Health News

Researchers reveal why the brain remembers dreams

Date: Feb-19-2014
Some people recall a dream every morning, whereas others rarely recall one. A team led by Perrine Ruby, an Inserm Research Fellow at the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (Inserm/CNRS/Universite Claude Bernard Lyon), has studied the brain activity of these two types of dreamers in order to understand the differences between them. In a study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, the researchers show that the temporo-parietal junction, an information-processing hub in the brain, is more active in high dream recallers.

Muscle recovery in elderly mice enabled through rejuvenation of stem cell population

Date: Feb-19-2014
Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have pinpointed why normal aging is accompanied by a diminished ability to regain strength and mobility after muscle injury: Over time, stem cells within muscle tissues dedicated to repairing damage become less able to generate new muscle fibers and struggle to self-renew."In the past, it's been thought that muscle stem cells themselves don't change with age, and that any loss of function is primarily due to external factors in the cells' environment," said Helen Blau, PhD, the Donald and Delia B. Baxter Foundation Professor.

River samples at pilgrimage sites shed light on the spread of potential 'superbugs'

Date: Feb-19-2014
The spread of antibiotic-resistance to one of the most pristine locations in Asia is linked to the annual human pilgrimages to the region, new research has shown.Experts from Newcastle University, UK, and the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi (IIT-Delhi), sampled water and sediments at seven sites along the Upper Ganges River, in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Improved biosensing with bacteria-filled liquid crystals

Date: Feb-19-2014
Plop living, swimming bacteria into a novel water-based, nontoxic liquid crystal and a new physics takes over. The dynamic interaction of the bacteria with the liquid crystal creates a novel form of soft matter: living liquid crystal.The new type of active material, which holds promise for improving the early detection of diseases, was developed by a research collaboration based at Ohio's Kent State University and Illinois' Argonne National Laboratory. The team presented their work at the 58th annual Biophysical Society Meeting, held in San Francisco, Feb.15-19.

In search of lost genes

Date: Feb-19-2014
It is well known that genes are passed from one generation to the next. In addition, new genes arise regularly, although the number of genes in a particular organism does not seem to increase. The paradox has been solved by recent research at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, which shows that newly created genes are frequently lost. The spontaneous appearance and disappearance of genes enables organisms to adapt rapidly to their environment and helps drive evolution. The work is published in the journal eLife.How do new genes arise?

Longstanding biological puzzle solved

Date: Feb-19-2014
Why does a mouse's heart beat about the same number of times in its lifetime as an elephant's, although the mouse lives about a year, while an elephant sees 70 winters come and go? Why do small plants and animals mature faster than large ones? Why has nature chosen such radically different forms as the loose-limbed beauty of a flowering tree and the fearful symmetry of a tiger?These questions have puzzled life scientists since ancient times.

Home-based exercise program improves recovery following rehabilitation for hip fracture

Date: Feb-18-2014
Among patients who had completed standard rehabilitation after hip fracture, the use of a home exercise program that included exercises such as standing from a chair or climbing a step resulted in improved physical function, according to a study in JAMA. More than 250,000 people in the United States fracture their hip each year, with many experiencing severe long-term consequences. "Two years after a hip fracture, more than half of men and 39 percent of women are dead or living in a long-term care facility.

Post-surgery heart attack: '85% undetected due to lack of symptoms'

Date: Feb-18-2014
According to a study published in the journal Anesthesiology, over 8 million adults worldwide have injuries or heart attacks after surgery each year, with 10% dying within 30 days. Now, researchers say 85% of these heart attacks or injuries may be missed due to lack of symptoms. However, they suggest this could be resolved with a simple blood test following surgery.Symptoms of a heart attack can range from sudden and intense pain to mild discomfort, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Globally, cancer kills 50% more men than women

Date: Feb-18-2014
Figures published by Cancer Research UK reveal that more than 4.6 million men and 3.5 million women die of cancer worldwide every year, putting the global rate of cancer death among men (126 per 100,000) 50% higher than that of women (82 per 100,000).The figures also show every year, more than 14 million people worldwide find out they have cancer, with men 24% more likely to be among them than women.Dr. Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, says it is vital that governments tackle the inequalities reflected in these figures.

First biomarker discovered for depression in teenage boys

Date: Feb-18-2014
According to a survey from the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 11.2% of teens in the US aged between 13 and 18 years have suffered from severe depression at some point in their lives. Now, researchers from the UK have discovered the first biomarker that could predict the likelihood of clinical depression in teenage boys.The research team, led by Prof. Ian Goodyer of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, says the discovery could lead to a reduction in the number of people suffering from depression by ensuring the disorder is treated early.