Month: March 2015

How do consumers react to products with diverse online reviews? According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, a mix of positive and negative reviews can benefit products that are evaluated based on personal taste. “Consumers will assume mixed reviews are due to either variability in the product (inconsistent quality), or variability in the reviewers (idiosyncratic tastes). Although a range of reviews based on quality will usually be considered undesirable, a variety

If you’re traveling at 60 miles per hour, just a few milliseconds can mean the difference between life and death when you need to come to a quick stop. According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, drivers react more quickly to road signs with symbols depicting motion. “Warning signs are static visuals, yet they can vary in their ability to evoke a sense of movement. For example, the children depicted in

One of the most important shifts of the 21st century is the ability of consumers to participate in markets they love such as music and fashion. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research reveals how ordinary consumers have changed the inner workings of the fashion business by sharing their passion for fashion on a wide variety of websites. “The accumulation of rather small, individually incremental, innovations in existing practices by consumers can cumulatively

  CHICAGO — An outbreak of canine influenza is reaching epidemic proportions, CBS Chicago reports. Veterinarians say the illness has sickened hundreds of dogs in the Chicago area, and the infection can be deadly. Veterinarian Natalie Marks of Blum Animal Hospital says in the last week alone, more than 70 dogs have been diagnosed with canine influenza, a much more serious illness than the common “kennel cough.” How do dogs feel? New study compares brain

By: Rachael Rettner Published: 03/30/2015 02:00 PM EDT on LiveScience Children with autism may be more likely to have gastrointestinal problems early in life, compared with children who don’t have the condition, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed information from children in Norway whose mothers had answered questions about their child’s health during infancy and early childhood. The study included 195 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); 4,636 children who had other types of developmental

I don’t know how many people learn about the revolutionary Dorothea Dix in school any more, but for people involved with mental health advocacy, she is a shining light and one of the great women of history. It is poignant for me that I will be spending the last three days of Women’s History Month with the modern-day Dorothea Dix, Elyn Saks of the USC Gould School of Law. We will be immersed in collaboration

BY KATHRYN DOYLE Mon Mar 30, 2015 1:57pm EDT (Reuters Health) – Between 2003 and 2010, the number of U.S. kids eating fast food on any given day went down, and the calories from some types of fast foods have declined as well, according to a new study. “Most prior studies have focused on menu items, but this (one) actually looked at what children are eating,” said coauthor Colin D. Rehm, formerly of the University

There was an 8-year-old crying at after-school pick up today. She was almost hysterical, racing back and forth, saying she wanted to go home, and that she was afraid. I asked the counselor what was going on and it seemed the young girl had an untied shoe lace and felt she was going to die as a result. The counselor kept telling her to stop crying, that she wasn’t going to die, there was nothing

This is why I fell in love with my coworkers and with our nursing profession. I cannot look at this picture without getting a little teary. If you’re religious, what religion you practice, whatever it is you may believe in… none of it matters. When we’ve had a horrific outcome, when we have had a close call, when one of our own is sick, we come together. We pray for our patients, we pray for

European Journal of Medical Research 2015, 20:44 doi:10.1186/s40001-015-0124-6 The online version of the original article can be found under doi:10.1186/2047-783X-18-26. The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.eurjmedres.com/content/20/1/44 !–– © 2015 Wang and Bao; licensee BioMed Central. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has declared the Medicare co-payment proposals “dead, buried and cremated”, but two related ideas behind it live on: Medicare is becoming “unaffordable” and our universal health system should morph into a program reserved for the poor. The government’s original justification for the co-payment was to bring more “price signals” into Medicare. In itself the idea has merit, but the government has been going about it in a ham-fisted way. Whether by

Most experts agree Australia’s health financing system needs a reboot to reduce the distortions and inefficiencies created by the overlapping coverage between Medicare and private health insurance. Any new such financing system would need to carefully balance competition and choice, with affordability of coverage and equal access to quality care. It also needs the flexibility to respond to changing health-care needs. One solution is to allow individuals to opt out of Medicare and require them

i The Allen Institute for Brain Science hosted its first BigNeuron Hackathon in Beijing earlier this month. Similar events are planned for the U.S. and U.K. Courtesy of Allen Institute for Brain Science hide caption itoggle caption Courtesy of Allen Institute for Brain Science The Allen Institute for Brain Science hosted its first BigNeuron Hackathon in Beijing earlier this month. Similar events are planned for the U.S. and U.K. Courtesy of Allen Institute for Brain

