Health News

Identifying Women Who Should Be Screened For High Cholesterol

Date: May-23-2013
National guidelines recommend that at-risk women be screened for elevated cholesterol levels to reduce their chances of developing cardiovascular disease. But who is 'at risk?' The results of a study by investigators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to estimate the proportion of women young and old who have cholesterol levels that meet the definition of being at-risk are reported in an article in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available on the Journal of Women's Health website...

Using Anabolic Steroids May Affect Your Future Mental Health

Date: May-23-2013
There is a link between use of anabolic-androgenic steroids and reduced mental health later in life. This is the main conclusion of a new study on elite male strength athletes that researchers from the University of Gothenburg recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Twenty per cent of the subjects in the study admitted steroid use. The study is published by CERA, which is the University of Gothenburg's centre for education and research on addiction...

Health Care Costs More Than Year Of Groceries For American Families

Date: May-23-2013
The average family in the U.S. with health insurance coverage through their employer now spends more on yearly medical care than on a year of groceries, according to a new study. The report, the 2013 Milliman Medical Index, published by Milliman Inc., looked at the costs of health care for a family of four living in the U.S. The experts found that the yearly cost of benefits through an employer-sponsored preferred organization increased 6.2% to $22,030, compared to $20,728 last year. Chris Girod, principal and consulting actuary at Milliman Inc...

Compound In Mediterranean Diet Makes Cancer Cells 'Mortal'

Date: May-23-2013
New research suggests that a compound abundant in the Mediterranean diet takes away cancer cells' "superpower" to escape death. By altering a very specific step in gene regulation, this compound essentially re-educates cancer cells into normal cells that die as scheduled. One way that cancer cells thrive is by inhibiting a process that would cause them to die on a regular cycle that is subject to strict programming...

How Disruption Caused By Premature Birth Can Lead To Conditions Such As Autism And Learning Difficulties

Date: May-23-2013
Researchers from King's College London have for the first time used a novel form of MRI to identify crucial developmental processes in the brain that are vulnerable to the effects of premature birth. This new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), shows that disruption of these specific processes can have an impact on cognitive function...

Reducing Your Risk Of Breast Cancer

Date: May-23-2013
Recently Angelina Jolie announced that she underwent a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery in order to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer, she said she "hopes other women can benefit from my experience". When she found out what her odds of developing cancer were, Jolie became proactive and decided to reduce her risk to a minimum. Following the two procedures, her risk of developing breast cancer is now 5%, a huge drop from 87%. She said she underwent the procedures because her mother died of cancer at the early age of 56...

Iodine Deficiency In Pregnant Women May Harm Babies' IQs

Date: May-23-2013
Iodine deficiency during pregnancy may have a negative effect on babies' mental development, according to new research published in The Lancet. Iodine is ingested mainly through dairy products and seafood and is crucial for obtaining hormones secreted by the thyroid gland - which have a direct effect on fetal brain development. Negative effects of iodine on brain development have long been known, however, few studies analyzed the effect of moderate or mild iodine deficiency during pregnancy on the mental development of the baby...

Added Control For Biological Studies Using Single-Cell Transfection Tool

Date: May-23-2013
Northwestern University researchers have developed a new method for delivering molecules into single, targeted cells through temporary holes in the cell surface. The technique could find applications in drug delivery, cell therapy, and related biological fields. Bulk electroporation - a technique used to deliver molecules into cells through reversible nanopores in the cell membrane that are caused by exposing them to electric pulses - is an increasingly popular method of cell transfection...

Sleep Apnea Symptoms In Childhood Treated By Early Removal Of Adenoids And Tonsils

Date: May-23-2013
Adenotonsillectomy, or the removal of the adenoids and tonsils, is performed 500,000 times a year in the United States, often as a treatment for children with obstructive sleep apnea. However, the procedure's ability to improve a child's attention and executive functioning, behavior, sleep apnea symptoms, and quality of life has not been rigorously evaluated until now...

Exposure To Traffic-Related Air Pollution In Early Years Linked To Hyperactivity

Date: May-23-2013
Early-life exposure to traffic-related air pollution was significantly associated with higher hyperactivity scores at age 7, according to new research from the University of Cincinnati (UC) and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. The research is detailed in a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, a peer-reviewed open access journal published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, an institute within the National Institutes of Health (NIH)...