full story
How Much Are You Really Exercising? Obese Women Know Better Than Normal Weight Women (October 10, 2008) -- People struggling with obesity often underestimate how many calories they are actually consuming, which can hinder weight loss efforts. It should follow that the same person would overestimate the amount of exercise they're doing, right? Researchers have found that obese women actually reported their activity levels most accurately, when compared to overweight and normal weight women. ... > full story
Free Drug Samples Carry Risks For Children (October 10, 2008) -- Free prescription drug samples distributed to children may be unsafe, according to a study by physicians from Cambridge Health Alliance and Hasbro Children's Hospital. ... > full story
Turning Cancer Friend Into Cancer Foe (October 10, 2008) -- Scientists have created a peptide that binds to Bcl-2, a protein that protects cancer cells from programmed cell death, and converts it into a cancer cell killer. The research may lead to new cancer treatments. ... > full story
Population Growth Puts Dent In Natural Resources (October 10, 2008) -- It's a 500-pound gorilla that Robert Criss, Ph.D., professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, sees standing on the speaker's dais at political rallies, debates and campaigns. Its name is population growth. "Population growth is driving all of our resource problems, including water and energy. The three are intertwined," Criss says. ... > full story
Growing Role Of Molecular Diagnostics (October 10, 2008) -- Novel platform technologies and key advances in genomics are rapidly driving the development of molecular diagnostics, reports Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News. The payoff for successful molecular diagnostic products can be significant as Kalorama Information predicts that this market currently exceeds .2 billion worldwide and will reach .4 billion in four years. ... > full story
Premature Ejaculation? Not Your Fault: Gene Determines Rapidity Of Ejaculation In Men (October 10, 2008) -- The rapidity of ejaculation in men is genetically determined. Neuropsychiatrists studied 89 Dutch men with premature ejaculation and will publish results in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. ... > full story
Post-term Pregnancies Risk Infant's Life And Health, Study Shows (October 9, 2008) -- Infants born more than one week past their due dates have a higher risk of both impaired health and death, according to two new studies. ... > full story
Major Study Of Opiate Use In Children's Hospitals Provides Simple Steps To Alleviate Harm (October 9, 2008) -- Hospitalized kids with painful ailments from broken bones to cancer are often dosed with strong, painkilling drugs known as opiates. The medications block pain, but they can have nasty side effects. Constipation, for instance, is one side effect that can cause discomfort and even extend a child's hospital stay. ... > full story
Car Or Pedestrian? How We Follow Objects With Our Eyes (October 9, 2008) -- When an object moves fast, we follow it with our eyes: our brain correspondingly calculates the speed of the object and adapts our eye movement to it. This in itself is an enormous achievement, yet our brain can do even more than that. In the real world, a car will typically accelerate or brake faster than, say, a pedestrian. But the control of eye movement in fact responds more sensitively to changes in the speed of fast moving objects than slow moving objects. ... > full story
Researchers Discover How Infectious Bacteria Can Switch Species (October 9, 2008) -- Scientists in the UK have developed a rapid new way of checking for toxic genes in disease-causing bacteria which infect insects and humans. Their findings could in the future lead to new vaccines and anti-bacterial drugs. ... > full story
Double Flu Jab Needed Against Bird Flu Pandemic (October 9, 2008) -- Scientists recommend stockpiling influenza vaccine. Researchers have determined that vaccination will be the best way to protect people in the event of the next influenza pandemic -- but that each person would need two doses. ... > full story
Deflated 'Pancake' Breasts Restored After Pregnancy, Weight Loss, Aging (October 9, 2008) -- Women who desire a mommy-makeover, have had major weight loss, or are unhappy with the toll age has taken on their breasts can breathe easier. An innovative procedure to correct severely deflated, sagging breasts left looking like "pancakes" will be presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Plastic Surgery 2008 conference. ... > full story
Learning How Not To Be Afraid (October 9, 2008) -- Scientists are showing how the brain changes when mice learn to feel safe and secure in situations that would normally make them anxious. The mice developed a conditioned inhibition of fear that squelches anxiety as effectively as antidepressant drugs, such as Prozac. ... > full story
Structure Of 'Beneficial' Virus That Can Infect Cancer Cells Solved (October 9, 2008) -- Researchers have, for the first time, solved the structure of a virus that can infect specific cancer cells. This new knowledge may help drug designers tweak the pathogen enough so that it can attack other tumor subtypes. ... > full story
Chemical Found In Plastics, Bisphenol A, Linked To Chemotherapy Resistance (October 9, 2008) -- Exposure to bisphenol A may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments. BPA -- a man-made chemical found in a number of plastic products, including drinking bottles and the lining of food cans —- actually induces a group of proteins that protect cancer cells from the toxic effects of chemotherapy. ... > full story
