Public Release: 30-Apr-2007
Experimental Biology 2007 Smelling for first time results from knowing abnormalities in congenital loss of smell
New discoveries about the biochemical basis of the majority of cases of
the congenital inability to smell any odor, no matter how strong, have
enabled their discoverer, Dr. Robert I. Henkin, director of the Taste
and Smell Clinic in Washington, D.C., to treat such patients, enabling
them to smell something for the first time in their lives.
Contact: Sylvia Wrobel ebpress@bellsouth.net
770-270-0989 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Public Release: 30-Apr-2007
Experimental Biology 2007 Not so contoversial anymore -- panel says moderate coffee drinking reduces many risks
Although the American Society for Nutrition's popular "controversy
session" at Experimental Biology 2007 focuses on the health effects of
coffee drinking, panel chair Dr. James Coughlin, a toxicology/safety
consultant at Coughlin & Associates, says that recent advances in
epidemiologic and experimental knowledge have transformed many of the
negative health myths about coffee drinking into validated health
benefits.
Contact: Sylvia Wrobel ebpress@bellsouth.net
770-270-0989 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Public Release: 30-Apr-2007
Neurology Teens with migraine at greater risk of suicide
Teens who have chronic daily headache, especially those with migraine
headaches, are at greater risk for suicide than teens who don't have
migraines, according to a study published in the May 1, 2007, issue of
Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Teens with migraine are also more likely to have other psychiatric
disorders such as depression and panic disorder.
Contact: Angela Babb ababb@aan.com
651-695-2789 American Academy of Neurology Public Release: 30-Apr-2007
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Ape gestures offer clues to the evolution of human communication
Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory
University, have found bonobos and chimpanzees use manual gestures of
their hands, feet and limbs more flexibly than they do facial
expressions and vocalizations, further supporting the evolution of
human language began with gestures as the gestural origin hypothesis of
language suggests.
Contact: Emily Rios erios@rmy.emory.edu
404-727-7732 Emory University Public Release: 30-Apr-2007
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Study puts us one step closer to understanding the function of sleep
Sleep remains one of the big mysteries in biology. All animals sleep,
and people who are deprived of sleep suffer physically, emotionally and
intellectually. But nobody knows how sleep restores the brain.
Contact: Giulio Tononi gtononi@wisc.edu
608-263-6063 University of Wisconsin-Madison Public Release: 30-Apr-2007
Proceedings of the Royal Society Artificial snot enhances electronic nose
Researchers at The University of Warwick and Leicester University have
used an artificial snot (nasal mucus) to significantly enhance the
performance of electronic noses.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Contact: Julian Gardner J.W.Gardner@warwick.ac.uk
44-024-765-23877 University of Warwick Public Release: 30-Apr-2007
Systematic Biology 'Supermap' of avian flu yields new info on source/spread
Scientists here have designed a new, interactive map of the spread of
the avian flu virus (H5N1) that for the first time incorporates
genetic, geographic and evolutionary information that may help predict
where the next outbreak of the virus is likely to occur. In the
process, they also tested hypotheses about the nature of specific
strains of the virus that appear to be heading westward and have the
ability to infect humans.
National Institutes of Health, US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Contact: Michelle Gailiun michelle.gailiun@osumc.edu
614-293-3737 Ohio State University Public Release: 30-Apr-2007
Nature Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, type 2 diabetes similar at molecular level
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, the human
version of mad cow disease and other degenerative diseases are more
closely related at the molecular level than many scientists realized,
an international team of chemists and molecular biologists reported
April 29 in the online version of the journal Nature.
Contact: Stuart Wolpert swolpert@support.ucla.edu
310-206-0511 University of California - Los Angeles Public Release: 30-Apr-2007
Genome Biology Corals -- More complex than you?
The humble coral may possess as many genes -- and possibly even more --
than humans do. And remarkably, although it is very distant from humans
in evolutionary terms, it has many of the immune system genes that
protect people against disease. In fact, it is possible some of these
were pioneered by corals.
Australian Research Council Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
Contact: David Miller David.Miller@jcu.edu.au
61-074-781-4473 James Cook University Vital Signs Outcomes: Study Finds That Cutting Salt Also Cuts Cardiovascular Risk By ERIC NAGOURNEY
Published: May 1, 2007 If lowering sodium intake
reduces the risk of high blood pressure, and high blood pressure can
lead to heart disease, does eating less salt improve the health of
one’s heart? 'Bumpy' ice on Mars points to active water cycle The ice that lies below the
surface of Mars is uneven and appears to be involved in an active
martian water cycle, a new study suggests
18:00 02 May 2007 European planet hunters on brink of Earth-sized prize Europe's new space telescope is proving 10 times as sensitive as expected, giving it the edge in the hunt for new planets
15:35 03 May 2007 Public Release: 1-May-2007
Experimental Biology 2007 Recommended doses of ginseng, ginko biloba do not interfere with drug absorption
Dr. Gregory Reed reports a study that found daily use of ginseng or
ginkgo biloba supplements at the recommended doses, or the combination
of both supplements, are unlikely to alter the pharmacokinetics -- by
which drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated by
the body -- of the majority of prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Contact: Sylvia Wrobel ebpress@bellsouth.net
770-270-0989 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Public Release: 1-May-2007
Experimental Biology 2007 Higher calcium and vitamin D intakes positively associated with brain lesions in older men and women
Elderly men and women who consumed higher levels of calcium and vitamin
D are significantly more likely to have greater volumes of brain
lesions, regions of damage that can increase risk of cognitive
impairment, dementia, depression and stroke.