Try to remember what you thought as you got ready and looked yourself over in the mirror this morning. If any of it was negative, now imagine saying those criticisms out loud to someone else. Harsh, right? That’s the premise behind a powerful new ad from Dove France, below, that’s quickly gaining views. Check it: It’s upsetting to hear all of those horrible critiques in conversation, right? Dove’s no stranger to impactful messaging; the company is also behind

No one really knows what goes on in other people’s relationships. But few people will let a minor detail like that stop them from giving you their unsolicited opinions, because “they just want you to be happy.” Having your relationship judged is uncomfortable and off-putting, and frankly, it can leave you at a loss for words…until now. So keep a few of these comebacks in your back pocket. The next time someone tries to tell

Signing up for the 2015 NYC Half this past winter after a lifetime of extremely amateur running made me feel like Cinderella with a dozen fairy godmothers. All of a sudden, every runner I knew (and even runners I didn’t know) had magical advice for me. “Train outside all the time, even when it’s snowing!” “Buy a bunch of Body Glide and rub it on everything!” “Get really angry and use that as fuel!” (Those

Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles

The proposed link between caffeine and reductions in the beta amyloid plaque accumulation characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) suggest a possible role for caffeine in AD treatment. The latest evidence linking beta amyloid protein to Alzheimer’s disease and exploring the relationship between caffeine and beta amyloid are featured in a review article in Journal of Caffeine Research: The International Multidisciplinary Journal of Caffeine Science, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article

/ no comments Northwestern Medicine

CDC study finds fewer patients treated in ERs for blood clots in the brain. (HealthDay)—Fewer people are being treated in U.S. emergency rooms for strokes caused by blood clots in the brain, which experts read as a sign that current stroke prevention methods are working. The rate of emergency department visits for either a stroke or a mini-stroke (transient ischemic attack)—a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain—decreased dramatically between 2001 and 2011, according

When I visited the Sivile Primary School in South Africa’s Western Cape, I was struck by a feeling. It was a feeling of the vulnerability of the children all around me, who are put at huge risk every single day. It is a threat and a risk they face for what should be a simple journey. Yet, they are placed in harm’s way just for trying to get to their school to gain an education.

Photo Credit: Kennan Harvey, www.kennanharvey.com It seems mindfulness is all over the news these days, whether here on HuffPost, on 60 Minutes, or on the cover of your favorite magazine. It’s an ancient technique with modern adaptations, backed by science, to help you de-stress and rewire the mind, literally changing the brain, for greater success and happiness, and there’s almost no end to the benefits of being more present and aware. Like the old expression

BMC Cancer 2015, 15:203 doi:10.1186/s12885-015-1209-x Tingting Zhao and Xueqiang Ding contributed equally to this work. Published: 31 March 2015

Current distribution of Ae. albopictus The global spread of Ae. albopictus is due mainly to human activities, such as increase in intercontinental trade, especially in the past three decades 5]. In central Africa, Ae. albopictus was first described in 2000 in Cameroon 8], then in 2003 in Equatorial Guinea 15], in 2007 in Gabon 16], in 2009 in the Central African Republic (CAR) 17] and in 2011 in Republic of Congo 18] (Figure 1). In Cameroon,

i President Barack Obama, seen here inspecting solar panels on the roof of the Department of Energy, has submitted a U.S. pledge to reduce greenhouse gases. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters /Landov hide caption itoggle caption Kevin Lamarque/Reuters /Landov President Barack Obama, seen here inspecting solar panels on the roof of the Department of Energy, has submitted a U.S. pledge to reduce greenhouse gases. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters /Landov The Obama administration is pledging that the U.S. will reduce greenhouse

/ no comments Orthopaedic Spine Center

/ no comments / no comments WGU Texas

/ no comments ATI Physical Therapy

New research at the University of Michigan offers evidence that a drug being developed to treat osteoporosis may also be useful for treating osteogenesis imperfecta or brittle bone disease, a rare but potentially debilitating bone disorder that that is present from birth. Previous studies have shown the drug to be effective at spurring new bone growth in mice and in humans with osteoporosis, and a U-M research team believes that it may spur new growth

