Contact: Agnes Wold agnes.wold@microbio.gu.se 46-734-028-750 University of Gothenburg Swedish researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, report that a simple habit may give significant protection against allergy development, namely, the parental sucking on the baby’s pacifier. Allergies are… Read More ›
Counter Intuitive
Self-medication in animals much more widespread than believed
Contact: Jim Erickson ericksn@umich.edu 734-647-1842 University of Michigan ANN ARBOR—It’s been known for decades that animals such as chimpanzees seek out medicinal herbs to treat their diseases. But in recent years, the list of animal pharmacists has grown much longer,… Read More ›
Lift weights to lower blood sugar? White muscle helps keep blood glucose levels under control
Contact: Laura J. Williams laurajw@umich.edu 734-615-4862 University of Michigan ANN ARBOR—Researchers in the Life Sciences Institute at the University of Michigan have challenged a long-held belief that whitening of skeletal muscle in diabetes is harmful. In fact, the white muscle… Read More ›
Chewing gum could make you FAT because the minty taste makes sugary food more tempting
The chemical responsible for the minty flavour in gum makes healthy food unappealing People who chew gum eat fewer meals – but not less calories – because they chose unhealthy foods By Emma Innes PUBLISHED: 08:59 EST, 29 March 2013… Read More ›
Study: Widespread ‘test-and-treat’ HIV policies could increase dangerous drug resistance
Contact: Robert Perkins perkinsr@usc.edu 213-740-9226 University of Southern California Testing helps catch the disease early, but experts caution that aggressive use of antiretroviral drugs in asymptomatic patients could breed more resistant HIV One of the most widely advocated strategies for… Read More ›
Why your brain tires when exercising : Excess Serotonin shuts down the brain causing fatigue
A marathon runner approaches the finishing line, but suddenly the sweaty athlete collapses to the ground. Everyone probably assumes that this is because he has expended all energy in his muscles. What few people know is that it might… Read More ›
Cancer vaccines self-sabotage, channel immune attack to injection site
UT MD Anderson scientists find common vaccine ingredient diverts T cells from tumors HOUSTON – Cancer vaccines that attempt to stimulate an immune system assault fail because the killer T cells aimed at tumors instead find the vaccination site… Read More ›
‘Defective’ virus surprisingly plays major role in spread of disease, UCLA life scientists report
Contact: Stuart Wolpert swolpert@support.ucla.edu 310-206-0511 University of California – Los Angeles Defective viruses, thought for decades to be essentially garbage unrelated to the transmission of normal viruses, now appear able to play an important role in the spread of disease,… Read More ›
Lipid researcher, 98, reports on the dietary causes of heart disease ” dietary cholesterol is good for your heart “
Contact: Diana Yates diya@illinois.edu 217-333-5802 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign IMAGE: Fred Kummerow, a 98-year-old emeritus professor of comparative biosciences at the University of Illinois, explains the primary causes of heart disease. His research contradicts commonly held… Read More ›
What you think, feel, and learn has cross-generational effects
Contact: Rhiannon Bugno Biol.Psych@utsouthwestern.edu 214-648-0880 Elsevier Life experiences put their stamp on the next generation: New insights from epigenetics A review from Biological Psychiatry Philadelphia, PA, February 14, 2013 – The 18th century natural philosopher Jean-Baptiste Lamarck proposed that the… Read More ›
Immune systems of healthy adults ‘remember’ germs to which they’ve never been exposed ???
