New schizophrenia geneScientists at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine are one gene closer to understanding schizophrenia and related disorders. Reporting in the Jan. 9 issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics, the team describes how a variation in the neuregulin 3 gene influences delusions linked to schizophrenia.
"Neuregulin 3 is clearly one more gene to add to the few currently known to contribute to schizophrenia," says David Valle, M.D.,........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 2/4/2009 6:12:45 AM)
What's on the web?
2008 Medical Weblog Awards Sponsored by Epocrates: Meet the Winners! (Medgadget): Congratulations to all the participants and many thanks to the Medgadget Team for managing this prestigious competition again! Kerri Morrone took the well-deserved Best Patient’s Blog of 2008 award
Britannica Wants to Be More Like Wikipedia: Lets Users Contribute (Read Write Web): Who would like to dedicate time and effort to a project where your work........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/31/2009 9:33:35 AM)
Reducing preterm birthsNew research that may explain why taking progesterone to prevent preterm birth is only effective for some women was unveiled today at the 29th Annual Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) meeting The Pregnancy Meeting.
The drug, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (or 17P), a synthetic form of the progesterone hormone naturally produced during pregnancy, has been demonstrated in clinical trials to prevent some recurrent preterm........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/30/2009 6:00:18 AM)
Medicine Meets Virtual RealityAfter the first day’s excitement and new faces, I took some photos on the second day as I spent hours in The Well that seemed to be a huge success
The Well is a space for one-on-one, laptop-based demos and select, large-scale technology displays. The Well complements the traditional commercial and academic exhibits, expanding the forum of ideas and devices. Demos in The Well will be scheduled and impromptu
A few images, links and........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/29/2009 12:15:50 AM)
Nutritional supplementation for children in AfricaChildren in Niger who received a daily nutritional supplement for three months had a lower rate of weight loss and a reduced risk of wasting in comparison to children who did not receive the supplementation, as per a research studyin the January 21 issue of JAMA
Typically wasting (defined as a certain deviation that a child's weight is from the median [midpoint] weight of a child of the same height in a reference group) is characterized by........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/20/2009 7:00:42 PM)
Patterns may predict risk of pancreatic cancerGenetic variations in DNA repair patterns may increase risk of pancreas cancer by as much as threefold or decrease it by as much as 77 percent, depending on the genes involved, as per a report reported in the January 15, 2009, issue of Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Pancreas cancer is often identified in late stages, and thus is resistant to most available therapies. Researchers like........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 1/15/2009 7:41:24 PM)
Depressed adolescents not harmedIn a national clinical trial, adolescents with moderate to severe depression first given a placebo therapy and then an antidepressant medicine alone or in combination with treatment responded just as well over the long term as participants who received active therapy throughout the study, UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists report.
Scientists observed that at the end of nine months, children and teenagers first given placebo therapy........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/15/2009 7:29:41 PM)
Structure mediating spread of antibiotic resistanceResearchers have identified the structure of a key component of the bacteria behind such diseases as whooping cough, peptic stomach ulcers and Legionnaires' disease. The research, funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), sheds light on how antibiotic resistance genes spread from one bacterium to another. The research may help researchers develop novel therapys for these diseases and........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/8/2009 9:57:11 PM)
Evolution of EpilepsyTwo children have a seizure. One child never has another seizure. Twenty years later, the other child has a series of seizures and is diagnosed with epilepsy. A study being led by scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is looking at what could possibly happen in the development of these two children that would lead to such extreme variations in their neurologic health.
The findings reveal that genetic predisposition, coupled with the........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/6/2009 7:42:15 PM)
New method for bacterial toxin transferResearchers have discovered a new way for bacteria to transfer toxic genes to unrelated bacterial species, a finding that raises the unsettling possibility that bacterial swapping of toxins and other disease-aiding factors appears to be more common than previously imagined.
