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Knowing A Wee Bit More About How Cancer Works

New Scientist writes about recent research published in Clinical Cancer Research. By interfering with how a specific type of protein attaches to another protein, a team of scientists at UCSF and the University of Lund noted slower growth of tumors as well as fewer tumors overall in mice. Although this is a long ways away from an actual cure to be used in people, it seems as though this is an important piece of information about how cancer cells may grow and proliferate. (Note: The title of the New Scientist article was, I thought, a bit misleading).

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Does drinking water improve brain power?

Passing along this blog post about a new study suggesting an association between drinking water and an increase in performance in elementary school kids. Caroline Edmonds and Ben Jeffes of the University of East London examined whether drinking water improves performance in 6 to 7 year old children. The differences between the water and no water groups were significant, according to a paper that's been accepted for publication in the journal Appetite. They found that "even under conditions of mild dehydration, not as a result of exercise, intentional water deprivation or heat exposure" their test subjects' "cognitive performance can be improved by having a drink of water." I would offer caution about extrapolating this into an endorsement for drinking mega amounts of water. Please don't! But I think it makes sense to see this as reminder to be mindful of your body and to be aware when you are mildly dehydrated.