Monthly News Archives



		U.N. Urges New Drive Against Polio The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) called for a new drive to stamp out polio, saying it was probably now or never for ridding the world of the paralyzing disease that attacks mainly children. Who Will Own Your Health In The Future? Who owns your health now? Who has owned your health in the past? Who will own your health in the future? Health ownership is an exciting and relatively new concept that we must face if we are to ever advance our health. Psychologists Show That 'Money Changes Everything' Studying delayed gratification and risk, psychologists found that people are more likely to wait on collecting full payment for a non-consumable monetary reward than they are for any of three consumable rewards; beer, candy and soda. Low-Fat Dairy Food May Hurt Fertility Women who eat low-fat dairy foods may have a higher risk of infertility than those who treat themselves to full-fat ice cream or cheese, surprised U.S. researchers said. Neurological Disorders Affect 1 Billion People Neurological disorders ranging from migraines to epilepsy and dementia affect up to one billion people worldwide and the toll will rise as populations age, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned. Long-Term, Strenuous Exercise May Lower Breast Cancer Risk Reporting in the Feb. 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, studied more than 110,000 women, aged 20 to 79, who took part in the California Teachers Study. Further Evidence of Tainted Cancer Trials Funded By Drug Companies Breast cancer treatment trials that are funded by drug companies are more likely to show positive results than studies sponsored by other sources, new research suggests. The Public Wants Food 'Traffic Lights' The public overwhelmingly support "traffic light" food-labelling rather than the system adopted by much of the food industry, a survey suggests. CDC Still Continues To Promote Dangerous Vaccines Parents and health advocates are expressing outrage over the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) that pregnant women, infants and children continue to be exposed to mercury contained in the flu vaccine despite ealier recommendations. Sexy Ads A Turnoff For Most Women Advertisers may be wasting their money, at least with female viewers, when they place television ads in programs with a lot of sexual content, British researchers say. Reduced Brain Growth In Alcoholics With Family Drinking History The brains of alcohol-dependent individuals are affected not only by their own heavy drinking, but also by genetic or environmental factors associated with their parents' drinking, according to a new study by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Perfectionism Linked To Bowel Pain Perfectionists are more prone to developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) after an infection, a study has suggested. Circumcision Reduces HIV Risk Scientists say conclusive data shows there is no question circumcision reduces men's chances of catching HIV by up to 60 percent � a finding experts are hailing as a major breakthrough in the fight against AIDS. The question now is how to put that fact to work to combat AIDS across Africa. A Healthy Love Life Means You Have To Be Choosy Attention, speed daters: You need to be really choosy if you want a healthy love life. Crush Garlic Before Cooking New scientific research is providing advice for the millions of people seeking garlic's fabulous flavor and its reputed health benefits. Stop and crush the garlic. Spearmint Tea May Help Treat Excess Body Hair A few mugs of spearmint tea could help women combat excess facial and body hair, Turkish researchers report. Kids Living Near 'Green Spaces' Less Likely to Be Overweight Children who live in densely populated urban areas may be less likely to be overweight if they have parks and lawns in their neighborhoods, a U.S. study suggests. Natural Family Planning Method As Effective As Contraceptive Pill Researchers have found that a method of natural family planning that uses two indicators to identify the fertile phase in a woman's menstrual cycle is as effective as the contraceptive pill for avoiding unplanned pregnancies if used correctly. Women Who Were Underweight When Born Have A Greater Risk Of Pre-eclampsia Women who were underweight when they were born are at greater risk of severe pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, a Swedish study involving 6,000 women suggests. Sexualisation 'Harms' Young Girls The media's portrayal of young women as sex objects harms girls' mental and physical health, US experts warn. Problem Forgetting May Be A Natural Mechanism It may turn out the reason some people grow increasingly forgetful as they age is less about how old they are and more about subtle changes in the way the brain files memories and makes room for new ones. More Women Carry Long-Term Heart Risk Most women carry a higher long-term risk of heart disease than they realize and should act now to prevent heart attacks and stroke, say American Heart Association guidelines issued. Highly Accomplished People More Prone To Failure Than Others When Under Stress Talented people often choke under pressure because the distraction caused by stress consumes their working memory, a psychologist at the University of Chicago has found. Locations Motivate Older Walkers The benefits of walking and being active are well-known, especially for older people, but what kind of neighborhood gets seniors going? Being Breast-Fed May Be Key to Success People who were breast-fed as babies are more likely to climb the social ladder in adulthood, compared to those who were bottle-fed, British research finds. Planned Cesareans Carry Risk Pregnant women considering a cesarean section, with no clear medical reason for it, should know that the procedure is not without risk, Canadian doctors