Sacred Cows and Sympathetic SquirrelsSacred Cows and Sympathetic Squirrels: The Importance of Biological Diversity to Human Health.
Andy Dobson*, Isabella Cattadori, Robert D. Holt, Richard S. Ostfeld, Felicia Keesing, Kristle Krichbaum, Jason R. Rohr, Sarah E. Perkins, Peter J. Hudson.
Andy Dobson is in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America. Isabella Cattadori, Kristle Krichbaum, Jason R.........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 6/11/2006 10:12:13 AM)
Protect Americans From Counterfeit DrugsThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced new steps to strengthen existing protections against the growing problem of counterfeit drugs. The measures, which were recommended in a report released recently by the agency's Counterfeit Drug Task Force, emphasize certain regulatory actions and the use of new technologies for safeguarding the integrity of the U.S. drug supply.
"The adoption of the FDA Counterfeit Drug Task........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 6/10/2006 6:21:14 PM)
Herceptin would be available for adjuvant treatment in UKWe have written in this column a number of times regarding the plight of breast cancer patients in UK. Even though herceptin was approved in USA and Canada for the adjuvant therapy of HER2 positive patients, the regulatory agencies in UK have been giving a hard time to women in UK. There were a number of protests and law-suits regarding this issue.
Now finally it looks like, thousands of women across UK will have access to herceptin after........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 6/9/2006 7:01:14 AM)
Children And Teens Treated With Antipsychotics IncreasesA steadily increasing number of patients younger than age 20 received prescriptions for antipsychotic medications between 1993 and 2002, according to a report published in the recent issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Antipsychotics are medications used to treat mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and mania, that may involve loss of contact with reality. Several studies have indicated that........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 6/7/2006 7:03:41 AM)
Origin of Childhood Brain TumorsUsing cells obtained from cancer-stricken mice, researchers from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) at Stanford University have showed that reducing production of sterols - chemicals, such as cholesterol, that are a vital part of cell membranes - can prevent the rapid growth of medulloblastoma cells in culture. Medulloblastoma is the most common form of cancerous childhood brain cancer. The cancer is due to a breakdown in normal........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 6/5/2006 11:37:54 PM)
High School Teacher Helps Discover New Cancer DrugSixteen years ago, when Stuart Shifrin, then a chemistry teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, volunteered to be one of the first teachers in a new research internship program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), all he expected from the experience was to see how scientific research is conducted. Instead, his summer research project has developed into a promising new chemotherapy drug.
The Student and........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 6/5/2006 11:31:35 PM)
Steps To Preventing Lung CancerDid you realize that approximately 10% of lung cancer patients have never in their lives smoked cigarettes? When asked about lung cancer prevention, most people will tell you that the easiest way to prevent lung cancer is to never take up the dangerous habit of cigarette smoking. And while its true that smoking often leads to lung cancer, the fact that 10% of lung cancer patients are not now nor have ever been smokers cannot be easily........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 6/2/2006 6:48:20 AM)
Thirteen Month Delay Between Evaluation And Autism Diagnosis In ChildrenChildren with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may experience a 13-month delay before they are diagnosed. A study in the April autism supplement of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics released recently, found that children diagnosed in metropolitan Atlanta were initially evaluated at an average of 4 years of age but were not diagnosed with an ASD until an average of 5 years 1 month. The study also found much variability in........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 6/1/2006 5:56:29 PM)
Type 2 Diabetes Teens Have Higher Complication RiskYoung people with type 2 diabetes are more likely to have hypertension and signs of kidney damage than their counterpart who have type 1 diabetes, even though type 2 diabetic have had the disease for a much shorter time.
The findings underscore the importance of screening children for complications when they are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. They also suggest that it may make sense to look for these complications in children who are simply........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 6/1/2006 5:47:14 PM)
Ozone And Cholesterol To Cause Heart DiseaseNumerous studies have linked heart disease and air pollution, especially smog. Smog--a toxic brew of chemicals and molecules such as ozone--seems to exacerbate heart disease, leading to an increase in heart attacks and fatalities. But scientists have yet to discover the pathway by which smog impacts the cardiovascular system. Now a new study shows how ozone's byproducts in the body can harden arteries and cause heart disease.
