Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, the influenza viruses. In people, common symptoms of influenza are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue.
Chinese agriculture officials have issued an alert against bird flu after a 19-year-old woman died of the disease in Beijing. – New human cases of H5N1 avian influenza, involving a 19-year-old Chinese woman who died of her infection and an 8-year-old Vietnamese girl who is recovering, reported by public health officials in two countries – China and Vietnam.
Australian researchers have mapped potential zones that can trigger deadly outbreak of diseases like SARS, bird flu, Nipah virus, enterovirus 71 and chikungunya in Australia. – Australia is surrounded to its north by a ?ring of fire’ where new human and animal plagues are likely to erupt without warning, with potentially devastating consequences.
Adult-onset diabetes slows mental functioning in several ways, with deficits appearing early – Adults with diabetes experience a slowdown in several types of mental processing, which appears early in the disease and persists into old age, according to new research.
Salk researchers develop novel brain cancer glioblastoma mouse model. – Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have developed a versatile mouse model of glioblastoma-the most common and deadly brain cancer in humans-that closely resembles the development and progression of human brain tumors that arise naturally.
Few DNA repair genes maintain association with cancer in field synopsis – Variants of numerous DNA repair genes initially appeared to be statistically significantly associated with cancer risk in epidemiological studies.
Researchers have identified a set of three genes that helped underpin the extraordinary virulence of the 1918 virus. – By mixing and matching a contemporary flu virus with the “Spanish flu” – a virus that killed between 20 and 50 million people 90 years ago in history’s most devastating outbreak of infectious disease – researchers have identified a set of three genes that helped underpin the extraordinary virulence of the 1918 virus.
Cell phones using lens-free imaging promise to improve health monitoring; New advances result in accurate ID of smaller particles using holograms. – Cell phones have already revolutionized the way people around the world communicate and do business. Thanks to advances being made at UCLA, they are about to do the same thing for medicine.
University of Maryland researchers identify common gene variant linked to high blood pressure. STK39 gene produces protein involved in regulating how kidneys process salt. – Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have identified a common gene variant that appears to influence people’s risk of developing high blood pressure, according to the results of a study being published online Dec. 29, 2008 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
In a British study, 43 eleven-year-old children born at less than 14 weeks (premature) were found less sensitive to temperature — cool, cold, warm and hot. – Premature infants who need intensive care or surgery are less sensitive to thermal (hot and cold) sensations later in life, according to research conducted at UCL (University College London).
Research by Rice psychologist identifies area of brain key to choosing words – New research by a Rice University psychologist clearly identifies the parts of the brain involved in the process of choosing appropriate words during speech.
H5N1 bird flu resurfaced in poultry in northern Vietnam, killed birds among a flock of more than 100 ducks. – Vietnam newspaper reported that H5N1 bird flu had killed several birds among a flock of more than 100 ducks in Thai Nguyen city in Vietnam.
Longer measured sleep is associated with lower calcification incidence independent of examined potential mediators and confounders. – Participants in a study who slept on average an hour longer per night than other participants had an associated lower incidence of coronary artery calcification, which is thought to be a predictor of future heart disease, according to a study in the December 24/31 issue of JAMA.
