Health & Science briefs
Encouraging sign for vanishing rhino
Several footprints believed to be from critically endangered Sumatran rhinos have been found on Indonesia's Borneo island, raising hopes for the existence of an animal long thought to be extinct in that area, a conservation group said.
The fresh tracks were discovered in February while a WWF team was monitoring orangutans in West Kutai forested district of East Kalimantan province, according to a statement.
A follow-up survey discovered more footprints, horn scratches at mud holes, trees used as rubbing posts and bite marks on plants. But the number of potential animals remains unclear.
Breast-feeding gains are limited
Breast-feeding is widely encouraged for its many positive health effects, but the claim that it reduces the risk for childhood obesity may be going too far. A trial following children through age 11 has found that even long-term exclusive breast-feeding has no effect on obesity or stature in childhood.
Researchers studied more than 13,000 breast-feeding mother-infant pairs in Belarus in 1996 and 1997.
The study found no significant effect on either the weight or height of the children. Body mass index and the prevalence of excess weight were slightly higher in children breast-fed longer, but the difference was statistically insignificant.
Aspirin could trim risk for melanoma
Researchers report that a woman's regular use of aspirin may decrease her risk for melanoma, the most serious kind of skin cancer.
The study, published online in the journal Cancer, included 59,806 women ages 50 to 79.
There were 548 incidents of melanoma during the period. After controlling for sun exposure, sunscreen use, a history of skin cancer and many other factors, the researchers found that women who reported using aspirin had an average 21 percent lower risk of melanoma compared with nonusers, and the longer they used aspirin, the lower their risk.
The reasons for the effect are unclear.
Vitamin D may help cut hypertension
Blacks have significantly higher rates of hypertension and lower blood levels of vitamin D than others. Now research suggests that vitamin D supplements may help lower blood pressure.
In the three-month study, researchers randomly assigned 250 black men and women to receive 1,000, 2,000 or 4,000 international units of vitamin D daily.
There was a 0.66 decrease in systolic pressure for those taking 1,000 IU a day; a 3.4 decrease in the 2,000-a-day group; and an average 4-point drop at 4,000 IU a day.
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