Congenital hyperinsulinism is a genetic condition where a baby's pancreas secretes too much insulin. It affects approximately one in 50,000 live births and in severe cases requires the surgical removal of all or part of the pancreas. Researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School are the first in the world to utilise new genetic sequencing technology to sequence the entirety of a gene in order to identify mutations that cause hyperinsulinism. Previously, existing technology limited such sequencing to only part of the coding regions of the gene which meant that ...

Researchers at McGill University have discovered that a key regulator of energy metabolism in cancer cells known as the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) may play a crucial role in restricting cancer cell growth. AMPK acts as a "fuel gauge" in cells; AMPK is turned on when it senses changes in energy levels, and helps to change metabolism when energy levels are low, such as during exercise or when fasting. The researchers found that AMPK also regulates cancer cell metabolism and can restrict cancer cell growth. The discovery was made by Russell (Rusty) Jones, an assistant ...

KANSAS CITY, MO—Unlike less versatile muscle or nerve cells, embryonic stem cells are by definition equipped to assume any cellular role. Scientists call this flexibility "pluripotency," meaning that as an organism develops, stem cells must be ready at a moment's notice to activate highly diverse gene expression programs used to turn them into blood, brain, or kidney cells. Scientists from the lab of Stowers Investigator Ali Shilatifard, Ph.D., report in the December 27, 2012 online issue of Cell that one way cells stay so plastic is by stationing a protein called Ell3 ...

In the period just before they went extinct, the American lions and saber-toothed cats that roamed North America in the late Pleistocene were living well off the fat of the land. That is the conclusion of the latest study of the microscopic wear patterns on the teeth of these great cats recovered from the La Brea tar pits in southern California. Contrary to previous studies, the analysis did not find any indications that the giant carnivores were having increased trouble finding prey in the period before they went extinct 12,000 years ago. The results, published on ...

PHILADELPHIA - When trying to determine the root cause of a person's dementia, using an MRI can effectively and non-invasively screen patients for Alzheimer's disease or Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD), according to a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Using an MRI-based algorithm effectively differentiated cases 75 percent of the time, according to the study, published in the December 26th, 2012, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The non-invasive approach ...

A national drug shortage has been linked to a higher rate of relapse among children, teenagers and young adults with Hodgkin lymphoma enrolled in a national clinical trial, according to research led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Estimated two-year cancer-free survival for patients enrolled in the study fell from 88 to 75 percent after the drug cyclophosphamide was substituted for mechlorethamine for treatment of patients with intermediate- or high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma. The study was launched before the drug shortages began. The change occurred after a mechlorethamine ...

STANFORD, Calif. — A national drug shortage has been linked to a higher rate of relapse among children, teenagers and young adults with Hodgkin lymphoma enrolled in a national clinical trial, according to research led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Estimated two-year cancer-free survival for patients enrolled in the study fell from 88 to 75 percent after the drug cyclophosphamide was substituted for mechlorethamine for treatment of patients with intermediate- or high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma. The study was launched before the drug shortages began. The change occurred ...

Children who make an effort to perform acts of kindness are happier and experience greater acceptance from their peers, suggests new research from the University of British Columbia and the University of California, Riverside. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl, a professor in UBC's Faculty of Education, and co-author Kristin Layous, of the University of California, Riverside, say that increasing peer acceptance is key to preventing bullying. In the study, published today by PLOS ONE, researchers examined how to boost happiness in students aged 9 to 11 years. Four hundred students ...

Nine to twelve-year-olds who perform kind acts are not only happier, but also find greater acceptance in their peer groups, according to research published December 26, 2012 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Kristin Layous and colleagues from the University of California, Riverside. The authors randomly assigned over 400 students aged 9-12 to two groups: one group performed 'acts of kindness' and the other kept track of pleasant places they visited each week. Examples of kind acts included descriptions like "gave someone some of my lunch" or "gave my mom a hug when ...

When prey is scarce, large carnivores may gnaw prey to the bone, wearing their teeth down in the process. A new analysis of the teeth of saber-toothed cats and American lions reveals that they did not resort to this behavior just before extinction, suggesting that lack of prey was probably not the main reason these large cats became extinct. The results, published December 26 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Larisa DeSantis of Vanderbilt University and colleagues, compares tooth wear patterns from the fossil cats that roamed California 12,000 to 30,000 years ago. ...

In the virtual world of Second Life, female avatars expose substantially more skin than males, independent of their virtual body proportions, according to research published December 26 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Matthieu Guitton and colleagues from Laval University, Canada. The human tendency to cover up stems from climatic, environmental, physical and cultural constraints, so measuring people's propensity to reveal skin can be difficult in the real world. To study human behavior free of at least some of these constraints, the researchers analyzed how male ...

Choosing the perfect wine may soon involve more than just knowing the perfect vintage and chateau. Differences in the microbes present on grapes even in different parts of the same vineyard may contribute to flavor fluctuations in samples of grapes from different tanks, according to research published December 26 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Mathabatha Setati and colleagues from Stellenbosch University, South Africa. "In the wine industry, the fungal communities on grapes are especially important. The microbial species present on the berry may contribute to ...

Men and women with mental health disorders, across all diagnoses, are more likely to have experienced domestic violence than the general population, according to new research from King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, in collaboration with the University of Bristol. Previous studies into the link between domestic violence and mental health problems have mainly focused on depression, but this is the first study to look at a wide range of mental health problems in both male and female victims. In this study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research ...

