TopNews - Health News

Americans flocking to India for stem cell therapy

Jamie Williamson — Mon, 28 May 2012 04:19:51 +0000

Washington, May 28 - A growing number of Americans are travelling to India to seek treatment for rare diseases through India's experimental embryonic stem cell therapy, according to an investigative report.

Among them Cash Burnaman, a 6-year-old South Carolina boy, who travelled with his parents to India seeking treatment for a rare genetic condition that has left him developmentally disabled, CNN reported.

"Cash is mute. He walks with the aid of braces. To battle his incurable condition, which is so rare it doesn't have a name, Cash has had to take an artificial growth hormone for most of his life," it said.

How ancient Chinese medicine predicts health seeing tongue appearance

Jamie Williamson — Sat, 26 May 2012 11:05:38 +0000

Washington, May 26 : Since 5,000 years, Chinese have used a system of medicine that measures the appearance of the tongue to classify the overall physical status of the body, or zheng.

Now, University of Missouri researchers have developed a computer software that combines the ancient practices and modern medicine by providing an automated system for analysing images of the tongue.

"Knowing your zheng classification can serve as a pre-screening tool and help with preventive medicine," said Dong Xu, chair of MU's computer science department in the College of Engineering and study co-author.

Compound that triggers cancer cell death developed

Jamie Williamson — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:49:01 +0000

Washington, May 25 : A research group from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has developed a compound that can cause cancer cells to kill themselves.

The BCL-2 protein family plays a large role in determining whether cancer cells survive in response to therapy or undergo a form of cell death known as apoptosis.

Cells are pressured toward apoptosis by expression of pro-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins.

However, cancer cells respond to therapy by increasing expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, which bind and neutralize pro-apoptotic family members and mediate therapeutic resistance.

Hypodermic needles for injection could soon be history

Jamie Williamson — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:32:32 +0000

Washington, May 25 : MIT researchers have engineered a device that delivers a tiny, high-pressure jet of medicine through the skin without the use of a hypodermic needle.

The device can be programmed to deliver a range of doses to various depths - an improvement over similar jet-injection systems that are now commercially available.

Among other benefits, the researchers said, the technology may help reduce the potential for needle-stick injuries.

A needleless device may also help improve compliance among patients who might otherwise avoid the discomfort of regularly injecting themselves with drugs such as insulin.

New process may help reduce cost of anti-malarial drugs

Jamie Williamson — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:01:30 +0000

Washington, May 24 : Scientists have developed a new, higher-yield, two-step, less costly process that may ease supply problems and zigzagging prices for the raw material essential for making the mainstay drug for malaria.

That disease sickens 300-500 million people annually and kills more than 1 million.

The process uses readily available substances and could be easily implemented by drug companies.

Rock concerns lead to impaired hearing?

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 23 May 2012 09:07:19 +0000

Washington, May 23 - Seventy-two percent of teens experienced reduced hearing after being exposed to blasting rock shows by a popular female singer.

M. Jennifer Derebery, physician from the House Research Institute, and colleagues tested teens' hearing before and after the concert.

They found that hearing loss of this kind was temporary, likely to go within 48 hours.

"Teenagers need to understand a single exposure to loud noise either from a concert or personal listening device can lead to hearing loss," said Derebery, who led the study.

In some cases, the hearing loss may be permanent.

`Gummy Bear` implant latest trend in breast augmentation

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:17:23 +0000

Washington, May 22 : More women are seeking out a type of silicone breast implant that one doctor has dubbed as the "gummy bear."

Dr. Grant Stevens, a prominent plastic surgeon in Marina Del Rey, Calif., coined the term "gummy bear breast implant."

The reason he gave the implants their catchy nickname was because when cut in half, the implant is stable and retains its shape, much like the chewy, gummy bear candies.

Stevens is an advocate of the "gummy bears" because he believes that they look and feel more like natural breasts.

Empathy cells found in monkey brains

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:29:09 +0000

Washington, May 22 : Researchers have uncovered rare brain cells in monkeys, which can be tied to self-awareness and empathy in humans.

Max Planck scientists found that the anterior insular cortex is a small brain region that plays a crucial role in human self-awareness and in related neuropsychiatric disorders.

An exclusive cell type - the Von Economo Neuron (VEN) - is located there.

For a long time, the VEN was understood to be unique to humans, great apes, whales and elephants.

