Medindia Health News

Glucose Requirements of the Brain are Very High During Childhood
Regular Exercises Keep Not Only Heart Healthy, But Brains Too
Scientists Grow Organ in Animal from Cells Created in Lab
'War' On Ebola Could Take Six More Months: UN Envoy
Health Benefits of Eating Asparagus
No Benefit of Knee Surgery for People With Mild Osteoarthritis
Broadly Cross-Reactive Antibodies Against Influenza Virus
Dundee Hospital Criticised for Its Unhealthy 'Fry-Up' Pie
Map of Antarctica 'First-Of-Its-Kind', Unveiling Secrets of Sea Life
New Approach to Identify Drivers of Cancer
Scientists Identify Gut Bacteria That Protect Against Food Allergies
Pediatric Dentists Recommend Fluoride Toothpaste for Kids
First 3D-Printed Vertebra Implant Saves Boy From Cancerous Vertebra
Titan of British Cinema, Richard Attenborough Dies At 90
Decline in Kids' Human Emotion Reading Skills Due to Smartphones
Novel Oral Anticoagulant Prescriptions Soar, Replacing Warfarin
Study Says Knee Surgery Not Needed for Mild Osteoarthritis
Pulse Oximetry for Children With Respiratory Infection
Ice Bucket Challenge - A Global Awareness Initiative for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Incidence and Survival Rate of Severe Immunodeficiency Disorder in Newborns Examined
HSV Type 2 Prevalence Less Among Pregnanct Women in Pacific Northwest
Patients Able to Stay Smoke-Free After Discharge With Extended Support
Rates Of Heart Disease And Stroke Continue To Decline In Europe, Says Study

Glucose Requirements of the Brain are Very High During Childhood

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A new study led by Northwestern University anthropologists has found that the brain of a five-year old uses twice as much glucose as that of a full-grown adult. The study helps to solve the long-standing mystery of why human children grow so slowly compared with our closest animal relatives. It shows that energy funneled to the brain dominates the human body's metabolism early in life and is likely the reason why humans grow at a pace more typical ...

Regular Exercises Keep Not Only Heart Healthy, But Brains Too

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A new study by researchers at University of Montreal and its affiliated Institut universitaire de geratrie de Montreal Research Centre, analyzed the link between cardiovascular strength and brain health. For this study recruited 31 people aged 18 to 30 and 54 people aged 55 to 75. All participants were hale and healthy with no record any physical or mental health conditions. The participants' fitness levels were recorded using a workout machine and their maximum oxygen ...

Scientists Grow Organ in Animal from Cells Created in Lab

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The completion of a new study has ensured that laboratory-grown replacement organs have moved a step closer to reality. Scientists have grown a fully functional organ from transplanted laboratory-created cells in a living animal for the first time. The researchers have created a thymus - an organ next to the heart that produces immune cells known as T cells that are vital for guarding against disease. They hope that, with further research, ...

'War' On Ebola Could Take Six More Months: UN Envoy

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The fight against the epidemic is a "war" which could take six more months, said the UN's Ebola envoy, as its global health body claimed the disease was affecting an "unprecedented" number of medical staff. David Nabarro, a British physician the United Nations appointed to coordinate the global response to the crisis, was in Sierra Leone's capital Freetown for the fifth day of a tour of the region. "The effort to defeat Ebola is not a battle but a war ...

Health Benefits of Eating Asparagus

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Asparagus is a vegetable packed with nutrients and vitamins that are essential for our body. Asparagus has numerous health benefits that are important for overall health.

No Benefit of Knee Surgery for People With Mild Osteoarthritis

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There is no apparent benefit to arthroscopic knee surgery for age-related tears of the meniscus in comparison with nonsurgical or sham treatments, indicates a new study. The study, published in emCMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)/em, provides evidence that middle-aged or older patients with mild or no osteoarthritis of the knee may not benefit from the procedure. As people age, the meniscus in the knee thins and becomes less flexible and more susceptible ...

Broadly Cross-Reactive Antibodies Against Influenza Virus

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Vaccine researchers have now agreed upon a strategy aimed at generating broadly cross-reactive antibodies against the influenza virus, namely, "embrace the unfamiliar". In recent years, researchers interested in a "universal flu vaccine" identified a region of the viral hemagglutinin protein called the stem or stalk, which doesn't mutate and change as much as other regions and could be the basis for a vaccine that is protective against a variety of flu strains. ...

Dundee Hospital Criticised for Its Unhealthy 'Fry-Up' Pie

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A former government adviser has criticized a Dundee hospital for serving a gut-busting 'fry-up' pie consisting of bacon, sausage, black pudding and beans with an egg on top, the Telegraph newspaper reported. Professor Mike Lean, chair of human nutrition at Glasgow University, described the calorific concoction on sale for 1.50 at Ninewells Hospital as a "shocking" example of a hospital meal. "It should never be anywhere near a hospital. It is laden ...

Map of Antarctica 'First-Of-Its-Kind', Unveiling Secrets of Sea Life

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A new Antarctica atlas has helped marine biologists from across the world in finding thousands of new species in the ocean. This new map is first of this magnitude since the publication of the Antactic Map Folio Series 45 years ago. Dr Katrin Linse, an expert in Antarctic molluscs at the British Antartic Survey, said that they had knowledge of 3,000 or 4,000 species when this process began, but now they know of more like 9,000 species, the Independent reported. ...

New Approach to Identify Drivers of Cancer

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A new integrated approach to pinpoint the genetic "drivers" of cancer has been uncovered by scientists. The study, published online August 24 in emNature Genetics/em, was authored by Michael Gatza, PhD, lead author and post-doctoral research associate; Grace Silva, graduate student; Joel Parker, PhD, director of bioinformatics, UNC Lineberger; Cheng Fan, research associate; and senior author Chuck Perou, PhD, professor of genetics and pathology. These ...

