News 25 juni 2009
Autism diet book wins major health
book award
Nourishing Hope for Autism, a holistic book
that promotes diet as an effective way to help reduce the symptoms of autism, has been
named the Most Progressive Health Book of 2009 as part of the Independent Publishers Book
Awards.
Link
H.Reuvers
Study Finds Even Stronger
Relationship Between High Body Mass Index, Pancreatic Cancer
In reviewing the weight history of pancreatic cancer patients across their life spans,
researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have determined that a
high body mass index in early adulthood may play a significant role in an individual
developing the disease at an earlier age. The study, published in the June 24 issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association, also found that patients who are obese the
year before diagnosis have a poorer outcome than those who are not. While excess weight is
a known risk factor associated with pancreatic cancer, before now, few studies have looked
at patients' body mass index (BMI) throughout their lifetime rather than simply at
adulthood and/or year of disease diagnosis. "This is the first study to explore at
which ages excess body weight predisposes an individual to pancreatic cancer," said
Donghui Li, Ph.D., professor in M. D. Anderson's Department of Gastrointestinal Medical
Oncology and the study's corresponding author. "With our epidemiological research, we
aimed to demonstrate the relationship between BMI and risk of pancreatic cancer across a
patient's life span and determine if there was a time period that specifically predisposes
an individual to the disease, as well as the link between BMI and cancer occurrence and
overall survival of the disease."
Scientists block Ebola infection in
cell-culture experiments
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have discovered two
biochemical pathways that the Ebola virus relies on to infect cells. Using substances that
block the activation of those pathways, they've prevented Ebola infection in cell culture
experiments — potentially providing a critical early step in developing the first
successful therapy for the deadly virus. Ebola inflicts severe and often fatal hemorrhagic
fever on its victims, producing 90 percent mortality rates in some outbreaks. No vaccine
exists for the virus, and it is considered a high-risk agent for bioterrorism. Natural
Ebola outbreaks strike periodically, often with devastating effect; recent examples
include outbreaks in Uganda in 2008 and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2007. The
UTMB team took a new approach to stopping viral infection, using powerful new
computational and analytical techniques to focus more on the host cell than the virus,
according to microbiology and immunology associate professor Robert Davey. "The
premise for this work is that the virus is essentially nothing without a cell," said
Davey, lead author of a paper on the research appearing this month in the journal Drug
Discovery Research. "It needs to rely on many cell proteins and factors for it to
replicate. The idea is that if we can suppress the expression of those cell proteins for
just a short time, we can then stop the disease in its tracks."
Morning people and night owls show
different brain function
Are you a "morning person" or a "night owl?" Scientists at the
University of Alberta have found that there are significant differences in the way our
brains function depending on whether we're early risers or night owls. Neuroscientists in
the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation looked at two groups of people: those who
wake up early and feel most productive in the morning, and those who were identified as
evening people, those who typically felt livelier at night. Study participants were
initially grouped after completing a standardized questionnaire about their habits. Using
magnetic resonance imaging-guided brain stimulation, scientists tested muscle torque and
the excitability of pathways through the spinal cord and brain. They found that morning
people's brains were most excitable at 9 a.m. This slowly decreased through the day. It
was the polar opposite for evening people, whose brains were most excitable at 9 p.m.
How to text message and avoid pain
While it is well known that excessive text messaging can result in sore thumbs, less is
known about its possible effects on the neck, arms and hands. Young adults with symptoms
in these parts of the body use a different technique when texting, according to a study at
the Sahlgrenska Academy. Ergonomist Ewa Gustafsson studied mobile phone habits among 56
young adults who text message on a daily basis. Half of the subjects reported problems
with the neck, arms or hands, while the other half had no such symptoms. 'Considering how
much we use the small mobile phone keypads, it is important that we learn how they affect
our bodies. We need to identify factors related to mobile phone usage that may affect our
health and ability to work', says Gustafsson. Her thesis shows that mobile phone users
with neck, arm or hand symptoms tend to use their mobile phones differently than seen in a
healthy control group.
