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Tips to maintain and improve brain health

While there are still mysteries surrounding the fundamental process of memory, research has revealed activities that may enhance memory and promote overall brain health. John H. Byrne, Ph.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School, studies the neuronal and molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory. Here are three tips he offers for maintaining and improving brain health.

18 Aug 2010

Moderate chocolate consumption lowers heart failure risk: Study

Middle-aged and elderly Swedish women who regularly ate a small amount of chocolate had lower risks of heart failure risks, in a study reported in Circulation: Heart Failure, a journal of the American Heart Association.

18 Aug 2010

Cancer Institute of New Jersey expands 'Quality and Outcomes in Cancer Care Research Program'

Looking to gain further understanding about the impact of cancer on patients and families, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) is expanding its Quality and Outcomes in Cancer Care (QOCC) Research Program by welcoming nationally-recognized population science researcher Sharon Manne, PhD. Dr. Manne, who is the recipient of major grant awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for her work in behavioral science, was most recently at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. CINJ is a Center of Excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

17 Aug 2010

Ancient discovery holds key to joint tissue regeneration

Osteoarthritis is a crippling disease worldwide, with an estimated eight million sufferers in the UK alone. It has been described as like "wearing a suit of rusty armour," with unrelenting, razor-like pain.

17 Aug 2010

NeoStem second-quarter revenues increase 26% to $19.4 million

NeoStem, Inc. an international biopharmaceutical company with product and service revenues, global research and development capabilities and operations in three distinct business units, U.S. adult stem cells, China adult stem cells, and China pharmaceuticals is today providing results of its second quarter 2010.

16 Aug 2010

International community must approach cancer as a global health priority

Once thought to be a problem primarily in the developed world, cancer is now a leading cause of death and disability in poorer countries. Almost two-thirds of the 7.6 million cancer deaths in the world occur in low- and middle-income countries.

16 Aug 2010

Scientists replace human gene to preserve photoreceptor function in retinal degeneration

The easy accessibility of the eye and the established link between specific genetic defects and ocular disorders offer hope for using gene therapy to provide long-term therapeutic benefit. Two reports in the current issue of Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., describe the effective replacement of a human gene to preserve photoreceptor function in a mouse model of severe retinal degeneration. The articles are available free online.

16 Aug 2010

Today's opinions: Rep. Ryan's plan to aid Medicare; The burden on health law supporters in Va.; Evaluating Medicare actuary's estimates

Only in Washington could the government raid one entitlement program to finance a brand-new one and still claim that deficits have been reduced and entitlements have been reformed (Rep. Paul Ryan, 8/13).

13 Aug 2010

Mobile and free clinics provide low cost medical care to uninsured patients

Reuters, on mobile clinics including the Family Van, a nonprofit clinic affiliated with Harvard University, in Boston: "The van -- which visits six low-income neighborhoods around Boston weekly -- is one of about 2,000 such mobile clinics in the United States. Advocates say the approach can help control the rising cost of health care by helping people with chronic diseases to stay out of the emergency room, often the first recourse for inner-city residents.

13 Aug 2010

Merlin protein controls adult cell activity to cause liver cancer

A protein known to be involved in a rare hereditary cancer syndrome may have a role in the regulation of liver stem cells and the development of liver cancer. In the August 15 issue of Genes & Development, a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team describes finding that the protein called merlin, encoded by the NF2 (neurofibromatosis type 2) gene, controls the activity of adult stem cells that give rise to the two major types of liver cells.

13 Aug 2010

American Society of Hematology offers recommendations to propel collaborative research in regenerative medicine

The American Society of Hematology has developed specific recommendations to the scientific community and federal agencies to help propel collaborative research in regenerative medicine in order to make real strides in improving patient care. These recommendations were released today in Blood, ASH's premier scientific journal, in the article titled "Enhancing Research in Regenerative Medicine."

13 Aug 2010

Study offers clues to potential treatments for preserving, restoring insulin-producing cells

In type 1 diabetes, the body relentlessly attacks and destroys its own insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. But a study by Joslin Diabetes Center scientists now has firmly established that some of these cells endure for many decades in a small group of people with the disease—offering clues to potential treatments for preserving and even restoring the crucial cell population.

12 Aug 2010

Nurses' Voices project covers oral history of nursing, development of new nursing practices

A research project giving nurses' first-hand accounts of life on the wards of St George's Hospital, London, over the last 80 years has been brought together in a new book.

12 Aug 2010

Healthcare professionals need to develop empathic skills: Tischler's book on mental health

Doctors and other healthcare professionals should use the arts and humanities to develop their empathic skills and improve mental healthcare practice, according to a new book.Mental Health, Psychiatry and the Arts, edited by Dr Victoria Tischler in the Division of Psychiatry at The University of Nottingham, argues that visual art, poetry writing, novels and music can be used in the education of medical and nursing students and other mental health professionals to improve their understanding of the patient experience.

12 Aug 2010

Tengion announces clinical, corporate and second-quarter financial updates

Tengion Inc. today provided a corporate and product development update and reported its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

12 Aug 2010

Study examines cosmetic impact of surgical procedure for body dysmorphic disorder

A new study finds that while many who suffer from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) seek cosmetic procedures, only two percent of procedures actually reduced the severity of BDD. Despite this poor long-term outcome, physicians continue to provide requested surgeries to people suffering from BDD. The study was recently published in Annals of Plastic Surgery.

12 Aug 2010

NeoStem, Schepens Eye Research Institute collaborate to develop therapies for AMD and Glaucoma

NeoStem, Inc., an international biopharmaceutical company with operations in the U.S. and China, announced today that it has entered into a sponsored research agreement (SRA) with the Schepens Eye Research Institute, a charitable corporation of Massachusetts and an affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

12 Aug 2010

Medical School News and Research

Tips to maintain and improve brain health

Moderate chocolate consumption lowers heart failure risk: Study

Cancer Institute of New Jersey expands 'Quality and Outcomes in Cancer Care Research Program'

Ancient discovery holds key to joint tissue regeneration

NeoStem second-quarter revenues increase 26% to $19.4 million

International community must approach cancer as a global health priority

Scientists replace human gene to preserve photoreceptor function in retinal degeneration

Today's opinions: Rep. Ryan's plan to aid Medicare; The burden on health law supporters in Va.; Evaluating Medicare actuary's estimates

Mobile and free clinics provide low cost medical care to uninsured patients

Merlin protein controls adult cell activity to cause liver cancer

American Society of Hematology offers recommendations to propel collaborative research in regenerative medicine

Study offers clues to potential treatments for preserving, restoring insulin-producing cells

Nurses' Voices project covers oral history of nursing, development of new nursing practices

Healthcare professionals need to develop empathic skills: Tischler's book on mental health

Tengion announces clinical, corporate and second-quarter financial updates

Study examines cosmetic impact of surgical procedure for body dysmorphic disorder

NeoStem, Schepens Eye Research Institute collaborate to develop therapies for AMD and Glaucoma

Healthcare professionals should use arts, humanities to improve mental healthcare practice: New book

Rxi Pharmaceuticals second-quarter net loss decreases to $2.1 million

Survey shows strong interest in video games, virtual reality environments for doctor training

Industry Focus eBook - Forensics & toxicology (2nd edition) eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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