World / Health & Beauty
Retinal transplant boosts vision
12.07.2008 21:04
bbc.co.uk
An experimental transplant of cells into the eyes of patients with failing sight improved vision in most of them, US researchers say.
World
Health & Beauty
Brain Cells Related To Fear Identified
12.07.2008 15:15
medicalnewstoday.com
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that in any given year, about 40 million adults (18 or older) will suffer from some form of anxiety disorder, including debilitating conditions such as phobias, panic disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is estimated that nearly 15 percent of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan develop PTSD, underscoring the urgency to develop better treatment strategies for anxiety disorders.
World
Depression
Middle Eastern Families Help Scientists Pinpoint Autism Genes
12.07.2008 12:15
medicalnewstoday.com
The hunt for gene mutations that contribute to autism has proceeded slowly, largely because autism encompasses a spectrum of diseases. Just as its symptoms vary widely among individuals, so do the genetic mutations that cause them.
World
Autism
College environment behind students'' binge drinking
12.07.2008 10:17
b4uindia.com
A 14-year study of heavy alcohol consumption or binge drinking among college students in the United States has linked the conditions in the college environment as being the cause. Factors such as easy access to alcohol, low prices and special promotions, weak control policies and lax enforcement are what encourage binge drinking, the review stated. Researchers with the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study (CAS) had discovered that the college environment was the main contributor to binge drinking, after making a landmark study that surveyed more than 50,000 students at 120 colleges from 1993 to 2001. During its 14-year existence, the CAS focused attention on widespread binge drinking at American colleges and the ensuing serious health and social consequences to drinkers, fellow students and neighbours. CAS''s findings and implications were examined once again and according to a new review, the researchers concluded that the heavy drinking behaviour of students was more common in college environments that have a strong drinking culture, few alcohol control policies on campus or in the surrounding community, weak enforcement of existing policies, and alcohol made easily accessible through low prices, heavy marketing and special promotions. CAS Director Henry Wechsler, lecturer on society, human development and health at Harvard School of Public Health and Assistant Director Toben Nelson, assistant professor of epidemiology and community health at the University of Minnesota, conducted the review. "Our study drew attention to the heavy drinking of students, most of whom were not considered alcoholics or in need of traditional treatment, but nevertheless experienced problems as a result of their drinking," Wechsler said. The CAS found that students who binge drink as five or more drinks in a row for males, and four or more drinks for females, on a single occasion in the past two weeks, are more likely to experience a wide range of problems, including academic difficulties, social conflict, risky sexual behaviour, risky driving behaviour, vandalism, injury and alcohol overdose. The study also discovered that binge drinkers were more likely to engage in other risk behaviours such as tobacco and illicit drug use. Students who binge drink frequently were most likely to experience these problems. Besides the harm that they can cause themselves, CAS also pointed out the problems that drinkers can cause for others on and around campus. The "secondhand" effects of alcohol use, similar to the concept of secondhand smoke, helped people understand that student drinking is harmful to the larger campus community. These problems include drinking-related behaviour that is disruptive to studying and sleep, vandalism, and physical and sexual assaults. "The five/four drink binge measure is a good indicator of who will experience alcohol-related problems, and more importantly, captures most students who actually experience problems, something measures with higher drink thresholds fail to do," Wechsler said. "Binge drinking among college students varies widely from college to college," Toben Nelson said. "At some colleges almost no students binge drink, while at others nearly four in every five students do. Interestingly, we found that the levels of binge drinking, and the problems related to it, remain very stable at the same colleges over time. This finding occurred despite surveying a new group of students in each of the CAS surveys. "That suggests there is something about certain college environments that promote binge drinking," added Nelson. On the other hand, colleges that restricted use by banning alcohol on campus or offering substance-free housing options had fewer drinkers, and as a result lower binge drinking levels. The state and local government can also play a role in cutting back binge drinking, as was found out about students who attended colleges in states with stronger alcohol control policies were less likely to be binge drinkers. The other factor contributing to binge drinking is when students have an easy access to alcohol. "A ''wet'' college environment, one that has many stores where students can buy alcohol, and may be influenced to do so by heavy marketing, low prices and special promotions, creates the conditions for heavy drinking," Wechsler said. The review appears in the July 2008 issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
HRT patches cut gall bladder disease risk in postmenopausal women
12.07.2008 10:17
b4uindia.com
Hormone replacement therapy patches can lower the risk of gall bladder disease in postmenopausal women. Hormone replacement therapy is known to increase gallbladder problems, which require surgery to remove the organ. A team of Oxford University researchers found that the rate of operations for women who used HRT patches was significantly lower than those taking pills. The gallbladder is a small organ, attached to the base of the liver, which stores and concentrates bile, a substance which helps the body digest fat. In the study of more than one million post-menopausal women, the researchers found that nearly 20,000 women admitted to hospital with gallbladder disease, and more than 17,000 of these underwent a surgery. The hospital admission rates for patch-wearers were only 30 pct higher than for those who did not take HRT, while the rates for pill-users were nearly twice. According to the researchers, while the liver next to gallbladder, mostly breaks down hormone oestrogen taken in pill form before entering the circulation, the lower doses in the patch are absorbed directly through the skin into the bloodstream. Dr David Sturdee, from the International Menopause Society, said he was "surprised" by the high numbers of women found by the study to be suffering gallbladder problems. "It''s not a problem that many women are aware of," BBC quoted him as saying. "Many opt for the pills because they are simpler, cheaper and because some women find that they cannot tolerate the patches due to skin irritation." The team predicted that over a five-year period if women taking HRT pills switched over to patches, it would reduce the number of gallbladder removal operation taking place. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Global warming fuelling malaria vaccine need
