On-off switch with clues to blindness, cancer found
INT11International/Health/ScienceOn-off switch with clues to blindness, cancer foundToronto, Oct 7 IANS Canadian researchers claim to have found an on-off switch that holds clues to cure for blindness, tumour and even cancer.Researchers at Montreal University, in collaboration with the Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale INSERM in France, said Monday that the on-off switch - called GPR 91 receptor in neurons - causes unchecked blood vessel growth that leads to vision loss.The GPR 91 - or G protein-coupled receptor - functions as a detector of cell metabolism and is present in the kidney, liver, spleen, breast and blood vessels.During their investigation of the molecular mechanisms that lead to blindness, the researchers found that the GPR91 receptor can lead to irregular blood vessel growth which is one of the main causes of vision loss.The blindness includes retinopathy of prematurity in infants, diabetic retinopathy in adults vision loss in up to 90 percent of diabetics or age-related vision loss in seniors, the researchers said in a statement.``We found that GPR91 is a master regulator of blood vessel growth, which upon enhanced activation leads to the unchecked and anarchic proliferation of vascular networks, which is the hallmark of retinopathies.``This uncontrolled overgrowth can ultimately cause the retina to detach and a person to lose their sight,'' the statement quoted study leader Mike Przemyslaw Sapieha as saying.``With the identification of GPR91 as a key player in this disease process, we can move forward in designing treatments that block the receptor and consequently stop vision loss. Inhibition of GPR91 has a great therapeutic potential to halt these blinding diseases.''According to the statement, the study also provides promise that the GPR91 receptor can preserve neurons which transmit information in the brain through chemical signals.``Neurons are key sensors in retina oxygenation and serve as key players in the repair process of the retina,'' said study director Sylvain Chemtob.``Given the similarities between the retina and the brain, we can envisage applying our findings in retina to the brain. Activation of the GPR91 receptor could be beneficial in helping salvage neurons in damaged brain tissue in stroke or head injury victims," he said.The researchers also hinted at the possibility that interfering with the GPR91 receptor may be used to stop cancer growth.``If you stop GPR91 from allowing blood vessels to expand and supply a tumour with nutrients and oxygen, one can significantly hamper growth of the cancer,'' said Sapieha.Researchers conducted investigations on GPR91 in animals. But since the receptor is also found in humans, they said it will soon be extended to human clinical investigations in three to fours years.The findings appear in the online edition of Nature Medicine.--Indo-Asian News Servicegs/tb490 Words*07100917
2008-10-07 00:00:00Brain pathway behind obesity discovered
Washington, Oct 3 ANI: While conducting a study on mice, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison discovered a messaging system in the brain that directly affects food intake and body weight. A protein called NF-kappaB and its associated gene IKKbeta are known to be involved in metabolism in liver, fat and skeletal muscle tissues. When Dongsheng Cai, an assistant professor of physiology at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, and colleagues looked for this same pathway in the hypothalamus - the part of the brain that regulates appetite and energy balance - they found it also influenced how much mice eat. More specifically, they found overfeeding the mice spurred the pathway into action. When they suppressed the pathway's activity, the animals were significantly protected from overeating and obesity.The researchers also examined a cell component called the endoplasmic reticulum ER, shown recently to be involved in metabolic diseases involving over-nutrition, to see if it might play a role in linking over-nutrition to activate IKKbeta/NF-kappaB in the hypothalamus."At the intracellular level, when the ER is challenged with over-nutrition, this leads to ER stress, which can push the IKKbeta/NF-kappaB pathway to an active state, although the involved reactions could be quite complicated," Cai said.In several experiments, the researchers found that ER stress caused by over-nutrition activated IKKbeta/NF-kappaB in the hypothalamus. Suppressing ER stress in the central nervous system significantly preserved normal regulation of food intake and prevented obesity. Cai said that he hopes the discovery will eventually to a better understanding of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases - which are both fuelled by overeating. He also hopes it will lead to new treatments and prevention strategies for those diseases.The study is published in the Oct. 3, 2008 issue of Cell. ANI
2008-10-03 23:00:00Liver transplant patients at three fold cancer risk
