MedWorm: Learning

Why The Middle Finger Has Such A Slow Connection

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Each part of the body has its own nerve cell area in the brain - we therefore have a map of our bodies in our heads. The functional significance of these maps is largely unclear. What effects they can have is now shown by RUB neuroscientists through reaction time measurements combined with learning experiments and "computational modelling". They have been able to demonstrate that inhibitory influences of neighbouring "finger nerve cells" affect the reaction time of a finger. The fingers on the outside - i.e... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Steep Learning Curve For Surgeons Who Perform ACL Reconstructions Identified By Study

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Patients who have their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed by surgeons who have performed less than 60 surgeries are roughly four to five times more likely to undergo a subsequent ACL reconstruction, according to a study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery. The study also showed that participating in a subspecialty orthopedic fellowship-training program did not improve the learning curve of young surgeons performing ACL reconstructions. The research was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, held Feb 7-11... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Evaluating the clinical competency of nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants learning to provide aspiration abortions

Contraception — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:36:55 +0100

A combination of self-directed didactic learning and precepted clinical skill development has been used to expand the skill set of nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants to perform manual and electric vacuum aspiration as part of the Health Workforce Pilot Project #171 in California. We have used a variety of evaluation methods to ensure that the curricular tools and clinical experiences that have been provided to the trainees produce the expected clinical competency for independent practice. (Source: Contraception)

Study: Electric boost helps brain to learn better

USATODAY.com Health — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:42:23 +0100

People learned better when a key part of their brains got mild zaps of electricity, a new report shows. (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

Safety management by walking around (SMBWA): A safety intervention program based on both peer and manager participation.

Accident; Analysis and Prevention. — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:31:37 +0100

We describe a three-year long case study that collected empirical data in which a modified MBWA was practiced in order to improve safety in a semiconductor fabrication facility. The main modification involved integrating an information system with the MBWA in order to create a practice that would generate safety leadership development and an organizational safety learning mechanism, while promoting employee safety participation. The results of the case study demonstrate that the SMBWA practice facilitated thousands of tours in which safety leadership behaviors were practiced by managers and by employees (employees performed five times as many tours as managers). The information system collected information about safety behaviors and safety conditions that could not otherwise be obtained. T...

International Program Highlight: Visits Highlight the Importance of CDC’s Influenza Activities in India

CDC Flu updates — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:57:00 +0100

In August 2011, CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden visited India and saw firsthand CDC’s important work. Dr. Frieden returned with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius in January 2012 to learn more about CDC’s collaborations around influenza surveillance and research in India. (Source: CDC Flu updates)

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Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructions - Steep Learning Curve For Surgeons

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0100

An investigation by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery reveals that individuals who undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction are approximately 4 to 5 times more likely to undergo further ACL reconstruction, if the initial operation was performed by a surgeon who has carried out less than 60 operations. Furthermore, the researchers found that taking part in subspecialty orthopedic fellowship-training program did not enhance the learning curve of young surgeons carrying out ACL reconstructions... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Interoceptive fear conditioning and panic disorder: the role of conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus predictability.

Behavior Therapy — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:42:46 +0100

Authors: Acheson DT, Forsyth JP, Moses E Abstract Interoceptive fear conditioning is at the core of contemporary behavioral accounts of panic disorder. Yet, to date only one study has attempted to evaluate interoceptive fear conditioning in humans (see Acheson, Forsyth, Prenoveau, & Bouton, 2007). That study used brief (physiologically inert) and longer-duration (panicogenic) inhalations of 20% CO(2)-enriched air as an interoceptive conditioned (CS) and unconditioned (US) stimulus and evaluated fear learning in three conditions: CS only, CS-US paired, and CS-US unpaired. Results showed fear conditioning in the paired condition, and fearful responding and resistance to extinction in an unpaired condition. The authors speculated that such effects may be due to difficulty discrimi...

Atypical facial pain related to apical fenestration and overfilling

International Endodontic Journal — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:25:28 +0100

Pasqualini D, Scotti N, Ambrogio P, Alovisi M, Berutti E. Atypical facial pain related to apical fenestration and overfilling. International Endodontic JournalAbstractAim To report a case of apical fenestration and overfilling in which unusual pain characteristics made differential diagnosis challenging.Summary A 32‐year‐old woman with diffuse, spontaneous, moderate pain in the maxillary left posterior sector, exacerbated by masticatory and facial muscle movement, with intense sporadic electric‐shooting pain, underwent clinical examination and 3D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Apical fenestration with protrusion of the mesial root of tooth 26 beyond the buccal cortical plate, extrusion of canal filling material into the soft tissues and a periosteal reaction were detecte...

When Will This Woman Need Palliative Care?When Will This Woman Need Palliative Care?

Medscape Today Headlines — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:31:35 +0100

Learn when to begin palliative care in this case of a woman who has just been diagnosed with lung cancer. Medscape Nurses (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Zimbabwe: Majority Living With HIV/Aids Are in Unions - Report

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:27:21 +0100

[The Herald] THE majority of people living with HIV and Aids in Zimbabwe are in unions, a recent report compiled by stakeholders involved in HIV and Aids work has said. The report, which is the first of its kind to be conducted in the country, is meant to update Zimbabwe's evidence base for the formulation of the Zimbabwe National Aids Strategic Plan (ZNASP) 2011-2015, and to look back and learn from what has been achieved. (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

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Angola: Students, Teachers Urged to Join Sensitisation on HIV/Aids

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:55:28 +0100

[ANGOP] Luanda - Teachers and students were urged to join sensitisation and monitoring rogrammes on serious endemic diseases, such as hiv/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis, ANGOP has learnt. (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

How to Tell When Therapy Won’t Work

CounsellingResource.com News and Features — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:49:54 +0100

Learn to recognize these three red flags that the therapeutic process isn't likely to work for a character disturbed individual in your life. Successful therapy for character disturbance does not depend on any of the these mainstays of traditional therapy, like focusing on feelings, trying to 'see' what the person is doing, or working on fears and insecurities and self-esteem issues. Part 3 of a series.Tags: CBT, character disturbance, personality disorders, relationships, therapy (Source: CounsellingResource.com News and Features)

How to Influence and Persuade With Touch

Psychology Today Relationships Center — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:35:59 +0100

Ever wonder why your date or mate is disagreeable? Perhaps they are missing a little influential physical contact. Learn to touch, nuzzle, and cuddle your way to persuasive relationship success!read more (Source: Psychology Today Relationships Center)

Spoon-feeding compared with 'baby-led' weaning

NHS News Feed — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:22:00 +0100

Conclusion While it was widely reported, this small cross-sectional study proves very little about the possible impact of different weaning methods on children’s food preferences, BMI or other health outcomes. Instead, because of its cross-sectional design, it can provide only a snapshot of all these factors (as reported by parents) at one point in time. It cannot show, for example, that babies who prefer carbohydrates do so because they were weaned on finger foods, as some news sources have reported. Many factors can affect a child’s food preferences and BMI, including genetic factors, exercise and social and demographic background (which was indicated to a degree by the fact that higher socioeconomic status was associated with higher vegetable intake). Though the study found differen...

Third Peer-Reviewed Study Proves Botanical Formula Fights Prostate Cancer Without Toxicity

Medical News (via PRIMEZONE) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:10:00 +0100

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Feb. 8, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scientists at Indiana University, Methodist Research Institute, study a botanical formula that kills aggressive prostate cancer tumors. Their findings, based on experiments in mice using a human prostate cancer tumor model, appear online in The International Journal of Oncology. This is the third published study from a major university to show significant results of this specific multi-nutrient prostate formula against the invasive behavior of aggressive prostate cancer cells, tumor growth and metastasis. The formula combines botanical extracts, phytonutrients, botanically-enhanced medicinal mushrooms, and antioxidants. (Learn more about the formula by visiting www.prostatehealthsolutions.org) (Source: Medical News (via PRIMEZONE))

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Improving the management of dyspnea in the community using rapid learning approaches.

Chronic Respiratory Disease — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:06:02 +0100

Authors: Kamal AH, Miriovsky BJ, Currow DC, Abernethy AP Abstract Patients with chronic pulmonary disease often suffer from breathlessness or dyspnea. Traditional evidence generation techniques to expand upon current treatment paradigms are limited by the significant delay between study initiation and clinical implementation of findings. Rapid learning health care is a novel approach to health care delivery that relies on intelligent and continuous integration of clinical and research data sets to deliver personalized medicine using the most current evidence available. Results of important studies in the management of chronic respiratory disease are presented in brief; however, the focus of this review is on evidence supporting the implementation of a rapid learning model for sympt...

