Mutation in clams protects against paralytic shellfish poisoning but raises human health risk
Just like people, clams can be affected by the toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), but scientists have now identified a mutation in clams that gives some protection. PSP toxins interfere with nerve function, and the mutation, which changes a single amino acid in a sodium channel, makes nerves less sensitive to those toxins. The discovery is reported in the April 7 issue...Ethiopian development raises birth rate
Development projects designed to improve maternal and child welfare in Africa may incur unexpected costs associated with increases in family size if they do not include a component of family planning, according to new research from the University of Bristol into rural communities in Ethiopia. The research, published today in Public Library of Science: Medicine, is the first study to demons...Selenium-protein deficiency raises prostate cancer risk
Selenium, an essential dietary mineral that can act as an antioxidant when incorporated into proteins, has been shown in many studies to reduce the incidence of cancers -- notably lung, colorectal and prostate. "The problem is, nobody seems to know how the mechanism works, and that's not trivial," said Alan Diamond, professor of human nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago and...High HPV concentrations combined with smoking significantly raise risks of cervical cancer
Cigarette smoking and concurrent infection with high levels of the virus associated with cervical cancer can increase cancer risk by as much as 27 times, according to a study published in the November 2006 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Anthony Gunnell, a medical biostatistician and epidemiologist and colleagues at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm reviewe...Jefferson scientists find high glucose before surgery raises risk of dangerous complications
Patients who have high blood sugar before undergoing surgery run an increased risk of developing blood clots, deep vein thrombosis and even pulmonary embolism after surgery. Boris Mraovic, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology in the Artificial Pancreas Center at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and his colleagues examined records of nearly 6,...Want a raise? Ten best midwest tech salary-increase pitches
You know you have to have a great argument for your boss to get him on board with your pay-raise proposal. You also know that dollars are tight and your boss is pre-disposed (or programmed after several years of heart-rending pleas fro...TomoTherapy raises $223 million in IPO
TomoTherapy, a portfolio company of , offered common stock at $19 per share, and expects to receive $185 million in ne...Biotech officials praise focus of new venture fund
The p...Investors raise $25 million for biodiesel plant
The $60 million plant, to be developed by North Prairie Produc...ZyStor seeks to raise $15M for clinical trials
ZyStor, which also presented at the 2006 forum, would like to raise an additional $...Obesity raises IVF miscarriage risk
Obese women are far more likely to miscarrry after IVF treatment- but losing even a few kilos could make a huge difference, say doctors. They are urging overweight women to change their diets, and take excercise, prior to embarking on fertilty treatments. Obese women have long been known to have problems conceiving naturally, and studies have shown that their overall success rat...Antibiotics can raise the risk of getting cancer!
A new study reveals that antibiotics if taken limitlessly can increase the risk of contracting cancer. Using antibiotics more than 10 times during childhood can increase the risk of lymphoma, //a cancer that affects the body's lymphatic system. The study, conducted by Ellen T. Chang and colleagues from the Northern California Cancer Centre in Fremont, also found heavy use of non-ste...Farm boy's death raises human bird flu fears in Turkey
A 14-year-old Turkish boy who worked on a poultry farm and was one of six people tested for bird flu died on Sunday, and his sister was in a critical // and worsening condition, doctors said. Doctors are still waiting for test results and could not immediately confirm whether the fatality was caused by bird flu. If confirmed, it would be the first human fatality in Turkey from the viru...Heavy Drinking Raises Risk of Liver Cancer
According to Italian researchers, drinking high volumes of alcohol each day is associated with a greater risk of developing liver cancer. According to Dr.Francesco Donato,a professor of epidemiology and public health, at the University of Texas, the quantity of alcohol consumed is the most important determinant of the risk of having liver disease due to alcohol.// Drinking a large amount...Air pollution may raise risk of lung cancer
Strong new evidence suggests that an air pollutant emitted by power plants and vehicles raises the risk of lung cancer.City living can increase your chances of dying from lung cancer or heart disease//, and the culprits are particles of air pollution. The study authors contend that simply living in a major urban area exposes you to "fine particulate matter" that makes its way into your lu...Major Discovery Raises Prospect of Better Patient Care By Improving Platelet Life Span
MELBOURNE, Australia, March 23, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientistsat WEHI have made a discovery with potentially profoundimplications for the care of patients, especially those undergoingcancer chemotherapy. The research team led by Drs Benjamin Kile and David Huang hasdiscovered that platelet life span is controlled by two keymolecules. The discovery raises the prospect of developing...