Medicine articles

Women more affected than men by air pollution when running marathons
Poor air quality apparently affects the running times of women in marathons, according to a study by Virginia Tech civil and environmental engineer Linsey Marr.

Belief that intentional weight loss is harmful to seniors is unfounded
A new study by researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is the first to refute the widely held belief that intentional weight loss in older adults leads to increased risk of death.

Sensitive nerve cells
In Germany alone, more than 300,000 people are afflicted by Parkinson's disease and the number is growing steadily. However, despite comprehensive research, scientists are still somewhat in the dark as to the molecular changes that trigger this illness. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried, together with colleagues from Munich and Hamburg, now demonstrated with a new animal model that nerve cells do not begin to die to the extent found in "Parkinson's" until three conditions come together. The results of this study could lead to the development of preventative measures for patients with certain genetic defects, i.e. with a higher predisposition for the disease. These findings are, at any rate, an important step forward in our understanding of this illness.

Surprising find may yield new avenue of treatment for painful herniated discs
An immune cell known to cause chronic inflammation in autoimmune disorders has been identified as a possible culprit in low back pain associated with herniated discs, according to doctors at Duke University Medical Center.

Sympathetic brain to blame for high blood pressure
High blood pressure could be the result of the kidneys triggering a reaction in the nervous system, according to a scientific study revealing a new level of interaction between the body's vital organs.

Reading the look of love
How fast you can judge whether a person of the opposite sex is looking at you depends on how masculine or feminine they look, according to a new study. The researchers speculate that there may be an evolutionary advantage to quickly noticing when a hottie is looking at you.

Is your left hand more motivated than your right hand?
Motivation doesn't have to be conscious; your brain can decide how much it wants something without input from your conscious mind. Now a new study shows that both halves of your brain don't even have to agree. Motivation can happen in one side of the brain at a time.

Study finds romantic rejection stimulates areas of brain involved in motivation, reward and addiction
The pain and anguish of rejection by a romantic partner may be the result of activity in parts of the brain associated with motivation, reward and addiction cravings, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Neurophysiology (http://jn.physiology.org/).

Stem cells from fat may help heal bone
Wounded soldiers may one day be treated with stem cells from their own fat using a method under development at UC Davis.

Baby brain growth mirrors changes from apes to humans
A study undertaken to help scientists concerned with abnormal brain development in premature babies has serendipitously revealed evolution's imprint on the human brain.

Mixed practice makes perfect
Struggling with your chip shot? Constant drills with your wedge may not help much, but mixing in longer drives will, and a new study shows why.

Things we want appear closer than they are, studies show
Tempted by a plate of cookies on the buffet table? Chances are, the goodies are a little farther away than you think they are. But your faulty estimation may give you a little added nudge to head over to the table and have one. (Or two.)

Study suggests environment may impact apes ability to understand declarative communication
When we notice somebody pointing at something, we automatically look in the direction of the gesture. In humans, the ability to understand this type of gesturing (known as declarative communication) may seem to be an automatic response, but it is actually a sign of sophisticated communication behavior. Numerous studies have tried to determine if great apes (for example, chimpanzees and bonobos) are able to understand declarative communication, but results have been mixed.

Smoking mind over smoking matter
Nicotine patches and gum are common - and often ineffective - ways of fighting cigarette cravings, as most smokers have discovered. Now a new study from Tel Aviv University shows why they're ineffective, and may provide the basis for more successful psychologically-based smoking cessation programs.

Exercise's brain benefits
Athletes have long known about the natural "high" exercise can induce. Now, for the first time, medical researchers have demonstrated that exercise can reverse the effects in the brain of psychological trauma experienced early in life.

You can't hide your lyin' eyes
Shifty eyes long have been thought to signify a person's problem telling the truth. Now a group of University of Utah researchers are taking that old adage to a new level.

Engineering could give reconstructive surgery a face-lift
Facial reconstruction patients may soon have the option of custom-made bone replacements optimized for both form and function, thanks to researchers at the University of Illinois and the Ohio State University Medical Center.

Protein linked to aging may boost memory and learning ability
Over the past 20 years, biologists have shown that proteins called sirtuins can slow the aging process in many animal species.

The brain of the fly: a high-speed computer
What would be the point of holding a soccer world championship if we couldn't distinguish the ball from its background? Simply unthinkable! But then again, wouldn't it be fantastic if your favourite team's striker could see the movements of the ball in slow motion! Unfortunately, this advantage only belongs to flies.

Disruption of circadian rhythm could lead to diabetes
Disruption of two genes that control circadian rhythms can lead to diabetes, a researcher at UT Southwestern Medical Center has found in an animal study.