The Latest Developments Of Specific-Spectrum, Anti-Staphyloccal Agents Using In-vitro, In-vivo And Human Clinical Data, 5-6 March 2012, London

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Now in its 14th year, Superbugs & Superdrugs is a well established antibacterial event that promises to be the perfect forum for networking and problem solving with senior industry executives from the pharmaceutical sector. The event will be held on the 5&6 of March at the Copthorne Tara Hotel, London and will be made up of case-study focused presentations, highlighting success stories and lessons to be learnt... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Strategy Shift With Age Can Lead To Navigational Difficulties

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

A Wayne State University researcher believes studying people's ability to find their way around may help explain why loss of mental capacity occurs with age. Scott Moffat, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and gerontology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Institute of Gerontology at WSU, said studies have demonstrated reliable differences in navigation and spatial learning tasks based on age. Younger adults tend to outperform their elders in spatial navigation, Moffat said, and people seem to start switching navigational strategies with age... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Physician, technology groups clash on ICD-10

Modern Medicine — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

One major group is fighting the switch, and another is urging its members not to wait. Learn the reasoning behind their positions. (Source: Modern Medicine)

ACP to Congress: Don’t cut primary care workforce programs

Modern Medicine — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The American College of Physicians urged Congress not to cut funding for the National Health Services Corps. Learn why the ACP says it’s so important. (Source: Modern Medicine)

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Thalamocortical projections of the anterodorsal thalamic nucleus in the rabbit

The Journal of Comparative Neurology — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractThe anterior thalamic nuclei consist of the anterodorsal (AD), anteroventral, and anteromedial nuclei, each of which are highly differentiated and may contribute to different aspects of various cognitive and memory functions. In particular, the AD is unique in that it is implicated in learning at the earliest stage of discriminative avoidance conditioning in the rabbit. To better understand the functional roles played by the AD in memory and learning processes, we analyzed the organization of thalamocortical projections of the AD in the rabbit, using the anterograde tracer biotinylated dextran amine and the retrograde tracer cholera toxin subunit b. The data show that the AD provides strong projections to layers I and IV of area 30 and to layers I, III, IV, and VI of area 29 in the...

Facilitation of learning induced by both random and gradual visuomotor task variation

Journal of Neurophysiology — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Motor task variation has been shown to be a key ingredient in skill transfer, retention, and structural learning. However, many studies only compare training of randomly varying tasks to either blocked or null training, and it is not clear how experiencing different nonrandom temporal orderings of tasks might affect the learning process. Here we study learning in human subjects who experience the same set of visuomotor rotations, evenly spaced between –60° and +60°, either in a random order or in an order in which the rotation angle changed gradually. We compared subsequent learning of three test blocks of +30°->–30°->+30° rotations. The groups that underwent either random or gradual training showed significant (P < 0.01) facilitation of learning in...

Auditory experience refines cortico-basal ganglia inputs to motor cortex via remapping of single axons during vocal learning in zebra finches

Journal of Neurophysiology — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Experience-dependent changes in neural connectivity underlie developmental learning and result in life-long changes in behavior. In songbirds axons from the cortical region LMANcore (core region of lateral magnocellular nucleus of anterior nidopallium) convey the output of a basal ganglia circuit necessary for song learning to vocal motor cortex [robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA)]. This axonal projection undergoes remodeling during the sensitive period for learning to achieve topographic organization. To examine how auditory experience instructs the development of connectivity in this pathway, we compared the morphology of individual LMANcore->RA axon arbors in normal juvenile songbirds to those raised in white noise. The spatial extent of axon arbors decreased during the first wee...

Mechanisms underlying rule learning-induced enhancement of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission

Journal of Neurophysiology — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Training rats to perform rapidly and efficiently in an olfactory discrimination task results in robust enhancement of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic connectivity in the rat piriform cortex, which is maintained for days after training. To explore the mechanisms by which such synaptic enhancement occurs, we recorded spontaneous miniature excitatory and inhibitory synaptic events in identified piriform cortex neurons from odor-trained, pseudo-trained, and naive rats. We show that olfactory discrimination learning induces profound enhancement in the averaged amplitude of AMPA receptor-mediated miniature synaptic events in piriform cortex pyramidal neurons. Such physiological modifications are apparent at least 4 days after learning completion and outlast learning-induced modifications in t...

Beside the point: motor adaptation without feedback-based error correction in task-irrelevant conditions

Journal of Neurophysiology — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Adaptation of movement may be driven by the difference between planned and actual motor performance, or the difference between expected and actual sensory consequences of movement. To identify how the nervous system differentially uses these signals, we asked: does motor adaptation occur when movement errors are irrelevant to the task goal? Participants reached on a digitizing tablet from a fixed start location to one of three targets: a point, an arc, or a ray. For the arc, reaches could be in any direction, but to a specific extent. For the ray, reaches could be to any distance, but in a targeted direction. After baseline reaching to the point, the direction or extent of continuous visual feedback was perturbed during training with either a cursor rotation or gain, respectively, while re...

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An Evaluation of the Efficacy of Video Displays for Use With Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

American Journal of Primatology — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Video displays for behavioral research lend themselves particularly well to studies with chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), as their vision is comparable to humans’, yet there has been no formal test of the efficacy of video displays as a form of social information for chimpanzees. To address this, we compared the learning success of chimpanzees shown video footage of a conspecific compared to chimpanzees shown a live conspecific performing the same novel task. Footage of an unfamiliar chimpanzee operating a bidirectional apparatus was presented to 24 chimpanzees (12 males, 12 females), and their responses were compared to those of a further 12 chimpanzees given the same task but with no form of information. Secondly, we also compared the responses of the chimpanzees in the video display con...

Functional genomics: The changes that count

Nature — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Nature 482, 7384 (2012). doi:10.1038/482257a Author: Monya Baker As more mutations are found across the genome, geneticists are focusing on learning which ones are likely to cause human disease, and how. (Source: Nature)

GPs failing on new standard for practice nurse training

Nursing Times Breaking News — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

A significant number of GP practices are struggling to hit new Care Quality Commission standards incorporating nurse access to training, Nursing Times has learnt. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)

Personality Tests for Your Characters

Psychology Today Personality Center — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:23:57 +0100

Learn how to use psychological personality tests to construct unique character profiles and better understand why your characters do what they do!read more (Source: Psychology Today Personality Center)

Syncope and Fever in the ED: What's the Cause?Syncope and Fever in the ED: What's the Cause?

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:27:21 +0100

This case illustrates 3 novel presentations of fever and syncope in adolescent patients. Learn the diagnosis. Medscape Emergency Medicine (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

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Peripheral Neuropathy Examined in Latest Continuum

American Academy of Neurology — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:03:00 +0100

The February issue of Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology® focuses on peripheral neuropathy and offers the opportunity to earn up to 12 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Clinical Care Options Oncology - Leukemia — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:36:47 +0100

Learning Module - In this CME-certified slideset, John C. Byrd, MD, and Kanti Rai, MD, explore the most compelling data in chronic lymphocytic leukemia presented in San Diego. (Source: Clinical Care Options Oncology - Leukemia)

How Reading Books Fosters Language Development around the World

Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:42:45 +0100

This article reviews research on the connections between language and later reading, environmental factors associated with language learning, and interventions developed in varied countries for encouraging book use by parents of young children. (Source: Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience)

Identifying effective behavioural models and behaviour change strategies underpinning preschool‐ and school‐based obesity prevention interventions aimed at 4–6‐year‐olds: a systematic review

Obesity Reviews — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:44:24 +0100

SummaryThe aim of this comprehensive systematic review was to identify the most effective behavioural models and behaviour change strategies, underpinning preschool‐ and school‐based interventions aimed at preventing obesity in 4–6‐year‐olds. Searching was conducted from April 1995 to April 2010 using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and The Cochrane Library. Epidemiological studies relevant to the research question with controlled assignment of participants were included in the review, if they had follow‐up periods of 6 months or longer. Outcomes included markers of weight gain; markers of body composition; physical activity behaviour changes and dietary behaviour changes. Twelve studies were included in the review. The most commonly used model was social cognitive theory (SC...

EP MU Readiness and Attestation: What are the Key Ingredients for Success? 02.23, 9:45-10:45am

Cardiovascular Business News — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:26:36 +0100

Learn how UMass Memorial developed a comprehensive MU EP strategy and attestation project plan for a physician-centric community and transitioned practices to workflows focused on data entry and collection. (Source: Cardiovascular Business News)

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Study identifies steep learning curve for surgeons who perform ACL reconstructions

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Hospital for Special Surgery) Patients who have their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed by surgeons who have performed less than 60 surgeries are roughly four to five times more likely to undergo a subsequent ACL reconstruction, according to a study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Why the middle finger has such a slow connection

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Ruhr-University Bochum) Each part of the body has its own nerve cell area in the brain -- we therefore have a map of our bodies in our heads. The functional significance of these maps is largely unclear. What effects they can have is now shown by RUB neuroscientists through reaction time measurements combined with learning experiments and "computational modeling." They have been able to demonstrate that inhibitory influences of neighboring "finger nerve cells" affect the reaction time of a finger. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Early maternal care predicts reliance on social learning about food in adult rats

Developmental Psychobiology — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractMany vertebrates rely extensively on social information, but the value of information produced by other individuals will vary across contexts and habitats. Social learning may thus be optimized by the use of developmental or current cues to determine its likely value. Here, we show that a developmental cue, early maternal care, correlates with social learning propensities in adult rodents. The maternal behavior of rats Rattus norvegicus with their litters was scored over the first 6 days postpartum. Rat dams show consistent individual differences in the rate they lick and groom (LG) pups, allowing them to be categorized as high, low, or mid‐LG mothers. The 100‐day old male offspring of high and low‐LG mothers were given the opportunity to learn food preferences for novel diet...

