RxPG News : Latest Research

Care Management Reduces Suicidal Ideation in Geriatric Depression

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Depression in older adults too often goes unrecognized and untreated, resulting in untold misery, worsening of medical illness, and early death. A new study has identified one important remedy: Adding a trained depression care manager to primary care practices can increase the number of patients receiving treatment, lead to a higher remission rate of depression, and reduce suicidal thoughts.

'Canadian excellence' strengthened by extensive adoption of open access

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

BioMed Central and Wilfrid Laurier University today announce the launch of Laurier IR, an institutional repository that provides a visible point of open access archiving of intellectual output for all members of the University community.

New detectors for nuclear, radiological material in cargo should not be acquired until testing deficiencies fixed, cost-benefit analysis completed

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

WASHINGTON -- A thorough cost-benefit analysis that includes an assessment of meaningful alternatives is needed to reveal the potential security advantages of deploying new detector systems to screen cargo for nuclear and radiological materials at U.S. ports and border crossings. It is likely that the costs will exceed the savings gained from improved efficiency of the screening systems, says a new report from the National Research Council. There are shortcomings in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's testing of these new detector systems, therefore the DHS secretary cannot conclude whether they will consistently outperform the current ones. DHS should not proceed with further procurement of these new detector systems until the issues are addressed and the systems have been shown to be a favored option in the cost-benefit analysis.

Researcher finds Girl Scout meetings provide an opportunity to increase girls' physical activity

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Girls typically are less physically active than boys, but a Kansas State University researcher has found that organizations like Girl Scouts provide an ideal setting to get girls moving early in life and to develop lifelong healthy habits.

Iowa State University researcher looks at the future of agriculture

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

AMES, Iowa - Dramatic price fluctuations, increasing demand, the food vs. fuel debate, and other events of the past year may have food producers wondering which way is up.

NIH expands Human Microbiome Project; funds sequencing centers and disease projects

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

The Human Microbiome Project has awarded more than $42 million to expand its exploration of how the trillions of microscopic organisms that live in or on our bodies affect our health, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced today.

How adolescent girls manage stress

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Greater influence over everyday life, emotional support, and cultural and recreational activities help to enable teenage girls to withstand stress. Those were the results of a dissertation from the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

New agreement to link up Europe's polar research

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

More than 26 leading scientific institutions across Europe are signing up to closer research cooperation through a new European Polar Framework agreement today in Brussels. The framework agreement is a major outcome from the four-year EUROPOLAR ERA-NET initiative, funded by the European Commission under Framework Programme 6, which ended in February this year.

Snoring due to sleep apnea can damage brain severely

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:23:57 PST

Snoring due sleep apnea may impair brain function in a much worse way than previously thought, according to a new study.

Alcohol, cigarettes can cause bowel cancer

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:12:04 PST

Beware of alcohol and cigarettes, they can cause bowel cancer, says a new study.

Underground cave dating from the year 1 A.D. exposed in Jordan Valley

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

An artificial underground cave, the largest in Israel, has been exposed in the Jordan Valley in the course of a survey carried out by the University of Haifa's Department of Archaeology. Prof. Adam Zertal, who headed the excavating team, reckons that this cave was originally a large quarry during the Roman and Byzantine era and was one of its kind. Various engravings were uncovered in the cave, including cross markings, and it is assumed that this could have been an early monastery. It is probably the site of Galgala from the historical Madaba Map, Prof. Zertal says.

Rice computing pioneer wins IEEE Computer Society award

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Rice University computer scientist Krishna Palem, who also heads the Institute for Sustainable Nanoelectronics (ISNE) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, has won the prestigious 2008 W. Wallace McDowell Award for his pioneering contributions to the growing field of embedded computing.

SMOS and Proba-2 launch rescheduled for November

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Following an agreement between ESA, Krunichev Space Centre and Eurockot Launch Services, ESA's next Earth Explorer mission SMOS and a secondary payload, the technology demonstrator Proba-2 satellite, will now launch on 2 November 2009.