Controversial Fat Injections Can Improve Breast Reconstruction; Jury's Out On Augmentation (October 9, 2008) -- Injecting fat after breast reconstruction to correct implant wrinkling or dimpling may be safe and effective to improve breast shape, according to a new study. ... > full story
'Fingerprinting' Method Tracks Mercury Emissions From Coal (October 9, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a new tool that uses natural "fingerprints" in coal to track down sources of mercury polluting the environment. ... > full story
Bad Breath? Mouthrinses Work, But Some Cause Temporary Staining (October 9, 2008) -- Over-the-counter mouthrinses really do put a stop to bad breath. The first systematic review on the effectiveness of mouthrinses shows that they play an important role in reducing levels of bacteria and chemicals that cause mouth odours. Pick which one you use though, because some can temporarily stain your tongue and teeth, warns a new review. ... > full story
Cell Protein Suppresses Pain Eight Times More Effectively Than Morphine (October 9, 2008) -- Researchers have discovered a new therapeutic target for pain control, one that appears to be eight times more effective at suppressing pain than morphine. ... > full story
Chronic Kidney Disease Increased Sharply In The United States In Past Decade (October 9, 2008) -- A 30 percent increase in chronic kidney disease over the past decade has prompted the US Renal Data System to issue for the first time a separate report documenting the magnitude of the disease, which affects an estimated 27 million Americans and accounts for more than 24 percent of Medicare costs. ... > full story
Circadian Clock May Be Critical For Remembering What You Learn, Researchers Say (October 9, 2008) -- The circadian rhythm that quietly pulses inside us all, guiding our daily cycle from sleep to wakefulness and back to sleep again, may be doing much more than just that simple metronomic task, according to researchers. Working with Siberian hamsters, biologist Norman Ruby has shown that having a functioning circadian system is critical to the hamsters' ability to remember what they have learned. Without it, he said, "They can't remember anything." ... > full story
The Pepperoni Pizza Hypothesis (October 9, 2008) -- What's the worst that could happen after eating a slice of pepperoni pizza? A little heartburn, for most people. But for up to a million women in the US who have a chronic bladder condition, enjoying that piece of pizza and other foods can cause intense pelvic pain and an urgent need to frequently urinate. Researchers believe a surprise culprit is causing the pain: the colon. This concept opens up new treatment options for this debilitating condition. ... > full story
Burn Treatment Cream May Delay Healing (October 9, 2008) -- A cream commonly used to treat burns may actually delay healing. In addition, despite the wide range of wound dressings available for burns, there is no consensus on the most effective alternative treatment, say researchers who carried out a systematic review of existing data. ... > full story
Children's Asthma Affected By Parental Expectations (October 9, 2008) -- Asthmatic children whose parents have high expectations for their ability to function normally are less likely to have symptoms than other children dealing with the condition. ... > full story
Honey Helps To Heal Wounds, Review Suggests (October 9, 2008) -- Honey may reduce healing times in patients suffering mild to moderate burn wounds. A systematic review concluded that honey might be useful as an alternative to traditional wound dressings in treating burns. ... > full story
Molecule That Coordinates The Movement Of Cells Identified (October 9, 2008) -- A molecule bridging two proteins that gives cells their shape and ability to migrate in a directed fashion may also shed light on how to keep cancer from spreading. ... > full story
Levels Of Key Hormone During First Trimester Of Pregnancy Could Lead To Earlier Diagnosis Of Gestational Diabetes (October 9, 2008) -- New research shows women who develop diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes mellitus) have reduced levels of an insulin-sensitive hormone, adiponectin, as early as nine weeks into the pregnancy. The findings show early warning signs of gestational diabetes (GDM) are evident months before the clinical diagnosis is currently made (20-22 weeks). ... > full story
School Vending Machines Dole Out Excess Calories, Fat (October 9, 2008) -- Recent figures from the HEALTHY Study, a nationwide effort led by Temple University to curb obesity and type 2 diabetes in middle school students, found vending machines beverages had added sugars, high calorie 100 percent fruit juices, and snacks over 200 calories. ... > full story
Genome Of Parasite That Causes Relapsing Malaria Decoded (October 9, 2008) -- In research aimed at addressing a global epidemic, a team of scientists from around the world has cracked the genetic code for the parasite that is responsible for up to 40 percent of the 515 million annual malaria infections worldwide. Scientists have deciphered the complete genetic sequence of the parasite Plasmodium vivax, the leading cause of relapsing malaria, and compared it with the genomes of other species of malaria parasites. ... > full story
Proteins In Sperm Unlock Understanding Of Male Infertility, Says New Study (October 9, 2008) -- Proteins found in sperm are central to understanding male infertility and could be used to determine new diagnostic methods and fertility treatments, according to a paper published by the journal Molecular and Cellular Proteomics. The article demonstrates how proteomics, a relatively new field focusing on the function of proteins in a cell, can be successfully applied to infertility, helping identify which proteins in sperm cells are dysfunctional. ... > full story
