World / Health & Beauty
Donor children 'emotionally well'
05.07.2008 20:02
bbc.co.uk
Children from assisted conception do as well emotionally as those conceived naturally, research suggests.
World
Health & Beauty
Nanostructures Improve Bone Response To Titanium Implants
05.07.2008 15:12
medicalnewstoday.com
Titanium implants were successfully introduced by P.-I. Branemark and co-workers in 1969 for the rehabilitation of edentulous jaws. After 40 years of research and development, titanium is currently the most frequently used biomaterial in oral implantology, and titanium-based materials are often used to replace lost tissue in several parts of the body. There are some alternatives to modulating the body's response after implant placement.
World
Orthopedics
Prevalence Of Religious Congregations Affects Mortality Rates
05.07.2008 14:12
medicalnewstoday.com
LSU associate professor of sociology Troy C. Blanchard recently found that a community's religious environment - that is, the type of religious congregations within a locale - affects mortality rates, often in a positive manner. These results were published in the June issue of Social Forces, a leading journal in the field of sociology.
World
Psychiatry
Rare Case Of Foreign-Accent Syndrome Reported In Canada
05.07.2008 13:38
medicalnewstoday.com
A woman in southern Ontario is one of the first cases in Canada of a rare neurological syndrome in which a person starts speaking with a different accent, McMaster University researchers report in the July issue of the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. The puzzling medical phenomenon known as foreign-accent syndrome (FAS) arises from neurological damage, and results in vocal distortions that typically sound like the speaker has a new, "foreign" accent.
World
Neurology
Beating Depression For Cancer Patients
05.07.2008 11:26
medicalnewstoday.com
A new treatment programme for cancer patients with clinical depression can significantly boost their quality of life according to new research published in the Lancet. Cancer Research UK scientists devised the treatment programme which offers patients one-to-one sessions with specially trained cancer nurses to help them manage their depression more effectively.
World
Depression
Horses are the animals that are most likely to cause human deaths!
05.07.2008 10:34
b4uindia.com
Horses are the animals that are most likely to cause human deaths in Australia, according to a report. Statistics compiled by the National Coroners Information System suggests that cows are the second most dangerous, followed by dogs. Sharks were fourth on the list of the most dangerous creatures. The statistics also suggested that crocodiles and spiders accounted for only slightly more deaths than emus, cats, and fish. For their investigation, coroners studied deaths linked to animals between 2000 and 2006. They found that 40 of the 128 deaths were caused by horses. Most of such mishaps took place when riders fell off, including one that resulted in a coroner recommending that helmets be encouraged for commercial horse riding and mandatory for tourism operations. The coroners also found that cows and bulls accounted for 20 fatalities, usually after a car hit the animal or swerved to miss it. Dog-related incidents claimed 12 human lives, including two from cars trying to avoid them, two from people falling over them, and seven from being attacked by them. According to the coroners, the country's traditionally most feared creatures sharks were responsible for 11 deaths, snakes eight, crocodiles four and spiders three. Two persons died when their cars struck emus, one died after a vehicle struck a sheep, and an elderly person died after tripping over a pet cat. Referring to the statistics, a Sydney Morning Herald report also said that 34 of the investigated deaths occurred on streets and highways, 28 at homes, and 22 on farms. The report also said that other casualties happened at sports fields, mines and schools. It added that over 50 per cent of the fatalities took place while people were travelling or involved in recreation, and men accounted for 87 of the 128 deaths. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Fatty acids offer targets for diabetes-related tissue injury
05.07.2008 10:34
b4uindia.com
Boston University researchers have revealed that omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids can be new therapeutic targets for diabetes-related tissue injury. The team found that these two fatty acids are precursors to a powerful new genus of anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution mediator, also known as 'resolvins' and 'protectins' respectively. These new local mediators counter and regulate pro-inflammatory signals and return tissues to homeostasis. In the studies using animal models, the researchers found that these mediators reverse several of the proinflammatory functional responses of white blood cells and macrophages in vitro and prevent inflammation It exhibits potential for new therapeutic options for resolving inflammation and tissue injury in diabetes. Vascular changes in diabetes lead to increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke due to atherosclerosis, retinopathy, end-stage renal disease, debilitating neuropathies, poor wound healing, enhanced risk of infection, and periodontal disease. The study was presented during the 86th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Extra gene copy stops boys from becoming boys
05.07.2008 10:34
b4uindia.com
A new study from Prince Henry's Institute in Melbourne has revealed that an extra copy of gene DAX1, which regulates sexual development might stop boys from being boys. One in 4500 babies is born with ambiguous or incomplete genital development, making it difficult for parents and doctors to identify whether the child should be raised as a boy or a girl. Lead researcher Louisa Ludbrook has revealed that an extra copy of DAX1 in male babies blocks the development of the testicles entirely, which is responsible for some cases of disorder of sexual development (DSD). The team discovered that increased production of DAX1 can block the production of another gene SOX9 - which is important in the development of testicles. When SOX9 production reaches a certain level testicles rather than ovaries develop. Ludbrook believes that the new study would help in earlier diagnosis and management DSD. "By knowing exactly the point when development of the testicles is blocked, we can help parents and doctors decide on the best treatment options for these kids, be it hormone therapy or surgery," News.com.au quoted Ludbrook, as saying. "And studying these kinds of conditions also helps us understand the broad sweep of human sexual development," she added. The study was presented at The World Congress on Hypospadias and Disorders of Sex Development in Rome. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Blame your fridge for your food poisoning!
