Archives

Premature birth can have serious effects on the development and growth of children. In many parts of the world, preterm deliveries are increasing in frequency. In a study in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, researchers found that there was a strong link between physical abuse during pregnancy and premature births.

Scientists have found new evidence, using innovative techniques, to support the growing body of literature that indicates kava may have a negative effect on the liver. Kava is a plant native to the South Pacific that has been used as a ceremonial beverage in the region for thousands of years, and, more recently, as a natural treatment for medical conditions such as anxiety.

A better understanding of how memory works is emerging from a newfound ability to link a learning experience in a mouse to consequent changes in the inner workings of its neurons. Researchers have developed a way to pinpoint the specific cellular components that sustain a specific memory in genetically engineered mice. Remarkably, this research demonstrates a way to untangle precisely which cells and connections are activated by a particular memory, according to researchers.

New compounds with the potential for antidepressant activity have been found. A chemist has synthesized new molecules which affect two brain targets which are considered to be keys in the development of processes of depression. One of these is the serotonin transporter, whose reuptake reduction has already been shown to improve mood; the other is the serotoninergic receptor 5-HT7, a therapeutic target for serotonin whose modulation can provoke anti-depressant effects.

Older Americans with the highest risk of stroke, but those who have never suffered a stroke, also have the highest rate of cognitive decline, researchers report. The higher your stroke risk score, the more the cognitive decline, according to new research.

Patients who prefer to be highly involved in their treatment don't necessarily have better luck managing chronic health conditions, a new study suggests. The research team offered a couple potential explanations for the results. One possibility is that patients who wanted an active role were dissatisfied with the relatively passive treatment of taking medication to control their conditions, and therefore may not have followed doctors' orders as well.

Thyroid hormone deficiencies in early pregnancy can cause locomotor underdevelopment in the child, according to new research. The results bring new insights into brain development and could affect routine pregnancy testing.

deCODE genetics announced the launch of deCODE PrCa(TM), a reference laboratory test for common, single-letter variations in the human genome (SNPs) that the company has associated with increased risk of prostate cancer. deCODE believes the test will be useful for better predicting risk of prostate cancer, helping to optimize both screening and treatment.

CHICAGO -- The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) has established the Mary and Bob Cosentino Travel Grant Program to help newly-diagnosed patients consult with an expert on this very grave asbestos-related cancer. Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor that aggressively and painfully invades the lining of the lungs, heart or stomach until it destroys the vital organs. Research to understand mesothelioma and to develop effective treatments has lagged far behind other cancers.

HAIFA, Israel -- An Israeli study said women who live in well-lighted neighborhoods are more likely to develop breast cancer than those who live in darker areas. The findings of the study, which combined satellite images with local breast cancer statistics, support the theory that too much light at night raises the risk of breast cancer by interfering with the production of melatonin, The Washington Post reported Wednesday. The findings are published in the online version of the journal Chronobiology International.