Health News

Delayed language development 'a result of gender and genes'

Date: Feb-18-2014
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 1 in 6 children in the US had a developmental disability, including intellectual disabilities, in 2006-2008. Now, new research suggests that gender and genes could play a part in delayed language development - with boys at greater risk than girls.This is according to a study recently published in the International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders.

What are the health benefits of oranges?

Date: Feb-18-2014
We all know the proverb "an apple a day," but equally an orange could be recommended. There are thousands of reasons why eating an orange a day is a good idea; they are low in calories but full of nutrients, they promote clear, healthy skin and can help to lower our risk for many diseases and conditions as part of an overall healthy and varied diet. Orange trees are the most cultivated fruit trees in the world. Oranges are a popular fruit because of their natural sweetness, wide variety of types and diversity of uses - from juices and marmalades to face masks and candied orange slices.

Undiagnosed sleep apnea may be making MS patients' fatigue worse

Date: Feb-18-2014
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) might assume that the fatigue they often feel just comes with the territory of their chronic neurological condition.But a new University of Michigan study suggests that a large proportion of MS patients may have an undiagnosed sleep disorder that is also known to cause fatigue. And that disorder - obstructive sleep apnea - is a treatable condition.

The connection between memory and schizophrenia

Date: Feb-18-2014
Many psychiatric disorders are accompanied by memory deficits. Basel scientists have now identified a network of genes that controls fundamental properties of neurons and is important for human brain activity, memory and the development of schizophrenia. Their results have been published in the online edition of the US journal Neuron.The ability to hold transitory information - e.g. memorizing a telephone number - is a fundamental function of the human brain. This so-called working memory enables us to understand the world that surrounds us.

Empowerment through education helps women navigate menopause, get trimmer, healthier, and cut hot flashes

Date: Feb-18-2014
A woman can beat middle-aged spread, her disease risks, and her hot flashes with the help of her healthcare provider. And even a short term program can spell success for women and fit into a busy provider's practice, shows a demonstration obesity-fighting and health risk reduction program detailed in an article just published online in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).Making lifestyle changes can take a lot of work.

Mitosis mystery solved as role of key protein is confirmed

Date: Feb-18-2014
Researchers from Warwick Medical School have discovered the key role of a protein in shutting down endocytosis during mitosis, answering a question that has evaded scientists for half a century.The study, published today in the journal eLife, is the first to outline the role of actin, a protein, in shutting down clathrin-dependent endocytosis during mitosis.Endocytosis is the process by which cells absorb molecules that are too large to pass through the plasma membrane, such as proteins. Clathrin-dependent endocytosis is the most common route for this.

Vaccination decisions and the spread of disease strongly influenced by social norms

Date: Feb-18-2014
Our response to societal pressures about vaccination has a direct effect on the spread of pediatric infectious diseases in areas where inoculation is not mandatory, says new research published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.By incorporating social norms into predictive mathematical modelling, a research team from the University of Guelph and the University of Waterloo found that they can foresee the observed patterns of population behaviour and disease spread during vaccine scares - times when anti-vaccine sentiment is strong.

Looks, not health risk, motivate teens to wear sunscreen

Date: Feb-18-2014
After offering information about UV light and sun-protective behaviors, the two health-ed videos diverge: one describes the increased skin cancer risk of UV exposure and the other describes effects on appearance including wrinkles and premature aging. Which of these two videos do you think caused teenagers to use more sunscreen six weeks after it was shown?

Rituximab may not benefit patients with primary Sjögren syndrome

Date: Feb-17-2014
Rituximab appears to offer no long term benefit to patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS), according to an article published in Annals of Internal Medicine.pSS is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by dryness of the eyes and mouth. Up to half of patients have systemic involvement, with fatigue being a symptom associated with significant disability. No systemic treatment has been proved to significantly improve symptoms. Mounting evidence on B cell involvement in pSS suggests that B-cell depletion could be an effective treatment for pSS.

Aortic valve replacement improves function but may not improve quality of life

Date: Feb-17-2014
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) improves functional status but may not improve overall quality of life, according to an article being published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease in developing countries and it affects up to 3 percent of adults older than 75. In recent years, TAVR has emerged as an alternative treatment to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for high-risk or inoperable patients with symptomatic severe AS.