WORD document HERE
Public Release: 27-Nov-2006
Anatomical Record
Humpback whales have brain cells also found in humans
A new study compared a humpback whale brain with brains from several
other cetacean species and found the presence of a certain type of
neuron cell that is also found in humans. This suggests that certain
cetaceans and hominids may have evolved side by side.
Contact: Amy Molnar
amolnar@wiley.com
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Public Release: 27-Nov-2006
PLoS Biology
A human taste for rarity spells disaster for endangered species
A model shows how the value that humans place on rarity fuels
disproportionate exploitation of rare species, rendering them even
rarer and thus more desirable, ultimately leading them into a vortex of
extinction.
Contact: Natalie Bouaravong
press@plos.org
415-568-3445
Public Library of Science
Public Release: 27-Nov-2006
Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting
Rote learning improves memory in seniors
A new study offers older adults a simple way to combat memory loss:
memorization. Researchers found that seniors who engaged in an
intensive period of rote learning followed by an equally long rest
period exhibited improved memory and verbal recall. The study was
presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of
North America.
Contact: Maureen Morley
mmorley@rsna.org
630-590-7762
Radiological Society of North America
Public Release: 27-Nov-2006
Tobacco Control
Halving daily cigarette quota has no health benefit
Halving the number of cigarettes smoked every day in the belief that it
will stave off an early death makes no difference, suggests research in
Tobacco Control.
Although reducing consumption may have a place as a temporary measure
in smoking cessation, this study proves quite clearly that the only
safe way out of the risk caused by smoking is to quit, say the authors.
Contact: Emma Dickinson
edickinson@bmj.com
44-020-738-36529
BMJ Specialty Journals
Public Release: 27-Nov-2006
Urology
Octogenarians are not too old for cancer surgery
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center researchers have found that a radical
prostatectomy can be a viable option for select octogenarian patients.
The findings, which run counter the conventional practice of generally
avoiding surgeries for individuals over 80 years old solely based on
age, are available today in Urology.
Contact: Elizabeth Zimmermann
newsbureau@mayo.edu
507-284-5005
Mayo Clinic
Public Release: 27-Nov-2006
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
60 percent of doctors' surgeries prescribe homeopathic or herbal remedies
Sixty percent of Scottish doctors' surgeries prescribe homeopathic
remedies according to a study of nearly two million patients.
Homeopathic prescribing is most prevalent among babies under 12 months
and older people aged 81-90. The authors have called for a critical
review of prescribing. The paper is published as leading UK scientific
institutions voice concerns about changes to homeopathic labelling
rules that came in in September 2006.
Contact: Annette Whibley
wizard.media@virgin.net
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Public Release: 27-Nov-2006
PLoS Biology
Tales of the unexpected
When you sit down to watch a DVD of your favorite film, the chances are
you are able to predict the exact sequence of events that is about to
unfold. Without our memories we would not only be unable to remember
our past but perhaps more importantly predict the future. Scientists
believe they may have identified how the brain allows us to anticipate
future events and detect when things do not turn out as expected.
Wellcome Trust
Contact: Craig Brierley
c.brierley@wellcome.ac.uk
44-207-611-7329
Wellcome Trust
Public Release: 27-Nov-2006
Developmental Science
Study of language use in children suggests sex influences how brain processes words
Boys and girls tend to use different parts of their brains to process
some basic aspects of grammar, according to the first study of its
kind, suggesting that sex is an important factor in the acquisition and
use of language.
Contact: Becky Wexler
rjw43@georgetown.edu
202-687-5100
Georgetown University Medical Center
Public Release: 28-Nov-2006
Science
Evolution of typhoid bacteria
Researchers investigate the evolution of the bacterium Salmonella typhi
and warn of an increased spread of resistant strains.
Contact: Dr. Mark Achtman
0049-302-846-0751
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Vital Signs
Outcomes: Circumcision May Reduce Risk of S.T.D.'s
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
Men who are
circumcised may have a significantly reduced risk of acquiring a
sexually transmitted disease compared with those who are not, a New
Zealand study has found.
Taking the Time to Teach, and Learn, About Advance Directives
By JANE E. BRODY
"Engaging in a discussion
about end-of-life issues does not have to be a dark, depressing matter.
Many people are willing to spend a Saturday learning CPR, but their
time would be better spent drawing up advance directives - living wills
and health care proxies - which should be routinely sponsored by
religious and civic organizations. And medical and legal professionals
should provide the proper forms and guidance on how to complete them.
Personal Health
Medical Due Diligence: A Living Will Should Spell Out the Specifics
By JANE E. BRODY
When I ask people whether
and how they have made preparations for the ends of their lives, the
most frequent response is, "Well, I have a living will." But chances
are they are unaware of the serious limitations inherent in such a
document and how it is likely to be interpreted by medical personnel
should a life-threatening crisis arise.
