Thousands of children orphaned, rejected as Ebola wrecks families

DAKAR/GENEVA (Reuters) – Two days after his mother died of Ebola at a clinic in the Liberian capital Monrovia last month, four-year-old John was put into foster care so he could be monitored for the disease. John’s new guardian, an Ebola survivor, was immune to the deadly virus…

Source:Thousands of children orphaned, rejected as Ebola wrecks families

Health Highlights: Sept. 30, 2014

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay: Companies Fined Over False Claims of Caffeine-Infused Underwear Two companies will pay a total of more than $1.5 million in consumer refunds to settle charges over false claims that their…

Source:Health Highlights: Sept. 30, 2014

Fish Oil Supplements Have Little Effect on Irregular Heartbeat: Study

TUESDAY Sept. 30, 2014, 2014 — High doses of fish oil supplements won’t prevent the return of a common type of irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation, Canadian researchers report. In fact, 64.1 percent of those taking fish oil for its omega-3 fatty acids experienced new…

Source:Fish Oil Supplements Have Little Effect on Irregular Heartbeat: Study

The Playing Ground Part One

Playground rings. Photo by Rodney Steadman I love playgrounds. There is nothing like finding a well-built playground that can accommodate the needs of both adults and children: monkey bars, slides, swings, and a nearby field. My basic playground workout consists of pull-ups and laps on the…

Source:The Playing Ground Part One

This Month in Blastocystis Research (SEP 2014)

Blastocystis is a protist parasitising the intestine of humans and a variety of animals. We estimate that at least 1 billion people worldwide are colonised by this parasite, most of whom probably experience no more episodes of intestinal upset, e.g. diarrhoea, than the average individual. In…

Source:This Month in Blastocystis Research (SEP 2014)

In stickleback fish, dads influence offspring behavior and gene expression

[ | E-mail ] Contact: Diana Yatesdiya@illinois.edu 217-333-5802University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign@illinois_alma IMAGE: University of Illinois animal biology professor Alison Bell and doctoral student Laura Stein study how stickleback fish dads influence the behavior…

Source:In stickleback fish, dads influence offspring behavior and gene expression

Americans undergo colonoscopies too often, study finds

[ | E-mail ] Contact: Joan Robinsonjoan.robinson@springer.com 49-622-148-78130Springer Following the proper guidelines could save money and discomfort of unnecessary screenings Colonoscopies are a very valuable procedure by which to screen for the presence of colorectal cancer. However,…

Source:Americans undergo colonoscopies too often, study finds

Burying Ebola Victims in Liberia

Matthew Lincoln died last night. He was one of two patients to die at the Bong County Ebola Treatment Unit on Saturday. When Lincoln died, I was embedded with a group of aid workers tracking down Ebola patients. We were on our way to the center with his 23-year-old wife, Garmai and their…

Source:Burying Ebola Victims in Liberia

In stickleback fish, dads influence offspring behavior and gene expression

[

| E-mail

]

Contact: Diana Yatesdiya@illinois.edu

217-333-5802University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign@illinois_alma

IMAGE:

University of Illinois animal biology professor Alison Bell and doctoral student Laura Stein study how stickleback fish dads influence the behavior…

In stickleback fish, dads influence offspring behavior and gene expression

Americans undergo colonoscopies too often, study finds

[

| E-mail

]

Contact: Joan Robinsonjoan.robinson@springer.com

49-622-148-78130Springer

Following the proper guidelines could save money and discomfort of unnecessary screenings

Colonoscopies are a very valuable procedure by which to screen for the presence of colorectal cancer. However,…

Americans undergo colonoscopies too often, study finds

Burying Ebola Victims in Liberia

Matthew Lincoln died last night. He was one of two patients to die at the Bong County Ebola Treatment Unit on Saturday.