caution in a report published this week. Biological Clocks Tick For Men? Most women hoping to have a family are painfully aware of their biological clocks. They know their ability to bear children declines with age, even with all the innovation in fertility treatments. Feeding Your Brain: New Benefits Found In Chocolate As if people needed another excuse to like chocolate, new studies suggest a specially formulated type of cocoa may boost brain function and delay decline as people age, researchers said. Understanding Why People Try Drugs In The First Place A novel study may provide an answer to a question that has puzzled drug abuse researchers for years -- namely, why someone would try a drug like heroin for the first time knowing that it is highly addictive. Autism Gene Breakthrough Hailed Scientists have found new autism genes by scanning the largest collection of families with multiple cases of autism ever assembled. Active Lifestyle Reduces Risk Of Breast Cancer Six or more hours per week of strenuous recreational activity may reduce the risks of invasive breast cancer by 23 percent, according to researchers. Decision Making Isn't Always As Rational As You Think (or Hope) The human brain is set up to simultaneously process two kinds of information: the emotional and the empirical. But in most people, emotional responses are much stronger than the rational response and usually take over. Seafood Diet During Pregnancy May Boost Kids' IQ Women who eat seafood while pregnant may be boosting their children's IQ in the process, according to new research published in The Lancet. The Imperfect Science Of Defining Ethnic Groups While previous biomedical research studies have found that genetics and race increase risk for some diseases, a new look into how researchers study genetic triggers of type 2 diabetes suggests that defining race remains an inexact science, with social and historic facts mixing with biology throughout the research process. 'Food Dudes' Promote Kids' Health Like TV cartoon characters pitching sugary children's cereal, the Food Dudes of Ireland pitch food, too. Only it's carrots and broccoli. Could Women Soon Remove Fat From Their Stomach To Boost Their Breasts? Scientists in Japan claim to be able to increase the size of a woman's breasts using fat and stem cells. Office Desks Havens For Bacteria Your office desk harbors far more bacteria than your workplace restroom, and if you're a woman, chances are your workspace has more germs than your male co-workers', a new research report shows. Missing Out On Rest Harms Brain Cell Production Missing out on sleep may cause the brain to stop producing new cells, a study has suggested. Decades-Long Study Examines Genetic And Environmental Factors Of Disease U.S. researchers are launching a major population-based study to examine the genetic and environmental factors that may cause many diseases, including asthma, Alzheimer's, cancer, depression, diabetes, heart disease and reproductive problems, among others. Belief In Exercise Makes It More Effective People who think they're getting a good workout obtain more benefits than those who perform the exact same activities, but don't think what they are doing is exercise, according to the findings of a study by Harvard researchers. These results support the idea that the benefits of exercise may also involve a placebo effect. Calcium Lowers Cardiovascular Risk In Weight Loss Programs Universit� Laval Faculty of Medicine researchers have discovered that taking calcium and vitamin D supplements while on a weight loss program lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease. U.N. Report Says Britain Tops The World As The Worst Place For Children Britain is the worst country in the industrialized world in which to be a child, the United Nations Children's Fund ( UNICEF) said. Prevent Ulcers By Using Extra Virgin Olive Oil Already fabled for an array of health benefits, extra virgin olive oil may have a new role in helping to prevent and treat Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections, which cause millions of cases of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease each year. Prevent Heart Disease: Take A Nap A six-year study of nearly 24,000 Greek adults found those who regularly took midday naps lowered their risk of dying from heart disease by more than a third. How Do Employees With Negative Behavior Affect Your Workplace? Look around any organization and chances are you'll be able to find at least one person whose negative behavior affects the rest of the group to varying degrees. So much so, say two University of Washington researchers, that these "bad apples" are like a virus to their teams, and can upset or spoil the whole apple cart. More Evidence Vitamin D Prevents Cancer Certain amounts of vitamin D may be able to prevent up to half of breast cancer cases and two-thirds of colorectal cancer cases in the United States, according to two studies by researchers at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues at other centers. Secondhand Smoke Poses Heart Disease Risk Breathing secondhand smoke appears to increase levels of two warning signs for heart disease, fibrinogen and homocysteine, British researchers report. Age Brings More Fat, Less Muscle Older adults face a "double whammy" when it comes to body fat, a new study finds. Take More Breaks To Avoid Back Injury At Work Workers who lift for a living need to take longer or more frequent breaks than they now do to avoid back injury, according to a new study at Ohio State University. Genes Could Account For 70 Percent Of Diabetes Risk Researchers said they had homed in on five areas of DNA that could account for 70 percent of the genetic risk for type-2 diabetes. Side Effects To Medication Cause Compulsive Gambling Compulsive gambling with extreme losses -- in two cases, greater than $100,000 -- by people without a prior history of