Loss of Stem Cells Correlates with Premature AgingScientists at the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute of the University of Pennsylvania have observed that deleting a gene important in embryo development leads to premature aging and loss of stem cell reservoirs in adult mice. This gene, ATR, is essential for the body's response to damaged DNA, and mutations in proteins in the DNA damage response underlie certain types of cancer and other disorders in humans. This work appears in the........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 6/6/2007 9:20:52 PM)
Blood test may help signal tumor's remissionA blood test that detects proteins usually released by a growing tumor could one day become a useful tool for monitoring the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in people with advanced throat cancer, as per a research studyreported in the June 1, 2007, issue of Clinical Cancer Research Researchers in the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) and National Cancer Institute (NCI), two of the........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 5/31/2007 11:53:18 PM)
Cellular message movement captured on videoResearchers have captured on video the intracellular version of a postal delivery service. Reporting in the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (BBRC), bioengineering scientists at UC San Diego published videos of a key message-carrying protein called paxillin moving abruptly from hubs of communication and transportation activity on the cell surface toward the nucleus. Paxillin was labeled with a red fluorescence marker........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/31/2007 11:52:05 PM)
Binge drinking leads to neurocognitive deficitsScientists know that alcoholics tend to have poorer neurocognitive functioning, including decision making, than non-alcoholics do. Less is known, however, about alcohols effects on decision-making capabilities among people who drink heavily but are not considered alcoholics. A new study has observed that binge drinking can lead to poor decision making among college students, independent of impulsivity.
Results are reported in the recent........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/25/2007 7:27:23 PM)
Drinking 4 or more cups of coffee a day may help prevent goutCoffee is a habit for more than 50 percent of Americans, who drink, on average, 2 cups per day. This widely consumed beverage is regularly investigated and debated for its impact on health conditions from breast cancer to heart disease. Among its complex effects on the body, coffee or its components have been associated with lower insulin and uric acid levels on a short-term basis or cross-sectionally. These and other mechanisms suggest that........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/25/2007 7:16:33 PM)
Anti-smoking: The Smoking JacketThis is yet another innovative anti-smoking campaign to urge people to stay away from smoking. The campaign is focusing on the self-awareness drive as the person wearing it may be influenced to quiThe modus operandi of the jacket: the smoker exhales cigarette smoke into a one-way air valve in the collar, trapping it in. The smoke is then guided through some tubing to a pair of plastic lungs on the front of the jacket. Inside the lungs is........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 5/24/2007 11:04:59 PM)
The AIDS Pandemic in AfricaAmidst the famine, water shortages, and other huge socio-economical problems in Africa, there is yet another monster rampaging through the continent. Countless thousands have died. Thousands of whole human beings, living people, with hearts, dreams, families and friends. The death rate is one of such epic scale that I don't even think the abortion rate can compare
Children are being orphaned. HIV positive people are being........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/24/2007 9:07:46 PM)
Closing Accidental Colonoscopy WoundsTo prevent colon cancer, the second leading cause of United States cancer deaths, the American Cancer Society recommends that after age 50 people undergo colonoscopies every ten years to detect signs of that disease either actual tumors or premalignant polyps.
But in one out of every 1,000 to 2,000 colonoscopies, doctors inadvertently perforate or puncture the colon. Most of these patients need urgent surgery to close the wound and spend........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/23/2007 9:51:30 PM)
A nurse makes the decision on who will liveThymic nurse cells were given their name because of their intimate relationship with developing T cells (thymocytes) in the thymus. Thymic nurse cells have been reported to take as a number of as 50 thymocytes into their cell body (see thymocytes inside of a thymic nurse cell in photos, the blue dye stains the nuclei of thymocytes inside of a nurse cell). Whether or not thymic nurse cells have the capacity to "internalize" another cell into........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 5/23/2007 8:42:15 PM)
Adult brain cells rediscover their inner childYou may not be able to relive your youth, but part of your brain can. Johns Hopkins scientists have observed that newly made nerves in an adult brain's learning center experience a one-month period when they are just as active as the nerves in a developing child. The study, appearing this week in Neuron, suggests that new adult nerves have a deeper role than simply replacing dead ones.
