Health News
Blocking DNA repair enzyme could eventually lead to cancer therapy
Washington, Feb 11 : Scientists have shed light on what happens in cells when DNA is damaged.
The research group in the Faculty of Medicine `n' Dentistry at the University of Alberta hopes that their latest discovery could one day be used to develop new therapies that target certain types of cancers.
Mark Glover, his graduate student Zahra Havali-Shahriari and post-doctoral fellow Nicolas Coquelle solved the structure of a DNA repair enzyme called polynucleotide kinase/phosphatase, or PNKP.
This allows them to see what is happening when this enzyme is repairing DNA.
Phosphate additives used in fast food ‘pose risk to health’
Washington, Feb 11 : Excessive consumption of phosphate is damaging to health due to which food products containing its additives should be labelled, researchers have recommended.
Eberhard Ritz and his co-authors selectively reviewed the literature on the subject, which documents the fact that ex-cessive phosphate consumption elevates mortality in patients with renal disease.
Recent studies have also shown that phosphate apparently damages blood vessels and induces aging pro-cesses. Free phosphate, the type found in food additives, is entirely resorbed in the gastroin-testinal tract.
High school kids perform best with 7 hours sleep
Washington, Feb 11 : 16-18 year olds perform better academically when they shave about two hours off from 9 hours of sleep recommended for them by federal guidelines, a new study has claimed.
The new study by Eric Eide and Mark Showalter from Brigham Young University is the first in a series of studies where they examine sleep and its impact on our health and education.
"We're not talking about sleep deprivation," Eide, the study author said.
"The data simply says that seven hours is optimal at that age," he said.
Rheumatoid arthritis drug halts organ damage in inflammatory genetic disorder
Washington, Feb 11 : Kineret (anakinra), a medication approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, effectively blocks progression of organ damage in people with neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID), a new study has revealed.
This rare and debilitating genetic disorder causes persistent inflammation and ongoing tissue damage.
Both maternal and paternal age behind autism
Washington, Feb 11 : Older maternal and paternal ages are together associated with having a child with autism, a new study has revealed.
Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) compared 68 age- and sex-matched, case-control pairs from their research in Jamaica, where UTHealth has been studying autism in collaboration with The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica.
Human cognitive performance declines after natural disasters
Washington, Feb 11 : Besides stress and anxiety, victims of natural disasters also become prone to making more serious errors than usual in their daily lives, a new study has revealed.
In their upcoming article, researchers William S. Helton and James Head from the University of Canterbury explore how cognitive performance can decline after earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Indian curry spice component ‘may help slow growth of prostate tumour’
Washington, Feb 11 : Curcumin, an active component of the Indian curry spice turmeric, may help slow down the growth of tumour in castration-resistant prostate cancer patients on androgen deprivation therapy
(ADT), a new study has found.
Karen Knudsen and colleagues from Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Cente, of Cancer Research observed in a pre-clinical study that curcumin suppresses two known nuclear receptor activators, p300 and CPB, or CREB1-binding protein, which have been shown to work against ADT.
How brain differentiates between left and right
Washington, Feb 10 : A study conducted by an Indian origin researcher and his colleagues, has revealed a lot about how the brain sorts out confusing perceptions, like distinguishing between right and left hand.
The study challenges the long-held consensus about how we solve this problem.
"For decades, the theory was that you use your motor imagination," Shivakumar Viswanathan, who conducted the study with University of California Santa Barbara colleagues Courtney Fritz and Scott T Grafton said.
Male fruit flies prefer females with youthful smell regardless of age
Washington, Feb 10 : A sexy, youthful smell may make up for advancing age, at least for fruit flies, according to a new study.
The University of Michigan's research says male fruit flies find romance with female flies coated with pheromone - chemicals produced by an organism to communicate or attract another.
It demonstrates how age-related changes in pheromone production can reduce sexual attractiveness.
Exercise can help offspring overcome negative effects of maternal obesity
Washington, Feb 10 : Researchers have for the first time found that offspring can overcome the adverse metabolic effects passed on to them by their overweight mothers with the help of physical activity.
Being an obese mother can have a powerful impact on the next generation, altering central appetite circuits and contributing to increased fat deposits, glucose intolerance and metabolic disease in offspring.
Cancer drug quickly reverses Alzheimer’s symptoms in mice
Washington, Feb 10 : In a mice study, a cancer drug was found to quickly reverse the pathological, cognitive and memory deficits caused by the onset of Alzheimer's - a breakthrough in finding cure for the progressive brain disease.
