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Pessimism is Good for Health

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Those who look at a half empty glass rather than a half full glass may turn out to be the healthier ones, according to a recent study. A recent study from University of Erlang-Nuremberg in Germany has found that pessimists may outlive optimists just because of their negative attitude. Scientists revealed that those who have a negative approach to life and a bleak outlook may be able to live longer than optimists, a study found. This is because pessimists ...

Renal Cell Carcinoma

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Renal cell carcinoma is kidney cancer that affects the lining of the kidney tubules. The initial stages of the cancer are asymptomatic and this makes early management of the disease difficult.

Hike in India's Health Budget

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A hike in India's health budget has been proposed by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram. A hike by over 28 percent in 2013-14 to Rs.37,330 crore (Rs.373 million), with special focus on medical education, training and research. Making the announcement Thursday, Chidambaram said the focus of the government was "health for all". He said the new National Health Mission that combines the rural mission and the proposed urban mission would get Rs.21,239 ...

Mike Huckabee Against Health Insurance Coverage for Cancer Patients

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In an appearance on 'Fox and Friends' on Feb. 23, Fox News host and self-proclaimed Christian Mike Huckabee claimed that people with pre-existing conditions, including those with cancer, should not get health insurance coverage because it would financially hurt the health insurance industry According to MediaMatters.org, Huckabee, blamed the rising costs of health care on "a combination of increasing the benefits and forcing [insurance companies] to put people ...

A New Website - InsuranceComplaint.com Launched

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InsuranceComplaint.com is a new website - it gives policy holders a public platform to air their experience and grievances during the claim process. Statistical data is compiled on insurance claims - on this website, giving the public an open forum to share their experience with insurance claims and look for professional help also. Each state has a Department of Insurance to manage their insurance market, but they lack the resources to investigate ...

Tips for Good Night's Sleep

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Is your bedroom filled with aromatherapy candles, soft mattresses and bed sheets and a glass of warm milk and yet you find yourself trying hard getting to sleep? Given the busy schedules and haywire lifestyle today, insomnia and other sleep problems tends to dominate other health issues. And if you're one of those people who rely on medications as the last resort, this guide is for you. Listed below are a few tips and tricks to correct some errors you may ...

Complication Rates of Bariatric Surgery

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In an analysis of data on patients who underwent bariatric surgery 2004-2009, there was no significant difference in the rates of complications and reoperation. This was for Medicare patients before vs. after a 2006 Centers for Medicare (and) Medicaid Services policy that restricted coverage of bariatric surgery to centers of excellence, according to a study appearing in the February 27 issue of iJAMA/i. "Prompted by concerns about perioperative safety ...

Frequency of Surveillance Scans for Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms can be Reduced

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In current abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening programs, surveillance intervals of several years may be clinically acceptable for the majority of patients with small AAA. The smallest AAAs often do not appear to change significantly over many years, according to a meta-analysis of previous studies reported in the February 27 issue of iJAMA/i. "The survival rate following rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is only 20 percent, making AAAs ...

Look, My Baby Goes Gaga Over Yoga!

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They may not be able to walk or talk yet, but they are the most natural performers of yoga! They enjoy lying on their back and having their thighs rotated. Yes! We are talking about babies and infants here and the hot happening phenomenon, "Baby Yoga". It is widely accepted that during children's initial years, they learn with their bodies before they learn with their minds. So when do we start? Believe it or not, these yoga sessions are conducted for babies ...

Effective Treatment for Vitiligo Skin Disorder Identified

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A new genetically modified protein developed by scientists reverses the skin disorder vitiligo in mice. The modified protein is potentially the first effective treatment for vitiligo, which causes unsightly white patches on the face, hands and other parts of the body. Loyola University Chicago has submitted a patent application for the protein, and researchers are seeking regulatory approval and funding for a clinical trial in humans. I. Caroline ...

Education Will Help Stabilise Population

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Experts says that education is the key to making people understand the need to stabilise population. "We want people to make choices. We don't want to look at numbers. We want to look at people. Let us now focus on the main strategy for young people and adolescents and family planning," said Frederika Meijer, representative of the United Nations Population Fund, at a seminar on population organised by the Public Health Foundation Tuesday. Justice Leila ...

Researchers Identify Genetic Variation Behind Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment Success

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Researchers have identified genetic variations that may help signal which acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients will benefit or not benefit from one of the newest antileukemic agents. Researchers from the College of Pharmacy and Medical School working within the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, have partnered for this study. Their study is published today in iClinical Cancer Research/i. In the latest study, U of M researchers evaluated ...

Is Your Relationship Really Close Enough?

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Recent research reveals that it does not make any difference how close you are with your partner to make your hearts beat together. What actually matters is that you are as close as you wish to be; it even implies you are not too close at all! The research was published in iPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin/i. Around 732 men and women were enrolled in the study, who took online surveys during a span of three years. Various questions ...

