Monthly News Archives



		Asthma Screening May Become Possible Claiming they've identified a single gene that could play a role in up to 40 percent of all asthma cases, a team of British and American researchers say their discovery opens the way for new drug treatments as well as a screening test for the disease. Cancer Patients More Optimistic Than Doctors Blood cancer patients are more optimistic about their odds of being cured by aggressive therapy even when their physicians feel the outlook is bleak, researchers say. Study Suggests How Brain Keeps Time Scientists have zeroed in on the brain regions that govern the body's sense of timing--a finding that could lead to new ways to track the effectiveness of treatments for Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and other conditions marked by problems in timing perception. Risk Factors May Link Asthma & Diabetes After looking at the rates of type 1 diabetes and asthma in European countries, researchers suggest that factors influencing the risk of developing the two diseases may be linked. Canada Debates Validity of Circumcision Canadian anti-circumcision crusaders are challenging a law protecting women against genital mutilation as a way to draw attention to much more common male circumcision. Americans Worry About Chronic Illness At a time when 45% of people in the US are living with a chronic medical condition, a survey released Monday shows that many Americans are concerned about the quality of care the chronically ill receive. UC Davis Study Finds Heart Benefits from Apples & Juice Researchers at UC Davis School of Medicine have determined that drinking apple juice and eating apples has a beneficial effect on risk factors for heart disease. Results of the pioneering clinical study appear in the winter edition of Journal of Medicinal Food. Aspirin Safe for Heart Heart attack victims can safely take aspirin with a blood pressure-lowering drug to aid their recovery, but combining the treatments is only slightly more effective than using just one, Yale University researchers report. Radiologists See the (Internet) Light While the Internet has become a standard means of exchanging photographs by everyone from grade-school kids to grandmothers, many in the medical community have been slow to sign on. Acupuncture Shown to Reduce Arthritis Pain Acupuncture in addition to conventional therapy reduces the pain suffered by people with osteoarthritis, according to the results of an NIH-supported study presented here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. Jury Still Out on "Safe Tabacco" Modified tobacco products that go easy on tar and nicotine might sound like a good middle ground for smokers who want to reduce their risk of cancer and other illnesses. Electronic Links Aim to Reduce Drug Errors Three of the nation's largest pharmacy benefit management companies on Thursday announced an unprecedented $60-million joint venture to develop an electronic exchange linking the companies with doctors, pharmacies and health plans. Cancer Tied to Workplace Radiation Medical workers exposed to low doses of radiation on the job might face an increased risk of thyroid cancer. Lessons in Muscle Fitness from Hibernating Bears Bears and bedtime conjure up cozy images of cuddling and nursery rhymes. But for those confined to bed following illness or injury, real-life hibernating ``Teddies'' could provide clues as to how to prevent muscle loss due to prolonged immobility. Smoking Ups Risk For Less Favorable Breast Cancer Women who smoke may be at increased risk of developing breast cancers that respond less favorably to treatment, according to a joint Swedish and Danish research team. Common Cold Virus "Linked to Cancer" Scientists have identified a connection between the common cold virus and viruses that trigger cancer. Researchers at St. Andrews University in Fife are hoping to use the similarities between the two to find new ways of treating cancer. Severe Headache May Signal Clot in Brain Vein A severe headache can indicate a stroke, but it could signal a lot of other things too according to research presented today at the American Stroke Association’s 26th International Stroke Conference. Blood Test May Reveal Obesity Risk A simple blood test may soon be able to predict which youngsters are likely to grow up to have weight problems, researchers reported Monday. Cord Blood May Replace Fetal Cells in Brain Research Stem cells collected from umbilical cord blood could be as useful as cells taken from embryos or aborted fetuses for developing new treatments for brain disorders, such as stroke and Parkinson's disease, according to new findings released here at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Herbal Remedies May Have Side Effects While the jury is still out on whether the popular supplement echinacea fights the common cold, it does seem the innocent-sounding herb can pack drug-like side effects. A 41-year-old man realized this while using echinacea for his flu-like symptoms, according to Canadian researchers. Thanks for the "False Memories" True memories and those recollections you only think are real leave different traces in your brain, scientists report. Stressful Jobs Keep Stroke Patients From Work The physical and psychological demands of a patient's job influence whether he or she will return to work after have a mild to moderately severe stroke, according to a report presented at the 26th International Stroke Conference of the American Heart Association. Heart Disease Still Biggest Killer Despite advances in cardiac care and aggressive efforts to promote heart-healthy lifestyles, coronary heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States. Sticking to a Low-Salt Diet Getting young, black males to stick to a low-salt diet may require novel support strategies, new research shows. Race May Not Predict UV-Related Skin Damage People with darker skin may be less susceptible to the sun's damaging rays, but researchers are discovering that race may not be