Neuroscientists at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine discovered that bexarotene, which has been approved for the treatment of cancer by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration for more than a decade, rapidly clears amyloid from the brain and reverses cognitive defects.
4 heart-healthy diet mantras for Valentine’s Day
Washington, Feb 10 : There are some foods, which when combined can make a romantic yet cardiac-friendly dinner that is perfect for you and your partner on Valentine's Day.
According to researchers, eating a variety of healthy foods in moderation is vital for a heart-healthy diet
"Years of research has shown that a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fat and lean protein will not only help with weight maintenance, but with overall heart health," said Katie Boles, RD, LDN, clinical dietician with the Brenner FIT Program, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
How bacterial systems export disease-causing toxins into humans, plants
Washington, Feb 10 : Scientists have discovered the mechanisms behind some of the bacteria that kill hundreds of thousands every year, possibly paving the way for more effective antibiotics against infections.
With antibiotic resistance on the rise in strains of pathogenic bacteria, innovative strategies are needed to discover ways of treating bacterial infections in both humans and in agriculture.
‘Too posh to push’ not always best for babies’ health
Washington, Feb 10 : A new research has challenged the widely held belief that a caesarean delivery has no health risks for the baby.
The study found that the procedure did not help some preterm babies who were small for gestational age, and may even have contributed to their breathing problems.
The research showed that small for gestational age babies delivered early by C-section had higher rates of respiratory distress syndrome than similar preterm babies who were born vaginally.
How appetite cells in brain respond to fasting
Washington, Feb 9 : There are two vital cell types in the brain that are essential for the regulation of feeding behaviours - agouti-related peptide (AgRP)-expressing neurons and proopiomelancortin
(POMC)-expressing neurons.
Previous work has shown that the AgRP neurons promote feeding and weight gain, while the POMC cells have been linked with appetite suppression and weight loss.
Now a new study uncovers a neural pathway that links fasting with activation of AgRP neurons. The research provides valuable insight into the complex mechanisms that control food-seeking behaviour.
Unusual alliances ‘allow you to wiggle your fingers’
Washington, Feb 9 : Some unusual mergers are important for facilitating communication between the brain and muscle, a new study has revealed.
Understanding those relationships should enable better treatment of neuromuscular diseases, such as myasthenia gravis, which prevent muscles from taking orders from your brain, said Dr. Lin Mei, Director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics at Georgia Health Sciences University.
During development, neurons in the spinal cord reach out to muscle fibres to form a direct line of communication called the neuromuscular junction.
Fish oil shows potential to prevent psychiatric disorders
Washington, Feb 9 : A study is now underway to test the effectiveness of Omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) for treating psychiatric symptoms.
This new study by Researchers at Zucker Hillside Hospital's Recognition and Prevention (RAP) Program, is a randomised double-blind trial that was designed to test whether Omega-3 fatty acids improve clinical symptoms, and help adolescents and young adults (ages 12 to 25) who are at elevated risk for severe psychiatric disorders function better in school, work and other social environments.
Y chromosome ‘may play role in passing heart disease from father to son’
Washington, Feb 9 : A common heart disease, which kills thousands of people each year, may be passed genetically from father to son, a new study has said.
According to a study led by the University of Leicester, the Y chromosome, a part of DNA present only in men, plays a role in the inheritance of coronary artery disease (CAD).
The study, led by researchers at the University's Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and Department of Genetics, took four years to complete and was primarily funded by the British Heart Foundation.
Heart disease may lead to prostate cancer
Washington, Feb 9 : Researchers have suggested that coronary artery disease may be a risk factor for prostate cancer.
If the relation is confirmed, the malignancy might be combated in part by lifestyle changes such as weight loss, exercise and a healthy diet, which are known to prevent heart disease.
"What's good for the heart may be good for the prostate," said Jean-Alfred Thomas II, M. D., a post-doctoral fellow in the Division of Urology at Duke Cancer Institute and lead author of the study.
Risk factors of coronary artery disease include inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol, cigarette smoking, and diabetes.
Video-based home exercise can reduce osteoarthritis pain and improve mobility
Washington, Feb 9 : Video-based home exercise programs can enhance adherence to a prescribed exercise program, can reduce pain, improve physical function, and improve life quality in patients living with knee osteoarthritis, researchers say.
The benefits of exercise in minimizing pain and improving mobility for individuals living with osteoarthritis has been well documented.
In a new study, 107 individuals with diagnosed osteoarthritis in the knee were randomized to either a DVD-based exercise group, or a control group.