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Microcystin present in Canadian lakes in every province

Nutrient pollution, one of the greatest threats to our freshwater resources, is responsible for the algal blooms that blanket our lakes and waterways in summer months. Large blooms of cyanobacteria ('blue green algae') can cause fish kills, increase the cost of drinking water treatment, devalue shoreline properties, and pose health risks to people, pets, and wildlife. A new paper just published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences shows that microcystin, a toxin produced by cyanobacteria, is present in Canadian lakes in every province.

16 Aug 2012

Excessive cleanliness may be bad for your health

Research suggests that the antibacterial chemical triclosan, commonly used in personal-care products and antibacterial soaps, may impair the function of cardiac and skeletal muscle.

15 Aug 2012

Mercury exposure hypertension concerns ‘unfounded’

Mercury exposure is not associated with an increased risk for hypertension, US research shows.

13 Aug 2012

Research on language gene seeks to uncover origins of the singing mouse

Singing mice (Scotinomys teguina) are not your average lab rats. Their fur is tawny brown instead of the common white albino strain; they hail from the tropical cloud forests in the mountains of Costa Rica; and, as their name hints, they use song to communicate.

12 Aug 2012

Lung cancer patients can be screened for ALK-inhibitor suitability

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene status in patients with lung adenocarcinoma can be determined non-invasively using circulating tumor cells, research shows.

8 Aug 2012

Creatine may fight major depression in women

Women battling stubborn major depression may have a surprising new ally in their fight—the muscle-building dietary supplement creatine.

7 Aug 2012

NeoGenomics introduces new molecular assay that detects SF3B1 gene mutations

NeoGenomics, Inc., a leading provider of cancer-focused genetic testing services, announced today that it has validated and launched the first molecular assay for clinical use in the United States that detects mutations in the SF3B1 gene (splicing factor 3b, subunit 1).

6 Aug 2012

New insights into process of eye-size control in zebrafish

A Purdue University student's research project related to zebrafish eye development could lead to a better understanding of vision problems that affect billions of people worldwide.

3 Aug 2012

Atlantic fish improves glucose and fat metabolism

Eating saury, a type of fish common to the Atlantic, has immediate beneficial effects on glucose and fat metabolism, show findings from a Japanese study.

2 Aug 2012

Link between skeletal development and Fraser syndrome deafness in mammals

Using mutant zebra fish, researchers studying the earliest formation of cartilage of the mouth believe they may have gotten a look at a mechanism involved in a genetic defect linked to Fraser syndrome deafness in humans.

1 Aug 2012

Transfer of radioactive compounds in ecosystems is not straightforward

A new study by Tiina Tuovinen, from the University of Eastern Finland, and her colleagues casts doubt over the validity of models used to assess the impact of radiation on human health. Their work is published online in Springer's journal Hydrobiologia.

1 Aug 2012

JHSPH dean expresses disappointment with USDA's retraction of Meatless Monday endorsement

On Friday, Michael J. Klag, MD, MPH, dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, wrote to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to express his disappointment with USDA's recent retraction of Meatless Monday endorsement.

31 Jul 2012

Antioxidants and pancreatic cancer risk: an interview with Dr Andrew Hart

The antioxidants that we mainly looked at were selenium, vitamin C and vitamin E. They are chemicals which inactivate pro-oxidants or free radicals. Smoking and normal metabolism can lead to the production of free radicals.

30 Jul 2012

Vitamin B12 supplements and hepatitis C treatment: an interview with Gerardo Nardone and Alba Rocco

Since its discovery in 1989, hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been recognized as a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The most recent WHO estimate of the prevalence of HCV infection is 2%, representing . about 150 million people. Every year, 3–4 million new people are infected with the hepatitis C virus, of those, approximately 60–80% develop chronic hepatitis, and 30% of them progress to cirrhosis and to end-stage liver disease.

26 Jul 2012

Egg allergy treatment for children: an interview with Dr Robert Wood

The tendency to get allergies is a fairly general one, which is mostly inherited – it tends to run in families. There are several foods that are most common for children to become allergic to: milk, egg and peanuts in most countries are the most common food allergies.

23 Jul 2012

Better diet before pregnancy lowers GDM risk

Adhering to a healthy diet before pregnancy can significantly reduce a woman’s likelihood for developing gestational diabetes mellitus, show study findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

16 Jul 2012

Ajuba protein plays a central role in regulating function of heart stem cells

It is not unusual for babies to be born with congenital heart defects. This is because the development of the heart in the embryo is a process which is not only extremely complex, but also error-prone. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim have now identified a key molecule that plays a central role in regulating the function of stem cells in the heart.

14 Jul 2012

Nutrient cocktail can boost memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment

A clinical trial of an Alzheimer's disease treatment developed at MIT has found that the nutrient cocktail can improve memory in patients with early Alzheimer's. The results confirm and expand the findings of an earlier trial of the nutritional supplement, which is designed to promote new connections between brain cells.

11 Jul 2012

Conference highlights utility of zebrafish for human disorder studies

Zebrafish, popular as aquarium fish, now have an important place in research labs as a model organism for studying human diseases.

8 Jul 2012

Key difference between spinal regeneration in fish and mammals

Yona Goldshmit, Ph.D., is a former physical therapist who worked in rehabilitation centers with spinal cord injury patients for many years before deciding to switch her focus to the underlying science.

7 Jul 2012