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Pycnogenol cuts jetlag in half

Scientists have found that Pycnogenol, a natural plant extract from the bark of pine trees, can reduce jetlag symptoms by half. Pycnogenol is the patented trade name for a water extract of the bark of the French maritime pine (Pinus pinaster ssp. atlantica), which is grown in coastal southwest France.

9 Nov 2008

Sydney student solves piece of the diabetes puzzle

An important piece in the diabetes puzzle which has perplexed scientists for decades has been uncovered by a Sydney PhD student at Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

9 Nov 2008

Overnight hemodialysis dramatically improves survival

For hemodialysis patients, undergoing dialysis for eight hours overnight, three times weekly, reduces the risk of death by nearly 80 percent, compared to conventional, four-hour dialysis, according to research being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 41st Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

8 Nov 2008

Study assesses potential health complications for obese kidney donors

Individuals who are obese face certain risks when donating their kidneys, but their kidney function remains strong one year later, according to a paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 41st Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

8 Nov 2008

Chronic kidney disease and women's sexuality and gynecologic health

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) exacts a significant toll on a woman's sexuality and gynecologic health. The various effects of kidney failure and its treatments on women's sexual health from adolescence through menopause will be the topic of an in-depth series of presentations at the American Society of Nephrology's 41st Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

8 Nov 2008

Superbugs on the rise in Canadian hospitals

Although infection control has been substantially ramped up in Canadian hospitals since the SARS crisis of 2003, the number of resistant bacterial infections post-SARS have multiplied even faster, a new Queen's University study shows.

8 Nov 2008

Young children eat more whole grains when it's gradually added to school lunch

Elementary school students will eat more whole grains when healthier bread products are gradually introduced into their school lunches, a new University of Minnesota study shows.

8 Nov 2008

New hypothesis on feeling sleepy

Feeling sleepy? That's because parts of your brain are actually asleep, according to a new theoretical paper by sleep scientists at Washington State University.

8 Nov 2008

We all know physical activity is good for you. But why exactly is it good for you?

What effect does exercise have on the cells and tissues of the body? What do we need to know so that we can use physical activity more effectively to combat chronic diseases such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease? And what social and psychological factors prevent people from exercising or playing sports?

8 Nov 2008

Kidney stones may increase risk for chronic kidney disease

Kidney stones may damage the kidneys and lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 41st Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

8 Nov 2008

Spherix starts patient recruitment in India for phase 3 diabetes trial

Spherix Incorporated reported that patient recruitment for its Phase 3 clinical trial of its potential type 2 diabetes drug, Naturlose, has begun in India. Expectations for India are to provide more than 300 patients spread across 35 sites for the pivotal Phase 3 trial.

8 Nov 2008

Novel new approach to polymer synthesis

In the not-so-distant future, plastics could be more durable and rubbers could be more … well … rubbery thanks to a novel new approach to polymer synthesis discovered by Texas Tech University organic chemists.

8 Nov 2008

New equation provides more accurate estimates of the glomerular filtration rate

A newly developed equation produces more accurate estimates of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) - a key indicator of kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to research being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 41st Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

8 Nov 2008

New silver coated anti-microbial barrier dressing receives Canadian approval

NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals, a developer and manufacturer of medical products that fight infection and inflammation, and the Advanced Wound Management division of Smith & Nephew plc announced today that Health Canada granted marketing approval for Acticoat Flex barrier dressing for wounds that require up to seven days of sustained antimicrobial activity.

8 Nov 2008

Variations of MYH9 gene help explain high rate of kidney disease in African Americans

Several recent studies have suggested that common gene variations may be responsible for much of the elevated risk of kidney disease in African Americans.

8 Nov 2008

Discovery of gene that regulates mold's resistance to drugs

Montana State University scientists concerned about lethal mold infections have found a gene that regulates the mold's resistance to drugs.

8 Nov 2008

Interaction between gene variants may alter brain function in schizophrenia

A collaborative study led by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is giving what may be the first look at how interactions between genes underlie a key symptom of schizophrenia, impaired working memory.

8 Nov 2008

Maternal and fetal outcomes in kidney donors are similar to non-donors

When a woman contemplates donating a kidney, she need not worry about any potential health risks it might pose to a future pregnancy, according to a paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 41st Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

8 Nov 2008