In a laboratory experiment, the researchers from NYU School of Medicine discovered that Staphylococcus aureus, a notorious bacterium that causes toxic shock syndrome and........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/6/2009 7:34:36 PM)
Clinical pharmacists can reduce drug costsClinical pharmacy services can significantly reduce the cost of prescription drugs and save money elsewhere in the health care system, as per a new study by scientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
For every dollar spent by hospitals or health systems to provide clinical pharmacy services, $4.81 was saved through lower drug costs, reductions in adverse drug events and medicine errors and other savings, says Glen Schumock,........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/23/2008 10:28:37 PM)
Structure of New Botulism Nerve ToxinAll seven neurotoxin subtypes cause their deadly effects using a common mechanism, with each step being activated by a different portion, or domain, of the toxin protein. First the neurotoxin binds to a nerve cell; then it moves into the cell; and then it cleaves specific proteins that block the release of neurotransmitters, the chemicals nerve cells use to communicate with one another and with muscles. Without that communication, muscles,........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/22/2008 9:31:33 PM)
Not Just for Depression AnymoreProzac is regularly prescribed to ease the emotional pain of patients who are being treated for cancer. But can this common anti-depressant help to fight cancer itself?
Dr. Dan Peer of the Department of Cell Research and Immunology at Tel Aviv University is proving that it can. A study he and colleagues recently completed validates that Prozac (chemical name fluoxetine) dramatically enhances the effectiveness of a widely used anti-cancer........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/19/2008 5:20:17 AM)
Old and young brains rely on different systemsNeuroresearchers from Duke University Medical Center have discovered that older people use their brains differently than younger people when it comes to storing memories, especially those linked to negative emotions.
The study, appearing online in the recent issue of Psychological Science, is a novel look at how brain connections change with age.
Elderly adults, average age 70, and younger adults, average age 24, were shown a series of 30........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/16/2008 8:29:50 PM)
Pigs and dogs can bridge gap between mice and humansHuman and veterinary medicine could receive a big boost through use of larger animals, particularly pigs and dogs, in research, with Europe at the forefront. There is the prospect of bringing drugs to the market more quickly at less cost, as well as accelerating progress in other forms of treatment, notably the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine. The potential in this new field was discussed at a recent workshop organised by the........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/16/2008 8:24:11 PM)
Drug-resistant tuberculosis rife in ChinaLevels of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in China are nearly twice the global average. Nationwide research reported in the open access journal BMC Infectious Diseases has shown that almost 10% of Chinese TB cases are resistant to the most effective first-line drugs.
Susan van den Hof, from the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation in The Netherlands is one of the authors on a Chinese study into the prevalence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/11/2008 5:21:20 AM)
Conscious vs. Unconscious Thought in Making Complicated DecisionsWhen faced with a difficult decision, we try to come up with the best choice by carefully considering all of the options, maybe even resorting to lists and lots of sleepless nights. So it may be surprising that recent studies have suggested that the best way to deal with complex decisions is to not think about them at all-that unconscious thought will help us make the best choices. Eventhough this may seem like an appealing strategy, new........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/9/2008 10:05:29 PM)
Faith can silence victims or provide solaceChildhood sexual abuse victims with a strong religious upbringing often report feeling terrible guilt about their assault, which doesn't surprise Jean-Guy Nadon. A professor of theology and religious sciences at the Universit de Montral, Nadon has conducted dozens of interviews with women who were sexually abused as children and found the impact of religious beliefs can produce varying reactions.
Nadon interviewed one woman, who as a child........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/8/2008 10:39:08 PM)
Vitamin E shows promise in chronic inflammationWith up to half of a person's body mass consisting of skeletal muscle, chronic inflammation of those muscles - which include those found in the limbs - can result in significant physical impairment.
As per University of Illinois kinesiology and community health professor Kimberly Huey, past research has demonstrated that the antioxidant properties of Vitamin E may be linked to reduced expression of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, in........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/6/2008 4:39:42 PM)
Secondhand smoke raises odds of fertility problemsIf you need another reason to quit smoking, consider that it may diminish your chances of being a parent or grandparent. Scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center have found that women exposed to second hand smoke, either as adults or children, were significantly more likely to face fertility problems and suffer miscarriages.
