Friday 28 February 2014

Poor Sleep Quality Linked to Reduced Brain Gray Matter in Gulf War Vets

An association between poor sleep quality and reduced gray matter volume in the brain's frontal lobe has been found in a study of Gulf war veterans. The brain's frontal lobe helps control important processes such as working memory and executive function. "Previous imaging studies have suggested that sleep disturbances may be associated with structural brain changes in certain regions of the frontal lobe," said lead author Linda Chao, associate adjunct professor ...




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Understanding Apert Syndrome Development Via 3-D Imaging

A team of researchers has revealed that that three dimensional imaging of two different mouse models of Apert Syndrome shows that cranial deformation begins before birth and worsens with time. Apert Syndrome is caused by mutations in FGFR2 -- fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 -- a gene, which usually produces a protein that functions in cell division, regulation of cell growth and maturation, formation of blood vessels, wound healing, and embryonic development. ...




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Robotic-Assisted Prostate Surgery Offers Better Cancer Control Says UCLA Study

Prostate cancer patients who undergo robotic-assisted prostate surgery have fewer instances of cancer cells at the edge of their surgical specimen, an observational study from UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has found. Furthermore, these patients also had less need for additional cancer treatments like hormone or radiation therapy than patients who have traditional "open" surgery. The study, published online Feb. 19 in the journal iEuropean Urology/i, ...




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Space Station Research may Throw New Light on Tackling Cancer

Some tumors seem to be much less aggressive in the microgravity environment of space compared to Earth, researchers have found. This observation, reported in research published in February by the iFASEB Journal/i, could help scientists understand the mechanism involved and develop drugs targeting tumors that don't respond to current treatments. This work is the latest in a large body of evidence on how space exploration benefits those of us on Earth. Research ...




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Study Sheds Light on the Effects of Smoke Compounds on Seed Germination

While many consider wildfires as a disaster, they actually help to maintain biodiversity and are an important element of many ecosystems across the globe. Not only do fires discourage non-native and invasive species from becoming established, but the quick release of nutrients, heat, and compounds found in ash and smoke play an important role in the life cycle of the native flora. For plants that are adapted to ecosystems where fire is a regular occurrence-such ...




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