Scientists have taken another important step toward understanding just how sticking needles into the body can ease pain. In a paper published online May 30 in Nature Neuroscience, a team at the University of Rochester Medical Center identifies the molecule adenosine as a central player in parlaying some of the effects of acupuncture in the body…

“The Obama administration on Thursday released a sweeping statement of its national security goals,” the Los Angeles Times reports. The 52-page document “calls for the United States to strengthen international institutions, to heed treaties and norms, and to build stronger ties to allies, including to the emerging powers of India, Brazil and China…

Factors that resulted in higher food prices in several countries in 2008, such as food scarcity and the use of land for biofuels, are still present and could cause prices to rise again without food production improvements in developing countries, Ertharin Cousin, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. food agencies in Rome, said in an interview with Reuters…

A song promoting a ‘rhythm for success,’ to inspire footballers to score more goals during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, has been composed by a Durham University researcher using a new ‘language’ for African drums…

Metatarsalgia, also known as stone bruise, is a type of pain and inflammation that occurs in a part of the foot known as the metatarsal (ball of foot). It often occurs in the metatarsal heads - where the three middle toes meet the ball of the foot. It is a common problem which can affect the bones and joints of the metatarsals…

“While the G8 is putting maternal health at the top of its agenda for next month’s summit, fears are growing that the club of wealthy nations is neglecting one of the biggest killers of women: AIDS,” the Globe and Mail reports in a piece that examines the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and what the newspaper describes as the G8’s “backtracking” on previous pledges to provide unive…

An innovative bicycle-powered water pump, created by a student at the University of Sheffield, has proved a huge success and is now in regular production in Guatemala, transforming the lives of rural residents…

New research from UT Southwestern Medical Center suggests that allergic reactions to pet dander, dust mites and mold may prevent people with allergic asthma from generating a healthy immune response to respiratory viruses such as influenza. “Our findings imply that the better your asthma is controlled, the more likely you are to have an appropriate response to a virus,” said Dr…

Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. (ABI) (OTCBB: AMAR) announced that Maxisal, its dietary supplement to enhance salivary function, promote oral comfort and help relive dry mouth, has been launched in Germany (www.Maxisal.de). Maxisal is marketed in Germany by ABI’s licensee Egofocus OHG based in Darmstadt. The first target market in Germany is cancer patients…

Choosing a neighborhood that has places to walk to and safe routes to get there can help your child maintain a healthy weight during adolescence. A new Journal of Adolescent Health study correlated the incidence of obesity in students grades eight through ten with options for physical activity in their immediate environment…