Contact: Bruce Goldman goldmanb@stanford.edu 650-725-2106 Stanford University Medical Center STANFORD, Calif. — It’s established dogma that the immune system develops a “memory” of a microbial pathogen, with a correspondingly enhanced readiness to combat that microbe, only upon exposure to it… Read More ›
Some omega-3 oils better than others for protection against liver disease
2-5-13 Media Release Some omega-3 oils better than others for protection against liver disease CORVALLIS, Ore. – Research at Oregon State University has found that one particular omega-3 fatty acid has a powerful effect in preventing liver inflammation and fibrosis… Read More ›
Sunlight may help ward off rheumatoid arthritis in women ( UVB light )
Contact: Stephanie Burns sburns@bmjgroup.com 44-020-738-36920 BMJ-British Medical Journal Use of sunblock could lessen protective effects, suggest authors [Exposure to ultraviolet-B and risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis among women in the Nurses’ Health Study Online First doi 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-202302] Regular exposure to… Read More ›
Chronic hepatitis C: Interferon may be harmful in re-treatment: “may face an increased risk of dying sooner”
Contact: Jennifer Beal sciencenewsroom@wiley.com 44-012-437-70633 Wiley People with hepatitis C and chronic liver disease who relapsed or failed to respond to initial treatment are unlikely to improve on interferon retreatment. In fact, they may face an increased risk of dying… Read More ›
Study: Husbands who do more traditionally female housework have less sex
Contact: Daniel Fowler pubinfo@asanet.org 202-527-7885 American Sociological Association WASHINGTON, DC, January 24, 2013 — Married men who spend more time doing traditionally female household tasks—including cooking, cleaning, and shopping—report having less sex than husbands who don’t do as much, according… Read More ›
Study finds significant microorganism populations in middle and upper troposphere
Contact: John Toon jtoon@gatech.edu 404-894-6986 Georgia Institute of Technology Bugs in the Atmosphere In what is believed to be the first study of its kind, researchers used genomic techniques to document the presence of significant numbers of living microorganisms –… Read More ›
H. pylori isn’t a major cause of death and may protect against stroke and some cancers
Contact: Lorinda Klein lorindaann.klein@nyumc.org 212-404-3533 NYU Langone Medical Center / New York University School of Medicine Disappearing bacterium may protect against stroke New York (January 9, 2013) — A new study by NYU School of Medicine researchers reveals that an… Read More ›
Study turns parasite invasion theory on its head: Malaria vaccine may be destined to fail
Contact: Jen Middleton j.middleton@wellcome.ac.uk Wellcome Trust Current thinking on how the Toxoplasma gondii parasite invades its host is incorrect, according to a study published today in Nature Methods describing a new technique to knock out genes. The findings could have… Read More ›
Helicobacter pylori may fight off inflammatory bowel disease caused by Salmonella
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Mary F. Masson mfmasson@umich.edu 734-764-2220 University of Michigan Health System Helicobacter pylori in the mouse stomach put the brakes on colitis by reducing the immune response in the lower GI tract, U-M study shows… Read More ›
Looks like we’ve got allergies all wrong: Allergies required to clear Toxins
14 December 2012 by Noah Palm and Ruslan Medzhitov Magazine issue 2894. For similar stories, visit the The Big Idea and Evolution Topic Guides From pollen to peanuts, we humans are an allergic lot. So could it be that allergies… Read More ›
Viruses cooperate or conquer to cause maximum destruction: They Change Behaviour to overcome our attempt to control them
Contact: Louise Vennells L.Vennells@exeter.ac.uk 44-013-927-22062 University of Exeter Scientists have discovered new evidence about the evolution of viruses, in work that will change our understanding about the control of infectious diseases such as winter flu Scientists have discovered new evidence… Read More ›
Frog-in-bucket-of-milk folklore leads to potential new antibiotics
Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 202-872-6042 American Chemical Society Following up on an ancient Russian way of keeping milk from going sour — by putting a frog in the bucket of milk — scientists have identified a wealth of new antibiotic… Read More ›
Overeating now bigger global problem than lack of food
17:40 13 December 2012 by Jessica Hamzelou Not good for global health (Image: Peter Reali/Plainpicture) The largest ever study into the state of the world’s health has revealed that, for the first time, the number of years of healthy… Read More ›
Doctors too scared of getting sued to find cure for cancer, says Lord Saatchi
