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The Science of Sequestration

Last Tuesday’s New York Times article painted an unpleasant picture of the state of scientific research due to cutbacks with the sequestration. The $1 trillion in budget cuts have significantly slowed research momentum, which could lead to major setbacks in the health world. Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, described 2013 as the “darkest” year to date for the agency, whose budget is suffering and distributing smaller numbers of grants than ever.

Original Article

Male and female cells can behave differently!

Even at the most basic molecular level sex matters—and it’s not just about hormones.   Did you know that muscle stem cells from female mice regenerate new muscle faster than cells from male mice?  And cells from male and female mice respond to stress differently.  Yet most researchers who use basic cell cultures in their work do not even identify the sex of the cells they use.

Original Article

Considering Probiotics???

You might have noticed “probiotics” listed on the label of your yogurt. Maybe you’ve seen probiotic pills on store shelves next to vitamins or other supplements.

Probiotics are live microbes, such as bacteria, similar to those found naturally in the human body. We tend to think of microbes as harmful, but certain kinds are good for us and help the body to function properly.

Probiotics are found in some foods or are taken by mouth as dietary supplements. Probiotics also come in other products, such as creams.

Original Article

Women Today Living Longer Than Ever

A recent report from the World Health Organization showed that life expectancies for women over 50 are increasing around the world.  Women are living longer now than they did 40 years ago, thanks to medical advances and more sanitary living.  While all countries showed life-expectancy improvements, some improved less than others.  The AIDS epidemic in South Africa, the collapse of the Soviet health system in Russia, and the increased cases of lung cancer and diabetes in Mexico are a few instances of slower improvement rates.

Original Article

FDA Gives Hot Flashes a Chill Pill

The United States Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first non-hormonal solution to hot flashes associated with menopause; it is the drug Brisdelle.  Nearly 75% of menopausal women experience hot flashes, which are extreme feelings of warmth accompanied with redness and sweating.  While hot flashes can spread over the entire body, they are mostly concentrated in the face and neck. Hot flashes are the most common side effect of menopause, and while the exact cause of hot flashes is unknown, a great deal of research is conducted on alleviating this discomfort for women.

Original Article

Studys shows exercise is no quick cure of insomnia

Exercise is a common prescription for insomnia. But spending 45 minutes on the treadmill one day won’t translate into better sleep that night, according to new Northwestern Medicine® research.

“If you have insomnia you won’t exercise yourself into sleep right away,” said lead study author Kelly Glazer Baron, PhD, a clinical psychologist and director of the behavioral sleep program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “It’s a long-term relationship. You have to keep at it and not get discouraged.”

Original Article

Flame retardants can mimic estrogens

Researchers at the NIH have discovered how some common flame retardants, particularly brominated flame retardants (BFRs), can mimic estrogen hormones and possibly disrupt the body’s endocrine system.  According to the author, Linda Birnbaum, PhD, when chemicals act like estrogen or any other hormone, they may disrupt the endocrine system in a negative way.   The endocrine system plays a significant role in controlling and coordinating numerous functions included growth and development, reproduction, response to stress, and energy levels.

Original Article

Some Women At Greater Risk Post-Heart Attack

When patients undergo an acute myocardial infarction, lifestyle changes are necessary to reduce the risk of relapse.   Yet research shows that women and minority patients have a more difficult time with risk factor modification efforts.  A recent study published in the Journal of Women’s Health revealed that 93% of the patients examined had at least one of the five cardiac risk factors evaluated, and of that 93%, black female patients had the greatest risk factor burden of any other subgroup.

Original Article

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