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Fat Tissue Growth In Rodent Models Suppressed By Turmeric Extract
Curcumin, the major polyphenol found in turmeric, appears to reduce weight gain in mice and suppress the growth of fat tissue in mice and cell models. Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (USDA HNRCA) studied mice fed high fat diets supplemented with curcumin and cell cultures incubated with curcumin.
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Evidence Challenges Effectiveness Of Embryo Screening For Older Women
There is growing evidence that a procedure for identifying chromosomal abnormalities in embryos prior to in vitro fertilization is ineffective at helping older women become pregnant, the Wall Street Journal reports. The procedure -- known as pre-implantation genetic screening, or PGS -- is performed in dozen of U.S. fertility clinics and sometimes marketed to older women as a way to increase the odds of a healthy live birth. PGS involves extracting a single cell from a six-cell embryo and inspecting it for chromosomal abnormalities known as aneuploidies; unaffected embryos can then be implanted through IVF. Women older than age 35 have a higher risk of aneuploidies, in which embryos have fewer or more than the usual number of 23 pairs of chromosomes. Aneuploidies can trigger early miscarriage or certain genetics conditions, such as Down syndrome. Most medical experts agree that embryo screening is capable of significantly reducing the risk of Down syndrome and other serious chromosome-related illnesses. However, evidence from several studies increasingly suggests that the procedure does not increase older women"s chances of healthy live births. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine released an initial opinion about PGS in 2007, saying that available evidence does not support the use of embryo screening to increase live birth rates in older women. Andrew La Barbera, scientific director of the society, said, "Since that time, there have been several more trials that have reached the same conclusion." Another shortcoming is that most clinics can only test for fewer than half of the 23 chromosomes, meaning that many defects can go undetected. However, medical experts say that the use of PGS has increased in the two years since ASRM issued its recommendations. According to the Journal, PGS can add more than $2,000 to the roughly $10,000 cost of one IVF cycle. Very few health insurers cover PGS, though some pay for IVF. Some experts contend that studies showing a lack of clinical benefit from PGS do not use more efficient biopsy techniques that can prevent damage to the embryo. Santiago Munne, scientific director for Reprogenetics, said that the treatment is "effective." In a 2007 study, Munne and colleagues used PGS to reduce the rate at which patients miscarried. However, the chances of a woman getting pregnant largely were unchanged, which the authors said could be attributed to the small number of study participants (Naik, Wall Street Journal, 6/1).
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Receptiveness To Positive Emotion Increased By Naps With Rapid Eye Movement Sleep
Naps with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep refresh the brain"s empathetic sensitivity for evaluating human emotions by decreasing a negative bias and amplifying recognition of positive emotions, according to a research abstract that will be presented on Wednesday, June 10, at SLEEP 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.
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Demand For User-friendly Healthcare IT Professional Services Increasing Across Europe, States Frost & Sullivan

The demand for more user-friendly healthcare IT professional services has been increasing across Europe. Companies that have delivered the right blend of 360 degree consulting, easier and shorter training sessions and exceptional operational services along with round-the-clock support and maintenance services have been displaying market leadership in terms of revenues and number of installed bases. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Healthcare IT Professional Service Markets in Europe, finds that the markets earned revenues of $2.19 billion in 2008 and estimates this to reach $3.64 billion in 2015. In this research, Frost & Sullivan"s expert analysts thoroughly examine the following markets: healthcare IT consulting services, training services, operational services and support and maintenance services. "The revenue potential of professional services in the healthcare IT (HIT) markets is significant because they create a recurring revenue stream for vendors," notes Frost & Sullivan Senior Research Analyst S. Priyan. "IT services expenditure is one of the main concerns of end users in the context of HT spending. Support and maintenance services, in particular, account for more than 50 per cent of the total professional services markets in Europe." Professional services markets in Europe are projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 7 per cent by 2015. The support and maintenance services segment is poised to continue holding a major share of overall market revenues. The development of a suite of highly customised and user-friendly services could further enhance the growth rate of the market. The already sizeable demand for experts in healthcare IT professional services is increasing in Europe. However, the scarcity of professionals with expertise in both healthcare and IT sectors, coupled with the high pay cheques demanded by professionals, are imposing more constraints on market expansion. "Mounting pressure to reduce costs in the healthcare sector will make it increasingly difficult for vendors to continue with current spending levels on the employment of professional services experts," explains Priyan. The supply of professional services experts should rise not only to meet the currently growing demand but also to control the costs associated with their pay cheques. Easily customised and adaptable training services with appreciable post-sale support and maintenance services will boost customer retention, system utilisation and overall growth of the market. Healthcare IT Professional Services Markets in Europe is part of the Healthcare & Life Sciences IT Growth Partnership Service programme, which also includes research in the following markets: Regulations Affecting European Healthcare IT, Primary Care Information Systems Market in Europe, Global Pharmaceutical CRM Markets, Laboratory Information Systems Market in Europe, and European Market for Imaging in Healthcare. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available. Frost & Sullivan


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