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Hispanic women are smoking cigarettes in the United States more than they do in their native countries

More Hispanic women are smoking cigarettes in the United States than they do in their native countries, most likely due to cultural influences. Similar smoking increases are not seen in Hispanic men, according to a new systematic review of studies.

19 Jul 2005

Smokers believe light or herbal cigarettes are less harmful

Nearly one-fourth of cigarette smokers believe that so-called reduced-exposure tobacco products - such as "light," herbal or reduced nicotine cigarettes - are less harmful to their health than conventional cigarettes, a new study finds. However, such beliefs are not backed up by existing evidence, according to the study's authors.

19 Jul 2005

The more a man sits at his desk, the more likely he is to be overweight

...says a new Australian study suggesting that the workplace may play an important role in the growing obesity epidemic.

19 Jul 2005

Moving towards a cheap and easy way to monitor HIV/AIDS

Doctors regularly monitor the level of an immune cell in the blood called a CD4 cell in HIV-infected individuals, to decide when to start treatment and when to change medications.

19 Jul 2005

Innovative new brachytherapy planning tool

The Vitesse system is being used in more than 25 hospitals worldwide to speed up planning and enable treatments to take place within a day, avoiding the need for patients to stay in a hospital overnight.

19 Jul 2005

Discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

People living with HIV/AIDS face many forms of stigma and discrimination. This is the case in whichever country they may live, as has been shown in a number of previous research studies.

19 Jul 2005

New and more efficient target for antiangiogenic therapy

Scientists now have a more complete understanding of how cancer cells send signals to surrounding tissues to promote development of the blood supply needed to support tumor growth.

19 Jul 2005

Many paramedics do not get enough clinical experience in insertion of emergency breathing tubes

Across the United States, many patients require insertion of emergency breathing tubes before arriving to a hospital, but emergency medicine researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have found that many paramedics - the highest level of prehospital providers - do not get enough clinical experience in this life-saving skill.

19 Jul 2005

Activist groups hinder important clinical trials of HIV medication

One promising approach to help stem the global HIV epidemic is to give commercial sex workers an HIV medication (such as the drug tenofovir) before they have high risk sex in the hope of reducing their chances of becoming infected, an approach called "pre-exposure prophylaxis" (PREP).

19 Jul 2005

Would boosting the oxytocin (OT) hormonal system lead to longer breast-feeding?

There's little controversy about the benefits of breastfeeding infants over giving them formula. Mother's milk is the perfect food, providing exactly the correct nourishment for newborns, while protecting them from many illnesses.

19 Jul 2005

Hormonal signaling systems and their role in sex drive

Two University of Edinburgh professors from the Centre for Integrative Physiology describe how "our understanding of how the brain processes information is undergoing a radical shift as we begin to recognize the implications of hormonal signaling systems within the brain itself," explained Gareth Leng.

19 Jul 2005

Removal, restructure and re-implantation of the nasal septum provides option for difficult nasal plastic surgery

A surgical technique that requires the removal, restructure and re-implantation of the nasal septum (the partition of the nose between the nostrils) appears to be a useful option for repairing the hard-to-treat severely deviated septum, according to an article in the July/August issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.

19 Jul 2005

Minimally invasive colorectal surgery may have a less pronounced inflammatory response

Minimally invasive colorectal surgery may have a less pronounced inflammatory response and less of a suppressing effect on the immune system than conventional surgery, resulting in a possible reduction in post-operative complications, according to a study in the July issue of Archives of Surgery.

19 Jul 2005

Studies explore genetic interactions between two well-known tumor suppressor proteins, PTEN and TSC2

Two papers in the August 1 issue of Genes & Development explore the genetic interactions between two well-known tumor suppressor proteins, PTEN and TSC2.

19 Jul 2005

Cranberry juice common for urinary tract infections

A new study suggests that while it's fairly common for parents to give their children cranberry products to treat or prevent urinary tract infections, they usually do not discuss the treatment with their pediatrician.

19 Jul 2005

Regular yoga practice may help prevent middle-age spread

A new study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that regular yoga practice may help prevent middle-age spread in normal-weight people and may promote weight loss in those who are overweight.

19 Jul 2005

A study analyzes the most important factors leading to death or liver transplant in drug-induced liver disease

Drug-induced liver disease (DILD), a potential complication seen with some medications, is usually not life-threatening, but may occasionally be more severe with a high mortality, requiring a liver transplant in selected cases.

18 Jul 2005

First generation of HIV vaccines may be available within 10 years but availability doesn't guarantee uptake

Public health officials must be sensitive to concerns about stigma and fear of vaccine-induced infection if they want women to take advantage of HIV vaccines now under development, says a University of Toronto researcher.

18 Jul 2005

Smokers who give up are much less likely to lose their teeth prematurely

Dental researchers at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, observed a group of cigarette smokers with chronic gum disease over one year and found some symptoms were more likely to improve in the people who quit during the study period.

18 Jul 2005

Rapid new technique for detecting group A streptococcus

Cornell University scientists have developed a rapid, less costly and sensitive new technique for detecting group A streptococcus, the bacteria that cause scarlet fever. Details will be announced today at the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting and Food Expo in New Orleans.

18 Jul 2005