New data from The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University demonstrate that many women think condoms undermine sexual pleasure, but those who use both hormonal contraception and condoms report higher overall sexual satisfaction.

The study authors suggest that this inconsistency reflects how women think about their contraceptive method when asked questions about two different aspects of sexuality -- sexual enjoyment and overall sexual satisfaction.

When considering overall sexual satisfaction, which goes beyond the immediate sexual moment and includes factors such as sexual self-esteem and relationship satisfaction, women who used both condoms and hormonal methods reported the highest levels of sexual satisfaction.

Having kids believe there's a jolly man in a red suit who visits on Christmas Eve doesn't turn out to be very detrimental, according to a new analysis by Serge Larivée, although some parents can feel they're outright lying to their children and a small percentage of kids feel that way toward their parents. 

"When they learn the truth, children accept the rules of the game and even go along with their parents in having younger children believe in Santa," says Larivée, a psycho-education professor at the Université de Montréal. "It becomes a rite of passage in that they know they are no longer babies."

LONDON, December 8 /PRNewswire/ --

- Leading Technology, Distribution and Solution Providers Join Brightcove Alliance

Brightcove Inc. today announced the formation of the Brightcove Alliance, a global ecosystem of leading technology and distribution partners who have integrated with the Brightcove online video platform, as well as solution providers building customer websites and video applications using Brightcove. Through the Brightcove Alliance, organizations worldwide have access to a broad range of expert partners, pre-integrated technologies and services to support online video initiatives of any size and scope in every market.

LONDON, December 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Unite, UK's largest union, with the largest number of occupational groups in higher education, has urged universities to end the two-tier system of pay and benefits between academic and support staff. The union is also calling on UK universities to open their books fully in the light of the recent higher education finance and pay review completed by Baroness Fritchie, the conclusions of which are out today (Monday).

TOKYO, MUNICH, Germany and EDISON, New Jersey, December 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- ENGAGE-AF TIMI 48 Trial to Study 16,500 Patients in More Than 1,400 Centers Globally

DAIICHI SANKYO Company, Limited (TSE: 4568), announced today that it has initiated its pivotal Phase III trials for DU-176b, an investigational oral Factor Xa inhibitor, in patients with atrial fibrillation. DU-176b is being developed solely by DAIICHI SANKYO.

The Phase III global study, Effective Anticoagulation with Factor Xa Next Generation in Atrial Fibrillation (ENGAGE-AF TIMI 48), will compare DU-176b with warfarin in preventing stroke and systemic embolic events (SEE) in patients with atrial fibrillation. The primary safety assessment will be the incidence of bleeding.

SAN FRANCISCO, December 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- Once-Daily Dosing of DU-176b Shows Similar Bleeding Rates to Warfarin

Patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation receiving either 60 mg or 30 mg once per day of DU-176b, an investigational oral factor Xa inhibitor, experienced comparable safety and tolerability compared to those taking warfarin, according to new Phase II data presented today at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in San Francisco. These findings are the first results from a clinical study evaluating an oral Factor Xa inhibitor in atrial fibrillation patients. DU-176b is being developed solely by DAIICHI SANKYO Company, Limited (TSE: 4568), and Phase III trials have begun.

Every living thing is composed of cells and, via receptor proteins on their outer surface, cells communicate with each other and with the outside world. Receptors are found on skin cells (pain and pressure receptors, for example) as well as on the cells of other tissues and organs.

A new genome-wide study examines genetic variants associated with nine metabolic traits and is the first to draw out novel variants from a population unselected for current disease. The traits are indicators for common disease such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, blood pressure, inflammation and lipid levels.

Cohorts are followed throughout their lives, gathering lifelong information about their health: these data will help researchers to dissect the complex causes of common disease, whether genetic or environmental. The current study might indicate genetic variants that influence early development of disease, informing public health measures. 

A new study presages a real aim of genetics: to look at whole populations to in order determine the significance of individual genetic variants for individual health. A research team says they found six novel genetic variants that are associated with lipid levels, a common indicator of heart or artery disease.

The power of 'genetic microscopes' has increased because the methods are in place to study many thousands of DNA samples. This study, involving over 20,000 samples and researchers from a dozen European countries, is the first to find such lipid–gene links by looking at the general population, rather than patients.

A future episode of CSI or your favorite crime drama may have an interesting new way to establish time of death, thanks to the work of a team of researchers from the University of Santiago de Compostela.   Based on the analysis of several substances from the vitreous humour of the eye of cadavers, they write in the journal Statistics in Medicine, they have developed a piece of software that makes it possible to establish precisely the post mortem interval (PMI), information that will make the work of the police and the courts of justice easier.