Children's Health: Low-income communities more likely to face childhood obesity ♦ Study examines the downside of larger families ♦ Preschoolers who eat their veggies just as likely to eat junk food

Low-income communities more likely to face childhood obesity Race matters less than expected in study showing relationship between poverty and obesity. Although obesity rates were higher among African-American and Hispanic kids, the relationship disappeared when factoring in family income,

Even children with higher IQs behave better when their sleep apnea is fixed Many doctors will ask about quality of sleep when children have problems at school, but new research shows it's just as important to pay attention to how high achievers are sleeping.

Study examines the downside of larger families Large families often capture the public's attention, from 'The Brady Bunch' to '19 Kids and Counting.' But new research by economists offers strong evidence that children in larger families are more likely to fall behind in cognitive achievement and have behavioral and other problems.

Preschoolers who eat their veggies just as likely to eat junk food Public-health experts have long expected that kids who eat more carrots and apples are less likely to eat a lot of candy and fries, but new research is calling that into question.

Health Research: Quality Control for portable, rapid, low-cost DNA sequencing ♦ Obesity more dangerous than lack of fitness ♦ Large proportion of IBS sufferers are vitamin D deficient

NanoOK: Quality Control for portable, rapid, low-cost DNA sequencing Scientists have been putting Oxford Nanopore's MinION sequencer through its paces with an open-source, sequence alignment-based genome analysis tool called 'NanoOK.'

Email between patients, physicians improves health A third of patients with chronic conditions who exchanged secure emails with their doctors said that these communications improved their overall health.

Large proportion of IBS sufferers are vitamin D deficient A large proportion of people living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are vitamin D deficient, a new study has found. The British study, which is the first of its kind, found that out of 51 IBS patients tested 82 per cent exhibited insufficient vitamin D levels.

Obesity more dangerous than lack of fitness A new study has dismissed the concept of 'fat but fit.' In contrast, the results from the new study suggest that the protective effects of high fitness against early death are reduced in obese people.

Weight Loss Research: Battling obesity epidemic: New look at 'fat tax' ♦Activating beige fat in humans could combat obesity ♦ Overeating and depressed? There's a connection, and maybe a solution

Weight loss through diet changes can improve sleep at any body weight, Weight loss due to dietary changes can improve sleepiness at any weight, according to a new. The findings offer new insights into how weight fluctuations impact numerous aspects of sleep independent of body weight

Activating beige fat in humans could combat obesity The body's ability to harness heat production by converting white fat cells, which store calories, into beige fat cells, which burn energy, could help fight obesity.

Overeating and depressed? There's a connection, and maybe a solution Chronic overeating and stress are tied to an increased risk of depression and anxiety, and in a new study, researchers explain why that happens and suggest a possible solution. The researchers report that the anesthetic ketamine reverses depression-like symptoms in rats fed a high-fat diet in a similar way it combats depression and synaptic damage of chronic stress in people.

Battling obesity epidemic: New look at 'fat tax' Small price differences at the point of purchase can be highly effective in shifting consumer demand from high calorie to healthier low calorie alternatives.

Cancer Research: Nanotech drug delivery shows promise for improved melanoma treatment ♦ Aspirin use may lower breast tissue density allowing for earlier detection

Obesity contributes to metastasis in ovarian cancer patients An increased body mass index is associated with a greater risk for ovarian cancer with worse overall survival, a large number of studies have shown. However, the influence of obesity on ovarian cancer metastasis had not been evaluated. Researchers set out to determine are tumor cells better able to successfully metastasize when the "host" is obese versus lean?

Older Breast Cancer Patients Defy Survival Models Older women with early-stage, invasive breast cancer had better survival rates than what was estimated by a popular online tool for predicting survival.

Aspirin use does not improve outcomes for cancer patients, but may lower breast tissue density, allowing for earlier detection Whether aspirin may help prevent or reduce the risk of breast cancer remains a hotly debated research question. While past studies have indicated a potential benefit, most recently in hormone receptor-positive breast cancers, one new study suggests otherwise. Aspirin does not appear to be protective or associated with improved clinical outcomes or survival among breast cancer patients with aggressive disease However, another study suggests aspirin may in fact help reduce breast tissue density, which could lead to earlier detection.

