Chocolate ‘Offenders’ Teach Science a Sweet Lesson
Some ?chocoholics? who just couldn?t give up their favorite treat to comply with a study to test blood stickiness have inadvertently done their fellow chocolate lovers – and science – a big favor.
Health
Diabetes :: Joslin?s Latino Diabetes Initiative Launches Its First Audio-Novella
Rosa?s Story, an audio-novella from the Joslin Diabetes Center Latino Diabetes Initiative, uses the art of storytelling to educate listeners about the challenges of diabetes faced by the Hispanic/Latino population. The first-person accounts of a fictitious Latino woman with type 2 diabetes, and a teenager with pre-diabetes, are told in the new educational package. Designed for Spanish-speaking Latinos with diabetes and their families, the three-CD set is being launched on Nov. 14, World Diabetes Day, a day set aside by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization to increase public awareness of the global diabetes epidemic.
Asthma :: New Studies Reveal What Caregivers See As Key Issues To Facilitate Better Asthma Treatment
In two studies presented during the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), held in Philadelphia November 9-15, caregivers considered the ?seal of approval? from the FDA to be the most important factor when looking for an effective asthma treatment for their child. Caregivers and physicians also expressed in the study the need for a standardized assessment tool that could help diagnose and monitor asthma.
Wireless Energy Transfer Can Potentially Charge Cell Phones Without Cords
Recharging your laptop computer — and also your cell phone and a variety of other gadgets — might one day be doable in the same convenient way many people now surf the Web: wirelessly. Marin Soljac?ic? of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will present research by himself and his colleagues Aristeidis Karalis and John Joannopoulos on the physics of electromagnetic fields, showing how wireless energy could power future gadgets. The MIT team is also working on demonstrating the technology in practice. The work will be described on Tuesday, November 14 in San Francisco, at the 2006 American Institute of Physics Industrial Physics Forum (IPF), which will be co-located with the Nanotechnology Topical Conference at the AVS 53rd International Symposium & Exhibition at the Moscone Center West.
Pattern of Human Ebola Outbreaks Linked to Wildlife and Climate
A visiting biologist at the University of California, San Diego and her colleagues in Africa and Britain have shown that there are close linkages between outbreaks of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in human and wildlife populations, and that climate may influence the spread of the disease.
Lung Cancer :: Stem cell vaccine that prevents lung cancer in mice
Vaccinating mice with embryonic stem cells appears to have prevented lung cancer in the mice, a team of researchers say.
Asthma :: Approved Asthma Therapy SYMBICORT Improves Lung Function Safely and Effectively
Newly presented data indicate that treatment with SYMBICORT? (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) inhalation aerosol results in significantly greater improvements in lung function, and a lower risk of asthma worsening episodes, compared to budesonide and/or formoterol used alone. In addition, data also showed that SYMBICORT was generally well-tolerated, with an adverse event profile similar to that of its individual components. These study results, involving patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma, were presented today at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s (ACAAI) annual scientific sessions held in Philadelphia on November 9-15, 2006.
Asthma :: PULMICORT RESPULES, budesonide inhalation suspension controls Asthma
Children treated with PULMICORT RESPULES? (budesonide inhalation suspension) either once or twice daily experienced a significantly greater increase in the percentage of asthma-control days compared to those receiving placebo. These results are being presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), held in Philadelphia on November 9-15. Asthma-control days were defined as days when children were free of symptoms and did not use rescue medications during the day and night. Control of asthma symptoms during the day and night and reduction of the need for rescue medication is an important goal of asthma therapy in keeping with current National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines.
Heart :: Major advance in tissue engineering growing heart valves
For the first time, researchers have successfully used a rabbit’s cells to grow heart-valve-shaped tissue inside the animal’s body, according to research reported at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2006.
Pregnancy :: Smoking during pregnancy linked to congenital heart defects
Women who smoke or are exposed to tobacco smoke early in their pregnancies are more likely to have children with certain types of congenital heart defects, researchers reported at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2006.