World / Health & Beauty
Immune block tackles Alzheimer's
31.05.2008 20:03
bbc.co.uk
The body's immune system could be harnessed to fight Alzheimer's disease, research suggests.
World
Health & Beauty
A New Vegetarian Food That Boosts The Uptake Of Iron And Offers A Good Set Of Proteins
31.05.2008 16:11
medicalnewstoday.com
This could be the result of a doctoral dissertation by Charlotte Eklund-Jonsson at the Department of Food Science.The food, called tempe, is moreover a whole-grain product with high folate content. It is generally accepted in medicine that whole-grains reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and it is also believed that it protects against age-related diabetes and certain forms of cancer.
World
Cardiology
Increased Breast Cancer Risk Following Long-Term Hormone Replacement Therapy
31.05.2008 14:21
medicalnewstoday.com
"Are you taking or did you take hormones? If yes, which hormone medication and for how long? When did you stop taking hormone replacement medication?" 3,464 breast cancer patients and 6,657 healthy women between the ages of 50 and 74 years participated in a large survey and elicited detailed information about hormone replacement medications they are taking or used to take for relief of menopausal symptoms.
World
Endocrinology
Increasing Demand For Earth Observing Satellite Data Addressed At European Conference
31.05.2008 11:11
medicalnewstoday.com
For more than 40 years, Earth observing satellites have delivered valuable data about our planet and have enabled a better understanding and improved management of the Earth and its environment. Demands for these data are increasing daily as decision-makers are faced with responding to environmental change, managing sustainable development and responding to natural disasters and civil security issues.
World
First Aid
Bone drug helped stave off breast cancer
31.05.2008 11:01
reuters.com
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A drug used to strengthen the bones of women with breast cancer helped cut the risk of the cancer returning by 36 percent, European researchers said on Saturday,
World
Health & Beauty
Genetic relatedness is really the key behind altruism in social insects
31.05.2008 10:20
b4uindia.com
Scientists at the University of Leeds have reignited the contentious debate about why hundreds of species of insects and other animals evolved altruistic behaviour to put the interests of the colony over the individual, by finding that they do so to increase the chances that their genes will be passed on. For the study, the team led by William Hughes, of Leeds University, UK, studied the orthodox theory of 'kin selection,’ which says that an animal may pass on its genes by helping relatives to reproduce, because they share common genes, rather than by reproducing itself. The concept of ‘kin selection’ was developed in 1964 by the evolutionary biologist William Hamilton, reports New Scientist. But this paradigm was challenged in 2005 by the eminent academic E.O. Wilson, the founder of sociobiology, who pointed out that relatedness is rather low in some of today's social insects. He suggested that highly social behaviour evolves solely because individuals do better when they cooperate than when they live a solitary life - a controversial theory which not only conflicted with 45 years of scientific research, but which also sparked a highly charged debate between Wilson and Richard Dawkins, author of The Selfish Gene. Dr Hughes and colleagues at the Universities of Sydney and Sussex tested the two alternative theories by examining the level of relatedness between females in colonies of bees, wasps and ants, determined by DNA fingerprinting techniques, and using statistical methods to look at levels of monogamy in the ancestral social insects when they evolved up to 100 million years ago. If females were monogamous, mating with one male, this would mean the members of the colony are highly related, and so Hamilton’s theory would be correct. If they were polygamous, with the female mating with many males, relatedness would be lower and so Wilson may be right after all. The research found that in every group studied ancestral females were found to be monogamous, providing the first evidence that kin selection is fundamental to the evolution of social insects. Dr Hughes said: "We have produced the first conclusive evidence that kin selection explains the evolution of social insects and that Wilson's hypothesis is most probably wrong.” “By challenging something that we have based all our understanding on for 45 years, Wilson has forced us all to examine the theory again and assess the logic of the arguments. In a recent media interview, he issued a challenge to the scientific community to prove his theory wrong and whilst many felt it was, there hasn’t been any hard evidence until now.” Hughes contents that these results would seem to settle the longstanding debate revived by Wilson. The study is published in the journal Science. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Study warns against harmful effects of cough and cold medication on kids
31.05.2008 10:20
b4uindia.com
