Overexpressing a protein involved in the uptake of fat in muscle of mice can improve their tolerance to cold temperatures, researchers find in a new study that showcases the over-looked role muscle may play in the cold response.

When temperatures drop, mammals respond by generating heat (thermogenesis), through mechanisms like shivering and breaking down ‘brown fat’ (high energy fat cells that are especially prominent in newborns and hibernating animals).

Considering that muscle accounts for over one-third of body mass and muscle activity regulates fat metabolism, Dalan Jensen and colleagues found that increasing the muscle’s ability to use fat for energy had a profound impact on its contribution to thermogenesis.

A study of male attitudes to health and how they use health services challenges the usual stereotype that men are uninterested in their health. The results will surprise those people who envisage the Australian pub-going male as brusque and disinterested in all things medical.

Rather than procrastinating, men may delay going to the doctor so that they can watch a health problem to see if it will fix itself. Indeed, a picture emerges of men as personal health detectives, monitoring rather than ignoring symptoms, and visiting the doctor only if a problem fails to resolve itself.

Regeneration, the replacement of damaged or lost body parts, is a shared trait among some animal species – as any youngster who has cut an earthworm in half can attest to. But the repair of damaged tissue and organs in higher animals is also one of the primary goals of current stem cell research.

The common aquarium pet, zebrafish, is an excellent genetic model system, capable of regenerating its spinal cord, retina, heart and fins. A group of researchers writing in Genes & Development focused on fin regeneration, as it entails the coordination of a large number of different cells types to recreate the functional organ.

Their study reveals that microRNA depletion is a necessary step in tissue regeneration – a discovery with interesting implications for their use in regenerative medicine.

Bile acid derivatives can turn on the vitamin D receptor (VDR) without causing excess calcium buildup, researchers report, a finding that could lead to vitamin D therapies for conditions beyond just bone and skin disorders.

While calcium balance may be the most well-known role of vitamin D, this molecule –through VDR binding– regulates many functions including immunity and cell growth and thus has diverse therapeutic potential. However, while vitamin D-based drugs are effective against some cancers and microbial infections, the risk of excess blood calcium has limited their clinical use.

ORLANDO, Florida, March 14 /PRNewswire/ --

Orlando, Fla., is known for theme parks and sun, but beginning Monday, surgeons from countries such as South Korea, Chile, Turkey, and Italy will come to Orlando for a different reason. They will be attending the World Robotic Urology Symposium to learn the latest about robotic surgery.

This one-of-a-kind conference is hosted by the Global Robotics Institute (GRI) at Florida Hospital, and led by the world's leaders in robotic surgery, including Dr. Vip Patel. Patel leads one of the world's most experienced robotic teams and recently accepted the appointment of medical director of the GRI.

ST. DAVID'S, Bermuda, March 14 /PRNewswire/ --

It is with a profound sense of loss that Warner Chilcott Limited (Nasdaq: WCRX) reports today that Mr. James G. Andress, a director of the Company, died on Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Roger Boissonneault, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of Warner Chilcott Limited, issued the following statement:

"We report the loss of Jim Andress with great sadness. Jim was instrumental in the development of this Company. His thoughtful guidance and counsel will be sorely missed. Our deepest sympathies go out to Jim's family."

Recently, mathematician Daniel J. Madden and retired physicist Lee W. Jacobi found solutions to a puzzle that has been around for centuries - an infinite number of solutions for a puzzle known as 'Euler’s Equation of degree four.'

The equation is part of a branch of mathematics called number theory. Number theory deals with the properties of numbers and the way they relate to each other. It is filled with problems that can be likened to numerical puzzles.

“It’s like a puzzle: can you find four fourth powers that add up to another fourth power" Trying to answer that question is difficult because it is highly unlikely that someone would sit down and accidentally stumble upon something like that,” said Madden, an associate professor of mathematics at The University of Arizona in Tucson.

LONDON, March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- creativebrief, the first and only global online service connecting up the marketing and creative industries is delighted to announce the launch of its third edition website.

After 5 years of experience developing the world's only interactive database for the marketing services industry, creativebrief took the learning, and comments from clients and agencies alike and spent 9 months developing the new v3 site.

Designed to take advantage of the very latest in navigation, delivery and functionality the site is developed in open source and is, for the first time, a flexible platform able to adapt quickly to clients' changing needs.

WICHITA, Kansas, March 14 /PRNewswire/ --

Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. (NYSE: SPR) announced Rolls-Royce as the customer for one of its previously awarded business jet contracts. Spirit has been selected to design and build the nacelle, thrust reverser and engine build up components for the Rolls-Royce BR725 engine; a contract worth in excess of US$600 million. Spirit will also support the aforementioned products in the Rolls-Royce Corporate Care Program throughout the life of the airplane. The BR725 is the selected engine for Gulfstream's recently-announced G650 business jet.

LONDON, March 14 /PRNewswire/ --

- Launches DTH Services Across Europe, North Africa & Middle East

- ARY & B4U Join Soft Launch

Pyramid Saimira Entertainment Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pyramid Saimira Theatre Ltd (NSE: PSTL; BSE: 532791), has entered into a strategic partnership with UK-based Spize TV, a Direct-to-home platform. Through the partnership, Pyramid Saimira Entertainment Ltd will facilitate content agglomeration and new channels services, on Spize TV. An associate company of the Pyramid Saimira Group had earlier picked up an equity stake in Spize TV.