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168,137 articles from ScienceDaily

Protein Found That May Provide Relief From Neuropathic Pain

Research in rodents has provided evidence that a protein called LRP1 may help to ease neuropathic pain by blocking the response of glial cells that support and protect sensory neurons in the peripheral nervous system. Neuropathic pain is caused by injury to the peripheral nerves in diseases such as HIV/AIDS, shingles, and cancer or in repetitive motion disorders and trauma, and does not respond...

Respiratory Infections Linked To Increased Heart Attacks And Strokes

A new study has found strong evidence that recent respiratory infections increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, both of which are more common in the winter. It has for some years been recognized, using information from death certificates, that there is an excess of deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke during the winter months, over and above those directly attributable to deaths...

Toads In A Hole? Fungal Disease Threatens UK Toad Population

The UK's toad population could be facing a bleak future because of a deadly fungal disease. The deadly chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is highly effective at causing extinctions among local populations of amphibians and it has already wiped out vast numbers of amphibians in areas including Australia and South America.

Travel Maps Of The Lunar North Pole

A new map shows the geography and illumination of the lunar north pole. The lunar poles are very interesting for future science and exploration of the Moon mainly because of their exposure to sunlight. They display areas of quasi-eternal light, have a stable thermal environment and are close to dark areas that could host water ice – potential future lunar base sites.

YouTube Breeding Ground For Anti-vaccination Views

As cold and flu season hits this year amid growing debate over the necessity of vaccinations, researchers have uncovered widespread misinformation in related videos on YouTube. Researchers found that more than half of the videos portrayed childhood, HPV, flu and other vaccinations negatively or ambiguously.

3D Structure Of A DNA Damage Repair Complex

This is the first study that shows the 3D structure of a molecular complex found in the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis that repairs DNA damage. According to the biochemical data, this reflects a stage of the search for compatible microhomologies. This is the process of seeking non complementary extremes of DNA that would never link under normal conditions, known as non-homologous end joining...

Ecologists Discover A Novel Route Of Viral Transmission

Avian ecologists report on the discovery that avian polyomaviruses, known potential pathogens producing disease in a number of vertebrate species, follow an 'upwards vertical' route of contagion throughout their studied host population of pied flycatchers, a small migrant songbird breeding in forests in central Spain near Madrid.

Gene That Influences Alcohol Consumption Identified

Researchers applied a variety of genetic and analytic techniques to mice having nearly identical genetic background, but differing in their preference for alcohol, to identify a chromosomal region, and ultimately a gene, associated with alcohol preference. If further studies show that a similar gene is relevant to alcohol problems in humans, the finding may lead to new opportunities for developing...

Reviewers Agree On Osteoarthritis Of The Knee

Concerns over the cardiovascular safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs led to the publication of several sets of fresh guidelines on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. But a review of these guidelines found many differences in treatments addressed and a lack of educational information in most of the articles.


WEDNESDAY 5. DECEMBER 2007


Bone Marrow Cell Transplants Help Nerve Regeneration

Researchers inserted bone marrow-derived cells (BMCs) into 15mm silicon tubes and subsequently implanted into animal models at sites intended for nerve regeneration. When the BMCs were nourished with bioengineered additives -- such as growth factors and cell adhesion molecules -- the BMCs differentiated into cells with characteristics of Schwann cells -- a variety of neural cell providing...

Disguising Environmental Harm Eases Only Our Conscience

We can disguise environmentally harmful practices and dress them up in words to help ease our consciences, argues one psychologist, but such practices will have a negative impact on the planet and the quality of life of future generations, no matter how we label them.

Fitness Level, Not Body Fat, May Be Stronger Predictor Of Longevity For Older Adults

Adults over age 60 who had higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness lived longer than unfit adults, independent of their levels of body fat, according to a new study. Previous studies have provided evidence that obesity and physical inactivity each can produce a higher risk of death in middle-aged adults. Whether this is also true for older adults is uncertain, according to background...

Labeling Keeps Our Knowledge Organized, Study Shows

A popular urban legend suggests that Eskimos have dozens of words for snow. As a culture that faces frigid temperatures year-round, it is important to differentiate between things like snow on the ground ("aput") and falling snow ("qana"). Psychologists are taking note of this phenomenon, and are beginning to examine if learning different names for things helps to tell them apart.