Musical device to help premature babies feed better

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:17:25 +0000

Washington, May 22 - Many premature babies face typically unpleasant medical procedures, long hospital stays and increased chances of chronic health issues throughout their lives.

To help address one of their biggest problems, learning how to suckle and feed, the Florida State University has announced the availability of a Pacifier Activated Lullaby (PAL) device to hospitals around the world.

Arthritis drug found effective in amoebic dysentery

Jamie Williamson — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:00:52 +0000

Washington, May 21 - Scientists have identified an arthritis drug that acts very effectively against a parasite causing amoebic dysentery and liver abscesses, which kill over 70,000 people worldwide annually.

Auranofin, a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved formulation for rheumatoid arthritis, was found to be very effective in targeting an enzyme that protects amoebae from oxygen attack (boosting sensitivity of the parasite to reactive oxygen-mediated killing).

Parents happier than childless peers

Jamie Williamson — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:58:42 +0000

Washington, May 18 : Parents experience greater levels of happiness and meaning from life than non-parents, researchers have found.

The findings, which contrast sharply with recent scholarship and popular beliefs, suggest that parents are happier caring for children than they are during other daily activities.

The research by psychologists at three North American universities, including the University of British Columbia also suggests that the benefits of parenthood appear more consistently in men and older and married parents.

How we start walking

Jamie Williamson — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:34:39 +0000

Washington, May 17: Scientists at the University of Bristol may have answered one of the great mystery of neuroscience - How the brain initiates rhythmic movements like walking, running and swimming.

While experiments in the 1970s using electrical brain stimulation identified areas of the brain responsible for starting locomotion, the precise neuron-by-neuron pathway has not been described in any vertebrate - until now.

To find this pathway, Dr Edgar Buhl and colleagues in Bristol's School of Biological Sciences studied a small, simple vertebrate: the Xenopus frog tadpole.

What turns you on for sex depends on your age

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:57:59 +0000

New York, May 16 : Sexy text messages or phone calls can get young people in the mood for sex while dinner and wine are real turn-ons for the elderly, a new survey has revealed.

In the survey by Fitness magazine and Yahoo! Shine, some 22 percent of men and women between the ages of 18 and 34 admitted their biggest turn-on is a naughty message or call.

But only 12 percent of men and women ages 35 to 64 agree to this.

Among that crowd, about 25 percent said dinner and wine makes for the perfect aphrodisiac, the New York Daily News reported.

Belief in religion helps improve self-control

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:43:17 +0000

Washington, May 15 : The primary purpose of religious belief is to enhance the basic cognitive process of self-control, which in turn promotes any number of valuable social behaviours, says a psychologist.

There are many theories about why religion exists, but most of them are unproven.

However, the new idea proposed by Kevin Rounding of Queen's University, Ontario, has evidence to back it up.

Rounding ran four experiments in which he primed volunteers to think about religious matters. Those volunteers showed more discipline than controls, and more ability to delay gratification.

Ovulating women perceive sexy men as good dads

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:04:01 +0000

Washington, May 15 : A new study has found answer to why women choose sexy bad boys over nice guys - because they see handsome men as good fathers.

The research by Kristina Durante, assistant professor of marketing at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) College of Business, found that hormones associated with ovulation influence women's perceptions of men as potential fathers.

Brain wiring makes women anorexic or obese

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:45:40 +0000

Washington, May 15 - Why does one person become anorexic and another obese? A study shows that reward circuits in the brain are sensitized in anorexic women and desensitized in obese women.

Guido Frank, director of the Developmental Brain Research Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine and colleagues used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine brain activity in 63 women who were either anorexic or obese. They were compared to women considered "normal" weight.

Walk in park boosts memory

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:10:24 +0000

Toronto, May 15 - A walk in the park benefits people suffering from depression, say researchers on the basis of new evidence.

Marc Berman, post-doctoral fellow at Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute, working with Michigan and Stanford Universities, said: "Our study showed that participants with clinical depression demonstrated improved memory performance after a walk in nature, compared to a walk in a busy urban environment."

Berman, however, cautioned that such walks are not a replacement for existing and well-validated treatments for clinical depression, such as psychotherapy and drug treatment, the Journal of Affective Disorders reports.

How stress affects employees’ jobs

Jamie Williamson — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:53:12 +0000

Washington, May 14 : Moderate to severe stress impacts almost half of all workers while they are on the job, a recent survey has revealed.