London hospitals told they could slash nursing bill by £421m

Nursing Times Breaking News — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

London hospitals have been advised by management consultants they could save £421m over the next three years through a major shake-up of nurse productivity, Nursing Times has learnt. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)

The High Failure Rate of Second and Third Marriages

Psychology Today Parenting Center — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:30:41 +0100

Conventional wisdom tells us that those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it, so why are second and third marriage so much more likely to fail? Author Leo Averbach returns to explain.read more (Source: Psychology Today Parenting Center)

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February NIH News in Health Now Available

Midcontinental Region News — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:35:07 +0100

The February 2012 issue of NIH News in Health is now available online. This month learn steps you can take to reduce heart risks and find out the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Visit the NIH News in Health Facebook page to suggest topics or start a discussion about the newsletter. da (Source: Midcontinental Region News)

Today's mystery bird for you to identify | @GrrlScientist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:30:03 +0100

Parents with chick? Subspecies? One species or two? Or ... ?Mystery Birds photographed at Lake Washington, Seattle, Washington (USA). [I will identify these birds for you in 48 hours]Image: Doug Schurman, 22 January 2012 (with permission) [velociraptorize].Canon 7D with the Canon 400mm f5.6 lens Question: These common North American mystery birds are strikingly different in size despite having the same colours and patterns. Why? Are these parent birds with one of their chicks? Are they different subspecies or are they two different species? Can you identify the taxonomic family and species for these birds?The Rules:1. Keep in mind that people live in zillions of different time zones, and some people are following on their smart phones. So let everyone play the game. Don't spoil it for ever...

Robots Encountering Socks

NPR Health and Science — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:55:00 +0100

Suppose you're a robot. If you had a camera in your head, and you could watch a human doing a simple task, like bunching a pair of socks, could you, just by watching, learn to do it too?» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us (Source: NPR Health and Science)

Parenting after Traumatic Events: Ways to Support Children

Psych Central — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:35:07 +0100

One of the most important messages for parents about traumatic experiences—such as car accidents, medical trauma, exposure to violence, disasters—that may impact them and their children is that while children of all ages can be impacted, most are resilient and able to cope and recover. Dr. Ann Masten from the University of Minnesota wrote in the journal American Psychologist (2001) about resilience as “ordinary magic.” That is, given normal protective factors, most children will be able to cope, recover, and be fine after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Some children and adolescents may develop symptoms following a disaster, especially if they have experienced traumatic events earlier such as losses or other difficult situations. The symptoms related to trauma may ap...

New website: NIH Clinical Research Trials and You

National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:12:00 +0100

The National Institutes of Health has created a new website, NIH Clinical Research Trials and You to help people learn more about clinical trials, why they matter, and how to participate. (Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases)

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Video: Learning how to live, and die

Health News: CBSNews.com — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:11:03 +0100

A professor who spent decades teaching others how to care for dying patients is now terminally ill himself. CBS News national correspondent Lee Cowan reports on how he's still teaching lessons on life and death. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Using integrated learning modules to increase involvement in ASHP student society.

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy : AJHP — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:07:40 +0100

Authors: Obua U, Sabackic M, Goldman-Levine J PMID: 22302251 [PubMed - in process] (Source: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy : AJHP)

Health Tip: Common Reasons for Potty Training 'Accidents'

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

They're just a step backward in the learning process, experts saySource: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Page: Toilet Training (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

'What I Wish I Was Taught in Medical School'

Physicians Practice — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Driving skills: learning to navigate the road to a successful medical career (Source: Physicians Practice)

The impact of orienting attention in fast task-irrelevant perceptual learning. - Leclercq V, Seitz AR.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:54:53 +0100

Task-irrelevant perceptual learning (TIPL) refers to the phenomenon where the stimulus features are learned when they are consistently presented at behaviorally relevant times (e.g., with task targets or rewards). Studies on the role of attention in TIPL h... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

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Ethical Questions Surround `Electrical Thinking Cap' that Improves Mental Functions

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0100

Child using transcranial direct current stimulation What if a drug could improve learning and cognition and had no untoward medical consequences? Wouldn t it be justified to make it widely available? A group of scientists concluded three years ago that it would be. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)

Insensitive Comments

About.com Eating Disorders — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Learning how to deal with insensitive comments about your lung disease may be tough at first. The natural reaction is for us to gather up our artillery and fight back. This can be a waste of precious energy that you can use towards other things. Following this complete guide on how to deal with insensitive comments will help you in coping with COPD. (Source: About.com Eating Disorders)

Negative Symptoms and the Failure to Represent the Expected Reward Value of Actions: Behavioral and Computational Modeling Evidence [Original Article]

Archives of General Psychiatry — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Negative symptoms in schizophrenia are associated with a specific reinforcement learning abnormality: patients with high-negative symptoms do not represent the expected value of rewards when making decisions but learn to avoid punishments through the use of prediction errors. This computational framework offers the potential to understand negative symptoms at a mechanistic level. (Source: Archives of General Psychiatry)

What Is Schizoaffective Disorder?

About.com Bipolar Disorder — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Schizoaffective disorder is one of the least understood mental illnesses. Authorities differ on the description of the illness, and to make matters worse, the European and American definitions are quite a bit different. In the US, patients with schizoaffective disorder have symptoms of both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder - but there is a lot more to it. Misdiagnosis is common, but fortunately, even when the condition isn't properly diagnosed, treatment may still be effective. Read the best available information, what the problems in diagnosis are, and why treatment doesn't depend on the right diagnosis: What Is Schizoaffective Disorder?.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Learn more or join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | FORUM | ...

Repeated Cycles of Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Exposure Leads to the Development of Tolerance to Aversive Effects of Ethanol in C57BL/6J Mice

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

ConclusionsThe data indicate that CIE exposure produces tolerance to the aversive effects of 2 g/kg EtOH. This effect does not appear to be related to a learning deficit or altered EtOH pharmacokinetics. These data support the notion that tolerance to EtOH's aversive effects may contribute to excessive EtOH drinking in EtOH‐dependent mice. (Source: Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research)

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Smoking May Be Especially Tough on Men’s Brains

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Smoking appears to speed declines in memory, thinking, learning and processing information in men, but not in women, new research suggests. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

Root perforation associated with the use of a miniscrew implant used for orthodontic anchorage: a case report

International Endodontic Journal — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

McCabe P, Kavanagh C. Root perforation associated with the use of a miniscrew implant used for orthodontic anchorage: a case report. International Endodontic JournalAbstractAim To highlight one of the possible complications associated with the inter‐radicular placement of orthodontic miniscrews.Summary This case report describes the endodontic treatment and surgical repair of an iatrogenic root perforation involving a maxillary first molar tooth following the placement of an orthodontic miniscrew placed for anchorage purposes in the treatment of an adult patient. The orthodontic treatment plan was completed. The long‐term follow‐up shows a successful treatment outcome.Key learning points • Inter‐radicular placement of orthodontic miniscrews is a valuable source of ancho...

Retention of dental sealants placed on sound teeth and incipient caries lesions as part of a service‐learning programme in rural areas in Mexico

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions. Sealants had survival rates comparable to those previously reported in the literature. Sealants placed on sound and enamel caries lesions had similar survival rates. (Source: International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry)

Biomarker validation of a cued recall memory deficit in prodromal Alzheimer disease

Neurology — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Cued recall deficits are most closely associated with CSF biomarkers indicative of AD in subjects with MCI. This novel finding complements results from prospective clinical studies and provides further empirical support for cued recall as a specific indicator of prodromal AD, in line with recently proposed research criteria. (Source: Neurology)

The Weill Cornell Community Clinic Student Advisory Committee: A Model for Maintenance and Growth ()

Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A goal of the Weill Cornell Community Clinic is to provide comprehensive health care to our patients that extends beyond primary care to include such services as mental health, women's health, pharmacy, and referrals. Key to the successful maintenance and expansion of our service offerings is the organizational structure of the Clinic, led by the Student Advisory Committee. As part of the Committee, medical students learn firsthand the challenges of managing a clinic and running a non-profit organization, along with the difficulties that underserved patients face in attaining high quality health care. Thus the Student Advisory Committee provides a unique addition to medical school education while also improving the services the Weill Cornell Community Clinic can offer our patients. (Source...

