Science News SciGuru.com

Early Menopause May Occur In Women with BRCA Gene, New Study Finds
Chronic Kidney Disease Increases Risk of Death for Both Women and Men
Sorting Out Stroking Sensations
Silibinin, found in milk thistle, protects against UV-induced skin cancer
Ultrasound reveals markers for Down's syndrome
Astronomers determine the mass of the disk of gas and dust surrounding the star TW Hydrae
Are Gender and Ethnicity Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome in Children?
Good Mood Helps Boost Brain Power in Older Adults
Alternate walking and running to save energy, maintain endurance

Early Menopause May Occur In Women with BRCA Gene, New Study Finds

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 02:46 PM PST

Women with harmful mutations in the BRCA gene, which put them at higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, tend to undergo menopause significantly sooner than other women, allowing them an even briefer reproductive window and possibly a higher risk of infertility, according to a study led by researchers at UC San Francisco.

Moreover, the study showed that carriers of the mutation who are heavy smokers enter menopause at an even earlier age than non-smoking women with the mutation.

Chronic Kidney Disease Increases Risk of Death for Both Women and Men

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 02:41 PM PST

A new study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Chronic Kidney Disease Prognosis Consortium (CKD-PC) found that in general chronic kidney disease is similarly associated with a higher risk of death and end stage renal disease for both women and men. The findings were released online in advance of publication in BMJ.

Sorting Out Stroking Sensations

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:35 PM PST

The skin is a human being's largest sensory organ, helping to distinguish between a pleasant contact, like a caress, and a negative sensation, like a pinch or a burn. Previous studies have shown that these sensations are carried to the brain by different types of sensory neurons that have nerve endings in the skin. Only a few of those neuron types have been identified, however, and most of those detect painful stimuli.

Silibinin, found in milk thistle, protects against UV-induced skin cancer

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:21 PM PST

A pair of University of Colorado Cancer Center studies published this month show that the milk thistle extract, silibinin, kills skin cells mutated by UVA radiation and protects against damage by UVB radiation – thus protecting against UV-induced skin cancer and photo-aging.

Ultrasound reveals markers for Down's syndrome

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 11:07 AM PST

Researchers at King’s College London have found that some second-trimester markers for Down’s syndrome detected by ultrasound increase the risk of giving birth to a child with the condition. The findings, published in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, could help address the risks pregnant women face in having a child with Down’s syndrome.

Astronomers determine the mass of the disk of gas and dust surrounding the star TW Hydrae

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 11:01 AM PST

The disk surrounding the young star TW Hydrae is regarded as a prototypical example of planetary nurseries. Due to its comparatively close proximity of 176 light-years, the object plays a key role in cosmological birth models. Using the Herschel Space Telescope, researchers including Thomas Henning from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg have, for the first time, determined the mass of the disk very precisely. The new value is larger than previous estimates and proves that planets similar to those of our solar system can form in this system.

Are Gender and Ethnicity Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome in Children?

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 10:54 AM PST

Metabolic syndrome is more likely to affect children who are obese than overweight or non-overweight and who have other characteristics associated with the disorder, such as high blood pressure or insulin resistance. A new comprehensive and systematic review of the medical literature on metabolic syndrome in children that probed deeper to evaluate the risk associated with gender, ethnicity, and geography was published in Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

Good Mood Helps Boost Brain Power in Older Adults

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 10:40 AM PST

Older adults can improve their decision making and working memory simply by putting on a happy face, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that easy mood-boosters -- like giving people a small bag of candy -- helped seniors do significantly better on tests of decision-making and working memory.

This is the first study to show the power of positive moods in helping older people with these brain tasks.

Alternate walking and running to save energy, maintain endurance

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 10:35 AM PST

Forget “slow and steady wins the race.” A new study shows that, at least sometimes, the best way to conserve energy and reach your destination on time is to alternate between walking and running—whether your goal is the bus stop or a marathon finish line.