|
| - - European weblog on food, health and environment |
Week 27 2008
The benefits of green tea in
reducing an important risk factor for heart disease
More evidence for the beneficial effect of green tea on risk factors for heart disease has
emerged in a new study reported in the latest issue of European Journal of Cardiovascular
Prevention and Rehabilitation. The study found that the consumption of green tea rapidly
improves the function of (endothelial) cells lining the circulatory system; endothelial
dysfunction is a key event in the progression of atherosclerosis.
http://www.escardio.org/vpo/Press+Area/Press+Releases/2007-
esc-press-releases/Green-tea-good-for-heart.htm
'Multi-target' immune therapy
improves outcomes of severe lupus nephritis
A new treatment using a combination of drugs targeting different parts of the immune
system improves the recovery rate for patients with severe lupus involving the kidneys,
according to a report in the October Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
http://www.asn-online.org/press/pdf/2008-Media/Li-Lupus%20Study.pdf
Controlling Bone Disease Improves
Survival of Hemodialysis Patients
— Consistently maintaining certain blood levels of markers of bone metabolism and
disease can prolong the lives of patients on hemodialysis, according to a study appearing
in the September 2008 issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology
(CJASN). The findings indicate that keeping parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorous
levels in control is critically important for dialysis patients with chronic kidney
disease (CKD).
http://www.asn-online.org/press/pdf/2008-Media/Danese-Bone%20Disease%20Release.pdf
Following High-Blood Pressure Drug
Treatment, Women At Greater Risk Than Men For Enlarged Heart
Women may respond less favorably than men to cardiovascular disease (CV) drug-treatments
for enlarged heart, according to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical
Center physician-scientists. For the first time, researchers have uncovered that women
derive a lesser benefit than men from two common high-blood-pressure-lowering drugs —
losartan and atenolol — for the reduction of left-ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The
condition is a thickening and enlargement of muscle of the left ventricle of the heart and
a marker for future heart disease. The observations were made despite results showing that
blood pressure reduction was similar between genders.
http://news.med.cornell.edu/wcmc/wcmc_2008/07_01a_08.shtml
Following traumatic brain injury,
balanced nutrition saves lives
Clinician-scientists from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center are
suggesting an immediate and important change to guidelines used in the care of patients
with traumatic brain injury.
http://news.med.cornell.edu/wcmc/wcmc_2008/07_01_08.shtml
New oral angiogenesis inhibitor
offers potential nontoxic therapy for a wide range of cancers
The first oral, broad-spectrum angiogenesis inhibitor, specially formulated through
nanotechnology, shows promising anticancer results in mice, report researchers from
Children's Hospital Boston. Because it is nontoxic and can be taken orally, the drug,
called Lodamin, may be useful as a preventive therapy or as a chronic maintenance therapy
for a variety of cancers, preventing tumors from forming or recurring by blocking the
growth of blood vessels to feed them.
http://www.childrenshospital.org/newsroom/Site1339/mainpage
S1339P1sublevel440.html
Small protein may have big role in
making more bone and less fat
A small protein may have a big role in helping you make more bone and less fat,
researchers say.
https://my.mcg.edu/portal/page/portal/News/archive/2008/Small%20p
Blue light used to harden tooth
fillings stunts tumor growth
A blue curing light used to harden dental fillings also may stunt tumor growth, Medical
College of Georgia researchers say. "The light sends wavelengths of blue-violet light
to the composite, which triggers hardening," says Alpesh Patel, a rising MCG School
of Dentistry junior. "The light waves produce free radicals that activate the
catalyst and speed up polymerization of the composite resin. In oral cancer cells, though,
those radicals cause damage that decreases cell growth and increases cell death."
https://my.mcg.edu/portal/page/portal/News/archive/2008/Blue%20
light%20used%20to%20harden%20tooth%20fillings%20stunts%20tumor%20growth
Fungi the cause of many outbreaks
of disease but mostly ignored
Many people, scientists among them, are largely unaware of the roles fungi play in the
world around us. Research on fungi and fungal diseases are seriously neglected as a result
-- a situation with grave negative repercussions for human health, agriculture, and the
environment -- according to a new report from the American Academy of Microbiology.
