Baby hearts need rhythm to develop correctly – To develop correctly, baby hearts need rhythm even before they have blood to pump. “We have discovered that mechanical forces are important when making baby hearts,” said Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin, a Vanderbilt graduate student working with a team of Vanderbilt engineers, scientists and clinicians attempting to grow replacement heart valves from a patient’s own cells.
Miriam Hospital study shows social gaming site effective weight loss tool – Researchers from The Miriam Hospital have found that DietBet, a web-based commercial weight loss program that pairs financial incentives with social influence, delivers significant weight losses.
First biological marker for major depression could enable better diagnosis and treatment – Teenage boys who show a combination of depressive symptoms and elevated levels of the ‘stress hormone’ cortisol are up to fourteen times more likely to develop major depression than those who show neither trait, according to a research study published.
Excess weight linked to brain changes that may relate to memory, emotions, and appetite – Being overweight appears related to reduced levels of a molecule that reflects brain cell health in the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in memory, learning, and emotions, and likely also involved in appetite control, revealed by researchers.
FDA approves pediatric use of Dexcom’s G4 Platinum continuous glucose monitoring system – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the expanded use of the Dexcom G4 Platinum Continuous Monitoring System for patients with diabetes ages 2 to 17 years. The G4 Platinum System, which monitors blood glucose levels in people with diabetes, had been approved for patients ages 18 and older.
Yoga can lower fatigue, inflammation in breast cancer survivors — In study, the more women practiced, the better the results – Practicing yoga for as little as three months can reduce fatigue and lower inflammation in breast cancer survivors, according to new research. The more the women in the study practiced yoga, the better their results.
Pregnant, brain-dead woman at center of legal fight between hospital and family removed from life support – John Peter Smith Hospital at Fort Worth kept a pregnant, brain-dead woman – Marlise Munoz – on life support for two months. On Friday, a state district judge ordered John Peter Smith Hospital to remove the woman, Marlise Muñoz, from life-support machines by 5 p.m. on Monday.
Cleveland Clinic identifies mechanism in Alzheimer’s-related memory loss — Study uncovers role of Neuroligin-1 protein – Cleveland Clinic researchers have identified a protein in the brain that plays a critical role in the memory loss seen in Alzheimer’s patients. The protein – Neuroligin-1 (NLGN1) – is known to be involved in memory formation; this is the first time it’s been linked to amyloid-associated memory loss.
Ingredients in chocolate, tea and berries could guard against diabetes – Eating high levels of flavonoids including anthocyanins and other compounds (found in berries, tea, and chocolate) could offer protection from type 2 diabetes. Findings reveal that high intakes of these dietary compounds are associated with lower insulin resistance and better blood glucose regulation.
Vitamin D status associated with multiple sclerosis activity, progression – Vitamin D status appears to be associated with reduced disease activity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and a slower rate of disease progression. MS is a common cause of neurological disability and vitamin D status may be related to the disease process.
Melatonin may lower prostate cancer risk – Higher levels of melatonin, a hormone involved in the sleep-wake cycle, may suggest decreased risk for developing advanced prostate cancer. Melatonin is a hormone that is produced exclusively at night in the dark and is an important output of the circadian rhythm, or the body’s inherent 24-hour clock.
Secondhand smoke exposure increases odds of hospital asthma readmission for children – A new study shows that exposure to secondhand smoke at home or in the car dramatically increases the odds of children being readmitted to the hospital within a year of being admitted for asthma. The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, raises the possibility that measurement of tobacco exposure could be used in clinical practice to target smoking cessation efforts and reduce the likelihood of future hospitalizations.
