Health News

Diet high in a certain fat may help weight loss

Date: Oct-06-2013
Scientists say that following a diet high in a particular type of fat may increase metabolism and help people to lose weight. This is according to a study published in The Journal of Lipid Research. Researchers from Texas Tech University say their findings could lead to the development of supplements and a diet regime that could speed up metabolism while reducing muscle fatigue. The researchers say that the skeletal muscles of those who suffer from obesity contain a particular enzyme, called SCD1, that is able to break down saturated fats...

Potential new drug identified for inherited cancer

Date: Oct-06-2013
Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have identified a new drug candidate for an inherited form of cancer with no known cure. The new study showed the drug candidate - known as FRAX97 - slowed the proliferation and progression of tumor cells in animal models of Neurofibromatosis type 2. This inherited type of cancer, caused by mutations in the anti-tumor gene NF2, leads to tumors of the auditory nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain...

Symptoms of eczema could be prevented by blocking nerve cells

Date: Oct-06-2013
A new picture of how the nervous system interacts with the immune system to cause the itch and inflammation associated with eczema, a chronic skin disease, could lead to new therapies for the condition, according to University of California, Berkeley, scientists. Some 10 percent of the population suffers from eczema, or atopic dermatitis, at some point in their lives, but there are no cures or even good treatments for it...

Being left-handed is not 'in the genes,' study shows

Date: Oct-06-2013
Over 10% of the US population is left-handed - and this percentage seems to be about the same in most countries around the world. Though no one knows exactly what makes someone left- or right-handed, it is tempting to say it is genetic. But new research from the UK challenges this belief. The University of Nottingham's Prof. John Armour and Dr. Angus Davison, and University College of London's Prof. Chris McManus, have ruled out a "strong genetic determinant" in influencing handedness...

Cats adapt protein, fat and carbohydrate intake to meet the changing demands of pregnancy and lactation

Date: Oct-06-2013
Lactating cats not only increase their total calorie consumption, they also significantly alter the make-up of their diet to meet the demands of feeding a litter, research from the WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition has shown. The research provides intriguing insights into cats' feeding behaviour and strong evidence that they are able to adapt their macronutrient intake, i.e. their intake of protein, fat and carbohydrate, to meet their physiological requirements. "It's no surprise that, just like humans, cats require more energy during pregnancy and when feeding their young...

Post-traumatic stress disorder increases risk of metabolic syndrome

Date: Oct-05-2013
People suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and death. A new study involving a comprehensive review of the medical literature shows that PTSD also increases an individual's risk of metabolic syndrome. What links these two disorders is not clear, according to a study published in Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available on the Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders website...

Cell-culture transplant possible for neurological disorders

Date: Oct-05-2013
Scientists say that small brain biopsies could be used to grow large numbers of cells, which could then be transplanted back into the patient's own brain. This is according to a study published in The FASEB Journal. Researchers from Western University and the Lawson Health Research Institute in Canada, say the procedure could prove beneficial in treating patients with various neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, and injuries of the nervous system. The study, funded by the Michael J...

Treating cutaneous ulcers with human skin wound dressings

Date: Oct-05-2013
Researchers from Universite Laval's Faculty of Medicine and CHU de Quebec have shown that it is possible to treat venous ulcers unresponsive to conventional treatment with wound dressings made from human skin grown in vitro. A study published recently in the journal Advances in Skin and Wound Care demonstrates how this approach was successfully used to treat venous lower-extremity ulcers in patients who had been chronically suffering from such wounds. About 1% of the population suffers from lower-extremity ulcers...

Gloves and gowns do not protect against MRSA or VRE, study shows

Date: Oct-05-2013
Researchers have found that wearing gloves and gowns in intensive care units does not reduce overall rates of acquiring MRSA or VRE, a study published online by JAMA has revealed. Bacteria methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) are the primary causes of health care-associated infections. And these, as the study notes, are the most common complication of hospital care, affecting an estimated 5% of inpatients. The study also records that the cost of antibiotic-resistance in the US is estimated at more than $4 billion per year...

Scientists Shed Light on Body's Master Energy Regulator

Date: Oct-05-2013
Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have discovered some key features that explain just what turns on a protein that is considered to be a master regulator of how the human body uses and stores energy. The new discoveries could help in the design and development of new therapeutics to treat metabolic disease such as diabetes and obesity - and perhaps some cancers as well. The new study, led by Patrick R. Griffin, chair of the TSRI Department of Molecular Therapeutics, was published recently online ahead of print by the journal Structure...