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Modifying instruction within tiers in multitiered intervention programs

Psychology in the Schools — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This article provides a simple model for evaluating the current instruction to look for areas in which it can be adjusted before more restrictive measures are taken. The model draws from the literature on functional assessment of academic performance. Teachers and consultants are advised to check (a) the skills targeted for instruction, (b) guided practice, (c) independent practice, (d) implementation fidelity, and (e) the motivating conditions that are present during instruction. The role of each area in student learning and progress is discussed, and recommendations are made for adjustments. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Source: Psychology in the Schools)

Response to intervention in mathematics: Critical elements

Psychology in the Schools — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This article explores some of the key elements of RtI practices in mathematics, including screening for identification of struggling learners and progress monitoring for gauging instructional effectiveness. In addition, several of the pressing needs regarding the importance of mathematics proficiency for all students are discussed. We describe some of the similarities and differences between RtI processes in reading and mathematics. The article addresses the use of diagnostic data and details the importance of “core” instructional practices that reflect the standards included in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards and Common Core Mathematics standards, among others. The article concludes with a discussion of some evidence‐based interventions in mathematics, and ...

Kids Making Too Much Noise?

Psychology Today Parenting Center — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:03:48 +0100

Try reading this story to your children if they sometimes make too much noise. Your discussion afterwards should be interesting. The story was written by a five-year-old boy who was trying to learn to tame his volume.read more (Source: Psychology Today Parenting Center)

What Are the Major Diseases Involving Copper Metabolism?

PediatricEducation.org — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:08:49 +0100

Discussion Nutritional problems can occur in all parts of the world and in all socioeconomic strata. Caloric and/or protein inadequacy unfortunately plagues too many people because of inadequate supplies or availability. Supplemental food programs around the world attempt to provide appropriate nutrition, but can be stymied because of war, political instability, economic instability and many other social factors. The most common specific nutrient deficiencies are iron and Vitamin D deficiencies. Minerals important for essential nutrition include copper, iodine, selenium and zinc. A typical mixed diet usually provides enough minerals. In the United States, mineral deficiencies are usually uncommon unless there is an underlying disease process or abnormal food restrictions or diet. Vegan an...

Social Support Is Critical for Depression Recovery

Psych Central — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:38:51 +0100

Every human being wants to belong. This need is so strong that people will do nearly anything to feel like they are part of something. Personal relationships form a safety net around individuals to protect them from too much isolation. Long ago, people who strayed from a group had a much harder time surviving the elements or avoiding starvation. While it’s physically safer now to live a solitary life, emotional isolation can still threaten a person’s mental well-being. Social support is a vital and effective part of depression recovery. It can turn around damaging isolation, affect a person’s life focus, and generate solutions for depression management. Learn more about how this powerful social force can positively effect someone living with depression. Social Connection Curbs You...

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Mystery bird: mistletoebird, Dicaeum hirundinaceum | @GrrlScientist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:30:01 +0100

This distinctive Australian mystery bird is named for one of its life history traits (includes video) Mistletoebird, Dicaeum hirundinaceum (protonym, Motacilla hirundinacea), Shaw, 1792, also known as the mistletoe flowerpecker, the Australian flowerpecker or as the fire-breasted flowerpecker, photographed in New South Wales, Australia. Image: Marie-Louise Ng, 24 December 2011 (with permission) [velociraptorize].Nikon D7000 Question: This distinctive Australian mystery bird is named for one of its life history traits. What trait is that? Can you identify this bird's taxonomic family and species? Response: This is an adult male mistletoebird, Dicaeum hirundinaceum, which is the only Australian representative of the flowerpecker family, Dicaeidae, a group of passerines that originated in sou...

Today's mystery bird for you to identify | @GrrlScientist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:30:01 +0100

This handsome Ethiopian mystery bird is placed into several taxonomic families, depending upon which authority you refer toMystery Bird photographed at Lalibela, northern Ethiopia (Africa). [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]Image: Dan Logen, 9 February 2011 (with permission) [velociraptorize].Nikon D300s, 200-400 mm lens at 400, f/5.6, 1/800 sec, ISO 800 Question: This handsome African mystery bird is endemic to Ethiopia and Eritrea. It also is placed into several taxonomic families, depending upon which authority you are referring to. Can you identify this mystery bird's taxonomic family(ies) and species?The Rules:1. Keep in mind that people live in zillions of different time zones, and some people are following on their smart phones. So let everyone play the game. Don't spoi...

Birdbooker Report 208 | @GrrlScientist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Compiled by an ardent bibliophile, this weekly report includes books about mosses, scientific art and stream ecology that have been newly published in North America and the UKBooks to the ceiling, Books to the sky,My pile of books is a mile high.How I love them! How I need them!I'll have a long beard by the time I read them. ~ Arnold Lobel [1933-1987] author of many popular children's books. Compiled by Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen, the Birdbooker Report is a long-running weekly report listing the wide variety of nature, natural history, ecology, animal behaviour, science and history books that have been newly released or republished in North America and in the UK. The books listed here were received by Ian during the previous week, courtesy of these various publishing houses. New and Recent ...

Weird food fact: Jell-O molds cannot be made with many fresh fruits, because they contain enzymes that eat away the gelatin

NaturalNews.com — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

Jell-O molds made with pineapple are practically a U.S. cultural icon, so many people may be surprised to learn that if you try to make a Jell-O mold with fresh or frozen pineapple, the mold will never set. Only canned pineapple can be used. In fact, according to the... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

Huber Needle

About.com Breast Cancer — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Huber needles are used for IV chemotherapy. Your chemo nurse will use a Huber needle to access your implanted port. A Huber needle is designed for patient safety and comfort. Learn about Huber needles here. (Source: About.com Breast Cancer)

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endocrine therapies for breast cancer

About.com Breast Cancer — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer can be treated with endocrine therapies, also called hormonal therapies. These drugs come in two classes: selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs)and aromatase inhibitors. These lower your estrogen levels, and may affect your fertility, as well as preventing a recurrence of breast cancer. Learn more about endocrine therapies for breast cancer. (Source: About.com Breast Cancer)

Polyps

About.com Colon Cancer — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A colon polyp is an abnormal growth in the lining of your colon. There are many different types of polyps, but only 10 percent of them will grow into colon cancer. Learn more about the types of polyps, the risk for colon cancer and how they are treated. (Source: About.com Colon Cancer)

Colon Anatomy (Cross Section)

About.com Colon Cancer — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The colon is about six feet long and is the part of the body's digestive system that moves waste material from the small intestine to the rectum. The colon is comprised of four distinct layers: the mucosa, the submucosa, the muscularis externa (two thick bands of muscle), and the serosa. Learn more about each in this colon anatomy gallery. (Source: About.com Colon Cancer)

New Liver Cancer Treatment: Y-90

Sound Medicine — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A new strategy for treating liver cancer involves radiation, microscopic beads and an isotope known as Y-90. To learn how Y-90 microsphere radioembolization attacks liver tumors, Sound Medicine's Steve Bogdewic, PhD, meets with Indiana University liver cancer specialists Mary Maluccio, MD, and Matthew Johnson, MD. Drs. Maluccio and Johnson are on faculty at the IU School of Medicine and are re.... (Source: Sound Medicine)

Research Finds Similar Gene Mutations in Early and Late Onset Alzheimer's

About Alzheimers Disease — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

When we consider early onset Alzheimer's disease (where symptoms appear before the age of 60) and late onset, there is a tendency to categorize early onset as familial, meaning that it has a strong hereditary component, and late onset as sporadic, meaning that it is much more random. However, based on what researchers are learning, we may need to rethink this. A recent study discovered similar gene mutations in cases of both early and late onset Alzheimer's disease. This indicates that there may be a higher amount of heredity in late onset Alzheimer's disease than we have traditionally thought. These researchers also point to evidence that people with Alzheimer's often have multiple relatives who have Alzheimer's, other kinds of dementia, or a neurological disorder such as Parkinson's. A...

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Rupert Sheldrake: the 'heretic' at odds with scientific dogma

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:04:00 +0100

Rupert Sheldrake has researched telepathy in dogs, crystals and Chinese medicine in his quest to explore phenomena that science finds hard to explainIt is not often, in liberal north London, that you come face to face with a heretic, but Rupert Sheldrake has worn that mantle, pretty cheerfully, for 30 years now. Sitting in his book-lined study, overlooking Hampstead Heath, he appears a highly unlikely candidate for apostasy; he seems more like the Cambridge biochemistry don he once was, one of the brightest Darwinians of his generation, winner of the university botany prize, researcher at the Royal Society, Harvard scholar and fellow of Clare College.All that, though, was before he was cast out into the wilderness. Sheldrake's untouchable status was conferred one morning in 1981 when, a co...