NIH/National Institute of Mental Health
Contact: Sylvia Wrobel ebpress@bellsouth.net
770-270-0989 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Public Release: 1-May-2007
American Physiological Society 120th Annual Meeting Prenatal nicotine exposure can lead to cardiac function reprogramming in adult offspring
New study using laboratory rats provides strong evidence that the
effects of maternal smoking during the prenatal period of life can lead
to cardiac vascular dysfunction beyond the formative years -- and into
adulthood. What's more, the effect of nicotine shows a gender dichotomy
with females being more susceptible than males.
Contact: Donna Krupa DKrupa@the-APS.org
301-634-7209 American Physiological Society Public Release: 1-May-2007
Journal of Pediatrics Doctors ill equipped to confront parent smoking
With the growing number of postpartum mothers reporting they were
currently smoking or smoked late in their pregnancy, it has become more
critical to involve health care providers such as pediatricians in
educating parents about the consequences of secondhand smoke exposure
for children. However, minimal formal medical training exists regarding
how pediatricians can effectively speak to their patients about
secondhand smoke-related issues, according to an article in the May
issue of the Journal of Pediatrics.
National Institutes of Health
Contact: Anna Nguyen anna.nguyen@temple.edu
215-707-1731 Temple University Public Release: 1-May-2007
BioScience Amphibians in losing race with environmental change
Even though they had the ability to evolve and survive for hundreds of
millions of years -- since before the time of the dinosaurs and through
many climatic regimes -- the massive, worldwide decline of amphibians
can best be understood by their inability to keep pace with the current
rate of global change, a new study suggests.
Contact: Andrew Blaustein blaustea@science.oregonstate.edu
541-737-9869 Oregon State University Public Release: 1-May-2007
Psychological Science Brain shows humans break down events into smaller units
Humans breakdown activities into smaller, more digestible chunks, a
phenomenon that psychologists describe as "event structure perception."
Event structure perception was originally believed to be confined to
our visual system, but new research published in the May issue of
Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological
Science, reports that a similar process occurs when reading about
everyday events as well.
Contact: Catherine West cwest@psychologicalscience.org
202-783-2077 Association for Psychological Science Public Release: 1-May-2007
Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience Culture sculpts neural response to visual stimuli, new research indicates
Researchers in Illinois and Singapore have found that the aging brain
reflects cultural differences in the way that it processes visual
information. Their paper and another published by the same group in
2006 are the first to demonstrate that culture can alter the brain’s
perceptive mechanisms.
Contact: Diana Yates diya@uiuc.edu
217-333-5802 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Public Release: 1-May-2007 Global package race puts major carriers to the test
How hard is it to deliver a package to Ouagadougou? A Georgia Tech
group puts the major carriers -- UPS, FedEx and DHL -- to the test
every year with its Great Package Race, a contest to see which carrier
can get a package to a very challenging locale the fastest and in the
best condition.
Contact: Megan McRainey megan.mcrainey@icpa.gatech.edu
404-894-6016 Georgia Institute of Technology Public Release: 1-May-2007
Experimental Biology 2007 8 plants from South Africa may hold potential for treating high blood pressure
A team of researchers examined the effectiveness of 16 plants growing
in South Africa's Kwa-Zulu Natal region and concluded that eight plant
extracts may hold value for treating high blood pressure. One -- "wild
garlic" -- showed strong promise.
Contact: Donna Krupa dkrupa@the-aps.org
703-967-2751 American Physiological Society Public Release: 2-May-2007
Nature Liquid CO2 drives rapid thrust of diamond-bearing structures
In the May 3 issue of Nature, James Head, a Brown University professor
of geology and Lionel Wilson, a professor of volcanology at the
University of Lancaster, propose an inte-grated and dramatic mechanism
for the formation of kimberlites, the enigmatic structures bearing most
of the world’s diamonds. Their theory explains many puzzling features
of the formations and also suggests that the location of kimberlites is
not related to near-surface geology.
NASA
Contact: Martha Downs martha_downs@brown.edu
401-863-2752 Brown University Public Release: 2-May-2007
Critical Care Gel-based handrub improves hospital hygiene
Giving health care workers easy access to alcohol-based handrubs can
improve hygiene in hospitals, a study published today in the online
open access journal Critical Care suggests.