http://www.asm.org/ASM/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/
000000004018/Fungal_Kingdom.pdf
Pediatric researchers find possible
'master switch' gene in juvenile arthritis
Researchers have found that a gene region known to play a role in some varieties of adult
rheumatoid arthritis is also present in all types of childhood arthritis. The researchers
say the responsible gene may be a "master switch" that helps turn on the
debilitating disease.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/micro_stories.pl?ACCT=15968
Weekends slow weight loss,
researchers find
Saturday can be the worst enemy for our waistlines, according to researchers at the School
of Medicine. They found that study subjects on strict diet and exercise programs tend to
lose weight more slowly than expected because they eat more on weekends than during the
week
http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/11972.html
Pesticides persist in ground water
Numerous studies over the past four decades have established that pesticides, which are
typically applied at the land surface, can move downward to reach the water table at
detectable concentrations. The downward movement of pesticide degradation products can
also contribute to the contamination of ground water. This study found that the pesticides
and degradation products detected most frequently in shallow ground-water samples were
predominantly from two classes of herbicides -- triazines and chloroacetanilides.
https://www.agronomy.org/press/releases/2008/0623/167/
Researchers coat titanium with
polymer to improve integration of joint replacements
Research at the Georgia Institute of Technology shows that coating a titanium implant with
a new biologically inspired material enhances tissue healing, improves bone growth around
the implant and strengthens the attachment and integration of the implant to the bone.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/giot-rct070108.php
Smokers suffer more back pain
Smokers suffer more chronic back pain. This was the result of the analysis of a
questionnaire performed by Monique Zimmermann-Stenzel and her colleagues and published in
the current edition of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/dai-ssm070108.php
Post-exercise caffeine helps
muscles refuel
Glycogen, the muscle's primary fuel source during exercise, is replenished more rapidly
when athletes ingest both carbohydrate and caffeine following exhaustive exercise, new
research from the online edition of the Journal of Applied Physiology shows. Athletes who
ingested caffeine with carbohydrate had 66 percent more glycogen in their muscles four
hours after finishing intense, glycogen-depleting exercise, compared to when they consumed
carbohydrate alone, according to the study, published by the American Physiological
Society.
http://www.the-aps.org/press/journal/08/25.htm
Designer diet for prostate cancer
For the first time, a research group at the Institute of Food Research led by Professor
Richard Mithen has provided an explanation of how eating broccoli might reduce cancer risk
based upon studies in men, as opposed to trying to extrapolate from animal models.
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer for males in western countries. The
research has provided an insight into why eating broccoli can help men stay healthy.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0002568
New discovery a step towards better
diabetes treatment
In today's issue of the prestigious journal Cell Metabolism Uppsala scientists are
presenting new findings that shed light on the processes that determine the release of the
blood sugar-lowering hormone insulin. The discovery is based on the development of image
analysis methods that make possible the detailed study of events immediately inside the
plasma membrane of the insulin-secreting cells.
http://www.uu.se/news/news_item.php?typ=pm&id=256&latin1=1
New way to predict prostate cancer
spreading
New way to predict prostate cancer spreadingFor men, one of the leading causes of death
from cancer is prostate cancer that has spread to a second site (something known as
metastatic prostate cancer). Defining the molecular mechanisms by which the initial tumor
becomes able to spread to a new site (a process known as metastasis) is likely to help
clinicians predict an individual's chance of survival and help researchers develop new
therapies. New data, generated by John Martignetti and colleagues, at Mount Sinai School
of Medicine, New York, has identified a specific form of the protein KLF6 (KLF6-SV1) as
indicative of poor survival in men with prostate cancer.
https://www.the-jci.org/article.php?id=34780
Calpain inhibitors never forget -
Improving memory in Alzheimer's disease mice
Overactivation of proteins known as calpains, which are involved in memory formation, has
been linked to Alzheimer disease. Ottavio Arancio and colleagues, at Columbia University,
New York, have now shown that two different drugs that inhibit calpains can improve memory
in a mouse model of Alzheimer disease (APP/PS1 mice), leading them to suggest drugs that
target calpains might stop or slow down the memory loss that occurs as Alzheimer disease
progresses.It is thought that dysfunctional signaling between nerve cells contributes to
the impaired cognition experienced by individuals with Alzheimer disease. In the study,
analysis of cells and tissue slices from APP/PS1 mice, specifically cells from the part of
the brain known as the hippocampus and hippocampal slices, indicated that exposure to
calpain inhibitors restored signaling between nerve cells to normal. The authors therefore
suggest that calpain inhibitors improve memory in APP/PS1 mice because they reestablish
normal signaling between nerve cells.