When Lincoln died, I was embedded with a group of aid workers tracking down Ebola patients. We were on our way to the center with his 23-year-old wife, Garmai and their…

Burying Ebola Victims in Liberia

How to Pack the Perfect School Lunch

Pack the Perfect School Lunch

Avoid a lunch built on refined carbohydrates, as the intake ?of quick-burning carbs will leave your kid with an energy and attention deficit for the rest of the day. Focus instead on protein, fiber, and healthy fats that will help keep your kid satisfied, keep his…

How to Pack the Perfect School Lunch

Energy, manufacturing to lead Obama, Modi talks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama and new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday plan to discuss issues ranging from manufacturing to sanitation as the two leaders aim to deepen ties.

Obama and Modi were scheduled to meet at the White House…

Energy, manufacturing to lead Obama, Modi talks

Energy, manufacturing to lead Obama, Modi talks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama and new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday plan to discuss issues ranging from manufacturing to sanitation as the two leaders aim to deepen ties. Obama and Modi were scheduled to meet at the White House…

Source:Energy, manufacturing to lead Obama, Modi talks

Children of Ebola dead shunned by families: UNICEF

Dakar (AFP) – Thousands of children who have lost parents to the west African Ebola epidemic risk are being shunned by frightened and suspicious relatives, the UN children’s fund said on Tuesday. The outbreak has claimed more than 3,000 lives this year in Guinea, Liberia and…

Source:Children of Ebola dead shunned by families: UNICEF

Heirloom Healthcare for the Poor

This is a guest post by James Nardella, executive director of Lwala Community Alliance, a partner of Segal Family Foundation. You can go to any chain grocery store in the United States or Europe and find conventionally-grown tomatoes year round. They always look the same no matter the…

Source:Heirloom Healthcare for the Poor

Caffeine-infused underwear not a weight loss aid, US regulators say

Bras, girdles and leggings infused with caffeine and sold as weight loss aids were more decaf than espresso, and the companies that sold them have agreed to refund money to customers and pull their ads, U.S. regulators said on Monday. The Federal Trade Commission said Wacoal America and Norm…

Source:Caffeine-infused underwear not a weight loss aid, US regulators say

Beer flavonoid may boost brain power

A compound found in hops— one of the basic ingredients of beer— is capable of improving memory and thought patterns in mice, reported Quartz. In a new study from Oregon State University, researchers sought to found out if xanthohumol, a flavonoid found only in hops, could slow down pal…

Source:Beer flavonoid may boost brain power

Ebola poses threat to Ivory Coast cocoa output, exporters say

ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Cocoa exporters in the Ivory Coast are fuelling market fears of potential supply shortages that have driven prices to 3-1/2 year highs, warning output could drop dramatically if the Ebola virus spills into the world’s top grower. Despite expectations of a…

Source:Ebola poses threat to Ivory Coast cocoa output, exporters say

New cancer therapy comes of age, cost a 'toxic' side effect

MADRID (Reuters) – A raft of new cancer drugs promise better, longer-lasting treatments with fewer adverse side effects — but their high cost is a growing concern. Drugs that help the body’s own immune cells fight tumors are expected to be used in multi-drug cocktails,…

Source:New cancer therapy comes of age, cost a ‘toxic’ side effect

Herceptin Best for Certain Breast Cancer Patients, Study Says

TUESDAY Sept. 30, 2014, 2014 — Herceptin is the best drug treatment for a type of breast cancer called HER2-positive and should remain the standard of care for that type of tumor, according to new findings from a long-term clinical trial. HER2-positive breast cancers tend to be more…

Source:Herceptin Best for Certain Breast Cancer Patients, Study Says

Can Exercise Prevent Type 2 Diabetes? Your Genes May Be Key

TUESDAY Sept. 30, 2014, 2014 — For millions of overweight Americans, regular exercise remains a prime weapon against excess weight and the threat of type 2 diabetes. However, a new study suggests that the battle may be tougher for some than for others, depending on their…

Source:Can Exercise Prevent Type 2 Diabetes? Your Genes May Be Key

When It Comes to Sex Partners, Men Prefer Younger Women: Study

TUESDAY Sept. 30, 2014, 2014 — In books and movies, plots involving older men chasing much younger women abound. Now, new research suggests that the stereotype may be grounded in fact. In the study, psychologists looked at data on more than 12,000 people from Finland. The researchers, led…