EUROPACE raises remote monitoring profile

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Moving to a more continuous follow-up approach would have the tremendous advantages of enhancing patient safety, decreasing physician and nurse work load, and allowing health staff to focus on medical emergencies, urged Professor Angelo Auricchio, from the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) and official spokesperson of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), adding that such systems may have the additional advantage of being more cost effective for health care providers.

Ice sheets can retreat 'in a geologic instant,' study of prehistoric glacier shows

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Modern glaciers, such as those making up the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, are capable of undergoing periods of rapid shrinkage or retreat, according to new findings by paleoclimatologists at the University at Buffalo.

New supplement may help slow sight loss in elderly

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Queen's University Belfast academics have helped develop an antioxidant supplement which may slow down sight loss in elderly people.

Safety-critical software put under scrutiny

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Eliminating the potential for catastrophic medical, energy and transportation disasters due to software failure is the aim of a new $21-million global research centre to be located at McMaster University. It will be one of the first such centres in the world.

History, geography also seem to shape our genome

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:00:21 PST

History and geography shape our genome, according to a new study.

Anemia linked with higher death risk in heart patients

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:42:28 PST

The presence of anaemia in patients with chronic heart failure is linked to a significantly higher risk of death.

Kids with hypertension more likely to fumble in studies

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:23:55 PST

Children with high blood pressure are more likely to have learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - than other children. If they are both hypertensive and obese, they are also more likely to have anxiety and depression too.

Electronic nose potent new weapon against brain cancer

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:23:51 PST

An electronic 'nose' developed by NASA for air quality monitoring on Space Shuttle Endeavour can also act as a potent new weapon against brain cancer.

Meditation may be effective for treating insomnia

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:01:21 PST

Meditation may be an effective remedy in treating insomnia, latest research suggests.

Indian American helps design vaginal ring to prevent HIV transmission

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:27:59 PST

An Indian American endocrinologist has helped develop a vaginal ring that would prevent conception and transmission of HIV infection, by releasing multiple types of non-hormonal agents and microbicides.

Society doing hyperactive kids a disservice

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:30:46 PST

Authors and educators are doing hyperactive children a disservice by insisting that hyperactivity has always existed.

7th annual [BC]2 Basel Computational Biology Conference 'Molecular Evolution' June 18-19, 2009

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

The SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics and the Biozentrum of the University of Basel's 7th annual [BC]2 Basel Computational Biology Conference Molecular Evolution, opened today at the Congress Center in Basel. This year, the conference celebrates the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his major work, On the Origin of the Species.

U-M researcher and colleagues predict large 2009 Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone'

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

ANN ARBOR, Mich.---University of Michigan aquatic ecologist Donald Scavia and his colleagues say this year's Gulf of Mexico dead zone could be one of the largest on record, continuing a decades-long trend that threatens the health of a half-billion-dollar fishery.

NOAA forecast predicts large 'dead zone' for Gulf of Mexico this summer

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

A team of NOAA-supported scientists from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Louisiana State University, and the University of Michigan is forecasting that the dead zone off the coast of Louisiana and Texas in the Gulf of Mexico this summer could be one of the largest on record. The dead zone is an area in the Gulf of Mexico where seasonal oxygen levels drop too low to support most life in bottom and near-bottom waters.

Brain protein BDNF might get you hooked on drugs, alcohol

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:23:59 PST

A brain protein can practically hook you on to drugs and alcohol by hijacking the normal functioning of its reward circuitry.

UC Davis historian catalogs US secrets, lies and conspiracies

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

The government's own secrets, lies and conspiracies have fueled a 45-year-long decline in America's trust in its leaders, a University of California, Davis, history professor argues in a new book.

Giant eruption reveals 'dead' star

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

An enormous eruption has found its way to Earth after travelling for many thousands of years across space. Studying this blast with ESA's XMM-Newton and Integral space observatories, astronomers have discovered a dead star belonging to a rare group: the magnetars.

Study: Ads attacking Supreme Court nominees damage public support of high court

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Nasty, politicized Supreme Court nomination battles may erode public support of the high Court, according to a study of public reactions to the Samuel Alito nomination process.