Nanotech drug delivery shows promise for improved melanoma treatment A new three-drug delivery system for cancer treatment, especially metastatic melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has been developed by researchers. The work has demonstrated that the system may have particular value with cancers like this that often spread through the lymphatic system. It may offer a novel therapeutic option for more effective cancer treatment.

Cardiovascular Research: New technology promises fast, accurate stroke diagnosis ♦ Overweight, obesity early in life increase risk of cardiac death

Ultrasound examinations can identify patients at risk of stroke Ultrasound, a non-invasive technique commonly used to study the presence of atherosclerosis disease in blood vessels, can be used to identify patients at increased risk of future stroke who could benefit from surgery. Since surgical treatment to prevent stroke is only considered beneficial to some, ultrasound can prove useful in preventing unnecessary surgical intervention.

Heart disease patients who sit a lot have worse health even if they exercise Patients with heart disease who sit a lot have worse health even if they exercise, reveals research. Patients in the study wore an activity monitor during their waking hours for nine days. The monitors allowed the researchers to measure how long patients spent being sedentary, or doing light, moderate or vigorous levels of physical activity. The researchers also assessed various markers of health including body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness.

New technology promises fast, accurate stroke diagnosis A new approach to identifying biomarkers in blood has proven successful in helping diagnose stroke, and the technology could be expanded to diagnose such conditions as concussion, some forms of dementia, and some types of cancer and heart disease.

Overweight, obesity early in life increase risk of cardiac death Overweight and obesity throughout adulthood, and especially elevated weight in early adulthood, were associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death in a 32-year study of more than 72,000 women.

Health News: Doc allegedly made hyperbaric chamber out of used propane tank.♦ Seven minutes of meditation can reduce racial prejudice, ♦ Key molecular players in obesity-associated type 2 diabetes identified

Doc allegedly made  hyperbaric chamber out of used propane tank. Officials announced that a former doctor was charged for allegedly conspiring to defraud the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and commit healthcare fraud when he reportedly created a device from pieces of used propane tanks welded together, and tried to pass it off as a hyperbaric chamber marketed as Hyperbox 101. Authorities also allege that the former doctor received millions of dollars through fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare and other programs.

European hospitals overlook every other person with HIV Many European hospitals fail to routinely test people who may be at risk of an HIV-infection. If tests were more widely used in healthcare, fewer HIV-patients would go unnoticed, especially in Northern Europe.

Seven minutes of meditation can reduce racial prejudice, A popular meditation technique that's intended to create feelings of kindness can also reduce prejudice.The study found that just seven minutes of Loving-kindness meditation (LKM), a Buddhist practise that promotes unconditional kindness towards oneself and others, is effective at reducing racial bias

Key molecular players in obesity-associated type 2 diabetes identified There is strong evidence that inflammation promotes obesity-associated type 2 diabetes and diabetes complications. However, clinical trials with anti-inflammatory drugs have only been modestly effective for treating type 2 diabetes. A new fingerprint of inflammation that may be able to predict which patients with obesity may also develop type 2 diabetes has been identified by medical researchers

Health News: Repairing neurons with light, ♦ Self-healing sensor brings 'electronic skin' closer to reality ♦ Obesity and type 2 diabetes harm bone healt

Vitamin D deficiency may limit immune recovery in HIV-positive adults Low levels of vitamin D may limit the effectiveness of HIV treatment in adults, a researcher has found. An 18-month longitudinal study was conducted in which the immune status of 398 HIV-positive adults The researchers, through observation, related the rise in immune function to whether or not individuals had adequate levels of vitamin D

Self-healing sensor brings 'electronic skin' closer to reality Scientists have developed a self-healing, flexible sensor that mimics the self-healing properties of human skin. Incidental scratches or cuts to the sensors "heal" themselves in less than one day.

Repairing neurons with light Scientists have succeeded in stimulating the regeneration of injured neurons in living fish by the use of light. To this end, they employed so-called Optogenetics, i.e. light inducible protein activation.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes harm bone health In a new animal study, researchers examined how the development of obesity and insulin resistance contribute to bone-fracture risk and whether exercise prevents weight gain and diabetes and protects bone health. They found obesity and type 2 diabetes negatively affected bone, but exercise prevented weight gain and diabetes and increased bone strength. These findings could inform interventions to improve bone health among individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Bacterial Research; How depleting the gut microbiota protects from obesity ♦ Concerted action needed to control healthcare-related infection ♦ New technique could prevent dangerous biofilms on catheters

New information about bacterial enzymes to help scientists develop more effective antibiotics, cancer drugs New research now allows researchers to manipulate nature's biosynthetic machinery to produce more effective antibiotics and cancer-fighting drugs.

