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Study looks at sleep deprived nurses and driving

Hospital staff nurses who work extended hours, work at night, struggle to remain awake at work, or obtain less sleep are more likely to experience a drowsy driving episode, according to a study published in the December 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.

3 Dec 2007

Boosting an exercise-related gene in the brain works as a powerful anti-depressant in mice

This finding could lead to a new anti-depressant drug target, according to a Yale School of Medicine report in Nature Medicine.

3 Dec 2007

New prototype colour 3D X-ray system

Scientists at The University of Manchester have developed a new x-ray technique that could be used to detect hidden explosives, drugs and human cancers more effectively.

From The University of Manchester 3 Dec 2007

New classification system for rare lung diseases in infants

A new classification system of rare lung diseases in infants is improving diagnosis and treatment.

3 Dec 2007

Not enough sleep raises the risk for diabetes

The most common factors believed to contribute to diabetes are a decreased amount of physical activity and access to highly palatable processed foods.

3 Dec 2007

HIV rates among MSM vastly higher than general population in developing countries

Responding to a new study demonstrating the severity of the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) in low- and middle-income countries, amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, called on policymakers to put aside their prejudices and to provide the resources and the leadership that the epidemic demands.

3 Dec 2007

Broccoli shows benefits for epidermolysis bullosa simplex

The compound sulforaphane whose natural precursors are found at high levels in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables has been hailed for its chemopreventive powers against cancer.

3 Dec 2007

Napping more efficient than coffee in keeping young people awake

Coffee is an effective countermeasure to sleepiness for both young and middle-aged people.

3 Dec 2007

Merck Serono's Cyanokit approved in Europe

Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, announced today that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for its product Cyanokit (active substance: hydroxocobalamin) for the treatment of known or suspected cyanide poisoning in both adults and the pediatric population.

3 Dec 2007

Benefits of ibuprofen shown to outweigh risks of gastrointestinal bleeding in children with cystic fibrosis

Treatment with ibuprofen is associated with a significantly slower rate of decline in lung function in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis, according to a new study.

3 Dec 2007

Human embryonic stem cell -- derived bone tissue closes massive skull injury

There are mice in Baltimore whose skulls were made whole again by bone tissue grown from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).

3 Dec 2007

Hazards of CT scans overstated

Concerns over possible radiation effects of CT scans detailed in a report yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine should not scare people away from getting medically needed CT scans, as the scans play a critical role in saving the lives of thousands of people every day, according to an official with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM).

2 Dec 2007

Direct-to-consumer advertising for commercial genetic testing is on the rise and may be problematic

Direct-to-consumer advertising for commercial genetic testing is on the rise and may be problematic, according to a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) physician. In the December issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Erin Tracy, MD, MPH, warns that such testing is poorly regulated and may present potential pitfalls for patients and physicians.

2 Dec 2007

Brain patterns of former anorexics reveal clues to disorder's lasting impact

Even after more than a year of maintaining a normalized body weight, young women who recovered from anorexia nervosa show vastly different patterns of brain activity compared to similar women without the eating disorder, Walter H. Kaye, M.D., professor of psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and colleagues report in the December issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

2 Dec 2007

Altered sex hormone levels, higher body temp affects sleep quality in postmenopausal women

In an examination of potential relationships between objective sleep measures, nocturnal sex hormone levels, and the nocturnal course of body temperature of older postmenopausal women, a study published in the December 1, 2007 issue of the journal SLEEP finds that altered levels of both sex hormones and gonadotropins may contribute to sleep disturbance in older postmenopausal women and confirm the results of previous studies indicating that higher body temperature is associated with poorer sleep quality.

2 Dec 2007