Prostate Cancer

According to Jirtle, certain environmental factors before birth can alter the way a specific gene behaves, without changing the genetic sequence in any way.

The Duke researchers found that genistein acted on a particular gene in mice, called the agouti gene.

And although this does not act in the same ways in humans, the scientists claim that “soy's potential benefits could exert themselves” through other human genes.

"Our study demonstrates there are highly sensitive windows early in development when environmental exposures can permanently alter the offspring's adult susceptibility to disease," said Jirtle.

"Therefore, we need to examine the effect of environmental exposures during pregnancy, not just in adulthood, if we want to accurately assess their risk or benefit to humans." And according to the scientists, genistein may not be the only compound that can reduce the risk of obesity.

Previous research by Jirtle showed that folic acid and vitamin B12 had the same affect when fed to pregnant mice.

However, Jirtle pointed out that it is still unclear as to how different nutrients interact in combination or in extremely high doses, suggesting the need for further research before the health benefits can be confirmed.

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As a first-year medical resident, the young anesthesiologist is almost as green as his hospital scrubs.

Indeed, he's never actually done this sort of thing before.

The operation will not go well.

But then, that's the point.

The young anesthesiologist and three fellow first-year residents have gathered here to practice hands-on medicine in real-time, real-life situations.

They are surrounded by the tools of their trade: A beeping monitor displays jagged red and green lines indicating John's heart rate and blood pressure, an IV drips into his arm, the bellows of a respirator whoosh up and down in time with his breathing.

The only thing not real about the scene is John.

He's a “patient simulator,” a high-tech and surprisingly lifelike mannequin who tonight will also portray a healthy 32-year-old man with a bad knee, a 55-year-old man suffering from a hernia and a 70-year-old woman with rectal cancer.

Over the next three hours, John will unexpectedly come out of anesthesia during surgery, develop bronchospasms in his lungs, experience a severe allergic reaction and, in the midst of getting his prostate removed, have heart trouble requiring multiple electrical jolts from a defibrillator.

Sometimes John su...