Posted by admin on Dec 6, 2009 in
Uncategorized NEW YORK – Some children get severely obese because they lack particular chunks of DNA, which kicks their hunger into overdrive, researchers report.
The British researchers checked the DNA of 300 children who’d become very fat, on the order of 220 pounds by age 10. They looked for deletions or extra copies of DNA segments.
They found evidence that several rare deletions may promote obesity, including one kind they studied further and found in less than 1 percent of about 1,200 severely obese children.
That deletion, on chromosome 16, apparently causes trouble because it removes a gene that the brain needs to respond to the appetite-controlling hormone leptin, said Dr. Sadaf Farooqi of Cambridge University.
In her study, children with a chromosome 16 DNA deletion “have a very strong drive to eat,” said Farooqi, who co-led the research. “They’re very, very hungry, they always want to eat.”
The work, reported online Sunday by the journal Nature, has already produced a real-world payoff. Farooqi said four children with the chromosome 16 deletion had drawn the attention of British child welfare authorities, who blamed the parents for overfeeding them.
“We were able to intervene” and get the parents of two children off the hook, and the other two cases are under discussion, she said.
That’s happened before when the scientists uncovered genetic causes for severe childhood obesity, she said.
“It’s a slightly unusual outcome of our research, but one we think is very important,” she said.
While scientists had previously discovered particular genes that promote obesity when damaged, the new work looked at larger chunks of DNA that can span several genes. The chromosome 16 deletion includes nine genes.
Eric Ravussin, an obesity expert at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La., who wasn’t involved in the study, said the work provides “a gold mine of information.” That’s because it identifies specific chromosome areas that scientists can explore to discover obesity-related genes, he said.
Posted by admin on Dec 6, 2009 in
Uncategorized ST. LOUIS – A consumer group contends one of the holiday season’s must-have toys is unsafe.
But the maker of the robotic Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters defended its product Saturday against a study by San Francisco-based GoodGuide that said higher-than-allowed levels of the chemical antimony were found in the toy.
Good Guide named Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters one of the top-selling toys with low ratings after finding antimony, which can cause health problems, on the hair and nose of one of the toy hamsters, called Mr. Squiggles.
The group assigned the toy, aimed at 3- to 10-year-olds, a rating of 5.2 on a 10-point scale.
But the toy’s maker, St. Louis-based Cepia LLC, insisted in a statement that its product is safe and has passed rigorous testing. The company said it was contacting GoodGuide to share its testing data and determine how the report was founded.
“I have been in the toy industry for more than 35 years, and being a father of children myself, I would never allow any substandard or unsafe product to hit the shelves,” Russ Hornsby, Cepia’s CEO, said in the statement.
Zhu Zhu Pets, which retail for about $10, have become this season’s toy craze, following in the footsteps of Tickle Me Elmo and Cabbage Patch Kids. The items fetch $40 or more on resale Web sites like eBay and Craigslist.
That’s what brought it to GoodGuide’s attention. GoodGuide CEO Dara O’Rourke told The Associated Press on Saturday that his group bought three of each of the year’s 30 hottest toys and tested them multiple times.
Antimony was measured at 93 parts per million in the hamster’s fur and at 106 parts per million in its nose. Both readings exceed the allowable level of 60 parts per million, said O’Rourke, an associate professor of environmental science at the University of California, Berkeley.
O’Rourke said GoodGuide’s test results, released Friday, also indicated the possibility that some toys contained phthalates, chemicals that were subject to tougher standards in the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act passed last year.
Posted by admin on Dec 5, 2009 in
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Uncategorized LOS ANGELES (AP)—Juron Criner stumbled into the end zone with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Nick Foles with 3:14 to play, and Arizona wrapped up its best regular season in a decade Saturday with a 21-17 victory over not-so-mighty Southern California.
Foles passed for 239 yards and two TDs and ran for another score for the Wildcats (8-4, 6-3 Pac-10), who finally beat No. 20 USC for the first time in coach Mike Stoops’ tenure by scoring the final touchdown in a defense-dominated game.
After Jordan Congdon made a 37-yard field goal with 7:13 left to put the Trojans (8-4, 5-4) ahead, Arizona converted three straight third downs on the decisive drive. Criner then caught a long fade pass and fought through a tackle into the end zone, silencing the nearly half-empty Coliseum crowd watching USC’s second home loss in three games.
The Trojans were 47-1 at the Coliseum before last month’s loss to Stanford, but their second home defeat finished off the most embarrassing season of coach Pete Carroll’s remarkable tenure.
Arizona secured a share of second place in the Pac-10 with its first eight-win regular season since 1998 by knocking off a ranked team for the sixth straight season under Stoops, who has finally beaten every team in the conference.
Foles struggled in a 22-of-40 performance, but made several big throws— including an early TD pass to Delashaun Dean set up by an interception—while the Wildcats played again without leading rusher Nic Grigsby, who has a sprained shoulder.
