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Brain fatty acid levels linked to depression

A group of researchers from Israel has discovered that rats exhibiting the signs of depression have increased levels of the omega-6 fatty acid, arachidonic acid, in their brains. The details of their findings appear in the June issue of the Journal of Lipid Research, an American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology journal.

25 May 2005

WIN compound - a prototype drug for curing colds - is showing so much promise

An antiviral compound that wiggles its way into the common cold virus may provide one piece of the solution to halting the infection, say Purdue University scientists.

25 May 2005

State of "incomplete" health has resulted in a loss of productivity in the workforce

While most American adults may not be patently sick, a vast majority of them still lack full health and vitality. This state of "incomplete" health has resulted in a loss of productivity in the workforce, and potentially increases health care costs in the long term, according to a new Emory University study published in the May issue of the Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health.

25 May 2005

First study to examine liver injury in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Many patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are obese and therefore at risk of having fatty liver, a condition in which fat accumulates in the liver cells. But the link between OSA and liver injury independent of weight has yet to be examined.

25 May 2005

Protein TRPA1 essential for hearing also vital for pain perception

The same protein that "translates" sound into nerve signals to the brain and enables individuals to hear is also required for pain perception, researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have found.

25 May 2005

Moderate program of physical exercise helps maintain bone mass in elderly

Debunking the myth that exercising to lose excess body fat, unlike dieting alone, comes at a cost to bone health, researchers at Johns Hopkins have determined that for those age 55 to 75, a moderate program of physical exercise generally maintains bone mass and, in some cases, offers modest improvements.

25 May 2005

Even limited training improves communication with patients from other cultures

Simple classroom lectures about different religious holidays, such as the Muslim tradition of fasting during Ramadan, or Spanish language lessons focused on common medical terms really work to help physicians and nurses connect with patients from different cultures and improve patient satisfaction, according to a pair of reports from Johns Hopkins researchers.

25 May 2005

Corticosteroids should not be used in the treatment of head injuries

Corticosteroids should not be used in the treatment of head injuries, conclude the final results of a randomised trial published online today (Thursday May 26, 2005) by The Lancet.

25 May 2005

Tort reform associated with increase in physician supply

States that enacted malpractice reforms had an increase in their overall supply of physicians, according to a study in the June 1 issue of JAMA.

25 May 2005

Nearly 50 millions Americans do not have access to a level I or II trauma center within an hour

Despite the growing number of trauma centers over the past decade, studies indicate that their geographic distribution varies widely across states, according to background information in the article.

25 May 2005

Practice of defensive medicine widespread among physicians in specialties at high risk of lawsuits

More than 90 percent of surveyed physicians in Pennsylvania reported defensive medicine practices such as over-ordering of diagnostic tests, unnecessary referrals and avoidance of high-risk patients, according to a study in the June 1 issue of JAMA.

25 May 2005

Newly developed treatment for severe grief shown more effective than standard therapy

A recently developed method for treating complicated grief, which includes discussing certain aspects of the death of a loved one, was found more effective than a standard therapy for depression, according to a study in the June 1 issue of JAMA.

25 May 2005

Immediate treatment after suspected HIV transmission may do more harm than good

The active promotion of immediate treatment after suspected HIV transmission to minimise the risk of infection may be doing more harm than good, claim senior doctors in Sexually Transmitted Infections.

25 May 2005

Asthma and hay fever seem to be linked to irregular periods

The finding adds weight to the evidence, suggesting that female hormones might have a role in the development of asthma and allergies.

25 May 2005

India says HIV infections' on the decrease

India, which has the second highest number of HIV-infected people, says its awareness drive is getting through and says it has seen a dramatic slowdown in the number of new infections.

25 May 2005

Everything may shrink as you get older but your bladder says the same

Many people find as they get older that they need to go to the toilet more frequently, and University of Pittsburgh researchers say this has nothing to do with a shrinking bladder but it is more likely due to an underlying medical condition.

25 May 2005

Exercise boosts chances of surviving breast cancer

A new study is the first to produce evidence that exercise improves the prospects of beating a malignancy, and proves that being physically active boosts the odds that breast cancer patients will survive the disease.

25 May 2005

Scientists watch agents of brain-wasting diseases invade and move within brain cells

Scientists for the first time have watched agents of brain-wasting diseases, called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), as they invade a nerve cell and then travel along wire-like circuits to points of contact with other cells.

25 May 2005

What should you do - if anything - to treat an enlarged prostate gland?

Called benign prostatic hyperplasia or hypertrophy (BPH), the condition affects most men as they age. About half of men with an enlarged prostate seek medical treatment because of bothersome urinary tract symptoms. These symptoms may include poor urine flow, straining to urinate, frequent urination and urinary urgency.

25 May 2005

American Diabetes Association applauds passage of Stem Cell Legislation

The American Diabetes Association has applauded the passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of legislation that would accelerate stem cell research by easing existing restrictions and supporting research that uses embryonic stem cells.

25 May 2005