gambling problems has been linked to a class of drugs commonly used to treat the neurological disorder restless legs syndrome (RLS). More Evidence That Autism Is A Growing Threat To Your Child The number of children who have an autism disorder as many as 1 in every 150 is significantly higher than previously thought, according to a new federal report being billed as the most complete assessment to date. Adaptation To Global Climate Change Is Essential To A Warming Planet Temperatures are rising on Earth, which is heating up the debate over global warming and the future of our planet, but what may be needed most to combat global warming is a greater focus on adapting to our changing planet, says a team of science policy experts writing in this week's Nature magazine. Spring Conception May Up Risk Of Preterm Birth Women who conceive in the springtime may be more likely to deliver before 37 weeks gestation than women who conceive at other times of the year, two researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have found. Religious Beliefs and Conscience May Alter Your Doctor's Decisions A U.S. study finds religion and conscience often affect decisions physicians make in telling patients about morally controversial medical treatments. Can Finger Length Identify Heart Attack Risk? A long ring finger may be good news. The length of a young boy's finger may provide a clue as to whether he will be at risk of a heart attack in early adulthood. Breast-Feeding Enhances Kids' Eyesight Breast-fed children are significantly more likely to do well in measures of stereoscopic vision than are those who received formula during infancy, according to UK researchers. Insight On A Stress-Free Workday Tired of too much work and too little time to do it? Frustrated with the boss and stressed to the limit with no relief in sight? Before quitting the day job and heading to a remote island, a weekly science magazine suggests six steps which could lead to a stress-free career. Vitamin D For Cancer Prevention Two new vitamin D studies using a sophisticated form of analysis called meta-analysis, in which data from multiple reports is combined, have revealed new prescriptions for possibly preventing up to half of the cases of breast cancer and two-thirds of the cases of colorectal cancer in the United States. For Women, Nothing's Like The Smell Of A Man's Sweat Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley said women who sniffed a chemical found in male sweat experienced elevated levels of an important hormone, along with higher sexual arousal, faster heart rate and other effects. Aging Population Is Causing Major Increase In Cancer Burden Between 2004 and 2006, the number of new cases of cancer diagnosed each year in Europe has increased by 300,000 according to new estimates published in a report in Annals of Oncology. Marital Conflict Not a Major Culprit in Child's Behavior Parents' fighting likely doesn't cause children's behavioral problems, such as skipping school, lying, shoplifting or bullying. But parents who quarrel constantly may pass on genes for disruptive behavior to their children, a new U.S. study suggests. Video Games Are Good For The Eyes Video game addicts, rejoice: U.S. researchers have found that playing is actually good for your eyes, and despite all those dire warnings from your parents, it won't make you blind. Kids Who Get Less Sleep Weigh More Children who do not get enough sleep are more likely to be overweight than those who get more, according to a study published on Wednesday that tracked more than 2,000 U.S. kids for five years. Anaesthetic Linked To Alzheimer's A commonly used anaesthetic could cause changes in the brain linked to Alzheimer's, a US study suggests. Loneliness Linked With Alzheimer's People who are lonely are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, a large US study has suggested. Depression Linked to Early Heart Disease Depression, especially its physical signs, such as fatigue and loss of appetite, may contribute to thickening arteries, an early sign of cardiovascular disease, researchers report. No More Mars Bar Ads For Children The company that makes chocolate bars such as Mars and Snickers, is to stop targeting its advertising at under-12s. Early Weight Influences Age When Periods Start The age at which girls begin menstruation, termed menarche, is likely to be early if they were small babies but heavy as children, according to an Australian study. Science Tracks How the Brain's 'Clock' Ticks Scientists have developed a new model of how the brain tells time, which challenges the popular theory of an internal clock that generates and counts regular fixed moments. Allergy To Hair Coloring On The Rise Allergy to hair dye is soaring in numerous countries as more and more young people color their locks, according to a medical journal. Adolescents At Risk From Poor Diet, Inactivity Most adolescents do not get enough exercise each day or maintain a healthy diet, according to researchers who analyzed the diet and exercise behaviors of 878, adolescents, 11 to 15 years old, and found that nearly 80 percent had multiple physical activity and dietary risk behaviors. Get Off The Couch With Wii Some of the video game industry�s smartest minds thought that couch potatoes wanted richer graphics and more challenging virtual worlds. It turns out that a lot of potatoes simply wanted to get off the couch. Know the Signs of Eating Disorders With more than half of teenage girls and nearly a third of boys using unhealthy behaviors to control their weight, experts at the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) offer 10 tips to catch the warning signs of anorexia or bulimia. Prescription Drug Ads Leave Out Risks, Alternatives An analysis of television commercials for prescription drugs found that few mentioned risk factors or non-drug treatments for the conditions they target, scientists reported.