An epidemiologic analysis of more than 4,800 non-smoking women showed those who were exposed to second........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/6/2008 4:02:55 PM)
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Those women who need radiationOne-fifth of women who should receive radiation after a mastectomy are not getting this potentially lifesaving therapy, as per a newly released study from scientists at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The study looked at 396 women who were treated with a mastectomy for breast cancer. The scientists observed that 19 percent of women who fell clearly within guidelines recommending radiation therapy after the mastectomy........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 2/4/2009 6:15:03 AM)
A common thread in age-related neurodegenerative diseasesHow are neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's initiated, and why is age the major risk factor? A recent study of a protein called MOCA (Modifier of Cell Adhesion), carried out at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, provides new clues to the answers of these fundamental questions.
Under normal circumstances, MOCA is a key member of the squadron charged with keeping Alzheimer's disease at bay. A team of scientists led by Salk........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/30/2009 6:08:23 AM)
An introduction to genomics: New TED TalkBarry Schuler talks about genomics in a new TED talk........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 1/29/2009 12:16:49 AM)
Genetic hotspots associated with psoriasisA genomewide scan of millions of genetic mutations has revealed four new DNA "hotspots" that affect the risk for psoriasis, a national group of scientists led by the University of Michigan and including several from the University of Utah School of Medicine has shown in a just-published study.
Appearing Jan. 25 in Nature Genetics online, the study also confirmed that two other previously identified DNA sites, discovered by scientists at the........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/26/2009 11:39:05 PM)
Older adults with anxiety disordersPreliminary research suggests that use of the drug escitalopram provided some improvement in symptoms for elderly adults with generalized anxiety disorder, eventhough the overall benefits were diminished because of nonadherence to the drug by some patients, as per a research studyin the January 21 issue of JAMA
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), one of the most common psychiatric disorders in elderly adults, is defined by chronic,........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/20/2009 7:02:21 PM)
New step in DNA damage responseScientists have identified a biochemical switch mandatory for nerve cells to respond to DNA damage.
The finding, scheduled for advance online publication in Nature Cell Biology, illuminates a correlation between proteins involved in neurodegenerative disease and in cells' response to DNA damage.
Most children with the inherited disease ataxia telangiectasia are wheelchair-bound by age 10 because of neurological problems. Patients also........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/19/2009 6:11:46 AM)
A good night's sleep protects against parasitesAnimal species that sleep for longer do not suffer as much from parasite infestation and have a greater concentration of immune cells in their blood as per a research studyreported in the open-access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology
The question of why we sleep has long puzzled scientists. Brian Preston from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Gera number of, led an international team of scientists who tested........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/8/2009 9:59:58 PM)
Protein has pivotal role in obesityA protein known to play a role in development and the formation of organs is also an important factor in the control of obesity and diabetes, said scientists from Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears in the current issue of the journal Cell Metabolism
Drs. Ming-Jer and Sophia Tsai, professors of molecular and cellular biology at BCM, have studied COUP-TFII (Chicken Ovalbumin Upstream Promoter Transcription Factor II) for........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/6/2009 9:11:52 PM)
Strong cheese?An international research team led by Newcastle University has identified a new line of bacteria they believe add flavour to some of the world's most exclusive cheeses.
It's an age-old tradition that dates back at least 8,000 years but it seems we still have much to learn about the bacteria responsible for turning milk into cheese.
The team used DNA fingerprinting techniques to identify eight previously undiscovered microbes on the French........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/6/2009 7:40:13 PM)
3T MRI can detect wrist ligament tearsMRI of the wrist at 3T is an effective way to detect wrist ligament tears and in some cases can avoid unnecessary surgery, as per a research studyperformed at Neuroskeletal Imaging in Merritt Island, Florida.
