Health News

Pain sensitivity may be alterable

Date: Feb-05-2014
Chronic pain affects people all over the world, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms that govern it are not well understood. Now, a new UK study of twins finds that people's sensitivity to pain may be altered by changes in lifestyle and environment through life.Individuals who are more sensitive to pain are at higher risk of developing chronic pain.The discovery lies in a relatively new field of investigation called epigenetics, where scientists study how genes are switched on and off in response to changes in the body.The study, led by Dr.

Cancer Research UK launches 'spaceship' smartphone game to seek cancer cures

Date: Feb-05-2014
Cancer Research UK has unveiled Play to Cure: Genes in Space - a world-first mobile phone game in which people across the globe will be able to help scientists unravel gene data to find the answers to some of cancer's toughest questions.It is available to download now for free here for anyone with an Android or Apple Smartphone. When playing this fun and interactive spaceship game, people will simultaneously analyse Cancer Research UK's gene data, highlighting genetic faults which can cause cancer - and ultimately help scientists develop new treatments.

Early autism detection: Speech disrupts facial attention in 6-month-old infants who later develop autism

Date: Feb-05-2014
From birth, infants naturally show a preference for human contact and interaction, including faces and voices. These basic predispositions to social stimuli are altered in individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).A new study published in Biological Psychiatry this week, from researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine, now reports that 6-month-old infants later diagnosed with autism divert their gaze from facial features when that face is speaking.One of the best methods to examine autism in very young infants is the use of eye-tracking.

Hypertensive patients' specialty use changed with medical home

Date: Feb-05-2014
Group Health studied how patients with treated hypertension used outpatient specialty care before, during, and after a primary-care redesign (the patient-centered medical home) was spread system-wide. David T. Liss, PhD, now a research assistant professor in medicine-general internal medicine and geriatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, led the report in the Journal of General Internal Medicine."Redesigning care to a medical home seems to let primary-care teams do more, within their expertise, for their patients," Dr. Liss said.

New rules opening access to lab test results will empower patients to take control of their health

Date: Feb-05-2014
A final rule issued on February 3, 2014 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) giving Americans increased access to their personal health information will empower patients to exercise greater control over their health, according to Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostics information services. "Patient engagement is essential to creating a healthcare system that delivers better health outcomes at lower costs," said Jon Cohen, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer, Quest Diagnostics.

Scientists redefine how the brain plans movement

Date: Feb-05-2014
University of Queensland researchers have made a surprise discovery about how the brain plans movement that may lead to more targeted treatments for patients with Parkinson's disease.The discovery was made by UQ's Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) researcher Professor Pankaj Sah in collaboration with neurologist Professor Peter Silburn and neurosurgeon Associate Professor Terry Coyne from the UQ Centre for Clinical Research.

Eating and sleeping well hold keys to a longer life

Date: Feb-05-2014
Good sleep patterns can help men live longer - but women will only benefit if they also have a diverse diet, a new study shows.The Monash University-led collaborative study found that women who ate a varied diet that included sources rich in vitamin B6 could still live long lives despite poor sleep habits. The researchers from Monash University, the National Defense Medical Centre, Taiwan, and the National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan, investigated the ways diet contributed to the relationship between sleep quality and mortality among elderly men and women.

Clearer labels needed on drugs containing animal products

Date: Feb-05-2014
Patients with specific dietary restrictions may be unwittingly taking medicines containing animal products, suggests an article published on bmj.com.Dr Kinesh Patel and Dr Kate Tatham say most medications prescribed in primary care contain animal derived products and it is unclear whether they are suitable for vegetarians.They call for improved labelling, similar to those on food, to help inform doctors, pharmacists and patients about the content of medicines. And they stress that concerned patients should not stop taking their medication without consulting their doctor first.

Outdoor workers in Australia face increased cancer risk

Date: Feb-05-2014
Perth researchers have completed a comprehensive study into Australian workers and their exposure to Ultra Violet Radiation, which is a known human carcinogen. The team from the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, which is affiliated with the University of Western Australia, found that workers at particular risk of skin cancer were farmers, trades and construction workers, and drivers.

Time to act on mobile phone use while driving, say experts

Date: Feb-05-2014
It's time to act on mobile phone use while driving, say two senior Canadian physicians in an editorial published on bmj.com.Charles and Barry Pless argue that, with a quarter of crashes in the United States now attributed to mobile phone use, "we can't wait for perfect evidence before acting.Although there is still some uncertainty about the association between mobile phone use and risk of crashes, given the proliferation of mobile phones, the prevalence of distracted driving is undoubtedly increasing, they write.