Hormonal influences on behaviour can be complex. In our study we examined the neuropeptide hormone arginine vasotocin in the brain of an African cichlid fish, in which males are either dominant or subordinate. Our results show that this hormone may have multiple, even opposing, effects on both behaviour and physiology. Neurons that produce arginine vasotocin are found in several brain regions.

Hematopoiesis is the process responsible for blood cell formation. At the root of this process lie hematopoietic stem cells. The demands for hematopoietic output vary across mammals, where the number of active hematopoietic stem cells scales with mass. Hematopoietic stem cells can be linked with the circulating blood with a model based on human data.

To provide researchers and companies with insight into stem cell research funding opportunities and an overview of the application process for stem cell research in Maryland, the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission (Commission) recently hosted two informational sessions at the Montgomery County campus of Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the Greenspring campus of the Kennedy Krieger Institute.

Avian olfaction is poorly understood: birds are widely regarded as relying primarily on visual and auditory inputs. Among vertebrates, the sense of smell is mediated by olfactory receptors (ORs).

Following today's White House veto of important Medicare legislation, AARP announced that it will designate the expected veto override votes in the House and the Senate as "Key Votes." This designation means that AARP will record the House and Senate roll call votes and inform its members about the bill and how their lawmakers voted.

Statement by Tyler Wilson, President and CEO American Association for Homecare, July 15, 2008. It is unfortunate that President Bush has chosen to veto H.R. 6331, "The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.

Changes in animal populations happen because of changes in birth rates, death rates or both. For past declines of threatened species it would be useful to know which. A study on museum specimens of the corncrake, a bird which suffered a very rapid, marked and permanent decline in Britain about a hundred years ago, provides clues.

The Drug Information Association has announced that the 44th Annual Meeting, held from June 22-26 in Boston, Massachusetts, was the largest event in the association's more than 40-year history. "This year we received the largest ever number of abstracts for the Annual Meeting," notes Annual Meeting Program Chair Jeffrey Sherman, MD, FACP.

For children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a genetic disorder that often leads to learning disability, cognitive function is not improved by the statin simvastatin, according to an article released on July 15 in JAMA. NF1 is characterized by the development of tumors in Schwann cells in the nervous system.

Commenting on the STI data released by the Health Protection Agency Julie Bentley, Chief Executive, fpa said: "Driving home the safer sex message is as relevant as ever. Education, information, accessible services and widespread STI testing are imperative in improving the sexual health of the population and especially the 16-24 year old age group.

A new study published in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases finds a paradoxical relationship between dengue hemorrhagic fever and the mosquitoes that carry the virus.

Attorney General Martha Coakley's Office has entered into an agreement with international pharmaceutical manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS) to settle a variety of allegations of improper sales, marketing and price reporting practices. Under the terms of the settlement, BMS will pay $9,214,659.43 to the Massachusetts Medicaid Program.

A progressive decline in levels of physical activity has been documented in children, with less than one third able to meet the recommended physical activity guidelines when they are 15 years old, according to an article released on July 15, 2008 in JAMA. Physical activity has been associated with obesity and associated illnesses as well as chronic diseases among young people.

New research from Action for Blind People shows that many people in Great Britain are unaware an eye test could prevent them from going blind, and are risking their sight by not going for regular eye tests. The national visual impairment charity commissioned a survey of over 2,000 people in Great Britain on their habits and attitudes towards eye tests.

Researchers have determined a novel mechanism through which organ transplantation often leads to cancer, and their findings suggest that targeted therapies may reduce or prevent that risk.

New research suggests that beating childhood egg allergy is literally a piece of cake. In a preliminary study, researchers in Greece demonstrated that gradually exposing allergic children to heat-treated egg - such as those in baked goods - could help them overcome the allergy. In the trial, 94 children were regularly given tiny amounts of cake containing egg.

The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is shocked by the judgment rendered by Switzerland's highest judicial body, the Federal Tribunal, which rejected the arguments of MSF in a kidnapping ransom case.

Four states-- Arkansas, Kansas, Maine, and West Virginia--have joined 40 others and the District of Columbia in requiring that all newborns be screened for cystic fibrosis (CF) at birth. In addition, Utah has cleared the way to begin regular CF screening as well. Routine screening is expected to begin January 1, 2009.

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) announced it has received Japanese regulatory approval for the Reveal DX™ Insertable Cardiac Monitor (ICM). The device has been designated by the Japanese government as a high-priority medical device, and is the first insertable cardiac monitor to be introduced in Japan.

Depression And Antidepressants Increase Risk Of Falling In Later Life Older people have a high risk for falls and the ensuing injuries. This risk, according to an article released on June 17, 2008 in the open-access journal PLoS ONE, is increased by the presence of depression, and increased even more with medication for depression.