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How early can breast or ovarian cancer risk be predicted? Transmission of epigenetic changes to BRCA1 and MGMT genes
Photo by Praveenpaavni The incidence of breast and ovarian cancers and mortality due to these cancers in women worldwide is increasing where about 1.7 million new cases were diagnosed worldwide in 2012. This increase in cancer rates carries tremendous socio-economic, emotional, and public health implications. A key factor to the successful treatment of these cancers…
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Where can we expect the longhorned tick to go (in the US)?
The tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. I’m sure many of you have heard about the new invasive tick in the United States, the longhorned (or cattle or bush) tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis. For those who have not, as a quick recap, it was first detected in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in August 2017, from sheep. Despite our best…
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Cannabis use in psychiatric populations and risk of suicide: A new perspective
Historically, research has suggested a direct relationship between cannabis use and higher risk of suicidal behavior. However, few studies have examined whether or not this is true of populations already “at risk”, such as in individuals who have a psychiatric disorder diagnosis. In the first study of its kind (published in the journal Biology of…
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New study in mouse model demonstrates method for reversing wrinkles and hair loss
A possible model for reversing signs of aging Wrinkled skin and hair loss are obvious features of aging-associated changes in humans. A recently published article by Singh et al. in Cell Death & Disease finds that, in mice, wrinkles and hair loss caused by a specific depletion in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can be reversed by ‘turning…
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Balancing expectation and reality: intervention fidelity, trauma, and women with histories of incarceration
© bibiphoto / stock.adobe.com The research concept of fidelity is a critical component for any health intervention holding itself to a high standard. In terms of the scientific method, this means we want to ensure that when we deliver any kind of intervention, that we replicate it as close to the same way each time,…
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Alternative strategies to reduce the use of antibiotics in animal production, using innate host defense mechanisms
In livestock, particularly in pig, cattle and poultry farms, closely related antibiotics are used to prevent disease outbreaks and at amounts that surpass the use of antibiotics in humans. Few people realize that the many antibiotics originate from only a few basic structures, such as penicillins and cephalosporins. Over decades we have grown accustomed to…
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Impacts of concurrent marijuana and alcohol use on driving safety – Winner of the Jess Kraus Award
© GummyBone / Getty Images / iStock This blog has been cross posted form SpringerOpen blog Managing Editor, Ms. Barbara Lang: Stanford, your paper “Interaction of marijuana and alcohol on fatal motor vehicle crash risk: a case–control study” was the 2017 winner of the Jess Kraus Award in Injury Epidemiology-Congratulations! Could you tell us what…
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Highlights of the BMC series: July 2018
Czechoslovakian wolfdog BMC Genomics: Genomic make-up of the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog A recent trend in domestication is a selection of traits that closely relate to an animal’s wild ancestors. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (CWD), a cross between the Carpathian wolf and the German Shepard, is an example of this type of selective breeding. A study by Caniglia…
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A new horizon of improving maternal and newborn health
© Andres Rodriguez / Fotolia Improving the well-being of mothers and children is an important public health goal across the globe. Their well-being determines the health of the next generation and can help predict future public health challenges for families, communities, and the health care system. This Reproductive Health Supplement derives from presentations at the ‘2nd International Conference on Maternal and Newborn Health –…