Doctors are too scared of getting sued to make any steps forward in finding a cure for cancer, Lord Saatchi said as he launched a Private Members’ Bill which will give legal defence for doctors who make medical innovations. Photo:… Read More ›
Our gut bacteria’s collection of genomes is unique to each Individual, and remains stable over time
My microbes In a nutshell : The gut metagenome is the collection of all the genomes of all the microbes in the human intestinal tract : it is specific to each human, like a second genetic signature At least in… Read More ›
Search for Life Suggests Solar Systems More Habitable than Ours
12/3/12 Poster P11B-1816, “The Distribution of Radiogenic Elements in Stars with and without Planetary Systems: Implications for Dynamics and Habitability,” will be presented from 8:00 a.m. – 12:20 p.m PT on Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 in Moscone South Hall A-C…. Read More ›
‘Junk DNA’ drives embryonic development
Contact: Heather Buschman, Ph.D. hbuschman@sanfordburnham.org 858-795-5343 Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute Sanford-Burnham researchers discover that microRNAs play an important role in germ layer formation—the process that determines which cells become which organs during embryonic development IMAGE: These are… Read More ›
Kids face developmental difficulties
Friday, Dec. 7, 2012 Jiji Some 6.5 percent of Japanese elementary and junior high school students may have developmental disorders, an education ministry survey said Wednesday. The survey, conducted in February and March, was based on the evaluations of… Read More ›
(HPV) Tumor virus is best predictor of throat cancer survival
2010 Study posted for filing Contact: Darrell E. Ward Darrell.Ward@osumc.edu 614-293-3737 Ohio State University Medical Center COLUMBUS, Ohio – The presence of human papilloma virus, the virus that causes cervical cancer, in tumors is the most important predictor… Read More ›
Trial results ‘do not support the use of general health checks’ warn experts
Contact: Stephanie Burns sburns@bmjgroup.com 44-020-738-36920 BMJ-British Medical Journal Checks have not reduced number of deaths from cardiovascular disease or cancer Research: General health checks in adults for reducing morbidity and mortality from disease: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis Editorial: The… Read More ›
Alcohol provides protective effect, reduces mortality substantial
Contact: Sherri McGinnis González smcginn@uic.edu 312-996-8277 University of Illinois at Chicago Injured patients were less likely to die in the hospital if they had alcohol in their blood, according to a study from the University of Illinois at Chicago School… Read More ›
Flouridation may not do much for cavities
2010 study posted for filing: When it comes to fluoridating drinking water, Ontario and Quebec couldn’t be further apart. Ontario has the country’s highest rate of adding the tooth-enamel-strengthening chemical into municipal supplies, while Quebec has one of the… Read More ›
Researchers show some cells in pancreas can spontaneously change into insulin-producing cells
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Joana Casas mcasas@jdrf.org 212-479-7560 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International NEW YORK, April 5, 2010 – Alpha cells in the pancreas, which do not produce insulin, can convert into insulin-producing beta cells, advancing the prospect… Read More ›
Tenth of Quirky Creature’s Active Genes Are Foreign: Believed to ‘Ingest’ DNA from Other Simple Organisms
Bdelloid rotifer. Alan Tunnacliffe said: “We were thrilled when we discovered that nearly 10 per cent of bdelloids’ active genes are foreign, adding to the weirdness of an already odd little creature.” (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Cambridge) ScienceDaily… Read More ›
High systolic BP in patients with chest pain linked with favorable prognosis
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Fredrik H. Nystrom fredrik.nystrom@lio.se JAMA and Archives Journals New research finds that there is an inverse association between the level of supine (lying face up) systolic blood pressure measured on admission to an intensive… Read More ›
Link between global warming and drought questioned ” We could even be headed for wetter times “
14 November 2012 by Fred Pearce Magazine issue 2891. For similar stories, visit the Climate Change Topic Guide THE world has been suffering more droughts in recent decades, and climate change will bring many more, according to received wisdom. Now… Read More ›
Are we getting more stupid? Researchers claim our intelligence is diminishing as we no longer need it to survive
By Mark Prigg PUBLISHED:13:57 EST, 12 November 2012| UPDATED:14:10 EST, 12 November 2012 Our intelligence and behaviour requires optimal functioning of a large number of genes, which requires enormous evolutionary pressures to maintain. Now, in a provocative theory, a team… Read More ›