https://www.the-jci.org/article.php?id=34254
Newborns in ICUs often undergo
painful procedures, most without pain medication
An examination of newborn intensive care finds that newborns undergo numerous procedures
that are associated with pain and stress, and that many of these procedures are performed
without medication or therapy to relieve pain, according to a study in the July 2 issue of
JAMA.
http://pubs.ama-assn.org/media/2008j/0701.dtl#2
Grapeseedextract as effective as
red wine in preventing amyloid beta plaque build up
A compound found in grape seed extract reduces plaque formation and resulting cognitive
impairment in an animal model of Alzheimer’s disease, new research shows. The study
appears in the June 18 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. Lead study author Giulio
Pasinetti, MD, PhD, of Mount Sinai School of Medicine and colleagues found that the grape
seed extract prevents amyloid beta accumulation in cells, suggesting that it may block the
formation of plaques. In Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid beta accumulates to form toxic
plaques that disrupt normal brain function. The researchers tested a grape seed
polyphenolic extract product sold as MegaNatural-AZ, made by Polyphenolics, which in part
supported the study. Polyphenolic compounds are antioxidants naturally found in wine, tea,
chocolate, and some fruits and vegetables. To determine whether the extract could mitigate
the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, the researchers used mice genetically modified to
develop a condition similar to Alzheimer’s disease. They exposed pre-symptomatic
“Alzheimer’s mice” to the extract or placebo daily for five months. The
daily dose of the polyphenolic extract was equivalent to the average amount of
polyphenolics consumed by a person on a daily basis.
http://www.sfn.org/?pagename=news_061708b
Life-extending protein can also
have damaging effects on brain cells
Proteins widely believed to protect against aging can actually cause oxidative damage in
mammalian brain cells, according to a new report in the July Cell Metabolism, a
publication of Cell Press. The findings suggest that the proteins can have both proaging
and protective functions, depending on the circumstances, the researchers said.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/cp-lpc062408.php
Finding that could shed light on
'golden staph,' candida and allergies
Recent scientific findings explain why patients with a rare immunodeficiency disorder are
unusually susceptible to certain common infections. By revealing the exact molecular
mechanisms involved, they also give us clues as to why some "healthy" people are
more prone to these infections than others, and suggest potential treatments.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/ra-ftc063008.php
Researchers link early stem cell
mutation to autism
In a breakthrough scientific study published today in the PNAS, scientists at the Burnham
Institute for Medical Research have shown that neural stem cell development may be linked
to Autism. The study demonstrated that mice lacking the myocyte enhancer factor 2C protein
in neural stem cells had smaller brains, fewer nerve cells and showed behaviors similar to
those seen in humans with a form of autism known as Rett syndrome.
http://www.burnham.org/default.asp?contentID=594
Nerve Cells Derived from Embryonic
Stem Cells and Transplanted into Mice May Lead to Improved Brain Treatments
Scientists at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research have, for the first time,
genetically programmed embryonic stem (ES) cells to become nerve cells when transplanted
into the brain, according to a study published today in The Journal of Neuroscience. The
research, an important step toward developing new treatments for stroke, Alzheimer’s,
Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions showed that mice afflicted by stroke
showed tangible therapeutic improvement following transplantation of these cells. None of
the mice formed tumors, which had been a major setback in prior attempts at stem cell
transplantation.
http://www.burnham.org/default.asp?contentID=593
Migraine mutations reveal clues to
biological basis of disorder
By studying a rare, inherited form of migraine, researchers at Vanderbilt University
Medical Center have found clues to the biological basis of the painful, debilitating
disorder.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/vumc-mmr063008.php
Montreal Heart Institute and Mount
Sinai Hospital researchers contribute to Crohn's disease study
Twenty-one new genetic risk factors associated with Crohn's disease have been discovered,
more than doubling the amount of genetic information about the disease. An international
consortium of Crohn's disease researchers combined efforts, including major contributions
from Canadian researchers -- Dr. John D. Rioux from Montreal Heart Institute and
Université de Montréal and Drs. Mark Silverberg and Hillary Steinhart from Mount Sinai
Hospital in Toronto -- to publish this breakthrough study in Nature Genetics.