Song and colleagues tracked the chemical signals........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/23/2007 8:19:38 PM)
New Mayo Clinic MRI technologyTwo recent Mayo Clinic studies have observed that magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), a new imaging technique invented at Mayo Clinic, is an accurate tool for non-invasive diagnosis of liver diseases. The findings will be presented this week at the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Annual Meeting in Berlin, Gera number of, and Digestive Disease Week 2007 in Washington, D.C.
The liver responds to a number of diseases........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/22/2007 9:53:43 PM)
Statin use linked with decreased prostate cancer mortalityUrologists and scientists have postulated in recent years that statin medications could have an impact on the growth and progression of prostate cancer. Cholesterol is a primary building block for testosterone, which has in turn been linked with prostate tumor growth (less testosterone results in slower-growing tumors). In recent years, research has indicated a possible link between dietary fat intake and prostate cancer. Research presented........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/21/2007 12:21:40 PM)
Approved medical resident hours still resulting in sleepy doctorsMedical residents working within the mandated maximum of 80 hours per week experience severe sleepiness, a finding that may have implications for both patient care and resident safety, as per a new study presented at the American Thoracic Society 2007 International Conference, on Sunday, May 20.
Prior studies have shown that sleep-deprived residents perform poorly in several areas like judgment and concentration and are at risk for motor........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/21/2007 12:19:34 PM)
"Dumbing down" the nursing professionNurses are to be replaced by robots. No, really, it is not April Fool's Day. It is going to happen in a hospital near you. Soon.Nurses, those caring people who have pulled many a patient back from the brink with their expertise, brow-wiping and tender words, are likely to be replaced soon by yards of wiring, transistors, hydraulics, a motherboard and light-emitting diodes. Enter the Robo-nurse. (Independent)As we report today, a........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/21/2007 9:23:27 AM)
What Health Procedures Cost and Why You Should CareA few years ago I was woefully underinsured with a high deductible for the measly health insurance I did have. Basically I had bought a catastrophic policy in case I fell off a bridge or something, but I wasn't getting much coverage otherwise. I can't remember what I needed done, possibly a mole removal, but here's the conversation I had with the person at my doctor's office
ME: Can you tell me what that would cost
HER:........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/21/2007 6:58:40 AM)
Chronic pain can drive you to distractionAnyone who has experienced chronic pain knows that it affects the ability to work, sleep and perform other activities essential to leading a full life. Now scientists at the University of Alberta have confirmed that chronic pain doesnt just cause physical discomfort; it can impair your memory and your concentration.
In a study recently conducted at the universitys Multidisciplinary Pain Centre in Edmonton, Canada, two-thirds of participants........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/17/2007 10:32:05 PM)
Controversial Milk Ad Campaign to End: FTCA national advertising campaign that connects dairy products with weight loss will be withdrawn as research does not support the claim, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine insisted that the weight loss claims were false and misleading. The group, in a 2005 petition, had asked the commission to order a ban to the dairy advertisements.
The two marketing campaigns involved with the........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/15/2007 9:48:01 PM)
NHS: Invisible Killer
This anti-smoking integrated advertisement campaign was launched by the British National Health Service. The campaign was launched with a view to highlight health reasons behind the new law to make workplaces and other public places smoke free. In addition to it, the campaign also underlines the fact that up to 85 percent of secondhand smoke is invisible and odorless, and just as harmful as the smoke you can see. The advertisements are........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/15/2007 9:47:56 PM)
Patient-Specific Stem Cell LinesUC Irvine neurobiologist Hans Keirstead and his research team today launched a project to develop stem cell lines that genetically match human patients. These lines would allow researchers to better study conditions ranging from diabetes to Parkinson's disease, and they would provide the basis for potential patient-specific stem cell therapys.
Keirstead will use a technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in which a patient's DNA........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/14/2007 10:32:38 PM)
Older patients with major depressionOlder patients with major depression whose primary care physicians team with depression care managers are 45% less likely to die within a 5-year time period than elderly adults with major depression who receive their care in primary care practices where there are no depression care managers. This study, conducted by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, appears in the current issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 5/14/2007 9:05:36 PM)
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Big power of small RNAs, in halting cancer Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) researchers led by Lin He, Xingyue He, and Professor and Howard Hughes Medical Investigator (HHMI) Greg Hannon have identified a family of micro RNAs (miRNAs) that enable a critical tumor suppressor network, called the p53 pathway, to fight cancer growth. At CSHL, we are moving simultaneously on several fronts to understand the p53 pathway because damage to this pathway is something that almost all cancers........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 6/6/2007 9:26:15 PM)
Agent slows aging in miceAspirin didnt pan out. Neither did two other potential anti-aging agents. But a synthetic derivative of a pungent desert shrub is now a front- runner in ongoing animal experiments to find out if certain chemicals, known to inhibit inflammation, cancer and other destructive processes, can boost the odds of living longer.
