Mouth rinse gargle test for cancer

A simple mouth rinse may provide a new way to screen for head and neck cancers in people at high risk for these diseases. – A morning gargle could someday be more than a breath freshener ? it could spot head and neck cancer, say scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Their new study of a mouth rinse that captures genetic signatures common to the disease holds promise for screening those at high risk, including heavy smokers and alcohol drinkers.

Restless legs syndrome doubles risk of stroke and heart disease

Restless legs syndrome doubles risk of stroke and heart disease

Restless legs syndrome increases risk of stroke and heart diseases in patients because of increased blood pressure and heart rate due to periodic legs movements. – People with restless legs syndrome (RLS) are twice as likely to have a stroke or heart disease compared to people without RLS, and the risk is greatest in those with the most frequent and severe symptoms.

Musician’s dystonia improved by stimulating hand muscles

Musician’s dystonia improved by stimulating hand muscles

A new research has found that musician’s dystonia, a movement disorder that causes muscles spasms in musicians, may be treated by a therapy that stimulates the hand muscles. – Stimulating the hand muscles may help treat the condition called musician’s dystonia. Musician’s dystonia – a focal dystonia is a nerological movement disorder that causes muscles spasms in musicians.

New screening strategy for detection of chagas disease

A new screening strategy could make it easier to diagnose and treat Chagas disease caused by a single cell parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, according to a US study. – A new targeted screening strategy could make the diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease more feasible in low-resource settings, concludes a new study, publishing on December 26, 2007, in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

New dimensions added to child & women welfare, India

Indian Govt. accomplished some new initiatives in the areas of development and welfare of children and women this year 2007. – The year saw number of new initiatives in the areas of development and welfare of children and women. Laws were made more stringent to ban Child Marriage and protection of juvenile, Amendments initiated in Immoral Traffic Act and Prevention of Sati and a scheme for rehabilitation of trafficked victims was launched to give message that women welfare is on the top of the Indian Government’s agenda.

Brain imaging and genetic studies link thinking patterns to addiction

Scientists have for the first time identified brain sites that fire up more when people make impulsive decisions. In a study comparing brain activity of sober alcoholics and non-addicted people making financial decisions, the group of sober alcoholics showed significantly more “impulsive” neural activity. – Alcoholics are more impulsive than non-addicted people making financial decisions, revealed by researcher Charlotte Boettiger at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Breast cancer gene mutation common in Hispanic, young black women

The gene mutation BRCA1, which is known to increase the risk of breast cancer, is prevalent among Hispanics and young black women with breast cancer, researchers report. – A genetic mutation already known to be more common in Ashkenazi Jewish breast cancer patients is also prevalent in Hispanic and young African-American women with breast cancer, according to one of the largest, multiracial studies of the mutation to date.

Bayer Diabetes Care recalls test strips for Contour TS Blood Glucose Meter

A unit of Bayer AG recalled diabetes test strips used with its Contour TS Blood Glucose Meter because they may result in 5 to 17 percent higher. – Bayer Diabetes Care has initiated a voluntary market recall of test strips (sensors) used exclusively with the Contour TS Blood Glucose Meter. In the course of its routine quality control monitoring processes the Company identified a manufacturing issue with test strips from specific lots that could result in blood glucose readings with a positive bias that is outside of our product specifications. Test results may demonstrate results 5 -17% higher.

Most parents underestimate children’s obesity

Despite ongoing reports of the global obesity epidemic, many American parents whose children are obese do not see it, a new survey finds. – Large numbers of parents fail to recognize that their children are overweight or obese, and therefore may be less inclined to modify their children’s diet and activity levels. More than 40 percent of parents with obese children ages 6 to 11 describe their child not as obese, but as “about the right weight.”

Health Newstrack