Helping Dementia Patients Remember to Eat Well Improves Physical and Mental Health: Study

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According to a recent study, a combination of methods that help dementia patients remember to eat well was found to improve their physical health and lessen symptoms of depression. Published early online in the iJournal of Advanced Nursing/i, the study indicates that clinicians should consider using this intervention in individuals with dementia who also have poor nutrition and signs of depression. In patients with dementia, poor nutrition or decreased ...

Researchers Identify Forerunners of Inner-ear Cells That Enable Hearing

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Researchers have identified a group of progenitor cells in the inner ear that can become the sensory hair cells and adjacent supporting cells that enable hearing. The research took place at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Studying these progenitor cells could someday lead to discoveries that help millions of Americans suffering from hearing loss due to damaged or impaired sensory hair cells. "It's well known that, in mammals, these specialized ...

Stem Cell Therapy for Bowel Disease

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Adult stem cells in bone marrow was shown to have the potential to restore healthy tissue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), say researchers. Up to 1 million Americans have IBD, which is characterized by frequent diarrhea and abdominal pain. IBD actually refers to two conditions - ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease - in which the intestines become red and swollen and develop ulcers, probably as the result of the body having an immune response ...

New Mobile App to Test Urine for Medical Issues

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Ucheck - a new smartphone application uses a phone's camera to analyze urine samples for a range of medical diseases. The app is the brainchild of TED fellow Myshkin Ingawale, the BBC reports. According to the report, urine can be tested for the presence of 10 elements, including glucose, proteins and nitrites. These can be used to pinpoint a range of conditions including diabetes, urinary tract infects, cancers, liver problems as ...

Adult Sibling's Death may Increase Risk of Heart Attack

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According to a new research published in the iJournal of the American Heart Association/i, risk of dying from a heart attack may increase after the death of the adult sibling. Death of a family member is so stressful that the resulting coping responses could lead to a heart attack," said Mikael Rostila, Ph.D., lead author of the study and associate professor at Stockholm University/Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. "But our results suggest that ...

Liver Stem Cells Grown in Dish

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For the first time, Oregon Health and Science University scientists have grown liver stem cells in culture. For decades scientists around the world have attempted to regenerate primary liver cells known as hepatocytes because of their numerous biomedical applications, including hepatitis research, drug metabolism and toxicity studies, as well as transplantation for cirrhosis and other chronic liver conditions. But no lab in the world has been successful ...

WHO Report Says Over 360 Million People Suffering Hearing Loss

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An estimated 360 million people in the world are suffering from hearing loss, says World Health Organisation (WHO) report. In the report prepared for International Ear Care Day (March 3), WHO said one in three people over the age of 65, or a total of 165 million people worldwide, live with hearing loss, and another 32 million affected by hearing loss are children aged under 15. About half of all cases of hearing loss are easily preventable ...

Russian Foreign Minister Defends Controversial Anti-gay Bill

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Saying gays could "do their thing" without facing prosecution like during the Soviet era, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov defended a controversial bill banning homosexual propaganda. "We don't discriminate (against homosexuals), but we don't want discrimination to happen in the opposite direction, when one group of people gets the right to aggressively promote their values, which are different from those of the majority and to impose them on children." "Homosexuality, ...

Alcohol Consumption Much Higher Than Reported in England

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With more than three quarters of people in England drinking in excess of the recommended daily alcohol limit, alcohol consumption could be much higher than previously thought. This is according to a new paper in the iEuropean Journal of Public Health/i. The study, conducted by researchers in the UCL Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, is the first to investigate the potential public health implications related to the under-reporting of alcohol consumption. ...

First-time Mothers Wait Until After 6 Weeks Before Resuming Sex

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A research shows that 41% of women attempted vaginal sex by 6 weeks postpartum, 65% by 8 weeks, and 78% by 12 weeks, with this figure increasing to 94% by 6 months postpartum. Most first-time mothers wait until after 6 weeks postpartum to resume vaginal sex following childbirth and women who have an operative vaginal birth, caesarean section, perineal tear or episiotomy appear to wait longer, suggests a new study published today (27 February) in iBJOG: An International ...

Home Based Telehealth Does Not Improve Quality of Life for Patients

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The researchers say that "it should not be used as a tool to achieve improvements in generic health related quality of life or psychological outcomes. Telehealth uses technology to help people with health problems live more independently at home. For example, blood pressure or blood glucose levels can be measured at home and electronically transmitted to a health professional, reducing the need for hospital visits. For long term conditions, telehealth ...