Today at the annual meeting of the American Aging Association, University of Michigan scientist Richard A. Miller reports........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 6/1/2007 9:35:40 PM)
World first medical treatment for pulmonary haemosiderosisScientists at Queen Mary University London and the University of Leicester and have today (Friday June 1) announced a potential breakthrough in the therapy of a rare but devastating medical condition that can affect children and young people.
In a world first, the clinicians and researchers from the two universities have already treated one patient with promising results. Their preliminary data are published as a letter in the New England........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/31/2007 11:50:52 PM)
How plague-causing bacteria disarm host defenseEffector proteins are the bad guys that help bacterial pathogens do their job of infecting the host by crippling the body's immune system. In essence, they knock down the front door of resistance and disarm the cell's alarm system.
Now, scientists at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine have identified a novel molecular target for an effector protein called YpkA, one of several effectors of the bacteria Yersinia........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/25/2007 7:23:48 PM)
PSA velocity predicts worse outcomeThe most significant single predictor of aggressive prostate cancer is an elevated rate of increase in prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, as per a new study. Reported in the July 1, 2007 issue of CANCER, a peer-evaluated journal of the American Cancer Society, the study observed that a pre-treatment rate of PSA increase, called PSA velocity, of more than 2 ng/ml/year was strongly linked to a high risk of death from prostate cancer.........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 5/25/2007 7:19:09 PM)
Gay men likelier to gamble addictively, study suggestsGay and bisexual men may be unusually prone to compulsive gambling, a small study has found, adding to growing evidence linking homosexuality to various impulse-control disorders and other mental illnesses.The findings require confirmation by future studies, researchers say, but for now they underscore concerns that gay people might require special attention and treatments for a range of mental disorders. The results could also fuel a debate........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/24/2007 9:17:48 PM)
BBQ time. Crank Up That Grill for the "ART OF PLANKING"The Art of Planking is a new book from master chef and King of the "BBQ", Ted Reader. Don't let that wild eyed and wild-hair fool ya! (He really does dress that way too), this man is truly a master at the fine art of cooking on the grill and noted on Canadian TV as well as other cable shows here in the US. Until now, his six (yes, SIX!) cookbooks have not been available in US bookstores-- and the Art of Plank Grilling is hitting........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/24/2007 9:11:42 PM)
Supporting the nursesAffable Iain Dale who, with the exception of his appalling taste in ties, can do little wrong in the world of blogging, is supporting Noreena Hertz who has spent the last 2-3 months touring football clubs trying to get as many players as possible to give a day's pay to the May Day for Nurses campaign.I hate it.Not the kindness and generosity behind the scheme, but the need for the scheme to exist at all.There is a nursing shortage looming: over........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/24/2007 9:07:40 PM)
Pointing a finger at the source of fecal bacteriaExcessive levels of fecal bacteria were to blame for almost 60 percent of Nebraska streams deemed impaired by federal and state environmental laws in 2004. In order to develop effective pollution-control strategies, it is important for scientists to identify the source of the contamination. By using multiple methods, or a toolbox approach, to determine the origin of fecal pollution in streams, scientists were able to identify the source of........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 5/23/2007 8:38:14 PM)
Stem cells may look malignant, not act itBone marrow stem cells attracted to the site of a malignant growth frequently take on the outward appearance of the cancerous cells around them, University of Florida scientists report in a paper would be reported in the recent issue of Stem Cells.