Not even Senior Day could coax any consistency out of the dismal USC offense led by Matt Barkley, who went 20 of 37 for 144 yards with the 12th interception of his rocky freshman season. Allen Bradford rushed for 66 yards and a tying touchdown late in the third quarter, and Ronald Johnson caught a TD pass.
After beginning the season in search of their eighth straight Pac-10 title and BCS bowl berth, the Trojans are likely to finish in sixth place. A victory over Arizona likely would have put them in the Holiday Bowl, but now they could be headed for a more humbling trip to San Diego for the Poinsettia Bowl.
USC couldn’t get a first down on its ensuing drive after Criner’s catch, with Barkley throwing three straight incompletions—including a fourth-down throw over the head of Damian Williams, who was open down the middle. USC got the ball back with seven seconds left, but Barkley was sacked by Earl Mitchell.
Both teams already played their traditional season-ending rivalry games last week, with USC beating UCLA 28-7 and Arizona holding off Arizona State 20-17.
With USC wrapping up its least successful season since 2001, the Coliseum had tens of thousands of empty seats under appropriately cloudy skies. The Trojans were mostly lifeless early, trailing 14-7 at halftime and managing just 120 yards of offense in the first half.
Joe McKnight managed just 35 yards while playing with a bruised thigh, but still became the Trojans’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2005 with a short rush in the fourth quarter.
Stafon Johnson, the USC tailback who nearly died in a weightlifting accident that ended his season in September, was the last of USC’s seniors to take the field in pregame introductions. Johnson, who wore his jersey and a stocking cap as he posed for pictures with his mother and teammates, still hasn’t decided whether he’ll attempt to return for another season.
Posted by admin on Dec 3, 2009 in
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Uncategorized RENTON, Wash. (AP)—Tim Ruskell has been pushed out as president and general manager of the Seahawks, leaving the door open for Mike Holmgren’s possible return to Seattle.
Ruskell announced his resignation Thursday, weeks before his five-year contract with the team ends. He asked the team if he was going to be retained so he could begin planning for offseason moves. Owner Paul Allen, the ailing Microsoft Corp. tycoon, and Seahawks chief executive officer Tod Leiweke told Ruskell no, so he left.
“Obviously there’s great sadness today but I will leave here with great memories of this place and the people. It’s been the people for me,” Ruskell said, his voice breaking and holding back tears during a news conference attended by his sister and the team’s staff.
The team’s ownership gave Ruskell full authority to shape the franchise soon after he arrived before the 2005 season. Seattle made its only Super Bowl that season.
Since then, he has presided over failed top draft choices, expensive free-agent busts—and the awkward ouster of popular coach and former GM Mike Holmgren at the end of his contract this past January.
Ruskell brought in his own coach for 2009, Jim Mora. The 4-7 Seahawks are on their way to a second straight season without a playoff berth. Last season they finished 4-12, their worst record since 1991.
“Quite simply, we didn’t win enough games,” Leiweke said. “I work for a man, Mr. Paul Allen, who has exacting standards.”
Ruskell understood that.
“It didn’t happen quickly enough,” he said, “but it wasn’t because we didn’t do it right.”
Seahawks vice president for player personnel Ruston Webster will serve as interim general manager.
Leiweke added that he expects Mora to remain the coach, Webster would be a good GM candidate, and “stability is something we will try to push for.”
No conceivable candidate knows the Seahawks better than Holmgren, who became their longest-tenured and winningest coach from 1999-2008. The first four years, he was also their GM.
Holmgren has declared his desire to return to the NFL after one year away. He took 2009 off as a promise to his wife and family but now says he wants to return to football. He hasn’t specified where, or whether it is to coach or be an executive.
But the former Super Bowl-winning coach has long coveted a second chance to be a GM. He’s often said how much he admires the position Bill Parcells, a good friend and another former coach, now has atop the Miami Dolphins’ franchise. Holmgren still owns a home in the Seattle area.
When asked whether Holmgren is a candidate, Leiweke said, “I’m just not going to go there. I’m just not going to talk about that today.”
Ruskell arrived in February 2005 as a veteran of 20 years in scouting following a stint in Atlanta as the assistant GM, when Mora was the Falcons’ coach. Ruskell presided over three consecutive NFC West titles to begin his Seattle tenure, including that Super Bowl season of 2005 when he overhauled the defense and scored a major coup in drafting overlooked linebacker Lofa Tatupu(notes).
But the Seahawks have regressed since then.
Ruskell was part of the decision that allowed perennial Pro Bowl offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson(notes) to leave for Minnesota as a free agent soon after the 2006 Super Bowl; Seattle’s line hasn’t been the same since.
Ruskell signed running back Shaun Alexander(notes) to a $62 million, eight-year contract with $15.1 million guaranteed even though Alexander was about to turn 30—an age at which most running backs begin to decline. Just over two years and several injuries later, Alexander was released.