Chemist Paul........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 6/1/2006 4:53:13 PM)
Knowledge Of Infection May Prevent Spread Of Herpes VirusA new study suggests that the risk of transmitting the virus that causes most cases of genital herpes could be cut in half by more testing and informing sexual partners of infection. The study is reported in the July 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online.
Until recently, there was little evidence to show that knowledge of infection would lead to decreased transmission of herpes simplex virus (HSV) to others. But........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 5/30/2006 11:45:47 PM)
Clever Bacteria Riding In The Stem-cellResearchers have discovered a new clue to how bacterial parasites are able to produce a long-term infection that can spread through an insect population. They have found that a type of bacteria that infects insects actually hitchhikes in the eggs of fruit flies. This ensures that the bacteria are passed from mother to offspring.
The findings show that in the first stages of infection, Wolbachia bacteria home in on stem-cell niches in the........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/30/2006 6:59:04 AM)
Sleep More To Lose FatStop those sleepless nights, you try to relax sleep well and avoid weight gain, that's the message from a recently published study. This study has found that women who sleep 5 hours or less weigh more compared to those women who sleep 7 hours. This study was presented in the American Thoracic Society International conference in May 2006.
This study showed that women who sleep 5 hours or less per day were 32 percent more at risk of developing........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/25/2006 10:14:01 PM)
Switch For Skeletal-Muscle AtrophyResearchers in Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine have discovered genetic and drug-treatment methods to arrest the type of muscle atrophy often caused by muscle disuse, as well as aging and diseases such as cancer.
The findings might eventually benefit people who have been injured or suffer from diseases that cause them to be bedridden and lose muscle mass, or sometimes limbs, due to atrophy, said Amber Pond, a research........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/25/2006 12:22:12 AM)
Less Expensive Treatment Of Gaucher's DiseaseProspects for eventual development of a less costly and more convenient therapy for Gaucher's disease have brightened with new research findings published in the recent issue of ACS Chemical Biology.
The existing therapy costs up to $750,000 annually for a single patient, continues for life, and must be given intravenously rather than by mouth. An oral therapy based on the new research could cut those costs by 100-fold.
Gaucher's........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/24/2006 7:19:54 PM)
Beating Bad BreathIf you're bothered by bad breath, simple measures often can help. Bad breath often stems from food particles in the mouth, from dry mouth, or from a health problem.
The recent issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers tips to beat bad breath:.
Brush your teeth or use a mouthwash after you eat. Brushing is best. If you use a mouthwash, swish it around for 30 seconds before spitting it out.
Floss your teeth at least once a day. Flossing........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 5/22/2006 1:39:36 PM)
Minimizing the Risk of MelanomaThe incidence of melanoma, the most serious and deadly type of skin cancer, is increasing. In the United States, the lifetime risk of developing melanoma is now about one in 70. It used to be less than one in 100.
"The best way to reduce your risk is to avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m, when the sun's rays are strongest," says Mark Pittelkow, M.D., Mayo Clinic dermatologist. "But, it's a misconception to think that melanoma........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 5/22/2006 12:51:42 PM)
Shingles: Painful Return Of Chickenpox VirusIf you've had chickenpox, you may be at risk of shingles -- a painful skin disease that can lead to serious health complications.
Shingles is most common in adults between the ages of 60 and 80, in part because aging can affect the body's ability to fight off infections. Shingles is a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox and remains in your nerve tissue.
The recent issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/22/2006 12:49:30 PM)
A Way to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?The most common cause of nongenetic mental retardation in the Western world is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). About one in 1,000 United States children is born with FAS, which is caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. Children with FAS typically have abnormal facial features and reduced growth. They also have central nervous system abnormalities that lead to impaired learning and memory skills, hyperactivity, and other behavioral problems.........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 5/13/2006 3:14:29 PM)
Tension Headache May Actually Be TMJDPeople whose recurrent headaches have been diagnosed as tension-related actually may be suffering from temporomandibular muscle and joint disorder, or TMJD, a study headed by a researcher from the University at Buffalo's School of Dental Medicine has shown.
