Health News

Promising foundation for engineered tissues offered by new biological scaffold

Date: Feb-26-2014
Our cells don't live in a vacuum. They are surrounded by a complex, nurturing matrix that is essential for many biological functions, including growth and healing.In all multicellular organisms, including people, cells make their own extracellular matrix. But in the lab, scientists attempting to grow tissue must provide a scaffold for cells to latch onto as they grow and proliferate. This engineered tissue has potential to repair or replace virtually any part of our bodies.Typically, researchers construct scaffolds from synthetic materials or natural animal or human substances.

Initial findings of study of Hispanic/Latino health

Date: Feb-26-2014
One in every six people in the U.S. is Hispanic/Latino and as a group they live longer than non-Hispanic whites (81.4 years vs. 78.8 years). Yet, despite their strong representation and relative longevity, little is understood about this group's health conditions and behaviors.The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), the landmark research study of Hispanic/Latino health funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has released initial findings that show significant variations in disease prevalence and health behaviors among groups with different backgrounds.

Method developed to visualize protein interactions in a living organism's brain

Date: Feb-26-2014
There are more than a trillion cells called neurons that form a labyrinth of connections in our brains. Each of these neurons contains millions of proteins that perform different functions. Exactly how individual proteins interact to form the complex networks of the brain still remains as a mystery that is just beginning to unravel.For the first time, a group of scientists has been able to observe intact interactions between proteins, directly in the brain of a live animal. The new live imaging approach was developed by a team of researchers at the University of Miami (UM).

Older parents' mental health affected by their attitudes towards helping their grown children

Date: Feb-26-2014
Older parents frequently give help to their middle-aged offspring, and their perceptions about giving this help may affect their mental health, according to a team of researchers."We usually view the elderly as needy, but our research shows that parents ages 60 and over are giving help to their children, and this support is often associated with lower rates of depression among the older adults," said Lauren Bangerter, Ph.D. student in human development and family studies, Penn State.

Dual targeting approach successfully targets DNA synthesis in leukemic cells

Date: Feb-26-2014
A novel two-pronged strategy targeting DNA synthesis can treat leukemia in mice, according to a study in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.Current treatments for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), an aggressive form of blood cancer, include conventional chemotherapy drugs that inhibit DNA synthesis. These drugs are effective but have serious side effects on normal dividing tissues.In order to replicate, cells must make copies of their DNA, which is made up of building blocks called deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs).

New research looks at caring for patients with multiple chronic conditions and future challenges

Date: Feb-26-2014
Updates from MCC Research Network presented in special issue of Medical CareThe millions of Americans living with more than one chronic disease are at high risk of poor health outcomes, and account for a disproportionate share of health care costs. A special March supplement to Medical Care presents updates from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCC) Research Network, formed to address knowledge gaps and research challenges in meeting the complex health care needs of this growing population.

Need to expand health insurance coverage among children living in immigrant families; nearly half are presently uninsured

Date: Feb-26-2014
Call for new approaches to increase enrollment for eligible children of immigrant parentsChildren from immigrant families now account for 42 percent of uninsured children in the United States, reports a study in the March issue of Medical Care. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.More than two-thirds of uninsured children with immigrant parents are US citizens, according to an analysis of nationwide survey data by Eric E. Seiber, PhD, of The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Columbus.

The secret of bowel movement

Date: Feb-26-2014
Segmentation motion occurs when not 1 but 2 sets of pacemakers interact with each other to create a specific rhythmHigh performance athletes like Olympians can push their bodies to optimal potential, but some of the ways the human body actually works is still a mystery.Now McMaster University researchers have cleared up one aspect of how the bowels move that had mystified scientists for, well, forever.

Phantom limb pain: potential new treatment method for amputees

Date: Feb-26-2014
After a person has had an arm or leg amputated, they may still feel pain in the missing limb as if it is still there. This sensation, known as phantom limb pain, affects 70% of amputees. Now, a researcher has created a new method to treat the condition.According to Max Ortiz Catalan, of the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, phantom limb pain (PLP) can be a serious condition that can severely impact a person's quality of life.Individuals with PLP can experience various sensations in their missing limb, such as sharp or shooting pains, aches, cramping or burning pains.

Diabetes associated with stroke in women but not men

Date: Feb-26-2014
New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes) shows that diabetes in women is associated with an increased risk of stroke, whereas the data do not show the same association among men. The research is by Dr Wenhui Zhao (the first author), Dr Gang Hu and colleagues at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.Differences in incidence and mortality between sexes have been reported for various conditions, including stroke. More women than men tend to die from stroke in developed countries.