Medical Research News

RSS

Researchers identify common gene variant linked to high blood pressure

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have identified a common gene variant that appears to influence people's risk of developing high blood pressure, according to the results of a study being published online Dec. 29, 2008 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

30 Dec 2008

Discovery of molecule that targets brain tumors

UC Davis Cancer Center researchers report today the discovery of a molecule that targets glioblastoma, a highly deadly form of cancer.

30 Dec 2008

Need another reason to add "Quit Smoking" to your New Year's resolutions list?

How about the fact that even if you choose to smoke outside of your home or only smoke in your home when your children are not there - thinking that you're keeping them away from second-hand smoke - you're still exposing them to toxins?

30 Dec 2008

New technique for creating authentic embryonic stem cells from rats

Stem Cell Sciences plc has announced that pioneering research describing a technique for creating authentic embryonic stem (ES) cells from rats has been published in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal, Cell.

30 Dec 2008

Moderate drinking lowers risk of Alzheimer's and cognitive decline

Moderate drinkers often have lower risks of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive loss, according to researchers who reviewed 44 studies.

30 Dec 2008

May hepatic granulomas be part of the histological spectrum of chronic hepatitis C?

While older large series of patients with hepatic granulomas have found sarcoidosis and tuberculosis to be the most common causes of hepatic granulomas, recent works have noted some patients with chronic hepatic C and hepatic granulomas and no other obvious associations.

30 Dec 2008

Matrix fragments trigger fatal excitement

Shredded extracellular matrix (ECM) is toxic to neurons. Chen et al. reveal a new mechanism for how ECM demolition causes brain damage. The study will appear in the December 29, 2008 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology (www.jcb.org).

30 Dec 2008

Long-term gene therapy used to reverse heart damage in heart failure

Long-term gene therapy resulted in improved cardiac function and reversed deterioration of the heart in rats with heart failure, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University's Center for Translational Medicine.

30 Dec 2008

Contact with plants shown to directly benefit patient's health

Contact with nature has long been suspected to increase positive feelings, reduce stress, and provide distraction from the pain associated with recovery from surgery.

30 Dec 2008

Family members of critically ill patients want to discuss loved ones' uncertain prognoses

Critically ill patients frequently have uncertain prognoses, but their families overwhelmingly wish that physicians would address prognostic uncertainty candidly, according to a new study out of the University of San Francisco Medical Center.

30 Dec 2008

Diet high in inorganic phosphates increases risk of lung cancer

New research in an animal model suggests that a diet high in inorganic phosphates, which are found in a variety of processed foods including meats, cheeses, beverages, and bakery products, might speed growth of lung cancer tumors and may even contribute to the development of those tumors in individuals predisposed to the disease.

30 Dec 2008

Spontaneous facial expressions of emotion of congenitally and noncongenitally blind individuals

Joyful or sad smiles expressed after a competition are the same for blind and sighted athletes, says a new study, showing that certain facial expressions are innate and managed differently depending on the social situation.

30 Dec 2008

Acute gastric injury due to high-dose analgesics?

Analgesics, NSAIDs and acetaminophen, are commonly used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains.

30 Dec 2008

High-fat diet can disrupt our biological clock

Indulgence in a high-fat diet can not only lead to overweight because of excessive calorie intake, but also can affect the balance of circadian rhythms - everyone's 24-hour biological clock, Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have shown.

29 Dec 2008

Benefits of fish oil supplements questioned

Canadian researchers have suggested that the evidence which supports the protective benefit of fish oil is inconclusive and more research is needed.

29 Dec 2008

Teens who skip breakfast lose their virginity earlier

According to recent research from Japan, teenagers who skip breakfast lose their virginity earlier.

29 Dec 2008

Avoid headbanging injury by switching to Celine Dion?

Australian researchers have issued a warning about the danger of "head-banging" which is usually associated with heavy-metal music.

22 Dec 2008

Cardiovascular system proteins play a role in Alzheimer's

Researchers have found that two proteins which work in tandem in the brain's blood vessels present a double whammy in Alzheimer's disease.

22 Dec 2008

Trends in sexual behaviors similar for teens who take few health risk and those who take many

Adolescent health risk behaviors often occur together, suggesting that youth involvement with one risk behavior may inform understanding of other risk behaviors, but in a study to examine the association between involvement in non-sexual risk behaviors and trends among sexual behaviors, Mailman School of Public Health researchers found that sexual behaviors vary considerably between those youth engaged in no risk health behaviors and those engaged in multiple health risk behaviors.

22 Dec 2008

Perception of health and balance has direct impact on walking activity

New research out of the University of Pittsburgh indicates that patients' perceptions of their own health and balance have an impact on how much they walk.

22 Dec 2008