University | Page 453 of 574

Homeopathy :: 60 percent of doctors’ surgeries prescribe homeopathic or herbal remedies

60 percent of Scottish doctors’ surgeries prescribe homeopathic remedies according to a study of nearly two million patients. Homeopathic prescribing is most prevalent among babies under 12 months and older people aged 81-90. The authors have called for a critical review of prescribing. The paper is published as leading UK scientific institutions voice concerns about changes to homeopathic labelling rules that came in in September 2006.

Genome :: A giant among minnows – Giant danio can keep growing

Two fish that share much in common genetically appear to have markedly different abilities to grow, a finding that could provide a new way to research such disparate areas as muscle wasting disease and fish farming. Because the zebrafish and giant danio are closely related and the zebrafish’s genome has already been mapped, scientists hope they can more easily identify the genetic keys to the difference in growth potential between them.

Bio-inspired assembly of nanoparticle building blocks

Rice University chemists have discovered how to assemble gold and silver nanoparticle building blocks into larger structures based on a novel method that harkens back to one of nature’s oldest known chemical innovations — the self-assembly of lipid membranes that surround all living cells. The research appears in the Nov. 29 issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society. It could help scientists design everything from better catalysts to potent new anti-cancer drugs.

Health :: Skill building helps teens become more active

Ohio researchers reported in the Journal of Adolescent Health that the teaching high-school students some time management and coping skills helps them to become more active, and is particularly effective for getting sedentary students moving.

GERD :: Fatty foods, alcohol and overeating are triggers for acid reflux

“The holiday season is clearly one of the worst times of the year for patients with GERD,” gastroenterologist Dr. William Chey, of the University of Michigan Health System, said in a prepared statement.

Heart Disease :: Cause of Exercise Intolerance in Heart Failure Patients

A new study shows that blood flow to the legs is relatively normal in people with diastolic heart failure, suggesting other potential causes of their inability to do everyday activities, according to researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Stem Cell :: Long-term cancer risk follows stem cell transplant recipients

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients face a significant long-term risk for developing a second cancer, particularly if they were older at the time of transplant or received stem cells from a female donor, according to a new study.

Nutrition :: Wheat’s nutritional value increased, cloned a gene from wild wheat

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Haifa in Israel have cloned a gene from wild wheat that increases the protein, zinc and iron content in the grain, potentially offering a solution to nutritional deficiencies affecting hundreds of millions of children around the world.

E Coli :: Drinking water free of contamination – Vancouver

More than a week after a violent rainstorm forced murky water into Greater Vancouver’s reservoirs, the region’s drinking water has been declared free of contamination, public health officials said.

Healthcare :: GE Healthcare Re-Imagines Radiology at RSNA Conference

GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), today kicked off its participation in the 2006 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) conference in Chicago with a focus on the company?s ‘Radiology Re-imagined’ theme along prominent displays of breakthough products that highlight the company?s exhibit booth.