Medicine

Manipulating molecules in the heart may treat obesity, affects metabolism
UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have demonstrated for the first time that the heart can regulate energy balance throughout the body, a finding that may point to more effective treatments for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Researchers find potential 'Dark Side' to diets high in beta-carotene
New research suggests that there could be health hazards associated with consuming excessive amounts of beta-carotene.

Multitasking may hurt your performance, but it makes you feel better
People aren't very good at media multitasking - like reading a book while watching TV - but do it anyway because it makes them feel good, a new study suggests.

Bilingualism fine-tunes hearing, enhances attention
A new Northwestern University study provides the first biological evidence that bilinguals' rich experience with language "fine-tunes" their auditory nervous system and helps them juggle linguistic input in ways that enhance attention and working memory.

Inexpensive, abundant starch fibers could lead to 'ouchless' bandages
A process that spins starch into fine strands could take the sting out of removing bandages, as well as produce less expensive and more environmentally-friendly toilet paper, napkins and other products, according to Penn State food scientists.

Why hay fever may be a good sign
If you're one of the millions of people coughing, sneezing, sputtering, and cursing your body's hypersensitivity to ragweed, trees, and grass this spring, researchers at Yale have what could be considered positive news: Seasonal allergies may be a sign that your immune system is doing what nature intended it to do - protect you against environmental toxins that are far more harmful than pollen. The paper appears in Nature.

Computer use and exercise combo may reduce the odds of having memory loss
You think your computer has a lot of memory … if you keep using your computer you may, too.

Barrow researchers unravel illusion
Barrow Neurological Institute researchers Jorge Otero-Millan, Stephen Macknik, and Susana Martinez-Conde share the recent cover of the Journal of Neuroscience in a compelling study into why illusions trick our brains. Barrow is part of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix.

How heroin works: imaging opioid receptors in the brain
Researchers and doctors have gleaned new clues to the molecular mechanisms behind some of the most addictive substances in the world, thanks to two new studies that uncovered the structures of some of the most intricate and challenging proteins ever analyzed on the atomic level.

SUMO shows subtlety to control brain function
A key protein, which may be activated to protect nerve cells from damage during heart failure or epileptic seizure, has been found to regulate the transfer of information between nerve cells in the brain. The discovery, made by neuroscientists at the University of Bristol and published in Nature Neuroscience and PNAS, could lead to novel new therapies for stroke and epilepsy.