New report outlines current, future impacts of climate change

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

A new report issued today by the U.S. Global Change Research Program outlines the extent of climate change around the U.S. and its effects not only at present but for the future as well.

Online obituaries are changing the way we publicly remember the dead and how newspapers cover deaths

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

The ways we deal with death are finding a new life online, according to research being published by a Kansas State University journalism professor and her colleague.

D. C. Math for America awarded $1.5-million NSF grant

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Washington, D.C. To combat the trend of declining qualified mathematics teachers in middle and high school, the Carnegie Institution's Carnegie Academy for Science Education (CASE) launched a partnership in 2008 with Math for America (MfA) and American University (AU). The Math for America (MfA DC) program's goal is to improve the mathematics education of Washington, D.C., public and public charter secondary school students. The program selects, on a competitive basis, individuals with undergraduate degrees in mathematics or related disciplines to become MfA DC Fellows and educates them to become skilled teachers. Using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the National Science Foundation has just awarded MfA DC a $ 1.498-million grant to cover the tuition, stipend, and mentoring costs for the first 14 Fellows. The first group of six Fellows arrives in the city on June 15.

Scientific evidence of health problems from past contamination of drinking water at Camp Lejeune is limited and unlikely to be resolved with further study

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

WASHINGTON -- Evidence exists that people who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune Marine Base in North Carolina between the 1950s and 1985 were exposed to the industrial solvents tricholorethylene (TCE) or perchloroethylene (PCE) in their water supply, but strong scientific evidence is not available to determine whether health problems among those exposed are due to the contaminants, says a new report from the National Research Council. The report adds that further research will unlikely provide definitive information on whether exposure resulted in adverse health effects in most cases. Therefore, policy changes or administrative actions to address and resolve the concerns associated with the exposures should not be deferred pending new or potential health studies.

Rice University researchers ask if biofuels will lead to a 'drink or drive'

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Rice University scientists warned that the United States must be careful that the new emphasis on developing biofuels as an alternative to imported oil takes into account potential damage to the nation's water resources.

Caffeine may prevent risk taking after sleep deprivation

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:36:11 PST

Washington, June 12 - A dose of caffeine may prevent increased risk taking that occurs after several nights of total sleep deprivation, according to the latest research.

Dual role in breast tissue for a protein involved in leukemia

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Washington, DC - A protein known to play a role in growth of some types of leukemia appears to have a mixed function in breast cancer development, say researchers from the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC).

Snoring pregnant women at higher risk for gestational diabetes

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

CHICAGO --- If you are pregnant and your mate complains your frequent snoring is rattling the bedroom windows, you may have bigger problems than an annoyed, sleep-deprived partner.

Blocking a muscle growth-limiting hormone protects against obesity and atherosclerosis

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Knockout of myostatin, a growth factor that limits muscle growth, can decrease body fat and promote resistance against developing atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, according to a new study conducted in mice. The results will be presented Thursday at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Childhood obesity increases early signs of cardiovascular disease

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

By as early as 7 years of age, being obese may raise a child's future risk of heart disease and stroke, even without the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, a new study found. The results were presented at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Nicotine induces prediabetes, likely contributes to high prevalence of heart disease in smokers

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Researchers have discovered a reason why smoking greatly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Nicotine promotes insulin resistance, also called prediabetes, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, according to the new study, which was presented at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Widely used body fat measurements overestimate fatness in blacks

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

The body mass index (BMI) and waistline measurement overestimate obesity in blacks, according to a new study. The results, which were presented at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., suggest that conventional methods for estimating body fat may need to become race-specific.

Officials commend UH's leadership in creation of ship channel security district

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

The University of Houston is being credited with playing a pivotal role in the creation of the Houston Ship Channel Security District, which was approved unanimously by Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday morning.

