Contact: Tom Hughes tahughes@unch.unc.edu 919-966-6047 University of North Carolina Health Care A study by UNC pediatrics researchers finds there is no such thing as a ‘1 size fits all’ explanation for childhood obesity IMAGE:Asheley Cockrell Skinner, Ph.D., assistant professor in… Read More ›
Counter Intuitive
Evolution could explain the placebo effect: Human immune system has developed on-off mechanism to save energy
By Anthony Bond PUBLISHED:11:52 EST, 8 September 2012| UPDATED:11:52 EST, 8 September 2012 Scientists have discovered a possible evolutionary explanation for the placebo effect with new evidence suggesting the immune system has an on-off switch to save energy. People who… Read More ›
Researchers detail chemotherapy’s damage to the brain” Chemotherapy drugs used to treat a wide range of cancers were more toxic to healthy brain cells than the cancer cells they were intended to treat
Re-post from 2008: This is not the watered down Chemo brain article released 5 Sep 2012..4 years later contact: Mark Michaud mark_michaud@urmc.rochester.edu 585-273-4790 University of Rochester Medical Center A commonly used chemotherapy drug causes healthy brain cells to die off… Read More ›
Natural trans fats have health benefits, University of Alberta study shows: Trans vaccenic acid (VA)
Contact: Michel Proulx michel.proulx@ales.ualberta.ca 780-492-8127 University of Alberta Contrary to popular opinion, not all trans fats are bad for you. University of Alberta researcher Flora Wang found that a diet with enriched levels of trans vaccenic acid (VA) – a… Read More ›
Advanced maternal age not harmful for adult children
September 06, 2012 Previously existing ideas on how advanced maternal age affects adult health of children have to be reconsidered. It had been thought that mothers delivering later in life have children that are less healthy as adults, because the… Read More ›
The malaria species rampant in the Asia-Pacific region has been a significant driver of evolution of the human genome, a new study has shown.
‘Benign’ Malaria Key Driver of Human Evolution in Asia-Pacific ScienceDaily (Sep. 4, 2012) Professor Ivo Mueller led a study that showed the malaria species rampant in the Asia-Pacific region has been a significant driver of evolution of the human genome… Read More ›
Viruses for a healthy pregnancy
Contact: Lucy Goodchild l.goodchild@sgm.ac.uk 44-011-898-81843 Society for General Microbiology Sequences of DNA in the human genome that originated from ancient viral infections have some surprising effects on our bodies and are even essential for a healthy pregnancy, according to an… Read More ›
Over-activity of the serotonin system may relate to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety
Contact: Mary Kohut Press@plos.org 415-568-3457 Public Library of Science Why serotonin can cause depression and anxiety Mood disorders could be caused by a loss of our inherent, reflexive avoidance of aversive events, according to a study published in PLoS Computational… Read More ›
Sex hormones unrelated to prostate cancer risk
Contact: Liz Savage jncimedia@oxfordjournals.org 301-841-1287 Journal of the National Cancer Institute Sex hormones circulating in the blood do not appear to be associated with prostate cancer risk, according to data from 18 prior studies. The analysis will be published online… Read More ›
Newly discovered virus linked to deadly skin cancer : Merkel cell polyomavirus
Contact: Michele Baum BaumMD@upmc.edu 412-647-3555 University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Novel sequencing technique used at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute reveals new cancer virus; reported in the journal Science PITTSBURGH, Jan. 17 – A new strategy… Read More ›
Surprising finding that people with cystic fibrosis (CF) produce too little airway mucus – rather than too much..Common Medical Belief is Wrong
Shannon Koontz 336-716-4587 shkoontz@wfubmc.edu Bob Conn 336-716-4587 rconn@wfubmc.edu Mark Wright 336-716-4587 mwright@wfubmc.edu Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Surprising finding could lead to new treatment for cystic fibrosis WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The surprising finding that people with cystic fibrosis (CF)… Read More ›
Women go through the menopause to stop them competing with their daughters-in-law for resources, claim scientists
Study looked at birth and death rates from 1700 to 1900 If grandmother and daughter-in-law had babies at the same time newborns were 50 per cent less likely to survive, historical records reveal By Claire Bates PUBLISHED:05:17 EST, 23 August… Read More ›
Are humans evolving faster? ” Findings suggest we are becoming more different, not alike”
Findings suggest we are becoming more different, not alike Researchers discovered genetic evidence that human evolution is speeding up – and has not halted or proceeded at a constant rate, as had been thought – indicating that humans on different… Read More ›
Purified bacterial extract sprayed into lungs protection against all four major classes of pathogens including those responsible for anthrax and bubonic plague
Washington, D.C. — A purified extract prepared from a common microbe and delivered to the lungs of laboratory mice in a spray set off a healthy immune response and provided powerful protection against all four major classes of pathogens including… Read More ›
Chlamydia pneumoniae Responsible for Atherosclerosis
Rogue bacteria involved in both heart disease and infertility Researcher uncovers how chlamydia sabotages human immunity Chlamydia pneumoniae is a microbe that normally causes pneumonia and bronchitis, but it has long been associated with atherosclerosis, a cardiovascular disease also called… Read More ›
Common parasite may trigger suicide attempts – “seven times more likely to attempt suicide”
