Research in the News

Men more prone to diabetes
MEN are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a lower average body mass index than women, according to a Scottish study published in Diabetologia. This observation may help explain why type 2 diabetes is more common among middle-aged European men, the researchers wrote. The study was reported on BBC News.

Diet cuts birth defects
THE healthier a mother’s overall diet during pregnancy, the less risk of neural tube defects and orofacial clefts, according to a study in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. The population-based case–control study involved interviewing almost 10,000 women with estimated due dates from October 1997 to December 2005. The researchers said dietary approaches could lead to further reduction in risks of major birth defects and complement efforts to fortify foods and encourage multivitamin use before pregnancy. The study was reported on ABC’s AM program.

Vitamin D deficiency among pale-skinned
SUN-sensitive people may not achieve optimal vitamin D levels without supplementation, according to a study published in Cancer Causes and Control. The study authors said supplementation should be considered for the majority of populations living in a temperate climate and, in particular, melanoma patients. The research was reported online by the Huffington Post.

Stem cells from clone
SCIENTISTS have reprogrammed an adult human egg cell to an embryonic state using cloning technology and have created self-reproducing embryonic stem cells from the developing embryo, according to new research published in Nature. The research was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Car fumes link to reduced fetal growth
WEST Australian researchers have found an association between maternal exposure to traffic emissions and reduced fetal growth. The study was published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. Researchers used carbon monoxide levels as a marker for locally derived traffic emissions. The research was reported by The Australian.

Posted 10 October 2011