The gut microbiome: how does it affect our health?

We can carry up to 2 kg of microbes in our gut. Within the tens of trillions of micro-organisms that live there are at least 1,000 species of bacteria consisting of over 3 million genes. What is more, two thirds of the gut microbiome - the population of microbes in the intestine - is unique to...

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What can lemurs tell us about about longevity?

After Jonas - one of their captive dwarf lemurs - died at nearly 30 years old, researchers from Duke University Lemur Center in Durham, NC, decided to look for clues that might explain his long lifespan. They reveal what you found - after combing half a century of the Center's medical...

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Classical music helped cats relax during surgery

New research suggests cats under general anesthetic can process the sound of music - with different genres eliciting stress or relaxation. In a small study of female cats undergoing neutering surgery, classical music appeared to have the most calming effect. The research occurred in a...

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American kids are consuming less fast food, study finds

One group of researchers have good news for people concerned with the obesity national health crisis in the US. They report that the percentage of children eating fast food on any given day has fallen.  The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, examines trends in kids's calories from fat...

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Higher coffee consumption may protect against liver cancer

Coffee is the morning pick-me-up of millions - every day people drink coffee to increase wakefulness and improve concentration and focus. A new report has shown that regular coffee intake could also reduce liver cancer risk caused by daily alcohol consumption.  According to research conducted...

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'Night vision eyedrops' improve vision up to 50 meters in dark

An independent research group called Science for the Masses have developed eyedrops that allow the user to identify symbols and people in darkened areas up to 50 meters away.  The eyedrops start using a mixture of insulin and chlorin e6 (Ce6) - a chlorophyll analog which includes be used...

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Many parents may not recognize child obesity

New research says many parents in the UK may not be aware that their children have a weight problem unless they are extremely obese. The finding has prompted suggestions that more needs to be done to help parents understand official measures of overweight and obesity, the health risks associated...

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Fecal transplantation 'more effective than previously thought' for C. diff infection

Fecal transplantation for patients with Clostridium difficile infection may be a more effective treatment strategy than previously thought, according to a new study.   Conducted by researchers from your University of Minnesota and also the University of Colorado-Boulder, the investigation...

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Long-term statins to prevent a first heart attack? Experts issue tips on making the decision

To statin or not to statin. That is the question addressed by leading cardiologists who say that "making the right choice hinges on the physician's clear explanation - and the patient's correct understanding" of the risks and benefits of long-term preventive use for people at high risk but yet...

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Gene identified that drives aggressive form of breast cancer

A team of researchers have identified a gene that drives one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer. They hope that by finding a way to block the gene they may be able to make the cancer less aggressive.   In their study, published in Nature Communications, they found that...

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Scientists identify neural mechanism responsible for chronic pain

 In a new study published in the journal Neuron, scientists from the University of Berne in Switzerland identify a mechanism in the brain they suggest is responsible for chronic pain. The researchers hope that their discovery will lead toward new treatments for chronic pain.   "The...

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Peanut consumption 'benefits vascular function'

Peanuts can often be found on coffee tables, at baseball games, tossed in salads, stir fried with vegetables and topped on sundaes. There is now emerging evidence that peanuts, which play an integral role in our culture, may benefit vascular health.  While "nut" is their name, peanuts...

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New study investigates the link between family income and brain development

Researchers at The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, CA, and Columbia University Medical Center in New York, NY, have published the findings of a new study that investigates associations between socioeconomic factors and children's brain development in the journal Nature...

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Breast cancer 'is not a single disease,' say experts

A new report from a group of leading medical experts in the US claims breast cancer is not a single disease; it consists of four molecular subtypes, each with different treatment responses and different survival rates. Incidence of these subtypes varies by age, race/ethnicity and many other factors,...

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Exploding head syndrome could affect 1 in 5 young people

Exploding head syndrome might not be a condition that people are familiar with, but according to new research published in the Journal of Sleep Research, a surprisingly high percentage of young people could experience the psychological phenomenon. The syndrome is seen as an the perception of abrupt...

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