The Latest Biology News And Medical News

Biology News

Genetic analysis helps dissect molecular basis of cardiovascular disease

11/20/2009
Using highly precise measurements of plasma lipoprotein concentrations determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), researchers led by Daniel Chasman at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, the Framingham Heart Study in Framingham, and the PROCARDIS consortium in Stockholm, Sweden and Oxford, England performed genetic association analysis acros... [Comments]

NSF awards $7.5M grant to University of Oklahoma for plant genomics

11/20/2009
A decade ago, a group of University of Oklahoma researchers were sequencing the first human chromosome as part of the human genome project. Today, the OU Advanced Center for Genome Technology is contributing to an international effort to sequence the tomato genome with a $7.5 million grant awarded by the National Science Foundation for plant genomics. "The tomato has tremendous agricult... [Comments]

Special sessions announced for World Congress on Osteoporosis 2010 - IOF WCO - ECCEO10

11/20/2009
Researchers are invited to contribute their abstracts to the World Congress on Osteoporosis 2010 (IOF WCO ECCEO10), the largest global meeting devoted to all aspects of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis research and patient care. The Congress will be held in Florence, Italy from May 5-8, 2010. Beginning today, abstracts can be submitted online at http://www.iofwco-ecceo10.org The sub... [Comments]

International expedition investigates climate change, alternative fuels in Arctic

11/20/2009
(Washington, DC Nov. 20, 2009) Scientists from the Marine Biogeochemistry and Geology and Geophysics sections of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) organized and led a team of university and government scientists on an Arctic expedition to initiate methane hydrate exploration in the Beaufor... [Comments]International expedition investigates climate change, alternative fuels in Arctic

Just like old times: Generating RNA molecules in water

11/20/2009
A key question in the origin of biological molecules like RNA and DNA is how they first came together billions of years ago from simple precursors. Now, in a study appearing in this week's JBC, researchers in Italy have reconstructed one of the earliest evolutionary steps yet: generating long chains of RNA from individual subunits using nothing but warm water. Many researchers believe... [Comments]

Barn personnel experience higher-than-average rates of respiratory symptoms

11/20/2009
North Grafton, Mass., November 19, 2009 The estimated 4.6 million Americans involved in the equine industry may be at risk of developing respiratory symptoms due to poor air quality in horse barns, according to a questionnaire study undertaken earlier this year by investigators at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. The studywhich polled more than 80 New England hor... [Comments]

From toxic dust and algae to ill winds from Africa

11/20/2009
Toxic dust: Toxins in coal-tar-based sealcoats in parking lots may be the culprit in contaminated house dust, according to a USGS study. PAHs or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are large molecules found in oil, coal and tar deposits, and can have toxic effects. It's long been known that PAHs are often found in house dust; however, the specific sources of these PAHs are largely undet... [Comments]

Delft breakthrough in bioethanol production from agricultural waste

11/20/2009
With the introduction of a single bacterial gene into yeast, researchers from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands achieved three improvements in bioethanol production from agricultural waste material: 'More ethanol, less acetate and elimination of the major by-product glycerol' This week the invention was published in the scientific journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology... [Comments]

Biologists discover bacterial defense mechanism against aggressive oxygen

11/20/2009
Brussel, November 19th 2009 - Bacteria possess an ingenious mechanism for preventing oxygen from harming the building blocks of the cell. This is the new finding of a team of biologists that includes Joris Messens of VIB, a life sciences research institute in Flanders, Belgium, connected to the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The scientists made this discovery by modifying the DNA of the intestina... [Comments]

Discovery of new type of immune cells regulating inflammation in chronic diseases

11/20/2009
This release is available in German . In the current online issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation , Dr. Stefanie Eyerich and Dr. Kilian Eyerich together with their colleagues from Imperial College London and Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata in Rome, present their groundbreaking discovery. It represents a milestone on the way to developing new treatment methods for infla... [Comments]