'Designer molecules' being developed to fight disease

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Researchers in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester are developing a new way to make protein based drugs with potential applications in stroke, vascular inflammation, blood vessel formation, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

Postpartum anxiety delays puberty in offspring

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Hormonal changes early in pregnancy cause maternal postpartum anxiety and behavior changes that can lead to a delayed onset of puberty in both birth and adoptive daughters, according to a new study conducted in mice. The results will be presented Wednesday at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Our exposure to controversial chemical may be greater than dose considered safe

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

People are likely being exposed to the commonly used chemical bisphenol A (BPA) at levels much higher than the recommended safe daily dose, according to a new study in monkeys. The results will be presented Thursday at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Pre-pregnancy depressed mood may heighten risk for premature birth

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Researchers trying to uncover why premature birth is a growing problem in the United States and one that disproportionately affects black women have found that pre-pregnancy depressive mood appears to be a risk factor in preterm birth among both blacks and whites.

New family-focused model of depression care needed to minimize risks

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

WASHINGTON -- Health and social service professionals who care for adults with depression should not only tackle their clients' physical and mental health, but also detect and prevent possible spillover effects on their children, says a new report from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. To achieve this new family-focused model of depression care, federal and state agencies, nonprofits, and the private sector will have to experiment with nontraditional ways of organizing, paying for, and delivering services, said the committee that wrote the report.

Peculiar, junior-sized supernova discovered by New York teen

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

In November 2008, Caroline Moore, a 14-year-old student from upstate New York, discovered a supernova in a nearby galaxy, making her the youngest person ever to do so. Additional observations determined that the object, called SN 2008ha, is a new type of stellar explosion, 1000 times more powerful than a nova but 1000 times less powerful than a supernova. Astronomers say that it may be the weakest supernova ever seen.

Report on US tobacco control policies and use finds stark contrasts in progress among states

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The United States is becoming a nation of haves and have-nots when it comes to tobacco control, according to a comprehensive publication on cigarette smoking prevalence and policies in the U.S. that was released today.

Nerve cells permit brain to regenerate itself with Activin A

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:19:57 PST

Nerve cells in the brain produce an anti-inflammatory molecule that allows the brain to repair itself, according to a new study.

Tiny fly can keep dengue-causing mosquito in check

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:35:48 PST

The larvae of a tiny fly or midge can help decimate a number of invasive Asian tiger mosquitoes, that infect 50 to 100 million people with dengue fever every year in the tropics.

Patients with primary insomnia compensate with higher brain activation

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:11:41 PST

According to a research abstract that will be presented on Tuesday, June 9, at SLEEP 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, patients suffering from chronic primary insomnia (PIs) have higher levels of brain activation compared to normal sleepers during a working memory test.

Acute computer related injuries on the rise

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:01:21 PST

According to a study published in the July 2009 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Policy and The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital; and The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus have found a more-than-sevenfold increase in computer-related injuries due to tripping over computer equipment, head injuries due to computer monitor falls and other physical incidents.

Sleep apnea linked to sleepwalking, hallucinations and other 'parasomnias'

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

MAYWOOD, Il. -- Nearly 1 in 10 patients with obstructive sleep apnea also experience parasomnia symptoms such as sleepwalking, hallucinations and acting out their dreams, a Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine study has found.

New antibiotics could come from a DNA binding compound that kills bacteria in 2 minutes

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

A synthetic DNA binding compound has proved surprisingly effective at binding to the DNA of bacteria and killing all the bacteria it touched within two minutes. The DNA binding properties of the compound were first discovered in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick by Professor Mike Hannon and Professor Alison Rodger (Professor Mike Hannon is now at the University of Birmingham). However the strength of its antibiotic powers have now made it a compound of high interest for University of Warwick researchers working on the development of novel antibiotics.

Mars mission could ease Earth's energy supply crisis

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Techniques and instrumentation initially developed for ExoMars - Europe's next robotic mission to Mars in 2016 - but now due to fly on a NASA mission in 2018, could also provide the answers to the globally pressing issue of energy supply.

Writing in air not pie in the sky

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

DURHAM, N.C. -- It's a familiar scene in airports and train stations. Hands full with luggage, briefcase, laptop or coat and there's something you need to remember, like the level and row numbers where you parked your car in the deck. What do you do?