How depleting the gut microbiota protects from obesity By studying mice without microbiota, scientists were able to demonstrate how the absence of microbiota has a remarkable effect against obesity. Indeed, it triggers a surprising metabolic mechanism: white fat cells -- which in excess cause obesity and insulin resistance -- are transformed into cells similar to brown fat (they are called 'beige fat'), that protects the body against excess weight and its damaging consequences.

Responding to C. diff: Concerted action needed to control healthcare-related infection Appropriate use of antibiotics is a critical step toward controlling the ongoing epidemic of health care-related Clostridium difficile infection, according to a special article from experts

New technique could prevent dangerous biofilms on catheters Biofilms frequently coat the surfaces of catheters, and of various medical implants and prostheses, where they can cause life-threatening infections. New research shows that coating implants with a certain 'activator' can prevent Staphylococcus aureus, the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, from forming biofilms

Health News: Feds announce ‘Nationwide Sweep’ of supplement makers ♦ Simple drug regimen cures hepatitis C virus in patients ♦ New fat cell metabolism research

Feds announce ‘Nationwide Sweep’ of supplement makers Seven federal agencies, led by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), have announced joint civil and criminal actions against more than 100 makers and marketers of potentially dangerous dietary supplements, which one official compared to modern-day versions of “snake oil salesman and medical quacks.”

Simple drug regimen cures hepatitis C virus in patients after 12 weeks Researchers have found that a simple drug regimen delivered over 12 weeks achieved sustained eradication of several genotypes of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 99 per cent of the trial's patients

Emergency response system for blood formation identified inside body Scientists have determined how the body responds during times of emergency when it needs more blood cells. When tissue damage occurs, in times of excessive bleeding, or during pregnancy, a secondary, emergency blood-formation system is activated in the spleem

New fat cell metabolism research could lead to new ways to treat diabetes, obesity New insights into what nutrients fat cells metabolize to make fatty acids have been released by scientists. The findings pave the way for understanding potential irregularities in fat cell metabolism that occur in patients with diabetes and obesity and could lead to new treatments for these conditions

Health News: FDA may soon change labels to slash your added sugar intake ♦ Exploring the paradox of metabolically healthy obesity ♦Temporary ambulance locations reduces response times

FDA may soon change labels to slash your added sugar intake A high-sugar diet has been associated with all kinds of negative health impacts, from obesity to diabetes to high blood pressure. Now, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is nearing a decision on a new proposal that could help people cut down on their sugar intake.

Exploring the paradox of metabolically healthy obesity Researchers have defined some key characteristics of the metabolically healthy obese -- those obese individuals who remain free from type 2 diabetes and other disorders, that usually associate with obesity. Their findings have implications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and obesity

New disease-carrying mosquito arrives in British Columbia, Canada Scientists are studying an invasive, disease-carrying mosquito, Aedes japonicus, after finding it for the first time in Western Canada. The mosquitoes could pose a significant hazard to health if global warming favors the development of some of the viruses it can transmit.

Temporary ambulance locations reduces response times and may save lives Ambulances deployed at temporary locations that can be changed depending on the time of day and accident statistics can reduce response time and may save lives on the way to the hospital.

Children's Health: Childhood obesity linked to poverty, parenting style ♦ Negative body image increases adolescent obesity risk ♦ World first blood test reduces risk,increases accuracy in prenatal testing

World first blood test reduces risk, increases accuracy in prenatal testing Research into a simple, accurate and low risk blood test that can detect fetal blood group, sex, and genetic conditions in unborn babies, report scientists. The new, simple and safe DNA blood test could spell the end of invasive amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling.

Negative body image, not depression, increases adolescent obesity risk Negative body image significantly increases the risk of obesity regardless of whether youth have depression, according to researchers. For the study's purposes, persons with a body mass index of 30 or more were considered obese.

Don't delay: Having to wait doesn't help young kids exercise self-control Would your ability to resist a tantalizing cookie improve if you had to wait a few seconds before you could reach for it? The idea that natural urges 'die down' with time seems intuitive, but new research shows that it's being reminded about what not to do, not the passage of time, that actually helps young children control their impulsive behavior

Childhood obesity linked to poverty, parenting style With childhood obesity rates on the rise, a team of based researchers embarked on a study to show how authoritarian parenting and household income combine to affect kid's obesity risk.

