Health Research:Conservation policies could improve human health ♦ 'Crosstalk' gives clues to diabetes ♦ Study points to drug target for Huntington’s disease

Conservation policies could improve human health An analysis of four years of data on disease, climate, demographics, public health services and land use change in 700 municipalities within the Brazilian Amazon reveals that measures taken to protect ecosystems and the environment might also deliver public health benefits.

'Crosstalk' gives clues to diabetes Sometimes, listening in on a conversation can tell you a lot. A diabetes researcher is listening in on crosstalk between the cells that control the body's response to sugar, helping us to understand, and perhaps ultimately treat, diabetes.

Rheumatoid arthritis and giant cell arteritis linked with solar cycles A rare collaboration of physicists and medical researchers finds a correlation between rheumatoid arthritis and giant cell arteritis and solar cycles.

Study points to drug target for Huntington’s disease Scientists have established conclusively that an activating protein, called “Rhes,” plays a pivotal role in focusing the toxicity of Huntington’s disease

Group memberships boost self-esteem more than friends alone Belonging to multiple groups that are important to you boosts self-esteem much more than having friends alone, new research has found. The researchers compared group memberships to the number of friends people had, and found that having a large network of friends did not predict self-esteem, but belonging to multiple groups did. The authors argue that groups provide benefits that interpersonal ties alone do not; namely, meaning, connection, support and a sense of control over our lives.