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Pacemaker Could be Replaced With a Gene Injected into Heart

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Injecting a certain gene into cardiac muscle has shown to help a weakened heart beat more strongly in animal studies, scientists said Wednesday. If shown to be safe and effective in people, experts said the procedure might one day replace the need for electronic pacemakers, though that knowledge is years away. "This development heralds a new era of gene therapy, where genes are used not only to correct a deficiency disorder, but actually to convert one ...

Risk of Death Due to High Cholesterol Boosted by Niacin

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Niacin does not reduce the risk of heart attack in people with high cholesterol, but boosts the risk of death, reveal findings of a major international study out on Wednesday. Therefore, most people should not take the widely used supplement, also known as vitamin B3, according to an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine that was published along with the results of the randomized trial. Niacin has been gaining in popularity over the past 50 ...

Research Leads to New Treatments for Young Patients With Crohn's Disease

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Bacteria and accompanying gene expression patterns in the small intestine affect course of irritable bowel disease (IBD) in children, finds research sponsored by the Crohn's (and) Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). The identification of specific bacterial populations and a core gene signature associated with Crohn's disease may also open the way to new molecular-level diagnostic tests, more relevant disease classification systems, and possibly even new treatment ...

Blood Sugar Levels Not Affected by Sucralose-sweetened Desserts

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Desserts made with added soluble fiber (dextrin) and sucralose had positive effects on blood sugar and insulin levels in people with type 2 diabetes, finds study published in The Review of Diabetic Studies from the Society for Biomedical Diabetes Research Researchers incorporated desserts after meals among 70 study participants with type 2 diabetes. The researchers outlined three significant findings: Consumption of desserts made with sucralose ...

Dental Braces

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Dental braces are dental devices used to align and straighten teeth. Dental devices are placed by an orthodontist.

UP24 Lifestyle Wristbands to Work on Waistlines

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While people are tracking their own sleep and steps with smart watches, pendants and bracelets, wearable computing pioneer Jawbone attempts to track the things tucked in tummies. A new version of software that synchs to UP24 lifestyle-tracking wristbands was released on Wednesday with features tailored to help people trim waistlines by tapping into insights about what they are packing into their tummies. "This goes after weight management," Jawbone wellness ...

Potassium Supplements may Increase Survival in Patients Taking Diuretics for Heart Failure: Study

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A new study conducted by scientists finds patients taking prescription potassium supplements together with loop diuretics for heart failure have better survival rates than patients taking diuretics without the potassium. The team, including senior author Sean Hennessy, PharmD, PhD associate professor of epidemiology in Penn's Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB), report their findings in a study published online July 16 in iPLOS ONE/i. Loop ...

Much More Than Smallpox in the 'Forgotten Freezer'

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An enquiry into the discovery of six vials of forgotten smallpox at a US government lab has revealed many more boxes containing infectious biological agents, US regulators said Wednesday. "The investigation found 12 boxes containing a total of 327 carefully packaged vials labeled with names of various biological agents such as dengue, influenza, Q fever and rickettsia," said the US Food and Drug Administration in a statement. The boxes were discovered ...

Cardiovascular Mortality Lowest Among Overweight Patients Contrary to Belief

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Multiple cardiovascular diseases are known to be associated with high body mass index (BMI). However, emerging data suggest that there is an "obesity paradox," that being overweight may actually protect patients from cardiovascular mortality. Investigators have now confirmed that the risk of total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and myocardial infarction is highest among underweight patients, while cardiovascular mortality is lowest among overweight patients, as found ...

Gene Linked to Fatal Inflammatory Disease in Children Discovered

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A gene that underlies a very rare but devastating autoinflammatory condition in children has been identified by scientists. Several existing drugs have shown therapeutic potential in laboratory studies, and one is currently being studied in children with the disease, which the researchers named STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI). The findings appeared online today in the iNew England Journal of Medicine/i. The research was done at the National Institute ...

Single Injection to Regulate Diabetes, Coming Soon

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A single jab of the protein FGF1 would be sufficient to balance the blood sugar levels, finds new animal study. The Salk scientists discovered that sustained treatment with the protein doesn't merely keep blood sugar under control, but also reverses insulin insensitivity, the underlying physiological cause of diabetes. Equally exciting, the newly developed treatment doesn't result in side effects common to most current diabetes treatments. Ronald ...

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury may Cause Brain Damage

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A new study published in Neurology finds even mild traumatic brain injury may cause brain damage, thinking and memory problems. For the study, 44 people with a mild traumatic brain injury and nine people with a moderate traumatic brain injury were compared to 33 people with no brain injury. All of the participants took tests of their thinking and memory skills. At the same time, they had diffusion tensor imaging scans, a type of MRI scan that is more sensitive ...

