Health

A new study from MIT led by an Indian origin scientist has identified influenza viruses circulating in pigs and birds that could pose a risk to humans.

In the summer of 1968, a new strain of influenza appeared in Hong Kong. This strain, known as H3N2, spread around the globe and eventually killed an estimated 1 million people.

The MIT study revealed that there are many strains of H3N2 circulating in birds and pigs that are genetically similar to the 1968 strain and have the potential to generate a pandemic if they leap to humans.

A novel anti-cocaine vaccine developed by researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College has been successfully tested in primates, bringing them closer to launching human clinical trials.

Their study used a radiological technique to demonstrate that the anti-cocaine vaccine prevented the drug from reaching the brain and producing a dopamine-induced high.

Scientists have found that different brain areas are activated when we choose to suppress an emotion, compared to when we are instructed to inhibit an emotion.

Researchers from the University College London Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Ghent University in Belgium scanned the brains of healthy participants and found that key brain systems were activated when people chose to suppress an emotion.

They had previously linked this brain area to deciding to inhibit movement.

Scientists have tapped into the restrictive action potential of a leukemia drug to hinder accumulation of deadly proteins linked to Parkinson’s, a new study says.

Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Centre made known results of their study, after using tiny doses of a leukemia drug to halt accumulation of toxic proteins linked to Parkinson’s disease in the brains of mice.

This finding provides the basis to plan a clinical trial in humans to study the effects, reports Science Daily.

In this scorching heat people are at high risk of dehydration and worse. Apart from drinking lots of water, expert advise is to eat fresh fruits to avoid a heat stroke.

When our body loses water, doctors immediately call it dehydration. Some of the causes are explained by Satish Koul, general physician, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon.

“Causes can be sun stroke, exposure to dusty weather, vomitting, and fever,” Koul told IANS.

Drink a lot of water, but avoid artificially sweetened drinks. In addition to these, consume fruits regularly, he added.

There`s now sufficient research data to provide specific guidance on how to prescribe exercise for people with major depressive disorder (MDD), according to researchers including an Indian origin.

Despite the substantial evidence supporting the use of exercise in the treatment of MDD, previous studies have not provided a clear indication of the proper dose of exercise needed to elicit an antidepressant effect, noted Chad Rethorst, PhD, and Madhukar Trivedi, MD, of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.

Sunless tanning products — whether with lotions, bronzers or tanning pills — have been promoted as an effective substitute to dodge the health risks of ultraviolet rays, but young women likely will not use them if the products don”t provide the perfect tan, according to a Baylor University researcher.

With nearly 73,000 women dying every year, India now tops the world in cervical cancer deaths according to a report released today by a US-based research and advocacy group.

India represents 26.4 per cent of all women dying of cervical cancer globally, with China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia and Thailand also showing high death incidence, says the “Cervical Cancer Global Crisis Card” released by the Cervical Cancer-Free Coalition.

Eating food, which contains even a small amount of nicotine, like peppers and tomatoes, may help reduce risk of developing Parkinson`s disease, a new study has claimed.

According to the research, Solanaceae-a flowering plant family with some species producing foods that are edible sources of nicotine-may provide a protective effect against Parkinson`s disease.

A new scalp-cooling system is being rolled out in parts of London to help chemotherapy patients prevent hair loss during therapy.

The DigniCap system has been adopted by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust for use in its chemotherapy day units at Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals, the Daily express reported.

Patients wear a special cap, which cools their scalp, and also prevents hair loss.

Research conducted at Michigan State University demonstrated that mosquitoes could be equally adept in curing diseases such as malaria.

The new study shows that the transmission of malaria via mosquitoes to humans can be interrupted by using a strain of the bacteria Wolbachia in the insects.

In a sense, Wolbachia would act as a vaccine of sorts for mosquitoes that would protect them from malaria parasites.

Treating mosquitoes would prevent them from transmitting malaria to humans, a disease that in 2010 affected 219 million people and caused an estimated 660,000 deaths.

Eating food, which contains even a small amount of nicotine, like peppers and tomatoes, may help reduce risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, a new study has claimed.

According to the research, Solanaceae—a flowering plant family with some species producing foods that are edible sources of nicotine—may provide a protective effect against Parkinson’s disease.

Eating food, which contains even a small amount of nicotine, like peppers and tomatoes, may help reduce risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, a new study has claimed.

According to the research, Solanaceae—a flowering plant family with some species producing foods that are edible sources of nicotine—may provide a protective effect against Parkinson’s disease.