And 66 percent of employees revealed that they find it difficult to focus on tasks at work because of stress.

Stress has been dubbed "health epidemic of the 21st century" by the World Health Organization and is estimated to cost American businesses up to 300 billion dollars per year.

However, there are ways to reduce its impact on human lives and companies' bottom line, despite stress being a daunting, pervasive problem, experts say.

Vitamin K2 offers new hope for Parkinson’s patients

Jamie Williamson — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:04:40 +0000

Washington, May 12 : A neuroscientist has succeeded in undoing the effect of one of the genetic defects that leads to Parkinson's using vitamin K2.

The achievement of Patrik Verstreken, associated with VIB and KU Leuven, gives hope to Parkinson's patients.

The research was done in collaboration with colleagues from Northern Illinois University (US).

"It appears from our research that administering vitamin K2 could possibly help patients with Parkinson's. However, more work needs to be done to understand this better," said Patrik Verstreken.

Malfunctioning power plants are at the basis of Parkinson's.

FDA panel urges approval of drug Truvada to prevent HIV infection

Jamie Williamson — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:36:14 +0000

Washington, May 11 : A panel of experts has recommended that the Food and Drug Administration approve a drug to give to healthy people to protect against HIV infection.

The panel urged Thursday that the agency approve the drug Truvada for preventing HIV in men who have sex with men, HIV-negative partners of HIV-postive people and "other individuals at risk for acquiring HIV through sexual activity."

The FDA usually follows the advice of its advisory committees, which are made up of experts from outside the agency, although it does not have to. Its decision is expected by June 15, the Washington Post reported.

Family support and less pressure promote positive body image in women

Jamie Williamson — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:13:10 +0000

Washington, May 10 : Women with high family support and limited pressure to achieve the ‘thin and beautiful’ ideal have a more positive body image, according to a new study.

The study looked at five factors that may help young women to be more positive about their bodies, in the context of a society where discontent with appearance is common among women.

Many women in contemporary Western cultures are dissatisfied with their bodies, a risk factor for eating problems.

Men can rest easy as sex chromosomes are here ‘for the long haul’

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:26:57 +0000

Washington, May 9 : Researchers have shed light on how genes on sex-linked chromosomes are passed down generations and linked to fertility, using the specific example of the W chromosome in female chickens.

The results confirm that although these chromosomes have shrunk over millions of years, and have lost many of their original genes, those that remain are extremely important in predicting fertility and are, therefore, unlikely to become extinct.

42 pc of Americans will be obese by 2030

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:01:35 +0000

Washington, May 8 : A latest study has predicted that, by 2030, 42 percent of American adults will be obese, and about one-quarter of that group will be severely obese.

The forecast released on Monday is less ominous than one published four years ago that predicted that 51 percent of the population would be obese in 2030.

Nevertheless, the trend foretells a huge drag on the health and economic welfare of the United States.

`Losing yourself`` in fictional character can change your real life

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:22:41 +0000

Washington, May 8 : When you "lose yourself" inside the world of a fictional character while reading a story, you may actually end up changing your own behaviour and thoughts to match that of the character, a new study has suggested.

Researchers at Ohio State University examined what happened to people who, while reading a fictional story, found themselves feeling the emotions, thoughts, beliefs and internal responses of one of the characters as if they were their own - a phenomenon the researchers call "experience-taking."

American obese population to rise

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:15:13 +0000

Washington, May 8 - Almost 42 percent of Americans could be obese by 2030.

If that happens, the US healthcare system could be burdened with 32 million more obese people within two decades.

So says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Drastic action is needed to keep rates from increasing further, warned researchers from Duke University, RTI International and the US Centers for Disease Control, Xinhua reports.

By the most current obesity statistics, 35.7 percent of American adults -- 78 million people -- and 16.9 percent of children and adolescents are obese, meaning their body-mass index is 30 or over.

Midlife crisis could be linked with dementia

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:07:09 +0000

Washington, May 8 - If you are overcome by a sense of hopelessness, especially during your mid or later life, it could be a sign that your are heading for dementia, the mental decline caused by Alzheimer's.

"Prevalence and costs of AD (Alzheimer disease) and other dementia are projected to rise dramatically during the next 40 years unless a prevention or a cure can be found," write researchers from University of California, San Francisco.