Flax and yellow flowers can produce bioethanol

11/20/2009
Surplus biomass from the production of flax shives, and generated from Brassica carinata , a yellow-flowered plant related to those which engulf fields in spring, can be used to produce bioethanol. This has been suggested by two studies carried out by Spanish and Dutch researchers and published... [Comments]Flax and yellow flowers can produce bioethanol

Medicine News

554,000 in Massachusetts Struggle to Put Food on the Table

11/20/2009
Project Bread addresses increased food insecurity as many face problem of hunger BOSTON, Nov. 20 Project Bread, the state's leading anti-hunger organization, released numbers from its upcoming annual status report on hunger in the Commonwealth. The disquieting trends described in this report, caused by high unemployment, point to 554,000 people in... [Comments]

Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan Provides Mercy Health Plans Option

11/20/2009
SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Nov. 20 Missouri state employees in the Southwest and South Central Missouri regions will now have the option to choose Mercy Health Plans thanks to an agreement reached Tuesday between Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan (MCHCP) and Mercy Health Plans. The Southwest and South Central Missouri regions include the following counties: Barry, Ba... [Comments]

Omnicell to Present at Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference

11/20/2009
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 20 Omnicell, Inc. (Nasdaq: OMCL ) a leading provider of system solutions to acute healthcare facilities, announced today the company will present at the 21st Annual Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference at the New York Palace Hotel, New York, NY. Omnicell Speakers: Randall A. Lipps, founder, chairman, president &... [Comments]

California Minority Advocacy Groups Send Letter to Blue Shield of California Calling for an End to Discriminatory Practice that Denies Patients in Pain Access to Proper Medication

11/20/2009
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 20 California minority advocacy groups including Healthy African American Families, The Wall/Las Memorias, Latina Breast Cancer Agency, Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, and the Real Medicine Foundation today sent a letter to Blue Shield of California calling on the company to reconsider harmful and discriminatory coverage policies... [Comments]

Congressional Health Care Reform Proposals Would Make Health Care More Expensive, Reduce Benefits for Louisianians

11/20/2009
BATON ROUGE, La., Nov. 20 The Louisiana Association of Health Plans (LAHP) today warned that Louisianians could experience higher health care premiums and reduced benefits if proposals being considered by Congress should become law. According to Gil Dupre, chief executive officer for LAHP, "Louisiana health plans have supported comprehensive health... [Comments]

DKNY JEANS Launches Exclusive Collection With HSN for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's Thanks and Giving(R) Campaign

11/20/2009
NEW YORK, Nov. 20 Today, iconic denim brand DKNY JEANS and multi-channel retailer HSN announce the launch of a capsule gift giving collection offered exclusively on HSN and HSN.com for the holiday season. This collection is inspired by and designed for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital's Thanks and Giving® Program, a holiday fundraising and awareness... [Comments]

Senate Mandatory Health-Insurance Bill Infringes on Choice and Privacy

11/20/2009
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 The Senate's newly released health-reform bill ("Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act") infringes on Americans' health-insurance choices and medical privacy, says Sue Blevins, president of the Institute for Health Freedom (IHF) -- a patients' rights group in Washington, D.C. The bill would (among many other provisions):... [Comments]

Seniors Still Going Without Food to Pay for Medicine, Says Elder Law of Michigan

11/20/2009
LANSING, Mich., Nov. 20 The US government reported Monday that one in seven Americans struggled to get enough food to eat. This startling statistic highlights the difficulties of older adults who are rapidly aging into poverty. "Forced retirements, layoffs, and the death of a spouse or divorce mean many have incomes that no longer cover the basic expenses... [Comments]

Heritage Provider Network CEO Dr. Richard Merkin, Announces the Acquisition of Lakeside Medical Systems, Inc.

