Scientists believe they have found an explanation for a puzzling and serious complication of West Nile virus infection. West Nile virus can enter a nerve cell, replicate and move on to infect other nearby nerve cells, according to new research.
(www.cnn.com)

Labels: new research, virus infection

Yesterday I stumbled onto a press release on the topic of funding from the Ellison Medical Foundation and the American Federation for Aging Research. I am very struck by the tone of the piece: The Ellison Medical Foundation has awarded AFAR more than $2.8 million to support 45 postdoctoral fellows (both MDs and PhDs at any level of postdoctoral training) over the next three years in the fundamental mechanisms of aging. With this new commitment, the Ellison Medical Foundation/AFAR partnership has increased five-fold the number of researchers it will support. ... There are so many promising scientists yet we are only able to fund eight percent of the applicants who seek grants. There's a potential to lose a tremendous brain trust of future leaders in aging research. The Ellison Medical Foundation has taken a lead role in helping the next generation of researchers establish careers and an aging society will benefit ... In the face of this opportunity we currently see declining federal support for scientists. Those just beginning their careers are especially vulnerable as support dries up. Our hope is that this decline is temporary, yet even a temporary reduction in support for scientists just beginning their careers...
(Top 101 Hot Search)

Labels: healthy life, medical, press release

Oprah Winfrey, in the October issue of her magazine, talked about weight and thyroid conditions.    She reported that she initially had hyperthyroidism, a condition of overactivity of the gland that controls metabolism.  After her condition was treated (as often happens), she developed hypothyroidism and it contributed to a 20 pound weight gain!

Patients with weight problems often ask the doctor if their problem could be due to problems with their thyroid gland.  And the clear answer is:  YES, it could!  Patients who have experienced weight gain, especially if they also have problems with fatigue, difficulty tolerating cold temperatures, constipation, difficulty concentrating, dryness or other skin changes, or swelling in the face or extremities, should be evaluated by the doctor for hypothyroidism.  The screening test for this is a simple blood test called a thyroid stimulating hormone test (TSH), and can quickly determine whether your gland is functioning in the normal range. 

Patients sometimes get confused about "overactive" v. "underactive" glands and the difference in symptoms between theses two conditions.  An "overactive" gland in a hyperthyroid patient typically causes weight loss (not weight gain), along with a rapid heart rate, tremor or nervousness, increased sweating, intolerance of hot temperatures, warm, moist skin, and possibly a "goiter" or an enlarged gland.   

Patients such as Ms. Winfrey, who are treated by medication, surgery or radiation typically go from an overactive gland to an underactive gland.   Then, they have to be treated with a thyroid hormone replacement medication.  This is not usually a problem, since the dosage is pretty easy to calibrate and can be monitored by checking on symptom recurrence and periodically obtaining a TSH level. 

So, if you have gained weight and wonder if it could be your thyroid, have your doctor check your TSH level.  Most commonly though, the problem is not in the thyroid but is related to either increased caloric intake or a decrease in caloric expenditure (i.e. lack of adequate exercise).

Are you confused about thyoid problems?  Your comments or questions are always welcome...

(www.wnbc.com)

Labels: doctor, medication, thyroid, weight problems

Using acupuncture before and during surgery significantly reduces the level of pain and the amount of potent painkillers needed by patients after the surgery is over, according to anesthesiologists who combined data from 15 small randomized acupuncture clinical trials.
'Bionic' Nerve To Bring Damaged Limbs And Organs Back To Life
University of Manchester researchers have transformed fat tissue stem cells into nerve cells -- and now plan to develop an artificial nerve that will bring damaged limbs and organs back to life. In a study published in October's Experimental Neurology, Dr Paul Kingham and his team at the UK Centre for Tissue Regeneration isolated the stem cells from the fat tissue of adult animals and differentiated them into nerve cells to be used for repair and regeneration of injured nerves. They are now about to start a trial extracting stem cells from fat tissue of volunteer adult patients, in order to compare in the laboratory human and animal stem cells.
Gene Defects Could Be New Cause Of Male Infertility
Scientists have identified a gene crucial to the final step of the formation of a functional sperm cell. That final step -- called spermiogenesis -- entails the compaction of DNA into a tight ball within the head of the sperm so it can successfully penetrate an egg. Mice engineered to lack the crucial gene, Jhdm2a, that triggers this process did not produce many mature sperm, and those they did produce had abnormally shaped heads and immotile tails.
Bone Structure 'Vastly Different' Than Previously Believed
Researchers have discovered that the structure of human bones is vastly different than previously believed. The characteristic toughness and stiffness of bone is predominantly due to the presence of specialized sugars, not proteins. Their findings could have sweeping impacts on treatments for osteoporosis and other bone disorders. One of the scientists notes that this may strengthen the rational for using glucosamine or chondroitin.
(lookhotinfo.org.ua/)

Labels: gene, impacts, researchers, sugars

Today I heard a story on NPR about a new "superbug" that caused ear infections in children that were resistant to all currently recommended antibiotics used to treat this infection. The emergence of this new, difficult to treat infection is, most likely, due to the significant over use of antibiotics to treat viral infections.  This over use is, in part, due to physicians who aren't being careful enough to use them only when clinically indicated and, in part, due to patients who request (or demand) antibiotic treatment for a viral upper respiratory infection. Antibiotics cause resistant strains of bacteria to emerge by killing off strains that are susceptible, thereby allowing resistant bugs that emerge over time to proliferate.

So, a warning to patients who may have gotten the idea that colds and sinus infections need a "Z pack", be a little more reticent to take antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection, since over 90% of them are viral and, thus, don't respond to antibiotic treatment.  If enough of us do this, it will decrease the risk of emergence of increasing numbers of these "super bugs" that have the potential to wreck havoc on our system.

Your comments are always welcome...

(www.wnbc.com)

Labels: antibiotics, decrease the risk, infection

Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus appears to be more prevalent than previously believed, affecting certain populations disproportionately and is being found more often outside of health care settings, according to a new study.
Easing Children's Pain During Medical Procedures
A new system under development will help children better cope with pain during difficult medical procedures. The system works by using a Web-based software to advise nurses on the best way to distract children from the procedures that cause the pain. The distractions could be anything from having a book read to them, watching a video, talking, or playing a game.
Pathway Required For Normal Reproductive Development Identified
Scientists have identified a new molecular pathway required for normal development of the reproductive, olfactory and circadian systems in both humans and mice.
(lookinfo.org.ua/)

Labels: children, cope with pain, health, infections, new molecular pathway