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Segregation of the brain into gray and white matter

By borrowing mathematical tools from theoretical physics, scientists have recently developed a theory that explains why the brain tissue of humans and other vertebrates is segregated into the familiar "gray matter" and "white matter."

11 Jan 2006

Giant protein titin helps build muscles

Imagine grabbing two snakes by the tail so that they can't wriggle off in opposite directions. Scientists at the Hamburg Outstation of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and collaborators from King's College in London have now discovered that something similar happens to a protein that is crucial in the formation of muscle tissue.

11 Jan 2006

Another reason for not smoking during pregnancy

According to a new study by doctors at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, although the overall risk of such abnormalities in fingers and toes is relatively low, just half a pack of cigarettes per day increases the risk to the baby by 29 percent, compared to non-smokers.

11 Jan 2006

Face transplant patient out and about without any hassle

Professor Bernard Devauchelle, the surgeon who made history when he carried out a partial face transplant on a French woman, says she is now able to go out in public without attracting stares from the public.

11 Jan 2006

Turks calm and positive in dealing with bird flu outbreak

The positive response on the part of the Turkish authorities to the outbreak of avian flu has been commended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

11 Jan 2006

Virgin takes off with cancer insurance

Entrepreneur Richard Branson's Virgin Money Life is now launching a new cancer cover insurance package called The Big V which, it claims, is 45 percent cheaper than standard critical illness cover.

11 Jan 2006

“Optimal” radiation therapy best bet for surviving breast cancer

Although radiation therapy following a mastectomy is known to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurring, the effect of radiation therapy on survival has long been controversial.

11 Jan 2006

Over 19 million in the U.S. suffer from alcohol effects while at work

According to an American study as many as 15 percent of the U.S. workforce consumes alcohol on the job, has a drink before going to work or is under the influence of alcohol while at work.

11 Jan 2006

New disability website launched

Med Services Europe has announced the launch of " New Disability", a website dedicated to products for the disabled community. According to Dr. Gene Emmer, President of Med Services Europe, the goal of New Disability is to be a platform to advance the commercialization of assistive technology.

11 Jan 2006

Lives will be saved as early signs of meningitis now identified

Scientists in the UK say they have identified the early signs of meningitis and blood poisoning which should improve detection of the disease and save lives.

11 Jan 2006

Being groggy in the morning is as bad as being drunk

According to researchers in the U.S., grogginess on waking up in the morning should not be dismissed because it seriously impairs thinking and memory skills.

11 Jan 2006

Hedgehog protein plays a role in regulating fat and bone

A protein that guides the early development of creatures as diverse as fruit flies and humans also plays a role in regulating fat and bone formation in adult organisms, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered.

10 Jan 2006

Traditional neck muscle resistance training may not protect athletes from head injuries

"We did see a change in the player's neck muscle strength but these changes made absolutely no difference in their ability to stabilize their heads when force was applied," said Tierney.

10 Jan 2006

Tobacco plant-derived vaccines safeguard against Yersinia pestis

Through an innovative feat of plant biotechnology and vaccine design, researchers in the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University have successfully turned tobacco plants into vaccine production factories to combat the deadliest form

10 Jan 2006

Gene that increases risk for Alzheimer's disease

An international team of researchers, led by investigators at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, are zeroing in on a gene that increases risk for Alzheimer's disease. They have identified a region of chromosome 10 that appears to be involved in risk for the disease that currently affects an estimated 4.5 million Americans.

10 Jan 2006

Obesity in middle age raises heart disease and diabetes risk

Obesity in middle age - even without established cardiovascular disease risk factors such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels - greatly increases risk of hospitalization for and death from heart disease and diabetes in older age, according to a study in the Jan. 11 issue of the JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association.

10 Jan 2006

Brain plays a major role in the ability of insulin therapy to lower blood sugar in animals with diabetes

"Our findings suggest that, in individuals with diabetes, the ability of insulin to lower blood sugar involves the brain," said senior author of the study, Michael Schwartz of the University of Washington at Seattle. "This effect is not trivial; the brain makes a substantial contribution to insulin response."

10 Jan 2006