Health Jockey

Most of us believe that heart attacks cause shooting chest pain in the patients. Contradicting this belief, scientists from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have claimed that women may experience heart attacks devoid of apparent symptoms like discomfort or chest pain.

The trial incorporated above 1 million individuals. About 42% of women showing no signs of chest pain reached the hospital for treating heart attacks. Around 30% of men encountered a similar scenario. This case was specifically true for women aged below 45, however with growing age, the difference became smaller.

“Contrary to popular belief, a heart attack doesn’t necessarily mean dramatic and excruciating chest pains. Symptoms vary; for some the pain is severe and yet others may feel nothing more than a mild discomfort or heaviness. The most important thing to remember Read the rest of this story >>

When it comes to obesity, people tend to associate sugars like fructose with it. However, a study by scientists at the McMaster University and St. Michael’s Hospital has revealed that fructose may not be a significant contributor to the obesity epidemic.

In the analysis, 3 feeding trials were conducted for a span of 7 or more days. Subjects were randomly fed free fructose or nonfructose carbohydrates. A control group receiving hypercaloric diets was also included. Tests involving high-fructose corn syrup were not included in the study.

For reaching a conclusion, the team accessed the The Heyland Methodological Quality Score. As per the results, fructose apparently did not cause weight gain in participants on isocaloric diets. However, in case of hypercaloric trials that included high amounts of fructose, subjects experienced substantial Read the rest of this story >>

Often, the human mind tends to focus on the negative outcomes of things. Anticipation of a stressful event could increase the risk for age-related diseases, assert scientists from the University of California (UCSF).

As part of the study, 50 women who were taking care of their parents with dementia, solved math problems and indulged in public speaking. The team found that women who believed a stressful event was knocking at their doors in the coming future were seemingly older at cellular level.

“We are getting closer to understanding how chronic stress translates into the present moment. As stress researchers, we try to examine the psychological process of how people respond to a stressful event and how that impacts their neurobiology and cellular health. And we’re making some strides in that,” commented Elissa Epel, PhD, an associate professor in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry and a lead investigator on the study.

According Read the rest of this story >>

We recently came to terms with a stem cell technique for treating heart attack scars. In another trial by professionals at the University of California (UCSD), a new injectable hydrogel that may be used for treating damaged heart tissues has come forward.

This hydrogel is created from cardiac connective tissue that is separated from heart muscle cells by means of a cleansing process. The tissue is then freeze-dried and grinded into powder form, followed by liquefying it to be injected into the heart with ease.

As soon as the connective tissue adapts to body temperature, the liquid gets transformed into a semi-solid and porous gel that stimulates formation of cells in areas where heart tissues are impaired. It also tends to preserve heart Read the rest of this story >>

Modern day computer technologies utilize graphene in particulate forms for its semiconductive properties. According to scientists from the University of Edinburgh, graphene could risk the health of workers producing it for use in electronic devices.

Graphene is an extremely thin layer of carbon that has many useful properties for use in devices. While the semiconductive property is generally taken advantage of, there are other electronic attributes of graphene too.

According to the investigators, graphene if used in the particulate form, could be harmful to the lungs. The element is basically accessed as nanoplatelets in the manufacturing industry. These disc-shaped particles are flexible enough to be readily used in rubber and plastic.

Nano discs are also used to improve the electronic properties of touchscreens used in many devices. These substances are not Read the rest of this story >>

A chemotherapy drug called gemcitabine is generally used for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. However, if a medication namely MRK003 is used in combination with gemcitabine, the ability of the latter to destroy tumors is boosted, claims a team at Cancer Research UK.

The researchers demonstrated the effect of this drug on a set of mice. As per the observations, the experimental drug MRK003 apparently impeded the Notch, which is regarded as a vital signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer cells as well as endothelial cells. The MRK003 medication is regarded as a gamma secretase inhibitor.

Research author, Professor David Tuveson, group leader at Cancer Research UK’s Cambridge Research Institute, quoted, “This research is a real example of how research taking place in the lab directly influences Read the rest of this story >>

Baby colic is often characterized by incessant crying, which could also turn fatal for the infant’s life. A team of professionals from the University of California (UCSF) has affirmed that mothers suffering from migraines have about twice the chances of having a baby with colic.

As part of the study, about 154 mothers and their babies were examined. The mothers were enquired regarding the crying patterns of their babies and self experiences of migraines. Also, the scientists assured that the relentless crying of the baby was associated with the clinical definition of colic.

“If we can understand what is making the babies cry, we may be able to protect them from this very dangerous outcome,” commented Amy Gelfand, MD, a child neurologist with the Headache Center at UCSF.

The outcomes showed that mothers who suffered from migraines were Read the rest of this story >>

A recent report revealed that weight training could help individuals suffering from Parkinson’s disease improve their motor skills. This research by Purdue University professionals has disclosed that a mutation in a protein seemingly closes down a shielding function required for prohibiting the death of neurons in Parkinson’s disease.

The protein DJ-1 is apparently shut down by means of a slight mutation in Parkinson’s patients. The team accessed a new quantitative mass spectrometry technique to analyze the normal and the mutant protein.

According to the observations, a substitution in one region of the cascade of amino acids appeared to render the protein incapable of protecting neurons in the disease. This seemingly led to the formation of clumps that push the neurons to death in patients.

“The saying that you are Read the rest of this story >>

Patients suffering from brain cancer are generally exposed to radiation therapies for treatment. According to scientists at the University of Otago, brain cells could become more reactive to radiation therapy if they are nourished with high amounts of vitamin C.

The team found in animal models and humans that high dose of vitamin C administered intravenously seemingly damaged and killed the DNA of cancerous cells. Notably, the ambient cells did not appear to be affected in the process.

There is an ongoing debate whether vitamin C could be used for the treatment of brain cancer. The analysts found that high proportions of vitamin C delivered prior to radiation therapy may be effective in pushing cancer cells to death. The cancer cells used in this research were separated from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumours.

“We Read the rest of this story >>

Human body comprises a protein called GPR120 that functions as a dietary fat sensor. Researchers at Imperial College London assert that defects in the dietary fat sensor could be the cause of obesity and liver disease in people.

The protein GPR120 apparently distinguishes between healthy and unhealthy fatty acids in the body. In a set of mice, the team found that animals which were deficient in GPR120 seemed to be more susceptible to obesity. Along similar lines, individuals possessing a specific mutation in the gene encrypting the protein also appeared to develop obesity. The mutation made the proteins non-responsive to omega-3 fatty acids.

“Being overweight is not always unhealthy if you can make more fat cells to store fat. Some people seem to be unable to do this, and instead they deposit fat around their internal organs, which is very unhealthy. Our Read the rest of this story >>