Health & Medicine : Science World Report

Feb 22, 2012 11:32 AM EST

Does Depression Contribute to the Aging Process?

tress has numerous detrimental effects on the human body. Many of these effects are acutely felt by the sufferer, but many more go 'unseen', one of which is shortening of telomere length. Telomeres are protective caps on the ends of chromosomes and are indicators of aging, as they naturally short...

Feb 22, 2012 10:57 AM EST

Cholesterol-lowering Medication Can Protect Against Depression

Researchers at CharitÃ© â€“ UniversitÃ¤tsmedizin Berlin and the University of California San Francisco have studied the link between medication taken for cardiovascular disease and the development of depression.

Feb 22, 2012 10:54 AM EST

Stronger Intestinal Barrier May Prevent Cancer in the Rest of the Body, New Study Suggests

A leaky gut may be the root of some cancers forming in the rest of the body, a new study published online Feb. 21 in PLoS ONE by Thomas Jefferson University researchers suggests.

Feb 22, 2012 10:29 AM EST

Newly Identified Oral Bacterium Linked to Heart Disease and Meningitis

A novel bacterium, thought to be a common inhabitant of the oral cavity, has the potential to cause serious disease if it enters the bloodstream, according to a study in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. Its identification will allow scientists to work out how it...

Feb 22, 2012 10:07 AM EST

Serotonin Could Play a Large Role in Bone Loss

Scientists have long known that calcium leaches from the bones both during lactation and in certain types of cancer. The driver behind these phenomena is a molecule called parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP), which is secreted by the mammary glands. The signal that regulates the secretion of...

Feb 22, 2012 09:06 AM EST

New Discovery In Fight Against Huntington's Disease

Researchers at National University of Ireland Galway have made a significant scientific discovery in the fight against Huntington's disease. The novel findings are published 21 February in the online, open access journal PLoS Biology.

Feb 22, 2012 08:52 AM EST

Influenza Vaccination of Pregnant Women Helps Their Babies

Vaccinating pregnant women against the influenza virus appears to have a significant positive effect on birth weight in babies, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Feb 21, 2012 05:11 PM EST

Researchers Find New Compound to Fight Strep Throat Infection

Researchers have discovered a promising alternative to common antibiotics used to fight the bacteria that causes strep throat. In an article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientists discussed how their discovery could fight the infection with a reduced risk of...

Feb 21, 2012 03:26 PM EST

New Blood Test for Early Cancer Detection Developed by Ben-Gurion University Researchers

A simple blood test is being developed by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Soroka University Medical Center in Beer-Sheva, Israel that may provide early detection of many types of cancer.

Feb 21, 2012 01:34 PM EST

Mapping of Protein Inhibitors Facilitates Development of Tailor-made Anticancer Agents

A team of researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has generated a map over the effects of small drug-like molecules on PARP1 and other similar proteins in the body. This map may explain the mechanism behind putative side effects of the so-called PARP inhibitors, and can play an important role...

Feb 21, 2012 01:20 PM EST

EARTH: Gold, Lead and Death in Nigeria

Throughout the Zamfara region in northwestern Nigeria, children are dying at an alarming rate. What exactly could be causing such an epidemic? The answer lies in the unique geology. Lead-rich gold ores permeate the area, and mining them provides critical income for many families in need. Families ge...

Feb 21, 2012 12:49 PM EST

Tongue Drive System Goes Inside the Mouth to Improve Performance and User Comfort

The Tongue Drive System is getting less conspicuous and more capable. Tongue Drive is a wireless device that enables people with high-level spinal cord injuries to operate a computer and maneuver an electrically powered wheelchair simply by moving their tongues.