Infants who have a genetic profile linked with asthma risk could be protected against respiratory symptoms if they are breastfeed, according to a new study. "Our study is the first to show that breastfeeding can modify the effect of asthma-related genetic profiles on respiratory symptoms in the first year of life," commented Dr Olga Gorlanova, from the University … [Read more...]
Pain-Reliever Used In Pregnancy May Cause Behavioral Issues In Kids
Using the common pain-relieving medication acetaminophen during pregnancy was associated with increased risk for multiple behavioral problems in children, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics. Acetaminophen is generally considered safe in pregnancy and is used by a many pregnant women for pain and fever. Evie Stergiakouli, Ph.D., of the University … [Read more...]
Solo Mothers Raise More Adjusting Children
The number of children born to single women is increasing, partly as a result of social and legislative changes (in most jurisdictions) in the rights to parenthood. While technology has been readily able to meet this rising demand through donor insemination and even IVF, little is known about how children think, feel and fare growing up in the families formed by single … [Read more...]
Women with BRCA1 at High Risk of Uterine Cancer
Women who carry the BRCA1 gene mutation that dramatically increases their risk of breast and ovarian cancers are also at higher risk for a lethal form of uterine cancer, according to a study led by a Duke Cancer Institute researcher. This newly defined risk -- the first to show a conclusive link between the BRCA1 gene mutation and a small but significant chance of … [Read more...]
Switch-Off Your Cravings
Eating a type of powdered food supplement, based on a molecule produced by bacteria in the gut, reduces cravings for high-calorie foods such as chocolate, cake and pizza, a new study suggests. Scientists from Imperial College London and the University of Glasgow asked 20 volunteers to consume a milkshake that either contained an ingredient called inulin-propionate … [Read more...]
Breaking News: Artificial Pancreas to be available by 2018
The artificial pancreas -- a device which monitors blood glucose in patients with type 1 diabetes and then automatically adjusts levels of insulin entering the body -- is likely to be available by 2018, conclude authors of a paper inDiabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes). Issues such as speed of action of the forms of insulin used, … [Read more...]
Butter Does Not Lead To Chronic Diseases
Butter consumption was only weakly associated with total mortality, not associated with cardiovascular disease, and slightly inversely associated (protective) with diabetes, according to a new epidemiological study which analyzed the association of butter consumption with chronic disease and all-cause mortality. This systematic review and meta-analysis, published in PLOS ONE, … [Read more...]
New Breakthrough in Brain Tumor Research
Scientists at Newcastle University, UK, have made a pioneering breakthrough in the understanding of how a fatal brain tumor grows -- which could lead to improved treatments for patients. Experts have found cells within the malignant brain tumor, glioma, rely on fats to fuel growth. This contradicts previous scientific belief that tumor cells require mainly sugars to … [Read more...]
Children drinking sports drinks have risk of obesity
A high proportion of 12-14 year olds are regularly consuming sports drinks socially, increasing their risk of obesity and tooth erosion, concludes a Cardiff University School of Dentistry survey. Published today in the British Dental Journal, the survey looked at 160 children in four schools across South Wales and concluded that children are attracted to sports drinks … [Read more...]
Bacteria may protect you from breast cancer
Bacteria that have the potential to abet breast cancer are present in the breasts of cancer patients, while beneficial bacteria are more abundant in healthy breasts, where they may actually be protecting women from cancer, according to Gregor Reid, PhD, and his collaborators. These findings may lead ultimately to the use of probiotics to protect women against breast … [Read more...]
Dengue virus exposure may amplify Zika infection
Previous exposure to the dengue virus may increase the potency of Zika infection, according to research from Imperial College London. The early-stage laboratory findings, published in the journal Nature Immunology, suggests the recent explosive outbreak of Zika may have been driven in part by previous exposure to the dengue virus. The study, which included … [Read more...]
Eating Patterns Are As Important As Eating Right
In a review of research on the effect of meal patterns on health, the few studies available suggest that eating irregularly is linked to a higher risk of metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and obesity). The limited evidence highlights the need for larger scale studies to better understand the impact of chrono-nutrition on public health, argue the authors … [Read more...]
E-cigarettes: Gateway or roadblock to cigarette smoking?
A new study from the UK Centre for Substance Use Research, being presented at the Global Forum on Nicotine, shows e-cigarettes are playing an important role in reducing the likelihood of young people smoking, in many cases acting as a 'roadblock' to combustible tobacco. In detailed qualitative interviews with young people aged 16 to 25 across Scotland and England, the … [Read more...]
Smoking, alcohol, obesity rates ‘alarming’ across Europe: WHO
"Alarming" rates of smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity in Europe could mean the next generation live shorter lives, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday. While Europeans are living longer than ever before, increases in life expectancy and declines in premature mortality may "flatten off" if the three big lifestyle risk factors are not dealt with, a … [Read more...]
New ‘microcapsules’ have potential to repair damage caused by osteoarthritis: A Queen Mary University of London Study
A new 'microcapsule' treatment delivery method developed by researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) could reduce inflammation in cartilage affected by osteoarthritis and reverse damage to tissue. The research was funded by Arthritis Research UK and the AO Foundation. A protein molecule called C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), which occurs naturally in the body, … [Read more...]
Rheumatoid arthritis disease can be predicted: University of Manchester Study
Arthritis Research UK-funded scientists at The University of Manchester have identified a new way in which genotyping can be used to predict disease outcomes among sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis. New cohort studies have shown that certain genetic variants are associated with higher or lower risks of increased disease severity. The findings, published in the Journal of … [Read more...]
Drug targets for allergies and asthma: Imperial College London Study
Scientists have discovered over 30 new genes that predispose people to allergies and asthma, some of which could be targets for new drugs. Asthma affects one child in 10 in the UK, and allergies may affect one third of the population. The new findings could lead to new treatments for allergic diseases, and will help to predict who will best respond to currently available … [Read more...]
Ultrasound accelerates skin healing in diabetics: A University of Sheffield Study
Healing times for skin ulcers and bedsores can be reduced by a third with the use of low-intensity ultrasound, scientists from the University of Sheffield and University of Bristol have found. Researchers from the University of Sheffield's Department of Biomedical Science discovered the ultrasound transmits a vibration through the skin and wakes up cells in wounds helping … [Read more...]
Talking therapy helps in chronic low back pain: A University of Royal Holloway London Study
New research from Royal Holloway, University of London has found that a new form of talking therapy is a credible and promising treatment for people with chronic low back pain who are also suffering from related psychological stress. Professor Tamar Pincus from the Department of Psychology also found that patients preferred a combination of talking therapy and physiotherapy … [Read more...]
Viagra is not a universal ‘cure-all’ for impotence: A Manchester University Study
Viagra and other related drugs are not a universal 'cure-all' for impotence, according to a new study from The University of Manchester and NatCen Social Research. Drugs, clinically known as oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i), have become the first-line medical treatment option for sufferers of erectile dysfunction (ED) -- also known as impotence -- since … [Read more...]