Health News

Experts Propose 'Cyber War' On Cancer

Date: Sep-06-2012
In the face of mounting evidence that cancer cells communicate, cooperate and even engage in collective decision-making, biophysicists and cancer researchers at Rice University, Tel Aviv University and Johns Hopkins University are suggesting a new strategy for outsmarting cancer through its own social intelligence...

Scientists Discover Link Between Prostate Cancer And Vitamin A

Date: Sep-05-2012
A recent study, published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research has revealed that scientists, lead by professor Norman Maitland from the University of York, have discovered a connection between vitamin A and prostate cancer. His research has found a particular prostate cancer gene that is under the control of retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A. These findings set the groundwork to test retinoic acid therapy and its ability to coerce prostate cancer stem cells to modify into more specialized cells...

Rheumatoid Arthritis Infection Risk Identified

Date: Sep-05-2012
Scientists have managed to predict when rheumatoid arthritis patients are most likely to suffer infections. Not only is rheumatoid arthritis crippling and agonizing, it also makes the patient more vulnerable to infections that coincide with the disorder, increasing their risk of death. However, physicians have had a difficult time assessing the potential danger of infection an individual might face...

Hypertension Poorly Controlled By 53% Of Americans

Date: Sep-05-2012
Of the 66.9 million Americans with high blood pressure, 53.5% do not have their hypertension under control, says a new report issued by the CDC (MMWR report). Hypertension means high blood pressure. The authors added that 39.4% (14.1 million) of Americans with hypertension are unaware of their condition. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in the USA; it also contributes significantly to national morbidity and mortality figures...

People Can Be Fat Yet Fit, Research Suggests

Date: Sep-05-2012
According to a new study at the University of South Carolina, people can be obese yet just as physically healthy and fit, or "metabolically fit", as their counterparts with normal body weights, while having no greater chance of heart disease or cancer. "Metabolically fit", scientists explained, means the person exercises regularly, has no high cholesterol, no high blood pressure, or raised blood sugar...

Green Tea Improves Memory And Spacial Awareness

Date: Sep-05-2012
Although previous studies have shown that green tea consumption aids in weight loss, can lower cholesterol levels and is full of anti-oxidants, a new report published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research reveals that it may also benefit memory and spacial awareness as well. Yun Bai, from the Third Military Medical University in Chongqing China commented: "Green tea is a popular beverage across the world...

Ivacaftor Improves Lung Function And Symptoms In Cystic Fibrosis Patients With Specific Genetic Mutation

Date: Sep-05-2012
Ivacaftor, a novel oral agent that potentiates a membrane channel blocked in patients aged six years and older with cystic fibrosis caused by the G551D mutation, significantly improves lung function and reduces pulmonary exacerbations, according to phase 3 data reported at the European Respiratory Society's Annual Congress 2012, Vienna, on Monday (3 September 2012). Open label follow-up showed the improved lung function and good tolerability was maintained with continued treatment...

Frequent Exposure To Violent Images Results In Psychological Damage

Date: Sep-05-2012
According to a recent study published in Psychological Science, by UC Irvine, frequent exposure to violent images from the Iraq War and the September 11th attacks increases the risk of psychological and physical ailments in U.S. adults. The trials suggests that there may be long-term effects of "collective traumas", such as terrorist attacks, shootings involving many fatalities, and natural disasters...

Vitamin D In High Doses Accelerates Tuberculosis Recovery

Date: Sep-05-2012
High doses of the "sunshine" vitamin D can help people with tuberculosis recover more quickly, researchers at Queen Mary, University of London, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). For several decades, heliotherapy - encouraging (tuberculosis) patients to soak up the sun's rays - has been used in Swiss clinics successfully. The authors say they have now shown why this type of therapy is beneficial. Vitamin D3 is synthesized by the skin when it is exposed to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet light of UVB type at wavelengths between 270 and 300 nm...

Organic Food Not Safer Or Nutritionally Superior To Conventional Foods

Date: Sep-05-2012
Overall, organic foods are not nutritionally superior to conventional foods, neither are they safer regarding bacterial contamination, researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine reported in Annals of Internal Medicine. The scientists emphasized that they did not find any significant evidence pointing to nutritional benefits linked to the consumption of organic foods. They did, however, find "weak evidence" of higher phenol levels in organic produce...