Video game play may benefit kids with cerebral palsy

Jamie Williamson — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:06:48 +0000

Washington, May 7 : Video games such as Nintendo’s Wii offer an enjoyable opportunity to promote light to moderate physical activity in children with cerebral palsy (CP), and may have a role to play in rehabilitation therapy, say researchers.

Elaine Biddiss, PhD, of Toronto’s Bloorview Research Institute at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, and the University of Toronto, Canada, led the researchers who studied seventeen children with CP.

“Active video games (AVG) provide a low-cost, commercially available system that can be strategically selected to address specific therapeutic goals,” said Biddiss.

Robotic arm to reveal inner working of brain cells

Jamie Williamson — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:52:03 +0000

Washington, May 7 - Gaining access to the inner workings of a brain cell (neuron) in real time offers a wealth of useful information. However, it is such a painstaking and challenging task that only a small number of labs in the world practise it - until now.

Researchers have developed a new automated process to find and record information from neurons such as patterns of electrical activity, its shape, even a profile of which genes are turned on at a given moment, thus eliminating the need for months of training and providing long-sought information about living cells' activities, the journal Nature Methods reports.

Eye colour linked to severity of skin conditions

Jamie Williamson — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:07:01 +0000

Washington, May 7 - Eye colour can tell whether you're at risk of serious skin conditions. The blue eyed are less likely to have vitiligo, while the brown eyed may have lower risk of melanoma, says a new study.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease in which pigment loss results in irregular white patches of skin and hair. Melanoma is the most dangerous kind of skin cancer.

The study, led by the University of Colorado School of Medicine (UCSM), looked at almost 3,000 people with vitiligo of Non-Hispanic European ancestry, identifying 13 new genes predisposed to vitiligo, the journal Nature Genetics reports.

Beehive extract may help combat prostate cancer

Jamie Williamson — Sat, 05 May 2012 11:25:36 +0000

Washington, May 5 : An over-the-counter natural remedy derived from honeybee hives arrests the growth of prostate cancer cells and tumors in mice, say researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, or CAPE, is a compound isolated from honeybee hive propolis, the resin used by bees to patch up holes in hives.

Propolis has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for conditions ranging from sore throats and allergies to burns and cancer. But the compound has not gained acceptance in the clinic due to scientific questions about its effect on cells.

Discovery of new bacteria `may lead to antibiotic alternatives`

Jamie Williamson — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:56:42 +0000

Washington, May 4 : In a new study, scientists have discovered an Achilles heel within human cells that bacteria are able to exploit for causing and spreading infection.

According to the researchers, their findings could lead to the development of new anti-infective drugs as alternatives to antibiotics whose overuse has led to resistance.

University of Manchester researchers studied Listeria, a potentially deadly group of bacteria that can cause listeriosis in humans when digested, and found they are able to spread infection by hitching a ride on a naturally occurring protein called calpain.

Pleasure eating sets off body’s reward system and `may lead to gluttony`

Jamie Williamson — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:01:43 +0000

Washington, May 3 : When eating is motivated by pleasure, rather than hunger, endogenous rewarding chemical signals are activated that can stimulate overeating, a new study has claimed.

According to the recent study, the phenomenon ultimately affects body mass and may be a factor in the continuing rise of obesity.

"`Hedonic hunger' refers to the desire to eat for pleasure, and to enjoy the taste, rather than to restore the body's energy needs," Palmiero Monteleone. Lead author of the study from the University of Naples SUN in Italy, said.

15 million babies born prematurely every year

Jamie Williamson — Thu, 03 May 2012 07:09:56 +0000

Washington, May 3 - Fifteen million babies are born too soon every year and 1.1 million die shortly after birth, making premature birth the second leading cause of death in children under age 5, according to the first ever national, regional and global estimates of preterm birth.

Survivors of premature birth often face a lifetime of disability, including serious infections, cerebral palsy, brain injury and respiratory, vision, hearing, learning and developmental problems.

Starch fibres could make for 'painless' bandages

Jamie Williamson — Thu, 03 May 2012 06:36:43 +0000

Washington, May 3 - A new method of spinning starch into fine strands could help make painless bandages as well as low cost and more eco-friendly toilet paper, napkins and other products, says a study.

"There are many applications for starch fibres," said Lingyan Kong, graduate student, food science at the Penn State University. "Starch is the most abundant and also the least expensive of natural polymers."

