- July 21, 2009
- 02:47 AM
- 1,973 views
Treatment Resistant Depression and Algorithm Guided Treatment
by Dr Shock in Dr Shock MD PhD
50 to 60 % of patients with a depressive disorder fail to respond to their first antidepressant. These rates increase in clinical practice setting to 65 to 85%. Estimates of treatment resistant depression (TRD) prevalence varies greatly depending on treatment setting. The lowest TRD prevalence is in primary care and progressively higher rates occur in [...]... Read more »
Bauer, M., Pfennig, A., Linden, M., Smolka, M., Neu, P., & Adli, M. (2009) Efficacy of an Algorithm-Guided Treatment Compared With Treatment as Usual. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 29(4), 327-333. DOI: 10.1097/JCP.0b013e3181ac4839
- July 20, 2009
- 06:40 PM
- 1,889 views
How to be a Rocket Scientist
by Duncan Hull in O'Really?
Today, the 20th July 2009, is the 40th anniversary of the first lunar landing. There has been plenty of global coverage, stargazing, astronautical analysis and heavenly commentary recently. But for me personally, the Apollo 11 anniversary brings back fond memories of rocket science lessons [1] – specifically, the things I learned in Chemistry at school. [...]... Read more »
Paul Smaglik. (2008) Beyond rocket science: Huntsville, Alabama, the original home of NASA and military weapons development, makes a move into biology . Nature, 453(7196), 818-820. DOI: 10.1038/nj7196-818a
- July 20, 2009
- 05:57 PM
- 1,848 views
Absolut standards: report from the Metagenomics Metadata and Metaanalysis 2009 meeting. Part 1
by Iddo Friedberg in Byte Size Biology
While in genomics we strive to obtain a full picture of an organism’s DNA, in metagenomics we sample the environment for whatever DNA we can get. We are actually merging population biology with genomics. While in population genomics our basic unit of study is an organism, in metagenomics it is a DNA sequence. This presents many challenges: properly sampling the microbial habitat and extracting the DNA, understanding which organisms the DNA in the samples came from, gauging sample depth, as........ Read more »
Kyrpides, N. (2009) Fifteen years of microbial genomics: meeting the challenges and fulfilling the dream. Nature Biotechnology, 27(7), 627-632. DOI: 10.1038/nbt.1552
Kottmann, R., Gray, T., Murphy, S., Kagan, L., Kravitz, S., Lombardot, T., Field, D., Glöckner, F., & , . (2008) A Standard MIGS/MIMS Compliant XML Schema: Toward the Development of the Genomic Contextual Data Markup Language (GCDML). OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology, 12(2), 115-121. DOI: 10.1089/omi.2008.0A10
- July 20, 2009
- 05:30 PM
- 1,307 views
Bats in my house!
by zinjanthropus in A Primate of Modern Aspect
Last night, I was sleeping soundly. I don’t have AC, so the windows were open and my ceiling fan was on. I woke up rather suddenly, and it took me a minute to realize that there was something else in my room… something really flappy and kind of loud. A bat!