Source:When It Comes to Sex Partners, Men Prefer Younger Women: Study

A Yogi In Uniform (Gorgeous Photos From LA)

All around us, there are people in every field creating the life they want to live. It is a privilege to recognize and celebrate the good in this world, and point towards it. When we enter a dark room and flip the light switch on, the darkness disappears. I’d like to share with you, a…

Source:A Yogi In Uniform (Gorgeous Photos From LA)

Children of Ebola dead shunned by families: UNICEF

Dakar (AFP) – Thousands of children who have lost parents to the west African Ebola epidemic risk are being shunned by frightened and suspicious relatives, the UN children’s fund said on Tuesday.

The outbreak has claimed more than 3,000 lives this year in Guinea, Liberia and…

Children of Ebola dead shunned by families: UNICEF

Heirloom Healthcare for the Poor

This is a guest post by James Nardella, executive director of Lwala Community Alliance, a partner of Segal Family Foundation.

You can go to any chain grocery store in the United States or Europe and find conventionally-grown tomatoes year round. They always look the same no matter the…

Heirloom Healthcare for the Poor

Caffeine-infused underwear not a weight loss aid, US regulators say

Bras, girdles and leggings infused with caffeine and sold as weight loss aids were more decaf than espresso, and the companies that sold them have agreed to refund money to customers and pull their ads, U.S. regulators said on Monday.

The Federal Trade Commission said Wacoal America and Norm…

Caffeine-infused underwear not a weight loss aid, US regulators say

Beer flavonoid may boost brain power

A compound found in hops— one of the basic ingredients of beer— is capable of improving memory and thought patterns in mice, reported Quartz.

In a new study from Oregon State University, researchers sought to found out if xanthohumol, a flavonoid found only in hops, could slow down pal…

Beer flavonoid may boost brain power

Ebola poses threat to Ivory Coast cocoa output, exporters say

ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Cocoa exporters in the Ivory Coast are fuelling market fears of potential supply shortages that have driven prices to 3-1/2 year highs, warning output could drop dramatically if the Ebola virus spills into the world’s top grower.

Despite expectations of a…

Ebola poses threat to Ivory Coast cocoa output, exporters say

New cancer therapy comes of age, cost a ‘toxic’ side effect

MADRID (Reuters) – A raft of new cancer drugs promise better, longer-lasting treatments with fewer adverse side effects — but their high cost is a growing concern.

Drugs that help the body’s own immune cells fight tumors are expected to be used in multi-drug cocktails,…

New cancer therapy comes of age, cost a ‘toxic’ side effect

Herceptin Best for Certain Breast Cancer Patients, Study Says

TUESDAY Sept. 30, 2014, 2014 — Herceptin is the best drug treatment for a type of breast cancer called HER2-positive and should remain the standard of care for that type of tumor, according to new findings from a long-term clinical trial.

HER2-positive breast cancers tend to be more…

Herceptin Best for Certain Breast Cancer Patients, Study Says

Can Exercise Prevent Type 2 Diabetes? Your Genes May Be Key

TUESDAY Sept. 30, 2014, 2014 — For millions of overweight Americans, regular exercise remains a prime weapon against excess weight and the threat of type 2 diabetes.

However, a new study suggests that the battle may be tougher for some than for others, depending on their…

Can Exercise Prevent Type 2 Diabetes? Your Genes May Be Key

When It Comes to Sex Partners, Men Prefer Younger Women: Study

TUESDAY Sept. 30, 2014, 2014 — In books and movies, plots involving older men chasing much younger women abound.

Now, new research suggests that the stereotype may be grounded in fact.

In the study, psychologists looked at data on more than 12,000 people from Finland.

