Illinois News Bureau

blog posts

• High cost of assistive technologies keeping some people from work, study says

  Mar 15, 2004 9:00 am1149 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Access to assistive technologies (AT) may be a critical factor in the employment success of persons with spinal cord injury or disease (SCID), according to researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

• CDC researcher to speak on violence as a public health issue

  Apr 15, 2004 9:00 am22 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A leading researcher on violence, particularly as a public health issue, will speak Tuesday night (April 20) at the University of Illinois at

• Study finds no link between marijuana use and oral cancer

  Jun 8, 2004 9:00 am43 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Oral cancer probably hasn't been high on the average pot smoker's list of concerns - despite the fact that marijuana smoke contains known carcinogens. It may be even less of a concern now in light of new research that found no link between marijuana use and risk of developing oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

• Scientists build on case connecting inflammatory disease and depression

  Jul 27, 2004 9:00 am396 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Feeling sick can be "all in the head" for people with inflammatory disorders or for those receiving immunotherapy, say Robert Dantzer and Keith Kelley, professors in the department of animal sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

• Anti-cancer compound found to block late-stage breast-cancer cell growth

  Aug 31, 2004 9:00 am45 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A well known anti-cancer agent in certain vegetables has just had its reputation enhanced. The compound, in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, has been found to be effective in disrupting late stages of cell growth in breast cancer.

• Physically fit children appear to do better in classroom, researchers say

  Oct 18, 2004 9:00 am3679 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The health benefits of exercise - across the lifespan - have been well documented. More recently, scientists have begun to demonstrate that exercise also may improve cognitive functioning in older adults.

• Molecular technique shows promise in destroying drug resistance in bacteria

  Nov 12, 2004 9:00 am50 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A new approach to outwit resistance to antibiotics has been discovered by a team of researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

• Arts program provides services, guidance to HIV/AIDS patients

  Jul 26, 2005 9:00 am132 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - As an art educator and researcher, Julia Kellman has long been aware - from her academic's box-seat vantage point - that art can impact people's lives in profound ways. But for the past four years, she's witnessed the phenomenal power of art-making from the perspective of a director who is on stage, engaging in an ongoing, intimate dialogue with the actors.

• Study: 'Run-down' feeling with illness may last longer as people age

  Oct 11, 2005 9:00 am40 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Aging may intensify and prolong feeling run down when common infections like the flu occur, according to researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

• Exercise adds years to life and improves quality, researchers say

  Nov 10, 2005 9:00 am64 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Exercise is a lot like spinach ... everybody knows it's good for you; yet many people still avoid it, forgoing its potential health benefits.

• New contrast agents may be on horizon for better medical imaging

  Jun 7, 2006 9:00 am29 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Research by scientists based at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign may lead to the development of a new breed of "multimodal" contrast agents that could work within a host of medical imaging platforms - from ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) to magnetic resonance imaging and molecular imaging.

• Research reinforces findings that Chinese exercises benefit older adults

  Jun 28, 2006 9:00 am185 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - New work by researchers at the University of Illinois lends strength to previous research documenting the health benefits of Qigong and Taiji among older adults who practice these ancient Chinese martial-arts forms.

• UI scientist develops enzyme inhibitor that may slow cancer

  Jul 20, 2006 9:00 am19 views

  UI scientist Tim Garrow, in collaboration with Jiri Jiracek of the Czech Academy of Sciences, has applied for a provisional patent on a class of chemicals that has future therapeutic uses in medicine, specifically cancer treatment.

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  How does parents' methamphetamine use affect their children?

  Aug 7, 2006 9:00 am9756 views

  A Minute With™... Wendy Haight, a professor of social work

• How mothers respond to baby’s distress matters

  Aug 17, 2006 9:00 am549 views

  A mother’s attentiveness to her baby’s distress, especially in the first year, is more important to his secure attachment than positive feedback when he’s happy and content, concludes a UI study published in the June issue of the Journal of Family Psychology.

• Foodborne pathogens difficult to remove from produce

  Oct 5, 2006 9:00 am36 views

  Will you ever feel comfortable eating fresh spinach again? All raw agricultural products carry a minimal risk of contamination, said a UI scientist whose research focuses on keeping foodborne pathogens, including the strain of E. coli found recently on spinach, out of the food supply.

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  KFC removes trans fats – will other fast food chains follow?

