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Study reveals high blood pressure and obesity are no longer confined to wealthy countries

High blood pressure and obesity are no longer confined to wealthy countries, a new study has found. These health risks have traditionally been associated with affluence, and in 1980, they were more prevalent in countries with a higher income.

10 Apr 2013

Researchers discover that fruit fly mutation holds clues for treating motor neuron diseases

A team of researchers, led by Marc Freeman, PhD, an early career scientist with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and associate professor of neurobiology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have discovered a gene in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster that, when mutant, blocks the self-destruction of damaged axons, which could hold clues to treating motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

9 Apr 2013

Transposons increase in abundance and activity in brains as they age

As the body ages, the physical effects are notable; wrinkles in the skin appear, physical exertion becomes harder. But there are also less visible processes going on. Inside aging brains there is another phenomenon at work, which may contribute to age-related brain defects.

9 Apr 2013

Fruit-juice-infused chocolate offers healthy treat

Already renowned as a healthy treat when enjoyed in moderation, chocolate could become even more salubrious if manufacturers embraced new technology for making "fruit-juice-infused chocolate," a scientist said here today.

8 Apr 2013

Research identifies important role of zinc in kidney stone formation

Kidney stones usually make their presence known suddenly, often sending a person to the hospital in excruciating pain. Each year in the U.S. more than a million people seek medical attention for kidney stones, technically called nephrolithiasis.

8 Apr 2013

Mannitol could lead to new approach for Parkinson's disease treatment, researchers suggest

Researchers from Tel Aviv University describe experiments that could lead to a new approach for treating Parkinson's disease using a common sweetener, mannitol.

8 Apr 2013

Preventive measures to recover from hoarse voice

It's that time of year again, sports fans. We've marched through March Madness, when NCAA basketball playoff brackets bloomed and died and Cinderella stories rose from the shadows to revel in momentary glory.

6 Apr 2013

Nobel Prize recipient describes on innate immunity at Annual Drosophila Research Conference

A young scientist's astute observation - that grasshoppers don't get sick - eventually led to profound insights into our own immunity.

6 Apr 2013

Fruit fly study offers clues to wound healing

A person's skin and a fruit fly's exoskeleton, called a "cuticle" may not look alike, but both coverings protect against injury, infection, and dehydration.

6 Apr 2013

Scientists identify key molecule responsible for triggering chemical processes in brain

Scientists have identified a key molecule responsible for triggering the chemical processes in our brain linked to our formation of memories. The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Neural Circuits, reveal a new target for therapeutic interventions to reverse the devastating effects of memory loss.

30 Mar 2013

Educated parents promote healthy eating habits, prevent childhood obesity

Almost 15,000 children aged between two and nine years old took part in the study. The level of education of parents has an influence on the frequency with which their children eat foods linked to obesity. The children of parents with low and medium levels of education eat fewer vegetables and fruit and more processed products and sweet drinks.

28 Mar 2013

Exosomes can transfer membrane proteins, study reveals

Important new research from UMass Medical School demonstrates how exosomes shuttle proteins from neurons to muscle cells where they take part in critical signaling mechanisms, an exciting discovery that means these tiny vehicles could one day be loaded with therapeutic agents, such as RNA interference, and directly target disease-carrying cells.

28 Mar 2013

Fruit flies raised on organic diets record better health outcomes

A new study looking at the potential health benefits of organic versus non-organic food found that fruit flies fed an organic diet recorded better health outcomes than flies fed a nonorganic diet.

27 Mar 2013

Scientists find new mechanism for guiding growth of nerves

A new mechanism for guiding the growth of nerves that involves cell-death machinery has been found by scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno that may bring advances in neurological medicine and research.

26 Mar 2013

High-fiber foods can fight inflammation

Inflammation is the body's normal response to injury. While it may be a natural defense system, it can lead to disease development if it becomes chronic. A University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) expert says one way to fight inflammation is with food.

25 Mar 2013

Study uncovers new relationship between nuclear architecture, gene activity

Every time a cell divides it makes a carbon copy of crucial ingredients, including the histone proteins that are responsible for spooling yards of DNA into tight little coils.

25 Mar 2013

Minimal changes in food service practices improve soldiers' nutritional intake: Study

The prevalence of obesity within the military is currently 13 percent. This rising epidemic, also rampant throughout the general population, could result in military career setbacks, negatively impact operational readiness, and jeopardize Department of Defense operations.

25 Mar 2013

Scotland takes action to tackle relationship between deprivation and CVD

Deprivation represents the "elephant in the room" with regard to cardiovascular disease, and health care professionals have an important role to play in tackling the problem, delegates heard at a special plenary session opening the EuroHeart Care Congress in Glasgow, Scotland, 22 March to 23 March 2013.

22 Mar 2013

Genetically modified tomatoes mimic actions of good cholesterol

UCLA researchers have genetically engineered tomatoes to produce a peptide that mimics the actions of good cholesterol when consumed.

20 Mar 2013

Lowering the costs of healthy foods can improve diets

Lowering the costs of healthy foods in supermarkets increases the amount of fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods that people eat, while also appearing to reduce consumption of nutritionally less-desirable foods, according to research from the RAND Corporation.

20 Mar 2013