By studying heat-loving microbes, two research teams have gained new insight into how seemingly small differences in a single protein involved in DNA transcription and repair can lead to strikingly different genetic disorders in humans.

The two studies in the May 30th issue of Cell, a Cell Press publication, uncover the crystal structure and biochemical activity of an enzyme known as XPD helicase taken from Sulfolobus archaea, microbes distinct from bacteria that share many fundamental genes with humans.

For reasons that had remained rather mysterious until now, point mutations in human XPD—sometimes at neighboring sites—can spell the difference between cancer-prone xeroderma pigmentosa, the aging disorder known as Cockayne syndrome and another aging disorder called trichothiodystrophy.

The traditional Mediterranean diet provides substantial protection against type 2 diabetes, according to a study published on bmj.com today.

The Mediterreanean diet is rich in olive oil, grains, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and fish, but low in meat, dairy products and alcohol.

Current evidence suggests that such a diet has a protective role in cardiovascular disease, but little is known about its role on the risk of developing diabetes in healthy populations.

The SUN prospective cohort study involved over 13 000 graduates from the University of Navarra in Spain with no history of diabetes, who were recruited between December 1999 and November 2007, and whose dietary habits and health were subsequently tracked.

LONDON, May 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- Odds of youth smoking uptake greatly reduced if parents quit

If both parents of a child never smoked, research shows that a child's odds of daily smoking are reduced by more than 70 percent(1) compared to when both parents continue to smoke. And if both parents were smokers but quit, those same odds are reduced by nearly 40 percent.(1) Additional research shows that mothers who quit are less likely to have children who start smoking.(2)

LONDON, May 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- Year-Long Campaign Titled 'Optimum Health and Nutrition' to Focus on the Link Between Nutrition and Digestive Health

- Poor Digestive Health Affects Millions Worldwide and Seriously Impacts Quality of Life, yet few Seek Medical Advice

- WGO and Danone Committed to Working Together Over Next Three Years to Help Raise Awareness and Improve Digestive Health

LONDON, May 29 /PRNewswire/ --

More northern women feel bloating and gurgling than their southern counterparts with up to 70% of them likely to experience it at any one time, according to a TNS survey commissioned by Danone(1).

Women from the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside fared the worst (71%), with Greater London and the South West experiencing the least amount of bloated feelings. And 61% of British women experience feeling bloated, with 85% believing they have a healthy digestive system.

Two thirds of women haven't consulted a doctor or nurse about these feelings - younger women especially, aged 16 - 34, generally do not do anything about these feelings of digestive discomfort.

BRUSSELS, Belgium and AMMAN, Jordan, May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 250 million people worldwide live with diabetes, many in the Middle East. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) BRIDGES translational research grant program is implementing and evaluating community programs to reverse the diabetes epidemic by supporting a diabetes awareness and prevention project in Jordan.

RESTON, Virginia, May 28 /PRNewswire/ --

- Acquisition Accelerates Expansion of comScore's Mobile Solutions, Cross Media Measurement and Global Footprint

comScore, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today announced the acquisition of M:Metrics, Inc., the recognized leader in mobile measurement. The acquisition makes comScore the immediate leader in measuring the emerging and strategically important mobile Internet market and adds to comScore's leading position in measuring PC-based Internet usage.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080115/COMSCORELOGO)

AMSTERDAM, May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (Euronext: AMT), a leader in the field of human gene therapy, announced today a series of presentations during the 11th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene Therapy in Boston, including a presentation on the pivotal clinical trial with its lead product AMT-011 on May 29.

About Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics

COPENHAGEN, May 28 /PRNewswire/ --

- Summary: Genmab Reports Results for the First Three Months of 2008.

Genmab A/S (OMX: GEN) announced today results for the three month period ended March 31, 2008. During this period, Genmab reported the following results:

Genmab's revenues were DKK 167 million (approx. USD 36 million) for the first quarter of 2008. In the same period of 2007, Genmab recognized revenues of DKK 80 million (approx. USD 17 million).

An operating loss of DKK 197 million (approx. USD 42 million). This compares to an operating loss of DKK 106 million (approx. USD 22 million) reported for the corresponding period of 2007.