11/20/2009
MARINA DEL REY, Calif., Nov. 20 Heritage Provider Network, and its founder, CEO and President Dr. Richard Merkin, announce that as of November 6, 2009, Lakeside Medical Systems, Inc., as well as all its affiliated entities, have been acquired by Lakeside Medical Organization, part of the HPN family. "We first and foremost want to assure all of Lakeside's patients... [Comments]

AAFPRS Opposes the Proposed Tax on Medical Procedures

11/20/2009
NEW YORK, Nov. 20 The United States Senate is about to consider health system reform legislation which contains a 5% tax on cosmetic surgery deemed unnecessary for medical purposes. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) announces it strongly opposes the inclusion of this tax as it is discriminatory and has already failed in other st... [Comments]

Half of Eligible Patients Do Not Get Aortic Valve Replacement

11/20/2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 20 Fear about the risk of surgery is among the reasons half of eligible patients are not getting aortic valve replacement surgery, according to a study by physicians at the University of Michigan Health System. Earlier this year, former First Lady Barbara Bush and comedian Robin Williams underwent aortic valve replacement surger... [Comments]

Other News:African Americans report less trust in health care providers than whites 2Younger women appear to be at increased risk for depression after heart attack 2Calcium supplements may prevent fractures in elderly women who take them regularly 2The World Bank accused of deception and medical malpractice in malaria treatment 2Locked door psychiatric units have more disadvantages than advantages say staff 2HEBE 3A Detection of falls and monitoring of the elderly 2When the cause is right politics and surgery sometimes mix 2Springer and the Society of General Internal Medicine announce partnership 2Chemotherapy gel may fight breast cancer and reduce breast deformity 2Penn School of Medicine awarded nearly 241 million for African AIDS program 2Study first to show potential of light activated gene therapy for knee injuries 2Study first to show potential of light activated gene therapy for knee injuries 3Study first to show potential of light activated gene therapy for knee injuries 4Study first to show potential of light activated gene therapy for knee injuries 5Study first to show potential of light activated gene therapy for knee injuries 6Stroke associated damage to brain structure may lead to heart attack 2Stroke associated damage to brain structure may lead to heart attack 3Rutgers College of Nursing Professor premieres video to reduce HIV risk 2Look out 21 Eyeglass injuries may lead to hospital visit 2Look out 21 Eyeglass injuries may lead to hospital visit 3Alcoholics with a borderline personality disorder are at greatest risk for suicidal behavior 2Alcoholics with a borderline personality disorder are at greatest risk for suicidal behavior 3Prenatal alcohol exposure can alter circadian rhythms in offspring 2Prenatal alcohol exposure can alter circadian rhythms in offspring 3Individuals with a family history of alcoholism 3A Will they too become alcoholics 3F 2Individuals with a family history of alcoholism 3A Will they too become alcoholics 3F 3
African Americans report less trust in health care providers than whitesYounger women appear to be at increased risk for depression after heart attackVulnerability to measles among nursery school children risen sharplyCalcium supplements may prevent fractures in elderly women who take them regularlyLow folate levels may cut bowel cancer riskProbiotics ease gut problems caused by long term stressThe World Bank accused of deception and medical malpractice in malaria treatmentLocked door psychiatric units have more disadvantages than advantages say staffHEBE 3A Detection of falls and monitoring of the elderlyWhen the cause is right politics and surgery sometimes mixSpringer and the Society of General Internal Medicine announce partnershipChemotherapy gel may fight breast cancer and reduce breast deformityPenn School of Medicine awarded nearly 241 million for African AIDS programStudy first to show potential of light activated gene therapy for knee injuriesStroke associated damage to brain structure may lead to heart attackRutgers College of Nursing Professor premieres video to reduce HIV riskLook out 21 Eyeglass injuries may lead to hospital visitAlcoholics with a borderline personality disorder are at greatest risk for suicidal behaviorPrenatal alcohol exposure can alter circadian rhythms in offspringIndividuals with a family history of alcoholism 3A Will they too become alcoholics 3F