Halloween is just around the corner and what do dogs like more than getting into the cupboard and sniffing out the Halloween candy? Most pet owners know that chocolate is toxic to dogs, but did you know that xylitol-containing gum/candy/baked goods, macadamia nuts and raisins are also potentially toxic to dogs? What is xylitol and why is it bad for dogs? Xylitol is a common sweetener used in sugar-free gum, candy, mints, baked goods and oral-care products. While safe in humans, xylitol causes an unsafe drop in blood sugar in animals. Xylitol tricks the pancreas into releasing a large surge of insulin which causes a sudden drop in blood glucose. In large doses, xylitol can cause liver toxicity/failure and death. How much does my dog have to ingest in order to be dangerous? A 10 pound (4.5 kg) dog can eat as little as a stick and a half of gum to become hypoglycemic. The dose of xylitol that can cause hypoglycemia is anything greater than 0.1 grams per kilogram of body weight. A typical stick of gum will contain 0.3 to 0.4 grams of xylitol. Anything above 0.5 grams per kilogram of body weight of xylitol may potentially cause … Continue reading →

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Illumina, Inc. (ILMN) today launched the Infinium HumanCore BeadChip family of products. With content developed in collaboration with several leading research institutions, the customizable Infinium HumanCore and Infinium HumanCoreExome BeadChips support cost-effective, large-scale genotyping and screening studies such as those performed by biobanks, genome centers, and core labs. Based on Illuminas proven Infinium assay, the BeadChips enable genotyping of markers found across diverse populations, making them ideal for researchers engaged in population genetics studies around the world. These powerful, cost-effective arrays were specifically designed to make genotyping accessible to a wider range of researchers and laboratories, said Christian Henry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Genomic Solutions at Illumina. Infinium HumanCore BeadChips combine affordability and high-throughput sample processing using the industrys best multi-sample array. The high-quality, genome-wide information they deliver can be used for a variety of downstream applications. Both customizable arrays include content important for disease research, including association studies and copy number variant discovery and analysis. The Infinium HumanCore BeadChip features highly-informative, genome-wide tag SNPs and additional high value markers such as indels and updated exome-focused content. The higher density Infinium HumanCoreExome BeadChip provides that same valuable core content, along with informative markers from the … Continue reading →

16.10.2012 - (idw) Schwedischer Forschungsrat - The Swedish Research Council Evolution has not only controlled human development over millions of years, it also has an impact on modern man. This is one of the conclusions of a study of Argentinian villagers in the Andes, where the water contains high levels of arsenic. A gene variant that produces efficient and less toxic metabolism of arsenic in the body was much more common among the villagers than among other indigenous groups in South or Central America. The study was a collaborative effort by Karin Broberg from Lund University and Carina Schlebusch and Mattias Jakobsson from Uppsala University in Sweden. We know that many bacteria and plants have genes that increase resistance to arsenic, a highly toxic substance that is found in soil and water in many parts of the world. There has been no previous research on whether the people in these regions also have protective genes against arsenic, says Karin Broberg. High levels of arsenic in drinking water are linked to a range of health problems. Increased child morbidity and an increased risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes are some examples. In many places this is a relatively new problem, … Continue reading →

Public release date: 15-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Kat Snodgrass 202-962-4090 Society for Neuroscience NEW ORLEANS New animal studies provide additional support for investigating stem cell treatments for Parkinson's disease, head trauma, and dangerous heart problems that accompany spinal cord injury, according to research findings released today. The work, presented at Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health, shows scientists making progress toward using stem cell therapies to repair neurological damage. The studies focused on using stem cells to produce neurons essential, message-carrying cells in the brain and spinal cord. The loss of neurons and the connections they make for controlling critical bodily functions are the chief hallmarks of brain and spinal cord injuries and of neurodegenerative afflictions such as Parkinson's disease and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Today's new findings show that: Other recent findings discussed show that: "As the fields of developmental and regenerative neuroscience mature, important progress is being made to begin to translate the promise of stem cell therapy into meaningful treatments for a range of well-defined neurological problems," said press conference … Continue reading →

With all the publicity about the miraculous effects of stem cell therapy, the Department of Health (DOH) should prepare itself for the possibility that the new procedure would be performed by unqualified, and completely clueless, people. I passed a beauty parlor recently and saw a huge poster on its door announcing the arrival of stem cell therapy. I was instantly reminded of botched breast enhancement and nose jobs performed by salon personnel who seemed to think it was as easy to learn complicated surgical procedures as it was to train to cut hair or do manicures and pedicures. The DOH should start warning the public not to fall for these special offers just because they are available at giveaway rates. Modern lifestyle problem Experts have repeatedly talked about problems brought about by modern lifestyles. Changing diets and stress are two of the best known. Dr. Jaime G. Ignacio, section chief of gastroenterology at Veterans Hospital and head of the Digestive Malignancy Council of the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology, said constipation could be one of the consequences of the combination of these two factors. Speaking at an event hosted by Boehringer Ingelheim, maker of Dulcolax (generic name Bisacodyl), a formulation for … Continue reading →