World / Health & Beauty
Latest Safeguarding Children Review Shows Most Vulnerable Children Not Yet Benefiting From Improvements To Services And Outcomes
10.07.2008 04:18
medicalnewstoday.com
Much has changed in the landscape of children's services since the previous Safeguarding Children report in 2005. As a result of improved safeguarding arrangements, most children now feel safe in their homes and communities, and are receiving the quality of care and support that they need. But some children and young people are still not well enough served by public services.
World
Children Diseases
Battle Against Superbugs Undermined By Failing Drugs
10.07.2008 04:17
medicalnewstoday.com
The fight against some superbugs and other bacteria is in danger of returning to a 'pre-antibiotic era' due to increasing resistance to medicines, according to a report issued today by the Royal Society. The report, Innovative mechanisms for tackling antibacterial resistance, criticises policies that only focus on infection control measures and restrictions on antibiotic use.
World
Infectious Diseases
Study Shows Potential To Greatly Diminish Ringing In The Ears
10.07.2008 04:17
medicalnewstoday.com
A study conducted at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has shown potential to markedly improve tinnitus, commonly known as "ringing in the ears." Mark Mennemeier, Ph.D., and John Dornhoffer, M.D., worked collaboratively to design the treatment study.
World
Hearing Disorders
Approaches To HIV Treatment In Africa And Europe Yield Similar Results
10.07.2008 04:17
medicalnewstoday.com
New research published in the open-access journal PLoS Medicine compares two different public health approaches to HIV treatment. The study authors find that the highly individualized approach to drug selection used in Switzerland is just as effective as the South African approach that used a limited number of drug combinations for all patients.
World
HIV/AIDS
Men With Diabetes Have More Damaged Sperm DNA
10.07.2008 04:17
medicalnewstoday.com
Conference delegates in Spain yesterday heard about new research from Ireland that found diabetes in men had a direct effect on male fertility because of higher damage to sperm DNA. The study was the work of Dr Con Mallidis from Queen's University, Belfast, and colleagues, and was presented at the 24th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology that finished yesterday, 9th July, in Barcelona.
World
Diabetes
New Call For Research Into Diabetes Complications
10.07.2008 04:17
medicalnewstoday.com
Diabetes UK is asking researchers to put forward proposals looking at 'novel interventions for the complications of diabetes.' This will form a crucial part of Diabetes UK's plan to invest a record £7.38m in 2008 to develop better treatments and prevention strategies, and ultimately to find a cure for diabetes. In particular, we plan to fund studies looking at new ways to prevent, halt, or reverse the complications associated with diabetes.
World
Diabetes
Diabetes UK Backs Prevention Research
10.07.2008 04:16
medicalnewstoday.com
Diabetes UK is delighted to announce its continued support of the National Prevention Research Initiative (NPRI), which funds research aimed at improving health and preventing conditions or diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, stroke and dementia. Sixteen government departments, research organisations and charities have backed the latest phase of the Medical Research Council's venture, which will make £12m available to UK researchers.
World
Diabetes
BIOLASE Launches New Waterlase(R) C100 All-Tissue Dental Laser System; Unveils Broadened Product Strategy
10.07.2008 04:16
medicalnewstoday.com
BIOLASE Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLTI), the world's leading dental laser company, announced the global launch of its new Waterlase® C100 hard and soft tissue laser. Designed for the restorative general dentist, the Waterlase C100 provides clinical procedures including cavity preparation, early stage periodontal therapy and soft tissue procedures with more patient comfort compared to conventional instrumentation.
World
Dentistry
Risk Factors Identified For Skin Cancer: Tumor Thickness, Immune Status, Desmoplastic Growth, And Location On The Ear
10.07.2008 04:16
medicalnewstoday.com
Several specific risk factors have been identified in the recurrence or spreading of cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma, or skin cancer. These factors, released on July 9, 2008 in The Lancet Oncology, include: a tumor thickness of 6.0 mm or more, desmoplastic growth, location at the ear, and immune suppression. Squamous-cell carcinomas (SCCs) are some of the most likely cancers to metastasize or spread.