Mystery bird: blue pitta, Hydrornis cyanea | @GrrlScientist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:30:01 +0100

This southeast Asian mystery bird is atypical amongst those species with similar habits (includes gorgeous video!) Blue pitta, Hydrornis cyanea, (protonym, Pitta cyanea) Blyth, 1843, also known as the lesser blue pitta, photographed at the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaiyaphum, Thailand. Image: Alex Vargas, 10 January 2012 (with permission) [velociraptorize].Nikon D5000, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR 1/10s f/5.6 at 420.0mm iso500, With a Kenko 1.4X Teleconverter on. Question: This southeast Asian mystery bird is atypical amongst those species with similar habits. Can you tell me in what way it is atypical? Can you identify this mystery bird's taxonomic family and species? Response: Adult male blue pitta, Hydrornis cyanea, a medium-sized passerine that is placed into Pittidae. The pi...

Neurotrophins-Growth Factors Update

Neuromics — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:06:00 +0100

Our Neurotrophins and Growth Factor Antibodies and Recombinant Proteins help support a wide span of research areas. These areas include: neuroscience, immunology, cardiac disease research and cancer.I would like to update you on recent publications highlighting use of some of these reagents: Aiko Sada, Kazuteru Hasegawa, Pui Han Pin, Yumiko Saga. NANOS2 Acts Downstream of Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Signaling to Suppress Differentiation of Spermatogonial Stem Cells. DOI: 10.1002/stem.790. Copyright © 2011 AlphaMed Press...anti-GFRA1 (1:200, Neuromics, Edina, MN)...Images: Ngn3-Cre targets GFRA1-negative cells. (A-F): At P7, Rosa-YFP; Ngn3-Cre double transgenic testes were immunostained with the indicated markers. Most of YFP-positive spermatogonia (Ngn3-lineage c...

Using Formative Assessment in Active Learning Environments: Transitioning from Preclinical to Clinical Training (Linda Chang PharmD)

Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Many medical students struggle as they enter the clinical setting because they have difficulty in integrating and applying what they have learned in the preclinical classroom. In order to address this challenge, active learning activities were added to the Essentials of Patient Care course for second year medical students. This PowerPoint was presented at the 38th Annual STFM Conference on Medical Student Education and presents 1) the structure of the course that encompasses cultural competency, health policy, preventive medicine, epidemiology/evidence-based medicine, and medical ethics; 2) examples of the active learning activities; 3) the formative assessment of students' performance in these activities qualitatively and quantitatively; and 4) the use of these assessment data to improve ...

Fermilab's next frontier

PhysicsWorld Articles — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:08:23 +0100

Margaret Harris learns about Fermilab's plans for the post-Tevatron era (Source: PhysicsWorld Articles)

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DIY science: should you try this at home?

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:59:00 +0100

When Richard Handl was arrested for attempting to split the atom on his stove, he joined a growing band of home experimenters cooking up all kinds of trouble behind the kitchen doorÄngelholm is a pretty southern Swedish town, famed for its clay cuckoo manufacturing, a clay cuckoo being a kind of ocarina, which is a kind of flute. The crime rate here is practically zero. Except one of its residents was last year arrested for trying to split the atom in his kitchen. His name is Richard Handl and he buzzes me into his first-floor flat.I wanted to meet Richard because I keep seeing reports of home science experimenters clashing with the authorities. There's been a spate of them this past year or two.I glance into Richard's kitchen and recognise his cooker from the news. It was horrendously, a...

"The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Learn"

Psychology Today Relationships Center — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:17:50 +0100

One of the great things about traveling, especially the kind of travel that takes you to far away places where people have customs, practices, beliefs and values that are different from your own, is that you get to see how different people can be in some ways and how similar we are in othersread more (Source: Psychology Today Relationships Center)

What’s My Zip Code?

Psych Central — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:31:54 +0100

When I first saw this book “What’s My Zip Code?” by David Stringer, it was in download format and I wondered what exactly it would be about because it seemed like an odd title to me. After reading the book I feel as though the title is very fitting. I’ve now seen the cover and how telling even that is! The picture of a forlorn young man standing at a rundown “campsite” is exactly as the reader will feel about the main character. David Stringer has a well-written account of how a family member can feel about their mentally ill, substance-abusing sibling and son. In his first-person memoir the reader can’t help but empathize with David and his family but also feel strong emotions for David’s brother John who is riddled with problems. ...

Mystery bird: dunnock, Prunella modularis | @GrrlScientist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:30:00 +0100

This drab British mystery bird has a colourful sex life that would make America's Tea Partiers faint Hedge accentor, Prunella modularis (protonym, Motacilla modularis), also known as the hedge sparrow, the shuffle-wing, or as the dunnock accentor, the European dunnock or, most famously (especially in Britain), just as the dunnock, photographed in Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve, Cheshire, UK. Image: Roy Hill, 23 January 2012 (with permission) [velociraptorize].Canon EOS 5D Mark II 135mm f/2L + 1.4 extender As a reminder, here's the original mystery bird image I shared two days ago: Question: This British mystery bird is well-known for a particular life history trait that has been the subject of many studies and even several books. What trait is this? Can you identify this bird's taxono...

Today's mystery bird for you to identify | @GrrlScientist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:30:02 +0100

This distinctive Australian mystery bird is named for one of its life history traitsMystery Bird photographed in New South Wales, Australia. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]Image: Marie-Louise Ng, 24 December 2011 (with permission) [velociraptorize].Nikon D7000 Question: This distinctive Australian mystery bird is named for one of its life history traits. What trait is that? Can you identify this bird's taxonomic family and species?The Rules:1. Keep in mind that people live in zillions of different time zones, and some people are following on their smart phones. So let everyone play the game. Don't spoil it for everyone else by identifying the bird in the first 24 to 36 hours.2. If you know the mystery bird's identity, answer the accompanying questions and provide subtle ID ...

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Classic portrait of a barred spiral galaxy

ScienceDaily Headlines — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:24:24 +0100

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has taken a picture of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1073, which is found in the constellation of Cetus (The Sea Monster). Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is a similar barred spiral, and the study of galaxies such as NGC 1073 helps astronomers learn more about our celestial home. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Schizophrenia: When hallucinatory voices suppress real ones, new electronic application may help

ScienceDaily Headlines — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:20:20 +0100

When a patient afflicted with schizophrenia hears inner voices something is taking place inside the brain that prevents the individual from perceiving real voices. A simple electronic application may help the patient learn to shift focus. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Well Blog: What Doctors Can Learn From Musicians

NYT Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:18:04 +0100

Could a coach bring back the intellectual vibrancy from medical-school days for one doctor, the way a music teacher inspires constant growth? (Source: NYT Health)

Well: What Doctors Can Learn From Musicians

NYT Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:18:04 +0100

Could a coach bring back the intellectual vibrancy from medical-school days for one doctor, the way a music teacher inspires constant growth? (Source: NYT Health)

Prediction of environmental concentrations of glucocorticoids: The River Thames, UK, as an example.

Environment International — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:49:50 +0100

Authors: Kugathas S, Williams RJ, Sumpter JP Abstract Synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) are consumed in large amounts as anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs worldwide. Based on what has been learnt from studies of other human pharmaceuticals, they are likely to be present in the aquatic environment. However, to date, information on the environmental concentrations of GCs is very limited. The situation is complicated by the fact that a considerable number of GCs are in everyday use in most developed countries. Hence, obtaining a full picture of GC concentrations in the aquatic environment using the traditional analytical chemistry approach would be time-consuming and expensive. Thus, we took a modelling approach to predict the total environmental concentration of all synthet...

Evaluation of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention Program to Decrease Blood Pressure in Low-Income African-American Older Adults

Journal of Urban Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:20:51 +0100

Abstract Hypertension affects a large proportion of urban African-American older adults. While there have been great strides in drug development, many older adults do not have access to such medicines or do not take them. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been shown to decrease blood pressure in some populations. This has not been tested in low-income, urban African-American older adults. Therefore, the primary purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a mindfulness-based program for low income, minority older adults provided in residence. The secondary purpose was to learn if the mindfulness-based program produced differences in blood pressure between the intervention and control groups. Participants were at least 62 year...

Effects of ecstasy/polydrug use on memory for associative information

Psychopharmacology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:19:30 +0100

Conclusions Overall, the results suggest that long-term ecstasy exposure may induce a deficit in associative learning and this may be in part a consequence of users adopting a more liberal decision criterion value. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationPages 1-13DOI 10.1007/s00213-012-2652-xAuthors Denis T. Gallagher, School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Darwin Building, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2HE, UKJohn E. Fisk, School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Darwin Building, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2HE, UKCatharine Montgomery, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF UKJeannie Judge, School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Darwin Building, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2HE, UKSarita J. Robinson,...

Rottenstein Law Group Learns of Zoloft Manufacturer's Motion to...

PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:24:02 +0100

The Rottenstein Law Group, which represents clients with claims stemming from the birth defects caused by the antidepressant Zoloft, has learned that Pfizer, Zoloft's manufacturer, has filed a...(PRWeb February 01, 2012)Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/2/prweb9155258.htm (Source: PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals)

Check out LabelGMOs.org to learn more about grassroots advocacy of GMO labeling

NaturalNews.com — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

Online activism against GMO's just got a bit easier thanks to a new website, LabelGMOs.org (http://www.labelgmos.org). The website grew out of a California grassroots campaign seeking to have that state require labeling on GMO's. In addition to giving people an easy... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

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PIP implants: Taking the right decision and lessons to be learnt

OnMedica Views — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Fazel Fatah, president of BAAPS, discusses the controversy and highlights the guidelines for health professionalsRelated items from OnMedicaWelsh NHS to pay for PIP implant removal and replacementGovernment sets scope for cosmetic surgery reviewsAll women with defective breast implants entitled to surgical assessment and removal Latest advice on PIP implantsRegulator moves to reassure UK women after breast implant scare (Source: OnMedica Views)

Gamers on 3-D mission to save world, just don't tell them they are learning cell biology

EurekAlert! - Biology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Iowa State University) Eve Syrkin Wurtele decided the best way to get the attention of the science-deprived, gamer generation is to take the information out of a text book and put it in a medium that kids crave - video games.So she and her team developed Meta!Blast, which won honorable mention in the 2011 International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is featured in the Feb. 3 issue of the journal Science. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)

Little Pitchers Use Their Big Ears: Preschoolers Solve Problems by Listening to Others Ask Questions

Child Development — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Children ask questions and learn from the responses they receive; however, little is known about how children learn from listening to others ask questions. Five experiments examined preschoolers’ (N = 179) ability to solve simple problems using information gathered from listening to question‐and‐answer exchanges between 2 parties present in the same room. Overall, the ability to efficiently use information gathered from overheard exchanges improved between ages 3 and 5. Critically, however, across ages children solved the majority of problems correctly, suggesting preschoolers are capable of learning from others’ questions. Moreover, children learned from others’ questions without explicit instruction and when engaged in another activity. Implications for the development of p...

Super Bowl Switches

About.com Eating Disorders — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Learn how to make some smart switches when choosing snacks for Super Bowl Sunday. (Source: About.com Eating Disorders)

Uterine Cancer Surgery hystere

About.com Eating Disorders — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A look at what to expect after hysterectomy for all women, with emphasis on women with uterine cancer. Find out what to expect during hysterectomy recovery and learn about estrogen replacement therapy pros and cons in uterine cancer. (Source: About.com Eating Disorders)

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CPR Training

About.com Eating Disorders — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

There are two reasons to find CPR training classes: to get a CPR certification or to actually learn CPR. Unfortunately, not every CPR class will satisfy both goals. Ideally, CPR training is always going to be about learning to do CPR well. Where do you go to find good CPR training? (Source: About.com Eating Disorders)

Rapid synaptic potentiation within the anterior cingulate cortex mediates trace fear learning

Molecular Brain — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Although the cortex has been extensively studied in long-term memory storage, less emphasis has been placed on immediate cortical contributions to fear memory formation. AMPA receptor plasticity is strongly implicated in learning and memory, and studies have identified calcium permeable AMPA receptors (CP-AMPARs) as mediators of synaptic strengthening. Trace fear learning engages the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), but whether plastic events occur within the ACC in response to trace fear learning, and whether GluN2B subunits are required remains unknown. Here we show that the ACC is necessary for trace fear learning, and shows a rapid 20% upregulation of membrane AMPA receptor GluA1 subunits that is evident immediately after conditioning. Inhibition of NMDA receptor GluN2B subunits during...

Anger management interventions for adults with learning disabilities living in the community: a review of recent (2000–2010) evidence

British Journal of Learning Disabilities — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study looks at research on helping adults with learning disabilities to manage their anger.• More research needs to be carried out to find better ways of helping adults with learning disabilities to manage their anger.SummaryEstimates suggest that around a quarter of adults with learning disabilities living in the community have difficulties controlling their anger. Angry or aggressive behaviour can have serious repercussions, including loss of residential or day placements, admission to hospital and reduced quality of life. In addition, the psychological well being of both paid and family carers can be adversely affected. A previous review of this area (Whitaker 2001) suggested equivocal results for cognitive‐behavioural (CBT) approaches. The current study provides an update to...

High-fat diets induce changes in hippocampal glutamate metabolism and neurotransmission

AJP: Endocrinology and Metabolism — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Obesity and high-fat (HF) diets have a deleterious impact on hippocampal function and lead to impaired synaptic plasticity and learning deficits. Because all of these processes need an adequate glutamatergic transmission, we have hypothesized that nutritional imbalance triggered by these diets might eventually concern glutamate (Glu) neural pathways within the hippocampus. Glu is withdrawn from excitatory synapses by specific uptake mechanisms involving neuronal (EAAT-3) and glial (GLT-1, GLAST) transporters, which regulate the time that synaptically released Glu remains in the extracellular space and, consequently, the duration and location of postsynaptic receptor activation. The goal of the present study was to evaluate in mouse hippocampus the effect of a short-term high-fat dietary tr...

Action learning enhances professional development of research supervisors: an Australian health science exemplar

Nursing and Health Sciences — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractThe worldwide academic workforce is ageing. At the same time, health and human services workforces are expanding. The preparation of educators to fill gaps in expertise and to position the health sciences for future growth is an urgent need. The findings from a recent action learning project that aimed to enhance the professional growth and development of higher degree researcher student supervisors in a School of Health and Human Sciences are presented. Seven early career researchers and the facilitator met for two hours every two to three weeks over 4 months between April and July 2010, in a rural and regional university in New South Wales, Australia. The processes initiated were a combination of experiential knowledge, referral to relevant published reports, use of an effectiv...

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Enhancing Students' Literature Searches by Integrating Personal Librarian Feedback into a PBL Course (Suzanne Edmunds MD)

Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Peer presentation about a curriculum intervention for 1st year medical students in which they received electronic feedback from their "personal librarians" about search strategies related to learning issues in 6 PBL cases over a period of time. (Source: Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded)

Travel Carbon Footprint (TCF) System

NHS Networks — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

All London based NHS Organisations can benefit for free from an online travel carbon footprint system provided by NHS Support Services Partnership South West London (SSP) and funded by the London NHS Travel Network. NHS staff are asked to spend just one minute completing an anonymous travel survey, and are presented instantly with a report of their annual travel habits and resultant carbon footprint. Please visit http://tcfsspswl.hubsphere.com today and complete the survey. Data is collated at site and organisation level to provide a wealth of robust information which can be used to inform the organisation’s carbon reduction and sustainable travel initiatives. To learn more please contact: environmental@swlondonssp.nhs.uk (Source: NHS Networks)

Malaria kills twice as many people as previously thought, research finds

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:41:00 +0100

Malaria kills 1.2 million people every year, a finding that has implications for global efforts to eliminate the diseaseMalaria kills twice as many people every year as formerly believed, taking 1.2 million lives and causing the deaths not only of babies but also older children and adults, according to research that overturns decades of assumptions about one of the world's most lethal diseases.The findings from the research, published on Friday, which has reanalysed 30 years of data on the disease using new techniques, will force a rethink of the huge global effort that has been under way to eliminate malaria. That ambition now looks highly unlikely by the UN target date of 2015.It also raises urgent questions about the future of the troubled Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria, whic...

Cascade-Correlation Neural Network for Sensor Fault Detection and Data Recovery with On-line Learning

Sensor Letters — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:51:19 +0100

(Source: Sensor Letters)

Dr. Richard K. Olney, A.L.S. Researcher, Dies at 64.

NYT Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:13:10 +0100

Dr. Olney, a leading researcher of A.L.S., commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, dies eight years after learning that he himself had it. (Source: NYT Health)

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UK’s first ever core skills and training framework for health

MEDEV News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:48:49 +0100

Skills for Health is advancing its development of a core skills framework for statutory and mandatory training across the UK health sector, building on work already undertaken in England in the London, North West, South Central and West Midlands regions. A core framework will offer the health sector common guidance and standards which should be helpful to organisations in guiding minimum standards in this key area of learning activity for all health sector staff. A first stage consultation on the demand and support for a Core Skills Framework has just been completed and we are pleased to present the report. With the largest ever response seen for an electronic consultation supported by Skills for Health, initial analysis, confirms strong support for the initiative, with many respondents re...

Wisconsin Women Urged to Observe "National Wear Red Day" by Learning About Heart Disease and Stroke Risk Factors

Wisconsin DHFS Press Releases — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:43:00 +0100

February 3rd is “National Wear Red Day”, an American Heart Association event to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke risks for women, and state officials are urging Wisconsin women to learn about these major health threats. (Source: Wisconsin DHFS Press Releases)

Africa: No Time to 'Give Up' on HIV-Fighting Gel

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:32:57 +0100

[allAfrica.com] Durban, South Africa - Africans tracking the worldwide HIV epidemic have not found much to celebrate since Aids began ravaging the continent 30 years ago, but researchers are optimistic that they are learning as much from their failures as their successes. (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

2012 HigherEd Edition of the Horizon Report is out!

The Cornflower — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:38:33 +0100

The 2012 HigherEd edition of the Horizon Report has been released. It can be found here: http://www.nmc.org/publications/horizon-report-2012-higher-ed-edition. Here is a summary compiled by my colleague at UIC, Ed Garay. Some key trends: 1) People expect to be able to work, learn, and study whenever and wherever they want to 2) The technologies we use are increasingly cloud-based, and our notions of IT support are decentralized 3) The world of work is increasingly collaborative, driving changes in the way student projects are structured 4) The abundance of resources and relationships made easily accessible via the Internet is increasingly challenging us to revisit our roles as educators 5) Education paradigms are shifting to include online learning, hybrid learning and collaborative ...

