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Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center report in  Genes & Development  identifying the key molecular and genetic switch that activates production of healthy male sperm -- but only when the time is right. The mechanism is a protein complex called Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1). Researchers were surprised when they found that PRC1 activates specific germline genes and the production of healthy sperm. This is because when male mammals such as humans and mice are born, they come with all the reproductive germline cells (including inheritable genetics) needed to help make healthy fertile sperm and offspring. But the sperm isn't fertile during infancy or childhood. True to the "repressive" in its name, PRC1 also tamps down specific genes and the activation of fertile sperm production until an individual reaches reproductive age. Researchers show in their current study that when mice reach reproductive age, the PRC1 protein complex cha...

Deaths from drug poisoning more than doubled in the United States from 2000 to 2015; poisoning mortality involving opioids more than tripled. Increases in poisonings have been reported to have reduced life expectancy for non-Hispanic white individuals in the United States from 2000 to 2014. Deborah Dowell, M.D., M.P.H., of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and colleagues estimated the number of deaths and death rates in 2000 and 2015 due to poisoning and the 12 leading causes of death in 2015 using the National Vital Statistics System Mortality file, based on death certificates registered in each state and the District of Columbia. Life expectancy at birth increased by 2 years overall, rising from 76.8 years in 2000 to 78.8 years in 2015. From 2000 to 2015, death rates related to heart disease, cancer, cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, influenza and pneumonia, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and kidney disease decreased, together contributing a gain of...