Weight Loss Research: Are you hardwired to enjoy high-calorie foods? ♦ Obesity: Is junk food really to blame? ♦ Standing and exercise linked to lower odds of obesity

Are you hardwired to enjoy high-calorie foods? Research links genes to heightened brain reward responses to foods high in fat and sugar Researchers have identified two genetic variants that interact to alter the brain responses to high-calorie foods, a tie that could aid in the development of targeted treatments for obesity and overweight. Researchers found that two gene variants - FTO and DRD2 - influenced activity in the brain reward system when looking at pictures of high-calorie foods

Standing and exercise linked to lower odds of obesity While sedentary behavior (such as watching TV and commuting time) has been linked to negative health effects, it is unclear whether more time spent standing has protective health benefits. New research shows that standing for at least one-quarter of the day has been linked to lower odds of obesity.

Obesity: Is junk food really to blame? Soda, candy, and fast food are often painted as the prime culprits in the national discussion of obesity in the United States. While a diet of chocolate bars and cheese burgers washed down with a Coke is inadvisable from a nutritional standpoint, these foods are not likely to be a leading cause of obesity .

Bariatric surgery is safe option for managing type 2 diabetes in overweight or mildly obese patients Weight-loss surgery, long considered a treatment largely reserved for people with severe obesity, may also be a good and safe option for the treatment of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes in those who are overweight or have mild to moderate obesity.

Bacteria Research: Some antibiotics work by stressing bacteria out ♦ Bacterial hole puncher could be new broad-spectrum antibiotic ♦ Tug of war among bacteria

Some antibiotics work by stressing bacteria out (metabolically) Learning how antibiotics actually work can help scientists and doctors use them more wisely -- an urgent need at a time of mounting resistance. A new study found that three different antibiotics killed somewhat subtly by disrupting bacterial metabolism and causing a buildup of oxidative stress.

Bacterial hole puncher could be new broad-spectrum antibiotic Bacteria have many methods of adapting to resist antibiotics, but a new class of spiral polypeptides targets one thing no bacterium can live without: an outer membrane. The polypeptides act as bacterial hole-punchers, perforating the bacterial membrane until the cell falls apart. The antimicrobial agents are dressed for their mission in positively charged shells that let them travel in body fluids, protected from interacting with other proteins, and also attract them to bacterial membranes.

Tug of war among bacteria As hide-outs for bacteria, biofilms cause problems for antibiotic treatment or the cleaning of medical tubes. They contribute to the spreading of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. A biofilm is created when bacteria attach to surfaces and multiply. Gradually, bacterial subpopulations can develop different properties although they originated from the same cell.

broad-spectrum antibiotic could be blamed for obesity, diabetes An excess of bacteria in the gut can change the way the liver processes fat and could lead to the development of metabolic syndrome, according to health researchers. Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and excess body fat around the waist. People experiencing three or more of these conditions are considered to have metabolic syndrome .

Weight Loss Research:Inherent mindfulness linked to lower obesity risk, belly fat ♦ 'Sensor' protein could help fight against obesity, diabetes ♦ Insulin cells determine weight-loss surgery success rate

Inherent mindfulness linked to lower obesity risk, belly fat People with a high degree of attention to their present thoughts and feelings -- 'dispositional mindfulness' -- are less likely to be obese than people with a low degree of dispositional mindfulness, research shows. They also had about a pound less belly fat on average.

Gene therapy could aid weight loss without affecting bone loss, Delivering the hormone leptin directly to the brain through gene therapy aids weight loss without the significant side effect of bone loss

'Sensor' protein could help fight against obesity, diabetes  Aan internal 'sensor' that helps fight obesity by instructing cells to burn their fat stores has been identified by researchers. The finding could play a major role in the fight against obesity and metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, they say

Insulin cells determine weight-loss surgery success rate The ability to produce insulin is pivotal to the success of weight-loss surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes, scientists have found. Their study provides a better point of departure for advice and determining which patients will benefit from surgery

Weight Loss Research: Kitchen counter foods that relate to your weigh ♦ Obesity surgery normalizes brain opioids ♦ New study shows that varying walking pace burns more calories