When young men are scarce, they're more likely to play the field than to propose

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

ANN ARBOR, Mich.---In places where young women outnumber young men, research shows the hemlines rise but the marriage rates don't because the young men feel less pressure to settle down as more women compete for their affections.

High Risk of Disordered Eating in OCD

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:56:15 PST

Doctors and other health workers should be more aware of the high risk of eating disorders among people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and other anxiety disorders. According to new research presented at the recently concluded Royal College of Psychiatrists’ 2009 Annual Meeting, as many as one in five people with OCD could also have some form of disordered eating. In addition, disordered eating may occur in as many as one in three patients with other anxiety disorders.

Radio telescopes extend astronomy's best 'yardstick'

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Radio astronomers have directly measured the distance to a faraway galaxy, providing a valuable yardstick for calibrating large astronomical distances and demonstrating a vital method that could help determine the elusive nature of the mysterious Dark Energy that pervades the Universe.

Natural seed treatment could drastically cut pesticide use

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

The technology - which makes plants significantly more resistant to pests - has now been licensed for use by US agricultural company Becker Underwood in collaboration with Plant Bioscience Limited.

Common chemotherapy drug triggers fatal allergic reactions

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

CHICAGO -- A chemotherapy drug that is supposed to help save cancer patients' lives, instead resulted in life-threatening and sometimes fatal allergic reactions.

First mouse model for auto-inflammatory diseases reveals role for innate immunity

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 04:06:31 PST

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have developed the first mouse model for auto-inflammatory diseases, disorders that involve the over-activation of the body's innate, primitive immune system. Their study, published early on-line in Cell Immunity on June 4, suggests that the innate – not adaptive – immune system drives auto-inflammatory diseases.

Induced pluripotent stem cell lines from pigs

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:44:15 PST

The discovery that adult skin cells can be 'reprogrammed' to behave like stem cells has been a major scientific boon, providing a way to tap the potential of embryonic stem cells without the associated ethical quandaries. Now, in a study appearing online in JBC, researchers have created a line of such reprogrammed stem cells from adult pigs.

Middle-aged women experience more stress but have lower blood pressure

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Both blood pressure and serum lipid levels have improved in Swedish middle-aged women during the past 30 years. Levels of perceived mental stress, however, have increased significantly. These are the of a thesis presented at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Scientists tackle the mystery of white-nose syndrome in bats

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

KNOXVILLE -- The mysterious disease that has killed more than 90 percent of wintering bats in some caves and mines from Vermont to Virginia during the last three years has raised numerous questions about the nature of the disease and how to control it.

Scientists examine perceptions of risk and the spread of disease

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

KNOXVILLE -- As swine flu spread from Mexico to Texas and then fanned out farther in the United States, Americans began to alter their behavior. Families kept children home from school, postponed trips to the mall, and stayed home instead of eating out. In so doing, the American population may have inadvertently altered the behavior of the pathogen itself.

Splash, babble, sploosh: Computer algorithm simulates the sound of water

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Splash, splatter, babble, sploosh, drip, drop, bloop and ploop!

Obesity does not worsen asthma, but may reduce response to medications

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Being overweight or obese does not make asthma worse in patients with mild and moderate forms of the disease, according to a study by National Jewish Health researchers, although it may reduce the response to medications.

ESC Congress 2009: World's biggest cardiology meeting to be held in Barcelona

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

The European Society of Cardiology Congress 2009, the world's biggest international meeting in Cardiology will be held in Barcelona, Spain, from 29 August to 2 September.

AmetsLab eco-efficient architecture company launched

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

TECNALIA Technology Corporation and the Metropoli Foundation, who have been collaborating on a number of projects related to intelligent territories, energy efficiency in neighbourhoods and buildings, new building typologies etc., have created AmetsLab, a new technology-based enterprise in the sector of bioclimatic and ecoefficient architecture, symbolised by the Zero building.

