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Research attributes accumulation of belly fat to change in hormone balance during menopause transition

In middle-aged women, visceral fat, more commonly called belly fat, is known to be a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but what causes visceral fat to accumulate?

21 Aug 2009

Hospitals treating more black cancer patients experience worse survival rates

Hospitals that treat more black cancer patients have worse survival rates on average for patients with breast and colon cancer, regardless of race, according to a new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

21 Aug 2009

More evidence that genes increase a smokers' risk of lung cancer

Cancer Research UK funded scientists have confirmed that inherited changes in certain regions of the genome can increase a smokers' risk of developing lung cancer lung cancer, and determine the type of lung cancer that develops. Their results were published in this week's edition of the journal Cancer Research*.

21 Aug 2009

Cognitive behavioural therapy effective when delivered in online by a therapist

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) seems to be effective when delivered online in real time by a therapist, with benefits maintained over 8 months. This method of delivery could broaden access to CBT in primary care. These are the conclusions of an article in this week's Global Mental Health special edition of The Lancet, written by Dr David Kessler, NIHR National School for Primary Care Research, University of Bristol and colleagues.

21 Aug 2009

Duke University Medical Center highlights importance of the appendix in human body

The lowly appendix, long-regarded as a useless evolutionary artifact, won newfound respect two years ago when researchers at Duke University Medical Center proposed that it actually serves a critical function. The appendix, they said, is a safe haven where good bacteria could hang out until they were needed to repopulate the gut after a nasty case of diarrhea, for example.

21 Aug 2009

Role of HPRT genes detected in Lesch Nyan X-linked inherited disorders

A study from the Center for Molecular Genetics at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine shows that a gene called HPRT plays an important role in setting the program by which primitive or precursor cells decide to become normal nerve cells in the human brain. This unconventional view of metabolic genes known as "housekeeping" genes is now online at the journal Molecular Therapy.

21 Aug 2009

Researchers find link between chronic kidney disease and impaired mitochondrial respiratory system

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been linked to oxidative stress caused by dysregulation of the genes that control mitochondria. A study in the open access journal BMC Genomics has revealed alterations in respiration gene expression in the white blood cells of CKD patients.

21 Aug 2009

Study reveals that brain damage in amateur boxers can be detected by a blood test

A blood test can now be used to detect brain damage in amateur boxers. Deterioration of nerve cells seems to occur even after a two-month break from boxing. This is shown in a new study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

21 Aug 2009

New study reveals that influenza vaccination may prevent inappropriate antibiotic use

We all know that influenza vaccination helps prevent disease, but a new study from Canada suggests it may also prevent another public health problem: inappropriate antibiotic use. The findings come from a new study in the September 1, 2009 issue of Clinical Infectious Disease, which is now available online.

21 Aug 2009

Research reveals smokeless tobacco users at higher risk of a heart attack or stroke

People who use smokeless tobacco products like snus have a slightly higher risk of having a fatal heart attack or stroke, according to research published on bmj.com today.

21 Aug 2009

Adverse cardiovascular events during treatment with pioglitazone and rosiglitazone: Population-based cohort study

Rosiglitazone, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and death among older patients compared to a similar drug (pioglitazone), concludes a study published on bmj.com today.

20 Aug 2009

IBISS research group's project aims to examine Ribavirin role in promoting the survival of transplanted stem cells

Hard to Treat Diseases (HTDS.PK) Dr. Sanja Pekovic, Chief Project Scientist, Chief Strategy Officer Slavica BioChem reported that IBISS research group from Serbia has begun preliminary experiments within a project aimed at Promoting stem cell graft survival in the model of traumatic brain injury in rats.

20 Aug 2009

Shape-changing in proteins opens new avenue for drug discovery

Computational biologists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have shown that proteins have an intrinsic ability to change shape, and this is required for their biological activity. This shape-changing also allows the small molecules that are attracted to a given protein to select the structure that permits the best binding. That premise could help in drug discovery and in designing compounds that will have the most impact on protein function to better treat a host of diseases.