The researchers, led…

When It Comes to Sex Partners, Men Prefer Younger Women: Study

New learning mechanism for individual nerve cells

[ | E-mail ] Contact: Germund Hesslowgermund.hesslow@med.lu.se 46-703-481-219Lund University@lunduniversity The traditional view is that learning is based on the strengthening or weakening of the contacts between the nerve cells in the brain. However, this has been challenged by new…

Source:New learning mechanism for individual nerve cells

Erectile dysfunction drugs could affect vision of genetically susceptible users

[ | E-mail ] Contact: Deborah Smithdeborah.smith@unsw.edu.au 61-293-857-307University of New South Wales@UNSWnews Sildenafil, the active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra, could cause unusual visual responses in people who carry a common mutation for eye disease and…

Source:Erectile dysfunction drugs could affect vision of genetically susceptible users

New learning mechanism for individual nerve cells

[

| E-mail

]

Contact: Germund Hesslowgermund.hesslow@med.lu.se

46-703-481-219Lund University@lunduniversity

The traditional view is that learning is based on the strengthening or weakening of the contacts between the nerve cells in the brain. However, this has been challenged by new…

New learning mechanism for individual nerve cells

Erectile dysfunction drugs could affect vision of genetically susceptible users

[

| E-mail

]

Contact: Deborah Smithdeborah.smith@unsw.edu.au

61-293-857-307University of New South Wales@UNSWnews

Sildenafil, the active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra, could cause unusual visual responses in people who carry a common mutation for eye disease and…

Erectile dysfunction drugs could affect vision of genetically susceptible users

First mapping that reveals the molecular pathway for MDSC cancer progression

[

| E-mail

]

Contact: Michael Petrmichael.petr@insilicomedicine.comInSilico Medicine, Inc.@InSilicoMeds

InSilico Medicine and partners provide a clear, illustrative map that allows scientists to understand MDSC conditions, and furthermore the means to infiltrate them

Scientists from…

First mapping that reveals the molecular pathway for MDSC cancer progression

First mapping that reveals the molecular pathway for MDSC cancer progression

[ | E-mail ] Contact: Michael Petrmichael.petr@insilicomedicine.comInSilico Medicine, Inc.@InSilicoMeds InSilico Medicine and partners provide a clear, illustrative map that allows scientists to understand MDSC conditions, and furthermore the means to infiltrate them Scientists from…

Source:First mapping that reveals the molecular pathway for MDSC cancer progression

Benzodiazepine sedatives linked to higher rates of mortality compared to propofol

[ | E-mail ] Contact: Julie Kieferjkiefer@neuro.utah.edu 801-597-4258University of Utah Health Sciences AUDIO: Sedation is commonly used in the intensive care unit (ICU) to make patients that require mechanical ventilation more comfortable, and less anxious. What many…

Source:Benzodiazepine sedatives linked to higher rates of mortality compared to propofol

How to make a 'perfect' solar absorber

[ | E-mail ] Contact: Andrew Carleenacarleen@mit.edu 617-253-1682Massachusetts Institute of Technology@MITnews New system aims to harness the full spectrum of available solar radiation CAMBRIDGE, Mass–The key to creating a material that would be ideal for converting solar energy…

Source:How to make a ‘perfect’ solar absorber

Athletics-What they say about parkrun

(Refile of story issued Sept. 26 fixing first name of Hugh Brasher (from Chris) in second para) By Mitch Phillips LONDON, Sept 26 (Reuters) – What people have said about parkrun, which celebrates its 10th anniversary on Oct. 4. Hugh…

Source:Athletics-What they say about parkrun

Steroid-fattened cows spark health fears in Bangladesh on Eid

Dhaka (AFP) – Bangladesh sent medical teams on Tuesday to check millions of cows set for slaughter due to fears they have been pumped with banned steroids for fattening ahead of the Eid holiday. Some ten million cows and goats are expected to be slaughtered during the major Muslim…

Source:Steroid-fattened cows spark health fears in Bangladesh on Eid

3 tips for following low-carb diets

Doesn’t it seem like a new fad diet pops up every day? One may think that we would eventually run out of food combinations, but new trends just keep emerging. Many of them are variations on the same core principles and any way you cut it, low-carb and low-fat diets are still all the rage….