12.07.2008 10:17
b4uindia.com
Global warming has led to a rapid increase in the number of malaria cases, thereby fuelling the need for lifesaving vaccinations to those in need, says an expert. Experts fear that the drastic changes in the climate may further increase the number of cases in the coming years. “Forty-one percent of the human race lives in areas of high malaria transmission,” said Dr. Sylvain Fleury, Chief Scientific Officer at Mymetics, a Swiss vaccine biotech currently developing a vaccine with the potential to control malaria in developing countries. “Because Europe, North America, and North Asia are now significantly colder than regions of high malaria incidence, developed nations have felt immune from the malaria threat, but that sense may soon be upended,” Fleury added. Studies have shown that even a modest temperature increase can extend the proliferation of malaria-bearing mosquitoes. Therefore, as temperatures rise, billions of people could find themselves living in regions of high malaria incidence. “The best way to prevent the spread of malaria into warming areas of the globe is to find a solution before the situation worsens,” said Dr. Fleury. “If we can begin to curb the spread of malaria in high threat areas, the eventual reach of the disease will be seriously limited,” he added. Due to global warming malaria has already returned to the areas such as Peru that had already eradicated the disease forty years ago. America saw 1,337 cases, including eight deaths, as recently as 2002 - the importance of developing a vaccine for the disease is becoming more and more urgent. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Private Healthcare Provider Fined For Breaching Conditions Of Registration
12.07.2008 10:12
medicalnewstoday.com
The Healthcare Commission has secured the conviction of Orthopaedic and Spine Specialty Clinic Ltd, a company which runs an orthopaedic hospital in Peterborough, and Mr Ahmed Shair, an orthopaedic surgeon and sole director of the company which owns the hospital. On Wednesday 9 July at Peterborough Magistrates' Court in Cambridgeshire, the company was fined under the Care Standards Act 2000 for breaching the conditions of its registration as a healthcare provider.
World
Orthopedics
American Diabetes Association Applauds U.S. Congress For Extending Special Diabetes Programs
12.07.2008 09:10
medicalnewstoday.com
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) applauds the U.S. Congress for voting in favor of extending the Special Diabetes Programs (SDP) for two more years. Today, the U.S. Senate voted in support of a Medicare package that included a two-year extension of the Special Diabetes Programs. The measure recently passed in the U.S. House of Representatives as well.
World
Diabetes
Alcohol's Impact On Heart And Stroke Risk May Differ For Men, Women
12.07.2008 09:10
medicalnewstoday.com
The volume of alcohol consumption may have a significantly different effect on heart and stroke risk in men and women, according to a study of Japanese people published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. "An amount of alcohol that may be beneficial for men is not good for women at all," said Hiroyasu Iso, M.D., co-author of the study and professor of public health at Osaka University in Japan.
World
Harmful Habits
Smoking May Be Responsible For Alaskan Eskimos' High Rates Of Artery Plaque
12.07.2008 08:10
medicalnewstoday.com
Alaskan Eskimos' significantly higher rates of fatty artery plaque than the general U.S. population may be due to unhealthy lifestyle habits, researchers report in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
World
Weight Correction
BioAlliance Pharma Launches Loramyc(R) In The UK, Germany And Denmark
12.07.2008 08:09
medicalnewstoday.com
BioAlliance Pharma SA (Euronext Paris - BIO), the specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of opportunistic infections in cancer and HIV, announced the launch of its lead product Loramyc® on the British, German and Danish markets. "This simultaneous product launch in three European countries crowns the efforts of our teams and marks another concrete step in the internationalization of our business.
World
Cancer
British Dental Association Response To Review Of The National Dental Contract In Wales
12.07.2008 06:10
medicalnewstoday.com
The British Dental Association has welcomed the publication of the Welsh Assembly Government Task and Finish Group's Review of the Dental Contract in Wales. The report notes issues around the new dental contract including concerns about the system of units of dental activity and problems encountered by local health boards in commissioning dental care.
World
Dentistry
Urologic Problems You Should Not Ignore This School Year
12.07.2008 05:16
medicalnewstoday.com
Your son hurts himself "down there" while playing on the see-saw, your daughter doesn't want to attend a sleepover because she wets the bed, or your child wets his or her pants at school and needs a change of clothes. An injury is certainly frightening, and "accidents" can cause children embarrassment and distress. The American Urological Association (AUA) has experts available to talk about these important urologic conditions parents may face this school year.
World
Urology
Media Advisory: Asthma Exacerbations Coincide With Back-to-School Season
12.07.2008 05:15
medicalnewstoday.com
For most children, heading back to school this fall means heading back to an environment filled with new friends, teachers and opportunities. However, for the more than one in every 20 children affected by asthma (1), a new school year means exposure to triggers that may aggravate asthma symptoms. Recent studies show that asthma attacks increase in the back-to-school months, and that asthma emergency room and hospitalization rates spike in September.
World
Asthma
Expert Serves Up The Skinny On Healthy And Fun School Lunches
12.07.2008 05:15
medicalnewstoday.com
In the battle against childhood obesity, the best way to defend your children against the fat-filled foods and sugary sweets lurking at school is to arm them with a healthy lunch made at home. To prepare your children for all the options that will face them at school from offerings in the cafeteria lunch line to vending machines and a la carte programs remember that good eating habits start at home, said Netty Levine, R.D., a registered dietitian at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
World
Weight Correction
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