A Case Control Study on Specific Learning Disorders in School Going Children in Bikaner City

Indian Journal of Pediatrics — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:10:35 +0100

Conclusions The current study, therefore, is an attempt to identify children with learning disorders and explore the prevalence of the problem and etiological factors e.g., family environment, social factors and developmental issues of child and associated co-morbidities. More studies with larger sample size should be undertaken to get accurate picture of these disorders.There is also need for some community based programme to raise the level of awareness and knowledge about these disorders in general population. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-5DOI 10.1007/s12098-012-0699-7Authors Madan Gopal Choudhary, Department of Pediatric Medicine, S.P. Medical College and AG Hospital, Bikaner, 334001 Rajasthan, IndiaAdeesh Jain, Department of Ped...

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Learning through inter- and intradisciplinary problem solving: using cognitive apprenticeship to analyse doctor-to-doctor consultation

Advances in Health Sciences Education — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:00:05 +0100

Abstract Today’s healthcare can be characterised by the increasing importance of specialisation that requires cooperation across disciplines and specialities. In view of the number of educational programmes for interdisciplinary cooperation, surprisingly little is known on how learning arises from interdisciplinary work. In order to analyse the learning and teaching practices of interdisciplinary cooperation, a multiple case study research focused on how consults, i.e., doctor-to-doctor consultations between medical doctors from different disciplines were carried out: semi-structured interviews with doctors of all levels of seniority from two hospital sites in Switzerland were conducted. Starting with a priori constructs based on the ‘methods’ underpinning cognitive ap...

Projecting a strong ethos of the working scientist at FCVB 2012

European Society of Cardiology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:04:05 +0100

For cardiovascular scientists around the world London 2012 not only signifies the Olympics but also another major international event – the second Frontiers in Cardiovascular Biology (FCVB) meeting. “Delegates will find themselves right at the cutting edge, with opportunities to learn about innovations before they’ve even started along the translational science trajectory. There’ll be lots of valuable networking possibilities for people at all stages of their careers.” Read the full article... Topics: Basic Science (Source: European Society of Cardiology)

Angola: Population Urged to Do HIV Voluntary Testing

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:01:26 +0100

[ANGOP] Luanda - The director of the National Institute to Fight against Aids (INLS), Dulcelina Serrano, urged on Thursday in Luanda every population to regularly do the HIV testing, so as to learn about their Hiv condition. (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

Today's mystery bird for you to identify | GrrlScientist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:30:00 +0100

This southeast Asian mystery bird is atypical amongst those species with similar habitsMystery Bird photographed at the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaiyaphum, Thailand. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]Image: Alex Vargas, 10 January 2012 (with permission) [velociraptorize].Nikon D5000, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR 1/10s f/5.6 at 420.0mm iso500, With a Kenko 1.4X Teleconverter on. This southeast Asian mystery bird is atypical amongst those species with similar habits. Can you tell me in what way it is atypical? Can you identify this mystery bird's taxonomic family and species? The Rules:1. Keep in mind that people live in zillions of different time zones, and some people are following on their smart phones. So let everyone play the game. Don't spoil it for everyone els...

An Update on Early Breast Cancer

Clinical Care Options Oncology - Breast Cancer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:56:56 +0100

Learning Module - In this CME-certified slideset, Joyce O’Shaughnessy, MD, and Peter Ravdin, MD, PhD, provide an overview of key early breast cancer data presented at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the AACR-CTRC San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. (Source: Clinical Care Options Oncology - Breast Cancer)

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HEA Health Sciences Conference 2012

MEDEV News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:21:55 +0100

The Health Sciences discipline cluster is based at the Higher Education Academy in York and consists of a core of 11 team members who are spread across the UK. The cluster primarily represents the disciplines of Nursing, Medicine Dentistry and Veterinary science and all subjects related to health. The first annual conference for the Health Sciences disciplines is to be held at the East Midlands Conference Centre on Thursday 31st May 2012. The focus of the conference will be: nnovative practice in Healthcare learning and teaching Simulation in Healthcare education Evolution of Technology enhanced learning in Healthcare education The delegate rate for conference attendance is £50 per attendee (not including any accommodation required) Attendees requiring financial assistance with tra...

Exposing the Hidden Curriculum Influencing Medical Education on the Health of Indigenous People in Australia and New Zealand: The Role of the Critical Reflection Tool

Academic Medicine — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:12:24 +0100

The disparity in health status between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Australia and New Zealand is widely known, and efforts to address this through medical education are evidenced by initiatives such as the Committee of Deans of Australian Medical Schools' Indigenous Health Curriculum Framework. These efforts have focused primarily on formal curriculum reform. In this article, the authors discuss the role of the hidden curriculum in influencing the teaching and learning of Indigenous health (i.e., the health of Indigenous people) during medical training and suggest that in order to achieve significant changes in learning outcomes, there needs to be better alignment of the formal and hidden curriculum. They describe the Critical Reflection Tool as a potential resource through whic...

Health Discovery Corporation launches android version of melanoma risk analysis mobile app

Healthcare IT News Press Releases — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:46:39 +0100

Health Discovery Corporation (OTCBB: HDVY), the molecular diagnostics company that launched MelApp, the first SVM-based image analysis iPhone app for melanoma risk assessment, today debuts its popular MelApp mobile app for Android™ devices. Now, health-conscious consumers can easily learn about melanoma and identify areas on their skin which may need attention from a specialist, anytime, anywhere with their iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, as well as Android smartphone. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Press Releases)

Angola: Population Urged to Make HIV Voluntary Testing

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:03:01 +0100

[ANGOP] Luanda - The director of the National Institute to Fight against Aids (INLS), Dulcelina Serrano, urged on Thursday in Luanda every population to make regularly HIV testing, so as to learn about their serological status. (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

How to Flirt and Seduce With Touch: Part 1

Psychology Today Relationships Center — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:46:02 +0100

Ever wonder why a relationship goes nowhere or fizzles out? Perhaps it was missing a little attractive physical contact. Learn to touch, nuzzle, and cuddle your way to attractiveness!read more (Source: Psychology Today Relationships Center)

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The zoo visitors who saw a lion kill an owl can count themselves lucky | Benjamin Mee

Guardian Unlimited Science — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:22:32 +0100

We've had some unexpected animal run-ins at Dartmoor zoo – it can be an unforgettable educational experienceWhen I heard that Colchester zoo had lost one of its owls to one of its lions, my first thought was: "That could have been us, or any other zoo in the country." Although our falcon display takes place a good distance from the bears, wolves, lions and tigers, the birds do sometimes become distracted and make forays into areas they shouldn't.Fortunately, so far, they have always – eventually – returned to the capable gauntlet of David our falconer. Being on the edge of Dartmoor, where big buzzards and falcons are not uncommon other wild birds often fly nearby. I once watched one of our falcons become a speck in the sky a mile away while it checked out a potential mate or rival, a...

Reminder: SFC proposals for implementing Putting Learners at the Centre

MEDEV News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:53:13 +0100

This a a joint consultation issued jointly by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council. It represents the next step in the Government's plans to reform post-16 learning in Scotland. (Source: MEDEV News)

Britain's First Adult Autism Survey Reveals Previously 'Invisible' Group With Autism

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

New research on autism in adults has shown that adults with a more severe learning disability have a greater likelihood of having autism. This group, mostly living in private households, was previously 'invisible' in estimates of autism. Dr Terry Brugha, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Leicester, led research on behalf of the University for the report Estimating the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Conditions in Adults: Extending the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, which has today been published by the NHS Information Centre... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Google Science Fair 2012: Everyone has a question. What's yours? [video] | GrrlScientist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Because instead of talking about what they know, some people talk about the questions that they ponderRemember last year's online Google Science Fair? Well, hold on to your hats because they're doing it again this year! In partnership with CERN, Lego, National Geographic and Scientific American, Google has announced their second online science fair. This is the largest global online science competition and it celebrates the curiosity and investigations of young scientists everywhere! If you're 13 to 18 years old, you can enter by submitting your entry by 1 April 2012 for your chance to win fantastic prizes. This video tells you a little more:Visit GoogleScienceFair's YouTube channel [video link]. Here's a video detailing some of the competition rules: Visit GoogleScienceFair's YouTube chan...