New study shows that varying walking pace burns more calories Engineering researchers have found that walking at varying speeds can burn up to 20 percent more calories compared to maintaining a steady pace. The study is one of the first to measure the metabolic cost, or calories burned, of changing walking speeds

Obesity surgery normalizes brain opioids Researchers have revealed how obesity surgery recovers opioid neurotransmission in the brain. Obesity surgery provides an effective means for rapid weight loss, and the research also shows that obesity surgery also normalizes brain circuits triggering pleasurable sensations when eating

New research focused on cell signaling mechanism linked to obesity A mechanism has been identified for blocking the signal by which the cellular sodium-potassium pump amplifies oxidants (reactive oxygen species). These oxidants lead to obesity and metabolic syndrome.

The 20 lb. cereal box: Kitchen counter foods that relate to your weight Over 200 American kitchens were photographed to determine if the food sitting out on counters could predict the weight of the woman living in each home.

Children's Health:Colds, flu may temporarily increase stroke risk in kids ♦ Children with severe obesity may be at higher risk for heart disease and diabetes

Early intervention improves preschoolers' heart healthy habits Introducing healthy lifestyle behaviors to children in preschool improves their knowledge, attitude and habits toward healthy diet and exercise and can lead to reduced levels of body fat, according to a study. Researchers predict early intervention in children will not only translate to a lifelong understanding of healthy habits but will also serve to encourage their parents to adopt healthier lifestyles.

New predictor of health complications can identify high-risk preemies Premature infants have heightened risks of deadly diseases because their organs and immune systems are not fully developed. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a major gastrointestinal disease that causes the intestines to die, is a leading cause of death among these infants and is the most the common disease for babies born before 32 weeks. Now, researchers have found that the early and persistent presence of white blood cells during NEC, known as blood eosinophilia, is a predictor of life-threatening complications for preemies

Cognitive-behavioral prevention program for teens at-risk of depression shows benefit A cognitive-behavioral prevention program for depression among at-risk youth showed benefit more than 6 years after the implementation of the intervention, according to a new article

Colds, flu may temporarily increase stroke risk in kids Stroke is very rare in children, but colds, flu and other minor infections may temporarily increase stroke risk in children The study also found routine childhood vaccines may decrease the risk of stroke

Children with severe obesity may be at higher risk for heart disease and diabetes A direct correlation has been found between more severe forms of obesity in children and related risk factors for developing heart disease and diabetes--particularly in boys. It is estimated that there are more than 3 million children in the United States who are severely obese.

Health News:Common Chemicals linked to rising diabetes, obesity risk ♦ 150 Shigella cases confirmed in Kansas City ♦ Warning about THC-infused capsules

Shigella on-the rise 150 cases confirmed in Kansas City. The Kansas City Health Department along with other medical professionals urged residents to use recommended prevention methods including washing hands with soap and water and using paper towels to dry them, September 28 after the number of reported Shigella cases in the city rose to 150

22 Salmonella cases reported in North Dakota Officials with the North Dakota Department of Health announced Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, that they are investigating an increase in reported cases of salmonellosis, an infection caused by Salmonella bacteria. The illness can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting and fever. Since July 20, 22 cases of Salmonella Thompson have been reported in North Dakota. Because the infections...

Warning about THC-infused capsules A food safety advisory for a THC-infused product manufactured in Aspen, CO, was announced this past Friday by Denver’s Department of Environmental Health. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis (marijuana). The department issued the warning on Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, for RX Green’s Autopilots capsules. Consumers who have purchased Rx Green’s Autopilots Omega 3...

Tiny mitochondria play outsized role in human evolution and disease Mitochondria are not only the power plants of our cells; these tiny structures also play a central role in our physiology. By enabling flexible responses to new environments, mitochondria have helped humans adapt and evolve.

Chemical exposure linked to rising diabetes, obesity risk Emerging evidence ties endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure to two of the biggest public health threats facing society -- diabetes and obesity. EDCs contribute to health problems by mimicking, blocking or otherwise interfering with the body's natural hormones. By hijacking the body's chemical messengers, EDCs can alter the way cells develop and grow. Known EDCs include bisphenol A (BPA) found in food can linings and cash register receipts, phthalates found in plastics and cosmetics, flame retardants and pesticides. The chemicals are so common that nearly every person on Earth has been exposed to one or more

Children's Health:Do American adolescents approve of marijuana? ♦ Having no garden access for young children linked to childhood obesity ♦ Adolescent painkiller abuse

Study examines role of vegetable food pairings in school plate waste School meals paired with popular vegetables are less likely to wind up in garbage bins, research has shown. A research team measured food waste in three elementary schools in Bryan and Dallas

Do American adolescents approve of marijuana? Groundbreaking research suggests that adolescents have become less likely to approve of and use marijuana over the last decade when compared to young adults. This is coming during a time where a majority of Americans support the full legalization of marijuana.

