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Extreme weight more common in developing world
Passive smoking link to dementia
Invasive fish enters streams feeding Lake Michigan, but so far, so good
Complex Spinal Surgeries with Two Attending Physicians, Instead of One, Benefit Patients
Trapping Malaria Parasites Inside Host Blood Cell Forms Basis for New Class of Drugs
Irregular Heartbeat Elevates Risk of Kidney Failure
Exposure to Conflict-of-Interest Policies During Residency Reduces Rate of Brand Antidepressant Prescriptions, Penn Study Finds
Study May Explain Why Wolves are Forever Wild, But Dogs Can Be Tamed

Extreme weight more common in developing world

Posted: 18 Jan 2013 05:14 PM PST

Obese and overweight people are gaining weight rapidly in low-and middle-income countries while those who are severely undernourished are not experiencing similar weight gains, says a study by the University of Toronto and the Harvard School of Public Health.

Passive smoking link to dementia

Posted: 18 Jan 2013 05:07 PM PST

Passive smoking increases risk of severe dementia, according to study in China. An international study by scientists in China, the UK and USA has found a link between passive smoking and syndromes of dementia.

The study of nearly 6,000 people in five provinces in China reveals that people exposed to passive smoking have a significantly increased risk of severe dementia syndromes.

Invasive fish enters streams feeding Lake Michigan, but so far, so good

Posted: 18 Jan 2013 03:36 PM PST

Invasive species are known for disturbing their new homes. Whether it's the zebra mussels in the Great Lakes or garlic mustard in native woodlands, their rampant multiplication crowds out native species.

But according to research just published in the journal Diversity and Distributions, that's not yet happening as a fish called the round goby advances up dozens of streams along Wisconsin's watery eastern border.

Complex Spinal Surgeries with Two Attending Physicians, Instead of One, Benefit Patients

Posted: 18 Jan 2013 01:20 PM PST

Two heads are better than one, as the saying goes – and a new study by a duo at UCSF demonstrates how having two attending surgeons in the operating room during spinal surgeries can benefit patients in multiple ways.

Most spinal surgeries in the United States are performed by teams led by a single attending surgeon – one top-level doctor who has completed medical school, residency and other specialized training.

Trapping Malaria Parasites Inside Host Blood Cell Forms Basis for New Class of Drugs

Posted: 18 Jan 2013 10:04 AM PST

One of the most insidious ways that parasitic diseases such as malaria and toxoplasmosis wreak their havoc is by hijacking their host's natural cellular processes, turning self against self. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University, led by Doron Greenbaum, Ph.D., assistant professor of Pharmacology at Penn, have identified the cell signaling pathway used by these parasites to escape from and destroy their host cells and infect new cells -- pointing the way toward possible new strategies to stop these diseases in their tr

Irregular Heartbeat Elevates Risk of Kidney Failure

Posted: 18 Jan 2013 09:50 AM PST

The risk of kidney failure is greater for people with chronic kidney disease who also have atrial fibrillation, one of the most common forms of irregular heart rhythm in adults, according to a new study by researchers at UCSF and the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research.

The finding opens the way for further studies into the relationship between the two factors, which could lead to new treatment approaches that would improve outcomes for people with chronic kidney disease.

Exposure to Conflict-of-Interest Policies During Residency Reduces Rate of Brand Antidepressant Prescriptions, Penn Study Finds

Posted: 18 Jan 2013 09:28 AM PST

Psychiatrists who are exposed to conflict-of-interest (COI) policies during their residency are less likely to prescribe brand-name antidepressants after graduation than those who trained in residency programs without such policies, according to a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Study May Explain Why Wolves are Forever Wild, But Dogs Can Be Tamed

Posted: 18 Jan 2013 09:25 AM PST

Dogs and wolves are genetically so similar, it’s been difficult for biologists to understand why wolves remain fiercely wild, while dogs can gladly become “man’s best friend.” Now, doctoral research by evolutionary biologist Kathryn Lord at the University of Massachusetts Amherst suggests the different behaviors are related to the animals’ earliest sensory experiences and the critical period of socialization. Details appear in the current issue of Ethology.