Swiss Bid to Ban Abortions

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For economic reasons, Swiss pro-lifers launched an initiative to ban abortions in the country, saying the practice costs hundreds of billions in lost tax revenues. The "Protect life to remedy the loss of billions" initiative was launched by an independent group which needs to gather more than 100,000 signatures by August 2014 for the issue to be put to a referendum. It charges that Switzerland's about 11,000 abortions each year deprive the country's ...

World's Biggest Mobile Makers Set Sights on Grandparents

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One of the leaders of the segment in Europe, Austrian firm Emporia, launched a new handset, the Emporia Connect, at the February 24-28 Mobile World Congress. As smartphone giants Apple and Samsung battle for the wallets of tech-savvy youngsters, a growing number of manufacturers is trying to lure a fast-growing new market: their grandparents. Handset makers at the world's biggest mobile fair in Barcelona, Spain, showed off a slew of new devices aimed ...

Study Challenges Notion of Using Herceptin for HER2-positive Breast Cancer

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About 20 percent of women with breast cancer have tumors labeled HER2-positive. New research from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center finds that the protein HER2 plays a role even in breast cancers that would traditionally be categorized as HER2-negative - and that the drug Herceptin, which targets HER2, may have an even greater role for treating breast cancer and preventing its spread. And since the drug Herceptin has come on the ...

Cortisone Hormone can Increase Risk of Acute Pancreatitis

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At Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, a new study shows that cortisone - a hormone used in certain medicines - increases the risk of acute pancreatitis. The results are published in the scientific journal iJAMA Internal Medicine/i. According to the researchers, they suggest that patients treated with cortisone in some forms should be informed of the risks and advised to refrain from alcohol and smoking. Acute pancreatitis is the most common disease ...

Nuclear Envelope Proteins Vary Greatly Between Cells: Study

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The fresh insights into the protective seal that surrounds the DNA of our cells could help develop treatments for inherited muscle, brain, bone and skin disorders. Researchers have discovered that the proteins within this coating - known as the nuclear envelope - vary greatly between cells in different organs of the body. This variation means that certain disease causing proteins will interact with the proteins in the protective seal to cause illness ...

Second H1N1 Flu Case Reported in Scotland

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Local media reported that a second case of H1N1 flu has been reported in Scotland as a toddler was struck down with the potentially deadly flu virus. The 18-month-old boy from southern Scotland was admitted to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary with symptoms, Xinhua reported. He was being treated in their children's ward, said hospital staff, without giving details of his condition, the online Herald Scotland said. A 27-year-old woman ...

Tales of Indian Surrogate Mothers

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In Australia, as baby Lili celebrates her first birthday, far away in India her surrogate mother recalls the day the child was born -- and on whom she never laid eyes. "I averted my gaze," says Seita Thapa, recounting her experience of giving birth at the Surrogacy Centre India clinic in New Delhi last February on behalf of a gay male couple who used an egg donated from another woman. "Why would I want to see the child? -- I have my own children," said ...

Newcastle Disease Virus Shows Promise as Prostate Cancer Treatment

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According to a study, a recombinant Newcastle disease virus kills all kinds of prostate cancer cells, including hormone resistant cells, but leaves normal cells unscathed. The paper got published online ahead of print in the iJournal of Virology/i. A treatment for prostate cancer based on this virus would avoid the adverse side effects typically associated with hormonal treatment for prostate cancer, as well as those associated with cancer chemotherapies generally, ...

Gastric Bypass Surgery Targets Belly Fat, Restores Pancreatic Function, Reverses Diabetes

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Cleveland Clinic researchers have found that gastric bypass surgery reverses diabetes by uniquely restoring pancreatic function in moderately obese patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. The findings emerged in a substudy of the STAMPEDE trial (Surgical Therapy And Medications Potentially Eradicate Diabetes Efficiently). The two-year substudy evaluated the effects of bariatric surgery and intensive medical therapy on blood sugar levels, body composition, and ...

More Than 1 Million Pregnant Women Infected With Syphilis Cause Harm to Their Babies

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Syphilis affects large numbers of pregnant women around the world, causing serious health problems and even death to their babies, yet this infection could be prevented by early testing and treatment, reveals a study by international researchers published in this week's iPLOS Medicine/i. Researchers, led by Lori Newman from the World Health Organization, estimate that in 2008, 1.4 million pregnant women around the world were infected with syphilis, 80% of whom ...

Flu Vaccine Boosts Sleep Disorder Risk Among Teens and Children

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A vaccine used to prevent pandemic flu boosts the risk of sleep disorder among teens and children, doctors said on Tuesday after a study in England strengthened evidence for the risk from Scandinavia. Using the Pandemrix vaccine increased the risk of narcolepsy among people aged four to 18 by a factor of 14 compared to those who did not get the jab, they said. The risk in absolute terms was between one in 52,000 people and one in 57,000, but this figure ...