October 8, 2012, Ottawa — In a finding that runs counter to commonly held beliefs about fresh being better, a clinical trial published today by the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that acutely ill premature babies who received fresher blood did not fare better than those who received the current standard of care. There was no difference between the two approaches with respect to major organ injury, mortality and infection. "Before now, most of the literature on the subject suggested that fresh red blood cells are better," says lead author Dr. Dean Fergusson, ...

SAN FRANCISCO, CA—October 8, 2012—Using animal models, scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have discovered how a protein deficiency may be linked to frontotemporal dementia (FTD)—a form of early-onset dementia that is similar to Alzheimer's disease. These results lay the foundation for therapies that one day may benefit those who suffer from this and related diseases that wreak havoc on the brain. As its name implies, FTD is a fatal disease that destroys cells, or neurons, that comprise the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain—as opposed to Alzheimer's which mainly ...

PHILADELPHIA – A new study from a team of researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the Monell Chemical Senses Center, and the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, reveals that a person's ability to taste certain bitter flavors is directly related to their ability to fight off upper respiratory tract infections, specifically chronic sinus infections. The new research is published in the latest edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Most humans experience five types of tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and savory. The ...

A new study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology reports that live insects were found in 47% of firewood bundles purchased from big box stores, gas stations and grocery stores in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Untreated firewood can harbor pathogens and destructive insects such as the emerald ash borer, the Asian longhorned beetle, bark beetles and others, and transport them to uninfested areas. Furthermore, the risk of moving insects in untreated firewood is high, the authors found, because insects emerged up to 558 days from the purchase date of ...

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—A University of Michigan biophysical chemist and his colleagues have discovered the smallest and fastest-known molecular switches made of RNA, the chemical cousin of DNA. The researchers say these rare, fleeting structures are prime targets for the development of new antiviral and antibiotic drugs. Once believed to merely store and relay genetic information, RNA is now known to be a cellular Swiss Army knife of sorts, performing a wide variety of tasks and morphing into myriad shapes. Over the past decade, researchers have determined that most of the ...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A new approach to lung scanning could improve the diagnosis and treatment of a lung disease that affects approximately 24 million Americans and is the country's third-highest cause of death. In a new paper published online in Nature Medicine, a team from the University of Michigan Medical School reports on a technique called parametric response mapping, or PRM. They used PRM to analyze computed tomography, or CT, scans of the lungs of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, known as COPD, who took part in the national COPDGene study funded ...

UCLA researchers have for the first time measured the activity of a brain region known to be involved in learning, memory and Alzheimer's disease during sleep. They discovered that this part of the brain behaves as if it's remembering something, even under anesthesia, a finding that counters conventional theories about memory consolidation during sleep. The research team simultaneously measured the activity of single neurons from multiple parts of the brain involved in memory formation. The technique allowed them to determine which brain region was activating other areas ...

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Genomic Medicine (CGM) and their colleagues have identified 8 new loci associated with susceptibility to atopic dermatitis in the Japanese population. The findings, which appear in the journal Nature Genetics, advance our understanding of the genetic basis of the skin disorder, which affects millions of children and adults around the world. Atopic dermatitis (often called ecszema) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin condition affecting as much as one-fifth of children and 1-3% of adults in industrialized countries. Those with ...

Swedish researchers at Uppsala University have, together with Brazilian collaborators, discovered a new group of nerve cells that regulate processes of learning and memory. These cells act as gatekeepers and carry a receptor for nicotine, which can explain our ability to remember and sort information. The discovery of the gatekeeper cells, which are part of a memory network together with several other nerve cells in the hippocampus, reveal new fundamental knowledge about learning and memory. The study is published today in Nature Neuroscience. The hippocampus is an ...

Expanding production of palm oil, a common ingredient in processed foods, soaps and personal care products, is driving rainforest destruction and massive carbon dioxide emissions, according to a new study led by researchers at Stanford and Yale universities. The study, published online Oct. 7 in the journal Nature Climate Change, shows that deforestation for the development of oil palm plantations in Indonesian Borneo is becoming a globally significant source of carbon dioxide emissions. Plantation expansion is projected to contribute more than 558 million metric tons ...

Researchers headed by Erwin Wagner, the Director of the BBVA Foundation-CNIO Cancer Cell Biology Programme at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), have deciphered how a stress-inducible gene regulator, AP-1, controls the survival of liver tumor-initiating cells. These results, published in the online edition of Nature Cell Biology, could provide new preventive strategies and identify potentially targetable molecules to prevent liver cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes more than 500,000 deaths per year worldwide. While patients with chronic hepatitis ...

A variant in a gene involved with inflammation and the immune response is linked with a decreased risk of lung cancer. That is the finding of an analysis published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The results add to the growing body of literature implicating these processes in the development of lung cancer. Meredith Shiels, PhD, MHS and Anil Chaturvedi, PhD, of the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, MD, and their colleagues analyzed 1,429 variants in inflammation- and immunity-related genes from 378 patients with lung ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today researchers from The George Washington University published a study showing that breast cancer patients can reduce potentially dangerous delays in the identification of breast cancer with the assistance of patient navigation services. Patient navigation—a service that helps patients overcome barriers to getting health care, including setting up appointments, dealing with health insurance, and helping with fears about cancer—led to a nearly four-fold reduction in the time it took to diagnose a suspicious breast lump, the new study found. "The time ...

