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Specific genes identified that are most likely to become cancer promoters when exposed to DNA promoter hypermethylation

Hypermethylation is a process that causes genes that promote normal cell growth to produce proteins that cause malignant behavior, or unregulated cell growth. Until now, data has been very limited regarding the mechanism and causes of hypermethylation, especially for hypermethylation in breast cancer.

15 May 2007

Peanut allergies overstated

Despite hundreds of families being told their children have peanut allergies every year, many of the children may be able to eat peanuts safely, a study by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Sydney Children's Hospital has found.

15 May 2007

Being overweight or obese increases risk of traumatic workplace injury

Having a body mass index (BMI) in the overweight or obese range increases the risk of traumatic workplace injury, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for Injury Research and Policy. Employer-sponsored weight loss and maintenance programs should be considered as part of a well-rounded workplace safety plan.

15 May 2007

Medical training in the UK - Patients will be in the vanguard, as doctors disappear

A group of doctors from across the UK have expressed fears that the careers of 10,000 junior doctors could be irreparably damaged because of the disastrous mistakes in the Medical Training and Application Service (MTAS).

15 May 2007

Go green to avoid the blues!

Recently released figures have revealed that a growing number of people in the UK are receiving treatment for depression and prescriptions for antidepressant have reached an all-time high.

15 May 2007

Bird flu strikes again in Indonesia - death toll now 76

Health officials say two sets of tests have confirmed the woman died of bird flu, she was hospitalised in Medan, North Sumatra on May 8th with fever and respiratory problems and died four days later.

15 May 2007

FluMist gets FDA green light

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States says FluMist, an influenza vaccine made by MedImmune appears to be safe for young children even though the influenza vaccine is still under review.

15 May 2007

Role of PCI and coronary artery bypass grafting for the treatment of patients with left main coronary artery disease

Coronary artery bypass surgery has been the preferred treatment for patients with a blockage in the left main coronary artery, the conduit that supplies blood to about two-thirds of the heart.

15 May 2007

Ethical reasoning and epidemiological studies

Medical research scientists in public health and other areas routinely make ethical value judgments, even if they're not aware of it, according to a new Weill Cornell Medical College research study.

15 May 2007

Drugs users increasingly more cautious about using needles

Even though HIV can be well treated these days, drug users are still more cautious about using needles than they used to be.

15 May 2007

Researchers design cell culture test for assessing a compound's genetic toxicity - cheaper than animal tests

In the daunting marathon that leads to successful drugs, promising drug candidates must pass toxicity tests before entering clinical trials.

15 May 2007

Is the 90-minute deadline for inflation of angioplasty balloons really critical?

In the treatment of heart attack, the 90-minute goal for inflation of an angioplasty balloon in a blocked coronary artery to restore normal blood flow is so revered it's been codified in clinical guidelines, accreditation standards, and pay-for-performance programs.

15 May 2007

Synthetic hard and soft tissue for humans

Missing bones after an accident? Arteries destroyed by disease? An international team of DCU researchers have begun work on ways of producing synthetic hard and soft tissue for humans that could revolutionise treatment for people affected by disease and trauma.

15 May 2007

Carrots may slow down the rate of ageing

Researchers at the Universities of Glasgow and Exeter have found that eating certain plant substances can slow down the rate of ageing - and that females prefer mates that will be long-lived.

15 May 2007

Computer models predict mechanical stresses in any region of the skeleton

Journal of Biomechanics, the most prestigious journal in biomechanical research, published on 12 April 2007 the electronic preprint of a paper entitled: "Schileo E, Taddei F, Malandrino A, Cristofolini L, Viceconti M. Subject-specific finite element models can accurately predict strain levels in long bones. J Biomech. 2007 Apr 12'".

15 May 2007

Coenzyme Q10 does not improve Parkinson's disease symptoms

Small doses of the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 appear to increase blood levels of this naturally occurring compound in patients with Parkinson's disease, but does not improve Parkinson's disease symptoms, according to an article posted online today that will appear in the July 2007 print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

15 May 2007

Conference looks at reproductive choices, infant feeding and teenage parenthood

Child protection, reproductive choices, infant feeding and teenage parenthood (including planned teenage pregnancy and positive experiences of teenage motherhood) are among the topics to be discussed at an international conference on childrearing in the age of ‘intensive parenting’.

15 May 2007

Female reproductive function is influenced by childhood environment

This suggests there is a critical window of time from about 0-8 years of age that determines the rate at which girls physically mature and how high their reproductive hormone levels reach as adults.

15 May 2007

Calcium plus vitamin D may help prevent weight gain in postmenopausal women

Postmenopausal women who take calcium and vitamin D supplements may gain less weight than those who do not, although the overall effect is small, according to a report in the May 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

15 May 2007

Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative increases breastfeeding rates

A new study in the May issue of the Journal of Human Lactation reports that being born in a Baby-Friendly hospital gives babies the best possible chance of breastfeeding to 6 months.

15 May 2007