Scientists Identify Gut Bacteria That Protect Against Food Allergies

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Researchers have discovered that presence of iClostridia/i, a common class of gut bacteria protect against food allergies. By inducing immune responses that prevent food allergens from entering the bloodstream, iClostridia/i minimize allergen exposure and prevent sensitization - a key step in the development of food allergies. The discovery points toward probiotic therapies for this so-far untreatable condition, report scientists from the University of Chicago, Aug ...

Pediatric Dentists Recommend Fluoride Toothpaste for Kids

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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends all children to use toothpaste that contains fluoride as soon as teeth appear, no matter the risk of cavities. Experts suggest that till age of 3, children should use a smear (the size of a rice grain) of toothpaste. After age 3, a pea-sized amount may be used. Parents should put the toothpaste on the child's toothbrush and supervise and help with the brushing. The recommendations of AAP also includes that once ...

First 3D-Printed Vertebra Implant Saves Boy From Cancerous Vertebra

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Twelve-year-old Minghao, a Chinese boy has become the first person to receive a 3D-printed vertebra implant. Minghao was not in too much pain when he headed a soccer ball during a match with his friends. But the next morning he woke up with a stiff and aching neck. A month after the incident, the boy's body went numb. On performing a biopsy, spinal experts diagnosed him with a malignant tumor on the second vertebra of his neck. In the following months doctors ...

Titan of British Cinema, Richard Attenborough Dies At 90

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Esteemed veteran actor and Oscar-winning director Richard Attenborough, who won eight Oscars for his 1982 epic movie Gandhi and dominated the British film business for more than half a century has died on Sunday, 24th August at the age of 90. Sir Attenborough, moved to a care home in 2008 with his wife because of his failing health. His death was confirmed by his son, Michael, to BBC reporters. The New York Times described him as a "giant of British cinema". The ...

Decline in Kids' Human Emotion Reading Skills Due to Smartphones

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Less time spent in face-to-face interaction is associated with the increased use of digital media, and has led to decline in social skills among kids. UCLA study mentioned that the implications of the research are that people need more face-to-face interaction, and that even when people use digital media for social interaction, they're spending less time developing social skills and learning to read nonverbal cues. Patricia Greenfield, a distinguished ...

Novel Oral Anticoagulant Prescriptions Soar, Replacing Warfarin

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Warfarin is facing competition, after being a standard treatment for atrial fibrillation for a long time, from new options in the anticoagulant drug marketplace like dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban. A new study documents the rapid adoption of these novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) into clinical practice. By mid-2013 NOACs accounted for 62% of all new anticoagulant prescriptions yet this represents 98% of total anticoagulant-related drug costs. Findings are published in ...

Study Says Knee Surgery Not Needed for Mild Osteoarthritis

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Middle-aged or older patients with mild or no osteoarthritis of the knee may not benefit from the procedure of arthroscopic knee surgery, says study published in iCanadian Medical Association Journal/i (iCMAJ/i) Doctors need to be carefully weighing the costs and benefits when deciding who should undergo such surgery, says Dr. Moin Khan, principal investigator for the study and research fellow in orthopedic surgery in the Michael G. DeGroote School of ...

Pulse Oximetry for Children With Respiratory Infection

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Oxygen saturation readings should not be the only factor in the decision to admit or discharge among infants presenting to a pediatric emergency department, suggest the findings of a study. Children with mild to moderate bronchiolitis, with an artificially elevated oxygen saturation reading were less likely to be hospitalized or receive hospital care for more than 6 hours than those with unaltered readings, reveals the study published in the August 20 issue of iJAMA/i. ...

Ice Bucket Challenge - A Global Awareness Initiative for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

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Incidence and Survival Rate of Severe Immunodeficiency Disorder in Newborns Examined

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The incidence of the potentially life-threatening disorder, severe combined immunodeficiency is found to be higher than previously believed, in a study of newborn screening performed in numerous states. The incidence is at 1 in 58,000 births, although there is a high rate of survival, reveals the study in the August 20 issue of iJAMA/i. The purpose of newborn screening is early detection of inborn conditions for which prompt treatments can reduce the risk of ...

HSV Type 2 Prevalence Less Among Pregnanct Women in Pacific Northwest

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Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 decreased significantly between 1989 and 2010, found in a study that included approximately 15,000 pregnant women. However, there was no overall decrease for HSV type 1, but a slight increase among black women is seen, reveals the study in the August 20 issue of iJAMA/i. Shani Delaney, M.D., and Anna Wald, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Washington, Seattle, and colleagues examined trends in the seroprevalence ...

Patients Able to Stay Smoke-Free After Discharge With Extended Support

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Smokers admitted to the U.S. hospitals could use this time as an opportunity to quit smoking as they are not allowed to smoke during hospital stay. But few are able to stay smoke-free after returning home. Now a study published in the August 20 issue of emJAMA/em describes a program that increased the proportion of hospitalized smokers who successfully quit smoking after discharge by more than 70 percent. The system used interactive voice response technology - automated ...

Rates Of Heart Disease And Stroke Continue To Decline In Europe, Says Study

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In Europe, deaths from heart disease and stroke are declining overall but at differing rates, reveals research published in i European Heart Journal /i. The research, which provides an update for 2014 on the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Europe, shows that death rates from CVD (diseases of the heart and blood vessels) vary enormously. For some eastern European countries, including Russia and Ukraine, the death rate from coronary heart disease for ...