Kong, who worked with Greg Ziegler, professor of food science, Penn State, used a solvent to dissolve the starch into a fluid that can then be spun into long strands or fibres.

They can be combined and formed into paper-like mats similar to napkins, tissues and other types of paper products, according to a university statement.

Now, `Menopause Map` to help women navigate treatment

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:54:07 +0000

Washington, May 2 : Scientists have developed a first-of-its-kind interactive guide for women going through menopause to help them better understand their menu of treatment options, including whether hormone therapy may be right for them.

The Endocrine Society and its Hormone Health Network have released the "Menopause Map," an online tool to help women and their doctors discuss which hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options would be most effective and safe to relieve the sometimes debilitating symptoms of menopause.

Mixing drugs, herb remedies can damage health

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:38:16 +0000

Washington, May 2 - Herbal, dietary, energy or nutritional supplements may be good for one's well being, but if combined with common drugs they can damage health.

"'Natural' does not equal 'safe,'" and the effects and interactions of herbal or dietary supplements and functional foods such as energy drinks or nutritional bars can be difficult to predict, says Catherine Ulbricht, senior attending pharmacist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"If something has a therapeutic action in a human body, this substance can also cause a reaction or an interaction," added Ulbricht, the journal Alternative and Complementary Therapies reports.

Computer-exercise combo prevents memory loss

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:34:49 +0000

Washington, May 2 - The time that you spend on your computer and moderate exercise seems to prevent memory loss more than carrying on with either of these activities alone, says a new study.

Previous studies have shown that exercising the body and mind does help memory but the new study shows that interaction between computer use and moderate exercise protects the brain in people as they get older.

Researchers studied 926 people aged 70 to 93 years, who completed questionnaires on physical exercise, and computer use within one year prior of the date of interview, the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings reports.

Drowsiness linked with learning problems at school

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:28:14 +0000

Washington, May 2 - Children suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) may have learning, attention and behaviour problems even though clinical tests show they are sleeping long enough at night.

Penn State University researchers studied 508 children and found that those whose parents reported EDS despite little indication of short sleep, were more likely to experience learning, attention/hyperactivity and conduct problems than children without EDS.

"Impairment due to EDS in cognitive and behavioral functioning can have a serious impact on a child's development," said Susan Calhoun, who led the study, according to a Penn State statement.

Fast-acting anti-impotence drug could be potential Viagra rival

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:20:32 +0000

Washington, May 1 : The U. S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new erectile dysfunction drug that reportedly works in less than 15 minutes.

Present ED drugs in the market include Pfizer Inc.'s Viagra, Eli Lilly's Cialis and GlaxoSmithKline and Bayer's drug Levitra.

The new drug Stendra, the brand name for avanafil, is the first new erectile dysfunction drug in a decade for this class of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.

On Friday the FDA approved Vivus Inc.'s Stendra to take as an "as-needed" pill for men before sexual activity, CBS News reported.

Pregnancy stress can affect baby's iron status: Study

Jamie Williamson — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:04:18 +0000

Washington, April 30 - Newborns, whose mothers experience stress during the first trimester of pregnancy, may end up with a low iron content and poor health later, says a new study.

Iron plays a key role in the development of brain. Well-known risk factors for poor iron status in infants are maternal iron deficiency, maternal diabetes, smoking during pregnancy, pre-term birth, low weight at birth and multiple pregnancy.

Breastfeeding key to keeping infant gut healthy

Jamie Williamson — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:11:13 +0000

Washington, April 30 - Breast-fed babies have healthier gut than formula-fed infants, thanks to the mother's milk, which encouraged beneficial bugs to grow and protect the infants from illness and pathogens, says a study.

The finding has been borne out by a new study that shows that differences in bacterial colonisation of formula-fed and breast-fed babies are involved in infant's expression of genes.

The health of individuals can be influenced by the diversity of microbes colonizing the gut, which is especially important in regulating both intestinal and immune development in infants, reported the journal Genome Biology.

Brain networks explain why some teenagers smoke

Jamie Williamson — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:17:13 +0000

Washington, April 30 - Scientists have been intrigued by why some teenagers start smoking or experimenting with drugs while others do not.

In the largest imaging study of its kind, involving the brains of 1,896 14-year-olds, scientists have discovered a number of previously "unknown networks" that go a long way towards an answer.

Head injury turns college dropout a maths genius!