A Layered Look Reveals Ancient Greek Texts
By FELICIA R. LEE
An ambitious international
project to decipher 1,000-year-old moldy pages is yielding new clues
about ancient Greece as seen through the eyes of Hyperides, an
important Athenian orator and politician from the fourth century B.C.
Church on the Edge of Rome Offers a Solution to Smog
By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO
When the American
architect Richard Meier was asked to design a church in Rome to
commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of Christianity, he offered an
imposing white concrete structure dominated by three soaring "sails."
The project's main technical sponsor got to work on a coating that
would enhance Mr. Meier's trademark white sculptural forms. It came up
with a material that essentially cleans itself, minimizing the need for
maintenance.
That Prenatal Visit May Be Months Too Late
By RONI RABIN
For years, women have had it
drummed into them that prenatal care is the key to having a healthy
baby, and that they should see a doctor as soon as they know they are
pregnant. But by then, it may already be too late. The most
important doctor's visit may be the one that takes place before a
pregnancy is conceived.
Observatory
Antique Nanotubes
By HENRY FOUNTAIN
The recipe for making Damascus
steel was lost at the end of the 18th century, so no one knew the
reasons for its remarkable qualities. But an analysis by 21st-century
researchers in Germany provides a clue: Damascus sabers, they report in
Nature, contain carbon nanotubes.
Techniques: Please Pass the Milk (Hold the Barium Sulfate)
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
The foul-tasting barium sulfate
liquid that patients have to drink before a CT scan of the digestive
system could be replaced by ordinary whole milk, a small study suggests.
The world's first partial face transplant patient can now go out without people noticing her scars, says her surgeon.
Public Release: 28-Nov-2006
Public Release: 28-Nov-2006
Nanotechnology
Night of the living enzyme
Inactive enzymes entombed in tiny honeycomb-shaped holes in silica --
nano-chambers that mimic conditions in living cells -- can spring to
life, scientists discovered while attempting salvaging enzymes that had
been in a refrigerator long past their expiration date. The finding
opens up new possibilities for exploiting these enzyme traps in food
processing, decontamination, biosensor design and any other pursuit
that requires controlling catalysts and sustaining their activity.
US Department of Energy
Contact: Bill Cannon
cannon@pnl.gov
509-375-3732
DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Public Release: 29-Nov-2006
Annals of Internal Medicine
Drug labels are prescriptions for mistakes
A new study to assess understanding of five common prescription label
instructions found that patients had difficulty comprehending how much
and how often the medication should be taken. Misunderstanding was
particularly high among those with lower literacy (eighth grade level
or below) and those who took many prescription drugs.
Contact: Steve Majewski
smajewski@acponline.org
215-351-2514
American College of Physicians
Public Release: 29-Nov-2006
Program to freeze women's ovaries to preserve fertility after cancer
Northwestern University is launching an experimental program for young
women who may be at risk to lose their ovarian function and fertility
following treatment for cancer. In the program, a woman's ovary is
removed and frozen for possible future use. The long-term goal is to be
able to extract and mature eggs from cryopreserved (frozen) ovarian
tissues to initiate pregnancies once cancer treatment has been
completed. Thus far, pregnancies resulting from this research are in
mice.
Contact: Marla Paul
marla-paul@northwestern.edu
312-503-8928
Northwestern University
Public Release: 30-Nov-2006
Science
The abortion pill compound prevents breast tumor growth
The chemical compound for the abortion pill has been found to prevent
the growth of mammary tumors caused by the mutant gene responsible for
a majority of breast and ovarian cancers, according to UC Irvine
scientists.
NIH/National Cancer Institute, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, US Department of Defense
Contact: Jennifer Fitzenberger
jfitzen@uci.edu
949-824-3969
University of California - Irvine
Public Release: 30-Nov-2006
World's oldest ritual discovered
A new archaeological find in Botswana by an archaeologist from the
University from Oslo shows that our ancestors in Africa engaged in
ritual practice 70,000 years ago -- 30,000 years earlier than the
oldest finds in Europe. This sensational discovery strengthens Africa's
position as the cradle of modern man.
University of Oslo
Contact: Sheila Coulson
sheila.coulson@iakh.uio.no
479-582-8080
The Research Council of Norway
Public Release: 30-Nov-2006
British Medical Journal
Flu jabs for care home staff prevents deaths
Vaccinating care home staff against influenza can prevent illness,
deaths and health service use during periods of moderate influenza
activity, concludes a study published online by the BMJ today.
Weak immune systems mean that many care home residents are vulnerable
to influenza outbreaks even when they have been vaccinated. Many
countries offer influenza vaccine to healthcare workers every year, but
in the UK most care homes do not vaccinate their staff.
Contact: Emma Dickinson
edickinson@bmj.com
44-020-738-36529
BMJ-British Medical Journal
Public Release: 30-Nov-2006
Heart Rhythm
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