Unique viruses called bacteriophages may play an important role in competition among bacterial strains, influencing the overall ecosystem of the human intestine, scientists at The University of Texas at Arlington and UT Southwestern Medical Center say. A team led by Lora V. Hooper, an associate professor of immunology and microbiology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and including UT Arlington assistant professor of biology Jorge Rodrigues examined the bacteriophages, or phages, produced by genetic information harbored in the chromosome of the mammalian ...

Even before obesity occurs, eating fatty and sugary foods causes chemical changes in the brain, meaning that going on a diet might feel similar to going through drug withdrawal, according to a study published today by Dr. Stephanie Fulton of the University of Montreal's Faculty of Medicine and its affiliated CRCHUM Hospital Research Centre. "By working with mice, whose brains are in many ways comparable to our own, we discovered that the neurochemistry of the animals who had been fed a high fat, sugary diet were different from those who had been fed a healthy diet," Fulton ...

Philadelphia, PA, December 12, 2012 – Cell aging, or cellular senescence, has an important role in the natural physiological response to tumor development. Activated oncogenes are able to induce senescence, and recent findings have suggested that oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) could play a key role in future cancer therapy. Researchers have now identified a previously unknown mechanism in the regulation of OIS. This study is published online in advance of the January issue of The American Journal of Pathology. In many types of normal cells, OIS depends on induction ...

New York, NY, December 12th, 2012—Average premiums for employer-sponsored family health insurance plans rose 62 percent between 2003 and 2011, from $9,249 to $15,022 per year, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report. The report, which tracks state trends in employer health insurance coverage, finds that health insurance costs rose far faster than incomes in all states. Workers are also paying more out-of-pocket as employee payments for their share of health insurance premiums rose by 74 percent on average and deductibles more than doubled, up 117 percent between 2003 ...

University of British Columbia and Oxford University researchers have revealed the secrets of survival of an endangered population of African elephant in the unforgiving Sahara desert, and suggest that recent violence in Mali may be putting the animals at risk. A two-year study, to appear in January's edition of Biological Conservation, tracked the elephants' migration with Global Positioning System (GPS) collars. Its findings advance conservation efforts for the animals, which are facing increased armed conflict in Mali between government forces and Touareg rebels. "In ...

Judge issues stay on law restricting online actions of sex offenders An overwhelming 81 percent majority of Californians voted in the recent November elections to bring Proposition 35 into law. Prop 35 toughens sentencing for sex traffickers and restricts some online activities by convicted sex offenders. However, that same day a judge issued a stay on the online portion of Prop 35 in response to a lawsuit claiming that it was unconstitutional. The stay means that portion of the law is not in effect until the judge can decide the case or remove the stay. The American ...

Beware of drunk drivers this holiday season With the holiday season upon us once again, Dallas police and other law enforcement agencies throughout Texas are taking to the roads to help fend off a perennial threat: drunk drivers. The risk of drunk driving accidents is particularly high at this time of year because of frequent parties and celebrations, and because there tends to be more traffic during the holidays as people travel to spend time with friends and relatives. On average, over 2,400 alcohol-related crashes occur in Texas each December, according to state ...

Whiplash: More Than Just Pain Whiplash is a common result of car crashes, with many sufferers recovering rather quickly; however, about 15 to 20 percent of whiplash victims suffer from chronic, long term pain. No matter how long people have symptoms, whiplash causes a wide array of problems reaching far beyond neck pain. Symptoms of Whiplash Whiplash causes headaches, neck, back and shoulder pain. In addition, whiplash patients suffer from fatigue, jaw pain, weakness in the arms and dizziness. Some patients have issues with their vision and ringing in the ears. ...

Yes, you can get a DUI for riding a horse drunk in Kentucky Police in Jessamine County, Kentucky recently arrested a man for DUI who was operating a non-motorized vehicle while his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. However, the story is much more unusual than it seems--the non-motorized vehicle was actually a horse. The suspect said that he was trail riding with some friends near his home. Police arrested him after he allegedly staggered while getting off his horse. The suspect, a diabetic, blames the allegedly incident on being light-headed due to a ...

Essential steps to take after a car accident in New Jersey New Jersey residents know how traumatic a car accident can be. The scene of an accident is often emotional with worry about potential serious injuries. There are several necessary steps a car accident victim should take after a car accident occurs. Steps to take at the accident scene The most important thing to remember is to stay at the scene. If panic sets in there may be a temptation to flee. However, if you are involved in the accident and leave the scene, you run the risk of being labeled a "hit-and-run" ...

Red decals successful at reducing teen car accidents New Jersey parents likely worry about their teenagers driving safely. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are the leading cause of death among American teenagers. Fortunately, a recent study by researchers from Temple University in Philadelphia reveals that the red decals that identify teen drivers in New Jersey make a positive impact on reducing car accidents involving young people. This means the program has helped make New Jersey's roads safer for young people as well ...

GPS devices contributing to truck accidents GPS devices are not helping commercial truck drivers avoid accidents. In New York City, Long Island and Westchester County, many roads are designed to accommodate only passenger vehicles and prohibit large trucks and other over-sized commercial vehicles. The overpasses in these areas have clearances of 10 feet or less. Consumer GPS systems, however, are directing truck drivers to take routes with these bridges that they cannot clear. Since 2010, GPS-reliant truck drivers have hit bridges in New York more than 200 times. San ...

