Puppet Authorities’ Encroachment upon Freedom of Expression Protested in S. Korea (Korean Central News Agency) Pyongyang, June 25 (KCNA) -- The Joint Conference of Human Rights Organizations, the Society for the Human Rights Movement, the Progressive Network, the Solidarity of Cartoonists, the Writers Council and other civic and public organizations in south Korea held a press conference in Seoul on June 22 denouncing the puppet authorities for encroaching upon the freedom of expression. [News Source]

‘Nature’ and ‘nurture’ variables early predictors of AMD (PhysOrg) Like many diseases, causes for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can be categorized as either "nature" or "nurture". Researchers think these factors, when used in the proper model, can be strong predictors of the disease. [News Source]

Total knee replacements increase mobility and motor skills in older patients (PhysOrg) According to a new study from researchers at Duke University, total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures performed in older patients with osteoarthritis of the knee result in long-term, significant improvement of physical functioning and motor skills when compared to patients who do not receive TKA. [News Source]

Brain plasticity: Changes and resets in homeostasis (PhysOrg) In an article published in the June 25th edition of the journal Neuron, researchers at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, have found that synaptic plasticity, long implicated as a device for 'change' in the brain, may also be essential for stability. [News Source]

Diabetes is significant economic burden for US health-care system (PhysOrg) Excess medical expenses and reduced productivity due to diabetes costs the U.S. economy more than $174 billion annually, a figure that could be reduced by lifestyle modifications and preventive care and by pay-for-performance incentives that reward improved disease management, as supported by three articles in the recent issue of Population Health Management, a peer-reviewed journal published by ... [News Source]

Cancer researchers link DICER1 gene mutation to rare childhood cancer (PhysOrg) Research published today in Science Express from the journal Science demonstrates the first definitive link between mutations in the gene DICER1 and cancer. By studying the patterns of DNA from 11 families with an unusual predisposition to the rare childhood lung cancer pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) investigators found that children with the cancer carried a mutation in one of their two DICER1 ... [News Source]

A penny for your prions: Researchers study link between copper, mad cow disease (PhysOrg) (PhysOrg.com) -- North Carolina State University researchers have discovered a link between copper and the normal functioning of prion proteins, which are associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy diseases such as Cruetzfeldt-Jakob in humans or "mad cow" disease in cattle. [News Source]

A penny for your prions (EurekAlert!) ( North Carolina State University ) North Carolina State University researchers have discovered a link between copper and the normal functioning of prion proteins, which are associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy diseases such as Cruetzfeldt-Jakob in humans or "mad cow" disease in cattle. Their work could have implications for patients suffering from these diseases, as well as ... [News Source]

Unemployment figures on the rise in Moose Jaw (Times Herald) A Statistics Canada report shows the number of Saskatchewan and Moose Jaw residents collecting Employment Insurance (EI) is on the rise. [News Source]

Study Shows Chronix Technology Using Serum DNA Can Identify Early Presence Of Disease (Medical News Today) Chronix Biomedical has reported that a new study in a peer-reviewed journal further confirms the potential diagnostic and prognostic utility of using circulating fragments of DNA to detect early stage disease. These DNA fragments, referred to as serum DNA, are released into the blood stream in trace amounts during the disease process. [News Source]