Why almost winning is just as good for some gamblers

A new study led by the University of Exeter and Swansea University has pinpointed the changes in the brain that lead gamblers to react in the same way to near-misses as they do to winning.The research shows that near-misses are underpinned by increases in the brain's electrical activity, particularly in the theta frequency range - known to be involved in processing win and loss outcomes.

Self-reported memory complaints might predict clinical memory impairment later in life

Erin Abner, an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, asked 3,701 men aged 60 and higher a simple question: "Have you noticed any change in your memory since you last came in?"That question led to some interesting results. "It seems that subjective memory complaint can be predictive of clinical memory impairment," Abner said.

How men age: more uplifts, fewer hassles until the age of 65-70

A new study of how men approach their golden years found that how happy individuals are remains relatively stable for some 80 percent of the population, but perceptions of unhappiness - or dealing with "hassles" - tends to get worse once you are about 65-70 years old.The reasons vary, researchers say, but may be because of health issues, cognitive decline or the loss of a spouse or friends.

Selenium and vitamin E supplements 'increase prostate cancer risk'

A new study recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that taking high doses of selenium and vitamin E supplements may increase the risk of prostate cancer, depending on a man's selenium levels prior to taking the supplements.The research team, including first author Dr.

Greater cancer risks faced by LGBT youth

A new study led by City College of New York psychologist Margaret Rosario found that youths of same-sex orientation are more likely to engage in behaviors associated with cancer risk than heterosexuals. The peer-reviewed findings appear in the February 2014 issue of the "American Journal of Public Health.

Preventing zoonotic feline tularemia by finding influential geospatial factors

Kansas State University epidemiologist is helping cats, pet owners and soldiers stay healthy by studying feline tularemia and the factors that influence its prevalence.

Daily multivitamin use could reduce cataract risk for men

New research from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston, MA, has found that long-term daily use of multivitamin supplements could reduce the risk of cataract for men.The study findings were recently published in the journal Opthalmology.According to the research team, led by Dr.

Low-income women face roadblocks created by Medicaid's 'tube-tying' polices

Tubal ligation - commonly referred to as having one's "tubes tied" - is widely used to prevent unintended pregnancies. However, current Medicaid policies create roadblocks for low-income women trying to obtain the procedure, according to a review written by researchers at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School and other U.S. institutions.

New findings could lead to novel diagnostic tests and treatments for male infertility

To better understand the causes of male infertility, a team of Bay Area researchers is exploring the factors, both physiological and biochemical, that differentiate fertile sperm from infertile sperm. At the 58th Annual Biophysical Society Meeting, which took place Feb. 15-19, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

Video intervention may increase skin cancer diagnosis in older men

Showing men a video on skin self-examination and skin awareness may help to increase the number of patients who receive whole-body clinical skin examinations (CSEs) from their physicians, which could increase skin cancer diagnosis in older men, according to a study by Monika Janda, Ph.D., of the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, and colleagues.

Slim, attractive men have less nasal bacteria than heavy men

Do attractive traits tell us anything about a person's reproductive health? New research in the American Journal of Human Biology reveals a link between Body Mass Index (BMI) and the amount of bacteria colonizing noses. The results show that heavier men harbor more potentially pathogenic species of bacteria in their nose, compared with slimmer, more traditionally attractive men.

An important role in delayed language development played by gender and genes

Boys are at greater risk for delayed language development than girls, according to a new study using data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. The researchers also found that reading and writing difficulties in the family gave an increased risk.

Globally, cancer kills 50% more men than women

Figures published by Cancer Research UK reveal that more than 4.6 million men and 3.5 million women die of cancer worldwide every year, putting the global rate of cancer death among men (126 per 100,000) 50% higher than that of women (82 per 100,000).

Pharmacists and conscientious objection to supply of the oral contraceptive pill

Pharmacists who have a conscientious objection to providing oral contraceptives on moral or religious grounds should nevertheless always act professionally and ensure that consumers were informed as to where they could access these items, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has stressed.

A step closer to efficient treatment for cancer-causing herpes

Herpes virus proteins are more 'spaghetti-like' than previously thought, which provides a vital clue in the search for an efficient treatment against a type of herpes which causes a form of cancer known as Kaposi's sarcoma.

Stock market volatility and mental disorders linked

Falling stock prices lead to increased hospitalisations for mental disorders, according to new research published in the journal Health Policy and Planning.Researchers assessed the relationship between stock price movements and mental disorders using data on daily hospitalisations for mental disorders in Taiwan over 4,000 days between 1998 and 2009.

Researchers say there is no such thing as pornography addiction

Journalists and psychologists are quick to describe someone as being a porn "addict," yet there's no strong scientific research that shows such addictions actually exists. Slapping such labels onto the habit of frequently viewing images of a sexual nature only describes it as a form of pathology. These labels ignore the positive benefits it holds.

Women more attracted to masculine mates during ovulation

Stereotypical belief holds that the majority of women prefer dominant men with a masculine body type. But there is good news for men who do not fit this description. New research suggests that most women are only attracted to this type of man for a few days a month - during ovulation - and do not desire them as long-term partners.

Childhood clues to later risk of STDs

Here's yet another reason to focus on kids' early years. Children who grow up in well-managed households, enjoy school, and have friends who stay out of trouble report fewer sexually transmitted diseases in young adulthood, according to a new analysis.

Nanoparticles treat muscular dystrophy in mouse model

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have demonstrated a new approach to treating muscular dystrophy. Mice with a form of this muscle-weakening disease showed improved strength and heart function when treated with nanoparticles loaded with rapamycin, an immunosuppressive drug recently found to improve recycling of cellular waste.