Cough and cold medications may have an adverse impact on children less than 2 years, according to a new study. Researchers suggest that physicians need to counsel parents about the use of these potentially dangerous medications. The study from Emergency Medicine Network led by Dr Katherine O’Donnell, of Children’s Hospital Boston has shed light on the over-the-counter medication use in children under the age of two. The researchers found that 1-in-3 children under the age of two with bronchiolitis, a lower respiratory tract infection associated with runny nose, cough, wheezing and/or difficulty breathing had received over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in the week prior to visiting an emergency department. The study identified rates and predictors of cough and cold medication use prior to the manufacturer recall of and FDA recommendations against use of these medications in children younger than two years of age. “After the recall and labelling changes, it will be important to monitor for potential ongoing use of these medicines in young children and observe if parents or physicians are turning to other therapies in place of these medications,” said O’Donnell. Knowing the fact that non-concentrated cough and cold formulations remain available for over-the-counter use, the authors encourage physicians to counsel all parents of young children about these ineffective and potentially dangerous medications. Factors including daycare attendance, second-hand smoke exposure, recent antibiotic use and presence of wheezing were associated with increased use of cough and cold medications. Infants as well as those with a history of hospitalization, were less likely to use these medications. The study was resented at the 2008 SAEM Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Whole milk as effective as oral contrast agent for bowel-disorder diagnosis
31.05.2008 10:20
b4uindia.com
A new study has revealed that whole milk can be as effective as diluted (0.1 pct) barium suspension, an oral contrast agent, for diagnosis of small bowel disorders. The study led by Dr Chi Wan Koo on 215 patients undergoing abdominal and pelvic CT has revealed whole milk can be just as effective, costs less and easier on the patient as barium suspension to be used as oral contrast agent in conjunction with CT to examine the gastrointestinal tract. The patients were given an IV contrast media out of which 115 were also given whole milk as an oral contrast agent, 100 received a 0.1 pct barium suspension. Later two radiologists reviewed all the images and scored them based on degree of bowel distension and bowel wall visibility. Dr. Koo said that adequate bowel distension is necessary to optimize resolution of the bowel wall and contents. She said that the study found that the images taken of patients who were given whole milk were just as useful as the images that were taken of patients given the diluted barium. In addition, patients were given a questionnaire, asking them how well they tolerated the oral contrast agents, and a cost comparison was done. “We found that milk was less expensive, it had better patient acceptance and fewer adverse symptoms,” said Dr. Koo. They could also be used for evaluating pancreatic and biliary abnormalities. The study appears in the May issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology, published by the American Roentgen Ray Society. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Scientists use fireflies glow gene to track cancer drugs effectiveness
31.05.2008 10:20
b4uindia.com
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have used a gene, which produces a flash in fireflies, to track the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs. In a first of its kind effort, researchers have now shown that a technique called bioluminescence imaging (BLI) can be used to determine the effectiveness of cancer drugs that obstruct the blood supply to a tumor. In this technique, the scientists make use of a substrate called luciferin to be added to the bloodstream, which carries it to cells throughout the body. When luciferin reaches the cells that have been altered to carry the firefly gene, these cells are found to emit light. However, there are a few cancer drugs, which work by cutting off the blood supply to tumor cells. As we know that luciferin is delivered via the vasculature, the researchers wanted to find out the kinetics of luciferin delivery and if BLI techniques could be used to gauge the effectiveness of drugs that destroy blood vessels that feed tumors. The researchers tested the theory in mice bearing human breast-cancer tumors. Before being introduced to the animals, the tumor cells had been transfected with the firefly gene, which becomes part of the cells as they divide and grow just like genetically modified, herbicide-resistant food crops. For carrying out the study, firstly BLI was used to monitor light emissions from tumors, followed by administration of the luciferin. As the mice didn’t visibly glow, the researchers resorted to special light-detecting equipment for observing strong correlations between the amount of light emitted and the size of the tumor as it grew. However, the detected light emission was severely reduced after the vascular-disrupting drug was administered. “What we’ve done is offer proof-of-concept that BLI may be an effective and cheaper method to assess drug development and effectiveness. The technique is not intended to be used for imaging tumors or diagnosing cancer in humans, but it potentially allows us to do much more efficient pre-clinical experiments,” said Dr. Ralph Mason, professor of radiology, director of the UT Southwestern Cancer Imaging Center and senior author of the study. Mason highlighted that light-emission kinetics depend heavily on tumor location. Also, BLI has its advantages over the classic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). He further said that it’s time to initiate development of new chemotherapeutic drugs because existing therapies, when used on their own, are not up to the mark. “We’re lacking the optimal drugs as demonstrated by the people who are not cured by chemotherapy,” he said. He added that a number of existing drugs kill 99 percent of a tumor but still allow a few cells to survive, making it possible for the tumor to grow back. “Therefore, you need to do a lot of tests to optimize dosing, optimize repeat delivery and probably optimize the co-administration of other, more traditional drugs or therapies. BLI provides an opportunity to do those tests cheaply and efficiently,” he said. Mason said BLI instrument they used to collect this data is essentially an astronomy kit. “When you’re looking at the stars, you’re trying to assess very weak light signals. We’re using the same type of instrument to access very weak light coming out of an animal. The difference is that here, we have a very sensitive camera instead of a telescope,” he said. The findings are available online and in a future issue of the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Active social life helps prevent memory loss in older adults
