The assembly instructions for nearly 1,000 protein complexes shared by most kinds of animals have been revealed, offering a new tool for studying the causes of diseases like Alzheimer’s and different cancers. Proteins come together to form complexes, or molecular machines, which are responsible for certain functions in cells. The new research indicates that most […]
Tag: Ontario
New guidelines to reduce pain during vaccinations
New Canadian guidelines aim to reduce pain during vaccinations in both children and adults. Pain during the vaccination process can make children and adults hesitant to receive future immunizations. The guidelines update previous guidelines, published in 2010, and have been expanded to cover adults as well as children. The recommendations are designed to be used […]
Wild salmon reproduce better than hatchery ones
Hatchery salmons are often introduced into rivers to support wild populations, which are in a state of decline. Yet hatchery males have lower reproductive success than wild ones, according to a study of 196 Coho salmons (Oncorhynchus kisutch). When occupying the same position in the spawning hierarchy, hatchery males have only 55 to 84 per […]
Trans fats, not saturated fats, are the real danger
Saturated fats are not associated with cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, or type 2 diabetes, while trans fats are, according to a meta-analysis of studies. Researchers reviewed 39 studies from around the world, where nutrients, typically refined carbohydrates, were replaced with saturated fat. The researchers found no association between saturated fats and health outcomes, […]
T. Rex’s secret weapon: Revealing a unique tooth structure
The unique tooth structure of carnivorous theropods such as Tyrannosaurus rex allowed them to tear through the flesh and bones of other dinosaurs with ease, and likely led to their success according to new research. The research team found that the deeply serrated structure, and the special arrangement of tissue inside, strengthened the teeth and […]
Finding the function of over 150 mouse genes
The largest analysis of mouse genes to date has identified the function of 159 genes whose purpose was previously unknown. The researchers developed new statistical methods to analyse the 413 measurements and 320 genes from each mouse. The new data set is available to the scientific community as a reference resource, and provides a strategy […]
The winners and losers of climate change in Ontario lakes
It’s difficult to predict the effects of climate change on ecosystems. Researchers in Toronto have monitored lakes in Ontario to help predict the impact of predators when their range shifts. The research team found that resident species are more likely to survive if their ancestors had a change to evolve alongside the new predator and […]
Reminder for mushroom hunters
Distinguishing poisonous mushrooms from edible varieties can be tricky as they can look so similar that even experts are challenged. A case reported in this week’s CMAJ reminds that “patients should be counselled that poisonous and edible mushrooms can be very similar in appearance and that wild mushrooms of uncertain identity should not be eaten. […]
Community based HIV prevention programs save $5 in treatment costs for every $1 spent
Community based HIV prevention programs helped stop 16,672 HIV infections between 1987 and 2011, saving the health care system approximately $6.5 billion. Researchers found that every dollar invested into community based HIV prevention programs saved approximately five dollars in provincial healthcare costs. The researchers used Ontario HIV surveillance reports to estimate the number of HIV […]
New species of horned dinosaur provides insight into Triceratops family evolution
A new species of horned dinosaur discovered in southern Alberta provides new information about the evolution of the Triceratops family of dinosaurs, the Ceratopsidae. The new species, Wendiceratops pinhornensis, is identified by 184 bones from at least four individuals. The Wendiceratop is an early species of horned dinosaur, living alongside the Albertaceratops, approximately 79 million […]
Traffic-related air pollution during pregnancy is a likely cause of asthma
Children exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution before they are born are more likely to suffer from asthma as children according to a study of Toronto neighbourhoods. The study also found that children in close proximity to high-traffic areas are more likely to suffer from asthma. Researchers analyzed the health and residential records […]
CT scanning for cancer redundant in blood clot patients
Computerized tomography scans, or CT scans, do not improve cancer detection rates, or shorten the time to diagnosis, in patients with unexplained blood clots in the lungs or legs. Previous studies suggest that up to 10 per cent of patients suffering from venous thromboembolism, blood clots in the lungs or legs, will be diagnosed with […]
Unnecessary imaging common among breast cancer patients
Most women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer are given imaging tests to look for distant growths, despite official guidelines according to a new study. The research team found that over 79 per cent of women with stage I breast cancer, and over 92 per cent with stage II, received imaging tests despite having a less than two […]
Completing the puzzle of arthropod evolution
Newly discovered fossils from the Burgess Shale region are providing scientists with evidence of the evolutionary history of arthropods, a group including insects, spiders and crustaceans. The fossils have also allowed scientists to gather a complete picture of what Hallucigenia, an arthropod existing 508 millions years ago, looked like. The new fossils show that Hallucigenia had […]
Rejuvenating old bones
A molecule secreted from young blood cells can speed up fracture healing in elderly mice, reports a new Canadian study. Researchers showed that a specific molecule, either a chemical or a small protein,which is only secreted from young blood cells increased the regenerative capacity of bone cells. The study could help explain why fractures take […]
Refugees more likely to suffer from psychotic disorders
Refugees from East Africa and South Asia coming to Ontario have a significantly higher incidence of psychotic disorders than both other immigrants and the general population according to a new study. Researchers analyzed Ontario health records over a 10 year period and cross-referenced their findings with information from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The researchers believe […]