05.07.2008 10:34
b4uindia.com
Pathogens in refrigerators at home may partly be responsible for food-related sicknesses, say experts. This proposition came from experts who met to address home-based food safety issues at the Institute of Food Technologists’ Annual Meeting and Food Expo in New Orleans recently. Dr. Fur-Chin Chen, a microbiologist at the University of Tennessee, said that a quarter of the refrigerators he inspected during a recent study contained a variety of pathogens. The researcher also said that vegetable bins were the most contaminated. “You don’t have to go to a restaurant or to a party to get sick,” said Dr. Chen. The experts highlighted the fact that consumers usually avoided weekly cleaning of their refrigerators. Referring to one study that calculated the percentage of consumers who clean their refrigerators once a month at 50, they said that the figure was likely exaggerated because people failed to clean thoroughly. According to them, refrigerators shouldn’t be more than 10 years old, and that they should be cleaned inside and out with dish soap once a week. Dr. Sandria Godwin with Tennessee State University’s Family and Consumer Sciences suggested that consumers allow the shelves and drawers to air dry. The meeting also saw panellists discussing the fact that risky food-handling practices increased with education and income, a phenomenon that none of them could explain. Godwin said that most people, whether well educated or not, thought that they knew more than they did. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
‘Taste’ gets people hooked to healthy food messages
05.07.2008 10:34
b4uindia.com
Taste is a significant factor that gets consumers hooked on food-health and food-safety messages, say experts. This fact was acknowledged by science, education, and marketing specialists who recently gathered to discuss how consumers influence and receive food-health and food-safety messages at Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting and Food Expo in New Orleans. “Taste is what it’s all about. The more health-related information and claims that manufacturers present, the more taste assurance the consumer needs,” said Dr. Nancy Childs, professor of marketing at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. While new ingredients and health claims could drive consumers to try a product, she said, good taste would bring back business. According to the experts, consumers respond to positive information, and want to hear about health and wellness rather than disease or deficiencies. Consumers go for price value as well as a product that will fit into their lives, and extend their life experience rather than cause them to “jump” into a brand-new way of seeing or tasting foods. The experts said that flavour variety was key, for flavour incarnations had kept consumers’ attention for decades. As to what prevented consumers from adopting healthful behaviours, despite being informed and educated about issues like food safety and weight reduction, Dr. Christine Bruhn of the University of California said: “People consider themselves knowledgeable already.” She added: “They’ve been doing these things just fine for all these years. They think they’re invincible. Other people get ill, not me. Still they don’t know recommended temperatures (for meats), how to store leftovers, and very few use a meat thermometer. We have to train them on the details.” Childs said that speaking to consumers directly and personally, especially through the Internet if the audience is younger than 35 years old, was crucial. “Brands can create communities around which people can solve problems,” said Childs. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
New HIV Health Support Service Launched Across London
05.07.2008 09:17
medicalnewstoday.com
On July 7, Terrence Higgins Trust and NAM are launching a new pan-London health support service for people living with HIV. The 'HIV Health Support Service' offers one to one or group meetings with a Health Trainer where people can learn more about HIV, treatments and managing their own condition.
World
HIV/AIDS
French EU Presidency Makes Fight Against Alzheimer's Disease A Priority
05.07.2008 08:22
medicalnewstoday.com
At a joint press conference with Commission President Barroso on 2 July 2008 highlighting the priorities of the French Presidency, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the commitment of the French Presidency to the development of a European Alzheimer's Plan. He stressed that the French Presidency would be working with all its partners to find concrete solutions for this scourge which affects millions of Europeans.
World
Alzheimer's Disease
Pioneering Stroke Researcher Awarded Canada's Highest Honor
05.07.2008 07:19
medicalnewstoday.com
Renowned stroke researcher Dr. Vladimir Hachinski has been named to the Order of Canada, the country's highest honor, for his lifetime contributions in the field of neurology. Hachinski is a "Distinguished University Professor" at The University of Western Ontario in the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
World
Neurology
'Mind's Eye' Influences Visual Perception
05.07.2008 07:19
medicalnewstoday.com
Letting your imagination run away with you may actually influence how you see the world. New research from Vanderbilt University has found that mental imagery--what we see with the "mind's eye"--directly impacts our visual perception. The research was published online June 26 by the journal Current Biology.
World
Neurology
New Antibiotic Beats Superbugs At Their Own Game
05.07.2008 06:12
medicalnewstoday.com
The problem with antibiotics is that, eventually, bacteria outsmart them and become resistant. But by targeting the gene that confers such resistance, a new drug may be able to finally outwit them.
World
Infectious Diseases
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