Source:3 tips for following low-carb diets

2-year-old girl becomes Atlanta hospital’s 300th heart transplant

My Fox Atlanta After waiting seven months for a transplant, a Georgia toddler finally has a new heart. Brynslet Sellers, 2, became the 300th child to receive a heart transplant at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta earlier this month, MyFoxAtlanta.com r…

Source:2-year-old girl becomes Atlanta hospital’s 300th heart transplant

France uses tax to put pressure on hepatitis C drug prices

PARIS (Reuters) – France will tax drugmakers whose costly hepatitis C drugs threaten to throw off course its healthcare budget, the government has said, heaping pressure on pharmaceutical companies like Gilead Sciences to cut their prices. The Socialist government said it had designed…

Source:France uses tax to put pressure on hepatitis C drug prices

New cancer therapy comes of age, cost a "toxic" side effect

MADRID (Reuters) – A raft of new cancer drugs promise better, longer-lasting treatments with fewer adverse side effects — but their high cost is a growing concern. Drugs that help the body’s own immune cells fight tumors are expected to be used in multi-drug cocktails,…

Source:New cancer therapy comes of age, cost a “toxic” side effect

Health Tip: Get Physical Activity

– Hitting the gym or going for a run are great ways to exercise, but there are lots of other ways to burn calories. The Weight-loss Information Network suggests how to get more physical activity each day: Aerobic exercises, such as biking, jogging, swimming or walking. Strength training…

Source:Health Tip: Get Physical Activity

Health Tip: Curbing Nighttime Nursing

– Older babies may be able to sleep through the night, but may still wake up to nurse. The University of Michigan Health System suggests how to curb baby’s nighttime nursing: Offer more frequent feedings throughout the day. Encourage baby to fall asleep without being nursed, such…

Source:Health Tip: Curbing Nighttime Nursing

What I Wish People Understood About Pole Dancing

I love pole dancing. I tell everyone I know how amazing it is, but because of the reactions I’ve gotten in the past, I haven’t always been eager to open up about it. When I tell people about my pole dancing classes, I sometimes get raised eyebrows or an awkward silence. I know…

Source:What I Wish People Understood About Pole Dancing

AUDIO: Partner stopping chemo was 'dreadful'

Actress Lynda Bellingham says she plans to stop receiving chemotherapy for her terminal cancer in November. The 66-year-old Oxo advert star and Loose Women panellist told the Sunday Mirror she wanted one last Christmas with her family, and then pass away “the natural way”. 5 live…

Source:AUDIO: Partner stopping chemo was ‘dreadful’

Heart disease warnings 'missed'

29 September 2014 Last updated at 00:00 By Helen Briggs Health editor, BBC News website Many adults in the UK are unaware of the risk factors for heart disease, according to a new poll. While a third of people are worried about…

Source:Heart disease warnings ‘missed’

Midwives vote for strike action

29 September 2014 Last updated at 17:11 By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News Midwives will be joining other NHS workers in England in a strike over pay next month. The Royal College of Midwives announced 82% of its…

Source:Midwives vote for strike action

Drug for kidney injury after cardiac surgery does not reduce need for dialysis

Among patients with acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery, infusion with the antihypertensive agent fenoldopam, compared with placebo, did not reduce the need for renal replacement therapy (dialysis) or risk of death at 30 days, but was associated with an increased rate of abnormally low…

Source:Drug for kidney injury after cardiac surgery does not reduce need for dialysis

Experiences trump things, even before purchase

(HealthDay)—People derive value from the anticipation of purchasing something, and this anticipation tends to be greater for an experiential purchase than for a material purchase, according to a study published online Aug. 21 in Psychological Science. Amit Kumar, from Cornell University in I…

Source:Experiences trump things, even before purchase

Single-neuron 'hub' orchestrates activity of an entire brain circuit

The idea of mapping the brain is not new. Researchers have known for years that the key to treating, curing, and even preventing brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury, is to understand how the brain records, processes, stores, and retrieves…

Source:Single-neuron ‘hub’ orchestrates activity of an entire brain circuit

Decision to reintroduce aprotinin in cardiac surgery may put patients at risk

Cardiac surgery patients may be at risk because of the decision by Health Canada and the European Medicines Agency to reintroduce the use of aprotinin after its withdrawal from the worldwide market in 2007, assert the authors of a previous major trial that found a substantially increased risk…

