feed info

168,132 articles from ScienceDaily

New Light Shed On Enigma Of Salt Intake And Hypertension

A high salt intake has been implicated in cardiovascular disease risk for 5000 years. But salt-sensitive hypertension still remains an enigma. Now, investigators have shed new light on the relationship between salt intake, bodily processes, and blood pressure regulation. Within the skin, they have detected a new storage area for salt in the body. If the process behind this storage is defect,...

Psyched Out By Stereotypes: Research Suggests Thinking About The Positive

Cognitive scientists have shown that when aware of both a negative and positive stereotype related to performance, women will identify more closely with the positive stereotype, avoiding the harmful impact the negative stereotype unwittingly can have on their performance. This is the first study to examine the influence of concurrent stereotypes, one negative and one positive. It also demonstrated...

Stopgap DNA Repair Needs A Second Step

Genetic "mistakes" can occur following a certain form of error-prone DNA repair. Scientists have now revealed how this two-step process takes place. Understanding how this major form of DNA repair works can have significant clinical implications. Since defects in this process increase the risk of cancer, clarifying its nuts and bolts might one day make it possible to enhance it in people whose...

Pacifiers No Barrier To Breastfeeding Success

Many women have heard of the benefits of breastfeeding and pacifier use in reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) as well as other advantages. But many may question the effects of pacifiers on breastfeeding success. Mothers need not worry about that, according to a review of relevant...

Parkinson's: Neurons Destroyed By Three Simultaneous Strikes

In a study that reveals the clearest picture to date of neuron death in Parkinson's disease, researchers have found that a trio of culprits acting in concert is responsible for killing the brain cells. The study showed that three molecules -- the neurotransmitter dopamine, a calcium channel, and a protein called alpha-synuclein -- act together to kill the neurons. A new theory of Parkinson's...

Simple Blood Test Proves Powerful Ally In The Fight Against Malaria

Scientists have shown that rapid diagnostic tests for malaria infection can provide valuable support for health care in low and mid-income countries in the fight against the disease. The RDT procedure is based on a simple blood test and, according to the results, helps to ensure that a greater number of patients receive the right treatment at no extra cost for the health care...

DNA Barcoding Of Mosquito Species Deployed In Bid To End Elephantiasis

Researchers are pioneering the use of DNA "barcodes" to map menacing mosquito species in West Africa that spread lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis. The ability to precisely identify mosquito species is a promising advance in the battle against LF, an often disfiguring disease that today threatens 1 billion people across roughly 80...