Health News

First clinical study of new gene therapy shows promise for reducing motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease

Date: Jan-14-2014
A new triple gene therapy called ProSavin might safely improve motor function in Parkinson's patients by reprogramming brain cells to produce dopamine - a chemical essential for the proper control of movement - according to a phase 1/2 trial published in The Lancet. "Lack of dopamine results in the tremors, limb stiffness, and loss of balance that characterise Parkinson's", explains study leader Professor Stéphane Palfi from AP-HP, Groupe Henri-Mondor Albert-Chenevier in Créteil, France.

Frontline medics and scientists join call for a MenB vaccine, UK

Date: Jan-14-2014
Doctors, nurses and scientists have joined the call for uptake of the meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine by writing to the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt. The letter, led by Dr Simon Nadel, Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care, St Mary's Hospital, London, has been signed by 118 people determined to see an end to the leading cause of meningitis, which kills and maims more children than any other infection in the UK.

Early signs that patient's own bone-marrow stem cells could treat multi-drug resistant tuberculosis

Date: Jan-14-2014
Findings of a preliminary study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine suggest that a patient's own bone-marrow stromal (stem) cells could be used to treat multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively-drug (XDR) tuberculosis (TB)*. "Conventional treatment for MDR-TB uses a combination of TB drugs (antibiotics) which are harmful (toxic) to patients.

Grand Theft Troll? Anonymity encourages bad behaviour in online computer games, but group discipline wins the day

Date: Jan-14-2014
A study of the habits of people who play 'massive multi-player online games' (MMOGs) shows that anonymous users are more likely to cheat, but their behaviour is significantly tempered by the culture and dynamics of the group of players, suggesting that other forms of online 'bad behaviour' - such as flaming and trolling - can be modified by the attitudes and behaviours of other group members.

Mechanism affecting risk of prostate cancer is found

Date: Jan-14-2014
A research group at Biocenter Oulu in Finland has identified a mechanism related to a transcription factor that binds much more strongly onto a particular SNP variant, thereby initiating a genetic programme which enhances prostate cancer proliferation and metastasis. The study opens up an important new direction in investigating the mechanisms related to the way in which SNP variations cause an elevated risk of prostate cancer and other human diseases. Published in Nature Genetics, the study was partly funded by the Academy of Finland.

Stem cell replacement for frequent age-related blindness

Date: Jan-14-2014
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most frequent cause of blindness. Scientists at the Department of Ophthalmology at the Bonn University Hospital and from the Neural Stem Cell Institute in New York (USA) have developed a method for using stem cells to replace cells in the eye destroyed by AMD. The implants survived in rabbit eyes for several weeks. Additional research is needed for clinical application. The results are now presented in the journal Stem Cell Reports.About four and a half million people in Germany suffer from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

EAACI calls on MEPs to address allergies diagnosis gap

Date: Jan-14-2014
Last week the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) conducted three days of diagnostic tests for allergies in the European Parliament. In total 350 people took the opportunity to be examined for sensitivity to the most common allergens and to be given an expert advice, and 47% of them tested positively. Among the 150 million Europeans affected by allergic diseases, approximately one fifth are affected by severe, debilitating diseases, but these are neglected as a public health concern.

Putting patients first: five global healthcare organizations sign Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration

Date: Jan-14-2014
Five global healthcare organizations have established a Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration to support partnerships that will aim to deliver greater patient benefits and support high quality patient care. Derived from the individual codes of ethical practice and health policy positions of the five supporting organizations, this framework is based on four overarching principles:putting patients first;supporting ethical research and innovation;ensuring independence and ethical conduct; andpromoting transparency and accountability.

Charity welcomes Action on Sugar group

Date: Jan-14-2014
A new group formed to tackle and reverse the growing obesity epidemic has been welcomed by the British Dental Health Foundation.Action on Sugar, formed of a number of leading worldwide experts, hopes to educate the public on the dangers of hidden sugars and raise awareness of the 'un-necessary' amounts of sugar added to our foods and drinks, a large reason behind the growing obesity crisis.England has some of the highest obesity rates in the developed world, with 60 per cent of adults and one third of 10 and 11 year olds being overweight or obese.

Scientific study suggests an association between physical doping and brain doping

Date: Jan-14-2014
Physical doping and brain doping apparently often go hand in hand. A study from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and Eberhard Karls University in Tubingen revealed that people who engage in physical doping often also take drugs for brain doping. The study was the first of its kind to survey simultaneously the two categories of doping and brain doping. Around 3,000 hobby triathletes were anonymously surveyed using a questionnaire at sporting events in Frankfurt, Regensburg, and Wiesbaden.