Having no garden access for young children linked to childhood obesity later in childhood, A study of 6,467 children from England shows that having no access to a garden at age 3-5 years is linked to an increased risk developing obesity by age 7 years.

Adolescent painkiller abuse a big problem for small towns, rural areas Adolescents who live in rural areas and small towns and cities are more likely to abuse prescription painkillers than adolescents who live in large urban areas.

Weight Loss Research: Possible 'obesity gene' discovered ♦ Physician support key to successful weight loss ♦ Eating 'on the go' could lead to weight gain

Possible 'obesity gene' discovered A gene that could be an important cause of obesity has been discovered by researchers. Discovery of this direct link between a protein and fat production points the way to a possible drug therapy. Scientists theorize that by suppressing the gene or blocking the protein, they could prevent fat accumulation in people who are overweight, or are on their way to becoming so

Obesity breakthrough: Metabolic master switch prompts fat cells to store or burn fat Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges of the 21st century. Affecting more than 500 million people worldwide, obesity costs at least $200 billion each year in the United States alone, and contributes to potentially fatal disorders such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Scientists have now revealed the mechanism underlying the genomic region most strongly associated with obesity. The findings uncover a genetic circuit that controls whether our bodies burn or store fat. Manipulating that genetic circuit may offer a new approach for obesity treatments.

Physician support key to successful weight loss A review of survey data from more than 300 obese people who participated in a federally funded weight loss clinical trial found that although the overall weight loss rates were modest, those who rated their primary care doctor’s support as particularly helpful lost about twice as many pounds as those who didn’t.

Eating 'on the go' could lead to weight gain Dieters who eat 'on the go' may increase their food intake later in the day which could lead to weight gain and obesity, new research shows. The findings from the study also showed that eating while walking around triggered more overeating compared to eating during other forms of distraction such as watching TV or having a conversation with a friend.

Food may be addictive: Food craving may be 'hard-wired' in the brain An international group of researchers have found that food craving activates different brain networks between obese and normal weight patients. This indicates that the tendency to want food may be ‘hard-wired’ into the brain of overweight patients, becoming a functional brain biomarker

Health News: how caramel apples caused that listeria outbreak ♦ Switching off streetlights at night does not increase car crashes ♦ Effects over time of tobacco tax increases i

Experts determined how caramel apples caused that listeria outbreak In November 2014, health officials began investigating two concerning clusters of Listeria infections that seemed to be related. The two strains of bacteria had already killed at least five people and hospitalized a few dozen others by the time they got on the case, and they wanted to find the source and stop it as quickly as...

Switching off streetlights at night does not increase car crashes, crime Reduced street lighting in England and Wales is not associated with road traffic collisions or crime, according to research. The study suggests that local authorities can safely reduce street lighting at night, saving energy costs and reducing carbon emissions

Effects over time of tobacco tax increases in New Zealand Annual 10 percent tobacco tax increases in New Zealand over the next 20 years should lead to health gains, net health system cost savings and modest reductions of about 2 percent to 3 percent in health inequalities between indigenous and non-indigenous people, according to a new study.

Free radicals may not be so destructive after all New research challenges the most popular theory about why our bodies deteriorate in old age. Scientists know that as we grow older our cells accumulate particles, called free radicals. It has long been thought that free radicals wreak havoc by damaging proteins and impairing their function – but the new research shows that proteins can survive unscathed.

Exercise mimic molecule may help treat diabetes and obesity Scientists have developed a molecule that acts as an exercise mimic, which could potentially help treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. The new molecule, called 'compound 14', inhibits the function of a cellular enzyme called ATIC, which is involved in metabolism, leading to the build-up of a molecule called ZMP in cells. This increase in ZMP makes cells think that they have run out of energy by activating the cell's central energy sensor, known as AMPK, thereby causing cells to try and increase their energy levels by increasing glucose uptake and metabolism