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"Our study shows that epigenetic drift, which is characterized by gains and losses in DNA methylation in the genome over time, occurs more rapidly in mice than in monkeys and more rapidly in monkeys than in humans," explains Jean-Pierre Issa, MD, Director of the Fels Institute for Cancer Research at LKSOM, and senior investigator on the new study. The findings help to explain why mice live only about two to three years on average, rhesus monkeys about 25 years, and humans 70 or 80 years. Chemical modifications such as DNA methylation control mammalian genes, serving as bookmarks for when a gene should be used -- a phenomenon known as epigenetics. "Methylation patterns drift steadily throughout life, with methylation increasing in some areas of the genome, and decreasing in others," says Dr. Issa. Previous studies had shown that these changes occur with age, but whether they were also related to lifespan was unknown. Dr. Issa's team made their discovery a...

"Because HIV clinicians typically are not experts in pain management, they should work closely with others, such as pain specialists, psychiatrists and physical therapists to help alleviate their patients' pain," said Douglas Bruce, MD, MA, MS, lead author of the guidelines, chief of medicine at Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, and associate clinical professor of medicine at Yale University, New Haven, Conn. "These comprehensive guidelines provide the tools and resources HIV specialists need to treat these often-complex patients, many of whom struggle with depression, substance use disorders, and have other health conditions such as diabetes." The guidelines recommend all people with HIV be screened for chronic pain using a few simple questions: How much bodily pain have you had during the week? Do you have bodily pain that has lasted more than three months? Those that screen positive should undergo comprehensive evaluation, including a physical exa...

In a study, researchers compared the breast milk of mothers with babies born prematurely -- between 28 and 37 weeks gestation -- and at term -- after 38 weeks. They examined whether there were differences in the composition of the breast milks' microRNAs, snippets of RNA that affect gene expression and can be passed to the infant. "We found that there are differences in these microRNA profiles, and that the majority of the altered microRNAs influence metabolism ," said Molly Carney, medical student in the Penn State College of Medicine. "If those microRNAs are being transferred to the infant, that could potentially impact how the newborn processes energy and nutrients." The researchers said the results -- recently published in  Pediatric Research  -- could help better match babies with donated breast milk and give insight into how to develop better infant formula. Babies born prematurely are at risk for a host of problems, including failure to thrive an...

In columns A and B, crimson identifies places the place NO2 concentrations had been greater for nonwhites than whites; blue signifies that NO2 concentrations had been greater for whites than nonwhites; and white means they had been equal. In column C, crimson signifies that absolutely the distinction in NO2 focus between nonwhites and whites elevated over time; blue signifies that distinction decreased over time; and white signifies no change. Credit score: College of Washington A brand new nationwide examine finds that the U.S. made little progress from 2000 to 2010 in lowering relative disparities between folks of shade and whites in publicity to dangerous air air pollution emitted by automobiles, vehicles and different combustion sources. The groundbreaking examine led by College of Washington researchers estimated publicity to outside concentrations of a transportation-related pollutant -- nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) -- in each 2000 and 2010, based m...