Although the biological underpinnings of violence in people with antisocial personality and schizophrenia share certain similarities, differences, such as cortical thinning in the prefrontal cortex, do exist.
Where in the depths of the human brain does violent behavior have its inception? Scientists are not sure, but reduced prefrontal gray matter and decreases in total brain volume and temporal-lobe volume have been linked with violent behavior in some people with antisocial personality disorder. In addition, poor orbitofrontal functioning, an abnormally large putamen, and abnormally small amygdalae and hippocampi have been linked with violent behavior in some schizophrenia patients.
Comment: There have also been
other studies that also demonstrate a connection between physical brain aberrations and violent or psychopathic behaviour.
New research reinforces earlier connections that have been found between iron-deficiency anemia in infants and their neurophysiological development.
Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) in infancy appears associated with deficits in attention and memory development.
The study findings, reported in the August Pediatrics, reinforce previous research that found lower cognitive test scores among infants with iron deficiency than among those with healthy levels of iron.
Tan Ee Lyn
ReutersTue, 16 Oct 2007 13:47 UTC
Lupeol, a compound in fruits like mangoes, grapes and strawberries, appears to be effective in killing and curbing the spread of cancer cells in the head and neck, a study in Hong Kong has found.
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| ©REUTERS/Fatih Saribas
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| Grapes at a vineyard near Tekirdag in western Turkey August 18, 2007.
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Harmful artificial trans fats are to be banned as figures yesterday revealed that more than half of the population could be obese within 25 years. Researchers claimed that 86 per cent of men were expected to be overweight in 15 years and 70 per cent of women within 20 years.
Comment: Although the ban on trans fat is a good start, there are a lot more causes to obesity. Two among them are
MSG and
gluten, which most people in the West consume every day.
Gluten Intolerance, also known as Celiac Disease, was once thought to be a rare genetic disorder until 2003 when it was discovered that it is, indeed, quite common. Where once gluten intolerance was thought to affect 1 in 4000 people it is now thought to affect 1 in 133 and researchers expect that number to drop even lower. Yet, even with this new discovery many people in America are going undiagnosed.
The opioid system controls pain, reward and addictive behaviors. Opioids exert their pharmacological actions through three opioid receptors, mu, delta and kappa whose genes have been cloned (Oprm, Oprd1 and Oprk1, respectively). Opioid receptors in the brain are activated by a family of endogenous peptides like enkephalins, dynorphins and endorphin, which are released by neurons. Opioid receptors can also be activated exogenously by alkaloid opiates, the prototype of which is morphine, which remains the most valuable painkiller in contemporary medicine.
By acting at opioid receptors, opiates such as morphine or heroin (a close chemically synthesized derivative) are extremely potent pain-killers, but are also highly addictive drugs.
Where does the benefit lie in an afternoon nap" Is it in the nap itself--or in the anticipation of taking a snooze" Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that the time just before you fall asleep is where beneficial cardiovascular changes take place.
This finding is part of a study entitled Acute Changes in Cardiovascular Function During the Onset Period of Daytime Sleep: Comparison to Lying Awake and Standing, found in the online edition of the Journal of Applied Physiology, published by The American Physiological Society. The study was conducted by Mohammad Zaregarizi, Ben Edwards, Keith George, Yvonne Harrison, Helen Jones and Greg Atkinson, of the Liverpool John Moores University in Liverpool, U.K.
Obesity researchers find clues to individual risk factors;gene studies could lead to better, tailored treatment.
J&B Meats Corp. is recalling 173,554 pounds (78.7 tonnes) of frozen ground beef products sold under "Topps" and "Sam's Choice" labels due to possible E. coli contamination, the U.S. government said this weekend.
The Coal Valley, Illinois-based company produced the patties in June and distributed them to retail stores nationwide, the U.S. Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service, or FSIS, said in a statement.
Comment: There have also been other studies that also demonstrate a connection between physical brain aberrations and violent or psychopathic behaviour.