White blood cells could be linked to lifespan

Researchers from the University of Palermo took samples from 45 people aged 75-90 years old who had parent born in Sicily 1900-1908.

Those who had parents that lived over the average age for italians before dieing had more naive B-cells, a type of white blood cells, than those whose parents died before reaching average age of dieing.

Perhaps having more of those type of white blood cells wards off infection in old age,making it more likely fior such a person to live longer.

Risks of fungal inhalination during gardening

A 47 year old man has died from aspergillosis, after inhaling aspergillus fumigatus spores,after opening bags containing rotting plant parts.

A cloud of dust developed as a result.

Face masks might be a good idea.

Endangered British Birds

Black grouse, blackbirds, bullfinches, greenfinches, grey partridge, linnets, ptarmigans and song thrushes may possibly go extinct, according to a study published today

Pedestrian generated power

Generators under supermarket stores floors or railway platforms could soon be installed, powered by pedestrian's footsteps.

Feet compressing pads,which in turn drive fluid through mini-turbines,generating electricity that is stored in batteries.

The first place this might be installed is the Spinnaker Tower,Portsmouth.

I wonder if it would save money.

Alcohol reduces risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

A study suggests that tthe heavier the drinker, the less likely you are to get rheumatoid arthritis.

Two different studies ,with over 2,700 people found that drinking had a protective effect against arthritis, even if you smoke or had a genetic disposition to arthritis.

Those with the highest intake were 50% less likely to get arthritis than those who drank the least.

Hay fever vaccine developed

A company called Allergy Therapeutics, based in Worhing, Sussex has developed a hay fever vaccine called Pollinex Quattro.

Usually, a hay fever patient had to have vaccine shots weekly for about six months, and other shots for about three years.

The new vaccine has 13 different grass pollen extracts treated so they don't overwhelm the immune system, the pollen extracts being combined with tyrosin, which releases the vaccine slowly into the immune system.

A molecule called MPL(monophosphoryl lipid)(MPL is also used in cervical cancer vaccine) is also added,which helps boost the immune system's response to the new vaccine.

Of volunters who took part in trials of the new vaccine 13% reeported improved symptoms compared to those taking a placebo.

Wipes may be spreading infections around hospitals

Researchers believe that wipes bleached witth antibacterials or disinfectants may be spreading infection including MRSA around hospital wards.

It has been suggested that wipes should be thrown away after being used on a small area.

Honeybees can understand other honeybee species dances

Honeybees can communicate and learn to interpret dance moves by honeeybees from other continents, researchers have found.

The nine honeybees species in the world separated about 30million years ago

One of the most most important dances is the waggle dance, which tells other honeybees where to look for nectar.

Two different hives of european and asian honeybees were established and video footage taken to see how their waggle dances differed.

If the bees danced with head upwards, it meant fly towards the sun,head downward meant away from sun.

In European honeybees, a 1.5 second dance meant 600 metres to food, to asian honeybees it meant 400 metres.

Scientists found that asian honeybees could evidiently work out that the european honeybees waggle dance meant a different distance.

Cannabis and shrinking brains

Research using magnetic resonance imaging to do brain scans of regular cannabis smokers found
that such individuals had a 12% smaller hippocampus and a 7% smaller amygala.

A bigger study is needed to confirm this.

Vaccine against glioblastoma muliforme developed

Research suggests that patients who received the vaccine lived on average three years longer than whose who didn't receive the vaccine.

The vaccine contains a protein found on about 50% of tumours.

The vaccine causes the immune system to destroy cancer cells in the brain.

Further research is going to be carried out.

Breastfeeding and girls

Research suggests that beastfeeding protects girls from severe chest infections, but there is no such protective effect in boys.

Premature girls were 8 times less likely to have chest infections if they were breastfed..