Researchers uncover optimal framework for heartbeats
(Medical Xpress)—The heart maintains a careful balancing act; too soft and it won't pump blood, but too hard and it will overtax itself and stop entirely. There is an optimal amount of strain that a...
View ArticleHow "good cholesterol" stops inflammation
High-density lipoprotein (HDL), known colloquially as "good cholesterol", protects against dangerous deposits in the arteries. An important function of HDL is its anti-inflammatory properties. An...
View ArticleGene therapy trial for 'Bubble boy' disease promising
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers reported promising outcomes data for the first group of boys with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome (SCID-X1), a fatal genetic immunodeficiency also known...
View ArticleWeathering the storm: Our genes may help determine how we respond to disaster
(Medical Xpress)—When natural disasters unleash horrific damage and generate mass casualties, the psychological impact on survivors typically includes posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with...
View ArticleNew insights into the immune system of the gastrointestinal tract
Lymphotoxin is a cytokine, or intercellular messenger, and plays an important role in the immunological balance of the gastrointestinal tract. It regulates the immune system of the digestive tract,...
View ArticleFrom common colds to deadly lung diseases, one protein plays key role
An international team of researchers has zeroed in on a protein that plays a key role in many lung-related ailments, from seasonal coughing and hacking to more serious diseases such as MRSA infections...
View ArticleResearch targets memory improvements
(Medical Xpress)—Forgetting things—whether it's where one has misplaced the car keys or coming home without that gallon of milk—is something that routinely happens to young and old alike.
View ArticleKids who see movie violence also see smoking, drinking, sex, study finds
(HealthDay)—Violent movie characters are also likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and engage in sexual behavior in films rated appropriate for children over 12, according to a new study.
View ArticleGenetic flaw in males triggers onset of liver cancer, diabetes
Michigan State University researchers have uncovered a genetic deficiency in males that can trigger the development of one of the most common types of liver cancer and forms of diabetes.
View ArticleVitamin D impairs immune cell trafficking in mouse model of multiple sclerosis
In mice with a rodent form of multiple sclerosis (MS), vitamin D appears to block damage-causing immune cells from migrating to the central nervous system, offering a potential explanation for why the...
View ArticleProlonged viewing of Boston Marathon bombings media coverage tied to acute...
Stepping away from the television, computer screen or smartphone in the aftermath of terrorist attacks or mass shootings may be beneficial to your mental health. That's the takeaway from a new study by...
View ArticleBrain: Balancing old and new skills
To learn new motor skills, the brain must be plastic: able to rapidly change the strengths of connections between neurons, forming new patterns that accomplish a particular task. However, if the brain...
View ArticleThe smoking gun: Fish brains and nicotine
In researching neural pathways, it helps to establish an analogous relationship between a region of the human brain and the brains of more-easily studied animal species. New work from a team led by...
View ArticleNeural prosthesis restores brain function after injury (w/ Video)
Scientists from Case Western Reserve University and University of Kansas Medical Center have restored behavior—in this case, the ability to reach through a narrow opening and grasp food—using a neural...
View Article35 year study finds exercise reduces risk of dementia
The study identifies five healthy behaviours as being integral to having the best chance of leading a disease-free lifestyle: taking regular exercise, non-smoking, a low bodyweight, a healthy diet and...
View ArticleHow a concussion can lead to depression years later
(Medical Xpress)—A head injury can lead immune-system brain cells to go on "high alert" and overreact to later immune challenges by becoming excessively inflammatory – a condition linked with...
View ArticleIn surprise finding, blood clots absorb bacterial toxin
Blood clots play an unexpected role in protecting the body from the deadly effects of bacteria by absorbing bacterial toxins, researchers at the University of California, Davis, have found. The...
View ArticleResearchers develop new drug approach that could lead to cures for wide range...
A team led by a longtime Oregon Health & Science University researcher has demonstrated in mice what could be a revolutionary new technique to cure a wide range of human diseases—from cystic...
View ArticleNew findings reveal protein structure in rubella virus
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers have determined the structure of the rubella virus capsid protein, which is central to the virus's ability to assemble into an infectious particle and to infect humans.
View ArticleCaution to pregnant women on red meat diabetes link
(Medical Xpress)—Pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant can make use of the summer holiday season to adjust their diets and reduce the risk of gestational diabetes, according to...
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