I’m doing some work with [...]... Read more »
Ryan, M. (1998) Sexual Selection, Receiver Biases, and the Evolution of Sex Differences. Science, 281(5385), 1999-2003. DOI: 10.1126/science.281.5385.1999
Rodd, F., Hughes, K., Grether, G., & Baril, C. (2002) A possible non-sexual origin of mate preference: are male guppies mimicking fruit?. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 269(1490), 475-481. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2001.1891
- July 20, 2009
- 03:51 PM
- 776 views
What does this anthropologist think about hormonal birth control? Part IV
by Kate Clancy in Laboratory for Evolutionary Endocrinology
This is part IV of V of my series on hormonal contraception. Please also see parts I, II, and III.Behavior and cognitionIn western culture, media, commercials, and magazines, the menstrual cycle is almost universally considered to be negative. Pharmaceutical companies advertise pills to improve mood, from SaraFem (this was another name for Prozac, targeted just to women), to Midol, to the new hormonal contraceptive Yaz (which has recently gotten in trouble for the way they promoted their mood im........ Read more »
Bancroft J, & Sartorius N. (1990) The effects of oral contraceptives on well-being and sexuality. Oxford Reviews of Reproductive Biology, 57-92. DOI: 2075004
Brown, S., Morrison, L., Larkspur, L., Marsh, A., & Nicolaisen, N. (2008) Well-Being, Sleep, Exercise Patterns, and the Menstrual Cycle: A Comparison of Natural Hormones, Oral Contraceptives and Depo-Provera. Women , 47(1), 105-121. DOI: 10.1300/J013v47n01_06
Higgins, J., Hoffman, S., Graham, C., & Sanders, S. (2008) Relationships between condoms, hormonal methods, and sexual pleasure and satisfaction: an exploratory analysis from the Women's Well-Being and Sexuality Study. Sexual Health, 5(4), 321. DOI: 10.1071/SH08021
Joffe, H., Cohen, L., & Harlow, B. (2003) Impact of oral contraceptive pill use on premenstrual mood: Predictors of improvement and deterioration. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 189(6), 1523-1530. DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9378(03)00927-X
Mansfield PK, Hood KE, & Henderson J. (1989) Women and their husbands: mood and arousal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle and days of the week. Psychosomatic Medicine, 51(1), 66-80. DOI: 2928462
Shively, C, & Bethea C. (2004) Cognition, mood disorders, and sex hormones. ILAR J, 45(2), 189-199. DOI: 15111738
Walker, A. (1994) Mood and well-being in consecutive menstrual cycles. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 18(2), 271-290.
- July 20, 2009
- 02:52 PM
- 741 views
What does this anthropologist think about hormonal contraception? Part IV
by Kate Clancy in Laboratory for Evolutionary Endocrinology
Fourth of a five-part series on hormonal contraception, from an anthropological standpoint. This part of the series is on behavior and cognitive changes associated with hormones.... Read more »
Bancroft J, & Sartorius N. (1990) The effects of oral contraceptives on well-being and sexuality. Oxford Reviews of Reproductive Biology, 57-92. DOI: 2075004
Brown, S., Morrison, L., Larkspur, L., Marsh, A., & Nicolaisen, N. (2008) Well-Being, Sleep, Exercise Patterns, and the Menstrual Cycle: A Comparison of Natural Hormones, Oral Contraceptives and Depo-Provera. Women , 47(1), 105-121. DOI: 10.1300/J013v47n01_06
Higgins, J., Hoffman, S., Graham, C., & Sanders, S. (2008) Relationships between condoms, hormonal methods, and sexual pleasure and satisfaction: an exploratory analysis from the Women's Well-Being and Sexuality Study. Sexual Health, 5(4), 321. DOI: 10.1071/SH08021
Joffe, H., Cohen, L., & Harlow, B. (2003) Impact of oral contraceptive pill use on premenstrual mood: Predictors of improvement and deterioration. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 189(6), 1523-1530. DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9378(03)00927-X
Mansfield PK, Hood KE, & Henderson J. (1989) Women and their husbands: mood and arousal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle and days of the week. Psychosomatic Medicine, 51(1), 66-80. DOI: 2928462
Shively, C, & Bethea C. (2004) Cognition, mood disorders, and sex hormones. ILAR J, 45(2), 189-199. DOI: 15111738
Walker, A. (1994) Mood and well-being in consecutive menstrual cycles. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 18(2), 271-290.