In Pursuit of a Happiness Gene
The pursuit of happiness characterizes the human condition. But for those suffering from
stress, money trouble or chronic illness, a positive outlook on life can be difficult to
find. Now, a Tel Aviv University researcher says we should look to our genes.
New therapy found to prevent heart
failure
A landmark study has successfully demonstrated a 29 percent reduction in heart failure or
death in patients with heart disease who received an implanted cardiac resynchronization
therapy device with defibrillator (CRT-D) versus patients who received only an implanted
cardiac defibrillator (ICD-only). MADIT-CRT (Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator
Implantation Trial with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy) is a clinical trial that
enrolled more than 1,800 patients in the United States, Canada and Europe and followed the
patients for up to 4˝ years. The results of the trial were released today by the
University of Rochester Medical Center and Boston Scientific, the study's sponsor. The
MADIT-CRT Executive Committee stopped the trial on June 22, 2009, when the trial achieved
its primary end point – significant reduction in heart failure or death with CRT-D
versus ICD-only. Cardiologist Arthur Moss, M.D., professor of Medicine at the University
of Rochester Medical Center, led the MADIT-CRT trial. A prior study (MADIT-II) by Moss and
associates in 2002 showed the ICD was effective in reducing mortality. The current
MADIT-CRT study sought to determine if CRT-D could reduce the risk of mortality and heart
failure, which affects 5.7 million Americans, and the results are very positive. Patients
with heart disease have a risk of arrhythmias and heart failure. The new generation of
cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds) was designed to stop dangerous,
life-threatening heart rhythms and improve the heart's contraction, thereby enabling the
device to improve survival and prevent heart failure.
Council adopts Commission proposal
improving animal treatment at time of slaughter
Conditions for animals at the time of killing will improve considerably as of January 1,
2013, when a regulation, adopted today by the Council and providing for a series of
practical measures to ensure animals are humanely treated, enters into force. To simplify
existing legislation and bring it into line with food hygiene regulations, the proposal
integrates welfare considerations into the design of slaughterhouses and requires the
regular monitoring of the efficiency of stunning techniques. Every year, nearly 360
million pigs, sheep, goats and cattle as well as several billion poultry are killed in EU
slaughterhouses for their meat. In addition, about 25 million animals are killed for their
fur. The control of contagious diseases may also require the culling of thousands to
millions of other animals. Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said: “We have a
duty to take care of animals. Their welfare is crucial, not only for ethical reasons but
also to ensure animal health and the quality of food. The proposal adopted today by the
Council will make a real difference to the way animals are treated at the time of
slaughter. This includes minimising distress and avoiding pain throughout the slaughtering
process. It also promotes innovation and it provides a level playing field for operators.
“ The new regulation provides that slaughterhouses will have to appoint a specific
person responsible for animal welfare and ensure that their staff is properly trained and
certified. Each operator will have to develop and implement standard operating procedures
for ensuring proper welfare standards in a reliable way. Such a methodology is not new for
slaughterhouses as it is already required and in place for food safety (the so-called
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point or HACCP system). Requiring standardized procedures
for animal welfare is an innovation of this regulation, which will require operators to
evaluate the efficiency of their stunning methods through animal based indicators. After
stunning animals will have to be regularly monitored to ensure they do not regain
consciousness before slaughter. Manufacturers of stunning equipment will have to provide
instructions for ensuring proper animal welfare and a number of technical standards are
updated in view of scientific progress. And Member States will have to create scientific
support to provide permanent and competent assistance to official inspectors. The
authorities will also be more accountable to the public when they perform mass killings in
case of contagious diseases.
Commission welcomes adoption of
feed regulation that will further strengthen food safety in the EU
Farmers and pet owners will soon get better information on the feed they buy, a step that
will further strengthen food safety in the EU, after the Council of Agriculture Ministers
adopted today a regulation replacing the current legislation on marketing and the use of
feed. The new legislation, based on a Commission proposal from 2008, considerably
simplifies the existing procedures and it will help promote innovation and competitiveness
in the European feed sector. It is also expected to lead to a more integrated single
market for feed by reducing the administrative burden for feed operators. The regulation
was endorsed by the European Parliament on February 5 and is expected to enter into force
later this year. Androulla Vassiliou, EU Health Commissioner said: "I welcome the
Council's decision today and that of the European Parliament in February. While
maintaining our high standards of protection of animal health, welfare, food and feed
safety, this new legislation represents a major step forward for the simplification and
modernisation of procedures for labelling and marketing animal feed and pet food. At the
same time it will help boost the competitiveness of the EU livestock sector."