Results showed that examiners could replicate tension-headache symptoms in 82 percent of subjects by performing the clinical examination of the temporalis muscle, which is involved in........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/13/2006 12:58:31 PM)
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FDA aaproves Cervical Cancer VaccineA vaccine that protects against the virus known to cause most cervical cancers was given the blessing of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel Thursday.
The vaccine, Gardasil, is expected to get full FDA approval on June 8, and the national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will then decide whether to include the vaccine in routine vaccination schedules. Gardasil, which is manufactured by Merck & Co., would then........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 6/10/2006 6:38:30 PM)
The Prostate CheckupThe American Urological Society and the American Cancer Society recommend that all men over age 50 have annual prostate screening. Those at high risk of prostate cancer should begin in their forties.
A regular exam commonly starts with your doctor asking about any family history of prostate cancer. Next your doctor may perform the most basic prostate screening: the digital rectal exam (DRE). The doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 6/10/2006 6:28:25 PM)
Improving Radiation TherapyResearchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and colleagues at Stony Brook University, the IRCCS NEUROMED Medical Center in Italy, and Georgetown University say improvements they have made to an experimental form of radiation therapy that has been under investigation for many years could make the technique more effective and eventually allow its use in hospitals. Results on the improved method, which was tested........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 6/10/2006 6:14:35 PM)
Where You Live Affect WeightFor years, scientists have been trying to document a correlation between obesity among the poor and the limited selection of healthy foods in their local grocery stores. Now, a new study suggests the relationship might be even more complicated than previously thought.
Where people live may influence their food choices as much or more than where they themselves shop, said study lead author Sanae Inagami, M.D., a researcher with the Rand........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 6/8/2006 12:12:05 AM)
Study Disputes Claims on RaloxifeneThe National cancer institute in April announced that raloxifene is equal in efficiency to tamoxifen in prevention of breast cancer with lesser side effects. However the final results of this study challenges the view presented by scientists from the national cancer institute.
In the press conference scientists from the National cancer institute said that raloxifene is clearly superior to tamoxifen in prevention of breast cancer because of........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 6/6/2006 7:10:56 AM)
Switch From Tamoxifen To AromasinWomen, who are taking tamoxifen as adjuvant treatment of breast cancer, would benefit from switching to aromasin (exemestane) after 2 to 3 years of starting tamoxifen according to a new study. This data comes from Intergroup Exemestane Study (IES) which showed that this switch would result in 17 percent improved survival and 25 percent improvement in breast cancer recurrence compared to women who continue with tamoxifen for 5 years.
This........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 6/5/2006 7:05:19 AM)
Exposure to Violence Increases Asthma Risks?Pollens, yes. Dust yes. Cigarette smoke, yes. Pets, perhaps. Just in the prior entry, I've noted how air pollutants correlation to street traffic can contribute to asthma risks. All these make sense. But violence? What's the connection of exposure to violence relate to asthma?.........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 6/1/2006 11:43:50 PM)
Amino Acid That Boost Heart Disease RiskMesia Moore Steed.
Remember that name, because chances are you're going to be hearing more about it as the Henderson native and Henderson County High graduate progresses in her profession.
Steed, who will turn 31 on June 22, is doing important research with implications for future preventive measures against heart disease and therapy of America's No. 1 killer. She's also playing a role that could lead more minority students into........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 6/1/2006 5:05:46 PM)
Canadians Healthier Than AmericansYou can add Canadians to the list of foreigners who are healthier than Americans. Americans are 42 percent more likely than Canadians to have diabetes, 32 percent more likely to have high blood pressure, and 12 percent more likely to have arthritis, Harvard Medical School scientists found. That is as per a survey in which American and Canadian adults were asked over the telephone about their health.
The study comes less than a month after........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 6/1/2006 5:02:38 PM)
Pistachios Heart Health BenefitsAdding pistachio nuts to your daily diet could be an easy way to improve cholesterol levels, say researchers from Turkey, the world's fourth biggest pistachio nut producer.
The US is currently the number two producer of pistachios in the world, with annual production of about 136,000 metric tons (302m lbs). Exports of the nuts are worth almost $100m every year with Europe getting the lion's share of the exported nuts (71 percent).