Washington, Oct 3 ANI: People who have undergone a liver transplant are at a three-fold risk of developing cancer than the general population, according to researchers.Transplantation, and subsequent immunosuppression which keeps rejection at bay, have long been associated with increased cancer risk.The research team led by Helena Isoniemi of Finland analysed cancer risk pattern in Finnish liver transplant patients from Helsinki University Central between 1982 and 2005.Among the 540 liver transplant recipients, they found a total of 39 post-transplant de novo cancers in 36 patients. The overall standardized incidence ratio SIR compared to the general population was 2.59. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, non-melanoma skin cancer and basal cell carcinoma had significantly elevated SIRs. "The most common cancer types in our cohort were lymphoma and skin cancer," the authors report."Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which included four cases of post-transplant lymphoproliverative disorder, occurred more frequently in males, in patients transplanted at a younger age and soon after transplantation." By contrast, non-melanoma skin cancer was more common among older patients and those who had antibody induction therapy. In an accompanying editorial by Ashok Kumar Jain of the University of Rochester reviewed the Aberg et al findings alongside the rest of the literature, looking closely at patient age and duration of follow-up.Aberg and colleagues "show that the cumulative incidence of de novo cancers increased at 1, 5, 10 and 20 years of follow up from 3 percent, 5 percent, 13 percent and 16 percent respectively," Jain writes. He also pointed out that other reports have noted a significantly increased risk of de novo oropharyngeal and lung cancers amongst liver transplant patients that smoke, which is a potentially preventable condition.Throughout the literature, Jain and his coauthors found wide variation in the reported incidence of post transplant cancers, partly related to the length of follow up and partly related to the inclusion or exclusion of lymphoid lesions. "The overall rate of de novo solid tumors increased with age at the time of transplant and the length of follow up; while the rate of post-transplant lympho-proliferative disorders decreased with age at the liver transplant, with a higher incidence in the first few years," they conclude. The study appears in Liver Transplantation, a journal by John Wiley and Sons. ANI
2008-10-03 23:00:00Frozen liver transplant success
The successful thawing and transplantation of a frozen pig's liver could bring the technique one step closer for humans.
2008-10-01 14:48:09Read your hands to know your diseases, new research says
INT43International/Health/ScienceRead your hands to know your diseases, new research saysBy Venkata VemuriLondon, Sep 30 IANS Do you have club fingers Then it's possible you may have lung cancer. A new study in the latest issue of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine reveals your hands can provide clues to hidden diseases you may have. Researchers came to this conclusion after studying the palms of a woman tested positive for ovarian cancer. A 74-year-old woman who was otherwise healthy sought medical help for hard lumps that had developed on her palms. These had gradually spread and joined together, giving the palm a 'wooden' feeling, making movement difficult and painful.Doctors could not find anything obviously wrong, but she was tested for - and diagnosed with - ovarian cancer after they read medical literature and found that the lumps called palmar fasciitis were a rare sign of the disease.Why a tumour has this effect on hands remains a mystery. But one theory is that cancer cells pump out chemicals that trigger fibrosis, or scarring of tissue.The study's author, Graham Easton, who has a special interest in hands, says they can provide essential clues on a patient's well-being."I always try to shake hands when I meet a patient for the first time," Easton, a family doctor in London, told the Daily Mail."I'm not being polite - their hands are packed with information about their general health, from whether they might have a thyroid problem to signs of osteoarthritis. In fact, doctors can often tell more about someone's health by their hands than their face."Here are some hand signals you should look for to keep a check on your health.Club fingers: If the tips of your fingers are dome-shaped or look like small clubs, it could be a warning sign of serious diseases such as lung cancer, TB or mesothelioma - a deadly lung disease linked to asbestos. It is due to the build-up of a substance called PGE2 which helps dampen down inflammation in the lungs. It is thought lung tumours send production of PGE2 into overdrive, churning out 10 times the amount the body needs. It builds up in the finger tips and causes swelling.Blue fingernails: They look blue as the body is low on oxygen because blood is not being pumped round the body properly. Called cyanosis, this condition can be a warning sign for a heart failure. Oxygen-poor blood is not actually blue. It just appears less bright through the nails than red oxygen-rich blood.Two-tone nails: Nails that are a pale white on the bottom half, nearest the skin, but a brownish shade on the top half, could be a sign of kidney failure. It's thought to be due to a build up of urea - a waste product normally processed by the kidneys but which here crystallises under the skin and nails. Sweaty palms: Hot and sweaty palms are a sign of hyperthyroidism. With an overactive thyroid, the body uses up more calories and generates more heat. Feeling hot and sweaty all the time is a classic symptom.Beaded nails: If you have tiny beads on your nails that resemble candle wax dripping downwards, it could be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis, even if your joints have not become swollen or painful. The cause is thought to be vasculitis, inflammation of the blood vessels under the nail bed, triggered by the arthritis.Bony lumps on fingers: Bony pea-sized lumps that are painful to the touch around the joints of the fingers can be a marker for osteoarthritis elsewhere in the body, such as hips or knees.Fatty knuckles: Lumps of cholesterol deposits - known as tendon xanthoma - over the knuckles are one of the signs of a potentially fatal condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia. These are hard, yellowy bumps that protrude when you clench your fist.Reddened palms: It is a sign of liver cirrhosis. Called palmar erythema, this reddening usually affects the outer edge of the palm, near the little finger. Blood vessels in the skin dilate due to changes in the hormone balance caused by liver disease.--Indo-Asian News Serviceven/am/dg741 Words*30091437
