Latest McMaster University Stories

The Canadian blood supply relies heavily on a small number of donors"”with young adults donating at higher rates"”which may prove problematic as the population ages, according to a new study from McMaster University.The research, published in open access format in the International Journal of Health Geographics, examined what specific factors had an impact on blood donation in this country."Like other countries, Canada's population is aging and the implications of this need to be...

Skeletal muscle plays a critical role in regulating blood sugar levels in the body. But few studies have comprehensively examined how obesity caused by a high-fat diet affects the health of muscle in adolescents who are pre-diabetic.In a paper published Oct. 6 in the scientific journal PLoS One, a team of McMaster University researchers report that the health of young adult muscle declines during the pre-diabetic state, which is when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but lower than...

Canadian researchers say they've identified a chemical compound that targets drug-resistant bacteria in a different way from existing antibiotics. McMaster University scientists say their discovery is an ideal starting point to develop new interventions for resistant infections. Despite the need for new treatment options, the scientists note there have been only two new classes of antibiotics developed during the last 40 years. Professor Eric Brown and colleagues from the Michael DeGroote...

A promising discovery by McMaster University researchers has revealed an ideal starting point to develop new interventions for resistant infectionsAntibiotic resistance has been a significant problem for hospitals and health-care facilities for more than a decade. But despite the need for new treatment options, there have been only two new classes of antibiotics developed in the last 40 years.Now a promising discovery by McMaster University researchers has revealed an ideal starting point to...

We can challenge our brains or our bodies, but not both, says studyHave you ever sat down to work on a crossword puzzle only to find that afterwards you haven't the energy to exercise? Or have you come home from a rough day at the office with no energy to go for a run?A new study, published today in Psychology and Health, reveals that if you use your willpower to do one task, it depletes you of the willpower to do an entirely different task."Cognitive tasks, as well as emotional tasks...

A common household nuisance, the fruit fly, is capable of intricate social learning much like that used by humans, according to new research from McMaster University.The study, published online today in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, found that inexperienced female fruit flies, known as Drosophila melanogaster, can learn from their more experienced counterparts, mated fruit flies.As part of an ongoing examination of the evolutionary roots of social learning in insects,...

Every dead animal gives off a distinct odor, referred to as the "stench of death", according to new research by Canadian scientists. Animal corpses ranging from insects to crustaceans all exude the same scent, which is produced by a special blend of fatty acids. The scientists explained that the smell alerts other animals to avoid those that have been overcome by disease or predators, a "˜death recognition system' that probably evolved over 400 million years ago.The team of researchers who...

Most research in atrial fibrillation (AF) has focused on reducing stroke and other embolic events. Yet heart failure occurs more frequently in AF patients, but has not been the focus of intervention research.In a major international trial, researchers from McMaster University in Canada, found that the hypertension drug irbesartan reduced the risk of heart failure complications and the combination of stroke, other embolic events and transient ischemic events, also known as ministrokes, in...

Accumulating safety data from the large, international ORIGIN trial have been reviewed by its independent data monitoring committee, who have concluded that there is no cause for concern.This six-year study, which is lead by McMaster University professors Dr. Hertzel Gerstein and Dr. Salim Yusuf of the Population Health Research Institute, is determining whether insulin glargine and/or omega 3 fatty acids can reduce cardiovascular events in 12,578 people with elevated blood sugar levels from...

 If you are a woman who dines with a man, chances are you choose food with fewer calories than if you dine with a woman. That is one of the findings in a study conducted by researchers at McMaster University.The results appear in the online version of the international journal Appetite.Meredith Young, PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, found that what a person chooses to eat at lunch or dinner is influenced by who they eat with and the gender...