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A study reveals that eating at home prevents childhood obesity
Studies reveal structure of EV71, a virus causing childhood illnesses
Unexpected Crustacean Diversity Discovered in Northern Freshwater Ecosystems
Dark Matter Core Defies Explanation
Cervical screening programme saves lives in more ways than one
Traitor proteins that could attack the body widespread, UF researchers find
Geologists Unearth a Warning From the Past
Should We Play Hide-and-Go-Seek with Our Children’s Vegetables?
Epicatechin in Cocoa May Enhance Skeletal Muscle Function: Improvements in heart failure and type 2 diabetes patients
Holding a mirror to brain changes in autism

A study reveals that eating at home prevents childhood obesity

Posted: 02 Mar 2012 08:30 PM PST

University of Granada researchers have confirmed that there is a significant direct relationship between the nutritional status of children and the person who prepares their meal. The study revealed that the children who have lunch at home with their mother present a better nutritional status and are at a lower risk of suffering obesity than children whose meal is prepared by a person other than their mother.

Studies reveal structure of EV71, a virus causing childhood illnesses

Posted: 02 Mar 2012 04:47 PM PST

The virus, called enterovirus 71 (EV71), causes hand, foot and mouth disease, and is common throughout the world. Although that disease usually is not fatal, the virus has been reported to cause encephalitis, a potentially fatal illness found primarily in the Asia-Pacific region.

Researchers have now discovered critical new details about the structure of EV71 virus that causes the potentially fatal brain swelling and paralysis in children, pointing toward designs for antiviral drugs to treat the disease.

Unexpected Crustacean Diversity Discovered in Northern Freshwater Ecosystems

Posted: 02 Mar 2012 04:35 PM PST

Freshwater ecosystems in northern regions are home to significantly more species of water fleas than traditionally thought, adding to evidence that regions with vanishing waters contain unique animal life.

The new information on water fleas -- which are actually tiny crustaceans -- comes from a multi-year, international study that was published Feb. 24 in the journal Zootaxa.

The researchers scoured the globe seeking the creatures and found them inhabiting northern lakes and ponds in locations from Alaska to Russia to Scandinavia.

Dark Matter Core Defies Explanation

Posted: 02 Mar 2012 02:58 PM PST

Astronomers using data from NASA's Hubble Telescope have observed what appears to be a clump of dark matter left behind from a wreck between massive clusters of galaxies. The result could challenge current theories about dark matter that predict galaxies should be anchored to the invisible substance even during the shock of a collision.

Cervical screening programme saves lives in more ways than one

Posted: 02 Mar 2012 09:56 AM PST

Regular cervical screening saves lives not only by discovering pre-cursors to cervical cancer before they become invasive - but also by improving the chances of successful treatment in cases where invasive cancer could not be prevented. This according to a new national population study published online in the prestigious scientific periodical, The British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Traitor proteins that could attack the body widespread, UF researchers find

Posted: 02 Mar 2012 09:27 AM PST

More than 32 million Americans harbor potentially toxic proteins that can attack body tissues and lead to autoimmune diseases such as lupus and scleroderma, according to a new University of Florida study.

This is the first accurate estimate of the frequency of the proteins, called autoantibodies, the researchers say. The findings appear online and in an upcoming print edition of the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.

Geologists Unearth a Warning From the Past

Posted: 02 Mar 2012 09:24 AM PST

Too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will make the oceans more acidic and imperil key parts of the marine food chain - it has happened before and can happen again, scientists warn.

Earth scientists representing 18 institutions worldwide - including USC - have united to examine the geologic record of the past 300 million years for clues about what the future holds if atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continue to increase.

The study is the first of its kind to survey the geologic record for evidence of ocean acidification over this extensive time period.

Should We Play Hide-and-Go-Seek with Our Children’s Vegetables?

Posted: 02 Mar 2012 09:18 AM PST

Pass the peas please! How often do we hear our children say this? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey of adolescents, only 21% of our children eat the recommended 5 or more fruits and vegetables per day. So not very many children are asking their parents to “pass the peas,” and parents are resorting to other methods to get their children to eat their vegetables.

Epicatechin in Cocoa May Enhance Skeletal Muscle Function: Improvements in heart failure and type 2 diabetes patients

Posted: 02 Mar 2012 09:13 AM PST

A small clinical trial led by researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine and VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) found that patients with advanced heart failure and type 2 diabetes showed improved mitochondrial structure after three months of treatment with epicatechin-enriched cocoa. Epicatechin is a flavonoid found in dark chocolate.

Holding a mirror to brain changes in autism

Posted: 02 Mar 2012 09:04 AM PST

Impaired social function is a cardinal symptom of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). One of the brain circuits that enable us to relate to other people is the "mirror neuron" system. This brain circuit is activated when we watch other people, and allows our brains to represent the actions of others, influencing our ability to learn new tasks and to understand the intentions and experiences of other people.