Contact: Jason Cody, Media Communications, Office: (517) 432-0924, Cell: (734) 755-0210, Jason.Cody@cabs.msu.edu; Lena Brundin, College of Human Medicine, Office: (616) 234-0996, lena.brundin@hc.msu.edu EAST LANSING, Mich. — A parasite thought to be harmless and found in many people may actually… Read More ›
Hepatitis A and or B Gives greater chance to recover from Hep C..Plus Morphine increases HCV Replication
Contact: Lixin Zhu wjg@wjgnet.com 86-108-538-1892 World Journal of Gastroenterology Who will recover spontaneously from hepatitis C virus infection More than 3% of world population is infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The outcome of HCV infections is either self recovery… Read More ›
Babies born naturally ‘have higher IQs than those delivered by caesarean section’
By Sarah Johnson PUBLISHED:16:00 EST, 8 August 2012| UPDATED:16:00 EST, 8 August 2012 Babies born naturally may have higher IQs than those delivered by caesarean section, new research claims. According to scientists, when women give birth naturally there are higher… Read More ›
How taking antibiotics can make you fat, ill and prone to auto-immune diseases
By Jerome Burne PUBLISHED:18:39 EST, 6 August 2012| UPDATED:19:31 EST, 6 August 2012 At first glance it sounds like an ad for a dodgy herbal supplement. Two years ago Chinese microbiologist Dr Zhao Liping revealed at a U.S. conference… Read More ›
Scientists confirm there were two other species of early human beings
We weren’t alone! Scientists confirm there were two other species of early human beings Skulls from flat faced early humans found in ‘cradle of life’ near Lake Turkana in Kenya Scientists believe the new species eventually came to an… Read More ›
2 Quick Abtsracts Showing the Measles Virus Protects Against Developing Asthma
For some unusual reason the first abstract (1) went through a re-write, as well as a link chnage in order to change the outcome 1.Abstract (original) ALLERGY/IMMUNOLOGY Does Measles in Childhood Reduce Risk of Asthma? Source: Paunio M, Heinonen OP, Virtanen… Read More ›
Study finds acute measles supresses HIV replication
Contact: Tim Parsons or Ming Tai paffairs@jhsph.edu 410-955-6878 Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Study finds acute measles supresses HIV replication Replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is briefly suppressed during acute measles, according to researchers at the… Read More ›
Alzheimer’s disease molecule can actually REVERSE multiple sclerosis, say scientists after shock discovery
Maligned molecule found to have beneficial anti-inflammatory effect By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED:05:43 EST, 3 August 2012 | UPDATED:06:11 EST, 3 August 2012 A molecule that causes Alzheimer’s disease could reverse paralysis caused by multiple sclerosis (MS), a study has… Read More ›
Brain parasite directly alters brain chemistry
A research group from the University of Leeds has shown that infection by the brain parasite Toxoplasma gondii, found in 10-20 per cent of the UK’s population, directly affects the production of dopamine, a key chemical messenger in the… Read More ›
Catch the fever: It’ll help you fight off infection
New research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology demonstrates that elevated body temperature plays a vital role on the generation of effective T-cell mediated immune response Bethesda, MD—With cold and flu season almost here, the next time you’re sick,… Read More ›
Ovaries continue to produce eggs during adulthood? Yes, they may….
A compelling new genetic study tracing the origins of immature egg cells, or ‘oocytes’, from the embryonic period throughout adulthood adds new information to a growing controversy A compelling new genetic study tracing the origins of immature egg cells, or… Read More ›
Bedwetting can be due to undiagnosed constipation, research shows
Winston-Salem, N.C. – Jan. 27, 2012 – Bedwetting isn’t always due to problems with the bladder, according to new research by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Constipation is often the culprit; and if it isn’t diagnosed, children and their parents… Read More ›
HPV improves survival for African-Americans with throat cancer
DETROIT – Even though the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for certain head and neck cancers, its presence could make all the difference in terms of survival, especially for African Americans with throat cancer, say Henry Ford Hospital… Read More ›
The real culprit behind hardened arteries? Stem cells, says landmark study (NC)
Berkeley — One of the top suspects behind killer vascular diseases is the victim of mistaken identity, according to researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, who used genetic tracing to help hunt down the real culprit. The guilty party… Read More ›
Deer antlers inspire a new theory on osteoporosis
The loss of manganese could mean that calcium does not stick to bones and could cause osteoporosis. This is the new theory put forward by researchers at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) in Spain after studying deer antlers. The… Read More ›
Bacteria in the gut of autistic children different from non-autistic children
The underlying reason autism is often associated with gastrointestinal problems is an unknown, but new results to be published in the online journal mBio® on January 10 reveal that the guts of autistic children differ from other children in… Read More ›
A Common Microbe Could Help To Trigger Alzheimers
A COMMON microbe could help to trigger Alzheimer’s disease, say researchers in the US. If true, their controversial claim could turn the multimillion-dollar field of Alzheimer’s research on its head and force a rethink on how to prevent the… Read More ›