- July 20, 2009
- 12:00 PM
- 817 views
Understanding Our Bodies: Amino Acids Are Important
by Christie Wilcox in Nutrition Wonderland
Just about every diet I know of supports eating a large portion of protein. Whether the strategy is to cut carbs or to cut fat or to cut calories in general, just about everyone agrees that protein is good for you. But why? And do the sources make a difference? What about protein makes it so important, and what do you need to include in your diet to reap the benefits?... Read more »
Peng Y, Gubin J, Harper AE, Vavich MG, & Kemmerer AR. (1973) Food intake regulation: amino acid toxicity and changes in rat brain and plasma amino acids. The Journal of nutrition, 103(4), 608-17. PMID: 4693672
Müller O, & Krawinkel M. (2005) Malnutrition and health in developing countries. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal , 173(3), 279-86. PMID: 16076825
Bonjour JP. (2005) Dietary protein: an essential nutrient for bone health. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 24(6 Suppl). PMID: 16373952
Lovejoy JC, Champagne CM, Smith SR, de Jonge L, & Xie H. (2001) Ethnic differences in dietary intakes, physical activity, and energy expenditure in middle-aged, premenopausal women: the Healthy Transitions Study. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 74(1), 90-5. PMID: 11451722
Lucas A, Morley R, & Cole TJ. (1998) Randomised trial of early diet in preterm babies and later intelligence quotient. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 317(7171), 1481-7. PMID: 9831573
- July 20, 2009
- 11:10 AM
- 852 views
Massage for exercise recovery: fact or fiction?
by Travis Saunders, MSc in Obesity Panacea
Well, it turns out that Travis and I aren’t the only ones around here debunking myths in the health field. Queen’s University's own Dr. Michael Tschakovsky and graduate student, Vicky Wiltshire, have recently completed a study which seriously brings to question one popular claim made by massage therapists: that post exercise massage increases blood flow to the muscle, thereby aiding with recovery. The results of the study have yet to be published but have been presented at this year’s Amer........ Read more »
Tiidus PM. (1997) Manual massage and recovery of muscle function following exercise: a literature review. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 107-112.
- July 20, 2009
- 10:13 AM
- 1,721 views
Photographing the glow of the human body
by Ed Yong in Not Exactly Rocket Science
As you read this, you are glowing - weakly, faintly, but glowing nonetheless. Chemical reactions within your body, besides liberating energy and producing heat, are also emitting small numbers of photons, elementary particles of light. The glow is strongest in the late afternoon, and around the lower part of your face.
Many living creatures, including fireflies, jellyfish, squid, glow-worms and deep-sea fish, are known for producing their own light often through the help of bacterial accomplice........ Read more »
Kobayashi, M., Kikuchi, D., & Okamura, H. (2009) Imaging of Ultraweak Spontaneous Photon Emission from Human Body Displaying Diurnal Rhythm. PLoS ONE, 4(7). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006256
- July 20, 2009
- 09:49 AM
- 992 views
When scientific progress means going backwards: reverse engineering of biochemical networks
by Douglas Kell in Douglas Kell's blog
The recipe for much of modelling in systems and network biology is comparatively easy. First one establishes the topology or ‘structure’ of the network (the curly arrow version seen in wallcharts – such as those for metabolism, now available electronically – of ‘who talks to whom?’). Then one finds out the equations – such as [...]... Read more »
Herrgård, M., Swainston, N., Dobson, P., Dunn, W., Arga, K., Arvas, M., Büthgen, N., Borger, S., Costenoble, R., Heinemann, M.... (2008) A consensus yeast metabolic network reconstruction obtained from a community approach to systems biology. Nature Biotechnology, 26(10), 1155-1160. DOI: 10.1038/nbt1492
- July 20, 2009
- 08:30 AM
- 755 views
Childhood Obesity, Diabetes and What We Teach Kids In School
by Tye in Uncommon Dissent
Obesity has proven to be a physiological condition that raises the risk of developing diabetes (as well as cardiovascular disease and other diseases). Diabetes is currently a condition which can be maintained chronically through weight loss, diet restrictions and medicinally-mediated glycemic control. The fact that treatments have become so efficient at maintaining patient health is [...]... Read more »
Liu, L., Lawrence, J., Davis, C., Liese, A., Pettitt, D., Pihoker, C., Dabelea, D., Hamman, R., Waitzfelder, B., Kahn, H.... (2009) Prevalence of overweight and obesity in youth with diabetes in USA: the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study. Pediatric Diabetes. DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-5448.2009.00519.x
- July 20, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 929 views
Cycling or walking to work reduces risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease… but only in men
by Helen Jaques in In Sickness and In Health
OK, so it seems pretty obvious that cycling or walking to work is better for you than taking the car. New research published in Archives of Internal Medicine has clarified the beneficial effects in terms of fitness and cardiovascular health of walking or cycling to work – but they’re largely only seen in men.