(Baltimore, MD) – A new study published today in the journal Pediatrics (Epub ahead of print) found that nearly half of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are reported to wander or "bolt," and more than half of these children go missing. Led by researchers from the Interactive Autism Network (IAN), the nation's largest online autism research initiative and a project of the Kennedy Krieger Institute, this study provides the most comprehensive estimate of elopement occurrence in a United States community-based sample of more than 1,200 children with ASD. "Since ...

Environmental problems, such as depleting natural resources, highlight the need to establish a renewable chemical industry. Metabolic engineering enhances the production of chemicals made by microbes in so-called "cell factories". Next Monday, world class scientist Professor Sang Yup Lee of KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) will explain how metabolic engineering could lead to the development of solutions to these environmental problems. For example, the polyester polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable material with a wide range of uses, from ...

NAAFA is proud of Jennifer Livingston, a TV news anchor from Wisconsin, who took a public on-air stand against a bully who felt it appropriate to call her out as a "bad example" and not a "suitable" role model for youth, particularly girls, because of her body size. Bullying comes in many forms and is pervasive in our society today. Fat people are among the most bullied. People come in all sizes. Good role models are not determined by body size. Good role models come in all sizes, races and creeds. We need more people of size to stand up to say that ...

According to a recent study from Forrester Research, Inc., 167 million U.S. consumers purchase goods and services online. That staggering number is projected to climb to 192 million in 2016. Because these consumers are making purchasing decisions based on online content, Michelle Salater has announced 7 Website Copy Tips Guaranteed to Convert Prospects to Clients—the Power of Your Website Message and Why You Should Care. This hour-long webinar is intended for entrepreneurs who want website copy that speaks to their target market, but are unsure how to create an effective, ...

"Gaining confidence in one's communication and speaking ability is important," says Jill Schiefelbein, founder of Impromptu Guru and the creator of the videos. "I wanted to create a product where people could get actionable advice on common communication and public speaking issues in an easy-to-access format. The 60 Second Guru series meets these goals." Strong communication and public speaking abilities are among the tops skills requested by employers. However, many people don't take the time necessary to develop or improve these skills. To help ...

Homework time is perhaps the most important opportunity for your child to learn and exercise what he or she has learned at school. Without this opportunity, your child has little chance of succeeding at school. That is why it is vitally important to make sure your child is able to adequately and accurately complete his or her homework on a daily basis. For your child to succeed, he or she must have the skills and tools necessary to make homework time a success. This webinar explores: 1. Quick and easy methods and strategies to help your child complete his or her homework ...

50 SHADES OF KALE by Dr. Drew Ramsey and veteran cookbook author Jennifer Iserloh pleases with 50 recipes that promise to trim your waistline, build your brain, and boost your sex drive. This 93-page cookbook is chock-full of meal plans and tips for optimal kale care and preparation, and compellingly makes the case for why you need to include kale in your culinary repertoire now. Whether you are vegan, gluten-free, or a knife carrying meat eater, Dr. Ramsey and Iserloh will turn you on to kale. From breakfast to cocktails, and Kaleonnaise to Thai'd Up Roughage, you'll ...

On October 1st, which kicked off National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, the staff of VoiceNation, the industry leader in live answering and virtual receptionist services, donned blue shirts in support of STOMP Out Bullying (the signature program of Love Our Children USA ) and its initiative Blue Shirt Day World Day of Bullying Prevention. VoiceNation is helping Love Our Children USA , a national non-profit organization working to prevent and fight all forms of violence and neglect against children, spread the word and campaign to STOMP Out Bullying . According ...

Red Box Lingerie is offering customers online the opportunity to give a little and still get money off, in aid of promoting and supporting Breast Cancer Awareness this month. Throughout October 2012 Red Box Lingerie will be offering their customers the opportunity to own a stunning collection by the British Designer Fleur of England. The Fleur of England Berry Kiss collection can be purchased with a 10% discount plus 10% of what Red Box Lingerie make from each sale, will go to the Breast Cancer Campaign, for more information visit http://www.breastcancercampaign.org/. "We ...

Business advice from Karen Emanuelson, President and Owner of Reciprocate LLC, was selected from more than 5,000 submissions to be featured in The 2013 Woman's Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar. The calendar provides advice for women business owners from influential women leaders across the US and Canada. This is the third consecutive year Emanuelson has been chosen for this honor. Mary Cantando, Growth Expert of The Woman's Advantage, today announced that Emanuelson's advice has been included in the calendar. "Karen Emanuelson's quote was selected because it ...

Cole Services is pleased to announce they will be teaming up with iWebContent to increase their web presence. In today's world, businesses need to use the Internet to reach their intended audience more effectively. Through this new partnership, Cole Services hopes to increase its traffic through the use of online marketing tactics so they are easier to find when people need them the most, increasing their business. Cole Services considers themselves a jack of all trades when it comes to home improvement projects. However, they specialize in concrete work around the home. ...

Anyone fed up with writing checks by hand or complicated check-writing software that takes forever can find new satisfaction in the new edition of ezCheckPersonal check writing software developed by Halfpricesoft.com. Designed with simplicity in mind, the new ezCheckPrinting is more easy-to-use and flexible than ever. It helps users cut cost on checks and track financial status easily during this tough time. In response to customers¡¯ requests, several new features were added the latest version: - Add a new check quickly and easily by duplicating an old check - Check ...