  Nov 15, 2006 9:00 am84 views

  A Minute With™... Manabu "Mani" Nakamura, a professor of biochemical and molecular nutrition

• Induced abortion doesn't increase risk of developing cancer, study shows

  Dec 1, 2006 9:00 am320 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A new study that tracked the health of thousands of female textile workers in China indicates that women who have had an abortion do not have an increased risk of developing cancer.

• Chickens may help aid in early detection of ovarian cancer

  Feb 1, 2007 9:00 am337 views

  Understanding and treatment of human ovarian cancer, known as the silent killer, may be a step closer thanks to some chickens at the UI. Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in women and unlike other cancers, its rate of mortality has not been reduced.

• Tomato-broccoli together shown to be effective against prostate cancer

  Feb 1, 2007 9:00 am1135 views

  A new UI study shows that tomatoes and broccoli – two vegetables known for their cancer-fighting qualities – are better at shrinking prostate tumors when both are part of the daily diet than when they’re eaten alone.

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  Is the Governor's 'Illinois Covered' proposal universal health insurance?

  Apr 30, 2007 9:00 am51 views

  A Minute With™... Robert F. Rich, the director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs

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  Despite a recent salmonella outbreak, can pet turtles be made safe?

  Jun 29, 2007 9:00 am164 views

  A Minute With™... wildlife veterinarian Mark A. Mitchell

• UI scientist does nutritional detective work in Botswana

  Nov 15, 2007 9:00 am123 views

  Many Americans have a soft spot for Botswana. Some developed that fondness for the African country while reading the best-selling “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency” series. But few have had a chance to do any sleuthing of their own there.

• Expert compares high cost of health care to goods consumers can relate to

  Nov 16, 2007 9:00 am29 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - If Americans spent the same amount of money on health care as counterparts in Canada and a number of other countries, the difference between what they spend now and what they would save annually would be enough to pay for two plasma TVs or three Big Macs a day.

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  Protect yourself against staph infections

  Nov 20, 2007 9:00 am418 views

  A Minute With™... microbiologist Brenda Wilson

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  Will you smoke less when the state's smoking ban becomes law?

  Dec 12, 2007 9:00 am45 views

  A Minute With™... Tom O'Rourke, an emeritus professor of community health

• Combat helmet that could relay injury data is goal of U. of I. project

  Mar 6, 2008 9:00 am96 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -University of Illinois researchers are pooling their knowledge of health sciences and engineering on a project that ultimately could benefit combat soldiers who've received serious - but often immediately undetectable - blast-related brain injuries.

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  The international security risks posed by emerging infectious diseases

  Jun 5, 2008 9:00 am71 views

  A Minute With™... W.W. Laegreid, a professor of pathobiology and an ACDIS faculty member

• Non-parental care of infants tied to unfavorable feeding practices

  Jul 11, 2008 9:00 am43 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - With more new mothers in the workplace than ever before, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of child-care facilities in the United States.

• Chronic exposure to estradiol impairs some cognitive functions

  Aug 1, 2008 9:00 am63 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - University of Illinois researchers report this week that chronic exposure to estradiol, the main estrogen in the body, diminishes some cognitive functions. Rats exposed to a steady dose of estradiol were impaired on tasks involving working memory and response inhibition, the researchers found.

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  How do investigators from the Centers for Disease Control track down – and confirm – the source of a Salmonella outbreak?

  Aug 18, 2008 9:00 am17 views

  A Minute With™... epidemiologist Karin Rosenblatt

• Parks and recreation play key role in promoting healthy living, study finds

  Aug 28, 2008 9:00 am292 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A new study co-written by a University of Illinois professor has confirmed what parks and recreation professionals have long suspected: Nationwide, their agencies are serving as effective partners with community health-care providers in promoting healthy, active lifestyles among residents.

• Action as a goal may be too broad, new research suggests

  Sep 4, 2008 9:00 am24 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A series of experiments conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois suggest that society's emphasis on action over inaction may lead to unforeseen consequences.

• Neutral HIV presentations more likely to be considered inviting, study finds

  Sep 4, 2008 9:00 am17 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A recent study by University of Illinois professor of psychology Dolores Albarracín and her colleagues at the University of Florida and the Alachua County Health Department in Florida found a method to increase enrollment among high-risk individuals in HIV prevention programs.

