Health News

New therapy to help new mums beat the blues developed

London, Nov 11 : University of Liverpool scientists have devised a new therapy programme that will help depressed new mums in developing countries beat the blues.

Professor Atif Rahman from the School of Population, Community and Behavioural Sciences was the one who developed the therapy programme while working as a Wellcome Trust Career Fellow in Tropical Medicine in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

"Depression is one of the leading causes of mental illness in the world and when the condition affects mothers with newborn babies, it can lead to serious consequences" Lancet quoted him as saying.

How cells take out biological trash to prevent diseases

Alzheimer''sWashington, Nov 11 : A new study from Cornell University sheds light on how cells help wipe out ‘biological waste’ from the body, which if accumulates can lead to many diseases, including Alzheimer''s, cystic fibrosis and developmental disorders.

The researchers revealed that cells have developed complex systems for recycling, reusing and disposing of damaged, non-functional waste proteins.

When such systems malfunction and these proteins accumulate, they can become toxic, resulting in many diseases.

Bypass heart surgery doesn’t affect IQ levels in kids

Bypass heart surgery doesn’t affect IQ levels in kidsWashington, Nov 11 : Bypass surgery in children with less complex heart defects doesn’t lead to low IQ levels, say researchers from the Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia.

The study involving 41 patients, aged five to 18 showed that the use of cardiopulmonary bypass does not cause short-term neurological problems in children and teenagers after surgery.

Obstructive sleep apnea may lead to eye disorders

Obstructive sleep apnea may lead to eye disordersOSA is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep and it occurs when throat muscles relax and block the airway.

A large number of studies have identified OSA as an independent risk factor for the development of several medical conditions, like high blood pressure, which are related to impairments or alterations in a person''s vascular (circulatory) system.

And eyes, with their own complex and sensitive vascular system, can sometimes signal and be affected by systemic vascular problems.

Indian-origin researcher’s ‘nanobombs’ can explode cancer

Indian-origin researcher’s ‘nanobombs’ can explode cancerLondon, November 11 : An Indian-origin researcher in America says that tube-like carbon nano-particles can be used to explode cancer.

Balaji Panchapakesan at the University of Delaware, Newark, proposes the idea of filling carbon nanotubes with water before injecting them into a tumour.

He says that zapping the cancerous area with laser light at a later stage will cause the water to boil, and the tremendous pressure by the heating will trigger the "nanobombs" to burst apart, thereby killing nearby cells.

Stem cells from umbilical cord blood may help build new heart valves

Stem CellsWashington, Nov 11 : Doctors may one day be able to use stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood to build new heart valves for babies born with heart defects, say researchers.

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