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For overweight and obese individuals, the incidence of asthma increases by 50 percent

Asthma, a respiratory disease characterized by recurrent episodes of difficult breathing, wheezing, cough and thick mucus production, affected approximately 20.5 million Americans in 2004. Some common asthma triggers are allergic stimuli, infections, stress or strenuous exercise.

4 Apr 2007

Number of children worldwide with hearing impairment is increasing

Although newborn babies in rich countries routinely have their hearing tested, the major global health agencies, such as the World Bank and Unicef, have not prioritized funding for newborn hearing tests in poor countries, writes Dr Bolajoko Olusanya (University of Lagos, Nigeria and University College London, UK) in PLoS Medicine.

4 Apr 2007

Walk your way to better health

What if someone told you, you could walk your way to better health?

4 Apr 2007

Researchers identify new player in the 'fat from food' game

UCLA investigators have identified a new molecule that may help regulate the delivery of fats to cells for energy and storage.

4 Apr 2007

Scientists identify new molecule that may help regulate the delivery of fats to cells

Published in the April issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, the finding could lead to a better understanding of how we utilize fats from the foods we eat.

4 Apr 2007

Researchers document rare case of hepatitis B virus transmission

Researchers have documented a case of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission between two patients at a dentist's office in the United States.

4 Apr 2007

Study suggests there's a role for religious institutions to play in the fight against HIV

HIV-positive people who say religion is an important part of their lives are likely to have fewer sexual partners and engage in high-risk sexual behavior less frequently than other people with the virus that causes AIDS, according to a study issued today by the RAND Corporation.

4 Apr 2007

Research holds promise for new techniques for pancreas cell manipulation

Replacing faulty or missing cells with new insulin-making cells has been the object of diabetes research for the last decade. Past studies in tissue culture have suggested that one type of pancreas cell could be coaxed to transform into insulin-producing islet cells.

3 Apr 2007

Recognition for cancer researchers

World-class cancer researchers whose science has significantly contributed to progress in the fight against cancer will be recognized April 14-18, 2007, by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) at its 2007 Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, Calif.

3 Apr 2007

Heart muscle cell death is an active and ongoing process in heart failure

Using a nuclear medicine technique and molecular imaging to "see" programmed cell loss, the body's normal way of getting rid of unneeded or abnormal cells, may help in early identification of those individuals who are at risk of developing heart failure, say researchers in the April Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

3 Apr 2007

Women ages 40 to 49 urged to consult with doctors before undergoing routine mammography

The American College of Physicians, which represents about 120,000 internists, in the April 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine recommend that women ages 40 to 49 consult with their doctors about whether to undergo routine mammography screening, the Washington Post reports.

3 Apr 2007

Debate continues over access to experimental medications for terminally ill

USA Today on Monday examined the debate over whether patients with terminal illnesses should have expanded access to experimental medications -- an issue currently under consideration in a lawsuit before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

3 Apr 2007

Filtering white cells from donor blood before transfusion is much safer for patients

The practice of removing the white cells from blood is called leukoreduction. But despite the recommendations of two national advisory committees in 10 years that voted in favor of all patients in the United States receiving leukoreduced blood, ("universal leukoreduction"), the practice is still not wholly supported in the medical community, nor recommended by the Food and Drug Administration. Part of the reason is fear of increased cost.

3 Apr 2007

British Medical Association pledges help to junior doctors as 4500 jobs go missing

The British Medical Association (BMA) is to advise junior doctors on their options if they are not appointed to a new job through the discredited Medical Training Application Service (MTAS).

3 Apr 2007

Researchers spot molecular player in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes

Scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College have identified a protein called Rab10 as an important partner in the insulin-mediated uptake of glucose by cells, opening the way to potential new drug targets for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.

3 Apr 2007

Advances in clinical cardiology

Three studies being presented at the American College of Cardiology's Innovation in Intervention: i2 Summit 2007 in New Orleans, La., highlight the breadth of research propelling advances in clinical cardiology.

3 Apr 2007

Protein alpha synuclein plays important role in regulation of dopamine function

SNCA mutations can lead to significant problems, such as the neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson's disease, which is caused by a substantially reduced production of dopamine.

3 Apr 2007

New hope for a rabies cure

The appeal, by Rodney Willoughby, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics, appears in the April 2007 issue of Scientific American.

3 Apr 2007

Preventive health examinations may provide opportunities for cancer screening

Health plan members who receive preventive health examinations, as opposed to going to a physician only when they are sick, appear more likely to undergo testing for colorectal, breast and prostate cancers, according to a report in the March 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

3 Apr 2007

Polymers show promise for gene delivery

Virginia Tech polymer scientists have developed a new family of gene vectors , novel polymers that can ferry genetic material across the cell membrane so that it can be incorporated into the machinery of the cell.

3 Apr 2007