Estrogen linked to lowered immunity in fish

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Exposure to estrogen reduces production of immune-related proteins in fish. This suggests that certain compounds, known as endocrine disruptors, may make fish more susceptible to disease.

Scientists unravel the mystery of white-nose syndrome

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Soap-sniffing technology encourages hand washing to reduce hospital-acquired infections, save money

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Call it a Breathalyzer for the hands.

Electronic pill shows its smarts by measuring pH levels in digestive tract

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

An electronic diagnostic tool called the SmartPill is swallowed by patients in order to take measurements as it travels through the gastrointestinal tract. A new study by physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center used the device in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC), determining that they have significantly more acidic pH in their colons, compared with the average person -- a finding that may impact treatment strategy.

Eculizumab prevents kidney transplant rejection by inhibiting activation the complement system

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:25:59 PST

Early results from a Mayo Clinic research study demonstrate the effectiveness of a new approach to blocking an important part of the immune system that causes severe damage to some kidney transplants. Historically, these patients have been very difficult to treat successfully because their immune systems are already primed with antibodies to destroy the donor organ. These findings were presented today at the American Transplant Congress.

Equity concerns raised by congestion pricing can be addressed to make approach viable

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Policymakers need to address equity concerns early when implementing congestion pricing to improve traffic flow, as each situation is unique and must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, according to a study issued today by the RAND Corporation.

Ground-breaking study to cap the growing trend of type 2 diabetes in overweight adolescents

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at The Children's Hospital at Westmead are embarking on a ground-breaking new study to investigate whether a different dietary approach to insulin resistance in overweight adolescents can put the brakes on its progression to type 2 diabetes.

NTU launches initiative to propel multidisciplinary energy-related research

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has established a broad based multi-disciplinary energy research centre that seeks to explore complex energy-related issues.

New study shows people with mental health problems receive inadequate medical care

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

New research led by the University of Leicester and published this week in the British Journal of Psychiatry reveals that people with mental health problems are receiving inferior care for their medical needs.

The first goal is the deepest

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Jack Brimberg and Bill Hurley of The Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario, point out that sports commentators will often argue the importance of scoring the first goal and often suggest that a team improves its chances of winning considerably by scoring it. This kind of punditry more commonly arises during playoff games which tend to be played more defensively.

Enzyme involved in inflammatory bowel disease discovered at Penn State College of Medicine

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine, working with biochemists, geneticists and clinicians at the University of Bern, Switzerland and in the United Kingdom, have discovered an enzyme that has a key role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The team, co-led by Judith Bond, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Penn State College of Medicine, and Daniel Lottaz, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at the University of Bern, Switzerland, could potentially lead to therapies to help the half-a-million Americans affected by ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, collectively referred to as IBD.

Women faring well in hiring process for science faculty jobs at research universities

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

WASHINGTON -- Although women are still underrepresented in the applicant pool for faculty positions in math, science, and engineering at major research universities, those who do apply are interviewed and hired at rates equal to or higher than those for men, says a new report from the National Research Council. Similarly, women are underrepresented among those considered for tenure, but those who are considered receive tenure at the same or higher rates than men.

UCF researcher developing computer program to detect, measure brain tumors

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

The same techniques used to detect suspicious activity in airports, stadiums and other public places are now being used by the UCF researcher who invented them to find and measure potentially life-threatening brain tumors.

Hybrid remotely operated vehicle 'Nereus' reaches deepest part of the ocean

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

A new type of deep-sea robotic vehicle called Nereus has successfully reached the deepest part of the world's ocean, reports a team of U.S. engineers and scientists aboard the research vessel Kilo Moana. The dive to 10,902 meters (6.8 miles) occurred on May 31, 2009, at the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean.

More costly private model of foster care could save $6.3 billion in long term

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

In these times of trillion-dollar budgets and deficits, $6.3 billion may not seem like much money, but that's what the United States potentially could save on each group of adolescents who enter foster care every year.

