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Gene against bacterial attack unravelled

Dutch researcher Joost Wiersinga from AMC Medical Centre in Amsterdam has unravelled a genetic defence mechanism against the lethal bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei. The research is the next step towards a vaccine against this bacterium suitable for bioweapons.

28 Oct 2008

Review of health benefits of grape polyphenols

A growing body of research data suggests that consuming foods rich in polyphenols from grapes - including red wine - helps reduce the risk of heart disease, according to a review article in the November issue of Nutrition Research.

28 Oct 2008

'Meth' abuse and underage sex, smoking and drinking go hand in hand

Canadian scientists have found a link between methamphetamine abuse and underage sex, smoking and drinking - they say children and adolescents who abuse alcohol or are sexually active are more likely to take methamphetamines.

28 Oct 2008

Novel cell division mechanism discovered

A novel cell division mechanism has been discovered in a microorganism that thrives in hot acid. The finding may also result in insights into key processes in human cells, and in a better understanding of the main evolutionary lineages of life on Earth. The study is published today in the online version of the journal of the American National Academy of Sciences, PNAS.

28 Oct 2008

Stress affects older adults more than young ones

A study by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) has found that older adults change their behaviour more than young adults when under stress and this is particularly so in situations which involve risk.

28 Oct 2008

Physicians less likely to diagnose anxiety in elderly black patients than in whites, study finds

Physicians are less likely to diagnose anxiety in elderly black patients than in white patients, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Reuters Health reports.

28 Oct 2008

Protect yourself from flu by wearing a mask and washing your hands

In what has been termed a landmark new study, it is suggested that wearing masks and washing hands prevents the spread of flu-like symptoms.

28 Oct 2008

Link found between brain receptors and schizophrenia

Scientists at Newcastle University in the UK have revealed a link between schizophrenia and a lack of specific brain receptors.

28 Oct 2008

Scientists discover a catalytic antibody that degrades a known appetite stimulant

The antibody works against the gastric hormone ghrelin (pronounced "grell-in"), which has been linked to weight gain and fat storage through its metabolic actions. These findings point towards a potentially novel treatment for obesity that would interfere directly with the some of the biological mechanisms determining weight.

28 Oct 2008

Cholesterol-lowering statins associated with lower risk of death from pneumonia

Individuals who take cholesterol-lowering statins before being hospitalized with pneumonia appear less likely to die within 90 days afterward, according to a report in the October 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

28 Oct 2008

Brain stimulation improves dexterity

Applying electrical stimulation to the scalp and the underlying motor regions of the brain could make you more skilled at delicate tasks. Research published today in the open access journal BMC Neuroscience shows that a non-invasive brain-stimulation technique, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is able to improve the use of a person's non-dominant hand.

28 Oct 2008

New research could be the 'holy grail' for predicting pre-eclampsia

New research funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) could pave the way for developing a test to predict pre-eclampsia in pregnant women and save the lives of mothers and babies across the world.

27 Oct 2008

Griffith University and Pfizer in new partnership to unlock nature's cure for infections

In the quest to develop the next generation of anti-infective medicine, Griffith University and Pfizer, the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company, announced a leading partnership today.

27 Oct 2008

Discovery of new gene responsible for puberty disorders

A new gene responsible for some puberty disorders has been identified by Medical College of Georgia researchers.

27 Oct 2008

New strategy to treat human infections caused by the yeast Candida albicans

Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) have successfully tested a genetic strategy designed to improve treatment of human infections caused by the yeast Candida albicans, ranging from diaper rash, vaginitis, oral infections (or thrush which is common in HIV/AIDS patients), as well as invasive, blood-borne and life-threatening diseases.

27 Oct 2008

Statins show promise for deep vein thrombosis

Statins, the class of drugs commonly used for lowering cholesterol, are now showing promise at preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or blood clots, an affliction that occurs in nearly 2 million Americans each year.

27 Oct 2008

Eating whole grains lowers heart failure risk

About 5 million people in the United States suffer from heart failure (HF). While some reports indicate that changes to diet can reduce HF risk, few large, prospective studies have been conducted.

27 Oct 2008

How we see and understand the three-dimensional structure of objects

A team of Johns Hopkins University neuroscientists has discovered patterns of brain activity that may underlie our remarkable ability to see and understand the three-dimensional structure of objects.

27 Oct 2008

In mice, anxiety is linked to immune system

In the first study ever to genetically link the immune system to normal behavior, scientists at Rockefeller and Columbia universities show that mast cells, known as the pharmacologic bombshells of the immune system, directly influence how mice respond to stressful situations.

27 Oct 2008

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to lead nationwide aging study

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have been selected to lead a new national survey of older Americans to understand patterns of disability and aging.

27 Oct 2008