20 Aug 2009

Mesenchymal stem cells repair human brain

There is no known cure for neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. But new hope, in the form of stem cells created from the patient's own bone marrow, can be found ― and literally seen ― in laboratories at Tel Aviv University.

20 Aug 2009

Social networking for social wellbeing

Computer scientists at the University of Southampton are using social networking tools to explore if individuals can enhance their personal and social wellbeing over time if they quickly share how they feel about issues such as their busyness, enjoyment, health and stress via these networks.

20 Aug 2009

Consumer-friendly "finger stick" blood test to detect cardiovascular disease is broadly available now

A new blood test, measuring the level of omega-3 fatty acids in red blood cells, is now broadly available for the first time to the public everywhere as a consumer-friendly, at-home "finger stick" test. While scientists have long known of the benefits of fish and fish oil for overall heart health, over the past decade research has proven that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish dramatically reduce one's risk for cardiovascular disease. Further, recent research indicates that omega-3 levels may be among the best predictors of future coronary heart disease - providing much stronger correlations to the risk of sudden cardiac death than traditional indicators, including HDL and LDL cholesterol.

20 Aug 2009

Novel microRNA plays a major role in invasive breast cancer development

Research led by Suresh Alahari, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, has shown for the first time that a tiny piece of RNA appears to play a major role in the development of invasive breast cancer and identified a gene that appears to inhibit invasive breast cancer.

20 Aug 2009

Scientists find another mechanism that destroys tumor cells

Cells don't like to be alone. In the early stages of tumor formation, a cell might be pushed out of its normal home environment due to excessive growth. But a cell normally responds to this homeless state by dismantling its nucleus, packing up its DNA, and offering itself to be eaten by immune system cells. Simply put, the homeless cell kills itself. This process, known as apoptosis, typically stops potential cancer cells before they have a chance to proliferate.

20 Aug 2009

UT Southwestern Medical Center: Human gut bacteria ward off Toxoplasma gondii

Immunology researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that bacteria present in the human gut help initiate the body's defense mechanisms against Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis.

20 Aug 2009

National Institute on Drug Abuse funds study on development of prenatally cocaine-exposed children

Teen years are filled with experimenting. Sometimes that means trying some risky behaviors.

20 Aug 2009

Medical Research News

Research attributes accumulation of belly fat to change in hormone balance during menopause transition

Hospitals treating more black cancer patients experience worse survival rates

More evidence that genes increase a smokers' risk of lung cancer

Cognitive behavioural therapy effective when delivered in online by a therapist

Duke University Medical Center highlights importance of the appendix in human body

Role of HPRT genes detected in Lesch Nyan X-linked inherited disorders

Researchers find link between chronic kidney disease and impaired mitochondrial respiratory system

Study reveals that brain damage in amateur boxers can be detected by a blood test

New study reveals that influenza vaccination may prevent inappropriate antibiotic use

Research reveals smokeless tobacco users at higher risk of a heart attack or stroke

Adverse cardiovascular events during treatment with pioglitazone and rosiglitazone: Population-based cohort study

IBISS research group's project aims to examine Ribavirin role in promoting the survival of transplanted stem cells

Shape-changing in proteins opens new avenue for drug discovery

Mesenchymal stem cells repair human brain

Social networking for social wellbeing

Consumer-friendly "finger stick" blood test to detect cardiovascular disease is broadly available now

Novel microRNA plays a major role in invasive breast cancer development

Scientists find another mechanism that destroys tumor cells

UT Southwestern Medical Center: Human gut bacteria ward off Toxoplasma gondii

National Institute on Drug Abuse funds study on development of prenatally cocaine-exposed children

How microRNA is transforming science: From discovery to diagnostics

Advancing benzodiazepine detection

The Surgeon-Scientist Pioneering Regenerative Engineering

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