MPs call for media campaign to raise awareness of cybercrime

Guardian Unlimited Science — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Science and technology committee says advice on preventing cybercrime is too full of jargon for people to understandMPs have urged the UK government to launch a major publicity campaign to help people protect themselves from online crime.Simple security precautions could thwart around 80% of cyber attacks, but advice on preventing them was often too full of jargon for people to understand, the MPs said.They called on ministers to raise awareness of online security through a sustained media campaign, television adverts and revamped websites that provide information in plain English.In a report by the Commons science and technology committee, Malware and Cyber Crime, MPs also called for police officers to be better trained to help victims of online attacks.The Cost of Cyber Crime report publ...

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Is FTO a type 2 diabetes susceptibility gene?

Diabetologia — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:55:33 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory CommentaryPages 1-4DOI 10.1007/s00125-012-2478-4Authors D. Meyre, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michael DeGroote Centre for Learning & Discovery, McMaster University, Room 3205, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada Journal DiabetologiaOnline ISSN 1432-0428Print ISSN 0012-186X (Source: Diabetologia)

European Parliament official denounces ACTA for secrecy, dishonesty

NaturalNews.com — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

(NaturalNews)The more some people associated with passage of the global Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) learn about its onerous privacy-stealing provisions, the less they want anything to do with it. The latest example comes from a European Parliament official charged... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

Personal Health: Communities Learn the Good Life Can Be a Killer

NYT — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:10:41 +0100

The sedentary comforts of suburban expansion have fostered obesity, poor health, social isolation, excessive stress and depression. (Source: NYT)

virtualcolon

About.com Colon Cancer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The virtual colonoscopy is a screening exam used to detect colon cancer. Learn more about this minimally invasive, fast test that detects colon cancer. (Source: About.com Colon Cancer)

Educating non‐medical prescribers

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryIntroduction: The decade has seen developments in non‐medical prescribing with the introduction of prescribing rights for healthcare professionals. In this article, we focus on the education, training and practice of non‐medical prescribers in the UK. There are around 20,000 nurse independent prescribers, 2,400 pharmacist supplementary/independent prescribers, several hundred allied health professional supplementary prescribers and almost 100 optometrist supplementary/independent prescribers. Many are active prescribers managing chronic conditions or acute episodes of infections and minor ailments.Aims: Key aims of non‐medical prescribing are: to improve patient care; increase patient choice in accessing medicines; and make better use of the skills of health professional...

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Behavioral interventions for coronary heart disease patients

BioPsychoSocial Medicine — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Women are likely to benefit from women's groups. Men may prefer to have one or two women in the group, but women fare better in gender segregated groups. (Source: BioPsychoSocial Medicine)

Organizational Characteristics of High‐ and Low‐Performing Anticoagulation Clinics in the Veterans Health Administration

Health Services Research — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

ConclusionsThe top‐performing ACCs in the VA system shared six relatively recognizable characteristics. Efforts to improve performance should focus on these domains. (Source: Health Services Research)

Early olfactory experience induces structural changes in the primary olfactory center of an insect brain

European Journal of Neuroscience — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractThe antennal lobe (AL) is the first olfactory center of the insect brain and is constituted of different functional units, the glomeruli. In the AL, odors are coded as spatiotemporal patterns of glomerular activity. In honeybees, olfactory learning during early adulthood modifies neural activity in the AL on a long‐term scale and also enhances later memory retention. By means of behavioral experiments, we first verified that olfactory learning between the fifth and eighth day of adulthood induces better retention performances at a late adult stage than the same experience acquired before or after this period. We checked that the specificity of memory for the odorants used was improved. We then studied whether such early olfactory learning also induces long‐term structural chang...

∝7-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors: an old actor for new different roles.

Current Drug Targets — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, α7-nAChR in roughly 100 years of life, instead to be an old actor it became an important player in regulating cell signalling. PMID: 22300022 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Current Drug Targets)

[PHTLS team course: a pilot project : Structured student education in prehospital care of severely injured patients.]

Der Unfallchirurg — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: Especially the treatment of multiply injured patients is a challenge for young medical professionals. However, there is a high motivation to learn and train in emergency medicine. The students long for a practical trauma course compared to the advanced medical CPR course provided by the Department of Anaesthesiology of the University of Heidelberg. Those algorithm-based trauma courses do exist with PHTLS® and ATLS®. Based on these courses we developed the PHTLS® TEAM course. PMID: 22294422 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Der Unfallchirurg)

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Top Five Ways to Get Colon Cancer

About.com Colon Cancer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

No, I didn't get the headline backwards. Many of us are aware of ways to decrease our colon cancer risk factors. However, sometimes we learn better when things are reframed for us. I extrapolated the absolute worst things you can do for your colon here. Don't take this organ for granted - it may get diseased if you don't care for it....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Colon Cancer)

Me, Miss! Why blurting out the answers can be good for pupils

Guardian Unlimited Science — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:01:12 +0100

Louder children can outperform quieter classmates and lift overall performance by encouraging others to become engagedWhile it may be frustrating for a teacher attempting to control a class, researchers say blurting out the answers can be good for pupils.Children who shout out the answer can be nearly nine months ahead in reading and maths when compared with quieter classmates, according to a study by academics at Durham University.Research which looked at more than 12,000 children aged between four and five finds that, on the whole, pupils who act impulsively in school do less well than those who can control their behaviour.But when the academics compared children with similar levels of inattentiveness, they found the louder ones did better.Boys are much more likely to blurt out the answe...

The benefits of using virtual environment radiotherapy training

HSJ — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Utilising virtual environment radiotherapy training has helped one trust develop and improve learning and knowledge in different departments across the trust, as Dean Garnham and colleagues explain. (Source: HSJ)

U.S. State Science Standards Are "Mediocre to Awful"

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:23:00 +0100

How state science standards stack up, according to a new report from The Fordham Institute A new report from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute paints a grim picture of state science standards across the United States. But it also reveals some intriguing details about exactly what’s going wrong with the way many American students are learning science. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)

Satellites to Track Rare Royal Turtle in Cambodia [Video]

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:40:00 +0100

A member of one of the world’s most endangered turtle species is being tracked by satellites as it swims the rivers of Cambodia, helping scientists to learn more about how it navigates and the threats it faces in its native waters. With a satellite transmitter glued to her shell, the female southern river terrapin ( Batagur affinis edwardmolli ) one of the last 200 wild members of a species which was once treasured by Cambodian royalty was released into the Sre Ambel River on January 16 in a ceremony attended by dozens of cheering local residents, government officials and international conservationists.The terrapin’s travels will be monitored by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in conjunction with Wildlife Reserves Singapore and Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration....

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Visualising the invisible: a network approach to reveal the informal social side of student learning

Advances in Health Sciences Education — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:26:25 +0100

Abstract World-wide, universities in health sciences have transformed their curriculum to include collaborative learning and facilitate the students’ learning process. Interaction has been acknowledged to be the synergistic element in this learning context. However, students spend the majority of their time outside their classroom and interaction does not stop outside the classroom. Therefore we studied how informal social interaction influences student learning. Moreover, to explore what really matters in the students learning process, a model was tested how the generally known important constructs—prior performance, motivation and social integration—relate to informal social interaction and student learning. 301 undergraduate medical students participated in this c...

Synthesis and evaluation of some new 4-aminopyridine derivatives as a potent antiamnesic and cognition enhancing drugs

Medicinal Chemistry Research — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:13:42 +0100

Abstract 4-Aminopyridine (4AP) potentiates acetylcholine (ACh) release by blocking potassium channel in axon terminal and can be used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s type of dementia and cognitive disorder. It is reported that ACh is well related with memory and learning. On the basis of these fact, we decided to synthesis and evaluate some new Schiff bases of 4AP (SBAPs) for their putative cognition enhancing, antiamnesic, and anticholinesterase activity. The synthesized and purified SBAPs were characterized by elemental analysis, UV, FTIR, 1H-, and 13C-NMR. SBAPs facilitated the learning on elevated plus maze model and they also significantly reversed the scopolamine-induced amnesia on the same model. The effect of SBAPs on learning and memory was qualitatively similar ...

Problems With Emotional Intimacy—Typical for Borderliners and Narcissists

Psychology Today Personality Center — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:39:45 +0100

If you're in a relationship with someone with borderline or narcissistic personality disorder, you may be surprised to learn that the relationship may be less intimate than you think it is. It may be intense, time-consuming, long-lasting, and take up most of your mental space.read more (Source: Psychology Today Personality Center)

Toward a "Learning Health System:" Following the Data into New Future for Healthcare: 02.20, 8:45-9:45am

CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:23:36 +0100

Opening Keynote: As "meaningful use" continues to drive the increased utilization of EHRs, many observers believe the biggest impact will be felt from the use of EHR data for purposes other than direct patient care: what is often called "secondary use" of data. The promise is enormous to achieve what has been called a "learning health system" for the U.S. Where is this headed in the future and what are the emerging fields and uses? (Source: CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives)