Body | Page 4574 | Science Codex

New agricultural techniques ease annual famine in Bangladesh

Bangladeshi farmers are benefiting from research that allows farmers to harvest rice earlier, giving them more time to grow a second crop to provide desperately needed food and ease hunger during monga -- the hunger months.

Monga is a yearly famine that occurs in northwest Bangladesh from September to November after the previous season's food has run out and before the harvest of transplanted rice in December.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, monga affects more than 2 million households in 5 districts that depend on rice for their food.

Like many animal species, trees evolved camouflage to ward off predators

Many animal species such as snakes, insects and fish have evolved camouflage defences to deter attack from their predators. However research published in NewPhytologist has discovered that trees in New Zealand have evolved a similar defence to protect themselves from extinct giant birds, providing the first evidence of this strategy in plant life.

Modest fisheries reduction could protect vast coastal ecosystems, new findings suggest

A reduction of as little as five per cent in fisheries catch could result in as much as 30 per cent of the British Columbia coastal ecosystems being protected from overfishing, according to a new study from the UBC Fisheries Centre.

Somatic hypersensitivity predicts irritable bowel syndrome?

Although visceral hypersensitivity is considered a hallmark feature of IBS, conflicting evidence exists regarding somatic hypersensitivity in this patient population. Several investigators have found no evidence for heightened somatic pain sensitivity in IBS patients. Also, others have reported similar cold presser pain tolerance in IBS patients and controls. These conflicting findings may result from differing somatic pain testing procedures. Previous studies have explored the correlates of visceral hypersensitivity among patients with IBS.

Fecal incontinence impacts quality of life, say researchers

Fecal incontinence (FI) is a normal part of aging, or the perception that no treatment is available. Doctors may fail to comprehend patient hints about diarrhea and FI or may be reluctant to ask about fecal leakage, perhaps because of their own embarrassment or the perception that FI is a trivial concern.

Large abdominal wall lipoma causes bowel obstruction

Proteus syndrome is a complex disorder associated with varied, disproportionate, asymmetric overgrowth of many body parts and unregulated adipose tissue. The overgrowth seen in Proteus syndrome is progressive and difficult to manage. Patients with Proteus syndrome require repeated treatment for the progressive overgrowth of tissue over a long period. Aggressive treatment may cause severe functional and cosmetic consequences, so surgical intervention is often delayed until it is absolutely necessary.

California's fruit and nut industries may be threatened by Global warming

Winter chill, a vital climatic trigger for many tree crops, is likely to decrease by more than 50 percent during this century as global climate warms, making California no longer suitable for growing many fruit and nut crops, according to a team of researchers from the University of California, Davis, and the University of Washington.

In some parts of California's agriculturally rich Central Valley, winter chill has already declined by nearly 30 percent, the researchers found.

Epigenetics model shows causes of disease risk

A research report published in the July 2009 issue of the journal GENETICS (http://www.genetics.org) complicates the debate over whether nature or nurture plays the most important role in complex diseases such as psychiatric disorders, heart disease, and cancer.

Tafamidis: New drug candidate may eliminate patient's misfolding proteins

Discoveries by Scripps Research Institute scientists have led to a promising new drug candidate for patients with a genetic protein-misfolding disease. In results announced by the biopharmaceutical firm FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. today, the new drug tafamidis significantly halts disease progression for patients with a disease called Transthyretin (TTR) amyloid polyneuropathy (ATTR-PN).

Adhering to healthy lifestyle habits associated with reduced lifetime risk of heart failure

Men who exercised regularly, drank moderately, did not smoke, who were not overweight and had a diet that included cereal and fruits and vegetables had a lower lifetime risk of heart failure, according to a study in the July 22/29 issue of JAMA.

Healthy habits for men and women mean less health problems later in life

There is now a substantial body of evidence showing that the adoption of a healthy lifestyle pays huge rewards in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. A report in JAMA this week suggests that men who exercised regularly, drank moderately, did not smoke, were not overweight and had a diet that included cereal, fruits and vegetables had a lower lifetime risk of heart failure.

Potassium citrate may prevent kidney stones in seizure patients on high-fat diet

For children on the high-fat ketogenic diet to control epileptic seizures, a daily supplement of potassium citrate can prevent kidney stones that the diet sometimes causes, according to research from Johns Hopkins Children's Center. The report is published in Pediatrics.

Scientists identify exact structure of Hepatitis E

Researchers at Rice University and their international colleagues described the atomic structure of the protein shell that carries the genetic code of hepatitis E (HEV). Their findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could mean new ways to stop the virus in the future.

Researchers find first potential genetic mutation for restless legs syndrome

An international team of researchers led by scientists at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida have found what they believe is the first mutated gene linked to restless legs syndrome, a common neurological disorder.

The researchers, who reported the findings in the July 21 issue of Neurology, doubt that a large proportion of the millions of people who suffer from the syndrome have this mutated MEIS1 gene. They point out, however, that understanding the function of both the normal and abnormal genes will shed some insights into this mysterious disorder.

Lab mice defy aging thanks to manipulated protein levels

In the new issue of the Developmental Cell journal, a team of scientists at Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, report research findings about the molecular mechanisms behind the aging process. While poorly understood, the mechanisms may offer the possibility that a novel, pharmacological approach could be developed to combat age-related disorders.