Health News

Hope for neurodegenerative therapies from neuron-generating brain region

Date: Feb-24-2014
Adult humans continuously produce new neurons in the striatum, a brain region involved in motor control and cognitive functions, and these neurons could play an important role in recovery from stroke and possibly finding new treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, according to a study published by Cell Press in the journal Cell. To detect the birth of new neurons in the striatum, the authors used a method that measures carbon-14 found in human DNA as a result of above-ground nuclear testing more than half a century ago.

Is PTSD influenced by immune cells in the spleen?

Date: Feb-24-2014
A new study in mice finds that an excessive response provoked in the immune system by chronic stress results in anxiety symptoms resembling post-traumatic stress disorder.The scientists behind the study, which is published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, had previously found that - in mice with chronic stress - immune system cells traveled to the brain, resulting in anxiety symptoms. The scientists also found that monocytes - a subset of these immune system cells - could be targeted with drugs to treat mood disorders.

Better wound healing with bioengineered growth factors

Date: Feb-24-2014
When we are wounded, our bodies naturally begin a process of repair of the damaged tissue. This process is mediated by biological molecules called growth factors, which are proteins that occur naturally in our cells and guide processes ranging from embryonic development to healing. Given their regenerative role in the body, growth factors have been investigated for use in drugs but with limited success.

Double the survival rate for HPV-positive OPSCC patients compared to HPV-negative patients

Date: Feb-24-2014
A retrospective analysis of oropharyngeal patients with recurrence of disease after primary therapy in the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) studies 0129 or 0522 found that HPV-positive patients had a higher overall survival (OS) rate than HPV-negative patients (at two years post-treatment, 54.6 percent vs. 27.6 percent, respectively), according to research presented at the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

Quality of voice and speech affected post-treatment in patients with oropharyngeal cancer

Date: Feb-24-2014
Oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy reported a decrease in their voice and speech quality (VSQ) for up to one year after the completion of treatment, according to research presented at the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium. The study further shows that limiting the dose of radiation to the glottic larynx (GL) to less than 20 Gy resulted in a decrease in post-treatment VSQ problems, and that patient-reported VSQ indicated more adverse effects from treatment compared to independent physician assessment.

For billions of years chemical chaperones have helped proteins do their jobs

Date: Feb-24-2014
An ancient chemical, present for billions of years, appears to have helped proteins function properly since time immemorial.Proteins are the body's workhorses, and like horses they often work in teams. There exists a modern day team of multiple chaperone proteins that help other proteins fold into the complex 3D shapes they must achieve to function. This is necessary to avert many serious diseases caused when proteins misbehave.But what happened before this team of chaperones was formed?

Improved patient-reported salivary function following reduced RT dose to bilateral IB lymph nodes

Date: Feb-24-2014
For head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, a reduction in the amount of radiation treatment volume to the submandibular (level IB) lymph nodes resulted in better patient-reported salivary function, according to research presented at the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium. The study results also found significant reductions in radiation dose to the salivary organs, and good local regional control.

Favorable outcomes reported in unilateral radiation therapy for advanced stage tonsil cancer

Date: Feb-24-2014
Limiting radiation therapy to lymph nodes on one side of the neck for advanced tonsil cancer resulted in good local regional control and no cancer recurrence on the untreated side, according to research presented at the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium. Additionally, the study results indicate that primary tumor location, rather than the amount of lymph node involvement on the tumor side of the neck, dictates the risk for disease in the opposite side of the neck.

Selenium and vitamin E supplements 'increase prostate cancer risk'

Date: Feb-24-2014
A new study recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that taking high doses of selenium and vitamin E supplements may increase the risk of prostate cancer, depending on a man's selenium levels prior to taking the supplements.The research team, including first author Dr. Alan Kristal of the Public Health Sciences Division of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA, analyzed 1,739 patients with prostate cancer and 3,117 matched controls from the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT).

How cows could shed light on the mechanisms behind antibodies

Date: Feb-23-2014
To create new vaccines to combat infections, certain cancers and other illnesses that attack the immune system, scientists need to have a good understanding of the mechanisms behind antibodies. Now, researchers have looked to studying the immune systems of cows to find out more about these immune system proteins.The research team, from the Scripps Research Institute in California, says the immune systems of cows can help them to better understand the diversity of antibodies, which can lead to the development of improved treatment for illnesses in both humans and livestock.