Electron microscopy images reveal
assembly of HIV
Researchers have produced a three-dimensional reconstruction of HIV, which shows the
structure of the immature form of the virus at unprecedented detail. The study, published
in the 22-26 June online edition of PNAS, describes how the protein coat that packages the
virus' genetic material assembles in human cells. The scientists at the European Molecular
Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the University Clinic Heidelberg, Germany, used cryoelectron
tomography to generate the as yet highest resolution 3D computer reconstruction images of
the immature Gag lattice. Immature HIV is a precursor of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
A tick too close - the emerging
threat of tick-borne diseases
It’s that time again - the season for hiking, bathing, grilling… and a badly
needed blood meal. The mosquitoes are thrilled! We – as the blood meal – don’t
share their excitement, but for those of us living in temperate regions (in contrast to
the tropics and subtropics), mosquitoes are – with a few exceptions (e.g. West Nile
virus) - a nuisance but not much of a health threat. But don’t put down your
defenses! Another bloodsucker is on the prowl. In mild, moist climates, ticks are in their
element and are vectors of some nasty diseases. The tick lifestyle must be a successful
one; they’ve been around in pretty much the same form for approximately 200 million
years. Plenty of time to specialize. When it comes to the “attack”, ticks don’t
get points for creativity; most species wait patiently on vegetation until somebody
brushes by, at most stretching their legs out a little when they detect a potential
vertebrate host (movement, carbon dioxide, heat). But once a host is found, there are real
tricks to the tick trade: special mouthparts that prevent easy removal, a cement-like
substance that glues the tick in place, saliva containing analgesic, anti-inflammatory and
coagulation-inhibiting substances. The blood-collecting procedure is painless and often
goes unnoticed.
Early infection and protection
against allergies?
When infected, the body has two types of immune defence to deploy – innate immunity
and acquired immunity. In her dissertation, Shanie Saghafian Hedengren studies monocytes,
a type of white blood corpuscles that are part of the innate immune system. “Innate
immunity plays a crucial role at the beginning of life as protection against bacteria and
other microbes, since the acquired immune system is not fully developed at that stage.
What’s more, acquired immunity and its memory are formed by ‘communication
molecules’ that are initially transmitted by monocytes, among other sources.
Imbalance in the monocyte function, as a result of less stimulation by microbes and
viruses early in life, may therefore play an important role in the development of
allergies,” maintains Shanie Saghafian Hedengren. In this dissertation, a group of
children is followed from birth to the age of five years. It shows the correlation between
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) contraction before the age of two and a lower risk of producing
antibodies against allergens, so-called allergic sensitization. It is also of interest
that EBV infection after the age of two was correlated with a greater risk of
sensitization in five-year-olds. EBV is a common herpesvirus that the majority of the
world’s population carry throughout their lives. It is a highly successful virus that
is normally spread via saliva and infects people early in life. Most people hardly notice
when their children become infected.
Partner relationship as a buffer
against stress
A good partner relationship can act as a buffer for those exposed to work-related stress.
The relationship reduces the negative effects of this kind of stress on our health. But
poor relationships will amplify the negative effects", say Ann-Christine Andersson
Arntén in a new doctoral dissertation from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.A
positive approach and successful stress-management techniques also help to reduce the
negative effects of work-related stress", explains Ann-Christine Andersson Arntén,
who will be presenting her dissertation in psychology.But when there are stressful
experiences both at work and in the relationship, the risk of burn-out and poor health
increases dramatically. About 900 persons took part in her survey. Those who felt they had
a good relationship experienced that they enjoyed better health than those who had a more
problematic relationship. Women with a poorly-functioning relationship experienced more
anxiety, mental stress reactions and sleeping difficulties than women who had a good
relationship. Men who had a mediocre relationship had a higher incidence of depression,
anxiety, psychological and somatic stress reactions than men with worse or better
relationships.One explanation can be that people living with a mediocre relationship take
more responsibility to improve the relationship, while those with poor relationships just
admit it, and don't feel they can do anything about it.