International Rett Syndrome Foundation recognizes Dr. Huda Zoghbi, Dr. Alan Percy

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

(Cincinnati, OH) - The International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF) celebrated its 25th annual family education and information conference in Leesburg, VA this Memorial Day weekend entitled Celebrating the Torch Within. Over 250 families and dozens of clinicians and researchers from across the United States participated in this annual event which also recognized the ten year anniversary of the discovery of the MECP2 gene which causes Rett syndrome.

Free music, sampled

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Free products samples give consumers the opportunity to try before they buy. This tried and tested marketing model works well for products as diverse as shampoo and washing powder, instant coffee and bubble gum. A sample, often given away free with a magazine or in a mail shot, is often enough to entice a consumer who enjoys the product to buy a full packet next time they are in the supermarket.

Singapore scientists elected into National Academy of Sciences

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Renowned Singapore-based cancer geneticists Neal Copeland, Ph.D., and Nancy Jenkins, Ph.D., who are among the top 50 most-cited biomedical scientists in the world today, have been elected into the prestigious National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

Harvard scientist says we are what we eat -- and what we cook

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 1, 2009 -- You are what you eat. Can these pithy words explain the evolution of the human species?

Tulane receives $7.07 million NIH grant to develop hemorrhagic fever virus detection kits

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at Tulane University, in collaboration with Corgenix Medical Corporation, a worldwide developer and marketer of diagnostic test kits, have received a five-year $7.07 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for continued development of detection kits for Lassa viral hemorrhagic fever, a serious disease spread by contact with infected rodents. Viral hemorrhagic fevers are characterized by fever and bleeding disorders and can progress to high fever and shock. Lassa fever is estimated to infect 300,000 to 500,000 people per year across West Africa, resulting in approximately 5,000 deaths.

Scientists examine human behavior and the threat of disease

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

I-SPY trial offers key insights into locally advanced breast cancer

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PST

Scientists are reporting two findings that could influence the way researchers screen for, treat and assess prognosis for women with locally advanced breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease. One finding offers a critical message regarding treatment strategy, they say.

Aspirin in primary prevention of cadiovascular events of uncertain value

Sat, 30 May 2009 13:21:30 PST

Low dose aspirin has been shown to be of benefit in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in various studies. But a recent meta-analysis published in the Lancet shows no overwhelming benefit of aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular events.

Better treatment selection and improved therapies -- key to improving prognosis in acute HF

Sat, 30 May 2009 04:00:00 PST

Today, acute heart failure represents the most common reason for hospitalisation in the over-65 population. Although hospital care improves symptoms in the first 24 hours after admission in around 50% of these patients, acute heart failure events still remain associated with a more than 50% mortality and rehospitalisation rate at 6-12 months. Indeed, says Professor Marco Metra from the Cardiology Department of the University of Brescia, Italy, it is the very rapid onset of symptoms and the need for urgent therapy which characterise the condition.1,2

Indiana U. research at the American College of Sports Medicine conference

Sat, 30 May 2009 04:00:00 PST

Note: Information about the high-speed accelerometers study presented on Saturday is embargoed until the time of the 10:30 a.m. PDT presentation. Information about the other studies is not embargoed

Chemotherapy combination outcomes differ for aged, younger colon cancer patients

Fri, 29 May 2009 04:00:00 PST

ORLANDO, Fla.--The combination of chemotherapies 5FU and oxaliplatin compared to 5FU alone after surgery for colon cancer decreases colon cancer recurrence and promotes longer survival for patients under 70 -- but not for those who are older, according to Mayo Clinic and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists who will present their findings at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

One in ten advanced colon cancer patients worry about prescription drug costs

Fri, 29 May 2009 04:00:00 PST

ORLANDO, Fla.--The vast majority of advanced colon cancer patients in a clinical trial were not concerned about the cost of prescription drugs for managing chemotherapy side effects, such as infection, pain and nausea and few adopted strategies to reduce drug cost burdens after joining the clinical trial, according to a study led by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Although few patients reported substantial worry about drug costs, still fewer reported discussing drug cost issues with their physicians, suggesting there are opportunities for improving how physicians integrate discussions about drug costs into clinical practice.