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New theory on muscle and bone diseases

Traditionally, doctors and clinicians thought diseases that affect muscles or bones affected those areas specifically. For example, bone diseases only affect bones, or muscle diseases only concerned muscles. But recent evidence supports the notion that bones and muscles are more interconnected than previously thought.

29 Apr 2010

Hand-clapping song activity has positive effect on children: Study

A researcher at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev conducted the first study of hand-clapping songs, revealing a direct link between those activities and the development of important skills in children and young adults, including university students.

29 Apr 2010

Elderly and whites seek alternative therapies for pain relief: Study

In a University of Michigan Health System study, 1 out of 3 patients with chronic pain reported using complementary and alternative medicine therapies such as acupuncture and chiropractic visits for pain relief.

29 Apr 2010

Higher the blood cholesterol level, greater the risk of atherosclerosis: Study

In addition to crystallized cholesterol, atherosclerotic plaques always contain large quantities of immune cells but, surprisingly, no bacteria or viruses. It was previously unclear just how the body's own defence forces are called into action. Even animals that are kept in an absolutely sterile environment can suffer from "clogging" or "furring" of the arteries when their food contains high levels of cholesterol.

29 Apr 2010

Small piece of RNA plays big role in development of IPF: Researchers

A small piece of RNA appears to play a big role in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to lung disease researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Their study, which is the first to examine microRNAs in the disease, is available online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

29 Apr 2010

Normal BMI, regular exercise protect against musculoskeletal symptoms

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology have found an association between the level of leisure time physical exercise and a future risk of developing fibromyalgia. The research team also identified BMI as an independent risk factor for fibromyalgia. Details of the study appear in the May 2010 issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology.

29 Apr 2010

NIDCR awards Selenium $912,943 grant for development of antimicrobial dental devices and water lines

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has issued a two-year $912,943 grant to biopharmaceutical company Selenium, Ltd. to support the development of antimicrobial dental devices and water lines. In the two-part grant the NIH has approved $492,972 for year one and $419,971 for year two dependent on achieving year one objectives.

29 Apr 2010

Presence and type of cirrhosis complications are strong predictors of mortality: Study

A recent study by Danish researchers discovered patients with alcoholic cirrhosis had a high prevalence of complications at the time of the disease diagnosis.

29 Apr 2010

Researchers examine how diagnosis of Fibromyalgia can affect marriages

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes chronic, widespread pain throughout the body. In a new study, University of Missouri researchers are examining how the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia can affect marriages. Initial findings reveal that diagnosed spouses have considerably higher levels of depressive symptoms and pain and report more marital instability and anger than their spouses.

29 Apr 2010

Blind and sighted individuals have similar smell perception

An ongoing study by Mathilde Beaulieu-Lefebvre, a graduate student from the Universit- de Montr-al Department of Psychology, has debunked the myth that the blind have a more acute sense of smell than the sighted.

29 Apr 2010

Combination of antibiotics can cure Chlamydia-induced ReA: Study

Researchers from University of South Florida College of Medicine found a combination of antibiotics to be an effective treatment for Chlamydia-induced reactive arthritis, a major step forward in the management, and possibly cure, of this disease. Results of this study are published in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology.

29 Apr 2010

New study reinforces urgent need for life-saving vaccines in Africa

A new study released this week in The Lancet Infectious Diseases finds that African children who contract pneumococcus - a bacterial infection that causes pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis - are 36 times as likely to have sickle-cell disease, a blood disorder prevalent in African children that increases the risk for infectious diseases and early death.

29 Apr 2010

New research indicates Canadians live longer than Americans

Compared to their neighbours south of the border, Canadians live longer, healthier lives. Research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Population Health Metrics has found this disparity between the two countries, suggesting that America's lack of universal health care and lower levels of social and economic equality are to blame.

29 Apr 2010

Lycera to advance discovery, development efforts with second tranche of $11 million Series A financing

Lycera Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company pioneering an innovative approach to developing novel oral medicines to treat autoimmune diseases, today announced that the company has made important progress, triggering a second tranche of $11 million in its Series A financing. Proceeds from the second tranche will be used to continue to advance Lycera's discovery and development efforts and further support the growth of the company.

29 Apr 2010

Many Americans aren't taking necessary steps to protect against diabetes: Study

Diabetes affects more than 23 million people in the United States today and another 54 million people have pre-diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, while nearly 60 percent of Americans are concerned about developing diabetes, many aren't taking the necessary steps to protect their health, according to a recent study by the International Diabetes Center and Abbott.

28 Apr 2010

Research finding sheds more light on the workings of lateral PFC

Whether it's for money, marbles or chalk, the brains of reward-driven people keep their game faces on, helping them win at every step of the way. Surprisingly, they win most often when there is no reward.

28 Apr 2010

Building motivation may be effective means of promoting adherence, weight loss: Study

Energy in, energy out, it's the basic equation to weight loss, or is it? With more than two thirds of Americans classified as overweight or obese1, a study in the May/June 2010 issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior examines how motivation might be a large contributor to sticking with weight loss programs.

28 Apr 2010

New study links psychopathy to frontal lobe dysfunction

Psychopaths are known to be characterized by callousness, diminished capacity for remorse, and lack of empathy. However, the exact cause of these personality traits is an area of scientific debate. The results of a new study, reported in the May 2010 issue of Elsevier's Cortex, show striking similarities between the mental impairments observed in psychopaths and those seen in patients with frontal lobe damage.

28 Apr 2010

Distinct gender differences underlying risks for abuse of prescription pain drugs: Study

There are distinct gender differences underlying the risks for abuse of prescription pain drugs, according to a Harvard study published in The Journal of Pain, the peer review journal of the American Pain Society, www.ampainsoc.org and www.jpain.org.

28 Apr 2010

FDHN announces 2010 AGA Research Scholars

The Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition has announced the 2010 American Gastroenterological Association Foundation research scholars. The grants have been awarded to seven outstanding young gastroenterologists who promise to make significant strides in the field of gastrointestinal research.

28 Apr 2010