But whether that enables them to fuel cancer's ability to develop and then spread, as some researchers suspect, is not entirely clear. The findings, available early in this month's online edition........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/23/2007 8:24:54 PM)
Hand dexterity determines susceptibility to PTSDA recent study conducted by researchers with the Geisinger Center for Health Research shows a clear link between combat veterans' use of both hands for common tasks and the likelihood that they will experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Combat veterans with an extreme level of mixed handedness are nearly twice as likely to develop (PTSD) after combat in comparison to veterans who use both hands less often, as per the study, which........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/22/2007 9:45:01 PM)
Caspase-14 protects skin against UVB and dehydrationUltraviolet rays can be harmful to our skin and pave the way to the onset of skin cancers. VIB scientists connected to Ghent University have demonstrated that the caspase-14 protein - whose function has been unknown up to now - not only plays a role in maintaining the balance of moisture in the skin but also offers protection against UVB rays. Future strategies that increase the production of caspase-14 will open new possibilities for........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 5/21/2007 12:28:16 PM)
For Patients With Painful Bowel Inflammation Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is an umbrella term referring to a group of disorders that cause inflammation of the intestines, including ulcerative colitis, diverticular disease and perianal fistula. Nearly one million Americans experience some form of IBD every year, which is often chronic or recurring. Research presented today at Digestive Disease Week 2007 (DDW) looks at preventative measures and potential therapy options for these........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/21/2007 11:11:15 AM)
Bifantis shows anti-inflammatory propertiesThe biotechnology company Alimentary Health today announced results from two studies that demonstrate the anti-inflammatory activity of a natural probiotic bacterial strain of human origin, Bifantis (Bifidobacterium infantis 35624), in models of arthritis and Salmonella infection. Data from these studies were presented this week at the 38th annual Digestive Disease Week (DDW) conference taking place in Washington D.C.
The inflammatory........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 5/21/2007 10:50:35 AM)
Chinese Blood Products Industry Set to Take OffResearchInChina published a report recently on China's blood productsChina Blood Product Industry Report, 2006-2007, published in April, draws the conclusion that the blood products industry in China is about to become much more lucrative for a variety of reasons. Among them: increased population, growing health problems that require blood products as part of medical treatment, and government regulations. The report estimates that demand........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 5/21/2007 9:13:36 AM)
Getting to the core of an emergent public health threatThe outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002 was a loud wake-up call for scientists studying infectious diseases. SARS infected over 8,000 people, killed 10 percent of those infected, and weakened most with pneumonia.
"The SARS outbreak was a strong reminder that new viruses can emerge, and whether new or old, pathogens can cause not only significant disease and death, but they can also have a global socioeconomic........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 5/15/2007 11:08:42 PM)
Federal Loans for Coal Plants Raises Worry for Global WarmingDespite criticism, U.S government allows soft loans to built coal plants even as Congress promises to take possible measure to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists blame that coal plant disgorges carbon dioxide, which is responsible for global warning.
Government pledges to generate pollution free power sources to fight global warming, but the nation’s rural electric cooperatives are getting biggest booty out of government........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 5/15/2007 9:48:04 PM)
Pediatricians and pathologists see traumatic brain injury differentlyConfronted with the same hypothetical scenarios of traumatic brain injuries to children, pediatricians and pathologists were unable to agree half the time whether the deaths should be investigated as potential child abuse, scientists at Indiana University School of Medicine found.
The study demonstrates the need for improved, uniform definitions if research is to prevent such abuse, said Antoinette Laskey, M.D., M.P.H., a forensic........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 5/14/2007 10:51:16 PM)
Oral Quick-dissolve Strips For Rotavirus VaccineA thin strip that dissolves in the mouth like a popular breath-freshener could someday provide life-saving rotavirus vaccine to infants in impoverished areas. The innovative drug-delivery system was developed by Johns Hopkins undergraduate biomedical engineering students.
During a two-semester course, the seven-student team fabricated a thin film that should melt quickly in a babys mouth, prompting the child to swallow the vaccine. The........Go to the Health-articles (Added on 5/14/2007 10:49:46 PM)
Agent Protects Cells From Lethal Effects Of RadiationUsing this agent in mice, the researchers observed that the therapy helped shield rapidly dividing cells that are most vulnerable to radiation-induced death, providing proof in principle that it is possible to fend off radiation damage, as per a research studyreported in the recent issue of Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.
Current therapys for severe radiation exposure, also called acute radiation syndrome, are limited to........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 5/13/2007 10:03:08 PM)
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