http://nouvelles.umontreal.ca/index.php?option=
com_content&task=view&id=1556&Itemid=206
New electrostatic-based DNA
microarray technique could revolutionize medical diagnostics
Berkeley Lab researchers have invented a technique in which DNA assays -- the key to
personalized medicine -- can be read and evaluated with no need of elaborate chemical
labeling or sophisticated instrumentation. Based on electrostatic repulsion that yields
images visible to the naked eye, the technique could revolutionize the use of DNA
microarrays for both research and diagnostics.
http://www.lbl.gov/publicinfo/newscenter/pr/2008/PBD-microarray.html
Heavy birthweight increases risk of
developing rheumatoid arthritis
People who have a birthweight over 10 pounds are twice as likely to develop rheumatoid
arthritis when they are adults compared to individuals born with an average birthweight,
according to a study published by researchers from Hospital for Special Surgery online in
advance of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. While the mechanism for this
association is unclear, the study identifies a potentially modifiable risk factor and
highlights a potential way to decrease the incidence of the disease.
http://www.hss.edu/newsroom_rheumatoid-arthritis-greater-with-high-birthweight.asp
Low levels of good cholesterol
linked to memory loss, dementia risk
Low levels of good cholesterol are associated with diminished memory by age 60.
Researchers encourage physicians to monitor levels of good cholesterol.
http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=451
Fatty liver disease may raise heart
disease risk in overweight, obese kids
Pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) raises cardiovascular risk in
overweight and obese children. More than 6 million children in the United States have the
fatty liver disease. NAFLD is most prevalent in children and adolescents of Hispanic and
Asian ethnicity. Researchers suggest all obese children and those with symptoms of
metabolic syndrome be screened for NAFLD.
http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=452
More severe bone infections, health
complications in children linked to MRSA, researchers find
The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as a major pathogen has led
to more complications and longer hospital stays for children with acute bone infections,
UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.
http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept353744/files/470225.html
Eating junk while pregnant can harm
your baby
We all know that smoking and drinking when pregnant can harm the baby, but new research
published in the Journal of Physiology suggests that poor diet may also cause
long-lasting, irreversible damage in offspring from heart disease to diabetes.
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/Media-office/Press-releases/2008/WTX049396.htm
Spray reduces pain in children
undergoing intravenous procedures
A topical spray reduced pain by 34 percent in children undergoing intravenous procedures,
such as injections and tube insertions, compared with a placebo group. The findings from
this double-blind, randomized controlled trial have clinical implications.
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/179/1/31
Finding a Single Mechanism for
Hypertension, Insulin resistance, and Immune Suppression
Many of the 75 million Americans with essential hypertension also develop diabetes and
other complications in addition to their high blood pressure, and researchers have
discovered a common molecular mechanism in a strain of rat that explains why such
metabolic disorders arise together in mammals.
http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/health/06-08Hypertension.asp
Silencing of molecular
'conversation' may help curb severe allergies
Scientists in Sydney have identified a process, a synergistic encounter between two
molecules, that may account for the extreme allergic reactions some people experience. By
silencing at least one of these molecules, it may be possible to treat allergies.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/ra-som062908.php
Growth hormone's link to starvation
may be clue to increasing life span, researchers find
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have determined that starvation blocks the
effects of growth hormone via a mechanism that may have implications in treating diabetes
and extending life span.
http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept353744/files/470190.html
Prebiotic potential of almonds
Recently published work by the Institute of Food Research has identified potential
prebiotic properties of almonds that could help improve our digestive health by increasing
levels of beneficial gut bacteria.
http://www.ifr.ac.uk/Media/NewsReleases/080627almondprebiotic.html
Device blocking stomach nerve
signals shows promise in obesity
A new implantable medical device, developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic researchers,
shows promise as a reversible and less extreme alternative to existing bariatric
surgeries, according to findings published in the current issue of the journal Surgery.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2008-rst/4892.html
Faulty DNA repair could be a risk
factor for lung cancer in nonsmokers
People who have never smoked but whose cells cannot efficiently repair environmental
insults to DNA are at higher risk of developing lung cancer than those with effective
genomic repair capability, according to researchers from the department of epidemiology at
the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
http://www.aacr.org/home/about-us/news.aspx?d=1083
Pregnancy may help protect against
bladder cancer
Pregnancy seems to confer some protection against bladder cancer in mice, scientists have
found. Female mice that had never become pregnant had approximately 15 times as much
cancer in their bladders as their counterparts that had become pregnant, according to new
findings by investigators at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Their work
appears online as a rapid communication in the journal Urology.
