Health News

Each 15-minute delay steals 1 month of healthy life for stroke sufferers

Date: Mar-14-2014
When it comes to getting treatment for stroke, every minute counts. This is the conclusion of a study published in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke, which shows that for every minute treatment is accelerated, the patient gains another 1.8 days of healthy life.Stroke is the number four cause of death in the US. A disease affecting the arteries leading to the brain, it occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or bursts.

Exposure to environmental toxins linked to autism incidence rates

Date: Mar-14-2014
Researchers from the University of Chicago have found that rates of autism and intellectually disability in the US correlate with incidence of genital malformation in newborn males at county level - an indicator of fetus exposure to harmful environmental factors, such as pesticides.The research team, including Prof. Andrey Rzhetsky, recently published their findings in the journal PLOS Computational Biology.Past research has linked environmental factors with the development of autism.

Brain links weakened by nicotine withdrawal may explain smokers' relapse

Date: Mar-14-2014
A new brain imaging study published in JAMA Psychiatry suggests that the high rate of relapse among smokers trying to quit may be due to an inability - brought on by nicotine withdrawal - to switch from the "default mode" brain network, to the "executive control" brain network.The researchers, from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in Baltimore, MD, explain that when the default mode is engaged, people tend to be in so-called introspective or self-referential states.

Could grapefruit be good for your kidneys?

Date: Mar-14-2014
Scientists at Royal Holloway, University of London, have discovered that a natural product found in grapefruit can prevent kidney cysts from forming.Naringenin, which is also present in other citrus fruits, has been found to successfully block the formation of kidney cysts, an effect that occurs in polycystic kidney disease, by regulating the PKD2 protein responsible for the condition. With few treatments currently available, symptoms include high blood pressure and loss of kidney function, and lead to the need for dialysis.

Cornerstone Pharma demonstrates ability to disrupt growth of cancer cells

Date: Mar-14-2014
Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the growing field of cancer metabolism-based therapeutics, today announced that its first-in-class cancer metabolism targeted therapeutic, CPI-613, demonstrated the ability to inhibit tumor cell growth in the published studies. The research was conducted by Stony Brook University researchers and members of Cornerstone's cancer metabolism research team and Scientific Advisory Board, Paul M. Bingham, PhD, and Zuzana Zachar, PhD. Research by Drs.

Standardized evaluation consent forms for living liver donors needed

Date: Mar-14-2014
New research reveals that 57% of liver transplant centers use living donor evaluation consent forms that include all the elements required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and 78% of centers addressed two-third or more of the items recommended by the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN).

Performing cardio- and resistance training during the same session: Does the order matter?

Date: Mar-14-2014
Although the remarkable benefits of combined training have been clarified by numerous investigations, fitness enthusiasts struggle with the same question: Does the order of cardio- and resistance training influence the effectiveness of a training program?This question has now been the focus of a series of investigations in the Department of Biology of Physical Activity at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

Non-invasive blood sugar testing is one step closer

Date: Mar-14-2014
Measuring blood sugar when you have diabetes usually involves pricking your finger and using a glucose monitor for the test. While this approach can give people with diabetes vital information about whether they need to take insulin or eat something sugary, it is nevertheless painful and inconvenient. Now, an international research team is one step closer to an entirely non-invasive blood sugar test. They report details in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology.Diabetes mellitus is the general name for several related metabolic disorders.

Education and culture affect children's understanding of the human body

Date: Mar-14-2014
Experiences of life and death can help children's understanding of the human body and its function, according to research published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology.The study by academics Dr Georgia Panagiotaki and Dr Gavin Nobes from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found that children as young as four and five can understand that the human body works to keep us alive.

Boosting self-esteem prevents health problems for seniors

Date: Mar-14-2014
The importance of boosting self-esteem is normally associated with the trials and tribulations of adolescence. But new research from Concordia University shows that it's even more important for older adults to maintain and improve upon those confidence levels as they enter their twilight years. That's because boosting self-esteem can help buffer potential health threats typically associated with the transition into older adulthood.