Unrest and Struggle in Pakistan Gemstone Industry

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The craftsmen and traders of Peshawar's jewelry bazaar have, for 400 years, cut, polished, set and haggled over precious gems dug from the rugged mountains of northwest Pakistan. Pakistan's gem and jewellery exports have boomed in recent years but Taliban violence, a crippling power crisis and outdated production methods are taking their toll in Peshawar, where traders say business has slumped alarmingly in the past 12 months. As dusk settles over Peshawar ...

Death of Singer Spotlights Violence Against Women in Peru

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A nationwide manhunt has been launched by Peruvian police for the husband and suspected killer of Edita Guerrero, a telegenic singer whose death has sparked a rare discussion about violence against women. Guerrero, a founding member of successful cumbia group Corazon Serrano, died of brain damage in March after being hospitalized in the capital Lima. Her husband, Paul Olortiga, is suspected of beating the 30-year-old singer to death, and has been on ...

Should People be Jailed for Committing Research Fraud?

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Criminal sanctions are necessary to deter growing research misconduct, believes Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta, Robert Harding Chair in global child health and policy and Co-Director of the Centre for Global Child Health at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. He says the fact that research fraud is common is no longer news, but a review by PubMed in 2012 found that 67% of research article retractions were "attributable to scientific misconduct, including fraud or suspected ...

Clinical Trials Lack Transparency: BU Study

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Even after years of completion of drug clinical trials, especially those funded by industry, a significant percentage of completed drug clinical trials are not disclosed to public - a trend that "threatens the validity of the clinical research literature in the U.S.," suggests a study led by a Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher. The study, published in the journal emPLOS ONE/em, found that close to 30 percent of 400 randomly selected ...

Risk and Death Rates of Stroke Fall Over the Past 2 Decades: JAMA Study

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Occurrence of strokes in Americans has reduced and their risk of dying from them is much lesser, finds a new study led by John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers. The study found a 24 percent overall decline in first-time strokes in each of the last two decades and a 20 percent overall drop per decade in deaths after stroke. However, the decline in stroke risk was concentrated mainly in the over-65 set, with little progress in reducing the risk ...

Optimizing Non-Opioid Chronic Pain Medication in Telecare Program Very Effective: Study

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Musculoskeletal disorders like chronic pain in the back, neck and other joints due to arthritis is extremely common, but difficult to treat. In a new study published in the July 16 issue of iJournal of the American Medical Association/i, primary-care patients enrolled in a 12-month telecare program optimizing non-opioid medications for chronic pain were twice as likely to see improvement as patients who received usual care for chronic pain. In addition to experiencing ...

Clinical Diagnosis of Early HIV Infection is a Struggle for Physicians

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Most physicians are unable to use clinical skills to differentiate those who should and should not be tested for HIV infection. This happens despite the belief that early HIV infection presents with a well recognized flu-like syndrome, as suggested in a study published July 15 in iJournal of the American Medical Association/i (iJAMA/i). Researchers at the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and University of British Columbia, Oregon Health and Science ...

Tourists Give Cup Thumbs Up to a Pricey World Cup

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World Cup tourists have given a big thumbs up to the just-ended event in Brazil despite high prices, according to a study released Tuesday. The Datafolha Institute poll showed 83 percent of respondents felt the month-long tournament had been well organized to just three percent who rated organization as poor. Delivery of several stadiums was delayed almost to the eve of the competition, but 92 percent of those questioned across six of the 12 venues gave ...

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Patients Have Higher Risk of Appearance-based Rejection Sensitivity

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Fear of being rejected because of one's appearance as well as rejection sensitivity to general situations are high in those suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder, a new study has revealed. These fears, referred to as personal rejection sensitivity and appearance-based rejection sensitivity, can lead to diminished quality of life and poorer mental and overall health. BDD is a common, often severe, and under-recognized body image disorder that affects an estimated 1.7 to 2.4 ...

Variations in Neuronal Networks may Point Out to Traumatic Brain Injury Outcomes

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The hidden differences between the properties of neural circuits may help determine if animals are behaviourally susceptible to brain injury, researchers claim. These results could have implications for the treatment of brain trauma. People vary in their responses to stroke and trauma, which impedes the ability of physicians to predict patient outcomes. Damage to the brain and nervous system can lead to severe disabilities, including epilepsy and cognitive impairment. ...

Study Reveals Physicians Have Higher Rate of Organ Donation Registration Than General Public

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A study conducted among 15,000 physicians has revealed how they were more likely to be registered as an organ donor as compared to the general public. A shortage of organs for transplant has prompted many countries to encourage citizens to register ("opt in") to donate their organs and tissues when they die. However, less than 40 percent of the public is registered for organ donation in most countries with a registry. "One common fear is that physicians will not ...

Daughters Really Responsible for Divorce Among Couples?

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Couples with daughters are somewhat more likely to divorce than couples with sons in the US. Many scholars have read those numbers as evidence that daughters cause divorce. But new research from Duke University suggests something quite different may be at play: Girls may be hardier than boys, even in the womb, and may be better able to survive pregnancies stressed by a troubled marriage. Previous studies have argued that fathers prefer boys and are ...