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/pr/news/story.cfm?id=2045
Portable device effective in
zapping away migraine pain
A novel electronic device designed to "zap" away migraine pain before it starts
has proven to be the next form of relief for those suffering from the debilitating
disease, according to a study conducted at The Ohio State University Medical Center.
Results of the study, to be presented Friday (6/27) at the annual American Headache
Society meeting in Boston, found that the experimental device is safe and effective in
eliminating headaches when administered during the onset of the migraine. With one in
eight Americans suffering from chronic migraines, Dr. Yousef Mohammad, a neurologist and
principal investigator of the study at Ohio State's Medical Center, says the study's
results are promising given that only 50 to 60 percent of migraine patients respond to
traditional migraine drug treatments. The noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulator
(TMS) device interrupts the aura phase of the migraine, often described as electrical
storms in the brain, before they lead to headaches. Migraine sufferers often describe
"seeing" showers of shooting stars, zigzagging lines and flashing lights, and
experiencing loss of vision, weakness, tingling or confusion, followed by intense
throbbing head pain, nausea and vomiting.
http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/mediaroom/press/article.cfm?ID=4059
A simple therapy for brain injury
Severe brain injury due to blunt force trauma could be reduced by application of a simple
polymer, polyethylene glycol or PEG, mixed in sterile water and injected into the blood
stream -- as reported in BioMed Central's Journal of Biological Engineering.
http://www.jbioleng.org/content/2/1/9
Novel proteins could potentially
treat arthritis
Our study shows that unique ASV derived from receptors which play key roles in
angiogenesis - namely VEGFR1 and, for the first time, Tie1 - can markedly reduce arthritis
severity. More broadly, our results demonstrate that ASV are a source of novel proteins
with therapeutic potential, in diseases in which angiogenesis and cellular hyperplasia
play a central role, such as RA.
http://arthritis-research.com/content/10/4/R73
Seniors with type 2 diabetes may
experience memory declines immediately after eating unhealthy meal
Adults with type 2 diabetes who eat unhealthy, high-fat meals may experience memory
declines immediately afterward, but this can be offset by taking antioxidant vitamins with
the meal, according to new research from Baycrest.
http://www.baycrest.org/News_and_Media/default_13149.asp
Watch out for the wrong kind of
sugar - fructose
Suspicion is growing that fructose -- found in fresh fruit, fruit juice and preserves --
is fueling the obesity epidemic. A US study has found that overweight adults who were
given large amounts of fructose in their diet had an alarming increase in intra-abdominal
fat -- which causes a pot belly and has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes and
cardiovascular disease. The study, announced at a meeting last week, did not find the same
results with a test group consuming glucose instead.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/ns-wof062508.php
Complementary medicines can help
mild depression and premenstrual syndrome
Many people use "alternative” or complementary products because they see them as
a more gentle form of medicine. Not all dietary supplements and "alternative”
products are harmless though. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health
Care has now analysed the latest research on several products and released the results
along with a guide for consumers.
http://www.iqwig.de/index.779.en.html
High levels of urinary albumin in
the normal range predict hypertension
Healthy individuals with higher levels of albumin excretion, even levels considered
normal, are at increased risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure), according
to a study appearing in the October 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Society
Nephrology. The study suggests that to prevent cardiovascular disease, the definition of
"normal" urinary albumin excretion should be reconsidered.
http://asn-online.org/press/pdf/2008-Media/Forman-Hypertension%20Release.pdf
Low childhood IQ linked to type of
dementia
Children with lower IQs are more likely decades later to develop vascular dementia than
children with high IQs, according to research published in the June 25, 2008, online issue
of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/aaon-lci061708.php
What exactly is a 'natural'
product?
The definition of 'natural' is
"produced or existing in nature." The definition of 'artificial' is "made
by human work." In contrast, the definition of 'synthetic' is "produced by
chemical synthesis, not by natural process." There are two types of products that
often carry the 'natural' label. The first are products that use natural materials to
produce a product that would appear on its own without human intervention, which is the
true definition of natural. The second are products made from natural ingredients but that
would not otherwise exist on its own, without human intervention.
http://www.herc.org/hercarticles/natural.htm
Other articles
Tip: Lisa Bakker
Enjoy your spring !
Try planting a garden of spring flowers on
your screen with this link:
http://www.procreo.jp/labo/flower_garden.swf
Click away for a couple of seconds. Fun!