Belt And Braces Approach May Prevent Deep Vein Thromboses (October 9, 2008) -- Combining short periods of leg compression with medications such as heparin is more effective at preventing blood clots in high-risk patients than using either preventative measure alone. A team of Cochrane researchers believe that this "belt and braces" approach can significantly decrease a patient's risk of deep vein thrombosis. ... > full story
Little Evidence That Sobriety Checkpoints Curb Drunk-Driving Crashes (October 9, 2008) -- Although communities commonly use sobriety checkpoints and increased police patrols to detect drivers under the influence of alcohol, a new review finds that there is not enough evidence to say definitively that the efforts work to cut down the number of accidents and deaths from drunk driving. ... > full story
Can Stem Cells Heal Damaged Hearts? No Easy Answers, But Some Signs Of Hope (October 9, 2008) -- Recent studies indicate that infusing hearts with stem cells taken from bone marrow could improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction (tissue damage that results from a heart attack). But in a recent systematic review researchers concluded that more clinical trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of stem cell therapies for heart patients, as well as studies to establish how these treatments work. ... > full story
Psychologists Show Experience May Be The Best Teacher For Infants (October 9, 2008) -- There's a lot of truth in the old proverb "experience is the best teacher," and apparently it even applies to 10-month-old infants. ... > full story
Carpal Tunnel Surgery Relieves More Symptoms Than Splinting, According To Review (October 9, 2008) -- Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is more effective at relieving the symptoms of the painful condition than splinting, according to an updated review of studies by Chilean researchers. ... > full story
New Optics For Improved Solar Power Generators (October 9, 2008) -- Researchers are hoping to achieve higher solar cell efficiency involves using special coatings on solar cells that split light into colors like blue and red, which scientists estimate will increase efficiency by 50 percent. ... > full story
Plastic Surgeons Face War Injuries From Iraq To Inner-city Violence (October 9, 2008) -- Born out of war, plastic surgery remains at the forefront of surgical innovation, and advances from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan benefit victims of inner city wars being fought on our streets. ... > full story
Killing 'Angry' Immune Cells In Fat Could Fight Diabetes (October 8, 2008) -- By killing off "angry" immune cells that take up residence in obese fat and muscle tissue, researchers have shown that they can rapidly reverse insulin resistance in obese mice. The findings suggest that treatments aimed at specific subsets of the so-called macrophage cells might offer a very effective new anti-diabetic therapy, according to the researchers. ... > full story
Lifesaving TB Vaccine A Step Closer (October 8, 2008) -- Researchers have licensed ground-breaking research to a non-profit product development partnership working to develop new, more effective vaccines against tuberculosis. This development will give hope that significantly better prevention and treatment of TB will be available within the next few years. ... > full story
Assisted Suicide Laws May Overlook Depressed Patients (October 8, 2008) -- One in four terminally-ill patients in the State of Oregon who opt for physician assisted suicide have clinical depression and the Death with Dignity Act may not be adequately protecting them, concludes a new study. ... > full story
New, Tiny, Super-sensitive Probe Could Cut Colon Polyp Removal In Half, Study Suggests (October 8, 2008) -- Researchers see a future in which virtual biopsies will eliminate the need to remove colon polyps that are not cancerous or will not morph into the disease. ... > full story
Largest Review Of Its Kind Associates Anti-inflammatory Drugs With Reduced Breast Cancer Risk (October 8, 2008) -- Analysis of data from 38 studies that enrolled more than 2.7 million women -- the largest of its kind -- reveals that regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is associated with a 12 per cent relative risk reduction in breast cancer compared to nonusers. ... > full story
Traumatic Brain Injury Common Amongst Homeless People (October 8, 2008) -- Traumatic brain injury is common amongst homeless people and is associated with poorer health, found a study of more than 900 homeless men and women in Toronto. ... > full story
Pneumococcal Vaccine Associated With 50 Percent Lower Risk Of Heart Attacks (October 8, 2008) -- Pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccination was associated with a 50 percent lower risk of heart attacks two years after vaccination, suggests a large hospital-based case-control study. ... > full story
Pediatric Study Finds Alternatives For Radiation Of Low-grade Brain Tumors (October 8, 2008) -- A new study has found that using chemotherapy alone and delaying or avoiding cranial radiation altogether can be effective in treating pediatric patients with unresectable or progressive low-grade glioma. ... > full story
Customers' Fixation On Minimum Payments Drives Up Credit Card Bills (October 8, 2008) -- Many credit card customers become fixated on the level of minimum payments given on credit card bills. The mere presence of a minimum payment is enough to reduce the actual amount many people choose to pay on their bills, leading to further interest payments. ... > full story
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