EurekAlert! - National Institutes of Health

Public Release: 13-Jun-2012

Nature
Census of microbes in healthy humans reported
Trillions of microbes inhabit the human body, occupying virtually every nook and cranny. And most of the time, this relationship is a friendly one, with microbes helping to digest food, strengthen the immune system and ward off dangerous pathogens. Now, some 200 US scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and elsewhere report findings from the most comprehensive census of the microbial make-up of healthy humans.

National Institutes of Health

Public Release: 13-Jun-2012

Nature
Forsyth Team collaborates with Human Microbiome Project
Forsyth scientists have made a significant contribution to the Human Microbiome Project, an initiative which has defined the normal bacterial makeup of the human body for the first time in history. As leading experts in oral and craniofacial microbiology, the Forsyth team provided three of the four body site experts for the mouth and oralpharyngeal surfaces.

NIH/National Cancer Institute, NIH/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Public Release: 13-Jun-2012

SLEEP 2012

Sleep
New research showing how real-life exposure to violence disrupts a child's sleep habits
Violence in a child's world impacts sleep, new research shows. The result is measurable, affected by the severity of the violence and can last over time. The more severe the violence, the more sleep is impacted. Characteristics of the violent act also touch different aspects of the child's sleep. Children who are victimized during a violent event tend to sleep less and more poorly; children who witness homicide have more inconsistent sleep as time passes.

National Institutes of Health

Public Release: 13-Jun-2012

SLEEP 2012

Sleep
Studies show sleep times influenced by race, ethnicity and country of origin
Two new studies report sleep disparities among Americans based on racial and ethnic background. Study One looked at 400,000 national survey responses and found Americans born in the US are more likely to report sleeping longer than African-born or Indian-born citizens. Another study analyzed 439 random sleep measurements and found that white participants slept significantly longer than the other groups, with blacks reporting the worst sleep quality and Asians the highest reports of daytime sleepiness.

National Institutes of Health

Public Release: 13-Jun-2012

SLEEP 2012

Sleep
Obesity, depression found to be root causes of daytime sleepiness
Three new studies conclude that obesity and depression are the main culprits making Americans excessively sleepy while awake. Researchers examined a random population sample of 1,741 adults and determined that obesity and emotional stress are the main causes of an "epidemic" of sleepiness and fatigue plaguing the country. Insufficient sleep and obstructive sleep apnea also play a role; both have been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, depression, diabetes, obesity and accidents.

National Institutes of Health