Fish Oil Supplements Can Cut Cognitive Decline, Improve Memory Function

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A new study exploring ways to prevent Alzheimer's disease has linked regular use of fish oil supplements (FOS) with a significant reduction in cognitive decline and brain atrophy in older adults. Rhode Island Hospital researchers examined the relationship between FOS use during the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and indicators of cognitive decline. The findings are published online in advance of print in the journal iAlzheimer's (and) Dementia/i. ...

Common Treatment of Certain Autoimmune Disease may Not be Effective

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The use of hydroxychloroquine which is one of the most frequently prescribed treatments for Sjogren syndrome may not improve symptoms, a new study has found. Primary Sjogren syndrome is characterized by mouth and eye dryness, pain, and fatigue, with systemic manifestations occurring in approximately one-third of patients. Despite the wide use of hydroxychloroquine in clinical practice, evidence regarding its efficacy is limited, according to background information ...

Mutation Stops Worms from Getting Intoxicated

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Mutant worms that cannot be intoxicated by alcohol have been generated by a team of researchers, which could lead to the development of new drugs that help tackle alcohol withdrawl. The scientists accomplished this feat by inserting a modified human alcohol target into the worms, as reported this week in emThe Journal of Neuroscience/em. "This is the first example of altering a human alcohol target to prevent intoxication in an animal," says corresponding ...

Ebola Toll in West Africa Hits 603

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With 68 new fatalities, mostly in Sierra Leone and Liberia, the death toll in West Africa's Ebola outbreak has risen to 603, the WHO said on Tuesday. The UN health agency said the new deaths were recorded between July 8 and 12, and that 52 of them were in Sierra Leone, 13 in Liberia and three in Guinea, which had previously borne the brunt of the outbreak. The WHO issues regular updates on the outbreak, which is the first ever in west Africa and the ...

New Strategy for Diagnostic Test in India may Impact TB

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Xpert MTB/RIF, which is a recently implemented tuberculosis (TB) test, may control the TB epidemic in India, research claims. The study by David Dowdy, from Johns Hopkins University, United States, and colleagues is a mathematical model that suggests alternative strategies that include engagement with both the public and private sector may have a bigger population level impact on TB than the current implementation strategy of using Xpert for only those at risk of drug-resistance ...

Neurons, Brain Cancer Cells Need the Same Little-known Protein for Long-term Survival

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A protein PARC/CUL9 helps neurons and brain cancer cells override the biochemical mechanisms that cause cell death in other cells, researchers have found. In neurons, long-term survival allows for proper brain function as we age. In brain cancer cells, though, long-term survival contributes to tumor growth and the spread of the disease. These results, published in the journal iScience Signaling/i, not only identify a previously unknown mechanism used by neurons ...

Citalopram Boosts the Differentiation Efficacy of BMSCs into Neuronal-like Cells

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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants can actually promote the proliferation of neuronal cells and boost neuroplasticity in both in vitro and in vivo, evidence suggests. Dr. Javad Verdi and his team, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran proposed that citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, can increase the efficacy of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) differentiating into neuronal-like cells. Experimental results confirmed ...

Long-Awaited Law on Gay Partnerships Adopted by Croatia

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A long-awaited law allowing gay couples to register as life partners, enjoying the same rights as their heterosexual peers except on adopting children was adopted by Croatian lawmakers on Tuesday. Gay rights activists hailed the legislation in the largely conservative EU member state, which is strongly influenced by the powerful Roman Catholic Church. "Croatia made a historic step forward to stand along progressive countries which have already resolved ...

New Way to Fight Deadly Snake Fungal Disease Identified

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A faster and an accurate way to test for infection with emOphidiomyces ophiodiicola/em, a fungus that is killing snakes in the Midwest and eastern United States has been developed by scientists. The test also allows scientists to monitor the progression of the infection in living snakes. The researchers reported on the test at the 2014 Mycological Society of America Annual Meeting. "We need people to know that they don't have to anesthetize an ...

Kate Moss: Britain's New Fashion Icon

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Kate Moss has been voted as Britain's new 'Fashion Icon', reveals report. In the poll conducted on 2,000 people to celebrate Ascot's King George Weekend, the 40-year-old supermodel beat the likes of Cara Delevingne and Naomi Campbell to claim the top spot by gaining 41 percent of votes, the Daily Express reported. In the swinging sixties, English model Twiggy's popularity had not only influenced people copy her style, but had hugely helped to ...

UN Report Says AIDS Deaths Fall by Third in Decade

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The United Nations said Wednesday that global AIDS-related deaths and new HIV infections have fallen by more than a third in a decade. The global effort to beat the pandemic has made huge strides, though the battle is far from over with 35 million people still living with HIV worldwide, said Michel Sidibe, head of UNAIDS. "Ending the AIDS epidemic is possible," he said. "We have a fragile five-year window to build on the rapid results ...