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Inflammatory markers linked with an increased risk of premature death in adults with COPD

2015-03-16
(Press-News.org) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is characterized by a state of inflammation. A new Respirology study has identified certain inflammatory markers that can be used to predict which patients are at the highest risk of dying prematurely.

In a national sample of 1144 US adults who were followed from 1988 to 2006, those with obstructive lung function had higher levels of white blood cell count and fibrinogen as well as a higher percentage of elevated C-reactive protein than participants with normal lung function. White blood cell count and concentrations of elevated C-reactive protein were weakly associated with an increased risk of dying during follow-up. Elevated concentrations of fibrinogen were modestly linked with an increased risk of dying.

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Finger lengths may indicate risk of schizophrenia in males

2015-03-16
Research suggests that the ratio of the lengths of the index finger and the ring finger in males may be predictive of a variety of disorders related to disturbed hormonal balance. When the index finger is shorter than the ring finger, this results in a small 2D:4D ratio, pointing to a high exposure to testosterone in the uterus. In a new study of 103 male patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 100 matched healthy male individuals, investigators found that the 2D:4D ratio may be an effective predictor of schizophrenia--there were significant differences between schizophrenia ...

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Heterothermy, the ability of some animals to lower their metabolism and body temperature, is traditionally seen as an effective adaptation to predictable seasonal bottlenecks of unproductive cold periods. A new review suggests that the use of heterothermy may have been used as a response to acute emergency situations in animals that colonized Madagascar. Land mammals from Africa may have colonized Madagascar by rafting on drifting vegetation, and heterothermy may have facilitated survival on rafts and after colonization. Furthermore, delayed childbirth and prolonged sperm ...

Sufficient sleep is important for healthy sexual desire

2015-03-16
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For some kids, Easter egg hunts can lead to skin problems

2015-03-16
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Minimally invasive spinal fusion: Less pain, faster recovery, smaller scar

Minimally invasive spinal fusion:  Less pain, faster recovery, smaller scar
2015-03-16
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New targets for rabies prevention and treatment

2015-03-16
Researchers have identified genes that may be involved in determining whether an individual is sensitive or resistant to rabies virus infection. Through a screening method involving mouse embryonic stem cells, the investigators uncovered 63 genes, some with roles in the immune response, that represent potential targets for prevention or treatment. The wide variety of functions of the genes that were identified points to numerous interactions between the host and the virus at all stages of infection. "Our study is the first to show that libraries of mutant stem cells ...

The dangers of reintroducing lions and other carnivores for ecotourism

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Ecotourism has motivated efforts to reintroduce lions to landscapes where they were not previously common. A new analysis conducted after 4 lions were reintroduced into the fenced Tembe Elephant Park, South Africa, reveals that lions might compete with humans in winter, spring, and autumn and with endemic herbivores in all seasons but winter. Despite the use of fencing to limit conflicts, communities that reintroduce carnivores continually balance the rewards associated with ecotourism and the risks to human safety and species conservation. The findings are published ...

Universal public drug plan could save money for Canada

2015-03-16
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Universal public drug coverage would save Canada billions

2015-03-16
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[Press-News.org] Inflammatory markers linked with an increased risk of premature death in adults with COPD