Source:Decision to reintroduce aprotinin in cardiac surgery may put patients at risk

Exploring the Links Between Empathy, Neurohormones, and Aggression

Design of the Study Empathic impulses are aimed at reducing the suffering of the target of empathy. Sometimes aggression may be the response that is perceived to best address the need of the other, or best suited to end their suffering. This effect may, in part, be due in part to physiological…

Source:Exploring the Links Between Empathy, Neurohormones, and Aggression

How the British and Americans Are Changing Their Sexual Habits

If, as Philip Larkin claimed, sex began in 1963, it appears to be fizzling to an end in the early decades of the 21st century. We British, never international avatars of sexual prowess, now seem to be living up to our billing: we are too tired, too stressed, or too drunk to screw. Surveys from…

Source:How the British and Americans Are Changing Their Sexual Habits

Save the Humans

A few years ago, I was talking with Al Gore (yes, I’m name dropping). I asked him a very simple and pointed question: “Animal agriculture contributes about 18 percent of the gases that cause climate change. Why didn’t you mention this in your book or movie?” His…

Source:Save the Humans

Am I My Own Worst Enemy?

How does it feel when you beat up on yourself? Remember those times when you heard an inner voice telling you: You can’t do that! Remember how badly you messed up the last time you tried it? You’re not skilled enough… experienced enough… or even smart enough…

Source:Am I My Own Worst Enemy?

UN’s Ebola virus HQ opens in Ghana

The UN mission to combat Ebola opened its headquarters on Monday in Ghana, where it will coordinate aid for the accelerating West African crisis.

The spread of Ebola has spiralled into the worst ever outbreak, and the World Health Organization says it is has linked more than 3,000 deaths to the…

UN’s Ebola virus HQ opens in Ghana

Is your brain male or female?

29 September 2014

Last updated at 02:02

By Dr Michael Mosley

BBC

Do you have a “male” or “female” brain? Are there really significant brain differences between the sexes and if so, do these differences…

Is your brain male or female?

VIDEO: Dementia friendly design

There are an estimated 44 million people with dementia worldwide, and that figure is set to escalate dramatically over the coming decades.

For those with the condition, well-designed surroundings can make a real difference – and can even increase life expectancy.

A centre in Scotland…

VIDEO: Dementia friendly design

AUDIO: Partner stopping chemo was ‘dreadful’

Actress Lynda Bellingham says she plans to stop receiving chemotherapy for her terminal cancer in November.

The 66-year-old Oxo advert star and Loose Women panellist told the Sunday Mirror she wanted one last Christmas with her family, and then pass away “the natural way”.

5 live…

AUDIO: Partner stopping chemo was ‘dreadful’

Heart disease warnings ‘missed’

29 September 2014

Last updated at 00:00

By Helen Briggs

Health editor, BBC News website

Many adults in the UK are unaware of the risk factors for heart disease, according to a new poll.

While a third of people are worried about…

Heart disease warnings ‘missed’

Midwives vote for strike action

29 September 2014

Last updated at 17:11

By Nick Triggle

Health correspondent, BBC News

Midwives will be joining other NHS workers in England in a strike over pay next month.

The Royal College of Midwives announced 82% of its…

Midwives vote for strike action

Drug for kidney injury after cardiac surgery does not reduce need for dialysis

Among patients with acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery, infusion with the antihypertensive agent fenoldopam, compared with placebo, did not reduce the need for renal replacement therapy (dialysis) or risk of death at 30 days, but was associated with an increased rate of abnormally low…

Drug for kidney injury after cardiac surgery does not reduce need for dialysis

Experiences trump things, even before purchase

(HealthDay)—People derive value from the anticipation of purchasing something, and this anticipation tends to be greater for an experiential purchase than for a material purchase, according to a study published online Aug. 21 in Psychological Science.

Amit Kumar, from Cornell University in I…

Experiences trump things, even before purchase