Articles of interest from Science Daily

[Guest guest]

Higher dairy calcium intake and increased serum vitamin D are related to greater diet-induced weight loss, Israeli study finds (September 22, 2010) -- A new study conducted by researchers in Israel reveals that higher dairy calcium intake and increased serum vitamin D are related to greater diet-induced weight loss. ... > full story

Inner voice plays role in self control (September 22, 2010) -- Talking to yourself might not be a bad thing, especially when it comes to exercising self control. ... > full story

Inflammation causes some postsurgical neuropathies (September 22, 2010) -- A new study found that nerve inflammation may cause the pain, numbness and weakness following surgical procedures that is known as post-surgical neuropathy. ... > full story

Man’s best friend keeps children on the move (September 22, 2010) -- Children whose families own dogs are more active than those without, according to new research. ... > full story

Taste genes predict tooth decay (September 22, 2010) -- Dental caries is a highly prevalent disease that is disproportionately distributed in the population. Caries occurrence and progression is known to be influenced by a complex interplay of both environmental and genetic factors, with numerous contributing factors having been identified including bacterial flora, dietary habits, fluoride exposure, oral hygiene, salivary flow, salivary composition, and tooth structure. Researchers now hypothesized that genetic variation in taste pathway genes (TAS2R38, TAS1R2, GNAT3) may be associated with dental caries risk and/or protection. ... > full story

Cocaine and ecstasy detected in waters of the L'Albufera in Valencia, Spain (September 22, 2010) -- The water in the canals and irrigation channels in the L'Albufera Natural Park in Valencia contain cocaine, ecstasy and a further six drugs. Researchers have issued a warning about the continued presence of these substances on wildlife and human health. ... > full story

Stress before cancer therapy could help deadly cells survive treatment, lead to disease recurrence (September 22, 2010) -- Patients who experience physical or psychological stress -- including rigorous exercise -- one or two days before a cancer treatment might be unknowingly sabotaging their therapy, new research suggests. Stress in the body -- even physical stress caused by intense exercise -- activates a stress-sensitive protein that can spark a series of events that allow cancer cells to survive such treatments as chemotherapy and radiation, according to the research. ... > full story

Vitamin D protects against obesity-induced endometrial cancer, study suggests (September 22, 2010) -- Findings from an animal study suggest that obese women can reduce their increased risk of endometrial disease if they take vitamin D supplements. ... > full story

Spare the rod, spoil the child? Excessive punishment can have lasting psychological impact on children, researchers say (September 22, 2010) -- Grabbing a child firmly by the arm, yelling and repeatedly punishing him or her may not be without long-terms risks, according to researchers. They are studying how this harsh parenting can impair the emotional development of a child, possibly leading to anxiety disorders such as social phobia, separation anxiety and panic attacks. ... > full story

Chromium picolinate may lessen inflammation in diabetic nephropathy; Supplement linked to decreased protein in the urine of diabetic mice (September 22, 2010) -- Taking chromium picolinate may help lessen inflammation associated with diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease), say researchers. In a study comparing diabetic mice treated with chromium picolinate with those that received placebo, the researchers found that mice who received the supplement had lower levels of albuminuria (protein in the urine), an indication of kidney disease. ... > full story

Higher than predicted human exposure to the toxic chemical bisphenol A or BPA, new study indicates (September 21, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that women, female monkeys and female mice have major similarities when it comes to how bisphenol A is metabolized, and they have renewed their call for governmental regulation when it comes to the estrogen-like chemical found in many everyday products. ... > full story