the main predictor of who will most likely be permanently damaged by ultraviolet radiation. Dangerous Supplements Causing Deaths US government researchers reported more evidence Thursday that an industrial solvent sold over the Internet as a dietary supplement is causing the same dangerous symptoms as seen with the so-called ``date rape'' drug, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Sugary Soft Drinks Linked to Childhood Obesity For every soft drink or sugar-sweetened beverage a child drinks every day, their obesity risk appears to jump 60%, new study findings suggest. X-Rays Deemed Unnecessary for Most Low Back Pain Getting an x-ray to uncover the source of lower back pain does not reduce suffering, researchers report. In fact, in a new study, patients who had an x-ray, or radiography, reported more pain 3 months later than those who did not have an x-ray. Poison Can Control Sweating Injections of botulism toxin can control an embarrassing condition that makes people sweat so heavily that their clothes get drenched at room temperature, a study found. Obesity Said to Cause 6% of All Deaths in England More government action on obesity was urged in a report released Wednesday that warns that over 30,000 deaths a year in England, or 6% of all deaths, can be attributed to excess body weight. American Diet Deemed to Cheesy Americans love cheese, but their hearts don't love them for it, according to a new report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). The group is urging consumers to use light cheeses and a light touch when layering the dairy product on their favorite dishes. Expert Tinkers with Evolution to Create Human "Built to Last" If humans were designed to live beyond age 100 and remain free of many of the diseases and disorders associated with aging, we might have looked like short, stout elves. Safety of Supplements Unclear for Children US researchers warned Tuesday that the safety and efficacy of many dietary supplements have not been tested in children, and said that parents should exercise caution when giving supplements to their kids. Gas Cooking Threat to Lungs The fumes given off by gas cooking may have harmful effects on human lung cells, according to research. The study found that tiny particles of pollution produced when gas is burned seem to have an inflammatory effect when passed over lung cells in the laboratory. Exercise Boosts Clot-Dissolving Proteins A half hour of minimal exercise can give people with hardening of the arteries in their legs or arms a boost in protection from a heart attack or stroke, a study finds. Antioxidant Vitamins C and E are Found to Protect Against Memory Loss A new aging study has determined that antioxidant vitamins C and Vitamin E - protect against dementia and can improve brain function in later life. Breast Milk May Fight Hypertension Babies fed infant formula grow up to have higher blood pressure than those given breast milk, new research suggests. Male Chromosome Not "Genomic Junkyard" As part of the Human Genome Project, scientists have constructed the map of the Y chromosome--the stocky chunk of DNA that makes men look and act like men--and it's not what they expected. In fact, it is more interesting than once thought, according to one of the researchers involved in the mapping, Dr. David C. Page. Pawpaws' Cancer Clue A chemical found in the pawpaw could help scientists understand how to treat cancer. Researchers at the University of Southampton are in a worldwide race to be the first to synthesize a key property of the exotic fruit. Pawpaws and other members of the custard apple family contain the key chemical. Many Parents Unhappy About Circumcision Decision Although pediatricians have not endorsed routine circumcision, a majority of parents in the US still choose to have their infant sons undergo the procedure. Now a new survey suggests that parents who say no to circumcision end up less satisfied with their decision than those who opt for the procedure. Obesity on the Rise Among Infants and Toddlers Children younger than 4 years of age are not immune to the epidemic of obesity that has swept the modern world, researchers report. Breastfeeding Lowers Blood Pressure Later in Life Results of a new study may give women one more reason to breastfeed: they could be helping their baby avoid heart disease and stroke later in life. Child Abuse Prevention Program Deemed a Success Results from a program that focuses on reaching out to child sexual abusers rather than teaching children how to protect themselves underscores the potential of this approach, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fat Cell Defect May Lead to Type II Diabetes Defective fat cells may be the key to understanding and treating type 2 diabetes, a disease that increasingly threatens the health of the nation, US scientists report. Obesity Hormone Drops with Diet and Exercise It is no mystery that eating a healthy diet and exercising can make extra pounds disappear. But the results of a new study suggest that lifestyle changes may also lower levels of leptin, the ``obesity hormone'' thought to be involved in appetite regulation. Metabolism Studies as Obesity Risk in Black Children The obesity epidemic in the US has hit black Americans particularly hard, and experts point to both environmental and genetic factors as the culprits. Now new research shows that during puberty, black children may have a slower metabolism than white children do. Scientists Identify Gene That Helps Absorb Iron British researchers have discovered a gene that plays a role in how mammals absorb iron from food. The finding could have implications for the study of iron-related problems in humans, such as anemia--a condition that results in fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness and headache. Pregnancy Weight Gain Linked to Obesity Rise If a woman gains a lot of weight during pregnancy, she runs the risk of being significantly overweight even a year after delivering her baby, researchers report.