Health News

Possible link between cognitive depressive symptoms and antiretroviral therapy uptake

Date: Jan-01-2014
Researchers from Boston University's School of Medicine (BUSM) and College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) found that among HIV-infected Russian drinkers, depressive symptom severity alone was not significantly associated with lower rates of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. However, when examining cognitive symptoms of depression, results showed that high levels of depressive symptoms may be associated with delayed ART initiation. The findings are published online in the journal AIDS and Behavior.

2-drug combo helps adolescents with ADHD, aggression

Date: Jan-01-2014
Prescribing both a stimulant and an antipsychotic drug to children with physical aggression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), along with teaching parents to use behavior management techniques, reduces aggressive and serious behavioral problems in the children, according to a study conducted by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.The study was conducted in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh, Stony Brook University in New York and Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.

In the UK if you want to stop smoking see a specialist!

Date: Jan-01-2014
Smokers in England who want to stop smoking are three times more likely to succeed if they see a trained advisor than if they try by themselves, according to a new study published online in the medical journal Addiction. Worryingly, just buying nicotine patches, gum or other licensed nicotine products from a shop does not seem to improve the chances of quitting.This is the first study using population-based survey data that has been large enough to assess the real-world effectiveness of using National Health Service (NHS) stop-smoking services compared with quitting without help.

Multiple DNA changes identified that cause disease, offering new drug targets

Date: Jan-01-2014
Many rare disorders are caused by gene mutation, like sickle cell anemia. Yet until now the underlying genetic cause of more common conditions - for example, rheumatoid arthritis - has evaded scientists for years.New research from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in the journal Genome Research finds that six common diseases arise from DNA changes located outside genes.

Genetic brain development 'peaks before birth and in adolescence'

Date: Jan-01-2014
Genetic expression behind the development of our brains is most active before birth, in the early months of pregnancy, and during our teenage years, scientists have found.There is a quieter intervening "movement" in the three-part "symphony" of human brain development, but one that is more sensitive to environmental factors, say the researchers publishing in the journal Neuron.The initial surge of brain-developing genetic expression takes place during the first two-thirds of our gestation in the uterus, says the team led from the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, CT.

Vitamin E may combat functional decline from Alzheimer's disease

Date: Jan-01-2014
New research suggests that a daily dose of vitamin E may help to slow functional decline for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and may help reduce the amount of care these patients need. This is according to a study published in JAMA.Vitamin E is defined as a group of eight fat-soluble compounds. These compounds include a mix of tocopherols and tocotrienols. The vitamin is naturally found in many foods, including eggs, fortified cereals, fruit, green leafy vegetables, meat, nuts, poultry and vegetable oils. It can also be taken as a supplement.

Potential new way to make chemotherapy treatment more effective for pancreatic cancer patients

Date: Jan-01-2014
Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer with poor prognosis and limited treatment options and is highly resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.But researchers believe they have found an effective strategy for selectively killing pancreatic cancer while sparing healthy cells which could make treatment more effective.Dr Jason Bruce, from the Physiological Systems and Disease Research Group, who led the research, said: "Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and deadly cancers. Most patients develop symptoms after the tumour has spread to other organs.

Our food choices are influenced by social norms, study suggests

Date: Dec-31-2013
Social cues affect choices we make on a daily basis, from how we dress to what kind of car we drive. But now, research published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests that what other people eat influences our own food choices.Conducting a meta-analysis from 15 studies published in 11 different publications, researchers examined whether or not other peoples' eating habits influenced food intake levels or food choices.

Cholesterol levels linked to brain deposits that cause Alzheimer's

Date: Dec-31-2013
High good and low bad cholesterol are not just good for the heart but also the brain, suggests new research published in JAMA Neurology.Study leader Bruce Reed, a professor of neurology at the University of California (UC) Davis, and associate director of its Alzheimer's Disease Center, says:"Our study shows that both higher levels of HDL - good - and lower levels of LDL - bad - cholesterol in the bloodstream are associated with lower levels of amyloid plaque deposits in the brain.

All in the eyes: corneal reflections in photos can help solve crimes

Date: Dec-31-2013
The eyes are not just the mirror of the soul, they also mirror the world around us. Now, a UK team has found that today's high-resolution digital images are now so detailed, they can enlarge the eyes in people's photos and retrieve images of out-of-shot bystanders reflected on their corneas.Combine this with the fact human beings are very efficient at recognizing faces, even from poor quality images, and you have the makings of a rich forensic resource for solving crimes.