31 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Elective Early-Term Deliveries Increase Risk of ComplicationsAlthough it has become common practice these days for women to have an elective, early-term delivery in lieu of waiting on the natural labor process, the choice can mean increasing complications instead of alleviating them. In spite of the aches, pains and other symptoms that cause discomfort during the last part of pregnancy, speeding up the delivery to relieve symptoms can cause complications to...... Read More
30 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Patients in Vegetative State found to Recognize their Loved OnesThe concern of those who have loved ones in a vegetative state have long been troubled by the lack of evidence that they are able to hear them or recognize that they are not alone. A vegetative state is one in which patients are awake and breathing without the aid of a ventilator, and they give the appearance of going in and out of sleep. They do not respond to any type of stimulus around them and...... Read More
27 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Discovery of Human Hand Bone Closes Evolution GapUntil a recent discovery, a gap has existed in human evolution. The distinctive hand anatomy of humans is what allows them to make and use tools of which apes and other nonhuman primates are incapable. The question for scientists has always been âAt what point in time did these features first appear during human evolution?â Now, a researcher from the University of Missouri, along with her team...... Read More
26 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Future Prosthetics May Include Sense of TouchTechnology has continued to improve the effectiveness of prosthetics over the years, making it easier for those who have lost limbs to lead more normal lives by being able to grasp objects in much the same way they would with their natural hand. The one detail that has always been missing, however, was the sense of touch that let the person know when the prosthetic had contacted the object. New research...... Read More
25 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Light after Near-Death from Heart Attack ExplainedSome people who have had severe heart attacks, and most movie buffs, know the implications of the light many survivors of near-death experiences have seen. In spite of the belief by many that they have glimpsed the afterlife, it turns out that there is a scientific explanation for the phenomena. When blood flow stops, the brain keeps working for as long as 30 seconds. The implications of this finding...... Read More
24 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Beating Heart Grown in Petri DishScientists have reached a new level in the use of stem cells to grow organs. Human heart tissue that was grown in a petri dish contracted spontaneously, encouraging news for the millions of people who die from cardiovascular ailments annually. Complications associated with organ transplants have limited the number of those with cardiovascular disease from getting the life-saving transplants they need....... Read More
23 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Drug Can Drastically Reduce Breast Cancer RiskPost-menopausal women who have a high risk of developing breast cancer may be able to reduce their risk by taking the breast cancer drug, anastrozole. The drug has been used as a treatment for women who have developed breast cancer and gone through menopause. It lowers estrogen hormone levels to shrink cancer tumors and slow down their growth. A study of the IBIS II trial that was funded by Cancer...... Read More
20 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Bird Flu Is Back with an Even Stronger PunchA few years ago, bird flu was causing a lot of concern as experts worried that the serious influenza would cross over into humans and lead to a widespread outbreak. Now, according to Science Daily News, a virulent new strain of influenza like the one that causes avian flu apparently retains its ability to lead to serious disease in humans even though it has developed a resistance to antiviral medications. Researchers...... Read More
19 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Early Lead Exposure May Lead to Alzheimer’s Later in LifeMeasurements taken to reduce lead exposure may already be helping to prevent children today from having Alzheimerâs later in life. A study that took place over a 23 year time span showed that monkeys who drank a formula rich in lead while they were infants later developed the tangles of tau, a key brain protein linked to Alzheimerâs. Although more research needs to be performed before there is...... Read More
18 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Mutated Gene Found to Control Consumption of AlcoholA science article printed in the science journal, Nature Communications, possibly explains why some people consume large amounts of alcohol while others do not. In a study performed on mice, a consortium of researchers from five UK universities found that a mutation to the gene Gabrb1 resulted in mice having an overwhelming preference to drink alcohol over water. In comparison, normal mice had no interest...... Read More