World
Cancer
How brain encodes magnitude and delay of rewards
10.07.2008 03:33
b4uindia.com
Anticipation may be best when expecting something good, but humans and animals would rather not wait, preferring an immediate reward. Now, researchers have found how a decision-making region of the brain encodes information associated with the magnitude and delay of rewards. The preference for immediate reward is called temporal discounting, and the value of reward depreciated according to its delay is referred to as temporally discounted value. Previous animal studies aimed at studying the neural signals associated with the impact of reward magnitude and delay on choice behavior have been difficult to interpret. "Despite the fundamental role of time in decision making, how the brain encodes the temporally discounted values to guide the animal''s choice during intertemporal choice remains poorly understood," says lead author Dr. Daeyeol Lee from Yale University School of Medicine. Published in the journal Neuron, the scientists examined whether the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a part of the brain implicated in decision-making and contextual control of behaviors, is involved in temporal discounting and intertemporal choice. The researchers studied the brains and behaviors of animals trained in an intertemporal choice task where reward delays were indicated by clocks. Importantly, the positions of targets associated with small or large rewards and their corresponding delays were randomly varied. "We demonstrated that the neural signals in the DLPFC related to temporally discounted values did not simply reflect reward magnitude or reward delay,” Lee said. “In many DLPFC neurons, signals related to reward magnitude and delay were combined such that neurons tended to change their activity similarly when the reward from a particular choice becomes larger and when it becomes available more immediately," Lee added. The results suggest that activity related to temporally discounted values in the prefrontal cortex might determine the animal''s behavior during intertemporal choice. The authors caution that their findings likely reveal only a part of the process, as results from previous studies have suggested that the prefrontal cortex might be one of many brain regions involved in intertemporal choice. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Diabetes affects male fertility
10.07.2008 03:32
b4uindia.com
Diabetes has an adverse affect on men’s reproduction function, says a new study. The study led by Dr. Con Mallidis from Queen''s University, Belfast, UK, has found that that diabetes can cause DNA damage in sperm. For the study, the researchers studied semen samples from men with diabetes who were receiving insulin therapy. On initial routine microscopic examination the semen samples appeared normal, apart from a slight decrease in volume. "But when we looked for DNA damage, we saw a very different picture," said Dr. Mallidis. "Sperm RNA was significantly altered, and many of the changes we observed are in RNA transcripts involved in DNA repair. And comparison with a database of men of proven fertility confirmed our findings.” “Diabetics have a significant decrease in their ability to repair sperm DNA, and once this is damaged it cannot be restored," he said "We were particularly interested to see a fourteen-fold decrease in the expression of a protein called ornithine decarboxylase, which is responsible for the production of spermine and spermidine, compounds responsible for cell growth that help stabilise the structure of DNA. “We also found that spermatogenesis 20, a factor unique to the testis and whose function remains unknown, was greatly increased. Taken together, these factors indicate clearly that having diabetes has a direct influence on the health of semen," he added. Over the years possible causes for sperm DNA fragmentation have been suggested but to date the exact mechanism for the damage remains unknown. "We found a class of compounds known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the male reproductive tract. These are formed as the result of glycation (the addition of sugar)," said Dr. Mallidis, "and accumulate during normal ageing. “They are dependent on life style – diet, smoking etc – and in many diabetic complications are centrally implicated in DNA damage. We believe that they play a similar role in the male reproductive system," he added. The study was presented at 24th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
A balanced diet can help maintain brain health
10.07.2008 03:32
b4uindia.com
A professor at the University of California, Los Angeles says that a balanced diet and regular exercise not only protects from heart disease and cancer, but also from brain damage and mental disorders. "Food is like a pharmaceutical compound that affects the brain," Nature magazine quoted Prof. Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a neurosurgery and physiological science expert who has spent years studying the effects of food, exercise and sleep on the brain, as saying. "Diet, exercise and sleep have the potential to alter our brain health and mental function. This raises the exciting possibility that changes in diet are a viable strategy for enhancing cognitive abilities, protecting the brain from damage and counteracting the effects of aging," he added. Analysing over 160 studies about food''s affect on the brain, he found that omega-3 fatty acids found in foods like salmon, walnuts and kiwi fruit might help improve learning and memory. He said that omega-3 fatty acids might also help fight against mental disorders like depression, mood disorders, schizophrenia, and dementia. Gomez-Pinilla highlighted the fact that synapses in the brain connect neurons and provide critical functions, and that much learning and memory occurs at the synapses. "Omega-3 fatty acids support synaptic plasticity and seem to positively affect the expression of several molecules related to learning and memory that are found on synapses. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for normal brain function," he said. "Dietary deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in humans has been associated with increased risk of several mental disorders, including attention-deficit disorder, dyslexia, dementia, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. A deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in rodents results in impaired learning and memory," he added. According to him, studies conducted in England, Australia, and Indonesia suggested that omega-3 fatty acids might improve school children’s performance in reading and in spelling, and reduce behavioural problems among them. Gomez-Pinilla also said that recent research showed that a healthy diet and exercise could reduce the effect of brain injury, and lead to a better recovery. Blueberries are known to have a strong antioxidant capacity, he said, which can prevent the brain from oxidative damage. The researcher warned that diets high in trans fats and saturated fats adversely affect cognition, and that junk food and fast food negatively affect the brain’s synapses. He said that people could obtain cognitive benefits through a combination of a balanced diet, regular exercise, and a good night''s sleep. Folic acid is found in foods like spinach, orange juice and yeast is essential for brain function, and folate deficiency can lead to neurological disorders such as depression and cognitive impairment. Folate supplementation prevents cognitive decline and dementia during aging, and enhances the effects of antidepressants. The researcher also said that the high consumption of curcumin, found in the India curry spice turmeric, might help prevent Alzheimer''s disease and brain trauma. Gomez-Pinilla says that all persons do not have extremely good genes, and that many require a balanced diet, regular exercise and a good night''s sleep. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Obese men run the risk of being childless
