Yawn News and Research

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First authoritative book on yawning

Yawning is a stereotyped phylogenetically ancient phenomenon that occurs in almost all vertebrates. As an emotional behavior and an expressive movement, yawning has many consequences; nevertheless, it has so far been poorly addressed in medical research and practice.

19 Apr 2010

Questions circle over health reform's effect on rising costs

"The White House has started to aggressively push back against a growing narrative that pending health reform legislation doesn't do enough to control spiraling health costs," Politico reports. Peter Orszag said reporters who go "on buzz and sort of loose talk," instead of doing "the hard work," were partly to blame for the pending narrative.

1 Dec 2009

National Sleep Foundation offers tips and countermeasures to prevent fall-asleep crashes

Sleepiness is often overlooked as a major contributor to vehicle crashes. The National Sleep Foundation's 2009 Sleep in America poll shows that 1% or as many as 1.9 million drivers have had a car crash or a near miss due to drowsiness in the past year. Even more surprising, 54% of drivers (105 million) have driven while drowsy at least once in the past year, and 28% (54 million) do so at least once per month.

2 Nov 2009

Baucus sends $900 billion health care proposal to 'gang of six'

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has sent his "gang of six" colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee a health overhaul proposal that would cost under $900 billion.

9 Sep 2009

Educating teenagers could lower accident risk, says NRSF

As millions of teens head back to school, many will be driving to and from classes every day.

3 Sep 2009

"Free-rider" penalty for employers draws ire from advocates, yawns from business

A "free-rider" penalty being considered by members of the Senate Finance Committee isn't getting a free ride from advocates for low-wage workers and labor unions.

30 Jul 2009

World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick's remarks - Modernizing Multilateralism and Markets

Mr. Chairman, Governors, and Distinguished Guests: Thank you for joining us at these Annual Meetings. I want to express my particular thanks to our Chairman, Zoran Stavreski, and, once again, to Agustin Carstens for his leadership of the Development Committee and his partnership as a friend.

13 Oct 2008

A dental robotic testing simulator from Bristol University

Dr. Kazem Alemzadeh in the Bio-engineering research group of Bristol University's Department of Mechanical Engineering has invented a Dental Robotic Testing Simulator called 'Dento-Munch' that can replicate human chewing, in order to test dental materials. The design inspiration was based on a human skull (structure), a spider (general look) and an aircraft simulator (dynamics and control of chewing).

29 Jul 2008

Shingles virus and vaccination

When a vaccine to prevent shingles was approved for use in 2006, the Food and Drug Administration recommended the vaccine for people age 60 and older who previously had chickenpox.

13 Dec 2007

Preventing seasickness

Seasickness is a common, dreaded, and virtually universal ailment. But with the right information and cautionary steps, it is avoidable - or at least it can be reckoned with.

28 Oct 2007

Yawning a form of communication?

If you have ever wondered why we yawn and also had your suspicions that it might be infectious or contagious the latest research on the topic will interest you.

16 Aug 2007

Varying treatment of asthma

Asthma symptoms vary greatly among individuals and vary at times with each individual.

10 Apr 2007

Health inequalities in Britain

Tackling health inequalities in Britain needs closer co-ordination between all major policy areas including health, education, housing, employment and taxation, according to the authors of a new Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) publication.

23 Jan 2007

20 percent of people with chronic pain do not seek help

A Rochester-based study has found more than 20 percent of people with chronic pain did not seek physician help for their pain. The study supports the opinion of many physicians that a large segment of patients has an unmet need for pain care.

14 Feb 2006

FDA approves jaw joint prosthetic developed by University of Pennsylvania

After a 10-year clinical trial of a jaw joint replacement developed by Peter Quinn of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, the Food and Drug Administration has given it a thumbs-up.

10 Jan 2006

Survey shows sexual health important component of overall well being for midlife and beyond

Sexual health is an essential element of the quality of life of adults 45+. AARP's recent study, Sexuality at Midlife and Beyond, updates an AARP survey from 1999, and confirms that relationships and sexuality remain at least as important, if not more so, than almost six years ago.

30 May 2005

Lack of sleep activates the body’s defence mechanisms

A lack of sleep is considered a threat situation, which activates the body’s defence mechanisms. This is the same type of response that protects the body against viruses and bacteria as well as in stress situations.

16 Mar 2005

Urinary incontinence and abdominal pain are key symptoms of ovarian cancer

Results from an Olmsted Medical Center and Mayo Clinic study analyzing symptoms recorded in the medical records of ovarian cancer patients suggest ovarian cancer, long considered asymptomatic until late-stage cancer develops, does in fact have early symptoms, including urinary incontinence and abdominal pain.

18 Nov 2004

FDA approves new breakthrough Parkinson's drug

FDA has approved Apokyn (apomorphine) as an injectable drug for treating Parkinson's patients during episodes of "hypomobility," so-called "off periods" in which the patient becomes immobile or unable to perform activities of daily living.

21 Apr 2004