London, May 9 (ANI): Coca-Cola is set to become more transparent about the calorie count displayed on the labels of its soft drinks and also implement steps to promote exercise in the light of growing health consciousness amongst consumers worldwide. In a report by The Guardian, sugary and aerated drinks have been found out to be the root cause of obesity.

Tomatoes and soy foods, when eaten together, could be more effective in preventing prostate cancer than when either of them is eaten alone, a study has claimed.

John Erdman a University of Illinois professor of food science and nutrition, said that for their study they used mice that were genetically engineered to develop an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

He said that even so, half the animals that consumed tomato and soy had no cancerous lesions in the prostate at study`s end.

However, all the mice in the control group-no soy, no tomato-developed the disease, he said.

Scientists have found that many kinds of cinnamon, cinnamon-flavoured foods, beverages and food supplements in the United States use a form of the spice that contains high levels of a natural substance that may cause liver damage in some sensitive people.

Ikhlas Khan and colleagues explain that cinnamon, which comes from the bark of certain trees, is one of the most important flavouring agents used in foods and beverages.

“True,” or Ceylon, cinnamon is expensive, so most breads, sticky buns and other products in the United States use dried cassia bark, or cassia cinnamon.

Washington, May 8 (ANI): Aerobic exercise influences the way our bodies break down estrogens to produce more of the `good` metabolites that lower breast cancer risk, according to a new research.

Observational studies suggest physical activity lowers breast cancer risk, but there are no clinical studies that explain the mechanism behind this, said Mindy S. Kurzer, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota in Saint Paul.

Washington, Past studies have shown that women who have experienced domestic are at higher risk of becoming depressed.

However, a new study reveals that women who are depressed are also more likely to experience domestic violence.

Furthermore, there may also be a link between intimate partner violence and subsequent suicide among women, but little evidence to support a similar finding in men.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday called for global efforts to improve the health of women and children.

Speaking at a meeting of the Every Woman Every Child movement here, Ban stressed the importance of mobilizing and intensifying action around the world to tackle the global challenge, reported Xinhua.

“In the 21st century, no institution can solve global challenges on its own,” Ban said.

“There is no monopoly on good ideas. That is why I believe so deeply in partnerships — strategic partnerships.”

Finland is considered to be the country where mothers enjoy the best conditions in the world, according to a worldwide report.

The annual report — State of World`s Mothers 2013 — was issued Tuesday by an international NGO “Save the Children”, reported Xinhua.

The report has a ranking list of Mothers` index, showing the conditions of mothers in 176 countries — where mothers fare better and where they face more hardships.

Johns Hopkins researchers believe they may have solved the mystery behind sleepless nights associated with restless legs syndrome (RLS), a symptom that persists even when the disruptive, overwhelming nocturnal urge to move the legs is treated successfully with medication.

Neurologists have long believed RLS is related to a dysfunction in the way the brain uses the neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical used by brain cells to communicate and produce smooth, purposeful muscle activity and movement.

Your level of sleepiness or alertness during the day may be related to the type of food that you eat, a new study has suggested.

Results show that higher fat consumption was associated with increased objective daytime sleepiness, while higher carbohydrate intake was associated with increased alertness.

There was no relationship between protein consumption and sleepiness or alertness. These findings were independent of the subjects` gender, age, and body mass index as well as the total amount of sleep they were getting and their total caloric intake.

The Tamil Nadu government today banned production, possession, distribution and sale of tobacco products such as pan masala and gutka in the state.

Some states, including Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, have already banned sale of pan masala and gutka.

Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa referred to Supreme Court`s remarks in a case pending before it, seeking to know the action taken by state governments in controlling usage of tobacco and announced the government`s decision.

Anshu Gupta, a school teacher, ensured her fiance got himself tested for thalassemia before tying the knot so that their children don`t suffer from the hereditary blood disorder. Doctors say many couples are now coming forward to undergo pre-marital thalassemia test.

According to doctors, more than 10,000 thalassemic children are born in India every year and it can be easily prevented through greater awareness.

May 8 is globally celebrated as `International Thalassemia Day`.

A once-daily tablet containing a high dose of a key ragweed pollen protein can offer relief from the runny noses, sneezes, nasal congestion and itchy eyes experienced by ragweed allergy sufferers, a new study suggests.

Tests conducted by an international team of researchers, led by physician-scientists at Johns Hopkins, showed that treatment with the pill, which contains the protein Ambrosia artemisiifolia major allergen 1, and is placed under the tongue to be absorbed, also reduced the need for anti-allergy drugs.