New Research Discovers Link Between
Smoking and Brain Damage
New research which suggests a direct link between smoking and brain damage will be
published in the July issue of the Journal of Neurochemistry. Researchers, led by
Debapriya Ghosh and Dr Anirban Basu from the Indian National Brain Research Center (NBRC),
have found that a compound in tobacco provokes white blood cells in the central nervous
system to attack healthy cells, leading to severe neurological damage. The research
centers on a compound known as NNK, which is common in tobacco. NNK is a procarinogen, a
chemical substance which becomes carcinogenic when it is altered by the metabolic process
of the body. Unlike alcohol or drug abuse NNK does not appear to harm brain cells
directly, however, the research team believe it may cause neuroinflamation, a condition
which leads to disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis. "Considering the extreme
economical and disease burden of neuroinflammation related disorders, it is extremely
important from a medical, social and economic point of view to discover if NNK in tobacco
causes neuroinflammation" said Ghosh.
What is the risk of obesity while
taking antidepressant drugs?
Cross-sectional studies have reported an association between major depressive episode
(MDE) and obesity. The objective of this longitudinal analysis was to determine whether
MDE increase the risk of becoming obese over a 10-year period. Data from the Canadian
National Population Health Survey (NPHS) were used, a longitudinal study of a
representative cohort of household residents in Canada. The incidence of obesity, defined
as a body mass index (BMI) of 30, was evaluated in respondents who were 18 years or older
at the time of a baseline interview in 1994. MDE was assessed using a brief diagnostic
instrument. At the end of the investigation, the risk of obesity was not elevated in
association with MDE, either in unadjusted or covariate-adjusted analyses. The strongest
predictor of obesity was a BMI in the overweight (but not obese) range. Effects were also
seen for (younger) age, (female) sex, a sedentary activity pattern, low income and
exposure to antidepressant medications. Unexpectedly, significant effects were seen for
serotonin-reuptake-inhibiting antidepressants and venlafaxine, but neither for tricyclic
antidepressants nor antipsychotic medications.
Cerebrospinal fluid shows
Alzheimer's disease deterioration much earlier
It is possible to determine which patients run a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s
disease and the dementia associated with it, even in patients with minimal memory
impairment. This has been shown by recent research at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University
of Gothenburg, Sweden. The results have been published in the most recent issue of the
prestigious medical journal Lancet Neurology. "The earlier we can catch Alzheimer’s
disease, the more we can do for the patient. The disease is one that progresses slowly,
and the pharmaceuticals that are currently available are only able to alleviate the
symptoms", says Kaj Blennow, professor at the Sahlgrenska Academy, and a
world?leading researcher in the field. Several biomarkers have been identified in recent
years. Biomarkers are proteins that can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid and used to
diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. It is now clear that the typical pattern of biomarkers
known as the "CSF AD profile" can be seen in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients
even with very mild memory deficiencies, before these can be detected by other tests.
Better hearing with bone conducted
sound
New technology to hear vibrations through the skull bone has been developed at Chalmers
University of Technology. Besides investigating the function of a new implantable bone
conduction hearing aid, Sabine Reinfeldt has studied the sensitivity for bone conducted
sound and also examined the possibilities for a two-way communication system that is
utilizing bone conduction in noisy environments.A new Bone Conduction Implant (BCI)
hearing system was investigated by Sabine Reinfeldt - "This hearing aid does not
require a permanent skin penetration, in contrast to the Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids
(BAHAs) used today." Measurements showed that the new BCI hearing system can be a
realistic alternative to the BAHA. Sound is normally perceived through Air Conduction
(AC), which means that the sound waves in the air enter the ear-canal and are transmitted
to the cochlea in the inner ear. However, sound can also be perceived via Bone Conduction
(BC). Vibrations are then transmitted to the cochleae through the skull bone from either
one's own voice, the surrounding sound field, or a BC transducer. In two-way communication
systems, BC is believed to improve the sound quality when used in extremely noisy
environments which require hearing protection devices in the ear-canals.