Contact: Martyn Thomas press@biomedcentral.com
44-020-763-19986 BioMed Central Public Release: 2-May-2007
Journal of Virology 'Insulator' helps silence genes in dormant herpes virus
By adulthood, most people have suffered at least one bout of painful
cold sores brought on by Herpes simplex virus 1. After the initial
infection, the virus usually remains in the body, hiding out in nearby
nerve cells where the victim's immune defenses cannot reach it,
activating periodically to cause symptoms. Now, scientists have
discovered a molecular mechanism that allows the virus to escape
detection by the body's immune system for months or even years.
National Institutes of Health, Pennsylvania Department of Health
Contact: Franklin Hoke hoke@wistar.org
215-898-3716 The Wistar Institute Public Release: 3-May-2007
American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting Lower IQ found in children of women who took epilepsy drug
Children of women who took the epilepsy drug valproate during pregnancy
appear to be at a greater risk for lower IQ, according to research
presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th annual Meeting in
Boston, April 28-May 5, 2007.
Contact: Angela Babb ababb@aan.com
651-695-2789 American Academy of Neurology Public Release: 3-May-2007
Diabetes Care Maggots rid patients of MRSA
University of Manchester researchers are ridding diabetic patients of
the superbug MRSA -- by treating their foot ulcers with maggots.
Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust Chairman's Prize Award
Contact: Mikaela Sitford Mikaela.Sitford@manchester.ac.uk
01-612-752-111 University of Manchester Public Release: 3-May-2007
Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association Updated guidelines advise new treatments for brain hemorrhage
The first scientifically proven treatments for intracerebral hemorrhage
-- or "bleeding" strokes -- are on the horizon, including a new drug
that holds promise for slowing bleeding and limiting brain damage
resulting from such a stroke, according to updated American Heart
Association/American Stroke Association guidelines.
Contact: Bridgette McNeill bridgette.mcneill@heart.org
214-706-1135 American Heart Association Public Release: 3-May-2007 UW study tests topical honey as a treatment for diabetic ulcers
The sore on Catrina Hurlburt's leg simply wouldn't heal. Complications
from a 2002 car accident left Hurlburt, a borderline diabetic, with
recurring cellulitis and staph infections. One of those infections
developed into a troublesome open sore that, despite the use of oral
antibiotics, continued to fester for nearly eight months.
Wisconsin Partnership Fund for Health, American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation
Contact: Aaron R. Conklin aconklin@uwhealth.org
608-263-5561 University of Wisconsin-Madison Public Release: 4-May-2007
Psychological Science Multitasking is hardest in the early morning
Multitasking seems to come easier for some and is virtually impossible
for others, however new research shows that it is difficult for all in
the late night and early morning.
Contact: Catherine West cwest@psychologicalscience.org
202-783-2077 Association for Psychological Science Public Release: 4-May-2007
Journal of Neuroscience Antidepressants stimulate new nerve cells in adult monkeys, may have implications for humans
In adult monkeys, an antidepressant treatment has induced new nerve
cell growth in the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for learning
and memory. A similar process may occur in humans, the research
suggests, and may help explain the effectiveness of antidepressant
treatments.
Contact: Sara Harris sharris@sfn.org
202-962-4000 Society for Neuroscience Public Release: 6-May-2007 Simple home spit test to spot deadly pre-eclampsia
A simple spit test designed to detect pre-eclampsia in the early stages
is being trialed in a UK hospital, reports Cath O'Driscoll in Chemistry
& Industry, the magazine of the SCI. The test, which is designed to
be used at home, will allow mums-to-be to check for themselves whether
they are at risk of the condition, which can be symptomless in the
early stages but kills 1000 babies in the UK every year.
Contact: Lisa Richards press@soci.org
44-020-759-81548 Society of Chemical Industry Basics For Motherly X Chromosome, Gender Is Only the Beginning By NATALIE ANGIER The X chromosome does much more
than help specify an animal’s reproductive plumbing and behaves
unlike any of the other chromosomes in the body.Europe bans most severe animal tests for cosmetics
Notorious
tests which involve applying cosmetic ingredients to the eyes and skin
of live animals are to be replaced with humane alternatives
Polyphenols
in green tea are good for you and even credited with preventing heart
disease and cancer, but too much can cause liver damage
10:00 05 May 2007
Public Release: 7-May-2007
2007 Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting Conception date affects baby's future academic achievement
The time of year in which a child is conceived influences future
academic achievement according to research by Paul Winchester, M.D., of
Indiana University School of Medicine. Test results from over 1.6
million students in Indiana show that children conceived June through
August scored less well than other children.
Indiana University School of Medicine
Contact: Cindy Fox Aisen caisen@iupui.edu
317-274-7722 Indiana University Spider venom could boost sex life By Vladimir Hernandez BBC News The wandering spider's venom
can be deadly Brazilian and US scientists are looking into using
spider venom as a possible treatment for male impotence.
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