Health News

Air Force aircraft returned from Vietnam identified as postwar source of Agent Orange contamination

Date: Feb-25-2014
From 1971-1982 Air Force reservists, who flew in about 34 dioxin-contaminated aircraft used to spray Agent Orange and returned to the US following discontinuation of the herbicide spraying operations in the Vietnam War, were exposed greater levels of dioxin than previously acknowledged, according to a study published in Environmental Research."These findings are important because they describe a previously unrecognized source of exposure to dioxin that has health significance to those who engaged in the transport work using these aircraft," says lead investigator Peter A.

Death of partner associated with increased risk of heart attack, stroke

Date: Feb-25-2014
The risk of heart attack or stroke is increased in the 30 days after a partner's death. Bereavement is recognized as a risk factor for death and is associated with cardiovascular events. The authors compared the rate of myocardial infarction (MI, heart attack) or stroke in older patients (n=30,447, 60 to 89 years of age) whose partner died to that of individuals (n=83,588) whose partners were still alive during the same period. Fifty patients (0.16 percent) experienced MI or stroke within 30 days of their partner's death compared with 67 (0.08 percent) of controls.

Schizophrenia linked to increased risk of autoimmune diseases

Date: Feb-25-2014
People suffering from schizophrenia are at greater risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. This is the conclusion of new research from Aarhus University. It appears that infections play a determining role.Researchers have long known that people with autoimmune diseases, such as hepatitis, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis, are at greater risk of developing schizophrenia.

During menopause, team sport compensates for oestrogen loss

Date: Feb-25-2014
When women enter menopause, their oestrogen levels taper. This increases their risk of cardiovascular disease. New research from University of Copenhagen shows that interval-based team sport can make up for this oestrogen loss as it improves their conditions, reduces blood pressure and thereby protects the cardiovascular system.While aging and an array of physical transformations go hand in hand for all, menopause has a significant influence on physical changes in women.Oestrogen, the primary female sex hormone, is an important guardian of the female vascular system.

Novel immunological mechanism identified that is of great importance for vaccine development

Date: Feb-25-2014
Researchers have discovered the presence of a novel subtype of innate lymphoid cells in human spleen essential for the production of antibodies. This discovery, published in the prestigious journal Nature Immunology, clears the path to the identification of novel strategies to develop more efficient vaccines against encapsulated bacteria, considered highly virulent.This work was done by the B cell Biology research group at IMIM (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mediques) in Barcelona, directed by Dr.

Brain region essential for social memory offers a potential target for autism, schizophrenia, other brain disorders

Date: Feb-25-2014
Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have determined that a small region of the hippocampus known as CA2 is essential for social memory, the ability of an animal to recognize another of the same species. A better grasp of the function of CA2 could prove useful in understanding and treating disorders characterized by altered social behaviors, such as autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The findings, made in mice, were published today in the online edition of Nature.

UK's excess winter death rate unlikely to be reduced by climate change as previously thought

Date: Feb-25-2014
New research just published has found that climate change is unlikely to reduce the UK's excess winter death rate as previously thought.The study is published in the journal Nature Climate Change and debunks the widely held view that warmer winters will cut the number of deaths normally seen at the coldest time of year.Analysing data from the past 60 years, researchers at the University of Exeter and University College London (UCL) looked at how the winter death rate has changed over time, and what factors influenced it.

Dental calculus offers a window into the past, may unlock a 'microbial Pompeii'

Date: Feb-25-2014
An international team of researchers have discovered a 'microbial Pompeii' preserved on the teeth of skeletons around 1,000 years old. The key to the discovery is the dental calculus (plaque) which preserves bacteria and microscopic particles of food on the surfaces of teeth, effectively creating a mineral tomb for microbiomes.The research team discovered that the ancient human oral cavity carries numerous opportunistic pathogens and that periodontal disease is caused by the same bacteria today as in the past, despite major changes in human diet and hygiene.

Making drinking illegal before 21 saves lives

Date: Feb-25-2014
Although some advocates want to lower the legal drinking age from 21, research continues to show that the law saves lives. That's the finding of a new review published in a special supplemental issue to the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.Researchers found that studies done since 2006 - when a new debate over age-21 laws flared up - have continued to demonstrate that the mandates work. The laws, studies show, are associated with lower rates of drunk-driving crashes among young people.

For malaria parasite transmission to mosquitos a key regulatory protein is essential

Date: Feb-25-2014
Malaria is caused by single-celled Plasmodium parasites. To survive and reproduce, these parasites have a rather complex lifecycle that involves three major stages. First, after a person is bitten by a parasite-carrying mosquito there is an initial infection in the liver, followed by the long-lasting red blood cell stage where the clinical symptoms of the malaria disease occur, and finally the mosquito stage, which is required to transmit the parasites to other people. All three stages are essential for the parasite to fully complete its developmental lifecycle.