Do viruses make bacteria more
deadly?
Research at the University of Leicester is focussing on a major killer in UK hospitals. In
England and Wales, the national health statistics in 2007 showed that there were 8,324
death certificates which named Clostridium difficile. This is a bacterium which causes
severe diarrhoea in humans and animals as the underlying cause of death, a 28% increase
from 2006. Now Janet Nale of the Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation is
investigating the contributing factors that make Clostridium difficile so aggressive to
direct treatment. She will be presenting her research at the Festival of Postgraduate
Research which is taking place on Thursday 25th June in the Belvoir Suite, Charles Wilson
Building at the University of Leicester between 11:30am and 1pm. This event is open to the
public and is free to attend.
Fish protein link to controlling
high blood pressure - new study
Medical scientists at the University of Leicester are investigating how a species of fish
from the Pacific Ocean could help provide answers to tackling chronic conditions such as
hereditary high blood pressure and kidney disease. They are examining whether the Goby
fish can help researchers locate genes linked to high blood pressure. This is because a
protein called Urotensin II, first identified in the fish, is important for regulating
blood pressure in all vertebrates- from fish to humans.The study is being carried out in
the University’s Department of Cardiovascular Sciences. Researcher Dr Radoslaw Debiec
said: “The protein found in the fish has remained almost unaltered during evolution.
“This indicates that the protein might be of critical importance in regulation of
blood pressure and understanding the genetic background of high blood pressure. “Uncovering
the genetic causes of high blood pressure may help in its better prediction and early
prevention of its complications. My research at the University of Leicester has shown how
variation in the gene encoding the protein may influence risk of hypertension.”Dr
Debiec will be presenting his research at the Festival of Postgraduate Research which is
taking place on Thursday 25th June in the Belvoir Suite, Charles Wilson Building at the
University of Leicester between 11.30am and 1pm.
Melatonin - the fountain of youth?
Melatonin can slow down the effects of aging. A team at laboratoire Arago in Banyuls sur
Mer (CNRS / Université Pierre et Marie Curie) has found that a treatment based on
melatonin can delay the first signs of aging in a small mammal. These results appeared in
the journal PLoS ONE on 15 June 2009. Better known as the ‘time-keeping' hormone,
melatonin is naturally secreted by the body during the night. It is therefore a kind of
biological signal for nightfall, allowing an organism to synchronize itself with the
day/night rhythm. At Laboratoire Arago, Elodie Magnanou and her co-workers studied the
long-term effects of melatonin on the Greater White-toothed shrew, a small nocturnal
insectivorous mammal. Under normal conditions, this animal shows the first signs of aging
after reaching 12 months, mainly through the loss of circadian rhythm in its activities.
By continuously administering melatonin, starting a little before 12 months, the
appearance of these first signs was delayed by at least 3 months, which is a considerable
period in relation to the lifespan of this shrew(1). Melatonin is now known to play
several beneficial roles. These include being an antioxidant, an anti-depressant, and
helping to remediate sleep problems. The next step will be to understand the mode of
action of the hormone on aging, so we can perhaps envisage its use on humans.
Melanopsin and sleep modulation - A
bright future for light therapy?
Light strongly influences human physiology and notably sleep regulation. An international
team of scientists, including Patrice Bourgin from CNRS ‘Institut des neurosciences
cellulaires et intégratives' in Strasbourg, has just published a detailed study in
PlosBiology on the role of melanopsin, a molecule involved in mediating the effects of
light on sleep. These scientists also revealed evidence of new interactions between the
different mechanisms acting on the duration and quality of sleep and alertness. The light
reaching our eyes sends two types of information to our brains. Firstly, visual
information is mainly relayed by the retina cells known as rods and cones. Secondly, non
visual information from light intensity is detected in the eye and transmitted to the
brain, notably by melanopsin. The discovery of this photosensitive protein, less than ten
years ago, and its major role in the mediation of light effects, have stimulated a great
deal of research.
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