A patient’s very own skin cells may hold the key to new treatments and even cures for devastating neurological diseases. A generous $1 million donation from Mr. J. Sebastian van Berkom, and critical partnerships with Brain Canada, Laval University, Marigold Foundation and the FRQS-Réseau Parkinson Quebec are driving an innovative, iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell) research platform that will transform research into Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases. Millions of Canadians are affected by diseases of

Agf I could sit here and contemplate the details that led to my classmate’s death, but the painful truth is that a life was lost, a valuable life, and had we, as a class, as a tight-knit family, listened closely, maybe, just maybe we could’ve caught the signs. Geraldine Estevez Editor-in-Chief of TheWriteWoman.com

Starbucks already has enough sweet items on its menu and now it’s adding some savory items. According to a press release, Starbucks will begin selling new Thai-Style Peanut Chicken wraps and Edamame Hummus wraps on March 31. The Thai-Style Peanut Chicken wraps are made of grilled white chicken, chili lime veggie slaw and ginger cream cheese wrapped in a chili tortilla. They’ll come with a spicy peanut coconut sauce and grapes on the side. The

At 5 o’clock in the morning, I lay awake on the floor of my friend’s living room, huddled in a thin blanket. A rerun of “Shark Boy and Lava Girl” was playing on TV. I stared at the screen, not really watching the movie. All I could see was the night’s events playing on endless loop before my eyes. Headphones shoved in my ears, I tried, unsuccessfully, to blare out the images. I was annoyed.

1 National Heart Centre Singapore, 5 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169609, Singapore 2 Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore 3 National University Heart Centre Singapore, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore 4 Cardiac Department, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore 308433, Singapore 5 Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, 378 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159964, Singapore 6 Changi General Hospital, Simei Street

1 Health Service Center, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1, Yakushiji, Tochigi 329-0498, Shimotsuke, Japan 2 Department of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1, Yakushiji, Tochigi 329-0498, Shimotsuke, Japan For all author emails, please log on.

i About twice a year, statistics suggest, a pilot somewhere in the world — usually flying alone — deliberately crashes a plane. The Germanwing flight downed last week may be one such case. But most people who fit the psychological profile of the pilots in these very rare events never have problems while flying. Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images hide caption itoggle caption Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images About twice a year, statistics suggest, a pilot somewhere in the

Chemists, biologists and pharmacologists deal with the question of how complex active substances can be introduced into cells such that they are rapidly and easily available. Building on earlier research, interdisciplinary teams of scientists has made some important advancements. Time and time again, scientists are confronted with the particular biochemical properties of cell membranes, which do not allow large molecules to pass and reach the site inside the cell where they are needed. The scientists

The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) today launched its new Health and Housing Task Force, designed to help policymakers meet the needs of the United States’ aging population. BPC believes that stable, affordable housing can improve health outcomes and reduce costs imposed on the health care system, particularly for the majority of seniors who wish to age in place. These challenges are critically important now, as governments prioritize limited resources. Leading this one-year effort are former

/ no comments http://ncb.org.uk/

To help the general public understand how bioengineering is changing the world for the better, Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) is supporting a unique public outreach program led by expert plant synthetic biologists at Revolution Bioengineering. Detailed in a recent DECODED article, “Color-Changing Flowers—Biotechnology for Everyone”, Revolution Biotechnology is creating bioengineered Petunia flowers that change color on demand throughout the day, bringing the incredible potential of plant molecular biology to life—outside of the food supply, outside

IMAGE: The Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics Helmet Team includes, from left, assistant professor Steve Rowson, doctoral student Bethany Rowson, professor and department head Stefan Duma, master’s student Abi Zadnik,… view more Credit: Virginia Tech Virginia Tech has helped change football for a decade, making the sport safer for athletes without losing the thrill of participating or watching a rugged, intense sport. Now its College of Engineering turns to the ice for hockey. Virginia Tech

NEW YORK (March 30, 2015) – An outbreak of a novel Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain resistant to antibiotics has been linked to contaminated endoscopes in a Washington state hospital. The study indicates that industry standard cleaning guidelines, which were exceeded by hospital staff, may not be sufficient for sterilizing endoscopes adequately. The research was published online in Infection Control Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. “Although the endoscopes

IMAGE: This is the cover of Nanomedicine, MEDLINE indexed Impact factor: 5.824 (2013). view more Credit: Future Science Group 31 March, 2015 – Nanomedicine has published a special focus issue on the combined force of nanomedicine and regenerative medicine; two fields that continue to develop at a dramatic pace. Titled ‘Engineering the nanoenvironment for regenerative medicine’, the issue is guest edited by Professor Matthew J. Dalby (University of Glasgow, UK, and associate editor of Nanomedicine) and

March 31, 2015, 5:50 AM|A new study says that men who eat organic produce have better sperm counts than those who eat non-organic fruits and vegetables high in pesticide residue. Also, the danger of letting kids take a sip of alcohol. Eboni Williams reports on the day’s top health stories.