This study [...]... Read more »
Penny Gordon-Larsen, Janne Boone-Heinonen, Steve Sidney, Barbara Sternfeld, David R Jacobs Jr, Cora E Lewis. (2009) Active Commuting and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: The CARDIA Study . Arch Intern Med, 169(13), 1216-1223. DOI: 19597071
- July 20, 2009
- 05:10 AM
- 1,306 views
Sowing the ’seed’ of cancer spread
by Cancer Research UK in Cancer Research UK - Science Update
One of the biggest challenges of cancer treatment – and cancer research – is working out how to block metastasis – the spread of cancer around the body.
In fact, most people who die of cancer die because the disease spreads to – and interferes with – other organs than the one in which the [...]... Read more »
Carbonell, W., Ansorge, O., Sibson, N., & Muschel, R. (2009) The Vascular Basement Membrane as “Soil” in Brain Metastasis. PLoS ONE, 4(6). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005857
- July 20, 2009
- 04:52 AM
- 776 views
Neurological Injuries from Car Surfin' USA
by The Neurocritic in The Neurocritic
Car surfing (for those who don't know) is......a form of acrobatics (or an illegal stunt if performed in public traffic) in which passengers of moving vehicles perform various stunts, including hanging out of the car or 'surfing' on the hood, trunk or on the roof of the vehicle while it is in motion. Car surfing has caused several people to be killed during the course of such stunts. The 1985 movie Teen Wolf was one movie which inspired many young people to try car surfing.[citation needed]The U........ Read more »
Wang A, Cohen AR, Robinson S. (2009) Neurological injuries from car surfing. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics. DOI: http://thejns.org/doi/full/10.3171/2009.4.PEDS08474
- July 20, 2009
- 04:47 AM
- 684 views
Cell Fate and Connectivity Intertwined
by Kevin Mitchell in Wiring the Brain
The traditional view of neural development is linear. First, the embryo and neurectoderm are patterned by secreted factors, which establish cell fates among progenitors and then differentiated neurons, encoded by combinations of transcription factors. The fate or phenotype of each neuron includes the expression of the specific set of ion channels, neurotransmitters and receptors that determine its physiological function. It also includes expression of a particular repertoire of guidance recep........ Read more »
HUANG, Z., & KUNES, S. (1996) Hedgehog, Transmitted along Retinal Axons, Triggers Neurogenesis in the Developing Visual Centers of the Drosophila Brain. Cell, 86(3), 411-422. DOI: 10.1016/S0092-8674(00)80114-2
BAZIGOU, E., APITZ, H., JOHANSSON, J., LOREN, C., HIRST, E., CHEN, P., PALMER, R., & SALECKER, I. (2007) Anterograde Jelly belly and Alk Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling Mediates Retinal Axon Targeting in Drosophila. Cell, 128(5), 961-975. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2007.02.024
Little, G., López-Bendito, G., Rünker, A., García, N., Piñon, M., Chédotal, A., Molnár, Z., & Mitchell, K. (2009) Specificity and Plasticity of Thalamocortical Connections in Sema6A Mutant Mice. PLoS Biology, 7(4). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000098
Bargary, G., & Mitchell, K. (2008) Synaesthesia and cortical connectivity. Trends in Neurosciences, 31(7), 335-342. DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2008.03.007
Eade, K., & Allan, D. (2009) Neuronal Phenotype in the Mature Nervous System Is Maintained by Persistent Retrograde Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling. Journal of Neuroscience, 29(12), 3852-3864. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0213-09.2009
- July 20, 2009
- 04:00 AM
- 1,542 views
Are one in three breast cancers really overdiagnosed and overtreated?
