Body

The great disappearing act: Bone marrow receiver cured of allergy

BALTIMORE, MD. (November 8, 2013) – Not only can bone marrow transplants be life-saving for children with acute lymphocytic leukemia, they may also cure peanut allergies. According to research presented during the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology's (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting, a 10-year-old boy no longer had a peanut allergy after undergoing a bone marrow transplant.

Instrument neglect can lead to 'saxophone lung' in musicians

Reed instruments, such as the clarinet and saxophone, can be detrimental to your health if not properly cleaned. In a study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology's (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Baltimore, Nov. 7-11, researchers noted that musicians can develop allergic pulmonary disease to specific funguses that collect over time in the instrument's reed. The rare disease, known as Saxophone Lung, can be misdiagnosed due to the persistent cough and wheezing and association with mold allergy.

High bat mortality from wind turbines

A new estimate of bat deaths caused by wind turbines concludes that more than 600,000 of the mammals likely died this way in 2012 in the contiguous United States. The estimate, published in an article in BioScience, used sophisticated statistical techniques to infer the probable number of bat deaths at wind energy facilities from the number of dead bats found at 21 locations, correcting for the installed power capacity of the facilities.

CTCA doctor featured expert speaker at Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer

GOODYEAR, AZ – November 8th, 2013 – Walter Quan, Jr., MD Chief of Medical Oncology and Director of Immunotherapy at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) Western Regional Medical Center is presenting new findings that are showing a major benefit to cancer patients.

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) national meeting is being held in National Harbor, MD November 7-10, 2013. Hundreds of expert doctors from all over the country will attend workshops, learn new techniques and engage in a hot topic symposium.

Slacktivism: 'Liking' on Facebook may mean less giving

Would-be donors skip giving when offered the chance to show public support for charities in social media, a new study from the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business finds.

"Charities incorrectly assume that connecting with people through social media always leads to more meaningful support," says Sauder PhD student Kirk Kristofferson, who co-authored the forthcoming Journal of Consumer Research article.

Women have greater shortness of breath than men when exercising

The reason women find it harder to breathe than men during exercise is due to greater electrical activation of their breathing muscles, shows a new study published today [8 November] in the journal Experimental Physiology.

It is well established that women experience greater shortness of breath during physical activity, from stair climbing to long-distance running, than men of a similar age. This is true in healthy young and older adults, as well as in patients with chronic heart and lung disease. This study is the first to explain why this happens.

Study finds high clot risk for women admitted to hospital during pregnancy

Admission to hospital during pregnancy for reasons other than delivery carries a substantially increased risk of serious blood clots (known as venous thromboembolism or VTE), finds a study published on bmj.com today.

Clots risk was also high in the 28 days after discharge, with a particularly high rate among women hospitalised for three or more days – and they were more likely in late pregnancy and in women aged 35 years and over.

Lowering salt intake improves heart and kidney health of chronic kidney disease patients

Washington, DC (November 7, 2013) — Reducing salt intake provides clear benefits for the heart and kidney health of patients with chronic kidney disease, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings point to the power of salt restriction in potentially prolonging kidney disease patients' lives.

Climate may play a role in the distribution and prevalence of trachoma

High temperatures and low rainfall are important factors which influence the occurrence and severity of the active stages of trachoma—the most common cause of infectious blindness—according to a new study publishing November 7, 2013 in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Bacterial toxin sets the course for infection

Braunschweig have now discovered what makes a specific strain of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis–one of the main instigators for these infections–so dangerous: the bacteria produce a molecule called CNFy that facilitates the infection process for them. It changes the host cells in a manner that enables the injection apparatus of Yersinia, which injects toxins into the cells, to work more efficiently. This strengthens the infection and leads to inflammation of the tissue.

A genetic study on South Asians helps to understand human skin color variation

Though genetics of skin pigmentation has shown recent advancements in the last decade, studies involving populations of South Asia, one of the major hot spots of pigmentation diversity, is still in its infancy.

Dartmouth researcher finds novel genetic patterns that make us rethink biology and individuality

Professor of Genetics Scott Williams, PhD, of the Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Sciences (iQBS) at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine, has made two novel discoveries: first, a person can have several DNA mutations in parts of their body, with their original DNA in the rest—resulting in several different genotypes in one individual—and second, some of the same genetic mutations occur in unrelated people.

Weight loss surgery effective in kidney disease patients, but side effects are high

Atlanta, GA (November 7, 2013)—Kidney disease patients who undergo weight loss surgery can successfully lose weight, but many experience significant side effects, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.

Prevalence of kidney failure treatment is skyrocketing worldwide

Atlanta, GA (November 7, 2013)—The prevalence of dialysis therapy for kidney failure is increasing much faster than population growth in most parts of the world, according to a new study. The findings, which will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, highlight the importance of early detection and treatment of kidney disease.

The Carolina hammerhead, a new species of shark, debuts

Discovering a new species is, among biologists, akin to hitting a grand slam, and University of South Carolina ichthyologist Joe Quattro led a team that recently cleared the bases. In the journal Zootaxa, they describe a rare shark, the Carolina hammerhead, that had long eluded discovery because it is outwardly indistinguishable from the common scalloped hammerhead. Through its rarity, the new species, Sphyrna gilberti, underscores the fragility of shark diversity in the face of relentless human predation.