Health News

Computer Models Show That Shape Matters In DNA Nanoparticle Therapy

Date: Oct-15-2012
Researchers from Johns Hopkins and Northwestern universities have discovered how to control the shape of nanoparticles that move DNA through the body and have shown that the shapes of these carriers may make a big difference in how well they work in treating cancer and other diseases. This study, published in the online edition of the journal Advanced Materials, is also noteworthy because this gene therapy technique does not use a virus to carry DNA into cells. Some gene therapy efforts that rely on viruses have posed health risks...

Physicians Could Help To Halt The Massive Toll Of CVD Death In China

Date: Oct-15-2012
Urgent actions including smoking bans in public places, salt restrictions and improved blood pressure control are needed to fight rising cardiovascular disease in China. Half of male physicians in China smoke and they can lead the way to healthy lifestyles by kicking the habit. Cardiovascular disease is the top cause of death in China and causes more than 40% of all deaths...

Supplement Users Have Strong Interest In Natural Solutions To Manage Their Cholesterol

Date: Oct-15-2012
Over half (52 percent) of supplement users are concerned about their heart health and 73 percent express an interest in natural, clinically proven solutions for cholesterol reduction, according to market research conducted by Micropharma Limited, a pioneer in the development of innovative and effective probiotics. "People are looking for naturally sourced supplements that work naturally with the body's systems for balance and control," said Mitchell Jones, MD, PhD, chief scientific officer and co-founder, Micropharma...

Cell Therapy For Nerve Damage Brought Closer By New Technique

Date: Oct-15-2012
A new way to grow cells vital for nerve repair, developed by researchers from the University of Sheffield, could be a vital step for use in patients with severe nerve damage, including spinal injury (1). Schwann cells are known to boost and amplify nerve growth in animal models, but their clinical use has been held back because they are difficult, time-consuming and costly to culture...

Gene Chip Used To Expand List Of Possible Drug Targets To Lower Lipid-Related Health Risks

Date: Oct-15-2012
In the largest-ever genetic study of cholesterol and other blood lipids, an international consortium has identified 21 new gene variants associated with risks of heart disease and metabolic disorders. The findings expand the list of potential targets for drugs and other treatments for lipid-related cardiovascular disease, a leading global cause of death and disability. The International IBC Lipid Genetics Consortium used the Cardiochip, a gene analysis tool invented by Brendan J. Keating, Ph.D., a scientist at the Center for Applied Genomics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia...

Researchers Focus On Leptin In The Fight Against Obesity

Date: Oct-15-2012
Researchers at the University of Michigan have determined how the hormone leptin, an important regulator of metabolism and body weight, interacts with a key receptor in the brain. Leptin is a hormone secreted by fat tissue that has been of interest for researchers in obesity and Type 2 diabetes since it was discovered in 1995. Like insulin, leptin is part of a regulatory network that controls intake and expenditure of energy in the body, and a lack of leptin or resistance to it has been linked to obesity in people...

Small Pilot Study Suggests That T Cells Become More Responsive In Exercising Cancer Survivors Weeks After Chemo Ends

Date: Oct-15-2012
Researchers may soon be able to add yet another item to the list of exercise's well-documented health benefits: A preliminary study suggests that when cancer survivors exercise for several weeks after they finish chemotherapy, their immune systems remodel themselves to become more effective, potentially fending off future incidences of cancer. The finding may help explain why exercise can significantly reduce the chances of secondary cancers in survivors or reduce the chances of cancer altogether in people who have never had the disease...

Regular Physical Activity Can Ease Premature Cardiovascular Aging Caused By Type 2 Diabetes

Date: Oct-15-2012
One of life's certainties is that everyone ages. However, it's also certain that not everyone ages at the same rate. According to recent research being presented this week, the cardiovascular system of people with type 2 diabetes shows signs of aging significantly earlier than those without the disease. However, exercise can help to slow down this premature aging, bringing the aging of type 2 diabetes patients' cardiovascular systems closer to that of people without the disease, says researcher Amy Huebschmann of the University of Colorado School of Medicine...

To Ensure Medical Progress In Whole Genome Sequencing, We Must Protect Individual Privacy.

Date: Oct-15-2012
The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues hasreleased its report concerning genomics and privacy. The report, Privacy and Progress in Whole Genome Sequencing, concludes that to realize the enormous promise that whole genome sequencing holds for advancing clinical care and the greater public good, individual interests in privacy must be respected and secured...

Small Study Finds Preemies From Low-Income Families At High Risk For Dangerous Brain Bleeds

Date: Oct-15-2012
Babies born prematurely to low-income parents have a disproportionately high risk for developing dangerous brain bleeds that require multiple surgeries and extensive follow-up, according to a small Johns Hopkins Children's Center study. The findings - published online in the journal Pediatric Neurosurgery and based on an analysis of 38 patients referred to Johns Hopkins for treatment of brain hemorrhages related to premature birth - offer a sobering reminder of the role socio-economic factors can play in health outcomes, the researchers say...