Link Found Between Child Prodigies and Autism
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new study of eight child prodigies suggests a possible link between these children’s special skills and autism. Of the eight prodigies studied, three had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. As a group, the prodigies also… Read More ›
Going with Your Gut: Decisions based on instinct have surprisingly positive outcomes
Thursday, November 8, 2012 Decisions based on instinct have surprisingly positive outcomes, TAU researcher finds Decision-making is an inevitable part of the human experience, and one of the most mysterious. For centuries, scientists have studied how we go about the… Read More ›
Carbon dioxide – our salvation from a future ice age: ” We are probably entering a new ice age right now. However, we’re not noticing it due to the effects of carbon dioxide”
Contact: Lars Franzén lars@gvc.gu.se 46-031-786-195-846 University of Gothenburg Carbon dioxide – our salvation from a future ice age? Mankind’s emissions of fossil carbon and the resulting increase in temperature could prove to be our salvation from the next ice age…. Read More ›
Gargle with sugar water to boost self control
Sugar boosts self-control, UGA study says Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012 Writer: April Reese Sorrow, 706 / 542-7991, aprilr@uga.edu Athens, Ga. – To boost self-control, gargle sugar water. According to a study co-authored by University of Georgia professor of psychology Leonard… Read More ›
Alzheimer’s disease may protect against cancer and vice versa
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Rachel Seroka rseroka@aan.com 651-695-2738 American Academy of Neurology ST. PAUL, Minn. – People who have Alzheimer’s disease may be less likely to develop cancer, and people who have cancer may be less likely to… Read More ›
Humans, Chimpanzees and Monkeys Share DNA but Not Gene Regulatory Mechanisms
Chimpanzee. Humans share over 90% of their DNA with their primate cousins. The expression or activity patterns of genes differ across species in ways that help explain each species’ distinct biology and behavior. (Credit: © davemhuntphoto / Fotolia) ScienceDaily (Nov…. Read More ›
No such thing as ‘junk RNA,’ say Pitt researchers
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Anita Srikameswaran SrikamAV@upmc.edu 412-578-9193 University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences PITTSBURGH, Oct. 12 – Tiny strands of RNA previously dismissed as cellular junk are actually very stable molecules that may play significant… Read More ›
Near-death experiences occur when the soul leaves the nervous system and enters the universe, claim two quantum physics experts
Ground-breaking theory holds that quantum substances form the soul They are part of the fundamental structure of the universe By Damien Gayle PUBLISHED:05:38 EST, 30 October 2012| UPDATED:06:26 EST, 30 October 2012 Life after death: Dr Stuart Hameroff, Professor Emeritus … Read More ›
Young adults may outgrow bipolar disorder
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Kelsey Jackson JacksonKN@missouri.edu 573-882-8353 University of Missouri-Columbia MU researchers find evidence that there may be developmentally limited forms of bipolar disorder COLUMBIA, Mo. –Bipolar disorder, or manic-depression, causes severe and unusual shifts in mood… Read More ›
Scientists find that individuals in vegetative states can learn
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Genevieve Maul Genevieve.maul@admin.cam.ac.uk 44-012-237-65542 University of Cambridge Research gives insight into possible rehabilitation of some patients Scientists have found that some individuals in the vegetative and minimally conscious states, despite lacking the means of… Read More ›
Drop in testosterone tied to prostate cancer recurrence
Contact: Diana Quattrone Diana.Quattrone@fccc.edu 215-728-7784 Fox Chase Cancer Center Fox Chase researchers find that men whose testosterone falls after radiation are more likely to experience a rise in PSA BOSTON, MA (October 28, 2012)—Men whose testosterone drops following radiation therapy… Read More ›
Research dispels myth that sudden cardiac arrests happens mainly during sports
Contact: Jane-Diane Fraser jfraser@hsf.ca 613-569-4361 x273 Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Sudden cardiac death in Ontario under age 40 – is exercise dangerous? It’s a tragic news story that often makes headlines – a young, healthy, fit athlete suddenly… Read More ›
H1N1 Pandemic Virus Does Not Mutate Into ‘Superbug’ in UMd. Lab Study
2009 study posted for filing COLLEGE PARK, Md. – A laboratory study by University of Maryland researchers suggests that some of the worst fears about a virulent H1N1 pandemic flu season may not be realized this year, but does… Read More ›
Engineering Evil 