The study included 49 patients who had both 3T MR and arthroscopy; 51 tears were found on arthroscopy. 41 of the 51 tears were also found using 3T MRI. "The resolution with 3T MRI is good. We are able to see the small ligaments a lot........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 1/6/2009 7:25:12 PM)
Finding new targets for gastric cancerDendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells (APCs) that both initiate and modulate the immune response. DCs are cells in the pathway of antigen capture and presentation to T cells, with the unique ability to directly prime nave CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers. Eventhough gastric cancer treatment has made great progress, it is still difficult to treat advanced gastric cancer, as it has........Go to the Cancer-blog (Added on 12/24/2008 5:07:58 AM)
Premature babies develop altered sensory responsesPremature infants who need intensive care or surgery are less sensitive to thermal (hot and cold) sensations during the later part of life, as per research conducted at UCL (University College London). The study, reported in the journal Pain, suggests that pain and injury correlation to major medical interventions in early development may alter how children respond to painful stimuli much during the later part of life.
In the study, 43........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/22/2008 9:39:42 PM)
New targets for treating addictionRewarding and stressful signals don't seem to have much in common. But scientists studying diseases ranging from drug addiction to anxiety disorders are finding that the brain's reward and stress signaling circuits are intertwined in complex ways.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers have now discovered a functional link between reward and stress. They observed that dopamine the brain's chief reward signal works through........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/16/2008 9:57:43 PM)
MRI scans can predict effects of MS flare-upsSt. Louis, Dec. 16, 2008 One of the most pernicious aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS) its sheer unpredictability may finally be starting to yield to advanced medical imaging techniques.
Scientists from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report online in the journal Neurology that an approach known as magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) allowed them to estimate three months in advance the chronic effects........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/16/2008 9:37:50 PM)
Hopkins-led team solves failed vaccine mystery Research led by Johns Hopkins Children's Center researchers has figured out why a respiratory syncytial virus vaccine used in 1966 to inoculate children against the infection instead caused severe respiratory disease and effectively stopped efforts to make a better one. The findings, published online on Dec. 14 in Nature Medicine, could restart work on effective killed-virus vaccines not only for RSV but other respiratory viruses,........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/15/2008 9:14:09 PM)
Overweight children at increased risk of arm and leg injuriesChildren who are overweight or obese are over two and a half times more likely to suffer injuries to their upper and lower extremities following a motor vehicle crash compared with normal weight children, as per a new report from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Injury Research and Policy. Overweight and obese children were overall more likely to experience injury to any body part following a crash; however this........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/11/2008 5:27:14 AM)
How Power Affects Complex Decision MakingPresidential scholars have written volumes trying to understand the presidential mind. How can anyone juggle so many complicated decisions? Do those seeking office have a unique approach to decision making? Studies have suggested that power changes not only a person's responsibilities, but also the way they think. Now, a new study in the recent issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, indicates........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/9/2008 10:03:39 PM)
Harm-reduction cigarettes are more toxic than traditional cigarettesTypically, tobacco companies market harm-reduction cigarettes as being safer than traditional "full-flavored" brands, leading a number of smokers to conclude that the use of harm-reduction brands lowers their exposure to toxicants.
But a UC Riverside study now shows that smoke from these "light" or "low-yield" harm-reduction cigarettes retains toxicity and that this toxicity can affect prenatal development.
"A number of chemicals found in........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/8/2008 10:37:02 PM)
Brain cells that are a key to learning More than a century after Ivan Pavlov's dog was conditioned to salivate when it heard the sound of a tone previous to receiving food, researchers have found neurons that are critical to how people and animals learn from experience.
Using a new imaging technique called Arc catFISH, scientists from the University of Washington have visualized individual neurons in the amygdalas of rat brains that are activated when the animals are given an........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/8/2008 10:23:01 PM)
Reduced doses of meningitis vaccine may be effective in outbreak controlOne fifth of the standard dose of a usually used meningitis vaccine may be as effective as using the full dose. This new finding should allow scarce vaccine resources to be stretched further, particularly during epidemics in Africa.
In a study initiated by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, together with Epicentre (the research arm of Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontières), and Mbarara University of Science and Technology........Go to the Health-blog (Added on 12/6/2008 4:06:29 PM)
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