31.05.2008 10:19
b4uindia.com
Older people who love to interact and socialise in parties, are less likely to experience memory loss, a problem long been associated with aging, says a new study. While memory loss is feared to have devastating effects on the quality of life among older people, researchers at Harvard School of Public Health have proved that elderly people with active social lives may have a slower rate of memory decline. "We hope this study adds to and advances our growing understanding of the important role that social forces play in shaping health," Live Science quoted researcher Karen Ertel, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Society, Human Development and Health at HSPH, as saying. In earlier studies it was mentioned that an active social life may cut the risk of dementia and cognitive decline among the elderly. While memory loss is considered to be a strong risk factor for dementia, researchers wanted to know if memory loss is also linked with social connectedness. For the study, researchers collected data from 1998 to 2004 from the Health and Retirement Study, a large, nationally representative population of U.S. adults 50 years and older. In 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004, the memory was examined by reading a list of 10 common nouns to survey respondents. They were then asked to recall as many words as possible immediately and after a five-minute delay. Also, the researchers took into account social integration in relation with marital status, volunteer activities, and contact with parents, children and neighbors. It was found that those with the highest social integration had the slowest rate of memory decline from 1998 to 2004. In fact, memory decline among the most integrated was less than half the rate among the least integrated. All these findings were irrespective of age, gender, race and health status in 1998. Also, the protective effect of social integration was found to be largest among individuals having less than 12 years of education. There was no evidence that the results could be due to reverse causation, that is, poor memory or memory decline causing social withdrawal. "Social participation and integration have profound effects on health and well-being of people during their lifetimes. We know from previous studies that people with many social ties have lower mortality rates. We now have mounting evidence that strong social networks can help to prevent declines in memory. As our society ages and has more and more older people, it will be important to promote their engagement in social and community life to maintain their well-being," said Lisa Berkman from HSPH. "We need to understand more about how social integration reduces the risk of memory decline in order to target interventions that can help slow the decline. Future research should focus on identifying the specific aspects of social integration most important for preserving memory," said Ertel. The results are detailed in the upcoming issue of the American Journal of Public Health and in a May 29 advance online edition. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
"Molecular Imaging: Build On The Past, Define The Future" Meeting In New Orleans, La., June 16, 2008
31.05.2008 10:12
medicalnewstoday.com
SNM hosts 55th Annual Meeting of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Research to be held June 14 -18, 2008, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, La., with more than 4,000 of the world's leading experts in molecular imaging and therapy and nuclear medicine attending.New research expected to be unveiled in the molecular imaging, neurology, cardiology and oncology fields has the potential to directly affect the future of patient care.
World
Radiology
Joint Sponsoring Of Interventional Cardiology Meeting By ACC And CRF, March 28-31, 2009
31.05.2008 09:09
medicalnewstoday.com
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) have announced a multi-year partnership to jointly sponsor the ACC i2 interventional cardiology meeting in Orlando, Fla., March 28-31, 2009, during ACC.09, the ACC's 58th Annual Scientific Session and the world's premier cardiovascular meeting. This will be the beginning of a five-year partnership committed to collectively developing the interventional component of the ACC Annual Scientific Session.
World
Cardiology
The Wiring Of Fairness In The Brain
31.05.2008 06:11
medicalnewstoday.com
In the biblical story in which two women bring a baby to King Solomon, both claiming to be the mother, he suggests dividing the child so that each woman can have half. Solomon's proposed solution, meant to reveal the real mother, also illustrates an issue central to economics and moral philosophy: how to distribute goods fairly.
World
Neurology
Challenges Associated With Vulvar Pain Disorder
31.05.2008 05:13
medicalnewstoday.com
Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (vvs), a vulvar pain disorder, affects approximately 15 percent of women. A new study in the journal Family Process reviews the experiences of couples in which the woman has a diagnosis of vvs and explores coping strategies that aid in the subsequent emotional, relational, and sexual challenges. There is no known cause or decisive treatment.Researchers including Jennifer J.
World
Sexology
Premerus Presents Radiology Cost Simulation Study At Nation's First Diagnostic Error In Medicine Conference
31.05.2008 05:13
medicalnewstoday.com
Premerus, the industry's first and only diagnostic management company (www.premerus.com) will deliver a poster presentation, "Improving Diagnostic Accuracy in Radiologist's Interpretations with Potential Savings," at the nation's first-ever national conference dedicated specifically to diagnostic error in medicine, May 31, 2008, Arizona Grand Resort, Phoenix, AZ.
World
Radiology
English