New law in Indiana dictates severe penalties for selling synthetic drugs Recently, Indiana legislators passed a law focused on preventing the sale of synthetic drugs. The law imposed strict penalties on store owners found to be in violation. If a store is found to be selling a synthetic drug -- or, in certain cases, substances similar to the drug -- it could lose its retail certificate for one year. In addition, the store is responsible for paying for expenses associated with subsequent court proceedings, such as lab testing and court fees. Store owners were given ...

Teen Drivers Responsible for 10 Percent of Fatal Ohio Crashes Ohio drivers have something to fear: teens on the road. The Ohio State Highway Patrol reports that teen drivers were at fault for 114,737 crashes between 2009 and 2011 and were responsible for 10 percent of fatal crashes in Ohio. These crashes killed 329 people and injured 50,492 others. Graduated Driver Licensing Ohio has graduated driver licensing laws that should help teach teen drivers to drive well. Graduated driver licensing laws require teens to gradually learn to drive by requiring supervision ...

Federal Study: Most Teens Admit to Texting While Driving In a recent federal agency study, over half of the surveyed teens admitted to texting while driving. The findings are disturbing given the well-known dangers and the wave of media coverage and government action to curb the practice of distracted driving. The average American teen processes over 100 text message each day. Many, it seems, send and receive messages while behind the wheel. By removing an individual's focus from the road, cell phones pose a serious safety risk when used while driving. Texting while ...

Divorce for Older Pennsylvania Couples Carries Special Concerns So-called "gray" divorces are on the rise in Pennsylvania and across the country. Couples over 50 now divorce at twice the rate they did a few decades ago, and divorces in this age group now constitute a quarter of all divorces. Divorce always comes with some disruption, but people nearing or past retirement age may need to address added concerns, especially financial issues. Older couples have far less time to recover financially after divorce, for one thing, and careful planning is essential. Financial ...

Number of domestic abuse victims remains steady in Tennessee The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation recently released the Tennessee Domestic Violence Report, which contains data on the number of cases of domestic violence in the state from 2009 through 2011. It found that the number of incidents had decreased, but by only 1.1 percent. This number includes any offenses a law enforcement agency reported as being domestically related. The TBI tracked domestic violence offenses through the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System. A total of 254,903 such incidences were ...

Study shows New Jersey teen drivers safer with red decal license plate Whether you have a teenager or not, if you live in New Jersey, you are likely aware of the law requiring teen drivers to affix a red decal to their license plate. According to a new study, the law has served its purpose, preventing accidents and fatalities on the road. The law has been in place since May 2010 and requires all drivers under the age of 21 to have a red decal on their license plate. The decal is meant to make it easier for law enforcement officers to identify teens who are violating ...

Athletics and Brain Injuries Recent scientific research, rule changes and a growing consciousness of the risk of high-impact sports are bringing attention to the concern of brain injuries that result from participation in athletics. Brain injuries are particularly common in football and affect all age brackets that play the sport. The recent changes regarding helmet-to-helmet contact in football reflect the severity of these injuries and the need to create a safer playing environment for all. Inter-Collegiate Study The Big Ten Conference and the Ivy League recently ...

Review nursing home ratings before admitting a loved one As the number of aging Americans increases, the need for high quality long-term care facilities is also rising. Deciding which home will provide the best quality of care can be challenging, but is a common concern when faced with such a task. In order to elucidate the varying standards across facilities, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created a five-star rating system. CMS nursing home rating system Three primary factors are evaluated in determining the star rating for each home: health ...

Misdiagnoses Continue to Present Problems Over the past century, medical science has seen a vast number of improvements. Indeed, researchers have not only developed new treatments to cure once life-threatening illnesses, but have also invented new techniques to help doctors diagnose even the most obscure diseases. Nevertheless, despite an ever increasing array of technological tools and training, millions of patients are misdiagnosed in the United States each year. What is worse, these misdiagnoses can sometimes lead to serious, even fatal complications. The numbers ...

Four tips for staying financially afloat during divorce In addition to causing a major emotional impact, divorce often involves a huge financial blow to the parties involved. Before the divorce, both parties have the financial assistance of the other spouse in meeting financial obligations. However, once the divorce is completed, individuals find themselves in control of their finances and must pay the bills and save for retirement without a spouse's income. Although it can seem daunting, there are some steps couples can take to make sure that their assets are protected ...

How Does the Fair Housing Act Impact the Co-Op Applicant Process? The Fair Housing Act is a broad piece of legislation that offers protections for those living in, renting, selling or buying most types of housing -- including cooperative housing arrangements. Protections provided by the Act span to cover the sale and rental of housing, mortgage lending and additional protections for the disabled. What Protections Are Available Under The Fair Housing Act? Protections offered by the Fair Housing Act include making it unlawful to discriminate against applicants. ...

What to Expect When Charged With DUI in Illinois As time goes by, laws against driving under the influence are becoming more severe. Lawmakers in Illinois and across the U.S. are pushing for harsher punishments and less leniency. Illinois drivers should know what happens during a DUI traffic stop and the potential penalties they face if convicted of DUI charges. DUI Traffic Stops Police need reasonable suspicion to stop a driver to see if the driver is intoxicated. Some valid reasons police would have to stop a vehicle include witnessing a person drive erratically, ...

New California Religious Freedom Act Protects Workers of All Faiths Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is meant to help Americans of all religions enjoy equal employment opportunities. However, over the years this federal law has been interpreted so narrowly that critics believe it nearly gives employers carte blanche to discriminate in the workplace. That's why on September 8 California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law AB 1964, the California Religious Freedom Act. The new law seeks to address some of the loopholes left in Title VII and prevent discrimination ...