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Inhaled corticosteroids reduces severity of asthma attacks in preschoolers

The largest study of its kind on preschoolers has demonstrated that preventive treatment with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids is effective in reducing the severity and duration of asthma attacks triggered by colds.

23 Jan 2009

Kidney transplant survival can be long-term for people with HIV

A Johns Hopkins study finds that HIV-positive kidney transplant recipients could have the same one-year survival rates for themselves and their donor organs as those without HIV, provided certain risk factors for transplant failure are recognized and tightly managed.

19 Jan 2009

Transplanted fatty livers associated with worse prognosis for patients with hepatitis C

A new study suggests that patients with hepatitis C (HCV) who need a liver transplant should not receive an organ with high levels of fatty deposits (a.k.a. hepatic steatosis).

14 Jan 2009

Vicks VapoRub may create respiratory distress in young children

New research out of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center suggests that Vicks® VapoRub®, the popular menthol compound used to relieve symptoms of cough and congestion, may instead create respiratory distress in infants and small children.

13 Jan 2009

Warning about Vicks VapoRub

A warning has been issued about the popular cough and cold treatment Vicks VapoRub. Experts say it should not be used on children under 2 years of age.

13 Jan 2009

Food-addiction blamed for obesity

A study by scientists in New Zealand say craving something sweet like a biscuit or piece of chocolate could be a response to an addiction.

13 Jan 2009

Vitamin D offers widespread benefits for health

Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "it" nutrient with health benefits for diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and now diabetes.

12 Jan 2009

Less than seven hours of sleep may mean more colds

Individuals who get less than seven hours of sleep per night appear about three times as likely to develop respiratory illness following exposure to a cold virus as those who sleep eight hours or more, according to a report in the January 12 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine , one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

12 Jan 2009

Elderly more at risk of heart attack in cold weather

Cold weather may raise blood pressure in elderly. In new research French are suggesting that elderly people may be more at risk of suffering a stroke, heart attack or kidney failure in winter because cold weather may raise their blood pressure.

12 Jan 2009

Widespread antiviral drug use can accelerate the evolution of drug resistance in viruses

Influenza's ability to resist the effects of cheap and popular antiviral agents in Asia and Russia should serve as a cautionary tale about U.S. plans to use the antiviral Tamiflu in the event of widespread avian flu infection in humans, scientists say.

7 Jan 2009

Control of blood vessels a possible weapon against obesity

Mice exposed to low temperatures develop more blood vessels in their adipose tissue and metabolise body fat more quickly, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet. Scientists now hope to learn how to control blood vessel development in humans in order to combat obesity and diabetes.

7 Jan 2009

New methods for studying DNA repair and protein modification

This month's issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features two articles detailing experimental methods for the analysis of molecular processes involved in DNA repair and post-translational modification of proteins.

5 Jan 2009

Researchers look at global endometrial ablation procedure for heavy menstrual bleeding

Experts estimate that 20 percent of women experience excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding at some time during their lives, particularly as they approach menopause.

5 Jan 2009

Antibodies take 'evolutionary leaps' to fight microbes

With cold and flu season in full swing, the fact that viruses and bacteria rapidly evolve is apparent with every sneeze, sniffle, and cough.

5 Jan 2009

Specialized kidney transporter improves transplant results

A landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) demonstrates that use of a specially-designed machine to store kidneys for transplantation offers significant benefits in kidney survival and function when compared to those stored in a traditional "ice box", or cold storage.

1 Jan 2009

Warning about severe allergic reactions to recalled cold and flu tablets

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) have recalled two types of cold and flu tablets following reports of a number of allergic and anaphylactic reactions.

22 Dec 2008

How mirror neurons allow us to learn and socialize by going through the motions in the head

The old adage that we can only learn how to do something by trying it ourselves may have to be revised in the light of recent discoveries in neuroscience.

21 Dec 2008

Does sugar make kids hyperactive? and six other myths debunked

Does sugar make kids hyperactive?

18 Dec 2008

Natural product from red seaweed brings new antiviral spray

Marinomed Biotechnologie GmbH has been awarded the top prize in the Mercur 2008 innovation awards. This award to Marinomed honours the discovery of antiviral properties in a natural product and the rapid development of the discovery into a nasal spray for treating the common cold.

16 Dec 2008

Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) shown to delay new episodes of depression

New data suggest that Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) 60 mg to 120 mg once daily delayed the onset of a new episode of depression in patients who had previously responded to the medication and who had recurrent depressive disorder, defined in the study as those patients who experienced at least three depressive episodes in the previous five years, compared with placebo (p < .001).

14 Dec 2008