• UI study shows how to lose weight without losing bone

  Sep 18, 2008 9:00 am142 views

  A higher-protein diet that emphasizes lean meats and low-fat dairy foods as sources of protein and calcium can mean weight loss without bone loss - and the evidence is in bone scans taken throughout a new UI study.

• The dietary supplement genistein can undermine breast cancer treatment

  Sep 23, 2008 9:00 am485 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Women taking aromatase inhibitors to treat breast cancer or prevent its recurrence should think twice before also taking a soy-based dietary supplement, researchers report.

• Walking forum report shows need to expand physical activity in schools

  Sep 30, 2008 9:00 am23 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - With childhood obesity expanding to epidemic proportions in the United States, educators, researchers and health practitioners are actively seeking to identify effective means of addressing this public-health crisis.

• Vitamin E shows possible promise in easing chronic inflammation

  Dec 4, 2008 9:00 am324 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - With up to half of a person's body mass consisting of skeletal muscle, chronic inflammation of those muscles - which include those found in the limbs - can result in significant physical impairment.

• Mix of taiji, cognitive therapy and support groups benefits those with dementia

  Dec 5, 2008 9:00 am253 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Those diagnosed with early stage dementia can slow their physical, mental and psychological decline by taking part in therapeutic programs that combine counseling, support groups, Taiji and qigong, researchers report. Some of the benefits of this approach are comparable to those achieved with anti-dementia medications.

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  Study looks at how mental health care affects outcomes for foster children

  Jan 13, 2009 9:00 am146 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Of the approximately half-million children and adolescents in foster care in the U.S., experts estimate that 42 to 60 percent of them have emotional and behavioral problems. Despite the prevalence of mental health problems among foster children, little is known about how pre-existing mental health conditions affect their outcomes in foster care.

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  Does the recent peanut scare indicate a need for stricter guidelines?

  Feb 18, 2009 9:00 am61 views

  A Minute With™... Robin Orr, the director of programming for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program

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  Physical activity may strengthen children's ability to pay attention

  Mar 31, 2009 9:00 am7456 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - As school districts across the nation revamped curricula to meet requirements of the federal "No Child Left Behind" Act, opportunities for children to be physically active during the school day diminished significantly.

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  Contracts adding legal twist to family health care

  May 27, 2009 9:00 am384 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Financial contracts to care for sick or aging relatives - nearly unthinkable just a decade ago - are drawing new interest as everyday Americans wrestle with the time and expense of providing long-term health care, a University of Illinois legal expert says.

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  Cancers set to 'explode' in Latino/a populations, expert says

  Jul 28, 2009 9:00 am44 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Latino/a population in the United States is expected to triple by 2050, according to projections from the U.S. Census Bureau. And along with that growth, says University of Illinois professor Lydia Buki, will come a rise in the number of individuals from that population who are diagnosed with cancer.

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  If President Obama's health-care reform plan is flawed, what's the fix?

  Aug 3, 2009 9:00 am15 views

  A Minute With™... Tom O'Rourke, a professor emeritus of community health

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  New cancer drug delivery system is effective and reversible

  Aug 6, 2009 9:00 am176 views

  CHAMPAIGN, lll. - For cancer drug developers, finding an agent that kills tumor cells is only part of the equation. The drug must also spare healthy cells. And - ideally - its effects will be reversible, to cut short any potentially dangerous side effects.

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  Experts expect a difficult flu season and the return of H1N1. What can students and the campus do to prepare?

  Aug 11, 2009 9:00 am29 views

  A Minute With™... Robert D. Palinkas, M.D.,  the director of the McKinley Health Center

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  Children can be sold on fun of physical activity, U. of I. researcher says

  Sep 30, 2009 9:00 am32 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Childhood obesity is on the rise, and commercial marketing sells kids on things that encourage it: soft drinks, fatty foods, video games, the Internet, TV.

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  U. of I. professors featured in exhibit about body-mind-spirit connection

  Oct 19, 2009 9:00 am201 views

  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Taiji master Yang Yang, an adjunct professor of kinesiology at the University of Illinois, is featured in a new, permanent exhibit that opened Oct. 8 at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

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  Amphetamine use in adolescence may impair adult working memory

  Oct 19, 2009 9:00 am233 views

  CHAMPAIGN, lll. - Rats exposed to high doses of amphetamines at an age that corresponds to the later years of human adolescence display significant memory deficits as adults - long after the exposure ends, researchers report.