by David Gorski in Science-Based Medicine
Screening for disease is a real pain. I was reminded of this by the publication of a study in BMJ the very day of the Science-Based Medicine Conference a week and a half ago. Unfortunately, between The Amaz!ng Meeting and other activities, I was too busy to give this study the attention it deserved last [...]... Read more »
Jorgensen, K., & Gotzsche, P. (2009) Overdiagnosis in publicly organised mammography screening programmes: systematic review of incidence trends. BMJ, 339(jul09 1). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.b2587
- July 19, 2009
- 03:19 PM
- 515 views
It’s been a while… and review of acupuncture
by Adiemusfree in Healthskills: Skills for Healthy Living
Regular visitors to my blog will have wondered about the break in transmission – and I’m sorry, it’ll continue for another fortnight.
The past fortnight I’ve been recovering from having my tonsils removed – something that I am now convinced should happen when you’re young enough to think that jelly and icecream is a fabulous treat, [...]... Read more »
Ernst, E. (2009) Acupuncture: What Does the Most Reliable Evidence Tell Us?. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 37(4), 709-714. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2008.04.009
- July 19, 2009
- 01:05 PM
- 847 views
Speaking without Broca's area
by Christian Jarrett in BPS Research Digest
Psychology is moving away from a view of the brain that ties functions to specific brain areas. Instead, researchers recognise that the brain is made up of dynamic, flexible networks, in which diverse regions are recruited according to task demands. Complementing this account is a growing recognition of the brain's ability to adapt to damage, even in adulthood - a characteristic known as plasticity. These views are captured in a new clinical case study that documents the recovery of language per........ Read more »
Plaza, M., Gatignol, P., Leroy, M., & Duffau, H. (2009) Speaking without Broca's area after tumor resection. Neurocase, 15(4), 294-310. DOI: 10.1080/13554790902729473
- July 19, 2009
- 09:00 AM
- 954 views
Narcolepsy Treatment May Lead to Abuse
by Shaheen Lakhan in Brain Blogger
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder typified by excessive daytime sleepiness. The symptoms of the disorder can be disabling, and for years treatment relied on amphetamines and related stimulants to help patients stay awake. For nearly 2 decades now, modafinil (Provigil) has been available to treat the symptoms of narcolepsy; modafinil has been the preferred wake-promoting [...]... Read more »
Didato, G., & Nobili, L. (2009) Treatment of narcolepsy. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 9(6), 897-910. DOI: 10.1586/ern.09.29
Minzenberg, M., & Carter, C. (2007) Modafinil: A Review of Neurochemical Actions and Effects on Cognition. Neuropsychopharmacology, 33(7), 1477-1502. DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1301534
Volkow, N., Fowler, J., Logan, J., Alexoff, D., Zhu, W., Telang, F., Wang, G., Jayne, M., Hooker, J., Wong, C.... (2009) Effects of Modafinil on Dopamine and Dopamine Transporters in the Male Human Brain: Clinical Implications. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 301(11), 1148-1154. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2009.351
Winder-Rhodes, S., Chamberlain, S., Idris, M., Robbins, T., Sahakian, B., & Muller, U. (2009) Effects of modafinil and prazosin on cognitive and physiological functions in healthy volunteers. Journal of Psychopharmacology. DOI: 10.1177/0269881109105899
- July 19, 2009
- 04:54 AM
- 1,817 views
STARI or Master's disease: More like Lyme than Lyme?
by Microbe Fan in Spirochetes Unwound
A tick-borne illness has been masquerading as Lyme disease in the southern United States over the past two decades. Victims first notice the expanding "bulls-eye" skin rash that is similar in appearance to the erythema migrans (EM) of Lyme disease. However, the tick that feeds on the victim is not the Ixodes tick that causes Lyme disease but the Lone Star tick Amblyomma americanum. Moreover, Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease spirochete, is not the infectious agent. B. burgdorferi has nev........ Read more »
MASTERS, E.J., GRIGERY, C.N., & MASTERS, R.W. (2008) STARI, or Masters Disease: Lone Star Tick–Vectored Lyme-like Illness. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America, 22(2), 361-376. DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2007.12.010
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