March 31, 2015, 7:12 AM|The defense team in the Boston Marathon bombing trial begins its first full day of testimony. Prosecutors rested their case Monday following some of the most graphic and emotional images of the trial, including those of the youngest victim, 8-year-old Martin Richard. Elaine Quijano reports.

March 31, 2015, 7:16 AM|Researchers say a new strain of a common virus may be the cause of sudden, partial paralysis in more than 100 children. They were treated for respiratory illnesses associated with enterovirus D68, but a new genetic analysis discovered a mutated strain that’s similar to polio. Dr. Holly Phillips joins “CBS This Morning” to discuss the alarming new evidence.

March 31, 2015, 6:00 AM|The star of “Entourage” and TV Land’s new series “Younger” says her crazy, over-scheduled life makes it hard to get a good night’s sleep. She tells CBS News’ Lauren Moraski how she’s learned to cope.

While it’s true that everyone works differently, the world’s most successful leaders often have one thing in common: Their days are marked by certain rituals. After all, even Mark Zuckerberg needs a little bit of structure: That’s why his resolution for 2014 was to write handwritten thank-you notes every single day of the year. (He readily admits that it wasn’t easy.) The famed Facebook founder has developed quite the reputation when it comes to personal

The most magical place on earth just got even more magical, especially for certain bellies. BabyCakes, a vegan and gluten-free bakery, has stationed a spot in the Downtown Disney Marketplace, a shopping and dining area that’s not to be confused with Main Street at Magic Kingdom. The food at Disney is as plentiful as the number of Mickey characters walking around. The park is adored for its array of indulgent edibles, including a peanut butter

China Pharma Holdings, Inc. (NYSE MKT: CPHI) (“China Pharma” or the “Company”), an NYSE MKT listed corporation with its fully-integrated specialty pharmaceuticals subsidiary based in China, today announced financial results for the year ended December 31, 2014. Full Year Highlights Revenue decreased 24% to $24.9 million in fiscal year 2014 from $32.8 million in fiscal year 2013; Gross margin was 21.9% in fiscal year 2014, compared to gross loss margin of (1.5)% in fiscal 2013.

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have uncovered the unique mechanism of a powerful natural product with wide-ranging antifungal, antibacterial, anti-malaria and anti-cancer effects. The new study, published online ahead of print by the journal Nature Communications, sheds light on the natural small molecule known as borrelidin. “Our study may help the rational design of compounds similar to borrelidin with a range of useful applications, particularly in cancer,” said Min

New research from The University of Manchester published in the Journal of Community Genetics reveals a stark variation in genetic testing services for inherited eye disease in England. The study, which was part-funded by Fight for Sight, shows that service provision in the North-east is much lower than expected based on population size and demographics, while in London and the South-east, it’s much higher. Genetic tests have been available on the NHS for over a

The adverse health effects caused by fine particles have been known for some time. In addition, ultrafine particles appear to play a significant role in cardiac function – even if an individual is exposed to these for only a few minutes, as scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München have now been able to show. The results of the study have been published in the journal Particle Fibre Toxicology. Inhalable particles include all particulate matter with a

A new analysis reported in JAMA Psychiatry raises serious questions about the increasingly common use of second-generation antidepressant drugs to treat anxiety disorders. It concludes that studies supporting the value of these medications for that purpose have been distorted by publication bias, outcome reporting bias and “spin.” Even though they may still play a role in treating these disorders, the effectiveness of the drugs has been overestimated. In some cases the medications, which are among

New estimates suggest that 20 to 30 percent of opioid analgesic drugs prescribed for chronic pain are misused, while the rate of opioid addiction is approximately 10 percent, reports a study in the April issue of PAIN®, the official journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer. “On average, misuse was documented in approximately one out of four or five patients and addiction in approximately one

Parents of children who have suffered a stroke can experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the children show signs of clinical anxiety, factors that could interfere with treatment and outcomes, according to …

Enlarge Credit: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, via Wikimedia Commons. Shared under a Creative Commons license. In the United States and other industrialized nations, consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is considered a key component of a healthy diet. There are many benefits to eating fresh produce such as receiving adequate vitamins and minerals, reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering blood pressure, and preventing some types of cancer. Even healthy foods, however, can be

Higher levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides, two types of fat, in the blood of men who underwent surgery for prostate cancer, were associated with increased risk for disease recurrence, according to a study published …

A. Peters (left), A. Schneider (right), Credit: Helmholtz Zentrum München The adverse health effects caused by fine particles have been known for some time. In addition, ultrafine particles appear to play a significant role in cardiac function – even if an individual is exposed to these for only a few minutes, as scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München have now been able to show. The results of the study have been published in the journal Particle

What does a 20-ounce bottle of soda cost? If you said 99 cents, you are only partly right. While that may be the price on the sticker at the store, it doesn’t take into account the cost to public health. One study, for example, …

SAN DIEGO (AP) — In a move that could heighten the hurdles faced by states attempting to execute prisoners, a leading association for U.S. pharmacists has officially discouraged its members from providing drugs for use in lethal injections. The policy adopted by American Pharmacists Association delegates at their annual meeting Monday makes an ethical stand against providing such drugs, saying they run contrary to the role of pharmacists as health care providers. The association lacks

Antibodies from dromedary camels protected uninfected mice from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and helped infected mice expunge the disease, according to a study published online March 18th in the Journal of Virology, a journal published by the American Society for Microbiology. MERS, which emerged in humans last year in the Saudi Arabian peninsula, causes severe respiratory disease, with a high mortality rate of 35-40 percent. No specific therapy is currently available. “Our results suggest

March 30, 2015 – Two approaches to fat grafting–injection of fat cells versus fat-derived stem cells–have similar effects in reversing the cellular-level signs of aging skin, reports a study in the April issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Since the facial rejuvenation results are the same, the simpler approach using fat cells plus the “stromal vascular fraction” has advantages over the more time-consuming

DENVER – Low pre-surgery uptake of a labeled glucose analogue, a marker of metabolic activity, in the primary tumor of patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with increased overall survival and a longer time before tumor recurrence. Patients with high labeled glucose uptake may benefit from additional therapy following surgery. Surgery is the standard of care for patients with stage I NSCLC but not all patients are cured, as demonstrated

DETROIT – A “perverse disincentive” for hospitals that have invested in expensive technology for robotic surgery may be jeopardizing prostate cancer patients who seek out the procedure, concluded a new study led by Henry Ford Hospital researchers. The study, which compared complication rates in hospitals with low volumes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomies (RARPs) to institutions with high volumes of the procedure, suggested that current pay-for-performance healthcare models are to blame. The new study was published

Humans have been inspired by nature since the beginning of time. We mimic nature to develop new technologies, with examples ranging from machinery to pharmaceuticals to new materials. Planes are modelled on birds and many drugs have their origins in plants. Researchers at the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering have taken it a step further: in order to develop an extremely sensitive temperature sensor they took a close look at temperature-sensitive plants. However, they

IMAGE:  The new fossil is the only record of an adult female insect from the Mesozoic, an era that spanned roughly 180 million years. The Mesozoic era was the age of… view more Credit: CCBY 4.0 Wang et al. Scientists have uncovered the earliest fossilised evidence of an insect caring for its young. The findings, published in the journal eLife, push back the earliest direct evidence of insect brood care by more than 50 million

Neural Development 2015, 10:9 doi:10.1186/s13064-015-0032-z Ivan Enghian Gladwyn-Ng, Shan Shan Li and Zhengdong Qu contributed equally to this work. Published: 31 March 2015

Department of Oncology, NorLux Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Luxembourg, Luxembourg For all author emails, please log on.

1 Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, ACUTE at Denver Health, and Eating Recovery Center, Denver, CO ¿ 777 Bannock Street, MC4000, Denver, CO 80204, 7351 E Lowry Blvd, Suite 200, Denver 80230, CO, USA 2 Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and ACUTE at Denver Health, Denver, CO ¿ 777 Bannock Street, MC4000, Denver 80204, CO, USA For all author emails, please log on.