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Illicit drug haul in Newtown: children exposed to drug fumes

In a shocking report a Newtown, Sydney couple have been arrested and charged with exposing their young children to fumes while they were allegedly cooking drugs in their unit. The police raid also found illegal drugs like amphetamines, pseudoephedrine tablets, marijuana and syringes.

5 Apr 2010

Gene duplications can lead to functional diversity in organisms

New information about early Native Americans' horticultural practices comes not from hieroglyphs or other artifacts, but from a suite of four gene duplicates found in wild and domesticated sunflowers.

5 Apr 2010

16 kg Kava seized: an Aboriginal elder arrested in connection

16 kilograms of Kava was seized by the Northern Territory Police as they arrested a well respected 56-year-old Aboriginal elder in connection. He will appear in court this May. Police from Ramingining in Arnhem Land stopped a Toyota Landcruiser at Barge Landing Road on Good Friday. The haul included 16 kg of Kava and small amounts of Cannabis. A police spokewoman revealed on Monday, "The Kava had a street value of $16,000 and was headed for Milingimbi Island before it was intercepted by police."

5 Apr 2010

H70 study: People become more and more different as they age

The older we get, the more different we become. This is the conclusion of a study that followed people from their 70th to their 90th year of life. 'Old people are usually thought of as a rather homogenous group - they are considered to be ill, lonely and unable to take care of themselves. But the truth is that the differences among people grow with age,' says Bo G Eriksson, University of Gothenburg.

5 Apr 2010

Fear of ruptures spurs recall of silicone breast implants in France

Breast enhancement surgery utilizes implants that are essentially bags containing silicone gel. One of the commonest complications of this procedure is the rupture of these silicone implants that may necessitate a repeat procedure. In a new development the implants made French company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP), have reportedly double the risk of rupturing than other implants. Many breast implants used by Australian women have been recalled overseas for containing unauthorised silicone gel.

5 Apr 2010

Sebelius: Department to implement temporary high risk pool program

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will announce one of the first steps the Department is taking to implement the temporary high risk pool program called for in the new health reform law on a conference call with reporters at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

5 Apr 2010

Rebirth of the cursed drug Thalidomide

Thalidomide was once a dreaded name in the Pharmaceutical industry. It was initially marketed in some European countries nearly 5 decades back as a sedative and after millions of pregnant women took it for morning sickness it had devastating results on the babies. The babies were born with flippers instead of limbs a condition known as phocomelia. Since then it has been under strict control.

5 Apr 2010

Opexa Therapeutics to discuss on personalized medicine for treatment of MS

Opexa Therapeutics, Inc., a company developing a novel T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis, announced today that the company will participate in a panel discussion on Personalized Medicine for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis on April 7, 2010.

5 Apr 2010

Is relief round the corner for multiple sclerosis patients in the form of bee stings?

A recent development can raise the hopes of many sufferers of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – a dreaded, debilitating, fatal nerve disorder. Charity worker Sami Chugg, 45, claims to have overcome her condition after being stung by bees.

5 Apr 2010

Demand for kosher products grows on compliance with strict Jewish standards

Here's a paradox for Passover and year-round: With observant Jews numbering barely one million in a United States population of 310 million, why are 40-50 percent of food items on supermarket shelves kosher? Those and other insights into the amazing and constantly growing popularity of kosher foods appear in an article in Chemical & Engineering News, ACS' weekly newsmagazine.

5 Apr 2010

Three companies named as finalists in the North of Boston Business Plan competition

The Enterprise Center at Salem State College today announced that three companies have been named as finalists in the North of Boston Business Plan competition. The finalists include companies that provide online local advertising, environmentally responsible household products and a solar energy business.

5 Apr 2010

Inflammation has a role to play in premature births and brain injury: Sahlgrenska Academy thesis

Researchers have gone some way to explaining what happens during premature births and how brain injury develops in premature babies. New findings show that inflammation in both the amniotic fluid and the baby's brain has a role to play, reveals a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy.

5 Apr 2010

Palo Alto Networks study: Intensity of Enterprise 2.0 application usage is on the rise

The intensity of Enterprise 2.0 application usage is on the rise globally – especially in the most highly regulated industries, according to the latest study conducted by Palo Alto Networks™, the network security company. While social media is pervasive in organizations worldwide, usage has far outpaced controls.

5 Apr 2010

Diabetic tests must be regulated

As a benchmark for diagnosing diabetes, the importance of the A1C test must be reevaluated to improve glycemic numeracy of policy makers, patients and providers – who must make real-world decisions. This is based on a commentary published by Wiley-Blackwell in the Journal of Diabetes.

5 Apr 2010

Are Australians popping too many pills?

These reports have emerged from a Daily Telegraph investigation. Australian Medical Association vice president, GP and former Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee member Dr Steve Hambleton said the resons for these trends may include the increasing population of the aged, newer medicines as well as a rise in chronic lifestyle ailments like diabetes and high blood pressure.

5 Apr 2010

Research may help develop new ways to diagnose and treat communication disorders

An international research consortium has identified more than 800 genes that appear to play a role in the male zebra finch's ability to learn elaborate songs from his father. The researchers also found evidence that song behavior engages complex gene regulatory networks within the brain of the songbird- networks that rely on parts of the genome once considered junk.

5 Apr 2010

Why is the genome project not yielding results faster?

As the genome projects reaches the 10 year landmark scientists are defending it. While the sequencing of the 3 billion letters in the human DNA took a long time the first draft of the human genome was presented ten years ago. Today it is possible to have your individual DNA mapped in a day and at the low cost of $5,000.

5 Apr 2010

Flu vaccine shortage in New Zealand

The overwhelming demand for the flu vaccine has been seen as the biggest cause for its shortage in New Zealand. Despite 530,000 doses of the vaccine being distributed last month, there are some medical practices where the supply is woefully inadequate to meet the demand. This has resulted in the Ministry of Health bringing in shipments of 95,000 more doses.

5 Apr 2010

New report questions the kinetics of T cell receptors

T cell receptors are among the most important molecules in the immune system because of their role in recognizing the antigens that signal such threats as viruses and cancer. The receptors must also distinguish these threats from the body's own cells to avoid triggering an unwanted immune system response.

5 Apr 2010

Attack on ‘junk food’ marketing to cut down on obesity

Amidst warnings of the obesity epidemic health authorities voicing their concern called for restrictions on fast non healthy food and alcohol advertising. Australia is one of the most overweight nations in the world, with more than 60% of adults and 25% children overweight or obese.

5 Apr 2010