10.07.2008 03:32
b4uindia.com
Big beer bellies not only pose threat to your heart but to your sperm production too, says a new study, which warned that obese men should consider losing weight if they want to have children. According to Dr. A Ghiyath Shayeb, from the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK, the research has shown that men with a higher body mass index (BMI) had lower volumes of seminal fluid and a higher proportion of abnormal sperm. In the study, the researchers looked at the results of seminal fluid analysis in 5316 men attending Aberdeen Fertility Centre with their partners for difficulties in conceiving. Two thousand and thirty seven of the men had complete data on their BMIs. "We felt that it was possible that male overweight might contribute to fertility problems, particularly since it is a known risk factor for problems in conceiving among women," he said. The scientists divided the men into four groups according to their BMI, from being underweight to being considerably overweight. Taking into account other characteristics that could confound the analysis, such as smoking, alcohol intake, age, social deprivation, and the length of time of abstinence from sex prior to producing a semen sample for analysis, they looked for a relationship between BMI and semen quality. The analysis showed that the men in Group B, who had an optimal BMI (20-25, as classified by WHO), had higher levels of normal sperm than those in the other groups. They also had higher semen volume. There was no significant difference between the four BMI groups in sperm concentration or motility. The researchers did not look at DNA damage in the sperm, preferring to look at the parameters of the routine semen analysis, which all men attending the fertility centre will have at least once. "Other studies have suggested an association between male obesity and increased DNA damage in the sperm, which can be associated with reduced fertility as well," said Dr. Shayeb. "Our findings were quite independent of any other factors, and seem to suggest that men who are trying for a baby with their partners, should first try to achieve an ideal body weight. This is in addition to the benefit of a healthy BMI for their general well being. "Adopting a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, and regular exercise will, in the vast majority of cases, lead to a normal BMI. We are pleased to be able to add improved semen quality to the long list of benefits that we know are the result of an optimal body weight," he added. Further research is needed on exactly how obesity affects semen production, said Dr. Shayeb. "The mechanism for the relationship could be a number of things - different hormone levels in obese men, simple overheating of the testicles caused by excessive fat in the area, or that the lifestyle and diet that leads to obesity could also lead to poorer semen quality. We just don''t know the answer yet, but this is an important question that needs urgent attention," he said. The study has been presented at the 24th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Water discovery challenges giant impact theory of the Moons formation
10.07.2008 03:32
b4uindia.com
Scientists have discovered for the first time that tiny beads of volcanic glasses collected from two Apollo missions to the moon contain water, which suggests that water was not entirely vaporized in the violent events that formed the Moon. The new study suggests that the water came from the Moon’s interior and was delivered to the surface via volcanic eruptions over 3 billion years ago. The finding calls into question some critical aspects of the “giant impact” theory of the Moon’s formation and may have implications for the origin of possible water reservoirs at the Moon''''s poles. It is believed that the Moon was formed when a Mars-size body collided with Earth some 4.5 billion years ago. This “giant impact” melted both objects and sent molten debris into orbit around the Earth, some of which coalesced to form the Moon. Under this scenario, the heat from the giant impact would have vaporized the light elements. Over the past forty years, there have been significant efforts to determine the content and origin of the volatile contents in the lunar samples. There is reliable evidence that the Moon’s interior contains sulfur, some chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. Yet the evidence for indigenous water has remained elusive, consistent with the general consensus that the Moon is dry. The research team, with scientists from Brown University, Carnegie Institution for Science, and Case Western Reserve University, took advantage of new methods for analyzing lunar samples to detect tiny amounts of water. Co-author of the paper, Erik Hauri of the Carnegie’s Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, developed new techniques that can detect extremely minute quantities of water in glasses and minerals by the technology called secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). “For the past four decades, the limit for detecting water in lunar samples was about 50 parts per million (ppm) at best,” explained Hauri. “We developed a way to detect as little as 5 ppm of water. We were really surprised to find a great deal more in these tiny glass beads, up to 46 ppm,” he added. The researchers estimated that there was originally about 750 ppm of water in the magma at the time of eruption. “Since the Moon was thought to be perfectly dehydrated, this is a giant leap from previous estimates,” said Hauri. “It suggests the intriguing possibility that the Moon''''s interior might have had as much water as the Earth’s upper mantle,” he added. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Newest fertility treatment may be a diet
10.07.2008 00:01
reuters.com
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The newest low-tech fertility treatment may be a diet, researchers said on Wednesday after learning that obese men have more abnormal sperm and make less semen.
World
Health & Beauty
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