The rate of people who seek preventive cancer screenings has fallen over the last ten years in the United States with wide variations between white-collar and blue-collar workers, according to a University of Miami Miller School of Medicine study published on December 27 in the open-access journal Frontiers in Cancer Epidemiology. While earlier diagnoses and improved treatments have increased the number of survivors, cancer remains one of the most prominent chronic diseases and, last year alone, claimed the lives of more than 570,000 people in the U.S. "There is a ...

A bird listening to birdsong may experience some of the same emotions as a human listening to music, suggests a new study on white-throated sparrows, published in Frontiers of Evolutionary Neuroscience. "We found that the same neural reward system is activated in female birds in the breeding state that are listening to male birdsong, and in people listening to music that they like," says Sarah Earp, who led the research as an undergraduate at Emory University. For male birds listening to another male's song, it was a different story: They had an amygdala response ...

The TrueConf video conferencing solution for OS X is designed for OS X 10.7 and its newer versions. It provides video conferencing calls for the corporate video network- based TrueConf Server, as well as the cloud video conferencing service TrueConf Online. Currently, TrueConf solutions for OS X are available for download on the TrueConf website: http://trueconf.com/download/trueconf-client.dmg TrueConf experts implemented a number of tasks in developing this new application, providing integration into hand-held systems (iPhone, iPad, etc), and have introduced a new ...

Vacation exchange provider Dial An Exchange (DAE) announces last minute travel destinations for vacationers looking for different ways to ring in 2013. It could be a party in the French Quarter of New Orleans, hitting the slopes in Idaho or strolling along the shore in Florida. These and other terrific options are available through DAE's easy to use online booking service where members can exchange their timeshare week and know immediately whether their exchange has been approved. DAE offers free membership and no-cost requests for resort availability - with payment ...

The school that Slotland funded in Malawi is flourishing and the group behind it, boNGO Worldwide, is initiating new programs to help even more children. To help raise funds for the continuing operation of the group's school and teacher training center, and for new projects including an HIV/AIDS awareness film, Slotland is encouraging players to consider their own donations. Just $4 covers the cost of one child's school expenses, including lunch for a month. $20 pays one teacher's monthly salary. Slotland, home of one-of-a-kind online slots and video poker games ...

Flipped Horizons and Game's UP, the emerging mobile game developers, are excited to announce the recent launch of Mark My Words onto Google Play. Compatible with all Android devices running on Android 2.2 or higher, this wickedly entertaining trivia game puts players head to head with famous quotes, challenging them to figure out who said them! Eloquently simple yet uncommonly addicting and engaging, Mark My Words is a multiple choice guessing game. Players are shown well known phrases & tasked with picking who said them from a list of possible names. Boasting mentally ...

The practice of hunting is one that is linked to human survival and extends far beyond pre-historic times. Despite the history of this art, new technology continues to innovate the sport, providing hunters with greater proficiency and resources to track down prized game. A recent article from The Star Gazette highlights the greater presence of smartphone applications that serve this very purpose. Although many of these mobile device apps are created by state government wildlife organizations, some hunters are not keen on relying on these resources to improve the hunt. Experienced ...

A helpful article published by The Huffington Post offers readers tips to avoid the dreaded holiday weight gain. The suggestions, offered by health and wellness guru Joy Bauer, ranged from food to fitness. To experience success in any wellness plan, Bauer also suggested readers set specific goals they can meet on a weekly basis. The team at Banital, makers of nutritional supplements designed to facilitate weight loss when used in accordance with a healthy diet and exercise plan, offered up a few tips of their own. They stated: "These tips that are given to stay ...

Nutcracker is a holiday tradition for many individuals--even those who do not attend the ballet throughout the rest of the year. In the United States, this story is well known by people of all ages and backgrounds, as schools often take field trips to see Nutcracker when their students are young. Because of its popularity, this particular ballet is one that dancers dream of performing. This year, as San Francisco Ballet looks forward to starting its season and celebrating the holidays, three new dancers' dreams will come true, according to SFGate.com. Lesley Koenig, an ...

Although Mount Everest is regarded as one of the most remote natural wonders in the world, it has not remained untouched by trash left behind from those who have climbed it in the past. However, a recent article from The Daily Mail highlights the actions of one creative group, known as Da Mind Tree, which has found a way to repurpose the refuse into works of art. The article explains, "Exhibits, which include representations of a yak and wind chimes, were crafted from empty oxygen bottles, gas canisters, food cans, torn tents, ropes, boots and twisted aluminum ladders ...

Dr. David N. Sayah, a renowned Los Angeles plastic surgeon, has launched an updated website, http://www.davidsayah.com. The refreshed site offers new patient resources, a redesigned before-and-after photo gallery of real patients, and detailed FAQs to help educate the public. "An informed patient is a happier patient," explains Dr. Sayah. "There are many doctors in Beverly Hills offering cosmetic surgery, not to mention all the medical spas and salons now offering cosmetic procedures. I want patients to have all the tools they need to make the best decision ...

Loved Ones Can Inherit Fewer Taxes With the Use of Strategic Estate Planning Two things we will all face are death and taxes. And, thanks to the federal government's labyrinthine tax codes, some of the biggest tax bills we receive can come after we pass away, going straight to the loved ones who inherit our belongings. Luckily, comprehensive estate planning, including the use of gifts, irrevocable trusts and holding companies, could help us avoid the many tax pitfalls that stand ready to take a chunk out of our life's work. What Kind of Taxes Are at Work Here? So-called ...