Ditta
Nearly one-third of US parents
don't know what to expect of infants
Almost one-third of US parents have a surprisingly low-level knowledge of typical infant
development and unrealistic expectations for their child's physical, social and emotional
growth, according research from the University of Rochester. The new findings, which
suggest that such false parenting assumptions can not only impair parent-child
interactions, but also rob kids of much-needed cognitive stimulation, will be presented
Sunday, May 4, at the Pediatric Academic Society meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/uorm-n042808.php
Treatment advances for fibroids,
menopause
Women with fibroids and endometriosis facing the possibility of hysterectomy may now
choose less invasive treatment options to preserve fertility, according to Yale professor
Aydin Arici, M.D., who will direct a scientific session exploring these alternatives at
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Clinical Meeting May 3-7 in
New Orleans.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/yu-taf050208.php
It’s a Unisex Brain with
Specific Signals that Trigger “Male” Behavior
Research by Yale scientists shows that males and females have essentially unisex brains
— at least in flies — according to a recent report in Cell designed to identify
factors that are responsible for sex differences in behavior.
http://www.yale.edu/opa/newsr/08-05-01-03.all.html
Chocolate may be boon to pregnant
women, Yale study shows
Women who eat chocolate are at decreased risk of developing preeclampsia, a potentially
dangerous complication of pregnancy, a Yale study suggests.
http://www.yale.edu/opa/newsr/08-04-30-01.all.html
Fixing up 'this old house' may
increase young
Ripping out and tearing down to create a divinely designed home, a la HGTV, is all the
rage today -- and the economic downturn may be leading more families to renovate rather
than relocate. But a new study by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has found
that parents need to be aware that all this interior renovation can put their children's
health at risk due to exposure to lead.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/cchm-fu050108.php
Commonly used medications
associated with impaired physical function in older adults
Older adults who take drugs designed to block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine --
including common medications for incontinence, high blood pressure and allergies -- are
more likely to be dependent in one or more activities of daily living and to walk slower,
according to new findings from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine
and colleagues.
http://www1.wfubmc.edu/News/NewsARticle.htm?ArticleID=2359
A new idea for how anti-aging
products delay ripening of fruit and wilting of flowers
A research team led by UC Riverside's Michael Pirrung, a professor of chemistry, offers a
novel pathway for how "antiaging" products like EthylBloc and SmartFresh block
ethylene in plants, delaying the plants' demise and allowing people to enjoy their beauty
and products for longer than nature allows.
http://www.newsroom.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/display.cgi?id=1831
Study shows gene variations may
predict risk of breast cancer in women
According to a recent study, led by Virginia Kaklamani, MD, an oncologist at Northwestern
Memorial Hospital and assistant professor of medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg
School of Medicine, variations of the adiponectin gene, which regulates a number of
metabolic processes, may increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. This
discovery is an important step forward in cancer genetics research, as it could help
experts develop a future genetic testing model to more accurately predict a woman's risk
of developing breast cancer.
http://www.nmh.org/nmh/mediarelations/mediaoutputs.htm?cid=2712
Analysis of alcoholics' brains
suggests treatment target
An analysis of brain tissue samples from chronic alcoholics reveals changes that occur at
the molecular level in alcohol abuse -- and suggests a potential treatment target,
according to researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/wfub-aoa050208.php
Study in 7,000 men and women ties
obesity, inflammatory proteins to heart failure risk
Heart specialists at Johns Hopkins and elsewhere report what is believed to be the first
wide-scale evidence linking severe overweight to prolonged inflammation of heart tissue
and the subsequent damage leading to failure of the body's blood-pumping organ.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/jhmi-si7050108.php
Genetic breakthrough explains
dangerously high blood glucose levels
Canadian, French and British researchers have identified a DNA sequence that controls the
variability of blood glucose levels in people. This is a potentially significant discovery
because high blood glucose levels in otherwise healthy people often are indications of
heart disease and higher mortality rates. The results will be published May 1 in the
online version of the journal Science.
http://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/news/item/?item_id=100264
Flower power may bring ray of
sunshine to cancer sufferers
We are interested in this miniprotein as a potential treatment of prostate cancer, in
particular for those patients who relapse,” said Dr Harris. The best thing to do in
those cases is block the disease spreading to other organs, particularly the spine, which
is very debilitating; it is not the prostate tumour that kills you, it is when the cancer
cells escape from the prostate so we want to prevent that. Another QUT researcher,
Professor Judith Clements, had previously shown that the action of enzymes called
proteases was a key event in tumour spread, and Dr Harris said that the sunflower
mini-protein, known as the protease inhibitor, was able to block these enzymes in test
tube-based assays. However, it also inhibits a whole range of proteases, some of which
control important processes in the body, so we have re-engineered the molecule so it
should just block the proteases produced in prostate cancer and hence stop tumour
spreading, whilst leaving other processes intact,” he said.