To replace him, Ruskell spent millions on veteran running backs Julius Jones(notes), T.J. Duckett(notes) and Edgerrin James(notes). Jones is fighting for his job with emerging Justin Forsett(notes), a seventh-round draft choice in 2008 whom the Seahawks cut last year then brought back. Duckett and James were released this season.
Seattle is 29th in the league in rushing.
Ruskell traded a first-round draft choice to New England in 2006 for wide receiver Deion Branch(notes), then gave the former Super Bowl MVP a $39 million contract with $13 million guaranteed. Branch has had seasons with 53, 49, 30 and now 26 catches—plus two knee surgeries, including a reconstructive surgery.
Posted by admin on Dec 2, 2009 in
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Uncategorized LAS VEGAS (AP)—Promoter Bob Arum flew Wednesday to the Philippines with a proposed contract for a March 13 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The contract was agreed to by Mayweather’s representatives, but the boxer has yet to sign. Arum was to present the proposal to Pacquiao, but there are no guarantees he will agree.
Still, the fact Arum would make the trip to the Philippines to try and get his fighter to sign for the bout was an indication that the megafight was moving forward. It would match the two fighters regarded as the best pound-for-pound in the world in a bout at 66.7 kilograms (147 pounds).
The fight was originally projected for May, but Pacquiao’s candidacy for Congress in the Philippines forced promoters to move it forward to March. The Philippine national elections are in May, and Pacquiao wanted to be at home to campaign.
Promoters for both fighters had agreed to a blackout on negotiations for the bout, so no one would comment on the record. A person close to the promotion spoke on terms his identity would remain confidential.
If the fight is made, there would likely be a Jan. 11 press conference in New York to announce it. The bout could be the richest ever, assuming pay-per-view projections are accurate.
Representatives of the Superdome in New Orleans and the new Dallas Cowboys’ stadium have expressed interest in hosting the fight, as has the MGM Grand hotel-casino in Las Vegas, where the fighters have fought their biggest fights. There is also a proposal for a 30,000-seat temporary stadium on the Las Vegas Strip across from the Wynn resort.
Oddsmakers are already taking bets on the fight, with most making the undefeated Mayweather a slight favorite.
Posted by admin on Dec 1, 2009 in
Uncategorized PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Allen Iverson(notes) and the Philadelphia 76ers have met to discuss a possible return to the team.
Team president Ed Stefanski said in a statement that both parties remain noncommittal about a final decision after a nearly two-hour meeting Monday in Dallas. The 76ers are in town to play the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.
Iverson, his agent and business manager met with Stefanski, coach Eddie Jordan and two other members of the organization during the first formal meeting between the Sixers and their former MVP.
Stefanski said the Sixers “will continue to discuss internally whether or not to pursue this course.”
The 10-time All-Star, who retired last week, is among the free-agent candidates the Sixers are considering to replace injured point guard Lou Williams, who’s expected to miss eight weeks after jaw surgery.
Iverson announced his intention to retire last week after no other team expressed an interest is signing the four-time scoring champion. The 6-foot Iverson played three games this season with Memphis before taking a leave of absence to attend to personal matters. He was waived after the two sides agreed to part ways.
The New York Knicks considered signing Iverson after he cleared waivers, before deciding he would take too much playing time from younger players they are trying to develop.
Iverson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft, played 10-plus seasons with the 76ers. He was traded to Denver in December 2006, and was then dealt to Detroit early last season.
The 34-year-old Iverson, who has never won an NBA championship, wouldn’t be returning to a winner in Philadelphia. The Sixers have lost six straight games and are 13th in the Eastern Conference under first-year coach Eddie Jordan.
Williams’ injury has paved the way for rookie Jrue Holiday(notes), the 17th pick in the draft, to start.
Iverson had a bitter parting with the Sixers in 2006, making this a truly surprising reconciliation. But both parties are in various states of desperation. The Sixers need a guard on the roster and an electrifying personality such as Iverson to jolt sagging ticket sales. Iverson wants to prove he’s not finished yet and can still play at his All-Star level.
Ed Snider, chairman of Comcast-Spectacor, which owns the 76ers and Flyers, is leaving the decision up to Stefanski.
“While nothing has been decided … I support him and his basketball decisions,” he said Monday.
Snider declared “we’re going to trade him” 11 days before the Sixers sent him to Denver in 2006. His approval was considered necessary for Iverson and the Sixers to reunite. But it appears he’ll let Stefanski make the final call.
Iverson was joined by longtime business manager Gary Moore and agent Leon Rose in the meeting. Rose did not immediately return a call for comment.
Sixers assistant general manager Tony DiLeo and assistant coach Aaron McKie(notes), a former Iverson teammate, also attended the meeting.
Iverson led the Sixers to the NBA finals in 2001. The Sixers have not won a playoff series since 2003.
