http://www.blogher.com/node/17807 Comments for "Health and Science News of the week (4/6/07)" en http://www.blogher.com/node/17807 <p><b>Reproductive Health</b></p> <p>Christine at ourbodiesourblog.org blogged this week about the <a href="http://ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2007/04/motherland_afghanistan_captures_womens_health.php">deplorable conditions in hospitals in Afghanistan</a> - no infection control, women using the same plastic sheets one after another to have their babies on, etc.</p> <p><a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn11543&amp;feedId=online-news_rss20">Eritrea has banned female circumcision</a> (also known as female genital mutilation), but will this really stop the barbaric practice? I doubt it, but its a good first step. Worldwide, around 3 millions young girls are mutilated each year. </p> <p>Scary stuff - AtYourCervix has a post about what its like to give birth in the US: <a href="http://atyourcervix.blogspot.com/2007/04/born-in-usa-part-ii.html">Born in the USA: Part II</a>.</p> <p><b>Health Care Quality and Related Issues</b></p> <p>Kevin, M.D. has an interesting post about <a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/04/defensive-medicine.html">Defensive medicine</a>. He defines Defensive medicine as "Defensive medicine is the deviation from sound medical practice to avoid the threat of malpractice litigation". Important stuff for everyone to read!</p> <p><b>Nutrition</b></p> <p>According to the CDC, most <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN0520651520070405?feedType=RSS">Americans are still not eating right or exercising regularly</a>. Only about 1 person in 7 really does what they should.</p> <p>Cynthia Sass writes about moderation in diets in "<a href="http://www.healthline.com/blogs/diet_nutrition/2007/04/delicious-shades-of-gray.html">Delicious Shades of Gray</a>". She discusses what moderation is and is not and asks "What does moderation mean to you? How do you create balance in your life and in your diet?". </p> <p><b>Other News</b></p> <p>The protozoan parasite <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> completes its life cycle by leaving the rodent it has previously infected and infecting a cat when a cat eats the rodent. <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn11516&amp;feedId=online-news_rss20">The parasite does this by affecting the amygdala</a> of the rodent's brain and making it less afraid of cats. Thus, not being afraid the rodent doesn't run away and ends up becoming dinner for the cat. </p> <p>Doctor Anonymous wrote this week about "<a href="http://doctoranonymous.blogspot.com/2007/04/is-depression-really-depression.html">Normal sadness response verses real depression</a>".</p> <p>A mutation in a single gene - insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) - has been found to be responsible for the <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9348104">size differences in dogs</a>. </p> <p>More evidence this week that calorie restriction with optimal nutrition can <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-04/sfeb-int032907.php">increase health and longevity</a>.</p> <p>Have a nice weekend!</p> <p>Trisha<br /> <a href="http://www.ideasforwomen.com/news/">Women's Health Research News</a></p> http://www.blogher.com/node/17807#comments Hot links: What do you recommend? Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:38:23 -0500 Trisha 17807 at http://www.blogher.com