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Australian researchers stelp closer to discovering the cause of epileptic seizures

Scientists still do not know what causes epileptic seizures, but researchers from Melbourne's Howard Florey Institute are one step closer to solving this puzzle with the help of their newly developed genetically modified epileptic mouse.

22 Oct 2007

Pulse cooximeters help doctors determine patients' smoking status

Pulse cooximeters have long been used to identify and measure the levels of carbon monoxide (CO) in the blood of patients or firefighters.

22 Oct 2007

Emotional well-being not an independent factor affecting the prognosis of head and neck cancers

A patient's positive or negative emotional state has no direct or indirect effect on cancer survival or disease progression, according to a large scale new study.

22 Oct 2007

New role discovered for cilia

Johns Hopkins researchers and colleagues have found a previously unrecognized role for tiny hair-like cell structures known as cilia: They help form our sense of touch.

22 Oct 2007

Extract of broccoli sprouts protects from ultraviolet radiation

A team of Johns Hopkins scientists reports in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that humans can be protected against the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation - the most abundant cancer-causing agent in our environment - by topical application of an extract of broccoli sprouts.

22 Oct 2007

Breakthrough reveals important human receptor structure that will aid drug development

Scientists at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge have obtained the first clear images of the proteins that relay vital messages to cells.

22 Oct 2007

New genetic and phenotypic data involved in autism released to researchers worldwide

The Autism Consortium, a group of researchers, clinicians and families dedicated to radically accelerating research and enhancing clinical care for autism, announced today that it has completed the first genome scan for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) through its Autism Gene Discovery Project and has released the reference data set to a database that autism researchers around the world can use.

22 Oct 2007

Height may point to a biological basis for pedophilia

Height may point to a biological basis for pedophilia, according to new research released by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

22 Oct 2007

Smoking cessation programs should be tailored to age

A new study shows that obstacles to smoking cessation and motives for quitting smoking vary with age.

22 Oct 2007

Adenoscan patent lawsuits settled

Astellas Pharma Inc., King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. have announced that U.S. subsidiaries of Astellas, along with Item Development AB and King have executed settlement agreements with one of Teva's subsidiaries on lawsuits filed in the United States against Teva's subsidiaries regarding their submission of an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for a generic version of Adenoscan (adenosine injection), a pharmacologic stress agent.

22 Oct 2007

Longer-living, healthier mouse holds clues to human ageing

A study by scientists at UCL (University College London) shows that mice lacking the insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 are more resistant to ageing than normal mice.

22 Oct 2007

Six Sigma practices may provide significant benefits for hospitals

Although Six Sigma practices are widely used in the manufacturing industry, the performance improvement system also may provide significant benefits for hospitals, medical professionals, and patients.

22 Oct 2007

Prevalence of acne in adults 20 years and older

While acne is oftentimes as much a part of being a teenager as dating and Friday night football games, a new study examining the prevalence of acne in adults age 20 and older confirms that a significant proportion of adults continue to be plagued by acne well beyond the teenage years.

22 Oct 2007

Impact of income inequality on health in both rich and poor nations

A wide income gap between the most affluent and the worst off in society is closely associated with higher death rates worldwide, especially for younger adults, finds a study published on bmj.com as part of a global theme issue on poverty and human development.

22 Oct 2007

Comedy helps kids deal with pain for longer periods of time

Watching comedy shows helped children tolerate pain for longer periods of time, suggesting that humorous distraction could be used in clinical settings to help children and adolescents better handle painful procedures, according to a study which teamed UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center with the nonprofit organization Rx Laughter.

22 Oct 2007

Syngenta licenses chromatin gene stacking technology

Syngenta Biotechnology Inc. has announced that it has entered into a research and commercial license agreement for Chromatin's proprietary gene stacking technology.

22 Oct 2007

The accumulation of sugar in neurons may explain the origin of several neurodegenerative diseases

A phenomenon considered healthy for cells, such as the accumulation of long chains of glucose (glycogen), which tissues store for energy purposes, is harmful for neurons.

22 Oct 2007

Discovery of two genes linked to a disabling form of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis

An international team of researchers led by a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center geneticist has discovered two genes linked to a disabling form of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis, a painful and progressive disease in which some or all of the spine's vertebrae fuse together.

22 Oct 2007