Category Archives: Addiction
How procrastinators and doers differ genetically
Some people tend to postpone actions. In women, this trait is associated with a genetic predisposition toward a higher level of dopamine in the brain. This is what researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum and the Technical University of Dresden discovered using
First step to induce self-repair in the central nervous system
Damaged peripheral nerves can regenerate after an injury, for example, following a forearm fracture. Axons, the long projections of neurons that transmit stimuli or signals to other cells, are affected in the case of injury and need to regrow to
Focus on ovarian cancer surgical volume may not be best metric
Limiting ovarian cancer surgery to high-volume surgeons and hospitals to improve survival could restrict care at many low-volume centers with better-than-expected outcomes, according to a study published in the June issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Jason D. Wright, M.D., from
Annual mammography screenings aren't the best option for female survivors of some childhood cancers
Female survivors of childhood cancers who have been treated with thoracic radiation, such as survivors of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL), have a higher risk of developing breast cancer later in life compared to the general population. To mitigate this risk, current
Nurse combatting the 'Angelina effect' through new decision aid
Crystal Chu has grown accustomed to her patients’ sometimes-impulsive responses after they’re diagnosed with cancer in a single breast. “Cut them both off,” women often say to Chu, a University of Virginia oncology nurse and a Ph.D. student. “They’ve served
Here’s how the government shutdown could affect your health
(HealthDay)—Tainted food, trash-filled parklands and even hungry kids: Public health could be increasingly at risk as the U.S. government shutdown drags into its 21st day, experts say. Crucial inspections intended to protect Americans have either been curtailed or are not
How restaurants are wooing ‘flexitarians’
Flexitarians are those who still eat meat, but only on a part-time basis. Restaurants and fast-food chains have them top of mind, with A&W’s version of a veggie burger, like those seen above, a huge hit among customers. Credit: Shutterstock
A better strategy for quitting smoking
(HealthDay)—Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things to do, but studies have found that one strategy in particular can help many people: Start anti-smoking medication well before your intended quit date. Under traditional prescribing guidelines, people who plan to
More proof high-fiber diets help prevent cancers, heart disease
(HealthDay)—A large, new analysis helps confirm that eating lots of grains, vegetables and fruit lowers your risk of dying early from cancer or heart disease. When compared with those who consume very little fiber, people at the high end of
There’s no such thing as a safe tan. Here’s what’s happening underneath your summer glow
You might prefer the way you look with a tan (most Aussies do), but you won’t when your skin is prematurely aged. Credit: www.shutterstock.com There’s a lot to be said for sunshine – both good and bad. It’s our main
Does a smart fitness device or app help you lose weight?
Credit: CC0 Public Domain The new year is here, and that means new year’s resolutions are in full swing. For those trying to lose weight or become more active, a smart fitness device like an Apple Watch or a Fitbit
Cardiovascular diseases and nutrition in Europe: A lot of premature deaths preventable
Diet-related deaths from cardiovascular diseases in the WHO European region in 2016. Credit: MLU Of the 4.3 million cardiovascular deaths in Europe in 2016, 2.1 million were the result of poor nutrition. The 28 EU member states account for around
When medicine makes patients sicker
Credit: CC0 Public Domain Despite the jackhammerlike rhythm of a mechanical ventilator, Alicia Moreno had dozed off in a chair by her 1-year-old’s hospital bed, when a doctor woke her with some bad news: The common stool softener her son,
Sugar’s sick secrets: How industry forces have manipulated science to downplay the harm
On average, Americans eat about 17 teaspoons of added sugars every day. That adds up to a whopping 57 pounds a year. Credit: UCSF Walk into any grocery store, grab a few packaged products, and flip to the ingredients. You’ll
Three studies show gains being made in using AI to create speech from brainwaves
Credit: CC0 Public Domain Three teams working independently have uploaded papers to the bioRxiv preprint server outlining their research involving attempting to use neural network-based AI systems to translate brainwaves into decipherable speech. The first, by a team with members
New antibiotic proves to be effective against river blindness in mice
Credit: CC0 Public Domain A team of researchers from the U.K., the U.S., Japan and Germany has developed an antibiotic that kills a type of bacteria necessary for larval growth in the parasitic worm that causes river blindness. In their
Study finds a link between lowered levels of HDAC3 and infertility in endometriosis patients
Credit: CC0 Public Domain A team of researchers from the U.S. and South Korea has found a link between low levels of HDAC3 and infertility in endometriosis patients. In their paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the group
Is that really a neglected disease?
M. leprae, one of the causative agents of leprosy. Credit: Public Domain Dangerous infectious diseases such as AIDS/HIV, Zika, Ebola and influenza frequently make headlines, and it seems as if there is no end of media attention and research interest
Researchers discover new binding partner for amyloid precursor protein
Credit: CC0 Public Domain An international team of researchers has discovered a new binding partner for amyloid precursor protein (APP)—a neurotransmitter called GABABR1a. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their study of a nonpathogenic version
Look to your aunts, uncles and parents for clues to your longevity
(HealthDay)—Your chances of inheriting genes linked to longevity are highest if you come from a family with many long-lived members, researchers say. And that includes aunts and uncles, not just parents. Using databases at the University of Utah and in
MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Try the ‘Millionaire Factory’ Glencore
It was dubbed the ‘Millionaire Factory’ when it floated on the stock exchange in 2011 for making hundreds of commodities traders wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. But Glencore, the FTSE 100 mining and trading giant which deals in everything from
MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Swann’s restaurant group SSP has recipe for success
SSP has been led for the past five years by Kate Swann This seems unfair. Smith has worked with Swann for 15 years, initially at WH Smith and latterly at SSP. At WH Smith, he helped mastermind the growth of
MIDAS SHARE TIPS: For investment with a secure footing try James Halstead
Markets are twitchy, analysts are nervous and economic conditions are uncertain. But Aim-traded James Halstead is strong, stable and optimistic about the future. Investors can also take comfort from the industrial floor-maker’s past. A family business turned public company, James
MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Will investment firm AJ Bell be a winning investment itself?
This week, Midas considers two very different stock market flotations, investment firm AJ Bell and energy efficient income trust, SEEIT. 1. AJ BELL The average life expectancy in the UK is just under 80 years for men and just over