The new........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 6/1/2006 4:58:36 PM)
Sleep Apnea Linked To Heart DiseaseDoctors are studying a correlation between sleep apnea and hear disease. Experts said it was a connection that could be going undiagnosed in a number of people while causing an early death because of the heart disease.
Heart disease is already the No. 1 killer of men and women in the United States.
"We think that if somebody has heart disease, you should think about the potential of them having associated sleep and breathing problems,"........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 6/1/2006 4:55:44 PM)
ADHD Drugs Send Thousands to ERsAccidental overdoses and side effects from attention deficit drugs likely send thousands of children and adults to emergency rooms, as per the first national estimates of the problem.
Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated problems with the stimulant drugs drive nearly 3,100 people to ERs each year. Nearly two-thirds - overdoses and accidental use - could be prevented by parents locking the pills away,........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 6/1/2006 4:50:33 PM)
Ebert To Undergo Cancer SurgeryIt's the sequel no one wanted to see: Sun-Times movie critic Roger Ebert, who battled back from cancer three times before, will be undergoing cancer surgery again.
The Pulitzer Prize winner and host of the nationally syndicated movie review show "Ebert & Roeper" said Wednesday he will have surgery June 16 -- two days before his 64th birthday -- to remove a malignant growth on his salivary gland.
"It is not life threatening, and I expect........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 6/1/2006 4:45:12 PM)
Plight Of The Russian Cancer ChildrenWhen three-year-old Nastya Kuzmina came down with a cold earlier this year, her mother was not, at first, unduly concerned. In Orel, a remote western Russian province hundreds of miles from Moscow, a cold is an annual ritual for children and adults alike in the chilly winter, Elena's cheerful daughter had always been robust and healthy.
But the cold did not go away. It got worse, sucking the energy out of Nastya's tiny body. Within weeks,........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 6/1/2006 4:40:30 PM)
Tough Anti-Smoking Laws Blanket CanadaSmokers were mandatory to light up outside across much of eastern Canada Wednesday, as one of North America's most restrictive bans went into effect.
Smoking already has been banned from most workplaces across Canada but the ban in Ontario and Quebec now extended to public places in general, including bars, restaurants and schools. The ban also calls on employers to close designated smoking rooms and requires retailers to ask for........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 6/1/2006 4:37:46 PM)
Treatment Of Alcohol DependenceA large-scale study of different treatment approaches for alcohol dependence underlines that medicine can play a key role in treatment.
While many treatment approaches were found helpful, the authors report that the patients who were most successful in abstaining from alcohol 16 weeks after treatment were those prescribed naltrexone under medical management and those participating in a multi-session program of alcohol counseling delivered by........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/31/2006 9:14:54 PM)
Brca GenesIn the last few decades, marked advancement and progress were made in our understanding of molecular basis of breast cancer. Most investigators believe in a "two hit theory" for the causation of breast cancer in those women who have inherited a genetic defect. This means that although these women are born with a specific a genetic abnormality with high risk of breast cancer development, additional insults induced by the environment may be........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 5/25/2006 10:26:42 PM)
Gaucher's DiseaseWhat is Gaucher's Disease?
Gaucher disease is an inherited metabolic disorder in which harmful quantities of a fatty substance called glucocerebroside accumulate in the spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow, and sometimes in the brain. There are three types of Gaucher disease. The first category, called type 1, is by far the most common. Patients in this group commonly bruise easily and experience fatigue due to anemia and low blood........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 5/24/2006 7:51:57 PM)
Women With High Risk Should Have MRI of the BreastMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast is a much more sensitive test for detecting breast tumors when compared to mammogram. A recent study has found that women who have genetic mutation and high risk of developing breast cancer should receive MRI of the breast rather than mammogram as the screening test for breast cancer.
Women who inherit BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations have about 60 to 80 percent lifetime risk of developing........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 5/24/2006 7:00:00 AM)
Vaccine Curbs Brain Tumor GrowthA novel vaccine has significantly increased life expectancy in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most dangerous type of brain tumor, a researcher from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is reporting at the annual meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS).
Median survival for the 23 patients tested at M. D. Anderson and at Duke University Medical Center is at least 19 months, and only........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 5/22/2006 1:49:29 PM)
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