http://www.news.qut.edu.au/cgi-bin/WebObjects/
News.woa/wa/goNewsPage?newsEventID=16677
Discovery has implications for
heart disease
A study, led by University of Iowa researchers, reveals a new dimension for a key heart
enzyme and sheds light on an important biological pathway involved in cell death in heart
disease. The study, published in the May 2 issue of Cell, has implications for
understanding, and potentially for diagnosing and treating, heart failure and arrhythmias.
The UI researchers and colleagues from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., focused
on calmodulin kinase II, or CaM kinase II, a well-studied enzyme critical to many
fundamental processes including heartbeat and thought.
http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2008/may/050108heartdisease.html
Study raises questions about
prostate cancer therapies targeting IGF-1
Therapies under development to treat prostate cancer by inhibiting the ability of
insulin-like growth factor to activate its target receptor could have unexpected results
especially if a major tumor suppressor gene -- p53 -- is already compromised,
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/fhcr-srq042508.php
Sleep duration related to having
the metabolic syndrome
A study published in the May 1 issue of the journal Sleep is the first known to report
that short and long sleepers are more likely to have metabolic syndrome, or a combination
of medical disorders that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
http://www.aasmnet.org/Articles.aspx?id=847
New Study in the Journal SLEEP
Finds a Consistent, Worldwide Association Between Short Sleep Duration and Obesity in
Children and Adults
A study published in the May 1 issue of the journal SLEEP is the first attempt to quantify
the strength of the cross-sectional relationships between duration of sleep and obesity in
both children and adults. Cross-sectional studies from around the world show a consistent
increased risk of obesity among short sleepers in children and adults, the study found.
Francesco P. Cappuccio, MD, of Warwick Medical School in the United Kingdom, and
colleagues performed a systematic search of publications on the relationship between short
sleep duration and obesity risk. Criteria for inclusion were: report of duration of sleep
as exposure, body mass index (BMI) as continuous outcome and prevalence of obesity as
categorical outcome, number of participants, age and gender.
http://www.aasmnet.org/Articles.aspx?id=846
Physical activity, healthy eating
and BMI not linked in older teens
Contrary to what many researchers expect, physically active older teens don't necessarily
eat a healthier diet than their less-active contemporaries. And there appeared to be no
link between body mass index values and levels of physical activity, the research showed.
http://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/news/item/?item_id=100253
Study links diabetes and
Alzheimer's disease
Diabetic individuals have a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease
but the molecular connection between the two remains unexplained. Now, researchers at the
Salk Institute for Biological Studies identified the probable molecular basis for the
diabetes -- Alzheimer's interaction.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-04/si-ssl043008.php
Synergistic growth inhibitory
effect of herbal extracts against HCC and lung cancer cells
A team led by Dr. Khosit Pinmai from Thammasat University has investigated the combination
effects of P. emblica and T. bellerica extracts with conventional cytotoxic agents against
human cancer cells. This study shows a synergistic effect of P. emblica and T. bellerica
extracts with doxorubicin and cisplatin against human hepatocellular carcinoma and lung
cancer cells.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-04/wjog-sg043008.php
Daily aspirin may reduce risk of
common type of breast cancer
Taking aspirin on a daily basis may lower women's risk of a particular type of breast
cancer, according to results published in BioMed Central's open access journal Breast
Cancer Research. In this large study, aspirin use was linked to a small reduction in
estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers. However, unlike in some previous research,
aspirin and related painkillers were not found to reduce the total risk of breast cancer.
http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/10/2/R38
Antiproliferative and cytostatic
effects of the natural product eupatorin on MDA-MB-468 human breast cancer cells
The flavone eupatorin is selectively activated in breast cancer cells, but not in normal
breast cells, due to CYP1 family metabolism. This provides a basis for selectivity which
is desired against breast tumor cells. In this sense, eupatorin is shown by this study to
be a very promising chemopreventative candidate, which should be further examined in an in
vivo study.