Jamie Williamson — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 05:25:44 +0000

Washington, April 29 - In an incident which appears be a perfect plot for any reality-based fiction work, an American college dropout after being brutally attacked by a group of street robbers has turned a mathematics genius.

It happened after 41-year-old Jason Padgett's brain was damaged in a brutal attack by muggers. He was left concussed after being ambushed outside a karaoke club and repeatedly kicked in the head, the Daily Mail reported.

Now, wherever Padegtt looks, he sees mathematical formulas and turns them into stunning, intricate diagrams he can draw by hand.

He is the only person in the world known to the skill, which experts say, was caused by his head injury. They believe the damage to Padgett's brain has left him with a "remarkable gift" for figures.

Blind Chinese activist fled under moonless sky

Jamie Williamson — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 06:25:14 +0000

Washington, April 28 - Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng feigned illness for weeks and when people keeping a watch on him let their guard down, he scaled a wall and fled under a moonless sky, said a media report that gave a dramatic account of his escape from house arrest.

Washington Post reported that Chen Guangcheng pretended to be sick for weeks.

He was always under watch, so Chen patiently waited for the security apparatus to slacken and let their guard down.

And when they did Sunday, he fled.

Chen scaled a high wall under a moonless sky and fled the village where he had been confined to his home for the past year and a half, said the media report citing a version of events provided by friends.

He then travelled nearly 400 miles to Beijing.

Cause of age-related macular degeneration revealed

Jamie Williamson — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:53:35 +0000

Washington, April 27 : A new study led by an Indian origin scientist has made a major breakthrough in the "dry" form of age-related macular degeneration known as geographic atrophy (GA).

GA is an untreatable condition that causes blindness in millions of individuals due to death of retinal pigmented epithelial cells.

Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, professor of physiology, and professor and vice chair of ophthalmology and visual sciences at University of Kentucky, is a leader in the field of macular degeneration research.

Chronic cocaine use may accelerate aging of brain

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:37:06 +0000

Washington, April 25 : Brains of chronic users age dramatically faster than their non-drug-using peers, say scientists.

A new research by scientists at the University of Cambridge found that age-related loss of grey matter in the brain is greater in people who are dependent on cocaine than in the healthy population.

For the study, the researchers scanned the brains of 120 people with similar age, gender and verbal IQ. Half of the individuals had a dependence on cocaine while the other 60 had no history of substance abuse disorders.

Egg consumption `positively impacts metabolic syndrome and satiety`

Jamie Williamson — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:46:36 +0000

Washington, Apr 25 : Eating eggs may actually have favourable effects on HDL metabolism in men and women with metabolic syndrome, a new study has suggested.

Participants in the study, conducted by researchers from the University of Connecticut, followed a carbohydrate-restricted diet with some individuals eating three whole eggs per day and others eating an equivalent amount of egg substitute.

After 12 weeks, the group eating whole eggs experienced an improvement in HDL measures showing significantly greater increases in the number and size of HDL particles.

Stem cell that may aid healing and repair found in brain

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:43:24 +0000

Washington, April 24 : Scientists have discovered a new stem cell in the adult brain and they hope to put the discovery to use to develop methods that can repair diseases and injury to the brain.

These cells can proliferate and form several different cell types - most importantly, they can form new brain cells.

Analysing brain tissue from biopsies, the researchers at the Lund University for the first time found stem cells located around small blood vessels in the brain.

Families that `eat together may be healthiest

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:51:55 +0000

Washington, Apr 24 : Researchers have shed light on the growing scientific evidence that fewer family meals may translate to increased obesity risk and poor nutritional status, particularly among children.

Over 40 percent of the typical American food budget is spent on eating out, with family meals often being relegated to holidays and special occasions.

Aside from negative effects on the family budget, eating out has been shown to be generally associated with poor food choices and bad health.

Reduction of malaria-control programs could be behind disease resurgence

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:39:39 +0000

Washington, Apr 24 : Since the 1930s, there have been 75 documented episodes of malaria resurgence worldwide, most of which were associated with weakening of malaria control programs, a new study has suggested.

The study found that the most common reason for weakening of malaria control programs was funding disruptions.

Low cost treatment is available and simple solutions to prevent the diseases, like insecticide treated mosquito nets and malaria prevention during pregnancy, have all been shown to reduce the number of deaths due to malaria.

Secret to breast milk’s anti-cancer activity revealed

Jamie Williamson — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:31:04 +0000

Washington, April 24 : The role of breast milk in protection against various forms of cancer has been known, but what makes it do so has remained a mystery.

