Health News

Study may provide future insights into causes and mechanisms of demyelinating diseases

Date: Feb-28-2014
Using the surface forces apparatus and an atomic force microscope, researchers at UC Santa Barbara have taken a molecular approach to myelin membrane interactions, leading to insights into demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. Their research is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences.For a healthy nervous system, axons - the long projections of our nerve cells that run throughout our bodies - must be properly insulated.

Stem cells and cancer cells kept in place by nuclear stiffness

Date: Feb-28-2014
Adult stem cells and cancer cells have many things in common, including an ability to migrate through tiny gaps in tissue. Both types of cells also experience a trade-off when it comes to this ability; having a flexible nucleus makes migration easier but is worse at protecting the nucleus' DNA compared to a stiffer nucleus. Nuclear proteins that regulate nuclear stiffness are therefore thought to control processes as diverse as tissue repair and tumor growth.

Head lice eggs removed with ordinary conditioner

Date: Feb-28-2014
Eggs from head lice, also called nits, are incredibly difficult to remove. Female lice lay eggs directly onto strands of hair, and they cement them in place with a glue-like substance, making them hard to get rid of. In fact, the eggs are glued down so strongly that they will stay in place even after hair has been treated with pediculicides -- substances used to kill lice.Some shampoos and conditioners that contain chemicals or special oils are marketed as nit-removal products.

Sleep disruption in Alzheimer's disease

Date: Feb-28-2014
Being awake at night and dozing during the day can be a distressing early symptom of Alzheimer's disease, but how the disease disrupts our biological clocks to cause these symptoms has remained elusive.Now, scientists from Cambridge have discovered that in fruit flies with Alzheimer's the biological clock is still ticking but has become uncoupled from the sleep-wake cycle it usually regulates. The findings - published in Disease Models & Mechanisms - could help develop more effective ways to improve sleep patterns in people with the disease.

Obesity and birth control pills may increase risk of multiple sclerosis

Date: Feb-28-2014
Approximately 2.5 million people worldwide are living with multiple sclerosis and 200 people are diagnosed with the disease every day. Now, two new studies suggest that the "obesity hormone" leptin and hormones used in birth control pills may increase the risk of multiple sclerosis.The findings will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 66th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA, in April.Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system. Onset of the condition is most common between the ages of 20 and 40.

Medicaid Managed Care Congress, May 19-21, Baltimore - Keynote speakers revealed

Date: Feb-28-2014
MMCC 2014 Reveals Keynote SpeakersThe Medicaid Managed Care Congress (MMCC 2014) is proud to announce that this year's conference will feature keynote speakers from CMS and ABC News.The 2014 Medicaid Managed Care Congress taking place May 19-21 in Baltimore, MD is designed to provide you and your company with what you need to implement changes brought about by the ACA implementation. Attend Medicaid Managed Care Congress to get inspired by our visionary keynote speakers:CMS Shares Insights into the Future of U.S.

Getting a head start on Apert syndrome

Date: Feb-28-2014
Scientists have gained insights into skull development in the rare disease Apert syndrome by showing that mice with this disease have consistent prenatal growth patterns. The findings will be published in the open access journal BMC Developmental Biology to coincide with Rare Diseases Day on the 28th February. Skull formation is normally a complex interplay of different signals from various tissues. Babies are born with sutures - gaps in the skull, which close up later on in development, allowing the skull to adapt to the rate of growth.

Physicians' stethoscopes more contaminated than palms of their hands

Date: Feb-27-2014
Although healthcare workers' hands are the main source of bacterial transmission in hospitals, physicians' stethoscopes appear to play a role. To explore this question, investigators at the University of Geneva Hospitals assessed the level of bacterial contamination on physicians' hands and stethoscopes following a single physical examination. The study appears in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

C-section babies have higher odds of being overweight adults

Date: Feb-27-2014
Researchers from Imperial College London in the UK have found that babies born by Caesarean section are more likely to be overweight or obese in adulthood than those born by vaginal delivery. Publishing their results in the journal PLOS ONE, the team says mothers should be aware of these potential long-term consequences for their children.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the total US Caesarean (C-section) delivery rate in 2011 was at 32.8%, which means a total of nearly 1.3 million babies were delivered this way.

Oral immunotherapy with antibody-based medication could be used to treat multiple food allergies

Date: Feb-27-2014
By combining standard desensitization of up to five food allergies with antibody-based medication omalizumab, it may be possible to treat multiple food allergies in a shorter timeframe. This is according to a Phase 1 trial, with 25 patients, published in open access journal Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. Food allergies affect up to 8% of children in the US, and 30% of those affected have more than one allergy. It has been estimated that food allergies cost US$25 billion each year, with approximately US$20 million borne by patients' families.