http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/10/3/R39
USC School of Dentistry researchers
uncover link between osteoporosis drugs and jaw infection
A group of University of Southern California School of Dentistry researchers says it has
identified the slimy culprits killing the jawbones of some people taking drugs that treat
osteoporosis.
http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/15208.html
Butter-flavored popcorn ingredient
suspected cause of lung disease
An unusually high incidence of lung disease has been diagnosed in workers at popcorn
factories. Researchers are focusing on diacetyl, the ingredient which is largely
responsible for the odor and flavor of the butter in popcorn, according to an article
published by SAGE in the current issue of Toxicologic Pathology.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-04/sp-bpi042908.php
Scientists at Yale provide
explanation for how cancer spreads
Metastasis, the spread of cancer throughout the body, can be explained by the fusion of a
cancer cell with a white blood cell in the original tumor, according to Yale School of
Medicine researchers, who say that this single event can set the stage for cancer's
migration to other parts of the body.
http://www.yale.edu/opa/newsr/08-04-28-02.all.html
New treatment could reduce chronic
lung disease in premature babies
A less traumatic way of delivering surfactant, a lung lubricant that premature babies need
to help them breathe, could reduce the incidence of respiratory problems they'll have
later, Medical College of Georgia physicians say.
https://my.mcg.edu/portal/page/portal/4C0451FF89C1044DE0440003BAD149FF
Immune system kick-started in moist
nasal lining in sinusitis, asthma and colds
Scientists at Johns Hopkins have outlined a new path for potential therapies to combat
inflammation associated with sinusitis and asthma based on a new understanding of the
body’s earliest immune response in the nose and sinus cavities.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2008/04_29_08.html
Imaging study provides glimpse of
alcohol's effect on brain
New brain imaging research published this week shows that, after consuming alcohol, social
drinkers had decreased sensitivity in brain regions involved in detecting threats, and
increased activity in brain regions involved in reward. The study, in the April 30 issue
of the Journal of Neuroscience, is the first human brain imaging study of alcohol's effect
on the response of neuronal circuits to threatening stimuli.
http://www.sfn.org/index.cfm?pagename=news_042908
Getting to the roots of breast
cancer
The lesson learned in eradicating dandelions from your yard could apply in treating breast
cancer, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston in a report that
appears online today in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. "It's not
enough to kill the dandelion blossom and stalk that appear above ground," said Dr.
Michael Lewis, assistant professor of molecular and cellular biology and a faculty member
in the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Cancer Center at BCM. "You have to kill the root
beneath the soil as well." In a study involving women with breast cancer, he and
colleagues at BCM showed that while conventional anti-cancer drugs can kill the bulk of
breast cancer tumors, they leave behind many of the breast cancer stem cells from which
tumor cells arise, setting the stage for the tumor to come back.
http://www.bcm.edu/news/item.cfm?newsID=1114
Genes for common heart condition
and kidney problem identified
A gene that can cause the heart to become enlarged, greatly increasing the risk of heart
attacks and heart failure, is identified today in a new study. A gene that can cause the
kidney to become inflamed, which can lead to kidney failure, is also revealed in a
parallel discovery. The heart research, published in the journal Nature Genetics, reveals
how a gene called osteoglycin, which had not previously been linked with heart function,
plays a key role in regulating heart growth.
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/
newssummary/news_29-4-2008-13-31-10?newsid=34894#fni-4
Causes of disease can be revealed
by metabolic fingerprinting
Your metabolic 'fingerprint' can reveal much about the possible causes of major diseases,
according to the first 'metabolome-wide' association study ever carried out, published
today in the journal Nature. The study provides new insights into the possible causes of
high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart disease and stroke, by analysing the
metabolic fingerprints of 4,630 adults in the UK, USA, China and Japan, from their urine
samples.
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/
newssummary/news_21-4-2008-11-57-56?newsid=34334#fni-3
Cell-based therapy shows promise in
patients with Parkinson's disease
A novel cell therapy using retinal pigment epithelial cells attached to tiny gelatin bead
microcarriers implanted in the brain can improve the symptoms of patients with moderate to
advanced Parkinson's disease.
http://www.rush.edu/webapps/MEDREL/servlet/NewsRelease?ID=1035
Thyrotropin levels may be
associated with coronary heart disease mortality in women
Women with increasing levels of thyrotropin within the normal range appear to have a
higher risk of fatal coronary heart disease, according to a report in the April 28 issue
of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-04/jaaj-tlm042408.php
[
News of week 18 ]
|
|
|