Now, a new study has found high levels of cancer-fighting TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) in human milk, which might be one source of breast milk’s anticancer activity.

Researchers took samples of colostrum, the first milk available to newborns, and of mature breast milk from new mothers. Researchers then obtained samples of blood from healthy women, and various ready-to-feed infant formulas.

Estrogen hormone `may have protective ability after traumatic brain injury`

Jamie Williamson — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:46:41 +0000

Washington, Apr 23 : In a new study, scientists have investigated the biomarkers and novel therapies for traumatic brain injury.

With more than 1.7 million people sustaining a traumatic brain injury each year, the need to identify processes to limit inflammation and subsequent damage is critical.

Approximately 275,000 people are hospitalised annually with traumatic brain injury, leaving 85,000 with long-term disabilities and taking the lives of more than 50,000.

Regular soda intake spikes stroke risk

Jamie Williamson — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 07:33:53 +0000

Washington, April 22 - Regularly quaffing sugar-sweetened, low-calorie sodas is likely to spike risk of a stroke, but intake of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee seems to lower it, a study reveals.

The study is the first to examine soda's effect on stroke (when brain is deprived of blood supply) risk. Previous research has linked sugar-sweetened beverage consumption with weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gout and coronary artery disease.

Women in India do not receive same treatment as men for heart disease

Jamie Williamson — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:18:51 +0000

Washington, April 21 : A new study in India has revealed that women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) receive inferior or less aggressive treatment compared to men.

The CREATE registry study of 20,468 patients also revealed that relatively fewer women are admitted with ACS.

Moreover, these women are older, reach hospital later, have more risk factors, receive inferior treatments and have worse outcomes.

Other two new studies from China and Middle East also expose the extent of the problem in the countries.

Large amount of Vitamin C intake `may lower BP`

Jamie Williamson — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:04:11 +0000

Washington, Apr 21 : Taking large doses of vitamin C may moderately reduce blood pressure, a new study has revealed.

However, the researchers from Johns Hopkins University stopped short of suggesting people load up on supplements.

"Our research suggests a modest blood pressure lowering effect with vitamin C supplementation, but before we can recommend supplements as a treatment for high blood pressure, we really need more research to understand the implications of taking them," Edgar "Pete" R. Miller III, the study leader, said.

19th century `vibration chair` can help Parkinson’s sufferers

Jamie Williamson — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:31:08 +0000

Washington, Apr 20 : Researchers have replicated the work of a celebrated neurologist of the 19th century, who developed a "vibration chair," to relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Jean-Martin Charcot reported improvements in his patients, but he died shortly thereafter and a more complete evaluation of the therapy was never conducted.

Now, a group of neurological researchers at Rush University Medical Center have conducted a study to see if Charcot's observation holds true against modern scientific testing.

Air pollution tied to premature death

Jamie Williamson — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:19:57 +0000

Washington, Apr 20 : Emissions from cars, trucks, planes and powerplants cause 13,000 premature deaths in the United Kingdom each year, according to a new study.

The researchers analysed data from 2005, the most recent year for which information is available.

They found that among the various sources of emissions in the country, car and truck exhaust was the single greatest contributor to premature death, affecting some 3,300 people per year.

By comparison, the researchers noted, fewer than 3,000 Britons died in road accidents in 2005.

New optical tool promises rapid and accurate diagnosis of malaria

Jamie Williamson — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:57:39 +0000

Washington, Apr 19 : A potential new optical imaging system may make the diagnosis of malaria much easier, faster and more accurate, a new study has revealed.

The new system, developed by an international team of researchers, uses "speckle imaging," an optical sensing technique that measures the differences in how laser light bounces off the membranes of healthy and infected red blood cells.

By comparing the apparently random scattering (speckling) of light as it builds up from multiple images, a clear statistical pattern emerges that identifies cells that harbor the parasite responsible for malaria.

Vaccine extends life of brain cancer patients

Jamie Williamson — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:32:20 +0000

Washington, April 19 - A new brain cancer vaccine, which uses material from patients' own tumours, holds promise of extending their lives by several months, show results of a multicentre phase-two clinical trial of the vaccine.

The effectiveness of the vaccine was tested on more than 40 patients undergoing treatment at the University of California, San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University Hospitals Case Medical Centre, Cleveland, and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York City.