Proton therapy for prostate cancer results in long-term patient survival and excellent quality of life

Five years after having proton therapy for early- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer, 99 percent of men are living cancer-free and with excellent quality of life, according to a University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute study. Three-quarters of those with high-risk prostate cancer are also disease-free.

New video tracking system could someday help in vitro fertilization clinics select most viable sperm

To improve their chances of success, in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics need to assess the viability of the sperm they use. Now doctors may soon have a new technique to help them sort the good sperm cells from the less viable ones: a tracking system, developed by a team of researchers from four European institutions, that takes 3-D movies of living sperm.

EHR-based screening program for abdominal aortic aneurysms cuts the number of unscreened at-risk men by more than half

A screening program for abdominal aortic aneurysms, integrated into an electronic health record, dramatically reduced the number of unscreened at-risk men by more than 50 percent within 15 months, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a balloon- like bulge in the aorta, which - if ruptured - can result in death.

Study: 1 in 14 women sexually assaulted by someone other than a partner

New research published in The Lancet reports that 1 in 14 women (7.2%) have been sexually assaulted at least once in their lives by someone other than an intimate partner.Several recent highly publicized incidences of the rape and murder of young women in India and South Africa have put an international focus on the issue of sexual violence against women.

Three doses of HPV vaccine recommended to protect against genital warts

Two doses of the vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) provide good protection against genital warts, but three doses is better according to an extensive register study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. The results are published in the scientific periodical JAMA.Since 2012, girls between the ages of 10 and 18 have been offered free vaccination against HPV.

Importance of sex associated with maintaining sexual activity for midlife women

Midlife women who placed greater importance on sex maintained more sexual activity, according to a study published in a research letter by Holly N. Thomas, M.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues.

GI tract may be the source for chlamydia reinfections

The current standard of care treatment for chlamydia sometimes fails to eradicate the disease, according to a review published ahead of print in Infection and Immunity, and the culprit may be in the gut.Chlamydia trachomatis not only infects the reproductive tract, but abides persistently - though benignly - in the gastrointestinal tract.

When it comes to sex, what's love got to do with it?

A first-of-its-kind study by researchers at George Mason University's Department of Global and Community Health and Indiana University's Center for Sexual Health Promotion draws some conclusions to an age-old question: What does love have to do with sex? And, in particular, among gay and bisexual men in the United States?

When it comes to sex, what's love got to do with it?

A first-of-its-kind study by researchers at George Mason University's Department of Global and Community Health and Indiana University's Center for Sexual Health Promotion draws some conclusions to an age-old question: What does love have to do with sex? And, in particular, among gay and bisexual men in the United States?

Large-scale studies to evaluate testosterone therapy risks called for by Endocrine Society

According to a statement issued by the Endocrine Society, the risks and benefits of testosterone therapy for older men with declining levels of the hormone need to be fully evaluated.The statement comes in response to recent studies that have raised concerns about the safety of testosterone therapy in older men with a history of heart disease.

New study defines powerful bacterial immune response

T-cells, the elite guard of the immune system in humans and other mammals, ignore normal biologic protocol and swing into high gear when attacked by certain fast-moving bacteria, reports a team of researchers led by a UC Davis immunologist.

Prostate development discovery could lead to new treatments

Scientists at the University of York have discovered how the prostate gland develops for the first time, according to research published in Cell Press.

The mood of HIV-positive men affects safe sex; depressive episodes drive up risk

Having a good week? It may lead to healthier choices. If you are a man with HIV, you may be more likely to use a condom during sex. In a new study, researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health report that HIV-positive men whose moods improved in a given week were more likely to have safe sex than they would in a normal week.

The mood of HIV-positive men affects safe sex; depressive episodes drive up risk

Having a good week? It may lead to healthier choices. If you are a man with HIV, you may be more likely to use a condom during sex. In a new study, researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health report that HIV-positive men whose moods improved in a given week were more likely to have safe sex than they would in a normal week.

Male obesity could dictate future colon screenings

Obesity is a known risk factor for many cancers including colon cancer, yet the reasons behind the colon cancer link have often remained unclear.

New mathematical model shows that appearance of rash may determine how Lyme disease spreads through body

Lyme disease is often evident by a rash on the skin, but infections do not always produce similar rashes. This can make it difficult to detect the disease early, when antibiotic treatment is most effective.

Research shows women trying hard to avoid unwanted pregnancy

Most women experiencing unwanted pregnancy report they used a contraceptive at the time they conceived, data released by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas) shows. Older women undergoing abortion were less likely to have used contraception than women under 30, which may reflect their belief they are no longer fertile.

HPV vaccine 'does not lead to risky sexual behavior in teens'

Some parents might worry that the human papillomavirus vaccine could lead to more sex or more unsafe sex in teenagers and young people. However, a new study conducted by the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Ohio and published in the Pediatrics journal finds that these concerns are unwarranted.

Initiation of sex or risky sexual behavior not encouraged by beliefs about HPV vaccine

A new study may alleviate concerns that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine leads to either the initiation of sex or unsafe sexual behaviors among teenage girls and young women.

Having a baby after fertility problems 'strengthens relationship'

For most couples, going through fertility problems can put a strain on the relationship. But new research suggests that women who have a baby after experiencing fertility issues are more likely to stay in a relationship with their partner. This is according to a study published in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.

Testosterone therapy linked to heart attacks in men under 65

You may have seen one of the many advertisements geared toward men asking if they suffer from "low T" - low testosterone levels that, according to the ads, can result in lost sex drive, diminished energy and moodiness. The answer, they suggest, may be as simple as applying testosterone through a gel or patch.

New cream with silver nanoparticles could block HIV transmission

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1.1 million people in the US are infected with human immunodeficiency virus. But new research has detailed the creation of a cream that has proved effective against transmission of the infection in laboratory tests.