Life :: Winning a Nobel Prize adds nearly 2 years to your lifespan
New research by the University of Warwick reveals that a Nobel Prize brings more than just cash and kudos — it can also add nearly two years to your life.
Medical
Cell :: Chemical switch triggers critical cell activities
The freeze-frame image of a molecular relay race, in which one enzyme passes off a protein like a baton to another enzyme, has solved a key mystery to how cells control some vital functions, according to investigators at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A report on this work appears in the January 14 advanced online publication issue of Nature.
Obesity :: High rate of overweight and obesity found in children having surgery
A very high proportion of children who are having surgery are overweight or obese, and because of the excess weight have a greater chance of experiencing problems associated with the surgery, according to a new study from the University of Michigan Health System.
Uterus Transplant :: Uterus transplant planned in US hospital
Uterus transplant could help many women fulfil the desire to have a child, as this is a tremendous driving force for many women, especially who cannot bear children because of a malfunctioning uterus. Doctors in a New York hospital are planning the first uterus transplant and are screening women who would have a chance to bear children.
MRSA :: New antibacterials being developed to tackle MRSA superbug
A novel antibacterial medicine that kills the superbug MRSA is being developed under a new scheme launched by the Wellcome Trust. The Seeding Drug Discovery initiative is aimed at catalysing the development of new drugs in areas of unmet need.
Aging :: No proof that growth hormone therapy makes you live longer
Surveyors of anti-aging elixirs tout human growth hormone as a remedy for all things sagging-from skin to libidos — and claim it can even prevent or reverse aging. But researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine say there’s no evidence to suggest that this purported fountain of youth has any more effect than a trickle of tap water when it comes to fending off Father Time.
Hearing Loss :: Outcomes comparable for younger and older children with surgically implanted hearing aids
Outcomes following surgically implanted hearing aids that are anchored to bone appear comparable for children younger than five years and those older than five years, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Fracture :: Hip fractures not caused by benzodiazepine use
Benzodiazepine use was not shown to be associated with hip fractures after all, according to a new study from the Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention (of Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care). Previous epidemiological studies suggesting an association have been used to support legislation and policy decisions that limit access to these drugs among the elderly. These policies may need to be reexamined based on these new findings, which are being published in the Jan. 16 Annals of Internal Medicine.
Drug :: Ghost authorship of industry funded drug trials is common
Ghost authorship is the failure to name, as an author, an individual who has made a substantial contribution to a scientific article. A study of 44 industry-initiated trials from Denmark in the 1990s found evidence of ghost authorship for 33 trials, which increased to 40 if a person qualifying for authorship was just acknowledged rather than being named as an author.
Heart :: Risk increases with combined heart and stroke prevention surgery
Patients who undergo combined heart bypass surgery and carotid endarterectomy, the most commonly used stroke prevention surgery, significantly increase their chances of death or stroke, according to a study published in the January 16, 2007, issue of Neurology?, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.