2008-09-30 05:00:00The seven worst habits of workaholics revealed
Washington, Sept 25 ANI: You might be working harder and longer in a desperate bid to succeed, but if you are doing so at the cost of your health, then you need to get rid of those workaholic habits."Many people feel like they have to push themselves to unhealthy levels in order to succeed. But high-pressure jobs and long hours take a real toll on your immediate and future health," said George Griffing, M.D., professor of internal medicine at Saint Louis University.These are the seven worst habits of workaholics, according to Griffing. 1.Forgetting to relax: While some stress can be good because it keeps you alert and motivated, too much stress or chronic stress will take its toll on your body. 2.Eating on the go: Between meetings, conference calls and deadlines, workaholics forget to take out time to sit down for a healthy lunch. But a good meal is exactly what a person needs to stay mentally sharp throughout the day. 3.Putting off sleep for work: Even busy professionals need seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Missing out on sleep can lead to irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory problems and poor judgment. It has also been linked to obesity.4.Not making time for exercise: Getting at least 30 minutes of exercise most days is very important to immediate and future health. 5.Working even when sick: Many people come to work despite being ill. But there are three common sense reasons to stay home - Nobody wants your germs, you'll be less productive and you need your rest to get better. 6.Drinking too much: Excessive drinking can lead to alcoholism, liver disease and some forms of cancer. 7.Skipping annual medical checkups: In order to detect problems early, prevent others from developing and get the best treatment if you have a condition, you need to know what's going on in your body. ANI
2008-09-25 16:00:00Little sisters love to chomp on chillies
NAT16National/Health/Human InterestLittle sisters love to chomp on chilliesBy Sreya BasuMondarmoni West Bengal, Sep 24 IANS They are just five and seven years old, but it's not chocolates and chips that Joshna and Shanti are after. Both the sisters in this seaside village love to eat three kilos of green chillies each every day!Shanti and Joshna, the daughters of fisherman Jatin Sadhu, are considered "miracle children" in their village, about 200 km from Kolkata."Shanti started having chillies when she was two years old and Joshna had her first chilli at the age of four. They never complain that the chillies are hot, nor do they ever develop a sore mouth. Every day they need 2-3 kg of chillies each," Jatin told IANS."They chew on chillies as if they are having toffees and juicy fruits."There's never a dearth of chillies, as Jatin's brother-in-law Arun Mondal is a chilli farmer."Often Arun takes my daughters to his chilli farm. One day he saw Shanti plucking chillies one after another and eating them. He thought the child would soon scream but no such thing happened. After that Shanti got addicted to chillies. Joshna too joined her sister soon," Jatin said.Neighbours say the sisters are "blessed" and that is why they do not find the chillies hot."The Sadhu sisters are blessed. Else how can they do such a miracle every day!" wondered neighbour Laxmi Sadhukhan.Jatin took the girls to a local doctor for a thorough checkup."But the doctor, Swapan Samadder, found them fit," Jatin said.Samadder said the taste buds of the girls were apparently unable to distinguish anything hot."Their taste buds seem not to detect the taste of anything hot. But it's surprising that even their livers and other internal organs are not affected after eating so many chillies every day. It's a very rare case in medical science."Nevertheless, I have requested the father to keep his daughters away from chillies because I am sure in the long run it will affect their health," Samadder said.Jatin said he did try to keep his daughters away from chillies."As a result my daughters stopped eating and started vomiting. Only after I gave them chillies did they become normal!"Sreya Basu can be contacted at sreya.b@ians.in--Indo-Asian News Servicebs/ssp/jg/pg/tb/ky 422 Words**24091144
2008-09-24 02:00:00Teenage Obesity Linked To Liver Disease
In a new and disturbing twist on the obesity epidemic, some overweight teenagers have severe liver damage caused by too much body fat, and a handful have needed liver transplants.
2008-09-16 07:00:00Ryder Cup 2008 Phoney war over for Nick Faldo and Paul Azinger
The time for pulling punches is gone and Paul Azinger is making it plain he wants to tear out Nick Faldo's liver writes Mark Reason.
2008-09-14 00:28:30What's Happening
Galerie Blu'u in MontBleu Casino Resort & Spa will host a liver wellness fundraiser starting at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, to raise awareness of hepatitis and other liver diseases.
2008-09-13 13:39:11
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